frame of life answerable to that calling but contrary to the world The defence is worse than the fault The last Vse is a ground of consolation to all Gods children in that they are new creatures The priviledges of the new creature are like that white stone and the new name Revel 2. 17. which no man knoweth but hee that receiveth it The stranger entereth not into his joy I speake now of childrens bread which is not cast to dogs and of things that are riddles to the greatest part of the world It could not be but that men in hearing what honour all the Saints have in their new estate should reach at them as men ravished if the vaile were not over our hearts as over the Iewes when Moses was read But the covenant was ever sealed amongst the disciples These priviledges of the new creature are in respect First of their renovation and newnesse and this both of their nature and condition First hee hath attained a new and divine nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. And this both in respect of a new father and a new image For wheras we be children of wrath of disobedience and of our father the devill whose workes wee doe Iohn 8. and by nature the seed of the wicked wee by the second creation become the sonnes of God the seed of Christ and Gods very off-spring 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 17. 28. For now of his own good will he begate us by the Word of truth Iames 1. 17. and what a dignity and honor is this to be Gods children Kings children Seemeth it a small thing saith David to be sonne in law to a King what am I or what is my fathers house to be sonne to a King In the first creation thou sayest to corruption Thou art my father in the second thou sayest to God Thou art my father 1. Iohn 3. 1. And secondly whereas wee beare the image of the first Adam in sinne and corruption and by sinne no childe can be liker his father than wee are like the Devill By this second creation wee attaine a new image of the second Adam wherein we resemble our heavenly Father Oh what a forlorne estate was that in the first Adam wherein the image of God by the fall became as a dead child having some lineaments and image of the father but a loathsome and rotten carkase left onely as a monument of that image which once was there to leave them without excuse Rom. 1. 20. But now wee are renewed to the Image of God againe which the Apostle placeth in first knowledge secondly holinesse and righteousnesse For knowledge whereas in the first Adam wee are as blinde as Moles our mindes are in darknesse more miserable than that of Egypt a comfortable light of saving knowledge is created in our mindes which are renewed in knowledge A Sunne of grace and righteousnesse is risen to us and our eyes are open to behold it A sanctified knowledge not of the History of Christ but of the vertue and power of Christ in our owne new workmanship Not a speculative but a feeling knowledge not like that of carnall men and hypocrites whose knowledge of the truth reflecteth not on themselves being like to stone vessels which hold sweet waters but are not sweetned by it but it is a knowledge changing the minde and man into it selfe 2 Cor. 3. 10. And for holinesse the Saints carry upon them the image of God both inwardly and outwardly In the soule the new Creature resembleth God himselfe in holy wisedome truth purity and so in many his most holy attributes and in holy affections Loving where God loveth approving what hee approveth hating what he hateth delighting in the persons most in whom God most delighteth shewing kindnesse patience mercy even to enemies as the Lord himselfe doth And for outward holinesse of obedience and conversation whereas when hee was in the old Adam hee walked in the wayes of the world without God and without hope expressing the old Adam in all bad customes and habits of sinne and the man being wholly dead in sin onely his sin was alive Now being a new creature he beareth holines written in his fore-head as being made a Priest unto God A new man hath new manners new obedience new carriage and conversation he now walketh after Christ the most absolute patterne of all purity and holinesse Oh what a comfortable change is here for whosoever beareth this image of God in any measure are deare unto the Lord how pleasing is it to a father to see his owne favour countenance and conditions upon his children and commonly children that most resemble their father are dearer unto them Secondly this renovation is unto a new condition and this in a new Covenant Life Inheritance First for the first In our old creation God had covenanted nothing but wrath which by sinne wee incurred now we are become enemies of God and God to us he is whetting his glittering sword upon the edge of which we cast our selves Our necks are laid on the blocke and all ready to execution hee pleased to grant us a pardon and renew with us another covenant of grace whereby hee hath both discharged the offence and released the punishment and yet more bestoweth righteousnesse upon us and entereth into perfect reconciliation beholding us as friends Iames 2. 23. Abraham was the friend of God as a man after his owne heart so David Act. â—3 22. as beloved of God Let the new creature cast out the spirit of bondage to feare now thy sins are forgiven the Law satisfied Gods wrath appeased all old bonds discharged go in peace Secondly for the second whereas all the sonnes of Adam were altogether dead in sin neither was it possible that our first Parents being altogether dead to God and without the life of God could convey any life of God to their posterity no more than a roote or stocke of a tree altogether dead could beare any live branches no more than men and women naturally dead can bring forth living children What an happy change is made in the new creature by regeneration and incorporation into Christ who hath abolished death and brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. And who hath quickned us being dead in sins and trespasses Ephes. 2. 4. Now what a distance is betweene life and death especially life to grace and death in sin So much is the comfort of a new creature above a man unregenerate Object Alas I finde not this life of God but am assailed and daily foiled by sinne Answ. Our life created in Christ is not altogether perfect in this world but some remnant of the old Adam will still bewray it selfe For as in a field the dead carkases remaine to shew what a victory is atchieved so the carkases of sinnes remaine to shew what a victory we have by Christ but without life and power to conquer us or if any life be in sinne
vessels we let them slip For First how weake an account can wee give unto God as we must of all the good lessons we have heard and ought to have remembred Secondly how could we continue the same men from yeare to yeare unchanged if the word did continue in us Thirdly what strangers are many of us to the Scripture and grounds of Religion whereas if it did dwell in us it would be as well knowne unto us as those that are in house with us Fourthly how far is it to seeke and absent from us when our mindes understand it not our hearts affect it not our consciences are not guided by it nor our actions nor the creatures are sanctified by it as 1 Tim. 4. 4. How plaine is it now that thou art not in Christ who wilt not affoord his Word a resting place in thy soule Remember that place 1 Iohn 2. 24. If that which yee have heard from the beginning shall remaine in you yee shall continue in the Son and in the Father The fift note Examine whether thou hast the Spirit of Christ. This is made a note of such a one 1 Iohn 3. 10. Hereby we know that hee abideth in us by the spirit which hee hath given us And Chap. 4. 13. Hereby we know that wee dwell in him and hee in us because hee hath given us of his spirit And if any man have not the Spirit of Christ the same is none of his that is no member of his body set into him but in shew as a woodden legge which receiveth not vitall powers from the head Object This is a difficult marke But how shall I know the Spirit of Christ to be in mee Answ. Many finde and conceive it to be harder than it is because they hold it no sinne to doubt whether they have the spirit or no when as they may as lawfully doubt whether they be Christians or no. But try thy selfe by this note First wheresoever the spirit is he rebuketh sin Ioh. 16. 8. The spirit pricketh the heart of every convert and if thou hast him thou must finde him a spirit of conviction Object I have beene often checked for my sinne and that is my comfort Answ. But deceive not thy selfe To the spirits conviction are required three things First sense and sorrow that thou hast sinned Secondly earnest desire of mercy expressed in vehement hunger and thirst Thirldly a loathing and leaving of sinne Never any received the spirit but thus was sinne rebuked in them Secondly the spirit writeth the law in the heart where he is Ier. 31. 31. and leadeth into all truth Iohn 16. 13. Hast thou this spirit of direction and counsell teaching thee and leading thee into duty Object I know as much as any can teach me Answ. But art thou led by the spirit or mis-led by the flesh and doctrine of carnall libertie Many are taught few are led and yet onely they that are led by the Spirit are the Sonnes of God The Spirit must be the guider of thy course as the Pilot in the ship thou must shut thine owne eyes of carnall reason and as a blinde man give thy selfe to be led by the spirit Thirdly the spirit where hee is ruleth and commandeth yea reformeth and casteth out old errors of heart and life for hee will not dwell as an underling but as a commander his worke is to cast downe all high things exalted against grace and to bring every thought into the obedience of Christ. Findest thou a spirit in thee prevailing against fleshly thoughts carnall affections desires conversation findest thou a spirit framing thoughts speeches actions to the conformitie of the Word a spirit quickning to all that is good this is the Spirit of Iesus Christ. Fourthly he being the spirit of supplication Zae. 12. 10 maketh the elect to cry with unspeakeable groanes Dost thou finde not the words of prayer which any hypocrite may but the spirit of prayer who alwayes in prayer first leadeth into the sense of sin secondly into the apprehension of the excellency of mercy which maketh him servent thirdly letteth the soule see God appeased in Christ fourthly it sealeth to it the truth of Gods promises who will heare Psal. 50. 15. Fiftly assureth it selfe to be in state of Christ his merits and intercession to whom the Father denieth nothing all which must needes quicken the heart to fervent and frequent prayer The sixth Note If thou canst discerne Christ in thy selfe thou maist be sure thou art in him for one ralative affirmes the other And knowest thou not that Christ is in thee except thou be a reprobate 2 Cor. 12. 5. Quest. How may I know this Answ. First examine if Christ be formed in thee Gal. 4. 12. And then Christ is formed in thine heart when God hath begun a change in thy soule by his grace laying in thee the beginnings and seedes of grace The Apostle useth a comparison drawne from the forming of an infant in the wombe which is not formed all at once but the principall vitall parts first the heart braine and liver and then the other by degrees so grace is not wrought all at once but by degrees first the beginnings of Faith Repentance and holy desires and then a more lively impression of the Image of Christ imprinted in their heart which standeth in knowledge holines and conformity to Iesus Christ in practice and passion in suffering and doing as he did in some measure Now if there bee no new lumpe which was not in nature no forming no reforming of heart and life Christ is not there Secondly try if Christ liveth in thee and then Christ liveth in thee when thou livest by faith in the Sonne of God making thy faith thy stay in all estates in all actions temptations afflictions when faith carrieth a sway and hath a stroke in every thing and in life and death maketh the heart and life leane upon Christ. Thirdly if Christ bee in thee then hee moveth in thee and thou in him The infant in the wombe is discerned by the moving of it and so is Christ discerned in the heart and then Christ moveth in the heart when his spirit moveth and inclineth it by a still and secret voyce unto all good speeches and duties and then thou movest in him when thou cherishest fosterest and followest his motions agreeable unto the Word and sufferest them not to die in thee As for example The Spirit moveth thee to redeeme the time to read in Gods Booke there to acquaint thy selfe with Gods will in time to worke the workes of God to mind thy account and reckoning but thou resistest those motions carnall and contrary motions thrust them our and call thee to cards dice epicurisme merriments wasting thy time putting off the evill day as the heathens Now Christ moveth not in thee but the spirit that ruleth in the world for Gods sweete motions are so strong as that
sinnes even those which himselfe doth small and great he spareth none Nay he hateth his life and loveth it not to the death in comparison of Christ. These are strange affections but inseparable to the new Creature Fifthly new senses a new cleared eye to discerne the things of God Ephes. 1. 15. A new eare opened boared circumcised to heare and obey Psam 40. 6. A new taste how good God is and rellish of the things of God A new smell to savour the things of the spirit Rom. 8. 5. which before were unsavoury and tastelesse A new feeling hee feeleth the worke of the Word and Spirit in him hee feeleth a sweete apprehension of remission of sins and Gods favour in Christ hee feeleth the peace and joy of a good conscience and fellowfeeleth the affliction of his brethren Sixthly a whole new estate hee is in state of regeneration and in state of salvation being before in state of death and damnation A new name Esay 62. 1. Being married to Christ is called by the husbands name Christian. A new language of Canaan he is of a pure language Hee hath new food new milke from the breasts of the Church Mannah from Heaven to grow by Every creature hath his proper foode to live by so here he hath new raiment to cloath him the righteousnesse of Christ the elder brother new attendants and servants to keepe him in his way the Angels Psal. 34. A new and living way by Iesus Christ to walke into heaven contrary to the way of the world Seventhly a new death not of his soule in sin as before but of sinne in his soule Nay his body dyeth not the common death of all men but a new death sanctified seasoned in the death of Christ yea more he hath a new grave and buriall of sinne in his soule and his body is layd in a Tombe wherein never wicked man was layd al perfumed in the buriall and grave of Iesus Christ. Here is a new Creature all new all tending to perfection The fourth note of a new creature is new Motion called new obedience first from the original secondly the matter thirdly the manner fourthly the end of it First the spring or rise of the new Creatures Motion is from within all hee doth is from the spirit within him The Old mans Obedience is from without hee beginneth at his finger ends is drawne by outward inducements hee setteth his service to sale to the view of men as a clocke that worketh not from within but is moved by plummets and weights without But the new Creature performeth new Obedience from a new ground he hath not onely Spiritum adstantem but assistentem that is hee hath not the presence of the spirit only but his assistance Of all sins hee shunneth the most inward and spirituall of all judgements hee most dreadeth inward and spirituall of all places hee would have his heart within sweetest cleanest and best trimmed Secondly the matter of his Obedience is grounded in the Word either in some precept generall or speciall or in some example in all his motion hee looketh to the rule as the Israelites to the cloud hee hath a new commandement to observe Iohn 13. from a new Master whom his desire is to please in all things which cannot be in any thing but commanded by himselfe Thirdly the manner of his motion is new and diverse from other men yea from himselfe A beast may doe the same things that a man doth eate drinke sleepe but the manner is not the same A wicked man may doe some things that are good and commanded as hearing reading praying fasting but hee slubbers it over and contenteth himselfe to doe it in any fashion to get it over But a new Creature aimeth as much at the right manner of doing as the thing it selfe The maine difference in the manner of doing betweene the old and new creature is in two things 1 As every Creature hath his severall delight in his proper action so the new Creature doth duties with delight freedome cheerefulnesse The Bird delighteth in singing so the new Creature delighteth in his new motion and the Commandement is not a burthen 2 As every Creature is uniforme in his proper action it doth them all alike every where so the new Creature is the same in his obedience every where Ioseph is Ioseph in the dungeon as well as in the top of the Kingdome Iob is Iob on the dung-hill Fourthly the end of his Motion and Obedience is new Gods glory directly as the glory of God shareth in all the workes of the Creation Rom. 1 〈◊〉 The Heavens declare his glory and the Earth show his handy workes Much more this new Creature in his motion expresseth the glory of God Carnall men are like blazing-starres which so long as they are fed with vapours shine as if they were stars but let the vapours dry up presently they vanish and disappeare So so long as earthly vapours of profit preferment vaine-glory feed naturall men so long they appeare in motion and shine as starres but no longer But the new Creature is of anothet mould he is a new wonkemanship that will serve to the praise of the glory of the grace of the workeman Ephes. 1. 6. The third point is How may a man become a new Creature The Text saith Let him be a new creature as if it were in our power to be so or not to be Answ. This implieth our dutie not our abilitie of our selves Our duty is to labour after this new creation to get into this new estate and to be sure wee have our being in grace secondly the Text speaketh of one in Christ whose will is freed in part Ob. But how can I seeke a being in grace having no being in it I can resist it but how can I helpe it forward can a dead man move to life Answ. 1. All such places as Ier. 4. 4. doe shew us 1. what wee cannot doe 2. what wee ought to doe 3. what we must attaine by grace 2 The Lord who doth the wole worke of creation doth it not so immediatly as hee did the creation of naturall things but ordinarily useth meanes sanctified to this worke God that made us without our selves will not save us without our selves nor worketh in the elect as in stockes and stones but as in reasonable instruments First hee hath appointed meanes for our regeneration and salvation secondly commandeth us to use them thirdly promiseth that in the right use of them hee will put forth his mighty power upon his own meanes Therefore thou maist present thy selfe to the meanes and submit thy selfe unto Gods ordinances beware of thrusting away the offers of grace No man can helpe himselfe into life but being quickned by God knoweth that he liveth and doth the actions of life Quest. But how can I having no grace seeke after grace in the meanes Ans. No man can seeke grace but by grace but being
diligent in the calling of a new creature that is the calling of a Christian Wee must neither be idle nor unfruitfull in the worke of the Lord. This is a notable meanes to attaine to the perfection of the new creature For as every creature in nature mooveth from imperfect to perfect so it is in grace which our Saviour expresseth by the corne in the field Marke 4. which first riseth to a blade and then moveth to an eare and then to ripe corne in the eare So the new creature riseth by degrees to perfction The exercise of the body causeth growth which is not so much action as strength of action Not the trade but diligence in the trade and calling increaseth the stroke The diligent hand maketh rich so diligence in the meanes of grace and earnestnesse in good things addeth unto the stocke of grace Therefore as Paul forgetting what is behind let us presse hard to the marke and high calling Phil. 3. 13. Fourthly to demeane our selves as new creatures we must converse among new creatures Every creature by nature gather to their likes Birds of a feather Beasts of one kinde For every Creature hath agreement and sympathy with his kinde and things thrive best among their like Even so the new man will be among new men A Dove of Christ cannot affect nor thrive to live among Ravens Nor the Sheep of Christ among the Swine that wallow in earthlinesse and lust The new creature contemneth a vile person but honoureth them that feare the Lord. First joyne thy selfe now to the societie of the Saints For as the Lord at first made man a sociable creature above all the rest so when hee maketh him a new creature it is not to thrust him into a cloyster but to live in holy and fruitfull society and shine as lights not thrust under bushels but set in candlestickes in the midst of a froward generation Secondly admire this new workemanship in the meanest beginnings of grace and that in the meanest professor of godlinesse and honour it above the creation of a Duke or a Prince that professeth against it Esteeme a godly man not according to his first birth but according to his new birth I know no man after the flesh saith Paul that is not according to their minority in the first creation but according to the state into which they are new borne and brought into by a second creation And therefore men despise the new creature because they see nothing but a peece of old earth upon them which is base in outward appearance And so they beheld Christ himselfe and saw no forme and beauty on him They gaze on the earthen vessell but see no hidden treasure Thirdly agreement in judgement and opinion knitteth men in societie Rom. 15. 6. The new Creatures have but one faith one Lord one hope one religion one profession And herein thou must agree with them Gal. 6. 16. They have one rule Hardly shall we finde a new Creature among the Papists who say they are of the old Religion which indeed in sundry senses may be called old though it be a new device and humane policy First because it is every way agreeable to the old man a pleaser of naturall corruption requiring nothing which corrupt nature will not willingly afford Secondly it may be said to be old because it can never beget a new creature Thirdly it is so old and doting as that it is tottering and falling to ruine as it selfe hath shifted long since off the foundation laid by the Prophets and Apostles Fourthly conformity and similitude of manners linke men together in good or evill Phil. 3. 17. Looke on them which walke so walke with the wise The surest band of societie in the new creature is the similitude of manners and converse in the communion of Saints where each one chooseth his companion for the grace of God hee espieth in him and from whom hee may hope to get good He never looketh to gather grapes of thornes nor figges of thistles and therefore his delight is in the fellowship of Saints in Gods house in their houses in publike duties of Gods worship in private duties of edification Who would looke for these new Creatures in Tavernes Play-houses Ale-houses places of riotous meeting and hellish resort where ordinarily is no mention of grace but to disgrace and wound it and all the friends of it Follow the light side of the cloud and not the darke side of it Fifthly to demeane our selves as new Creatures wee must live to the good of others No Creature liveth for it selfe but for the whole The Sunne shineth not for it selfe but for the world Trees beare not fruit for themselves Nor doe clouds breed raine for themselves but to water the earth So the new creature must not onely be good but doe good to others The Commandement is Gal. 6. Doe good unto all but especially to the houshold of Faith These trees of righteousnesse must be laden with fruits that every man may gather and taste A private man but a publike good Light is a most communicative and diffusive Creature and the more it imparteth it hath never the lesse Much more the light of grace it feares nothing so much as a bushell as truth feareth nothing but to be hid Aske thy selfe of what good use art thou in the world that professest thy selfe a new creature Art thou a private minded man a worldling a man without bowels and compassion a man without hands from whom nothing can be wrung for God for his Church his ministerie or any good use thou art farre from a new creature and as yet an unprofitable lumpe of earth without sense of Heaven Christs whole life was in doing good to all Vse 4. Let no man pretend his old man as a plea to maintaine his lusts Oh I was angry saith one and I cannot beare an injury it is my nature to be hastie And I saith another was overcome in company with drinke and my nature is to be soone overcome and so in other lusts But hast thou not now made a good plea is it not all one to say thou art no new Creature who hast nothing but nature in thee Why art thou a Christian and no new Creature Or a new creature without the spirit which lusteth and subdueth the rising of the flesh Others by the same plea excuse the sinnes of their callings Others doe so and I must doe as other men but a new Creature must differ from all old and sinfull courses Others follow the courses of the world with full spirits in every new disguised fashion of apparell in excessive pride in riotous gaming feasting c. and say it is the fashion course and custome of the age and time But wert thou a new creature thou wouldst not then plead for the old corruption of the world A new creature is called out of the world and hath a new constitution and
us and wee shall walke in that blessed and celestiall light there is no more need of earthly comforts that blessed Sonne shall drowne and swallow up all the lights of these candles and of the Moone it selfe As that holy woman and martyr going to her death said I am now going to a place where money beareth no mastery Rev. 21. 23. that City hath no neede of the worlds Sun nor Moone for the glory of God and the Lambe are the light of it Now wee proceed to the Starres of the firmament the handmaides of the Queene of heaven who in their nature call us all to the knowledge of God And by the teaching of grace they all may be as the starre that led the wise men to Christ. In them let us consider The unconceiveable magnitude of them the swiftnesse of their motion their secret but admirable efficacie and influence and all this to be put forth or restrained at the Lords pleasure must needs argue him to be wise of heart and strong of power Iob 9. Verses 4 7 9 10. to order so great things and unsearchable yea marvelous things without number Adde hereunto the multitude of them which thou canst not number the force and power of them as mighty armies for the execution of the Lords justice and mercie which thou canst not reach All this leadeth us into the sense of our owne imperfection in knowledge to apprehend his perfections that calleth them all by their names And hence we are called both to acknowledge the power of him that made Pleiades and Orion Amos 5. 8. as also to praise his goodnesse that made the great lights the Sun to governe the day the Moone and Starres to rule the night This might stirre up our faith concerning the multitudes of beleevers in the Kingdome of Christ which shall be as the starres of the firmament Genes 22. 17. This consideration the Lord useth as an argument to confirme the faith of his Church Ierem. 33. 22. Therefore is the Lord worthy of praise Psal. 136. 7. The stars keepe their courses and motions and orbes constantly and unweariably they suffer no eclypses in themselves as the greater lights doe they never deny their light unto others By which both our faith may be strengthened and our duty directed The former the Lord urgeth to confirme our faith in the stability and truth of his promises Ier. 31. 35. If the courses of the moone and starres can be broken then may the seed of Israel cease The latter directeth us 1. To stand in our owne orbes with constancy doing our owne duty as fixed starres Iude 13. not as the shooting or wandring starres that is unconstant and unstable men carried about with every winde of temptation doctrin lust But we must hold on anweariably in doing our duty 2. To shine in grace without eclypses so farre as is possible 3. To deny to none our helpe and light that stand in need We see one starre differ from another in magnitude claritie glory and motion yet one hindereth not another one envieth not at another Which noteth 1. The divers degrees of grace here For the Saints have diversity of gifts which maketh them as stars divers in their use and shining site and magnitude yet must not be adverse not envious not in pride advance our selves above others the stars doe not so The stars have each one their glory but none of them from themselves And what hast thou which thou hast not received 2. The divers degrees of glory hereafter proved by the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 41. What a sweet elevation of the soule were it in beholding the starres to put our selves in minde of that heavenly glory wherewith we shall be cloathed as the Scripture doth Dan. 12. 3. They that turne many to righteousnes shall shine as the starres Wee see the stars shine brightest in darkest nights to teach and excite us in darkest nights of triall afflictions and dangers most to manifest our light of faith patience fortitude and graces Where should fortitude demonstrate it selfe but in the field and combate Where doe spices send forth their odoriferous smels but in the mortar under the pestle In every starre we must labour to see Iesus Christ who calleth himselfe 1. The morning starre Revel 2. 28. And the bright morning starre Rev. 21. 16. He that overcommeth I will give him the morning starre that is I will communicate my selfe wholly unto him and make him conformable unto me im my glory Alwayes the proportion of head and members observed The morning starre is the most bright and shining of all the starres in heaven see in it the most excellent light and celestiall glory of Christ wherein the Lord Iesus excelleth all men and Angels as farre as the morning starre all the starres of heaven The morning starre communicateth all his light to the world In this see Christ communicating to the world of beleevers all light of Grace and Glory The morning starre dispelleth the nights darkenesse Hence conceive Christ that day starre rising in our hearts 2 Pet. 1. 19. who by the light of his Propheticall and Apostolicall Word his Spirit accompanying the same dispelleth the darkenesse of ignorance and errors wherein we were wrapped in the night of sinne and unregenerate estate The morning starre is anteambulo Solis and fitly said to be the Suns harbenger and fore-runner of perfect day Conceive Christ our morning Star not onely dispelling and dispersing with the beames of his light the darkenesse of this present life which is a night in comparison But is a pledge of our perfect day and future glory who in the morning of our common resurrection will shew himselfe to all his Saints in surpassing Glory and Majesty above the perfect light of a thousand Sunnes Thus wee see the use of the Starres in their naturall use excellent and usefull but in spirituall and supernaturall farre more to the Christian and Beleever 2. Behold Christ termed the starre of Iacob Num. 24. 17. Here observe 1. The originall of a starre is from heaven not earth I must conceive of Christ otherwise than of other men which have their originall on earth But he is the Lord from heaven as God he is from heaven 2. Yet a starre of Jacob. As a man of the posterity of Iacob so I must conceive him both God and man 3. This starre first riseth in the horizon of Iudea and Ierusalem see Psal. 60. 1. and carrieth his light round about to all nations as the starres 4. The use of this starre is to be a load-starre to helpe us to our haven that as Marriners on the Sea behold the Pole-star to saile safely and avoid rockes and shelves So must wee on the Sea of this world looke at this starre and feare no shipwracke Now come we to consider the inferiour heavens and in these consider the Clouds Aire Windes The Clouds have a voice to teach us not onely that mighty voice
the Apostle of God himselfe In it under God wee live move and have our beeing Acts 17. 28. The ayre of it selfe is darke but yet admitteth the sun-beames to penetrate it and lighten it So must I a Chaos of darkenesse in my selfe by nature become a receptacle of light and receive the beames of grace from the sunne of grace and righteousnesse As no creature wanteth a voyce to teach man so no man ought to be ashamed to learne by whatsoever God will teach him Amongst the rest there is not almost any naturall thing which poynteth us out to more spirituall use nor affordeth more sweete matter of divine Meditation than the words which both leade us unto God and into our selves both for humiliation and direction It hath an apt resemblance and image of God in it 1. In the subtilenesse and invisibilitie of the nature of it No man ever saw the winde thou canst notisee it saith Christ the way of the winde is not known so no man saw God at any time and his waies are unsearchable and past finding out The swiftnesse of the windes may note Gods omni-presence who is saide to ride on the wings of the winde 2. In powerfull motion and efficacy of it which no man can hinder or resist For this invisible creature hath a mighty force in tearing rending driving afore it whatsoever standeth in the way trees houses nay the raging seas the ponderous clouds yea the rockes and mountaines and is able to shake the very foundations of the earth And who seeth not here a lively resemblance of the omnipotent power of God whose mighty arme worketh so unresistably in all the things of nature yea of grace rending the hard rockes of our hearts and casting downe lofty mountaines exalted against grace Who art thou that canst resist the Spirit in man 3. In the freedome of his motion the winde bloweth where it listeth Iohn 3. 7. No man can make the winde blow nor leave blowing but it mooveth it selfe and resteth freely And herein should wee cast our eyes on the Lords free working as in all the workes of nature so of grace He will have mercy where hee will and harden whom hee will He will send the windes of his grace and they shall heare the sound of it in this region not in that in this congregation not in another yea this heart in the same congregation shall have the sound and not another Hee will blow a stronger gale a fuller blast a greater measure of grace on some than on another Hee may doe with his owne as hee will And all things worke the same spirit to every one severally as hee will 1. Cor. 12. 11. 4. In the secrecy of his working of mighty worke the winds are invisible but worke wonders in every place open and secret but in a most still and silent manner for thou knowest not whence it commeth or whether it goeth Whereby the Lord leadeth us to the secret worke of the spirit in our conversion As the subtile winde pierceth by the tenuity of his substance into every cranney and no man can keepe it out so doth the Spirit of God blow into the very secrets of thy very conscience The woman at the Well wondered how this winde could so pierce her which brought a sound of all that ever shee did Who is acquainted with the worke of grace in himselfe and hath not woundred after how unspeakeable a manner this winde hath blowne upon him 1. What a still voyce he heard behinde him directing him and perswading him to the good way But stronger than all power of man or Angels and still followed with inward motion to provoke him further 2. How after a secret and unknowne manner these gracious windes have dissolved the clouds of iniquitie and watered the earth of his heart with raines of repentance and godly sorrow and ever since have kept his heart softened and humble 3. He knoweth not how but these blessed windes have dispersed the noysome vapours and corruptions of his heart scattered the clouds of ignorance errour infidelity doubts feares and cleared the heavens to him that now he chearefully beholdeth the sun-shine of Gods favour in Christ and walketh in the light and comfort of it and seeâ—h nothing Why but he heareth a still voyce and sound of this winde the testimony of the Spirit witnessing the pardon of his sinnes and his assurance of acceptance and reconciliation 4. Hee findeth a secret voyce and sound of the winde making requests in him with sighes which cannot be expressed This secret breath and inspiration of the Spirit giveth him breath and maketh him frequent and fervent in prayers to which hee was as heavie as a Beare to the stake 5. He findeth the sound of this winde not onely as the voice behinde him but feeleth the power of it as a strong blast behinde him to drive him forward in the waies of God And whereas before hee was as the shippe that lay wind-bound now having a faire gale of winde he is as a shippe under saile that goeth as swift as an arrow Hee can comfortably pray reade heare meditate admonish watch as an active man in godlinesse As a bird flying with the winde flyeth swifter In all these things wee may and must admire the greatnesse of God who hath laid up the windes in his treasury and rideth upon the wings of the wind Psal. 140. 3. made them the wheeles of his chariot The consideration of the windes leades us into our selves and that 1. For humiliation For who knoweth the nature of the wind the place of the winde the way of the winde He would have us humble not onely by the ignorance of minde in divine things but even in naturall 2. See in the winde our owne vanity Lord what is man Iob 7. 7. Remember that my life is but a winde 1. Inconstant as the winde a short puffe which none can lay faster hold on that on the winde all humane things are as light as the winde 2. Suddenly past away from us even sometime so soone as it commeth 3. It returneth not againe no more than the winde Psal. 78. 39. Hee remembred they were as winde passed not returning againe 2. For instruction shall so fierce a creature bee at a becke and shall not I 1. I see this mighty creature obedient and subject to GOD Mat. 8. 26. Who is this to whom windes and seas obey doe they testifie to Christ that hee is the Sonne of God and shall not I heare his Word and acknowledge him my Lord and my God 2. When I see a boysterous winde and tempest arise and carry away light things as feathers straw chaffe I must take notice of the miserable estate of wicked men on whom destruction and feare shall come as a whirle-winde Prov. 1. 27. They shall be driven away as chaffe and feathers in the winde Psal. 1. Job 21. 18. The wicked shall bee as stubble before the winde