as a Builder and as an In-dweller to mortifie and to quicken to Convince and to Comfort to teach and to bring to remembrance to guide into the way to uphold in the way and lead to the end to be the earnest of their Inheritance and the Witness of their Son-ship the seal and the sealer wherewith and whereby they are sealed unto the day of Redemption by whom they have an access to the Father who are also an habitation of God through the spirit Such are the undoubted Operations of the Spirit in those that shall be saved for hereby we know that we dwell in Him and He in us because He hath given us his Spirit And therefore take heed good Reader of reviling any of these workings or of scoffing at the words for surely we cannot but think that the Holy Ghost knows best how to express his own workings O think of this Hebr. 10.62 that despight done to the Children of Grace supposeth a Trampling under foot the Son of God And truly one would think one might say in this Case as Ahasuerus did in another who is he and where is he that durst presume in his heart to do so Hestr 7.5 O Tremble good Christian at the very Thought of such a thing that the Holy Spirit of God should be grieved or vexed by the sons of Men Eph. 4.30 Isaiah 63.10 but especially that any should presume to Blaspheme him And let this serious thought dwell with thee That it is the Sin against the Spirit of Grace that excludes from Grace to Repent of SIN Thou therefore that bowest the knee at Our Father and at the Name Jesus Remember that there is a Third who together with the Father and the Son is to be worshiped and glorified Sect. XLIII High thoughts of our Obligations to the Spirit TO proceed He that hath Right Thoughts of the Spirit thinks himself alike beholding to the spirit as to the Father and the Son in the business of his salvation for to the working of the Father and the Son both which are Great and Glorious in Mans salvation there must be added the supply of the spirit For God hath chosen us to salvation Phil. 2.19 as well through sanctification of the spirit 2 Thes 1.13 John 14.16 as through the Belief of the Truth And therefore saith Christ I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that He may abide with you for ever even the spirit of Truth c. And again It is expedient for you that I go away And 16.7 that I may send Him to you It is expedient that 's a great word He saith not onely it will be as well for you if He come to you as if I had stayed with you but it is expedient for you that I go that He may come As in works that must pass through more hands then one it is Expedient that the First hand be taken off that the Finishing hand may come The finishing work in mans Salvation the Spirits work And therefore the Finishing work is the Spirits work The Father by his Mercy The Son by his Merit and Mediation and the Spirit of the Father and the Son by his Indwelling as these Three are One in themselves so in Mans salvation which Scripture saith is in the Son 1 John 5.11 John 3.16 John 15.21 given us by the Father but sent us home by the spirit When the Comforter is come saith Christ whom I will send to you from the Father even the spirit of Truth He shall testify of Me. The Grace of Our Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 13.14 and the Love of God is brought home to us and We to it by the Communion of the Holy Ghost The Son by his Incarnation which was the Work which his Father gave him to do brought Heaven Down to us John 17.4 and the spirit in our Regeneration wherein we are said to be Born of the spirit makes us his Temples and Gods Habitations and builds us up to Heaven John 3.8 Eph. 2.21 22. Hebr. 9.14 Ephes 1.6 The Son Offers up himself and makes us acceptable to a just God through his comliness that is to say his Righteousness put upon us And there is also an Offering up of us a making of us amiable to an Holy God by the Holy Spirit Rom. 15.16 That the Offering up of the Gentiles saith the Apostle might be Acceptable being sanâ—tified by the Holy Ghost 2 Cor. 6.8 Hebr. 8.6 The Maker of the New Covenant is the Father The Mediator of it is the Son And the great Matter of it is the Spirit for this is the sum of All I will put my spirit within you Ezek. 36.2 who is therefore called the holy spirit of Promise Eph. 1.13 Holy Spirit the great New Testament promise Luke 2.25 Acts 1.4 Verse 7.8 For as the Coming of the Messiah was the Great Hope and Expectation of the Fathers of the Old Testament which is therefore called a waiting for the Consolation of Israel so the coming of the Holy Ghost in the New and therefore called a waiting for the Promise of the Father And therefore when the Primitive Disciples were curiously inquisitive and desirous of the Knowledge of the Times and Seasons Our Gracious Saviour who best knew what was best for them confines them to and comforts them with this Expectation that the Holy Ghost should come upon them And Oh that many whole vehement Desires run out that way viz. after knowledge of times and seasons would endeavour more for the sweet Influences and Incomes of the Holy Ghost Fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 23. whose Fruits saith the Apostle are Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against which there is no Law Sect. XLIV Blessed fruit O Blessed Fruit of the thrice-Blessed Spirit for this was the Blessing of Abraham come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ Gal. 3.14 even that we might receive the Promise of the Spirit through Faith The Fruit that undid us was Forbidden Fruit Gen. 3.17 Chap. 2.17 Rom. 8.2 and 6.22 Fruit against Law but against such there is no Law Man Eating of that Fruit was to die the Death but this Spirit of Life makes us free from the Law of Death so that now We have our fruit unto holiness and the end Everlasting Life Sweet Fruit. 2 Cor. 3.17 Sweet Fruit may I well say if Life be sweet or Liberty for where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty or if Peace be sweet or Love lovely or Joy joyous Or if these be not enough here is Temperance Meekness Faith Goodness c. We may say here as 't is said in the Canticles at our good are all manner of pleasant fruits Cant. 7.13 Here I am sure I may say and not beguile my Reader Gen. 3.6 are fruits pleasant to the Eyes and good for Food for the Kingdom
high and lifted up and Seraphims crying one to another Holy holy holy is the Lord God of Hosts which made the holy Man cry out Wo is me I am un lone because I am a man of unclean lips c. and mine eyes have seen the King The Lord of Hosts The Apostle Paul expresly saith that this holy Lord God was God the Holy Ghost I heard the voice of the Lord saith the Prophet and he said go and tell this people here ye indeed but understand not c. now saith the Apostle Acts 28.25 26 27. well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the Prophet unto our Fathers saying Go unto this people and say hearing ye shall hear and not understand c. So one while 't is said the Holy Ghost spake by the mouth of David Acts 1.16 Chap. 4.24 25 Another while 't is said Lord thou art God which hast made Heaven and Earth and the Sea and all that is in them who by the mouth of thy Servant David hast said c. and so Ananias his lying to the Holy Gho t is called a lying unto God Therefore the Holy Ghost is God Again Scripture and Reason saith that He that built all things is God Acts 5 3 4. Hebr. 3.4 Job 33.9 Now the Spirit of God hath made me saith Elihu and if he made man the Master-piece Man the Microcosme well may it be said Job 26.13 that by him were the Heavens garnished and by the sending forth of Him All things else were Created which Text by the after clause of renewing the Face of the Earth refers to works of Providence Psal 104.30 Therefore the Holy Ghost is God And as he made All things 1 Cor. 2.10 Isaiah 40.13 he knows All things The Spirit searcheth All things yea the deep things of Goâ— for who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord or being his Counsellour hath taught him And as He is Omniscient he is Omnipresent Psal 139.7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit saith David or whither shall I flee from thy presence In a word He that prepared Christ a Body at his coming into the World is God Heb 10.5 for saith Christ a Body hast THOU prepared me then said I Lo I come to do thy will O GOD. But saith the Angel to the blessed Virgin Verse 7. Luâ—e 1.35 The HOLY GHOST shall come upon thee and the power of the higheâ—t shall overshadow thee Therefore also the Inference is most full to our purpose That Holy thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the SON OF GOD. Therefore the Holy Ghost is God Sect. XL. The Holy Ghost called the SPIRIT as to his subsistence Joh. 4.23 24. Hebr. 1.3 Heb. 9.14 ANd as the Holy Ghost is a SPIRIT in respect of his Essence being One glorious God with the Father and the Son for as God the Father is said to be a Spirit the Father seeketh such to worship him as may do it in Spirit and then it follows God is a Spirit and God the Son who is expresly said to be the express Image of his Fathers Person through the Eternal Spirit that is to say his God-head offered up himself So the Holy Ghost is The Spirit in respect of his wonderful Subsistence in the blessed Trinity by way of ineffable Spiration between the Father and the Son Mat. 3.16 17. betwixt whom He carryeth and re-carryeth the mutual and Eternal expressions of Divine delight and complacency which the Father and the Son have naturally necessarily and unchangeably each in other Gal. 4.6 Job 33.4 Rom. 8.9 who therefore said both to proceed from the Father and yet to be the Spirit of his Son and called in the Old Testament the Breath of the Almighty and in the New the Spirit of Christ His Mysterious Subsistence being most nearly shadowed out to our weak apprehensions by our breathing Rom. 3 8. Mat. 3.11 Isaiah 44.3 which is the Going and Coming Efflux and Reflux of our Breath and so he is compared to the three fluid and moving Elements of Air Fire and Water but never to the dul fixed Element of Earth for as the personal property of the Father is to Beget of the Son to be Begotten so of the Holy Ghost John 15.27 to Proceed And now how awful should the Thoughts of Him be unto us who is a SPIRIT in his ESSENCE THE SPIRIT in his SUBSISTENCE in both Uncreated Infinite and Eternal who dictated and Indited the Word built the World garnisheth Heaven furnisheth and reneweth the Face of the Earth made Man Knows all things fills all Places Col. 2.16 and is every where present at all times whose peculiar and stupendious Work it was to Sanctifie the Womb the Fruit whereof was to be the Saviour of the World Mat. 28.16 and prepare him a Body in whom the fulness of the God-head was to dwell bodily 2 Cor. 15.14 in whose Name together with the Fathers and the Sons we are Baptized and whose Communion together with the Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ Hebr. 7.4 and the Love of God we do Implore Of whom therefore I may say as the Apostle of Melchisedec Now Consider how great this man was Consider how great this Spirit is Sect. XLI The high Reverence we ow to the Holy Spirit ANd yet Wo is Us What slight and low and mean Thoughts are the Carnal Minds of Men apt to have of the holy Spirit of God which the Scripture foreseeing in Deep wisdom as in Parental Relation the Mothers fear to be most easily and usually neglected and forgotten by Children It sets a special Guard upon it Levit. 19.3 saying Ye shall fear every Man his Mother and his Father though her Order be Lust because the Fear of the Mother is ordinarily too much the least so in the cause of the Third Person whose Order of Subsisting is after the Father and the Son though in Honour he be Co-equal and in Essence Co-Eternal Sin against the Holy Ghost I say It sets a most dreadful Guard upon that Awe and holy Fear that We owe to the Holy Spirit when it saith All manner of Sin and Blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men Mat. 12.31 32 but THE BLASPHEMY against the HOLY GHOST shall NOT be forgiven unto Men And whosoever shall speak a word against the son of man it shall be forgiven him But whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven him neither in his world neither in the world to come which last words are no Indication that there is any Forgiveness of any Sin in another world that is not pardoned in this But a vehement assertion that there is no forgiveness for this Sin in any world Luk. 1â— 10 Mark 3.29 Therefore where S. Luke saith plainly It shall not be Forgiven S. Mark explains this Phrase of S. Matthews saying It hath never Forgiveness And so in the mouths of
of God is not meat and drink but Righteousness and Peace Rom. 14.17 1 Cor. 2.11 and Joy in the Holy Ghoâ—t and truly to be desired to make one Wise for the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God Verse 12.13 now we have received not the Spirit of this World but the Spirit which is of God that we may know the things that are freely given to us of God which things also we speak not in the words which mans wisdom teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth comparing spiritual things with spiritual and therefore He is called the spirit of Wisdom and Revelation Eph. 1.17 18. that We might know the hope of his Calling and the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints The Fruit forementioned was of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil Gen. 2.19 Eph. 5.7 In all goodness and truth but the Fruit of the Spirit is in all GOODNESS Righteousness and TRUTH Here is ALL Good and No Guile So then if Goodness it self be Good if Righteousness be Desirable for We through the Spirit wait for the hope of Righteousness by Faith if Truth be amiable Gal. 5.5 for He is also called the Spirit of Truth John 15.26 and 16.13 Eph. 3.16 2 Cor. 3.18 Phil. 2.1 and said to guide into All Truth In a word if according to the Riches of the Glory of God We are strengthened with might in the inner man by the Spirit changed into the same Image from glory to glory by the same Spirit If there be any Consolation in Christ or comfort of Love joyned with the fellowship of the Spirit If God be a good Guest for Ye are the Temple of God if the Spirit of God dwell in you 1 Cor. 3.16 Or if Heaven be worth having or that it be good for us that dwell in this Tabernacle to be clothed upon 2 Cor. 5.4 that Mortality might be swallowed up of Life the Earnest whereof is the Spirit Verse 5. Surely well may the Fruit of the Spirit be said to be in All Goodness As Mony answers All things in temporal Respects Eccles 11.19 Spirit answerâ— all good things so where one Evangelist saith how much more shall your Father give good Things c. The other reads How much more shall he give the holy Spirit to them that ask him so that the Holy Spirit answers All good Things Drunkards quench this Spirit Isaâ—ah 28.1 2 Thes 5.19 Hosea 4.11 Eph. 5.18 Luke 21.38 And here I cannot but lament the Drunkenness of our Ephraim who by abusing good things sin away the Best Thing quenching the Spirit with strong Drink which as it takes away mans heart so it keeps away Gods Spirit as Scripture saith be not drunk with Wine wherein is excess but be filled with the Spirit for that clean Spirit can not dwell in an Heart especially overcharged with Surfeiting Drunkenness and odious excess Sect. XLV Pray for the Spirit Psal 143.10 51.11 12. Acts 1.4 Survey his Workings Rom. 8.20 WHerefore good Reader say as David Thy Spirit is good and Pray as David O take not thy holy Spirit from me but uphold me with thy free Spirit Pray and wait for the Spirit having put the Promises in suit by Prayer Survey his daily workings and work thou with him for the Word himself useth as to his helping our Infirmities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a Metaphor taken from two that lift together one over against another at the same stone or piece of Timber to lay it in the Building Prize his Witnessings Verse 16.17 Acts 9.31 Moreover prize his Evidence for as he worketh so he witnesseth with our Spirit that We are the Children of God and if children then Hens c. walk in the comfort of the Holy Ghost as Scripture speaks even of his Evidence who is both Earnest Seal and Witnesse Listens to his motions Revel 22.10 Listen to the Spirit who never bids us to our hurt the spirit saith come take of the water of Life freely His Charmings are Wise his Reproofs an excellent Oyl his Convictions Kindness and all his motions James 3.17 Rev. 2.7.10 29 Chap. 1.6 13 22. Dictates and Counsels are first pure and then peaceable He that hath an Ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches 't is six times over in two Chapters it seems We are dull of hearing when Our best friend is speaking We could hear the Serpents first hissing listen to Satan when he doth but whisper to us but when the Spirit speaks so loud that All should hear even to the churches He finds deaf ears growing upon our Hearts and when he comes unto us by his sweet insinuations we treat this Heavenly Messenger as Hanun did King Davids 2 Sam. 10.4 cutting off his motions in the middle and so we send him grieved back to the high provocation of God that sends him But the Spirit is as his Fruit is Long-suffering or else He would not so long strive with Man with froward and stubborn man but yet think He will not alwayes do it as God roundly told the Old World But Wo Wo unto thee if thou Sin away the Spirit Psal 51.11 for casting away from Gods presence is inseperably annexed to the taking away his holy Spirit as it is in the Psalmist and those Spirits are sad proofs of it 1 Pet. 3.18.19.20 to whom God went and Preached by this Spirit in the dayes of Noah for being then disobedient they are now in Prison And sure We cannot but think it just and reasonable that we carefully hearken to him when ever he comes on Gods Errand to us Who if ever we would speed must go on Our Errand to God and make Intercession for us Rom. 8.26 Grieve not the Spirit Eph. 4.21 to 25.26 How that may be By Commissions And oh how disingenuous and injurious must we needs think it on the other hand to grieve him that Comforts us which the Apostle saith we do when we put not off concerning the former Conversation the Old Man which is corrupt according to deceiptful Lusts and put not on the new Man c. when we put not away lying corrupt Communication undue courses for a Livelihood instead of diligence in our lawful Calling anger Bitterness Evil-speaking and all Malice even by All such undue Affections Words and Actions Nay that We should Vex yea Resist him Isai h 63.10 Acts 7.51 as the uncircumcised in Heart and Ears nay quench the Spirit with excess of Wine c. as is said before put him quite out as Saul said God is departed from me 1 Sam. 28.15 and answereth me no more now Fire is put out as effectually by not putting on of Fuel as by putting on of Water and the holy Spirit quenched by Sins of Omission as of Commission Omission by Contempt and wilful neglecting of holy Duties Means and Ordinances
they are not upright Their thoughts are froward and so are they for as a man thinketh in his Heart so is he Prov. 19.3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way and his Heart fretteth against the Lord. He frets in Heart and thought though not in word Patience On the other hand you have heard of the Patience of upright Job yet how often did His Impatience like some Mens sickness break out at his lips when the distemper had made no mortal seisure upon his heart for search but his Heart and his History to the bottom and you shall find it full fraight with thoughts of Penitence of Patience of Piety of Humility full of God-exalting self-abasing thoughts thoughts of calmness and sweetness towards God and onely of bitterness and Indignation against sinful self Job 40.4 and 42 2 3 6. Behold I am vile what shall I answer thee and again I know that no thought can be with-holden from thee who is be that hideth Councel without knowledge I have uttered that I understood not wherefore I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes Sect. V. Uncleanness Prov. 30.20 Prov. 7.14 Verse 18. SOlomons strange woman keeps a stir about wiping of her mouth whilst she never regardeth the cleansing of her thoughts She can talk of Pe ce-Offe ings and of Her paying her Vows in the day and think the same moment of pleasing her bruitâ—sh Lust all the night Come let us take our fill of loves till the morning Her thoughts were unclean and so was she Whatever mens garbes and pretensions are how demure soever their deportments Rom. 13.14 and 8.5 Chastity Job 31.1 how mortified soever their appearances they whose profoundest thoughts are how to make provision for the Lusts of the Flesh are fleshly and they that do mind the things of the Flesh are after the Flesh On the contrary Chast Job will not only make a Covenant with his Eyes but will not allow himself so much as to think upon a Maid His thoughts were Chast and clean and so was He. Sect. VI. Covetousness THe Covetous walk not alwayes in open and naked view for every one to see perhaps not for themselves but often wear a Cloak as the Apostle calls it a Cloak of zeal and seeming sanctity as Iehu 1 Thes 2.5 John 12.10 and others Their thoughts boil but the fervour of their spirit is for the serving of themselves not the Lord Jesus Christ Judas talks of the Poo but he thinkâ— of the Purse 2 Pet. 2.1 and of his Prey yet he carryed it so plausibly that the Eleven suspected themselves more than Him Mens Hearts may be exercised with covetous practices Jer. 23.31 Jer. 22.17 whilst their hands seem not so They come and sit before the Lord as his People but their hearts run after their covetousness nay their hearts are not but for their covetousness as the Prophet smartly expresseth it They may talk of better things but their thoughts are for no other their tongues may run of heavenly things but their thoughts still run after their eâ—vetousness Their thoughts are for to morrow Mat. 6.31 Psal 49.11 what they shall eat and what they shall drink and wherewith they shall be cloathed Their Inward thoughts are that their Houses and Inheritances are to them and their Heirs for ever Such are the thoughts that they drown their Souls in and bury themselves in alive working like Moles under-ground Phil. 3.19 and if they sometimes app ar above ground they are not in their Element till rooting in the earth again Mat. 10.17 they mind earthly things The young man in the Gospel His tongue ran of Heaven What must I do that I may inherit Eternal life but his thoughts ran after Earth if I go with this Christ I must forgo my Estate if I cleave to Him I must leave that Deut. 15.7 He went away sorrowful for he had large Possessions But saith God to his People Beware there be not in thy wicked heart a thought c. which he there cautions in this case of Covetousness A Covetous thought reigning in the heart Allowed Loved Liked Maintained customarily entertained there is the Evidence of a wicked heart of a bad man for as a man thinketh in his Heart so is He. Sect. VII THe Proud person may be tryed by his Thoughts Pride be he never so much in the disguise of his voluntary humility Isaiah 58.53 His thoughts do swell and rise high whilst He cringeth low like those in Isaiah who hung down their heads like Bulrushes yet their Hearts were lifted up in proud thoughts against God as if He were in their Debts for their formal devotions wherefore have we fasted say they Luke 18.11 and thou takest no notice The Pharisee was the worse for his good thoughts of himself God I thank thee that I am not as other men Yea and thousands in the world have cause enough to think ill of themselves if they had no more then their thinking too well of themselves God will punish the fruit of mens stout hearts Isaiah 10.18 compared with the 12. now the fruit of the stout heart is in the same place explained to be the proud Thought The Psalmist complains the wiâ—ked through the pride of their countenances will not seek after God Psal 18.4 Ezek. 28.16 God is not in all their thoughts He fetcheth proof of their wicked pride from their Godless thoughts The proud Prince of Tyrus did set his heart as the heart of God in high thoughts of Himself as the Sequel there shews Humility But the best Men on the contrary are least and lowest in their own thoughts Thus Abraham Gen. 18 27. and 23.10 Psal 22.6 Psal 73.22 Prov. 30.2 Isaiah 6.5 1 Cor 15.9 Col. 3.12 Mat. 11.29 but dust and ashes Jacob less than the least of Gods mercies David a worm and no man Asaph a beast before thee Agar more bruitish then man Isaiah a man of unclean lips Paul the very least of the Apostles but the chiefest of Sinners Put on humbleness of mind saith the Apostle The Humble man is humble in mind and lowly in heart and thought as Christ was for as a man thinketh in his heart so is He. Sect. VIII Purity Matth. 5.3 BLessed are the pure in heart saith our Saviour they shall see God Are thy thoughts holy then thou art happy In a good mans heart there is a good treasure Mat. 12.35 Psal 139.17 and 10.4 Prov. 10.20 and the Psalmist tells you what it is How pretious are thy thoughts O God unto me But for the wicked God is not in all his thoughts therefore the heart of the wicked is little worth and he whose Heart is little worth is wicked Sect. IX To draw this head towards a conclusion let me perswade thee O man but to judge of thy self which thou canst by the same way that thou wouldst judge thy
Job 23.10 2 Pet. 2.9 All Man 1 Cor. 3.20 Isaiah 2.15 So that he knows also whereof we have need Our heavenly Father doth so even before we ask as he knows our sins before we confess He knows the way that we take and he knows what way to take with us He knows how to deliver if we be Righteous And how to reserve the wicked to the day of Judgment to be punished He knows the Thoughts of the wise the way that they take yea though they dig deep to hide their Counsel from the Lord and knows too how to take them in that way that they take 1 Cor. 3.19 so that the Wisdom of the World is foolishness with God as it is written he taketh the wise in their own craftiness Knows how to bring good out of sin Be they Men or Devils We must think him a God so holy as that he would never suffer Sin in the World and so Pittiful and Gracious that he would never suffer sorrows and sufferings on his Saints Sufferings but that he is a God so WISE that he knows how to bring Glory to himself and good to his Chosen out of All to break Leviathans heads Psal 74.14 and to make it Food for his People As the Apothecary would never suffer so many Poysons in his shop but that he knows one way or other how to make them to conduce to the honour of his Art And good of his Patient for known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the World Acts 15.18 And his wayes are higher then our wayes because his Thoughts are also higher then our Thoughts as the heavens are high above the earth Isaiah 15.18 Isaiah 55.9 Chap. 40.28 James 1.5 Job 13.3 Psalm 2. Psalm 9.12 Psalm 16.11 Psalm 43.3 So that there is no searching out of his understanding And therefore think If any man want wisdom he is to ask it of God Would I know my Sins Lord make me to know my Transgression and my Sin Would I know the measure of my dayes how frail I am Lord make me to know my end so teach me to number my dayes as that I may apply my heart unto wisdom would I know thy Path of Life Lord shew it me In thy light I shall see light O send out therefore thy light and thy truth let them lead me and bring me to thy holy â—â—ll O thou Father of lights James 1.5 in whom there is no darkness at all Seeing therefore that we are to light our Fire at this SUN this Parent of Lights 1 John 1.5 All wisdom to be fought of God but only in means and measure prescribed 2 Tim. 3.15 Rom. 12.3 who affords us the Burning Glass of his Word for our help herein We are to think thus surely of his Wisdom if we will think of it rightly That as we are to be thankful for the Means so contented with the Measures of KNOWING that he prescribes and allows inasmuch as they are such as are able to make us WISE to Salvation for he hath expresly cautioned us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ne quis sapiat supra quam oportet c. for so Beza uulg. c. not to be wise above what we ought but to be wise unto sobriety I know indeed that there is in corrupted man a Natural desire to KNOW Rom. 1.25 but it is to study the Creature more then the Creator who is blessed for ever to pursue the Science of other things whilest the EXCELLENCY of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord Phil. 3.8 is neglected All which Natural Knowledge should designedly be made subservient to such a Spiritual end as the holy Psalmist pursues in his ASTRONOMICAL Observations Psal 8.3 4. When I consider saith he THY heavens the work of thy Fingers the Moon and Stars which thou hast ordained What is Man that thou art mindful of him c. But when Solomon himself who knew more 1 Kings 4.29 Eccles 2.12 in Naturals then any meer Man since Adam casts up the total sum he tells you that what he did arrive at by all this knowledg was to know this that the increase thereof is the increase of sorrow Chap. 1.18 and most notorious it is that ever since who so comes nearest to him in that point of knowledge Troublesomeness and uncertainty of natural lawful knowledge doth so likewise in that part of experience Alas how long have some of us been learning how ignorant we are And how great is his Wisdom that hath lock'd up from us in the intricate labyrinths of vexatious uncertainty the knowledge of that which he finds so apt to draw us from him who make so little right use of so much that is clearly revealed being sufficient in its kind to draw us to him We know where it is said Deut. 29.29 that secret things belong to God but things that are revealed belong to us and to our Children that it is not for US to KNOW the times and seasons that the Father hath put into his own power Acts 1.7 2 Pet 2.18 But grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ John 17.3 Sinfulness of affecting to know by familiar spirits Wizards Isaiah 8.19 for this is life Eternal c. But besides a natural and lawful if duely moderated and ordered Desire of natural knowledge there is a desire of knowing such things and by such means as we are to think sinful and Satanical being no way approved in the Word or the Wisdom of God such is theirs who seek unto them that have familiar spirits and unto Wizards that peep and that mutter as 't is expressed by the Prophet Isaiah or that use divination Ezek. 21.21 that consult with Teraphim that look into the liver that is the intrails of Birds or Beasts c. as Ezekiel speaks to direct actions or foretel future events thereby Judicial Astrology Isaiah 47.13 So also we find a severe and black brand fastened by the Scripture upon ASTROLOGERS Star-gazers and Monethly Prognosticators and such as are drawn by them from their sole Dependencies upon God 1 Tim. 6.20 for admit we forbear to say that here is Science falsly so called as the Apostle speaks whose Principles and Conclusions are certainly uncertain It s uncertainty and delusory for the Conjunctions and Aspects of the STARS being the same when divers Children are conceived or born in the same Place and instant of Time as in some great and Populous Cities how come they to divers and contrary Fortunes to use their own phrase some to live longer others under the same Stars to die sooner some to live and die in Wealth Honour and Prosperity Others born in the same article of time and under as auspitious and benigne a Planet to a life of Misery and a death of Shame or to add that undeniable experience frequently confutes the most positive
day and was glad How busie was Holy Job about the Thoughts of his Redeemer of his standing upon the Earth and his seeing of him with those very eyes of his at the last day And gracious Elihu about the way of Gods dealing with penitent Sinners on the account of a Saviour Deliver him from going down into the Pit Job 23.24 â—gur I have found a RANSOM When Agur was discoursing with Ithiel and Ucal you may see where his Thoughts were by his Question Prov. 30.4 What is his Name and what is his SONS Name if thou canst tell Of David especially Psalms a little New Testament And as for David to whom as to a special Favorite so large and glorious discoveries were made O how enlarged and affectionate were his Meditations So that David and the Book of the Psalms is quoted by Christ himself as most clear and copious concerning Him Luke 24.44 Acts 1.16 and 20.25.29.34 4.25 c. and 13 33. All things saith he must be fulfilled that were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the PSALMS concerning ME And so in the Acts and elsewhere as if the PSALMS were a little New Testament in the middle of the Old Davids thoughts busied about Christs Name Psal 110. compared with Math. 22.43 Psalm 2.2 Psalm 45.7 John 4.29 2 Sâ—m 22.3 Psal 118.14 and 21. Luke 1.47 Phil. 3 3. Psalm 3.5 9. How full were Davids Thoughts of this great and glorious Name the LORD JESUS CHRIST He calls him LORD in spirit when he saith The Lord said unto my LORD sit thou on my right hand c. He calls him Gods Anointed which in the Greek Tongue is CHRIST Yea the Anointed of God above his Fellows which is as much as THE CHRIST as she asked Is not this THE CHRIST that is Christ above all Christs for though there were many Christs they were taught to expect ONE Christ above All And he calls him his Saviour and his Salvation most frequently which in the Hebrew Tongue is JESUS So that that saying of the Blessed Virgin My Spirit rejoyceth in God MY SAVIOUR and that of the Apostle We rejoyce in JESUS seem clearly to be taken from that of David My Soul shall be joyful in the Lord it shall Rejoyce in his Salvation or as it may be read to the letter in the Hebrew Text My Soul shall Rejoyce in his JESUS Person Psalm 2.12 Verse 7. Concerning his Person his Thoughts were clear He exhorts the Kings of the Earth to kiss the SON and tells you plainly that he means the only BEGOTTEN of God when he saith the LORD hath said thou are MY SON Psal 89.26 compared with Heb. 1.5 this day have I BEGOTTEN Thee and again I will be to him a Father and He shall be to me a Son So also concerning his distinct Natures Natures in one Subsistence He calls him LORD in Spirit because he knew him to be GOD who he knew was to be his SON after the Flesh as MAN Psalm 45.67 yet saith expresly to him Thy Throne O GOD is for ever and ever c. Thou lovest Righteousnesse c. therefore GOD thy GOD hath Anointed Thee c. He knew that Christ the anointed of God was GOD Hebr. 1.8 for saith the Apostle It is unto the SON that he saith thy Throne O GOD is for ever and ever c. Yet He also distinctly and certainly knew that God had sworn that of the fruit of his Loins He would raise up Christ as concerning the Flesh to sit upon his Throne as the Apostle speaks Acts 2.30 So that he may be thought to mean this when he saith Truth shall spring out of the Earth and Righteousness shall look down from Heaven Psal 85.11 He might well call him TRUTH as he was the Promised Messiah for in this respect he was to spring out of the Earth to be born of a Woman in the City of David And he might call him RIGHTEOUSNESS who is called elsewhere Jehovah Tzidkenu Jer. 33.16 Mal. 4.2 The LORD Our Righteousness and the SUN of Righteousness as another Prophet calls him now 't is proper for the SUN to look down from Heaven Concerning his Incarnation and Birth Incarnation Psal 142.17 Luke 1.69 which he calls the budding of the Horn of David or which is all one the raising up a mighty Salvation or a Horn of Salvation for his people in the house of his Servant David he brings in Christ plainly thus speaking Sacrifice and Offering and burnt Offerings thou wouldest not Psal 20.6 7 8. Hebr. 10.5 but a Body hast thou prepared me So the Holy Ghost in the Hebrews renders that of the Psalmist Mine ears hast thou opened or pierced through and applies it to Christs Coming into the World in the Flesh Then said I Lo I come in the Volume of the Book it is written of Me I delight to do thy will O my God c. He had also most clear conceptions concerning Christs bitter Sufferings Passion 〈…〉 Psal 2.1 2. Acts 4.26 In the Raging Combination of the Heathen that is the Gentiles and the People that is the Jews and Consultation of the Kings of the Earth and the Rulers that is Herod and Pontius Pilate against the Lord and his CHRIST as it is expounded in the Acts. Psal 118.22 1 Pet. 2.7 By the Malice of the Priests and Elders that should have been Builders of the People in the Faith and acceptation of this Promised Messiah Refusing that stone which God hath designed to be the Head of the Corner By the Treason of Judas that did eat of his Bread yet lifted up his heel against him Psalm 41.9 Job 13.18 21. Psâ—â— 22.7 8. Mat. 27.43 By the scoffs of Spectators and cruel mocking of passers by wagging their heads at him and saying He trusted in the Lord let him deliver him if he will have him and let him save him seeing he delighted in him Psal 31.11 Mat. 26.56 By the faintheartedness of his Followers and Cowardise of his Friends I was a Reproach among mine Enemies and a fear to mine Acquaintance they that saw me without sled from me All this was done saith the Evangelist that the Scriptures might be fulfilled then all his Disciples forsook him and sled Psal 69.21 Mat. 27.48 By the cruelty of his Inhumane Persecutors that in his thirst gave him Vinegar to drink and Gall in his Meat Psal 22.16 17 18. Mat. 27.35 By the Savage Souldiers that parted his Garments and cast lots upon his Vesture and Bloody Executioners that pierced his Hands and â—his Feet and so distended his Body upon the cruel Cross that one might tell all his Bones Psal 22.1 Mat. 27.46 And most of all by Divine Dereliction which made him to cry out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me And yet in all this not casting away his Confidence Psalm 31.5 Luke 23.46 or loosing
him better and the better thou lovest him thou mayest think of him more for there the Bread of life is broken that it may be Eaten and this Eaten Bread is never to be forgotten there the Blood of Christ is broached that it may be drunk and being drunk Cant. 1.4 Gal. 3.1 that his love may be remembred more then wine for there is Christ before mine eyes evidently set forth even as if he were crucified among us Thâ—â— the King both sits at his Table Cant. 1.12 and is set upon the Table for Christ is both the Master of the Feast and the Matter of the Feast both my Entertainer and Entertainment and whilst I thus see him and feel him and tast him How can I but think of him and whilst the Bread that strengtheneth mine heart strengtheneth also my Faith and so Christ steals into my Soul as it were by my Sense and becomes the very nourishment thereof as the Outward Elements Bread and Wine are of the Outward man How can I forget my Saviour whilst I Remember my self or shut him out of the thoughts of mine Heart Psalm 73 26. John 6.5 who is the strength of mine heart whose Flesh is my meat indeed and whose Blood is my drink indeed whose Death is my life and my Reconciliation and whose life is my Glory and my Salvation who by his continual Intercession Hebr. 9.28 Exod. 28.29 ever bears me upon his heart before his Father in Heaven even as Aaron was to bear the Names of the Tribes of Israel upon his Brest-plate into the most holy place till He appear the second time unto Salvation John 12.20 and come again to take me to himself that where my Lord is there may also his Servant be Sect. XXXVIII Holy Thoughts of Christ ANd as we must away with all souâ—re thoughts of Christ and All low thoughts of Christ so much more with all unsavory and loose thoughts of Christ Our Thoughts of Him must be Holy as well as High Rom. 6.1 2. and Fearful as well as Chearful The Apostle puts an absit upon the least Thoughts as if the coming of Grace were for the countenancing of Sin What saith Moses concerning Christ Beware of him and obey his voice Exod. 23.21 provoke him not for he will not pardon your Transgressions for my Name is in Him What saith David Psalm 2.12 Kiss the SON least he be angry and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little The Prophet Isaiah tells us that he comes to give Law as well as Liberty the Isles shall wait for his Isaiah 42.4 Law the Prophecy of our Conversion who are Islanders in the Sea and that this Branch out of the Root of Jesse shall smite the Earth with the Rod of his Mouth Isaiah 11.1 2. and with the breath of his Lips he shall slay the wicked The Angel saith of Christ that his Name shall be called JESUS Mal. 1.21 Acts 2.27 Mal. 5.17 because He was to save his people not IN their Sins but FROM their Sins Christ when he was a Child was the Holy Child JESUS and when he was a Man He tells us that He came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it And as John Baptist told the People that his Fan was in his hand Mat. 3 12. and he would throughly purge his Floor they found it so for He went into the Temple Chap. 21.21 and scourged out the Buyers and Sellers c. in token that no unclean or prophane thing must expect admittance by Him into the Kingdom of God No no Mat. 3.11 John 16.8 Hebr. 10.1 Mat. 16.24 John 17.17 Acts 15.9 Philip. 4.7 Col. 3.25 Gal. 6.16 The Baptisme of Christ is a Baptisme with Fire and the Spirit of Christ is a Reprover of Sin the example of Christ a pattern of Obedience and the Doctrine of Christ is a Doctrine of Self-denyal the Truth of Christ a Sanctifying Truth and the Faith of Christ an heart purifying Faith and the Peace of Christ is a War with Sin for it keeps the heart and rules in the heart and 't is onely unto them that walk according to Rule that the Gospel of Christ saith Peace be upon them but Tribulation and Anguish Rom. 2.8 9. Indignation and Wrath upon every Soul of Man that doth evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile Take We heed then of thinking basely of Christ Mat. 11.19 as the friend of Sinners in their vile sense who indeed thought him to be altogether such an one as themselves Psal 50.21 Psal 35.7 but Davids Thoughts were otherwise thou lovest Righteousness and hatest Iniquity therefore God even thy God hath anointed thee with the Oyl of Gladness above thy fellows A Friend indeed of Sinners for he Dyed to save them yea the chief of them 1 Tim. 1.15 but yet an Enemy to Sin for He came to make an end of Sin saith the Apostle St. John to redeem us from our vain Conversation saith S. Peter and to purifie to himself a peculiar 1 John 3.8 1 Pet. 1.18 people Titus 2.14 zealous of good works to sanctifie and cleanse us with the washing of water by the World that we might be holy Eph. 5.26 27. and without blemish saith S. Paul And now tell me O Reader is there any shelter for Sin or license for Lust in all this O be not deceived Gal. 6.7 8. God is not mocked for whatsoever a Man soweth that shall he also reap for he that soweth to his Flesh shall of the Flesh reap Corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life Everlasting For the GRACE of God that hath appeared bringing SALVATION 2 Tit. 11.12 teacheth to deny ungodliness and worldly Lusts c. Psalm 45.6 For Christ is KING as well as PRIEST and LORD as well as JESUS and the Scepter of his Kingdome is a RIGHT SCEPTER and We cannot THINK RIGHTLY of it except we think it so And O how terrible is this THOUGHT that if We slight this way Hebr. 2.36 Chap. 10.26 neglecting so great Salvation by sinning wilfully against this Sacrifice there remains no other SACRIFICE for Sin for there is no other Name given but the Name JESUS Acts 4.12 Heb. 10.28 29. And if He that sinned against Moses 's Law dyed without Mercy how much sorer must his punishment be that trampleth under foot the SON of GOD Then think this of Christ that if he be not thy Foundation-Stone 1 Pet. 2.6 Mat. 21.14 Rev. 5.5.6 John 5.22 Elect and precious to thee if thou be not built upon him he will fall upon thee and grinde thee to powder for the Lamb of God is a LYON too and God hath committed all Judgment to the SON and the WRATH of the LAMB shall one day be found intolerable to the proudest of Men when the Kings of the Earth
Rev. 6.15 16 17. and the great men and the rich men and the chief Captains and the mighty Men and every Bond man and every Free man shall call to the Rocks and the Mountains to fall on them to hide them from the face of him that sitteth upon the Throne and from the WRATH of the LAMB for when the great day of his Wrath is come O who shall be able to stand O think of this ye Loose Licentious Caution to loose Christians Rom 2.24 Sacrilegiously so called CHRISTIANS through whom the Sacred Name of Christ is blasphemed among the Gentiles what thanks will He give you that a TURK should say as they are ordinarily observed to do What do you think I am a CHRISTIAN that I should break my Oath or falsifie my Faith Or that an HEATHEN should say as that Indian Prince did to the Spaniards who being about to put him cruelly to death but in Ghostly Charity perswaded him to turn Christian before his death He asked them what he should get by that they told him he should go to Heaven with the Christians He demanded whither went Indians when they dyed They said to Hell He shortly Replyed He would die as he was for he had rather go to the Indians Hell then to the cruel Spaniards Heaven 'T was severely said by one Aut hic non est Christus pudet haec opprobria nobis dici potuisse non potuiste refelli aut hi non sunt Christiani Either He whom you profess is not the CHRIST or You are not the CHRISTIANS Men and Brethren let me freely speak to you if CHRISTS coming into the World be signalized by Bacchanalian Rites and Revellings what shall a Jew or Infidel think either of Christ or else of Us 'T was truly said Peccatis nostris fortes sunt Barbari Christians sins make Barbarians more barbarous Homil. against the peril of Idolatry 3 P. pag. 45. Jerem. 7.12 Turks more Turkish Jews more Jewish as our Homilie hath observed that Popish Idolatry gives the great fixation to Turkish and Jewish Infidelity But as of old God sent the old Jews to Shilo where He first set his Name to see what he did to it for the wickedness of his people Israel so may I send the now Christian World to the once seven flourishing Churches of Asia Revel 1.11 for if Christ be not glorified by Us He will glorifie Himself upon Us and therefore let every one that thinks of a Christ think of this 2 Tim. 2.19 Let Every One that nameth the Name of Christ depart from Iniquity Sect. XXXIX Right thoughts of God the Holy Ghost ANd as our Thoughts of the Father and the Son are onely Right when Regulated by Scripture so also of the Blessed SPIRIT For as the Sun is not to be seen as we have said but in its own light which yet is but a finite Created Emanation from God the Father of Lights much less can we conceive aright of the Holy Ghost Must be Scriptural 2 Pet. 1.21 1 Cor. 2.14 Thoughts of the Holy Ghost strange to the carnal mind but by Conceipts congruous and harmonious to that Word which holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost For if the Natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit He cannot surely conceive aright of the Spirit himself without both a spiritual light to discover and eye to discern him Otherwise He must needs be both out of his sight and out of mind For Scripture saith that such a mans very Mind is carnal and speaks of the Spirit of this World as directly opposite to the Spirit which is of God 1 Cor. 2.12 We are great strangers to our own Spirits John 14.7 Alas what strangers are We to our own Spirits How little is our knowledg and how few are our Thoughts of them How strange then must the Knowledge and Thoughts of the Holy Spirit of God be unto Us This is that Spirit whom the World cannot receive because it seeth him not Thoughts of God the Father neither knoweth him The Thoughts of God the Father do more easily occur to the natural mind for Heathen Poets and even the light of Nature teach us Arat. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 17.28 that We are All his Off-spring as the Apostle speaks out of the Poâ—t and so to seek the Lord if happily we may feel after him and find him though the light that Adams Fall hath left in us is little less then Darkness so our searching after God our Father Verse 27. is called a Feeling as blind men use a Gropeing as they that have much darkness and but little light And as God the Father is not very far from every one of us as 't is there said so the Thoughts of God the Son are the more obvious to us And of God The Son more obvious then of God the Holy Ghost because by his Incarnation he is come so near us and there is a true Humane Nature in his Blessed Person for humane Thoughts to employ themselves upon 1 Cor. 12.3 And yet it is said that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord that is make any right acknowledgment of the Son but by the Holy Ghost How then can any man have any Right Knowledge or Thoughts of the Spirit Right thoughts of the Holy Ghost Acts 9.31 Are Reverend Iohn 16 7. The Holy Ghost GOD. but by the Spirit who speaks by the Scriptures And here as before we are taught to Rejoyce with trembling walking in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Ghost For who can but Rejoyce in the Thoughts of Him whom the Scriptures call the COMFORTER and can but tremble before the SPIRIT who as He is One with the Father and the Son for there are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word 1 John 5.7 and the Holy Ghost and these three are One so is He to be considered and Thought upon with one and the same joyful Reverence and awful Rejoycing A SPIRIT in his Eâ—sâ—nce As to his Essence the Scriptures declare Him to be a Spirit in declaring Him to be God for God is a Spirit and declare him to be God John 4 24. 2 Tim. 3.17 2 Pâ—â— 1 2â— in declaring themselves to be the Word of God for whilest one Text saith that All Scripture or the whole Scripture 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is given by Inspiration of God or God Inspired and another that holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Isaiah 62.2 the Natural Conclusion from the premisses is this Therefore the Holy Ghost is God And if we ought to tremble at the Word how much more before him that inspired and gave it forth Agreeable hereunto it is Isaiah 6.1 2 3 5 8 9. that when the Prophet Isaias in that tremendous Text describes the Lord sitting upon a Throne
three Evangelists you have this dreadful Word established and this Guard set like that terrible Cherubim and Flaming Sword to preserve that High Reverence that Mortals owe to the Holy Ghost All other Blasphemies saith Christ wherewith soever they shall Blaspheme shall be Forgiven Mark 3.28 and indeed have been so I was a Blasphemer saith S. Paul 1 Tim. 1.13 But I obtained mercy But whosoever shall wittingly wilfully and malitiously Reproach the Holy Ghost as the Pharisees here did Mark 3.30 they said of Jesus He hath an unclean Spirit whose works did testify of him That he cast out Devils by the SPIRIT of GOD Luke 11.47 Mat. 8.12 and that the Kingdom of God was come unto them as himself speaks Ten Thousand Woes shall be the Portion of such an One. Sect. XLII ANd here once for ever let me caution this Impious Age of coming near unto any thing that looks like or comes near the sin that is unto Death Caution against Reviling the Spirit Numb 26.16 even as Moses charged the Congregation of Israel concerning Corah and his Complices 1 John 5.16 that they should not come near those wicked persons Let me charge thee O Man whosoever thou art in the fear of God that thou entertain not a Contemptuous thought In Scripture much less utter a word against the written word of God for it is as you have seen the Dictate of the Holy Ghost And here I cannot but make an Honourable mention of that Honourable Person Mr. R. Boyl la his late piece of Scripture style who hath made Himself truly so by that most serious and ingenious complaint of his of the Prodigious folly of the Times whose onely wit seems to lie in a prophane and scurrilous abuse of Holy Scriptures But it may be observed as of Our Saviours so of these Scripture-scoffers that as they were part of our Saviours proof that He was the Prophecyed Messiah for even those scoffs as we have seen were part of what was fore spoken concerning him Eight and twenty Generations before he was born so are these part of the accomplishment of the Prophecies of that Book which told the World of these Men sixteen hundred years almost before they came unto it Be mindful saith the Apostle of the words which were spoken before by the Holy Prophets 2 Pet. 3.2 3. and of the Commandment of Us the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour knowing this first that there shall Come in the Last dayes Scoffers Wherefore We revere in our Thoughts what they revile with their tongues and so much the more Because They do so Matth. 18.7 But as Our Lord saith Offences must needs come yet they bring their woe with them so let me say to these Men in the Prophets words Isaiah 28.22 Be not Mockers lest your Bands be made strong Further Take we heed that our THOUGHTS despise not any of the Operations of this Holy spirit 2 Sam 6.26 In Prayer Jude 20. Eph. 6.16 Zech. 12.10 Rom. 8.15 Gal. 4.6 Rom. 8.26 as prophane Michal did holy David in her heart S. Jude speaks of Praying in the HOLY GHOST and S. Paul of Praying alwayes with all Prayer and supplication in the Spirit The Old Testament speaks of a spirit of supplication and the New of a spirit of Adoption crying or whereby we cry Abba Father The spirit helpeth our Infirmities for we know not what to pray for there 's matter as we ought there 's the manner but the spirit it self maketh Intercession for us with Groanings which cannot be uttered Verse 27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the spirit c. Preaching Rom. 12.6 Verse 7.8 So likewise saith the Apostle having gifts differing according to the grace that is given us whether Prophesie let us Prophesie according to the proportion of Faith or Ministry let us wait on Our Ministring or he that teacheth on teaching or he that exhorteth on exhortation Now the manifestation of the Spirit saith he is given to every man to profit withall 1 Cor. 12.7 so that where there 's no manifestation of the Spirit in the Preacher there can be no profit to the Hearer for to One is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom to apply Verse 8. to another the word of knowledge to explain some excel in one thing Verse 3. some in another but all by the same Spirit And saith he I give You to understand that no man speaking by the spirit calleth Jesus accursed Verse 4. John 15.26 and 16.14 Acts 2.4 1 Cor. 2.4 Now there are diversities of gifts but the same spirit 'T is the Spirit when we meditate that must take of Christs and shew it unto us And when we speak 't is the Spirit that must give us utterance and Preaching must be not in the inticing words of Mans wisdom Sanctificationâ— 1 Pet. 1.2 Rom. 8.9 Every true Christian is a Saint 1 Cor. 1.2 2 Cor. 1.1 Chap. 6.11 Eph. 1.1 15. Rom. 1.7 Mock Saints Revel 2 9. and 3.9 No ground for reviling the True Gen. 34.30 Gal. 4.29 Dan. 7. Mat. 24.24 All the godly have Gods â—spirit Rom. 8.15 Verse 5.9 Gal. 5.16 25. and 6.18 Rom. 1â— 15 1 Cor. 6.19 Gal. 5.22 Rom. 8.2 Ephes 2.22 1 Cor. 3.16 Rom. 8.9 11 13. John 16.7 8. 14.26 and 16.13 Psalm 51.18 and 143.10 Eph. 1.13 16. Rom. 8.14 Eph. 4.3 2.18.22 1 John 4.13 but in the demonstration of the Spirit Sanctification moreover is a peculiar work of the Spirit in every true Christian For if any man have not the spirit of Christ the same is none of his The Corinthians were made Saints when they were Converted and made Christians To the Church of God which is at Corinth c. called to be Saints And such were some of You saith the Apostle to them but now you are sanctified by the spirit of our God so the Apostle salutes the Saints in Achaia Rome Ephesus c. We have known indeed the Blasphemy of too many who have said they are Saints and are not but do lie but are of the Synagogue of Satan like those Brethren in Iniquity who troubled Israel and made him stink among the Inhabitants oâ— the Land who shall bear their own judgment yet this shall no more excuse those Ishmaels who persecute those that are truly born after the spirit and Revile the very Saints of the most High as the Prophet calls them then it doth the Indignities done to the True Christ because as was Prophesyed False Christs do arise The Scripture saith expresly That the Children of God are led by the Spirit do mind the things of the Spirit are after the Spirit do walk after the Spirit are in the spirit must walk in the spirit do sow the spirit do reap the spirit have received the spirit who is in them whom they have of God as Fruit-bearer Law-giver yet a Liberty-giver and Life-giver
and therefore Pray without ceasing give thanks in every thing is put into the front and Despise not Prophesyings comes up in the rear of that Apostolical grand Caveat Quench not the Spirit 1 Thes 5.17 18 19. Revel 5.10 Rather let us as made by Christ Priests unto God keep alwayes burning upon our Hearts this holy Fire and stir it up by meditation How to cherish the Spirit Psalm 39 3. Psal 143.10 Revel 1.10 while I was musing saith David the Fire burned and blow it up by Prayer Teach me to do thy will O God thy Spirit is good c. Especially let us Pray and watch and wait as the Primitive Disciples for the Lords Spirit on the Lords Day And let us add the Fewel of diligent and industrious Observation to all his fervent motions when we hear the sound of his goings 1 Sam. 5.24 Hebâ— 5 3. then let us bestir our selves When the Holy Ghost saith to day if ye will hear his voice let us not harden our hearts nor put him off till to morrow for the Spirit is as the Wind that bloweth where and when he listeth John 3.8 Rev. 2â— 17 Harbour no base thoughts of the Spirit Acts 8.19 20. Acts 5.9 when the Spirit saith Come let the Bride say Come and let him that heareth say Come Let us not harbour any Carnal Low base Thoughts of this glorious Spirit this was Simon Magus his sin Especially let us not by close Hypocrisie or secret dissimulation agree to lie to the Holy Ghost and so to temâ—t the Spirit of the Lord this was Ananias and Saâ—hira's sin and it cost them dear and they are peculiarly said to tempt the Spirit because it is his peculiar work to search All things 1 Cor. 2.10 Sect. XLVI The wonderful condesceâ—tion of the Holy spirit in the work of Mens salvation Mat. 6.9 3. Rom. 16.24 1 Cor. 16.23 Gal. 6 13 Phâ—l 4.23 ANd now to shut up all what Holy Fear and Love of this Holy Spirit may at once fill Our THOUGHTS when we consider that although HOLINESS be the â—eculiar Attribute of the Spirit from which he receives his Denomination even as Greatness is peculiarly ascribed to the Father who is therefore said to be in Heaven and Kingdom Power and Glory to be his and Grace to be the Sonâ— in respect of which special property of the Spirit All sin against God is said in a special manner to Vex the Spirit 2 Thes 3.18 yet such is the rich Mercy of this Holy Spirit in Condescention to poor mans Salvation that He undertakes it as his peculiar Office and Work to come into mans Heart unsitted and unfurnished when Zijm Ochim and lim have dwelt there when vain Thoughts have lodged there into a very sink of sin a house without windows a heap without order a very Hell of cursed Confusion and of every hateful and hurtful lust and that when there was none to go before him or to prepare for him Whereas though herein God commended his love to us in that while We were Enemies Christ dyed for us yet would not the Son be born to die or lodge in a Womb or come into the world till this Spirit went before him Hebr. 10.5 As in the Margin to prepare a place for him and to fit a Body to him for so may the word be rendred a Body hast thou prepared me or a Body hast thou fitted me O sweet spirit what Tongue can praise or heart prize thee according to thy glorious Grace to poor sinners Genesis 2.7 When God first breathed into man the breath of Life He was a lump of innocent Clay but when thou comest to breath the breath of New Life into sinful man thou breathest into a noysome Carkasse an heart full of Rottenness 1 King 8 28. 2 Chron. 6.29 and takest up thy Dwelling in that very part where his Plague sore runs And now seeing Thou dost not shun those that have the Plague of the heart Come in thou blessed of the Lord to this Heart of mine Mat. 3.11 Isaiah 44.3 Thou art a Fire that can purge my Dross and not be impaired a Water that can wash away all my filth and not be defiled Now to thee Blessed spirit with the Father and the Son be Glory for ever Amen Sect. XLVII FINALLY As our Thoughts of God Thoughts for God must be by Scripture Rule See Bp. Andrews on the second Commandment Image and Imagination Cogitation Col. 2.23 Mat. 15.9 Sâ—e Bishop Taylors Dissuasive pag. 48. Isa 29.13 14. 2 Sam. 7.2 2 Chron. 3.3 and 29 25. so our Thoughts For God are onely Right when agreeable to Scripture Rules For as the second Commandment forbids all IMAGES so also all IMAGINATIONS in the things of God that are not warrantable by the Word of God The Hebrews express both by one word for Thoughts are the Images of things in our minds What the Apostle calls Will-Worship Our Saviour calls Vain-Worship though the things may have a shew of wisdom and humility where the fear towards God is taught as in Popery by the Precepts of Men. When David took up thoughts of Building God an House he consulted Nathan the Prophet which when Solomon was allowed to accomplish it is said Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the Building of the House of God which when Hezekiah did restore 't is said also he set the Levites in the House of the Lord with Cymbals with Psalteries and with Harps according to the Commandment of David and of Gad the Kings Seer and of Nathan the Prophet for so was the COMMANDMENT of the LORD by his Prophets Rom. 10.2 Zeal without Knowledge is Heat without Light which is so like Hell that it cannot be pleasing to the God of Heaven Mark 9.44 Mat 25 3â— for Hell is a Fire that never goes out and yet Outer Darkness Wherefore Reader when ever thou thinkest to do any thing for God Ask his Word first whether it will be well taken How lamentable is it to think how perniciously Our Thoughts for God may miscarry for want of this John 16.2 Acts 26.9 2 Sam. 6 6 7. Bp. Taylors Preface to his Dissuasive The Roman Church can never justifie her self from Idolatry yet if it were but suspitious God is jealous and will not endure any causes of suspition or motives of jealousy Things like Idolatry can no wayes be excused Bp. Tay ors Dissâ—asive from Popery pag. 57. Some kill Gods Saints yet think they do God good service and saith Paul I verily thought with my self that I ought to do many things contrary to the Name of Jesus of Nazareth Poor Uzzah no doubt thought to do God a good piece of service when He put forth his hand to stay the Ark when the Oxen shook it but God smote him for his Errour that he died A severe punishment may some man think and a slender errour especially considering that the Man
Lord JESUS Gal. 6.17 As 't is said Callis might have been read in Queen Maries heart if it had been ript up And here methinks I could even forget my self and run along in my Thoughts with this sweet Apostle but that I must not forget my Reader for 't is time to be hastening towards a Conclusion III. Motive AGain 3. Motive Keep Right Thoughts and they will keep thee right Consider that to keep thy Thoughts Right is the way to keep Thee so My Life for thine He that keeps his Thoughts Right shall never die Traytour to God or the King Not to the King for Curse not the King no not in thy Thought saith the Rule of Righteousness Not to God for Right Thoughts will yield the Fruits of Righteousness Fruits of the Lips Psalm 45.1 My heart is Inditing a good matter I will speak of the things I have made touching the King Psalm 119.15 my Tongue is the Pen of a ready Writer so saith the Psalmist And the Fruit of good living I will meditate saith He in thy Precepts and have Respect unto thy Wayes and again I have remembred thy Name and have kept thy Law Verse 55. IV. Motive 4. Motive Right Thoughts will yield peaceable Fruit. Mal. 3.16 Verse 17. ANd lastly Consider That Right Thoughts will yield as the Fruits so the Peaceable Fruits of Righteousness For these are thy fair Evidences that thou art in Gods Books as we say proverbially of One highly favoured that Thou art one of his Jewels for a Book of Remembrance was written before him for them that Thought upon his Name And they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts in that day when I make up my Jewels And how should We count and keep that as Our peculiar Treasure in respect of which God counts Us so And therefore in the II. place to Direct thee I. Practical Rule 1. Practical Rule Repent of evil Thoughts Acts 8.22 THe First Practical Rule for the Keeping of Right Thoughts is Diligent and daily Repentance of Evil Thoughts what saith the Apostle Repent and pray God if perhaps the Thoughts of thine heart may be forgiven Thee And O what cause of deep Humiliation for our Thought-sins is here that the very Thought of a mans Heart may bring a Man to a peradventure or a Perhaps whether ever He may be forgiven Matth. 3.8 What saith John Baptist Bring forth therefore Fruits meet for Repentance and think not to say within your selves c. Hence thus much is Evident that where Fruits meet for Repentance are brought forth Evil Thoughts are expelled and cast forth Now as nothing can banish Darkness but Light so can nothing expel Evil Thoughts but Good Thoughts And as the Ablaqueation and laying of the Roots bare in the time of year is the way to make Trees bring forth Fruit well in their season so the laying Our hearts bare in the sight of God by Confession Compunction Contrition deep Humiliation for our Evil Thoughts is one way to be fruitful and abounding in Good Ones II. Practical Rule 2. Practical Rule 2 Sam. 13.20 Make the evil of thine heart subservient to thy good thoughts NExt as the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen every man his Share and his Colter and his Axe and his Mattock because they would not suffer a Smith in Israel So deal with the Corruption of thy Nature that would not suffer One good Thought in thy Soul Whee thy Thoughts for good by that very Contrariety that is in thee to good For instance Thou complainest that such is the corruption of thy Nature that thou canst not of thy self think one Good Thought Why Think then of the Corruption of thy Nature and even this Thought well followed shall be a Good Thought in Thee and a Good Thought for Thee Thou complainest that thou canst not think of Heaven for the thoughts of Earth and of things below why think of these things onely think of them aright viz. as Gods Word and thy Reason and thy Sense tell thee as what God hath placed under thy feet as the Psalmist speaks Let me tell thee Psalm 8.6 that Right Thoughts of Earth and of things below may help not hinder thy thoughts of Heaven In Nature the ambient Winter-cold makes Springs in the Bowels of the Earth they say the hotter Mans heart is a Spring and Thoughts are its flowings and thus David we have seen waxed hot with musing while the wicked were before him Psalm 39.1 3. God can make Corruption of Nature subservient to Grace as Joshua said of the Canaanites Numb 14.9 they are Bread for us God can make the very Evil of our hearts to be Food and Fewel to our Good Thoughts III. Practical Rule 3. Practical Rule Heave at thine heart Numb 15.20 NExt Heave daily at thine heart for our Thoughts are our Heave-Offerings Lift at thine heart as they do at a great Stone or piece of Timber which is by raising to be laid into the Building Unto thee Psalm 25.1 O Lord do I lift up my Soul saith holy David But not in thine own strength Pray for the Spirit to help thee to right Thoughts John 14.26 But then still Remember that of thy self thou art not sufficient to think any thing aright as of thy self Therefore Pray in aid of the Spirit whose work it is as in Prayer so in Meditation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to lift with us and to help us to lift And Pray in Faith of that Promise the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my Name shall bring All things to your Remembrance that is good Thoughts to your minds And here let me desire thee carefully to Remember this That if Gods Spirit do not Satan will be filling thy heart Acts 5.3 The very First Petition in the Lords Prayer teacheth us to pray for Right Thoughts for by these we sanctify the Lord God in our hearts Isaiah 8.13 1 Pet. 3.15 Luke 11.13 And therein also to pray for the Sanctifying Spirit whom God hath promised to give to them that aâ—k him Be thankful for right thoughts Psalm 30.4 And further be sure to be thankful to God when he helps thee to be thoughtful of that which is Good in this sense Give thanks at the Remembrance of his holiness even when he helps thee to Remember it Humble thankefulness for what we have is a cleanly way of begging for more Labour for holy affections And that thou mayest alwayes be full of good thoughts Implore Gods Grace to fill thee with those sanctified Affections that carry the Key and command of the thoughts viz. Holy Fear and Love Fear For the first of these even slavish Fear can carry the thoughts before it the Mariners in a storm can easily think of their Danger Jonah 1.5 And shall not an holy and Filial fear they feared the Lord Mal. 3.16 and
saith the Text they thought upon his Name And as for Love And Love Levit. 2.7 Cacabus ◠Rad. Hebr. ebullivit Psalm 45.1 as the Holy Fire under the Frying-pan made the Oyl of the Oblation to bubble and boyl up which is the Psalmists very word Holy Love is this Fire that makes Thoughts boil up for the very first word of that Psalm which is entituled a Song of Love is this My heart boileth up with a good matter Experience tells us Animus est non ubi animat sed ubi amat that the affectionate and tender Mother can leave her thoughts behind her at home with her sucking Child when she goes abroad Thus worldly Love will have worldly Thoughts and Gracious Love will have Gracious Thoughts O how I love thy Law it is my Meditation all the day Psalm 19.97 And 't is a sign Holy Love is but weak and feeble when holy thoughts are but faint and few Deut. 6.5 And here let the Reader most carefully observe that where Moses layes down the First and great Commandment thou shalt Love the Lord thy God only in three words with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Might or strength Mat. 22.37 Mark 17.30 Luke 10.27 Our Saviour repeating the Law adds a Fourth viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex omni Cogitatione so Bez. vulg c. with all thy Thought or Mind plainly enough suggesting unto us that the Strength of the Heart cannot be reckoned as engaged to the Love of God where the Thoughts of the Heart are not drawn Out by it And therefore labour to ascertain and to clear up thine Interest in God and Christ Mark 12.30 and Heavenly things daily more and more for Christ saith not where Anothers but where your treasure is Luke 10.27 there will your heart be also for as Interest raiseth Love Love hath power to levy Thoughts and to keep them in readiness for its use and service so that if thy Treasure be in Heaven there will thine heart be also Luke 12.34 IV. Last Practical Rule 4. Practical Rule Begin thy Days and thy Weeks with Right thoughts Exod. 12.1 John 20.2 Coloss 3.1 Revel 1.10 LAstly As the Israelites were to reckon their Beginning of Moneths from the time of their Deliverance so let the Thoughts of thy DELIVERER still begin both thy Weeks and thy Dayes for it was both upon the First of the Week and of the Day that our Blessed Lord Rose again from the Dead and We must imp our Thoughts if we would help their flight upon the wing of Our Saviours Resurrection S. John was in the Spirit on the LORDS-DAY that is on the First of the Week for it is generally confest that the First day of the Week was as well known by the Primitive Christians in the Apostolical Age by the Name of the Lords-day as any other day was or is by Jews or Gentiles known and distinguished by any other Name Thus did the dear Disciple begin the Week and thus did Holy David still begin the day whose constant course was to take his slight for Heaven on the wings of the Morning Psal 139.18 when I was awake saith he to God I am still with thee And thus should the First-lings of the flock of our Thoughts be for God still Gen 4.4 Matth. 6.33 still First seek the Kingdom of God that is not onely above All but also every Week and every Day first of All. Of all the Ten there is but One Commandment that begins with a REMEMBER O forget not that Exod. 20.8 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy This is the standing Law commanding one Day or Seventh part of the Week blessed of God above all the rest to be set apart for God for so also the Commandment ends Verse 11. Hookers Ecclesiastical Policy the Lord Blessed the Sabbath Day and hallowed it The Perpetual obligatoriness of which Law is strongly asserted by the Learned Hooker and declaredly owned by the Church of England there being subjoyned to the publick reading of this fourth Commandment as well as of the rest a Lord have mercy upon us See also the Hom. of the Place and Time c. Titus 1.16 John 1.3 and encline our Hearts to keep this Law And if in Words we confess this Law O let not our Works deny it Now as the SON of God being Maker both of the First Creation and Sabbath for by Him were All things made and without Him was nothing made that was made as we have already seen First blessed that Day wherein He first Rested for the Commemoration of that First and Glorious work of his So after that He became the SON MAN Mark 2.28 being still LORD of the SABBATH He hath dignified the First Day of the Week with the glorious Title of the LORDS-DAY having Rested therein from a greater Work viz. the Suffering and state of Death which was the last and Finishing Work of his state of Humiliation and therein blessed and hallowed it for our Commemoration of the more glorious work of Redemption For as the glory of the later Temple Hag. 2.9 was greater then that of the former because Christ was more manifestly to appear in it it may be as truly and for the same reason said of Gods Workmanship Eph. 2.10 created in CHRIST JESUS unto good works that the glory of the New Creature excels that of the Old for the more manifestation of Christ still the more Glory till at last He shall come to be perfectly glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that believe 2 Thes 1.10 For herein hath he obsignated and given an undubitable pledge of that REST or SABBATISM that remains for the People of God Hebr. 4.9 when upon the general Resurrection of their Bodies they shall Eternally rest from Sin and Death 1 Cor. 15.20 for Christ is risen as the First Fruits of them that sleep and therefore saith He thy Dead Men shall live Isaiah 26.19 John 14.19 together with my Dead Body shall they arise for because I LIVE Ye shall live also To allude then to that Word of our Saviour John 12.31 When I am lifted up I will draw all men to me and indeed when the King is up and gone 't is not for the Courtiers to loyter and lag behind O me-thinks this Resurrection of Christ should DRAW All our Hearts and Thoughts to him Colos 3.1 If we then be Risen with Christ saith the Apostle Let us seek those things that are above Psalm 24.7 Psalm 110.7 and then especially when He arose Then Lift up your heads O ye Gates and be ye lift up ye Everlasting Doors for this Day did your dearest Lord lift up that head from the Conquered Grave John 19.30 which He bowed before upon that bitter Cross that as his Death was the Death of our Sins so his Resurrection might be the life of our Souls Psal 118 24. This this is the day that Our Lord hath made We will Rejoyce and be glad in it Every other Sun-Rising can make another Day Mal. 4.1 but it is onely the Rising of the Sun of Righteousness with healing in his wings that made the Day we stile the LORDS-DAY and therefore when the Burthen of the Week for sufficient to every day is the Evil thereof hath made our Shoulders shrink Mat. 6.34 and gall'd our back this blessed Day takes off the Burthen and layes on the Balm heals the aking Heart Relieves the weary Thoughts and in a word it brings Heaven half down to us and takes us half up to Heaven Wherefore good Reader let thine Early Thoughts and Spicie Meditations begin every morning of this blessed Day as the good Women in the Gospel with a gracious and holy visit of thy Saviours Sepulchre Luke 24.1 6. till the Heavenly Ordinances of that Day proclaim to thee as the Angels to them He is not here but is risen John 14.2 3. and is gone before thee to prepare a place for thee that he may come again and receive thee that where He is there mayest thou be also And as the First day of each Week thus employed will sanctifie unto thee the rest of the Week so will the First of each Day the rest of the Day when by a Sun-beam thou canst climb to God Herber◠in Temple Close thy dayes with good thoughts as Divine Herbert most sweetly expresseth it And now having found thee with Him and Holy David in the Morning I would chuse to leave thee with Isaac in the Evening who was wont at that time to go out to MEDITATE That as God is Alpha and Omega of all things He may be the Beginning and the End of thy Thoughts for with Him it is that this little Book both designs and desires to leave Thee Amen Amen FINIS