answer she will not take it she had learned to distinguish between delayes and denials and at last when that Jesus Christ you shall find in the place saith this to her the Son of man was not sent but to the lost sheep of Israel we must not give childrens bread to dogs Lord if I may not have a childs portion yet let me have a dogs portion let me have some crums of mercy let me pick up some thing from under thy table something thatfals from thee O woman great is thy faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt Here is a great deal of faith appears in importunity and you shall find as I remember in the 5. of Luke I am sure it is in Luke there they were so importunate when such an one was sick and troubled they would untile the house and let down his bodie that Jesus Christ might cure him and heal him here was importunity It is said of King Edward the sixth that good Josiah when he that taught him Sir Jno Cheek a man of great account in his time a very learned man was sick he went to visit him and told him saith he Come be not discouraged I have been begging you of God and he hath assured me you shall not die of this sicknesse and it proved so here was an admirable copie of a young King There was another before him Elfredus King of England too much it seems in prayer He divided the 24. hours into three parts one eight houres he allowed for his ordinary repast refreshing and sleeping another eight houres for publick negotiations and affairs of the Kingdome and a third for reading and praying this was admirable in those dark times I have read almost the same of M. Estie a learned and godly Minister somtimes Fellow of Caius Colledge And so I might have told you of King Edward the sixth that when he was crowned they put then one sword into one hand and another into another one for England and another for Ireland saith he there must be a third sword or else all will not do and that must be the word of God the sword of the Spirit that must teach me what to do O what copies were here from a Kings Regis ad exemplum totus componitur Orbis I wish the example of so great a person may have a great influence upon you For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me and he said unto me My grace is sufficient for thee God hath many wayes of answering our prayers First His Attributes his Providence his Promise his Son interceeding in heaven are all engaged to make good what his Spirit breaks forth in us so that importunate prayer shall not miscarry Why God will never be behind hand but rather before hand with his servants when they are a praying people he will be a God hearing praiers and therefore upon that ground encouraged them to come and pray O thou that art a God hearing prayers it is his continuall work so the word in the Originall wil bear to thee shall all flesh come An admirable place Psalme 90. 14 15 16. Doth God alwayes answer his peoples prayers Yes some way or other 1 Sometimes in the very particular mercy as to Hannah in Samuel 2 Sometimes by the commutation of a greater good As a child would fain have such a knife no you shall not have it but you shall have a better thing and it may be the Mother will give it a piece of gold that is better Thus he doth answer prayers by way Eminency a high degree 3 Though he doth not give the thing we desire yet he gives us hearts to be content without it it may be God denies you children you beg for children God will not give you children but he gives you hearts to be calm and patient without such a blessing there is an admirable mercy and possibly as to thee as the thing desired as great a mercy according to that hint in Phil. 4. v. 5. In nothing be carefull let your requests be made known to God with thanksgiving what followes the peace of God which passes understanding shall guard your hearts God it may be will not give you the thing but you shall have a sweet serenitie and calmnesse of spirit which is as sweet and so it is with many thousands of souls it may be you have experience of it when you come from Prayer you shall not alwayes have the thing you desired but God hath given thee a sweet perswasion of soul to rest fiducially to commit thy self to him It may be as Pauls case here God will answer your prayers by giving you the ground of your prayers Moses would have seen the land of Canaan by going into it he shall not go thither but God will before he dies carry him up to Mount Nebo and thence he shall see it before he dies there is the ground of his prayer granted So you desire health that you may honour God thereby It may be God will give not thee health but he will enable thee to glorifie him by faith and patience under sicknesse here are thy praiers answered because thou hast the ground and end of thy prayers Paul saith here Lord let this thorn be taken from me saith God my grace is sufficient for thee it shall not be taken away but in effect virtually interpretativè as to him it shall equivalentlie my grace is sufficient for thee though I take not away thy enemy yet I will give thee a buckler and then all will be well O what saith Paul would you and I were able to end this discourse with Pauls words and Pauls Spirit Most gladlie therefore saith he will I rather glorie in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me The spirit of a Saint inclines him to glory in that which glorifies Christ though he himself be debased Hence Paul here glories in his infirmities and takes pleasure in them that Christs strength may approve in his weaknesse and that the power of Christ {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} may dwell upon him and compose him about as a Tent doth and therefore will be visible to the honour of Christ What is it properly to Glory It imports three things 1. To rejoyce in a thing 2 To expresse that joy outwardly 3. And that with a degree of exaltation and boasting As Jer. 9. 23 24 Let not the wise man glory in his wisdome nor the rich man in his riches c. Why so much desired by Paul that the power of Christ may dwell upon him though with his own abasement The glorious discovery of his power of his powerfull grace is very desireable hence he prayes that the spirit of Revelation would open their eyes to see the exceeding greatnesse of his power in believers and 2. Thess. 1. 11. he
on Of such a one will I glory yet of my self will I not glory but in mine infirmities Paul take him as in himself he will not glory he is far from glorying in a third person it may be he will glory of the same things and in the same things that he will not glory in himself but rather act the part of an noble man indeed and really act it not hypocritically sustinendo personam but he will debase himself to the lowest that is an humble posture the frame of an humble soul and desire to advance Christ to the highest disparage himself conceal himself so God may appear in his glory For though I would desire to glory I shall not be a fool he had matter to glory if he vvould have produced it for I will say the truth he might have spoken a great deal of truth vvhen he gloried in himself but he will not do it but novv I forbear least any man should think of me above that vvhich he sees me to be or hears of me here is an admirable fruit of humility I desire it may be observed an admirable fruit of humility and the Observation is this That he who hath a deep die of humiliation is somtimes very carefull to conceal himself and his own glory Why so least any man should think of me above that which he sees me to be or bears of me Why is he thus carefull to coneeal himself upon this very ground even as Jesus Ghrist Michael the Archangell for he vvas that Michael that did contest vvith the Devill about Moses his body vvhere he should be buried Sathan vvould fain have knovvn the place Jesus Christ vvould have it concealed vvhy lest that he being so great an instrument of the glory of God people should adore him and sacrifice to him he knevv hovv superstitiously hovv idolatrously those people vvere enclined notvvithstanding all the discoveries of God they had had all the glorious ordinances and all the providentiall administrations it should be concealed so doth an humble Saint vvell knovv that he hath great reason to conceal himself vvhy lest others should advance him too high It may be there is such a man that is an humble Minister if they should knovv that he converted such a soul or that he made such a book therefore my name shall not be vvritten to it they vvould adore him too much it may be a charitable person if they should knovv he gave so much money to such an use they vvould idolize him Therefore I le conveigh it secretly not pompously displaying his own good works and I hope many Parliament-men and men in great place they can be content to serve God and serve the Publick though their name be not printed and ranked in such and such catalogues here is the frame of an humble spirit and therefore by way of Use If you be so desirous very desirous to discover all of your self set alwayes the best side forwards to guild over all your actions with the most specious commendations and cannot be content to do any thing in secret but that it must be published O suspect there is a great deal of unmortified pride in thy heart thou hadst need pray to the Lord to humble thee and pull down those proud plumes of thine for if there were a deep die of humiliation thou wouldest be content to conceal thy self especially when the glory of God and thine come in competition and be glad so Gods cause were carried on though by another Thus Luther did encourage Melancthon God is able to raise his own sinking cause and though we are unworthy it may be done by others For though I should desire to glory I shall not be a fool for I will say the truth but now I forbear lest any man should think of me above that which he sees me to be or that he heareth of me and lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations abundance of revelations Somtimes you see the Lord gives to some of his servants abundance of revelations not this and that revelation but abundance of revelations shall know many things why so what account can we give of the wisdome of God in this Because he doth intend here is the reason to gain himself abundance of glory by such and such persons he will not make them the conduit-pipes of conveighing such and such discoveries of himself unto others the Lord hath fitted for and given parts and the Spirit and gifts and graces suitable to be a glorious instrument and therefore he shall have abundance of revelations and therefore by way of Use Let it be our care to blesse God heartily blesse God and this were a sign indeed of love to Iesus Christ and a freedome from envy if thou be kept in the dark thy self yet thou canst blesse God that some others have an abundance of revelations but here is the wretched muttering of pride in our carnall hearts we cannot endure that any body should know more then our selves O this hath broken many good Lectures this hath bred a great deal of heart-burning amongst Ministers this makes it may be great Counsellours and Statesmen many times endeavour to pull down one another why because they grow as trees before their windows and a little hinder their prospect because it may be they have greater parts and greater abilities then themselves and are able to say more and gain more reputation and do more then they O this is not a thankefull frame this is not an humble posture I but saith many a soul that would be in the highest forme It may be I have as many revelations as others and as great discoveries are made to me for answer to this Question I beseech you let us a little consider for there is much talk of Revelations and I hope there are many and a great deal of discourse of new light and I hope there is much many more clear discoveries and will be for the Pope must come down by new light how ever some men scoff at it I do not mean by an addition of new fundamentalls and by new light substantiall truths but indeed Revelation is this properly the spirit of Revelation enabling us more fully to see what is already revealed as the rule to discover those objects which are propounded in the word of God and therefore for your satisfaction to these that say we have such and such revelations c. First Knovv that there are some extraordinary Revelations vvhich are made to Churches and those by publick persons authorized by God himself and they are alwayes infallible Upon this very ground doth our Saviour say in the closure of those seven Epistles in the second and third Revelations He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches when the Spirit speaks when he hath a tongue to speak we must hear but then 2. There are other
Revelations that are not made thus to publick persons and wherein there is not alwayes that infallibility throughout in the whole though so far as the Spirit reveals himself to any he is infallible but it is not so to them because they are not publick persons and that act by a publick Commission there are Revelations to particular persons now what is the difference betwixt those two why they are for themselves others for the publick therefore they are infallibly and extraordinarily acted and they know it so to be as Paul said you shall finde in the 16. of the Acts there when he was called to Macedonia it is a very good place for this purpose and I desire it may be considered when he had that Revelation there that he must go into Macedonia it is said Paul come into Macedonia and help us you shall find he saith he went why he went immediately because he was assured that he must go in the 10. verse After that he had seen the Vision immediately indeavoured to go into Macedonia assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us to preach the Gospel to them If you will ask any man How will you know you have a Revelation I hope Sir I have it from God If he say so he hopes he hath it from God I le conclude it is no such extraordinary Revelation for if he had had an extraordinary Revelation from God wherein he was infallible then he had that {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which here Paul found at least in a good measure and it would so far have discovered it self to him that he should have had a strong assurance that God called him and he must go but I remember a story A man had knocked down Images out of a window and then comes and consults with a Divine Sir think you not I had an extraordinary call to knock down these Images Do you think it yes Sir then I know you had not for if you had had an extraordinary call then you would have had an assurance too from God that he had called you So that if there be an infallible Revelation there is a certain evidence goes along with it hence I conclude Many people that talk so much of Revelations have not these extraordinary Revelations because they have not these Certainties But then there is also a Spirit of vvisedome and Revelation that Paul prayes for for all his Ephesians in the 1. Ephesians 17. 18. that their eyes might be opened by the Spirit of wisedome and Revelation in the knowledge of Christ that they may know the hope of their calling but vvhat these are for our selves and vvhereas the other Revelations to publick persons are extraordinary ones and that others may have discoveries and others are to be obliged to observe them As suppose I or you or any particular Saint in this congregation vve should go to prayer and read a Chapter and it may be have a hint a beam of light that vve understand this in reading of a Chapter that vve never savv before though vve reade it an hundred times I le blesse God this is a new light God comes in to me and gives me a degree of the Spirit of wisedome and Revelation but vvhat is the difference novv here is the grand mistake amongst many men and I desire it may be rightly apprehended this Revelation I blesse God for may be of good use to mee but this is no obligeing rule and light for others as the Apostles was when their Revelations were extraordinary If you vvill say I have this light and you must follovv my light here you are mistaken unlesse you are a publick person for vvhat is thy revelation here that light that God is pleased to give thee is for the satisfaction of thy soul or it may be for thy ovvn guidance but not oblige and impose upon others and this is a grand deceit now a dayes when many an honest-hearted Christian for so I believe many of them are very honest-hearted and have much communion with God and receive many good hints from him in prayer and reading of the Scriptures and attend upon ordinances if they will make use of this to themselves well and good if the Lord prosper them in it but if they will come and say I have had this Revelation and you must believe as I believe and do as I do because God hath shewen me such things there brother you are mistaken for God gives thee a Revelation not to propose a new rule that thou shouldest impose upon others as he did to the Apostles that were persons extraordinarily acted assisted and directed and had a Commission for that purpose but he gives thee this private discovery for thy own private satisfaction and advantage and if thou use it to that purpose thou hast much cause to rejoyce in it and blesse God for it But it may be you will object and say But I must make use of such Revelations I must name the word I would to God there were no occasion for it as the Antiscripturists speak men that dispute against the Scriptures and will not allow the Scriptures to be the word of God and disparage them in comparison of their Revelations A strange thing if they consider that place in Peter they had a Revelation indeed they had seen and heard a voyce in the Mount in the 2. Peter 1. 19. We saith he have a more sure word of Prophesie whereunto you do well to take heed A more sure word of Prophesie when he compares a voice in the mount from heaven yet he calls it a more sure word of prophesie whereunto you do well that ye take heed as to a light that shineth in a dark place till the day dawn and the day-starre arise in your hearts not as they will expound it not that you must take heed to the sure word of prophesie till Jesus Christ come into your hearts and then throw away the Scriptures O most rotten and unsavoury and I dare say an ungodly exposition but you do well to take heed to those discoveries that are made in the propheticall Scriptures in the old Testament there speaking comparatively untill Jesus Christ dawn in your hearts give light rise and there gloriously appear * till there be a more full Gospel-light for that he speaks of as you shall see Gerard and some others upon the place but I must proceed let me adde this further you that will say Revelations must be our Rule because the Scriptures are so dark and you do not understand the translations you do not know them and there are such varietie of translations in severall places you cannot tell what to think to this let me answer in the first place and It is a very good hint that Austin hath if so be there are two diverse places of Scripture and wherein there are divers readings whether the old Coppy or this Coppy or that Coppy