we are here we are complaining of our wants weeping over our sins but there we shall be praising God How will the Birds of Paradise chirp when they are in that Caelestial Country There the Morning Stars will sing together and all the Saints of God shout for joy O what should we aspire after but this Country above Such as have their eyes opened will see that it doth infinitely excel An ignorant man looks upon a Star and it appears to him as a little silver spot but the Astronomer who hath his Instrument to judge of the dimension of a Star knows it to be many degrees bigger than the earth So a natural man hears of the heavenly Country that it is very glorious but it is at a great distance and because he hath not a spirit of discerning the world looks bigger in his eye but such as are Spiritual Artists who have the Instrument of Faith to judge of Heaven will say it is far the better Country and thither will they hasten with the Sails of desire SECT XV. 15. A godly man is a zealous man grace turns a Saint into a Seraphim it makes him burn in holy zeal zeal is a mixed affection a compound of love and anger it carries forth our love to God and anger against sin in the most intense manner Zeal is the flame of the affections a godly man hath a double baptism of water and fire he is baptized with a spirit of zeal hee is zealous for Gods honour truth worship Psal. 119. 139. my zeal hath consumed me it was a crown set on Phineas his head hee was zealous for his God Numb 25. 13. Moses being touched with a coal from Gods altar in his zeal hee breaks the Tables Exod. 32. 19. our blessed Saviour in his zeal whips the buyers and sellers out of the Temple Ioh. 2. 17. the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up But there is a Praeternatural heat something looking like zeal which is not a Comet looks like a Star I shall therefore show some differences between a true and a false zeal 1 A false zeal is a blinde zeal Rom. 10. 2. They have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge this is not the fire of the spirit but wild-fire The Athenians were very devout and zealous but they knew not for what Acts 17. 23. I found an Altar with this Inscription 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To the unknown God Thus the Papists are zealous in their way but they have taken away the key of knowledge 2 A false zeal is a self-seeking zeal Iehu cries come see my zeal for the Lord 2 King 10. 16. but it was not zeal but ambition he was fishing for a Crown Demetrius pleads for the Goddess Diana but it was not her Temple but her Silver shrines he was zealous for Such zealots Ignatius complains of in his time that they made a Trade of Christ and Religion thereby to enrich themselves 'T is probable many in King Henry the eights time were forward to pull down the Abbies not out of any zeal against Popery but that they might build their own houses upon the ruines of those Abbies like Eagles which fly aloft but their eyes are down upon their prey If blind zeal be punished seven fold hypocritical zeal shall bee punished seventy and seven fold 3 A false praeposterous zeal is a misguided zeal it runs out most in things which are not commanded It is the sign of an hypocrite to be zealous for traditions and careless of institutions The Pharisees were more zealous about washing of their cups than their hearts 4 A false zeal is fired with passion Iames and Iohn when they would call for fire from heaven were rebuked by our Saviour Luk. 9. 54. Yee know not what spirit yee are off it was not zeal but choller many have espoused the cause of Religion rather out of faction and humour than out of zeal to the truth But the zeal of a godly man is a true and holy zeal which evidenceth it self in the effects of it 1 True zeal cannot bear an injury done to God zeal makes the blood rise when Gods honour is impeached Rev. 2. 2. I know thy works and thy labour and patience and how thou canst not bear them which are evil hee who zealously affects his friend cannot hear him spoken against and be silent 2 True zeal will encounter with the greatest difficulties when the world holds out a Gorgons head of danger to discourage us zeal casts out fear it is quickned by opposition Zeal doth not say there is a Lyon in the way zeal will charge through an Army of dangers it will march in the face of death Let news be brought to Paul that he was way-laid in every City bonds and imprisonment did abide him this sets a keener edge upon his zeal Acts 21. 13. I am ready not only to bee bound but to dye for the name of the Lord Iesus as sharp frosts do by an antiparistasis make the fire burn hotter so sharp oppositions do but inflame zeal the more 3 True zeal as it hath knowledge to go before it so it hath sanctity to follow after it Wisdome leads the van of zeal and holiness brings up the rear an hypocrite seems to be zealous but he is vitious the godly man is white and ruddy white in purity as well as ruddy in zeal Christs zeal was hotter than the fire and his holiness purer than the sun 4 Zeal that is genuine loves truth when it is despised and opposed Psal. 119. 126. They have made void thy law therefore I love thy commandements above gold the more others deride holiness the more we love it what is Religion the worse for others disgracing it doth a Diamond sparkle the less because a blinde man disparageth it the more outragious the wicked are against the truth the more couragious the godly are for it When Mical scoffed at Davids religious dancing before the Ark if saith he this be to be vile I will yet be more vile 2 Sam. 6. 22. 5 True zeal causeth fervency in duty Rom. 12. 11. fervent in spirit Zeal makes us hear with reverence pray with affection love with ardency God kindled Moses his sacrifice from heaven Lev. 9. 24. There came a fire out from before the Lord and consumed upon the Altar the burnt offering when we are zealous in devotion and our heart waxeth hot within us here is a fire from heaven kindling our sacrifice how odious is it for a man to be all fire when he is sinning and all yâ—e when he is praying A pious heart like water seething hot boils over in holy affections 6. True zeal is never out of breath though it be violent 't is perpetual no waters can quench the flame of zeal it is torrid in the frigid zone The heat of zeal is like the natural heat coming from the heart which lasts as long as life That zeal which is not constant was
never true Use 1. How opposite are they to godliness who cry down zeal and count it a Religious phrensie They are for the light of knowledge but not for the heat of zeal When Basil was earnest in preaching against the Arrian Heresie it was interpreted folly and dotage Religion is a matter requires zeal the Kingdom of heaven will not be taken but by violence Mat. 12. 11. Object But why so much fervour in Religion what becomes then of Prudence Answ. Though Prudence be to direct zeal yet not to destroy it because sight is requisite must the body therefore have no heat If Prudence be the eye in Religion zeal is the heart Quest. But where is moderation Answ. Though moderation in things of indifferency be commendable and doubtless it would much tend to the setling the peace of the Church yet in the main Articles of Faith wherein Gods glory and our Salvation lie at stake here moderation is nothing else but sinful neutrality It was Calvins advice to Melancthon that he should not so affect the name of moderate that at length he lost all his zeal Object But the Apostle presseth moderation Phil. 4. 5. Let your moderation be known to all Answ. The Apostle speaks there of moderating our passion the Greek word for moderation signifies candour and meekness opposite to rash anger and so the word is rendred in another place Patient 1 Tim. 3. 3. By moderation then is meant meekness of spirit and that is clear by the subsequent words The Lord is at hand As if the Apostle had said avenge not your selves for the Lord is at hand he is ready to avenge your personal wrongs but this doth not at all hinder but that in matters of Religion a Christian should be zealous 2 What strangers are they to godliness who have no zeal for the glory of God they can see his ordinances despised his worship adulterated yet their spirits are not at all stirred in them How many are of a dull lukewarm temper zealous for their own secular interest but have no zeal for the things of heaven hot in their own cause but cool in Gods The Lord doth most abominate lukewarm professours I had almost said hee is sick of them Rev. 3. 15. I would thou wert cold or hot any thing but lukewarm but because thou art neither cold nor hot I will spue thee out of my mouth A lukewarm Christian is but dough-baked just like Ephraim Hos. 7. 8. Ephraim is a cake not turned To keep up a form of Religion without zeal is to be like those bodies the Angels assumed which mooved but had no life in them I would ask these Tepid neutral professors this question If Religion be not a good cause why did they undertake it at first if it be why do they go so faintly about it why have they no more holy ardours of soul these persons would fain go to heaven in a soft bed but are loath to bee carried thither in a fiery Chariot of zeal Remember God will be zealous against them who are not zealous he provides the fire of hell for those that want the fire of zeal Use 2. As you would be found in the catalogue of the godly labour for zeal as good bee of no religion as not to be zealous in religion Beware of carnal policy This is one of those three things which Luther feared would bee the death of Religion Some men have been too wise to bee saved Their discretion hath quenched their zeal beware of stoth which is an enemy to zeal be zealous and repent Rev. 3. 19. Christians what do you reserve your zeal for is it for your gold that perisheth or for your lusts that will make you perish can you bestow your zeal better than upon God how zealous have men been in a false religion Isa. 46. 6. They lavish gold out of the bag and weigh silver in the ballance The Iews did spare no cost in their idolatrous worship nay Ier. 32. 35. They cause their Sons and Daughters to pass thorow the fire to Molech They were so zealous in their idol-worship that they would sacrifice their Sons and Daughters to their false Gods how far did the purblinde Heathens go in their false zeal 〈◊〉 the Tribunes of Rome complained they wanted gold in their Treasurâ—es to offer to Apollo the Roman Matrons plucked off their chains of gold and rings and bracelets and gave them to the Priests to offer up sacrifice were these so zealous in their sinful worship and will not you bee zealous in the worship of the true God can you loose any thing by your zeal shall it not bee super-abundantly recompenced what is heaven worth what is a sight of God worth was not Jesus Christ zealous for you he sweat drops of blood hee conflicted with his Fathers wrath how zealous was hee for your redemption and have you no zeal for him is there any thing you your selves hate more than dulness and slothfulness in your servants you are weary of such servants do you dislike a dull temper in others and not in your selves what are all your duties without zeal but non entia meer fancies and nullities Do you know what a glorious thing zeal is it is the lustre that sparkles from grace it is the flame of love it resembles the Holy Ghost Act. 2. 2. There appeared cloven tongues like fire which sat upon them and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost Tongues of fire were an Emblem to represent that fire of zeal which the spirit powred upon them Zeal makes all our religious performances prevalent with God When the iron is red hot it enters best and when our services are red hot with zeal they soonest pierce heaven SECT XVI 16. A godly man is a patient man Iam. 5. 11. Ye have heard of the patience of Iob. Patience is a star which shines in a dark night There is a twofold patience 1. Patience in waiting 2. Patience in bearing 1. Patience in waiting A godly man if he hath not his desire presently he will wait till the mercy be ripe Psa. 130. 6. My soul waiteth for the Lord. Good reason God should have the Timing of our mercies Isa. 60. 22. I the Lord will hasten it in his time Deliverance may tarry beyond our time but it will not tarry beyond Gods time Why should not we wait patiently upon God 1. We are servants it becomes servants to be in a waiting posture 2. We wait upon every thing else we wait upon the fire till it burns we wait upon the seed till it grows Iam. 5. 7. Why cannot we wait upon God 3. God hath waited upon us Did not he wait for our repentance How often did he come year after year before he found fruit Did God wait upon us and cannot we wait upon him A godly man is content to stay Gods leisure though the Vision tarry he will wait for
our duties are divinely qualified we do them with pure aims 3. When we have found God going along with us we give him the glory of all 1 Cor. 15. 10. This doth clearly evince that the duty was carried on by the strength of Gods Spirit more than by any innate abilities of our own 7. Gods Spirit hath a comforting virtue disconsolacy may arise in a gracious heart as the Heaven though it be a bright lucid body yet hath interposition of Clouds this sadness is caused usually through the malice of Satan who if he cannot destroy us he will disturb us but Gods Spirit within us doth sweetly chear and revive he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Comforter Ioh. 14. 16. These comforts are real and infallible Hence it is called the Seal of the Spirit Eph. 1. 13. When a Deed is sealed it is firm and unquestionable so when a Christian hath the seal of the spirit his comforts are confirmed every godly man hath these revivings of the spirit in some degree he hath the seminals and initials of joy though the flower be not fully ripe and blown Quest. How doth the Spirit give comfort Answ. 1. By showing us that we are in a state of Grace A Christian cannot always see his riches the work of Grace may be written in the heart like short-hand which a Christian cannot read the spirit gives him a Key to open these dark Characters and spell out his Adoption whereupon he hath joy and peace 1 Cor. 2. 12. We have received the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things which are freely given to us of God 2. The spirit comforts by giving us some ravishing apprehensions of Gods love Rom. 5. 5. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost Gods love is a box of precious oyntment and it is only the spirit can break open this box and fill us with the sweet perfume of it 3. The spirit comforts by carrying us to the Bloud of Christ as when a man is weary and ready to faint carry him to the water and he is refreshed so when we are fainting under the burden of sin the spirit carries us to the Fountain of Christs Bloud Zac. 12. 1. In that day there shall be a Fountain opened c. The spirit inables us to drink the waters of Justification which run out of Christs sides The spirit applyes whatever Christ hath purchased it shows us that our sins are done away in Christ and though we are spotted in our selves we are undefiled in our head 4. The spirit comforts by inabling Conscience to comfort the Childe must be taught before it can speak The spirit opens the mouth of Conscience and helps it to speak and witness to a man that his estate is good whereupon he begins to receive comfort Rom. 9. 2. My Conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost Conscience draws up a Certificate for a man then the Holy Ghost comes and sets his hand to the Certificate 5. The spirit conveys the Oyl of Joy through two Golden Pipes 1. The Ordinances 2. The Promises 1. The Ordinances As Christ in prayer had his countenance changed Luk 9. 29. There was a glorious lustre upon his face so often in the use of Holy Ordinances the godly have such raptures of joy and soul-transfigurations that they have been carried above the world and despised all things below 2. The Promises The Promises are comfortable 1. For their sureness Rom. 4. 16. God in the Promises hath laid his truth to pawn 2. For their suitableness being calculated for every Christians condition The Promises are like a Physick-garden there is no disease but some herb may be found there to cure it but the Promises of themselves cannot comfort only the spirit inables us to suck these Honey-combs The Promises are like a Limbeck full of herbs but this Limbeck will not drop unless the fire be put under So when the spirit of God which is compared to fire is put to the Limbeck of the Promises then they distil Consolation into the soul. Thus we see how the spirit is in the godly by its virtues Object But is this the sign of a godly man to be filled with the Spirit Are not the wicked said to partake of the Holy Ghost Heb. 6. 4. Answ. Wicked men may partake of the spirits working but not of its in-dwelling they may have Gods spirit move upon them the godly have it enter into them Ezek. 3. 24. Object But the unregenerate taste of the Heavenly Gift Heb. 6. Answ. It is with them as Cooks who may have a smack and taste of the meat they dress but they are not nourished by it Tasting there is opposed to eating The godly have not only a drop or taste of the spirit but it is in them as river of living water Iohn 7. 38. Use 1. It brands them for ungodly who have none of Gods spirit Rom. 8. 9. If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his And if he be none of Christs then whose is he to what Regiment doth he belong 'T is the misery of a sinner he hath none of Gods spirit Me thinks 't is very offensive to hear men say Take not thy holy spirit from us who never had Gods spirit will they say they have Gods spirit in them who are drunkards and swearers Have they Gods spirit who are malicious and unclean It were blasphemy to say these have the spirit Will the blessed spirit leave his Caelestial Palace to come and live in a prison A sinners heart is a Gaol both for darkness and noysomness and will Gods free spirit be confined to a prison A sinners heart is the Embleme of Hell what should Gods spirit do there Wicked hearts are not a Temple but an Hogâ—sty where the unclean spirit makes his abode Ephes. 2. 2. The Prince of the power of the Ayr the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience We would be loath to live in an house haunted with eviâ— spirits a sinners heart is haunted Ioh. 13 27. After the sop Satan entred Satan venter upon the godly but enters into the wicked when the Devils went into the herd of swine they ran violently down a steep place into thâ— Sea Mat. 8. 32. Whence is it men run so greedily to the Commission of sin but because the Devil hath entred into these Swine 2. This cuts them off from being godly who not only want the spirit but deride it Like those Iews Acts 2. 13. These men are full of new wine And indeed so the Apostles were they were full of the wine of the spirit How is Gods spirit scoffed at by the sons of Belial These say they are men of the Spirit O wretches to make those tongues which should be Organs of Gods praise instruments to blaspheme Have you none to throw your squibs at but the spirit Deriding of
take our Flesh nay that Christ â—hould take our Nature when it was in disgrace being stained with sin this was the wonder of humility Look upon an humble Saviour and let the plumes of Pride fall 2 Study Gods Immensity and Purity a sight of glory humbles Elijah wrap'd his face in a Mantle when Gods glory passed before him 1 King 19. 13. The Stars vanish when the Sun appears 3 Let us study our selves First our dark side by looking our faces in the glass of the Word we see our spots what a world of sin swarms in us We may say as Bernard Lord I am nothing but peccatum aut sterilitas either sinfulness or barrenness Secondly Our light side Is there any good in us 1 How disproportionable is it to the means of Grace we have enjoyed There is still something lacking in our Faith 1 Thess. 3. 10. O Christian be not proud of what thou hast but be humble for what thou wantest 2 The Grace we have is not of our owâ— growth We are beholding to Christ anâ— free Grace for it as he said of that Axâ— which fell in the water 2 King 6. 5. Alâ— master for it was borrowed So I may say 〈◊〉 all the good and excellency in us it is boâ—rowed Were it not folly to be proud of Ring that is lent 1 Cor. 4. 7. For 〈◊〉 maketh thee to differ from another and whâ— hast thou that thou didst not receive Thâ— Moon hath no cause to be proud of 〈◊〉 light when she borrows it from the Sun 3. How far short do we come of others perhaps other Christians are Gyants in Grace they are in Christ not only before us but above us We are but as the foot in Christs Body they are as the eye 4. Our beauty is spotted The Church is said to be fair as the Moon Cant. 6. 10. which when it shines brightest hath a dark spot in it Faith is mixed with infidelity a Christian hath that in his very grace may humble him 5. If we would be humble let us contemplate our mortality Shall dust exalt it self The thoughts of the grave should bury our pride They say when there is a Tympany in the body the hand of a dead man stroaking that part cures the Tympany The serious meditation of death is enough to cure the Tympany of Pride SECT XII 12. A godly man is a praying man This is in the Text Every one that is godly shall pray unto thee As soon as Grace is powred in prayer is powred out Psa. 109. 4. But I give my self to prayer in the Hebrew it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but I prayer Prayer and I are all one Prayer is the Souls traffique with heaven God comes down to us by his Spirit and we go up to him by prayer Caligula placed his Effigies in the Capitol whispering in Iupiters ear prayer whispers in Gods ear A godly man cannot live without prayer A man cannot live unless he takes his breath not can the Soul unless it breathes forth its desires to God As soon as the Babe of Grace is born it cryes no sooner was Paul converted but behold he prayeth Act. 9. 11. No doubt he prayed before being a Pharisee but it was either superficially or superstitiously but when the work of Grace had passed upon his soul behold now he prays A godly man is every day upon the Mount of Prayer he begins the day with prayer before he opens his shop he opens his heart to God We use to burn sweet perfumes in our houses a godly mans house is domus aromatum an house of perfume he ayrs it with the incense of prayer he ingageth in no business without seeking God Scipio never entred into the Senate House but first he ascended the Capitol where he did his devotion A godly man consults with God in every thing he asks his leave and his blessing The Grecians asked counsel at their Oracles so doth a godly man enquire at the Divine Oracle Gen. 24. 12. 1 Sam. 23. 3 4. A true Saint continually shoots up his heart to heaven by sacred ejaculations Quest. Is Prayer a sign of a godly man may not an hypocrite pray eloquently and with seeming devotion Answ. He may Isa. 58. 2. they seek me daily but an hypocrite doth not pray 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the spirit Eph. 6. 18. A man may have the gift of prayer and not have the spirit of prayer Quest. How shall we know that we have the Spirit of Prayer Answ. When the prayer which we make is spiritual Quest. What is it to make a Spiritual Prayer Answ. 1. When we pray with knowledge under the Law Aaron was to light the Lamps when he burned the Incense upon the Altar Exod. 30. 7. Incense did typifie prayer and the lighting of the Lamps did typifie knowledge when the Incense of prayer burns the Lamp of knowledge must be lighted 1 Cor. 14. 15. I will pray with the understanding We must know the Majesty and Holiness of God that we may be deeply affected with reverence when we come before him we must put up such Petitions as are exactly adequate and agreeable to Gods will Eccles. 5. 2. Be not rash with thy mouth to utter any thing before God The Lord would not have the blind offered to him Mal. 1. 8. How can we pray with affection when we do not pray with judgement The Papists pray in an unknown tongue Christ may reply to them as he did to the Mother of Zebedees Children Mat. 20. 22. Ye ask ye know not what He that prays he knows not how shall be heard he knows not when 2. A spiritual prayer is when the heart and spirit pray there are not only words but desires 'T is excellent when a man can say Lord my heart prays 1 Sam. 1. 13. Hannah prayed in her heart The sound of a Trumpet comes from within and the excellent Musick of Prayer comes from within the heart if the heart doth not go along in duty it is speaking not praying 3. A spiritual Prayer is a fervent Prayer Iam. 5. 16. An effectual fervent prayer prevails much The heart like the Primum Mobile should carry the affections in a most zealous and rapid manner fervency is the wing of Prayer by which it ascends to heaven Prayer is expressed by sighs and groans Rom. 8. 26. It is not so much the gifts of the spirit as the groans of the spirit God likes Prayer is called a wrestling Gen. 32. 24. and a powring out of the Soul 1 Sam. 1. 15. Prayer is compared to Incense Psa. 141. 2. Incense without fire makes no sweet smell Prayer without fervency is like Incense without fire Christ prayed with strong cryes and tears Heb. 5. 7. crying Prayer prevails When the heart is inflamed in Prayer a Christian is carried as it were in a Fiery Chariot up to heaven 4. A Spiritual Prayer is such as
comes from a broken heart Psa. 51. 17. The Sacrifices of God are a broken spirit The Incense was to be beaten to typifie the breaking of the heart in Prayer 'T is not the voluble tongue but the melting heart God accepts Oh saith a Christian I cannot pray as others as Moses said to the Lord I am not eloquent But canst thou weep and sigh Doth thy soul melt out at thy eyes God accepts broken expressions when they come from broken hearts I have read of a Plant that bears no fruit but it weeps forth a kind of Gum which is very costly So though thou dost not flourish with those gifts and expressions as others yet if thou canst weep forth tears from a contrite heart these are exceeding precious to God and he will put them in his bottle Iacob wept in prayer and had power ever the Angel Hos. 12. 4. 5. A spiritual Prayer is a believing Prayer Mat. 21. 22. Whatever ye shall ask in prayer believing ye shall receive The reason why so many Prayers suffer shipwrack is because they split against the Rock of unbelief Praying without Faith is shooting without bullets When Faith takes Prayer by the hand then we draw neer to God we should come to God in Prayer as the Leper Mat. 8. 2. Lord if thou wilt thou canst heal me 'T is a disparagement to Deity to have such a whisper in the heart that Gods ear is heavy and cannot hear What is said of the people of Israel may be applyed to Prayer It could not enter in because of unbelief 6. A Spiritual Prayer is an holy Prayer 1 Tim. 2. 8. Wherefore lift up pure hands Prayer must be offered upon the Altar of a pure heart sin lived in makes the heart hard and Gods ear deaf sin stops the mouth of Prayer it doth as the Thief to the Traveller puts a Gagg in his mouth that he cannot speak sin poysons and infects prayer A wicked mans prayer is sick of the Plague and will God come neer him The Loadstone loseth its virtue when it is bespread with Garlick so doth prayer when it is polluted with sin Psa 66. 18. If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me 'T is foolish to pray against sin and then to sin against prayer a spiritual prayer like the spirits of Wine must be refined and taken off the Lees and dregs of sin Mal. 3. 3. That they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness If the heart be holy this Altar will sanctifie the gift 7. A spiritual prayer is an humble prayer Psa. 10. 17. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble Prayer is the asking of an Alms which requires humility Luke 18. 13. The Publican standing afar off would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven but smote upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a sinner Gods incomprehensible glory may even amaze us and strike an holy consternation into us when we approach nigh to him Ezra 9. 6. O my God I blush to lift up my face to thee 'T is comely to see a poor nothing lye prostrate at the feet of its Maker Gen. 18. 27. Behold I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord which am but dust and ashes The lower the heart descends the higher the prayer ascends 8. A spiritual prayer is when we pray in the name of Christ To pray in the name of Christ is not only to name Christ in prayer but to pray in the hope and confidence of Christs mediation as a Childe claims his Estate in the right of his Father who purchased it so we come for mercy in Christs Name who hath purchased it for us in his bloud unless we pray thus we do not pray at all nay we rather provoke God as it was with Uzziah when he would offer Incense without a Priest God was angry and struck him with Leprosie 2 Chron. 26. 16. So when we do not come in Christs Name in prayer we offer up Incense without a Priest and what can we expect but to meet with wrath 9. A spiritual prayer is when we pray out of love to prayer A wicked man may pray but he doth not love prayer Iob 27. 10. Will he delight himself in the Almighty A godly man is carried upon the wings of delight he is never so well as when he is praying he is not forced with fear but fired with love Isa. 56. 7. I will make them joyful in my house of prayer 10. A spiritual prayer is when we have spiritual ends in prayer There is a vast difference between a spiritual prayer and a carnal desire the ends of an Hypocrite are secular and carnal he looks asquint in prayer it is not the sense of his spiritual wants that moves him but rather lust Iam. 4. 3. Ye ask amiss that ye may consume it upon your lusts The sinner prays more for food than Grace this God doth not interpret praying but howling Hosea 7. 14. They howled upon their beds they assemble for corn and wine Da modo lucra mihi Prayers which want a good aim want a good answer A godly man hath spiritual ends in prayer he sends out his prayer as a Merchant sends out his Ship that he may have large returns of spiritual blessings his design in prayer is that his heart may be more holy and that he may have more communion with God A godly man drives the Trade of prayer that he may encrease the stock of Grace 11. A spiritual prayer is accompanied with the use of means there must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as well as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When Hezekiah was sick he did not only pray for recovery but he laid a lump of figs to the boyl Isa. 38. 21. Thus it is in case of the soul when we pray against sin and avoid temptations when we pray for Grace and improve opportunities this is the laying a fig to the boil which wil make us recover To pray for holiness and neglect the means is like winding up the Clock and pulling off the weights 12. A spiritual prayer is that which leaves a spiritual frame behind upon the heart a Christian is better after prayer he hath gotten more strength over sin as a man by exercise gets strength The heart after prayer keeps a tincture of holiness as the Vessel savours and relisheth of the Wine that is put into it Moses having been with God on the Mount his face shined so having been on the Mount of prayer our Graces shine and our lives shine This is the sign of a godly man he prays in the spirit This is the right kind of praying the gift of prayer is ordinary like Culinary fire but spiritual prayer is more rare and excellent like Elementary fire which comes from heaven Use 1. Is a godly man of a praying spirit then this excludes them from being godly 1. Who pray not at all
perfume 6 Wee have deserved worse at Gods hands hath hee taken away a childe a wife a parent hee might have taken away his spirit hath he deprived us of a relation he might have deprived us of salvation doth he put wormwood in the cup we have deserved poyson Ezra 9. 13. Thou hast punishâ—d us less than our iniquities deserve wee have a sea of sin and but a drop of suffering 7 The patient soul doth most sweetly enjoy it self an impatient man is like a troubled sea that cannot rest he tortures himself upon the wrack of his own griefs and passions whereas patience calms the heart as Christ did the sea when it was rough and now there is a sabbath in the heart yea an heaven Luk. 21. 19. In your patience possess yee your souls By faith a man possesseth God and by patience hee possesseth himself 8 How patient have many of the Saints been when the Lord hath broken the very staff of their comfort in bereaâ—ing them of Relations The Lord took away Iobs children and he was so far from murmuring that he falls a blessing Iob 1. 21. The Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord. God fore-told the death of Elies sons 1 Sam. 2. 34. In one day they shall dye both of them but how patiently did he take this sad news 1 Sam. 3. 18. It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good See the difference between Eli and Pharoah Pharoah saith who is the Lord Eli saith it is the Lord When God struck two of Aarons sons dead Lev. 10. 〈◊〉 Aaron held his peace patience opens the ear but shuts the mouth it opens the ear to hear the Rod but shuts the mouth that it hath not a word to say against God Behold here the patterns of patiencâ— and shall not wee write after their fair Copies these are heart-quieting considerations when God sets a deaths-head upon our comforts and removes dear relations from us 2 We must be patient when God inflicts any evil upon us Rom. 12. 12. Patient in Tribulation 1 The Lord sometimes laies heavy affliction upon his people Psal. 38. 2. Thy hand lies sore upon me The Hebrew word for afflicted signifies to bee melted God seems to melt his people in a furnace 2 God doth sometimes lay divers afflictions on the Saints Iob 19. 17. Hee multiplieth my wounds as wee have divers waies of sinning so the Lord hath divers waies of afflicting some hee melts away their estates others hee chains to a sick bed others hee confines to a Prison God hath various arrows in his quiver which he shoots 3 Sometimes God lets the affliction lye long Psal. 74. 9. There is no more any Prophet neither is there among us any that knoweth how long As it is with diseases there are some Chronical that linger and hang about the body several years together so it is with afflictions the Lord is pleased to exercise many of his precious ones with Chronical afflictions such as lye upon them a long time now in all these cases it becomes the Saints patiently to rest in the will of God the Greek word for patient is a metaphor alludes to one who stands invincibly under a burden This is the right notion of patience when we bear affliction invincibly without fainting or fretting The trial of a Pilot is seen in a storm so is the tryal of a Christian seen in affliction hee hath the right art of navigation who when the boistrous winds blow from heaven doth steer the ship of his soul wisely and not dash upon the â—rock of impatience a Christian should alwaies keep a decorum not behaving himself unseemly or disguising himself with intemperate passion when the hand of God lies upon him Patience adorns suffering affliction in Scripture is compared to a net Psa. 66. 11. Thou broughtest us into the net Such as have escaped the Devils net yet the Lord suffers them to bee taken in the net of affliction but they must not be as a wild Bull in a net Isa. 51. 20. to kick and fling against their maker but lye patiently till God break the net and makes away for their escape I shall propound four cogent Arguments to excite patience under those evils which God inflicts on us 1 Afflictions are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for our benefit Heb. 12. 9. Hee for our profit wee pray that God would take such a course with us as may do our souls Good when God is afflicting us hee is hearing our prayers he doth it for our profit not that afflictions in themselves do profit us but as Gods Spirit works with them For as the waters of Bethesda could not give health of themselves unless the Angel descended and stirred the water Iohn 5. 4. So the waters of affliction are not in themselves healing till Gods Spirit co-operates and sanctifies them to us Afflictions are many ways profitable 1. They make men sober and wise Physitians appoint distracted persons to be bound in Chains and to be dieted and have hard fare to bring them to the use of reason Many run stark mad in prosperity they neither know God nor themselves the Lord therefore binds them with cords of affliction that he may bring them to their right understandings Iob 36. 8. If they be held in cords of affliction then he shews them their transgression he openeth also their ear to discipline 2 Afflictions are a friend to grace 1 They beget grace Beza acknowledged God laid the foundation of his Conversion in a violent sickness at Paris 2 They augment grace the people of God are beholding to their troubles they had never had so much grace if they had not met with such sore trials now the waters run and the spices flow forth The Saints thrive by affliction as the Lacedemonians grew rich by war God makes grace flourish most in the fall of the leaf 3 Afflictions quicken our pace in the way to heaven it is with us as with children sent on an errand if they meet with Apples or Flowers by the way they linger and make no great haste home but if any thing fright them then they run with all the speed they can to their fathers house so in prosperity we are gathering the Apples and Flowers and do not much minde heaven but if troubles begin to arise and the times grow frightful then we make more haste to heaven and with David run the way of Gods commandements Psa. 119. 32. 2 God intermixeth mercy with affliction hee steeps his-sword of justice in the oyl of mercy there was no night so dark but Israel had a Pillar of fire in it there is no condition so dismal but we may see a Pillar of fire to give light if the body be in pain conscience is in peace there is mercy affliction is for the prevention of sin there is mercy In the Ark there was a rod and a pot of Manna the Emblem
in it Love one another how unworthy is it when Christians are suffering together to be then striving together 4 Not to love is very Sinful 1 For Saints not to love is to live in a contradiction to Scripture the Apostle is continually beating upon this string of love as if it made the sweetest musick in Religion Rom. 13. 8. Col. 3. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 22. 1 Ioh. 3. 11. 1 Iohn 4. 21. This Commandement we have from him that hee who loveth God love his Brother also not to love is to walk Antipodes to the word can he be a good Physician who goes against the rules of Physick can he be a good Christian who goes against the rules of Religion 2 Want of love among Christians doth much silence the spirit of prayer hot passions make cold prayers where animosities and contentions prevail instead of praying one for another Christians will be ready to pray one against another like the Disciples who prayed for fire from heaven upon the Samaritans Luke 9. 54. and will God think you hear such prayers as come from a wrathful heart will hee eat of our leavened bread will hee accept of those duties which are sowered with bitterness of spirit shall that prayer ever go up as incense which is offered with the strange fire of our sinful passions 3 These heart-burnings hinder the progress of piety in our own souls the flower of grace will not grow in a wrathful heart the body may as well thrive while it hath the Plague as a soul can that is infected with malice while Christians are debating grace is abating as the spleen grows health decaies and as hatred increaseth holiness declines 5 Not to love is very fatal the differences among Gods people portend ruine all mischiefs come in at this gap of division Mat. 12. 25. Animosities among Saints may make God leave his Temple Ezek. 10. 4. The glory of the Lord went up from the Cherub and stood upon the threshold Doth not God seem to stand upon the threshold of his house as if he were taking his wings to â—lye and wo to us if God depart from us If the Master leave the ship it is near sinkâ—ng indeed if God leave a land it must needs â—ink in ruine Quest. How shall wee attain this excellent grace of love Answ. 1 Beware of the Devils Footâ—osts I mean such as run on his errand and make it their work to blow the coals of contention among Christians and render one party odious to another 2 Keep up friendly meetings Christians should not be shy one of another as if they had the Plague 3 Let us plead that promise Ier. 32. 39. I will give them one heart and one way Let us pray that there may bee no strife among Christians but who shall love most let us â—ray that God will divide Babylon and unite â—ion Use 3 Is this a mark of a godly man to â—ove the Saints then they must stand inlighted for ungodly who hate the Saints the wicked have an implacable malice against Gods people and how can antipathies be reconciled To hate Saint-ship is a brand of a reprobate they that maligne the godly are the curse of the creation if all the scalding drops in Gods Vial will make them miserable they shall bee so Never did anyâ— who were the haters and persecuters of Saints thrive upon that Trade What became of Iulian Dioclesian Maximinus Valerian Cardinal Crescentius and others some of them their bowels came out others choked with their own blood that they might be set up as standing monuments of Gods vengeance Psa. 34. 21. They that hate the righteous shall be desolate SECT XIX 19 A godly man doth not indulge himself in any sin Though sin lives in him yet he doth not live in sin Every man that hath wine in him is not in wine A godly man may step into sin through infirmity but hee 〈◊〉 not keep the road Psal. 139. 24. See if there bee any way of wickedness in mee Quest. What is it to indulge sin Answ. 1 To give the breast to it and feed it as a fond Parent humours his childe and lets him have what he will so to indulge sin is to humour sin 2 To indulge sin is to commit it with delight 1 Thess. 2. 12. They have pleasure in unrighteousness In this sense a godly man doth not indulge sin though sin be in him hee is troubled at it and would fain get rid of it there is as much difference between sin in the wicked and the godly as between poyson being in a Serpent and in a Man Poyson in a Serpent is in its natural place and is delightful But poyson in a mans body is offensive and hee useth Antidotes to expel it So sin in a wicked man is delightful being in its natural place but sin in a childe of God is burdensome and he useth all means to expell it This pares off from the sin the will is against it A godly man enters his protest against sin Rom. 7. 15. What I do I allow not A childe of God while he commits sin hates the sin he commits Rom. 7. in particular there are four sorts of sins which a godly man will not allow himself in 1 Secret sins Some are more modest than to commit gross sin that would be a stain to their reputation but they will sit brooding upon sin in a corner 1 Sam. 23. 9. Saul secretâ—y practised mischief All will not sin in a Belcony but perhaps they will sin behind the curtain Rachel did not carry her fathers Images as a Sumpter-cloath to be exposed to publick view but she put them under her and sate upon them Gen. 31. 34. many carry their sins secretly as a candle in a dark lantâ—orn But a godly man dares not sin secretly 1 he knows that God sees in secret Psal. 44. 21. as God cannot be deceived by our subtilty so he cannot be excluded by our secresy 2 A godly man knows that secret sins are in some sense worse than others they discover more guile and Atheism The Curtain-sinner makes himself beleeve God doth not see Ezek. 8. 12. Son of man hast thou seen what the Antients of the house of Israel have done in the dark for they say the Lord seeth us not They that have bad eyes think the Sun is dim how doth this provoke God that mens Atheisme should give the lye to his Omnisciency Psal. 94. 9. He that formed the eye shall he not see 3 A godly man knows that secret sins shal not escape Gods Justice a Judge on the Bench can punish no offence but what is proved by Witness he cannot punish the Treason of the heart but the sins of the heart are as visible to God as if they were written upon the fore-head As God will reward secret duties so he will revenge secret sins 2 A godly man will not allow himself in gainful sins Gain is the golden
a steeping in Christs blood and breathe holiness into your heart O what cause have you to write your selves eternal debtors to free grace Hee denies God to be the Authour of his Grace who doth not give him the praise of it O acknowledge the love of God admire distinguishing mercy set the Crown of your praise upon the head of free grace If wee are to bee thankful for the fruits of the earth much more for â—he fruits of the Spirit it is well there is an eternity coming when the Saints shall triumph in God and make his praise glorious 3 Let me speak to the godly by way of Comfort you that have but the least dram of godliness in sincerity let me give you two rich Consolations 1 That Jesus Christ will not discourage the weakest Grace but will cherish and preserve it to Eternity Grace which is but newly budded shall by the beams of the Sun of Righteousness bee concocted and ripened into Glory This I shall speak more fully to in the next CHAP. XI Showing that the least degree of Godliness shall bee preserved Mat. 12. 20. A bruised Reed shall hee not break and smoking flax shall hee not quench till hee send forth Iudgement unto Victory THis Text is spoken Prophetically of Christ hee will not insult over the infirmities of his people hee will not crush Grace in the infancy A bruised Reed shall he not break and smoking flax shall be not quench I begin with the first the bruised Reed Quest. What is to bee understood here by a Reed Answ. It is not to bee taken litterally but mystically It is a Rational Reed the Spiritual part of man the Soul which may well bee compared to a Reed because it is subject to imbecility and shaking in this life till it grow up unto a firm Cedar in Heaven Quest. What is meant by a bruised Reed Answ. It is a soul humbled and bruised in the sense of sin it weeps but doth not despair it is tossed upon the waves of fear yet not without the Anchor of Hope Quest. What is meant by Christs not breaking this reed Answ. The sense is Christ will not discourage any mournful spirit who is in the pangs of the New-birth If the bruise of sin be felt it shall not be mortal A bruised reed shall he not break In the words there is a Miâ—oâ—â—s he will not break that is he will bind up the bruised reed he will comfort it The result of the whole is to show Christs compassion to a poor dejected sinner that smites upon his breast and dares hardly lift up his eye for mercy the bowels of the Lord Jesus yern towards him this bruised reed he will not break In the Text there are two parts 1. A Supposition a soul penitentially bruised 2. A Proposition it shall not be broken Doct. The bruised soul shall not be broken Psal. 147. 3. He bindeth up their wounds For this end Christ received both his Mission and Unction that he might bind up the bruised soul Isa. 61. 1. The Lord hath anointed me to bind up the broken-hearted But why will not Christ break a bruised reed 1. Out of the sweetness of his Nature Iam. 5. 11. the Lord is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 very pitiful he begets bowels in other creatures therefore is called the Father of mercies 2 Cor. 1. 3. and surely he himself is not without bowels when a poor soul is afflicted in spirit God will not exercise harshness towards it lest he should be thought to put off his own tender disposition Hence it is the Lord hath been ever most solicitous for his bruised ones as the Mother is most careful of her Children that are weak and sickly Isa. 40. 11. He shall gather the Lambs with his arm and carry them in hiâ— bosome Such as have been spiritually bruised who like Lambs are weakly and tender Christ will carry them in the arms of free-grace 2 Jesus Christ will not break the bruised reed because a contrite heart is his sacrifice Psa. 51. 17. A bruised spirit sends forth tears which are as precious wine Psa. 56. 8. A bruised soul is big with holy desires yea is sick of love therefore if a bruised reed hath such virtue in it Christ will not break it no Spices when they are bruised are so fragant to us as a contrite spirit is to God 3 The bruised reed shall not be broken because it doth so nearly resemble Christ Jesus Christ was once bruised on the cross Isa. 53. 10. It pleased the Lord to bruise him his hands and feet were bruised with the nails his side was bruised with the Spear A bruised reed resembles a bruised Saviour nay a bruised reed is a member of Christ which though it be weak Christ will not cut off but cherish so much the more 1. Will not Christ break the bruised reed this tacitly implies he will break unbruised reeds such as were never touched with trouble of spirit but live and die in impenitency these are hard reeds or rather rocks Christ will not break a bruised reed but he will break an hard reed Many know not what it is to be bruised reeds they are bruised outwardly by affliction but they are not bruised for sin they never knew what the pangs of the New birth meant You shall hear some thank God they were always quiet they never had any anxiety of spirit these bless God for the greatest Curse Such as are not bruised penitentially shall be broken judicially they whose hearts would not break for sin shall break with despair in hell there is nothing to be seen but an heâ—p of stones and an hammer an heap of stones that is hard hearts and an hammer that is Gods Power and Justice breaking them in pieces 2. Will not Christ break a bruised reed See then the gracious disposition of Jesus Christ he is full of clemency and sympathy though he may bruise the soul for sin he will not break it The Chyrurgion may lance the body and make it bleed but he will bind up the wound as Christ hath beams of Majesty so bowels of mercy Christ gives the Lyon in his Scutchion and the Lamb the Lyon in respect of his fierceness to the wicked Psal. 50. 22. And the Lamb in respect of his mildness to his people his name is Iesus a Saviour and his office is an healer Mal. 4. 2. Christ made a plaister of his own bloud to heal a broken heart Christ is the quintessence of love One saith if the sweetness of all flowers were in one flower how sweet would that flower be How full of Mercy is Christ in whom all mercy meets Christ hath a skilful hand and a tender heart He will not break a bruised reed Some are so full of Ostracisme and cruelty as to add affliction to affliction which is to lay more weight upon a dying man but our Lord Jesus is a compassionate