Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	life_n	young_a	youth_n	155	3	7.9438	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A29676	Apples of gold for young men and vvomen, and a crown of glory for old men and women. Or, The happiness of being good betimes, and the honour of being an old disciple Clearly and fully discovered, and closely, and faithfully applyed. Also the young mans objections answered, and the old mans doubts resolved. By Thomas Brooks preacher of the gospel at Margarets new Fishstreet-hill.	Brooks, Thomas, 1608-1680.	1657 (1657)	Wing B4922A; ESTC R214145	141,163	402

c. Secondly Young men must bee really good betimes because they have means and opportunities of being good betimes Never had men better means and greater opportunities of being good of doing good and of receiving good than now Ah Lord how knowing how beleeving how holy how heavenly how humble might young men bee were they not wanting to their own souls Young men might bee good very good yea eminently good would they but improve the means of grace the tenders of mercy and the knocking 's of Christ by his Word Works and Spirit The Ancients painted Opportunity with a hairy forehead Erasmus but bald behinde to signifie that while a man hath opportunity before him hee may lay hold on it but if hee suffer it to slip away hee cannot pull it back again How many young men are now in everlasting chains who would give ten thousand worlds had they so many in their hands to give to injoy but an opportunity to hear one sermon more to make one prayer more to keep one Sabbath more but cannot this is their hell their torment this is the Scorpion that is still biting this is the Worm that is alwayes gnawing Wo wo to us that wee have neglected and trifled away those golden opportunities that once wee had to get our sins pardoned our natures changed our hearts bettered our consciences purged and our souls saved c. * Bellarm. In concione de cruciatibus Gehennae I have read of a King who having no issue to succeed him espying one day a well-favoured youth took him to Court and committed him to Tutors to instruct him providing by his will that if hee proved fit for government hee should bee crowned King if not hee should bee bound in chains and made a Gally-slave Now when hee grew to years the Kings executors perceiving that hee had sadly neglected those means and opportunities whereby hee might have been fit for State government called him before them and declared the Kings will and pleasure concerning him which was accordingly performed for they caused him to bee fettered and committed to the Gallies Now what tongue can expresse how much hee was affected and afflicted with his sad and miserable state especially when hee considered with himself that now hee is chained who might have walked at liberty Now hee is a slave who might have been a King now hee is over-ruled by Turks who might once have ruled over Christians the application is easie Ah young men young men T is storied of Charles King of Sicily and Jerusalem that hee was called Carolus Cunctator Charles the lingerer this age affords many such lingerers c. shall Satan take all opportunities to tempt you shall the world take all opportunities to allure you shall wicked men take all opportunities to ensnare you and to undo you and shall Christian friends take all opportunities to better you and shall Gods faithful Messengers take all opportunities to save you and will you will you neglect so great salvation Plutarch writes of Hannibal that when hee could have taken Rome hee would not and when hee would have taken Rome hee could not Many in their youthful dayes when they might have mercy Christ pardon Heaven they will not and in old age when they would have Christ pardon peace Heaven they cannot they may not God seems to say as Thesius said once go sayes hee and tell Creon Thesius offers thee a gracious offer yet I am pleased to bee friends if thou wilt submit this is my first message but if this offer prevail not look for mee to bee up in arms The third Reason why Young men should bee really good betimes Lord saith Austin I have loved thee late the greater was his sins and the more were his sorrows is because then they will have fewer and lesser sins to answer for and repent of multitudes of sins and sorrows are prevented by being good betimes The more wee number our dayes the fewer sins wee shall have to number As a coppy is then safest from blotting when dust is put upon it so are wee from sinning when in the time of our youth wee remember that wee are but dust The tears of young penitents do more scorch the Devils than all the flames of Hell for hereby all their hopes are blasted and the great underminer countermined and blown up Mane is the Devils Verb hee bids tarry time enough to repent but Mane is Gods Adverb hee bids repent early in the morning of thy youth for then thy sins will bee fewer and lesser Well young men remember this hee that will not at the first hand buy good council cheap shall at the second hand buy repentance over dear Ah young men young men if you do not begin to bee good betimes those sins that are now as Jewels sparkling in your eyes Psal 25.7 Job 13.26 will at last bee milstones about your necks to sink you for ever Among many things that Beza in his last will and Testament gave God thanks for this was the first and chief that hee at the age of sixteen years had called him to the knowledge of the truth and so prevented many sins and sorrows that otherwise would have overtaken him and have made his life lesse happy and more miserable Young Saints often prove old Angels There is nothing puts a more serious frame into a mans spirit than to know the worth of his time but old sinners seldome prove good Saints c. The fourth ground why young men should bee really good betimes is this viz. because time is a precious Talent that young men must be countable for the sooner they begin to bee good the more easy will bee their accounts especially as to that great Talent of time Cato and other heathens held that account must bee given not only of our labour but also of our leisure at the great day it will appear that they that have spent their time in mourning have done better than they that have spent their time in dancing and they that have spent many dayes in humiliation than they that have spent many dayes in idle recreations I have read of a devout man who when hee heard a clock strike hee would say here is one hour more past that I have to answer for Ah young men as time is very precious so it is very short time is very swift it is suddenly gone in the 9. of Job and the 25. vers My dayes are swifter than a Post they flee away they see no good The Hebrew word Kalal translated swifter than a Post signifies any thing that is light because light things are quick in motion The Ancients emblem'd time with wings as it were Sophocles Phocilides not running but flying Time is like the Sun that never stands still but is still a running her race the Sun did once stand still yea went back but so did never Time Time is still running and flying it is a bubble a shadow

simple young man among many whereas late times afford greater store Ah! too many of the youths of this age in stead of flying from youthful lusts they post and pursue after youthful lusts Chrysostome speaking of youth saith it is difficilem jactabilem Chrysost Homil. 1. Ad populum fallibilem vehementissimisque egentem fraenis hard to bee ruled easy to bee drawn away apt to bee deceived and standing in need of very violent reines The Ancients did picture youth like a young man naked Lapide with a vail over his face his right hand bound behinde him his left hand loose and Time behinde him pulling one thread out of his vail every day intimating that young men are void of knowledge and blinde unfit to do good ready to do evil till Time by little and little make them wiser Well young man remember this that the least sparklings and kindlings of lusts will first or last cost thee groans and griefs tears and terrors enough These five are the sins that usually are waiting and attending on youth but from these the young man in the text was by grace preserved and secured which is more than I dare affirm of all into whose hands this treatise shall fall But though these five are the sins of youth yet they are not all the sins of youth for youth is capable of Other sins attends youth as 1 Ignorance 1 Cor. 14 20. 2 Falshood Psal 58.3 3 Excessive love of liberty 4 Impatience of councils and reproofs Jer. 31.18 19. 5 Impudency Isa 3.5 6 A trifling spirit Eccles 11.10 7 Prodigality Use and subject to all other sins whatsoever but these are the special sins that most usually waits and attends on young men when they are in the spring and morning of their youth I shall now hasten to the main use that I intend to stand upon and that is an use of Exhortation to all young persons Ah sirs as you tender the glory of God the good of your bodies the joy of your Christian friends and the salvation of your own souls bee exhorted and perswaded to bee really good betimes It was the praise and honour of Abijah that there was found in him some good thing towards the Lord in the Primrose of his child-hood Oh that it might bee your honour and happinesse to bee really good betimes that it might bee to you a praise and a name that in the morning of your youth you have begun to seek the Lord and to know and love the Lord and to get an interest and propriety in the Lord now that this Exhortation may stick and take Encouragements to Young men I beseech you seriously to weigh and ponder these following motives or considerations First 1. Motive consider It is an honour to bee good betimes A young Saint is like the morning star hee is like a pearl in a gold Ring It is mentioned as a singular honour to the beleeving Jews that they first trusted in Christ that wee should bee to the praise of his glory Ephes 1.12 who first trusted in Christ this was their praise their crown that they were first converted and turned to Christ and Christianity So Paul mentioning Andronicus and Junia doth not omit this circumstance of praise and honour Rom. 16.7 that they were in Christ before him Salute Andronicus and Junia my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners who are of note among the Apostles who also were in Christ before me And so it was the honor of the house of Stephanas 1 Cor. 16.15 that they were the first fruits of Achaia it was their glory that they were the first that received and wellcomed the Gospell in Achaia T is a greater honor for a young man to out-wrastle sinne Satan temptation the world and lusts than ever Alexander the Great could attain unto 2 Sam. 19.15 It was Judah his praise and honor that they were first in fetching home David their King Ah! Young men and women it will bee your eternal praise and honor if you shall before others if you shall bee the first among many who shall know the Lord and seek the Lord who shall receive the Lord and imbrace him who shall cleave to the Lord and serve him who shall honor the Lord and obey him who shall delight in the Lord and walk with him The Romans built Vertues and Honours Temple close together to shew that the way to honor was by vertue and indeed there is no crown to that which goodness sets upon a mans head all other honour is fading and withering Adonibezeck a mighty Prince Judg. 1.7 is suddenly made fellow commoner with the Dogs Dan. 4.28 And Nebuchadnezzar a mighty conqueror turned a grazing among the oxen And Herod reduced from a conceited God Act. 12.23 to bee the most loathsome of men living carrion arrested by the vilest of creatures upon the suit of his affronted Creatour Est 7.10 And Haman feasted with the King one day and made a feast for Crows the next I might tell you of Bajazet and Belisarius two of the greatest Commanders in the world and many others who have suddenly fallen from the top of worldly honor and felicity into the greatest contempt and misery but I shall not at this time But that honour that arises from mens being gracious betimes is such honour that the world can neither give nor take it is honour it is a Crown that will still bee green and flourishing it is honour that will bed and board with a man that will abide with a man under all tryals and changes that will to the grave that will to heaven with a man Ah Sirs It is no small honour to you who are in the spring and morning of your days that the Lord hath left upon record several instances of his Love and delight in young men 1 Sam. 16.11 12 13 hee chose David a younger brother and passes by his elder brothers hee frowns upon Esau Rom. 9.12 13 and passes by his door and sets his love and delight upon Jacob the younger brother he kindly and lovingly accepts of Abels person and sacrifice Gen. 4.3 4 5 6 and rejects both Cains person and sacrifice though hee was the elder brother Among all the Disciples John 13.23 John was the youngest and the most and best beloved There was but one young man that came to Christ Mar. 10.19 20 21. and hee came not aright and all the good that was in him was but some moral good and yet Christ loved him with a love of pitty and compassion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Greek word signifies to speak friendly and deal gently with one and so did Christ with him all which should exceedingly encourage young men to be good betimes to be gracious in the morning of their youth no way to true honour like this but Secondly The sacrifices in the Law were young Lambs and young Kids to shew that Christ our

men remember this the frequent the serious thoughts of death will prevent many a sin 2 Pet. 1. 13 14. Eccles 9.10 it will arm you against many temptations it will secure you from many afflictions it will keep you from doting on the World it will make you do much in a little time it will make death easy when it comes and it will make you look out betimes for a Kingdome that shakes not for riches that corrupt not and for glory that fadeth not away Therefore do not O do not put the day of death farre from you Take heed of crying Cras Cras to morrow to morrow saith Luther for a man lives forty years before hee knows himself to bee a fool and by that time hee sees his folly his life is finished so men dye before they begin to live Secondly If you would bee good betimes then take heed of leaning to your own understanding This Counsell wise Solomon gives to his son or the young men in his time My sonne forget not my Law Prov. 3.1.5 Lean not is a Metaphor from an old or sick man leaning on his staff c. but let thy heart keep my Commandements Trust in the Lord with all thy heart and lean not to thy own understanding Youth is the age of folly of vain-hopes and over-grown confidence Ah! how wise might many have been had they not been too early wise in their own opinion Rehoboams young Counsellors proved the overthrow of his Kingdome T is brave for youth in all things to bee discreet and sober minded Three vertues they say are prime ornaments of youth modesty silence and obedience Ah! Young men keep close in every action to this one principle viz. in every action resolve to bee discreet and wise rather than affectionate and singular I Remember that a young Gentleman of Athens being to answer for his life hired an Orator to make his defence and it pleased him well at his first reading but when the young man by often reading it that hee might recite it publikely by heart begunne to grow weary and displeased with it the Orator bid him consider that the J●dges and the People were to h●ar it but once and then it was l●kely that they at the first instant might bee as well pleased as he Ah! Young men your leaning upon your selves or upon others will in the end bee bitternesse and vexation of spirit Young men are very apt to lean on their own Wit Wisdome Arts parts as old men are to lean on a staffe to support them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Hebrew word signifies that is rendered lean Shagnan in that of Prov. 3.5 this hath been the bane of many a choice Wit the loss of many a brave head the ruine of many a subtile pate Ajax thought it was for cowards and weaklings to lean upon the Lord for succour not for him whence hee was foiled lean not to great parts lean not to natural or acquired accomplishments least you loose them and your selves too Leaning to natural or moral excellencies is the ready way to bee stript o● all Babylon that bore her sel● bold upon her high Towers thick walls and twenty year● provision laid in for a siege wa● surprized by Cyrus T was said of Caesar that hee received not his wounds from the swords of enemies but from the hands of friends that is from trusting in them Ah! How many young men have been wounded yea slain by trusting to their own understanding their own abilities T was an excellent saying of Austin in te stas et non stas he that stands upon his own strength shall never stand A Creature if like a single drop left to it self it spends and wastes it self presently but if like a drop in the fountain and Ocean of being it hath abundance of security Ah! Young men Young men 2 Pet. 1.4 Psal 27.1 if you will needs be leaning then lean upon precious Promises lean upon the rock that is higher than your selves lean upon the Lord Jesus Christ as John did who was the youngest of all the Disciples and the most beloved of all the Disciples John 21.20 ch 13.23 John leaned much and Christ loved him much O lean upon Christs wisdome for direction lean upon his power for protection Can. 8.5 lean upon his Purse his fulness for Provision lean upon his eye for approbation lean upon his righteousness for justification lean upon his blood for remission lean upon his merits for salvation As the young Vine without her wall to support her will fall and sink So will you young men without Christ puts under his everlasting armes to support you and uphold you therefore above all leanings lean upon him by leaning on him you will engage him by leaning on him you will gain more honor than you can give by leaning on him you may even command him and make him eternally yours c. Thirdly If you would bee good betimes if you would seek and serve the Lord in the spring and morning of your dayes then take heed of flatterers and flatterie Ah! how many Young men might have been very good who are now exceeding bad by hearkning to flatterers and affecting flattery Flattery undid young Rehoboam 1 Kin. 12. and ch 22. Act. 12.22.23 24. Ahab Herod Nero Alexander c. Flatterers are soul-murderers they are soul-undoers they are like evil Chyrurgions that skin over the wound but never heal it Anastatius the Emperours motto was mellitum venenum blanda oratio smooth talk proves often sweet Poyson Flattery is the very spring and mother of all impiety it blows the Trumpet and draws poor souls into rebellion against God as Sheba drew Israel to rebel against David it put our first Parents upon tasting the forbidden fruit it put Absolou upon dethroning of his father it put Haman upon plotting the ruine of the Jews it put Corah Dathan and Abiram upon rebelling against Moses it makes men call evil good and good evil darknesse light and light darkness c. it puts persons upon neglecting the means of Grace upon undervaluing the means of Grace and upon contemning the means of Grace it puts men upon abasing God slighting Christ and vexing the spirit it unmans a man it makes him call black white and white black it makes a man change Pearls for Pebles and Gold for Counters The Flatterers told Dionysius that his spittle was as sweet as honey Rev. 3.17 18 it makes a man judge himself wise when hee is foolish knowing when hee is ignorant holy when hee is Prophane free when hee is a Prisoner rich when hee is Poor high when hee is low full when hee is empty happy when he is miserable Ah! Young men young men take heed of Flatterers they are the very worst of sinners they are left of God blinded by Satan hardned in sin and ripened for hel God declares sadly against them and that in his word and in his works in

made all Israel to sin who was naught who was very naught who was stark naught and yet Abijah as the fishes which live in the salt Sea are fresh so though hee lived in a sink a sea of wickedness yet hee retained his goodnesse towards the Lord. They say Roses grows the sweeter when they are planted by Garlick they are sweet and rare Christians indeed who hold their goodness and grow in goodnesse where wickedness sits on the throne and such a one the Young man in the text was To bee Wheat among Tares Corn among Chaffe Pearls among Cockles and Roses among Thorns is excellent To bee a Jonathan in Sauls Court to be an Obadiah in Ahabs Court to be an Abedmelech in Zedechias Court and to bee an Abijah in Jeroboams Court is a wonder a miracle To bee a Lot in Sodome to bee an Abraham in Chaldaea to bee a Daniel in Babylon to bee a Nehemiah in Damasco and to bee a Job in the land of Husse is to be a Saint among Devils and such a one the young man in the Text was The Poets affirm that Venus never appeared so beautious as whē shee sate by black Vnlcans side Gracious souls shine most clear when they bee set by black conditioned persons Stephens face never shin'd so Angelically so gloriously in the Church where all were vertuous as before the Councill where all were vitious and malicious So Abijah was a bright Star a shining Sun in Jeroboams Court which for prophanness and wickedness was a very hell The words that I have chosen to insist upon will afford us several observations but I shall onely name one which I intend to prosecute at this time and that is this viz. Doct. That t is a very desirable and commendable thing for young men to bee really good betimes Other Scriptures speak out this to be a truth Job 32.4 5 6 7. besides what you have in the Text to confirm it as that of the second of Chronicles Chap. 34.1 2 3. verses Josiah was eight years old when hee beganne to reign and hee reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years And hee did that which was right in the sight of the Lord and walked in the wayes of David his father and declined neither to the right hand nor to the left for in the eighth year of his reign while hee was yet young hee beganne to seek after the God of David his father and in the twelfth year he beganne to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places and the Groves and the carved Images and the molten Images T was Obadiahs honor that hee feared the Lord from his youth 1 King 18.12 2 Tim. 3.15 And Tymothys crown that he knew the Scripture from a child and Johns joy 2 Epist 4. v. that hee found Children walking in the truth this revived his good old heart and made it dance for joy in his bosome to spend further time in the proving of this truth would bee but to light candles to see the Sunne at noon The grounds and Reasons of this point viz. That it is a very desirable and commendable thing for young men to bee really good betimes are these that follow First Because the Lord commands it and divine commands are not to bee disputed but obeyed Deut. 6.5 ch 11.13 v. Augustine beginneth one of his Sermons thus Ad vos mibi Sermo O juvenes flos etatis periculum mentis August de tempore Ser. 246 to you is my speech O young men the flower of age the danger of the mind In the 12 Chapter of Ecclesiastes and the 1 verse Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth while the evil days come not nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them Remember now I say now now is an Alarm it will puzzle the wisdome of a Philosopher the skill of an Angel to divide Now is a Monosyllable in all learned Languages Remember now thy Creator Remember him presently instantly for thou dost not know what a day what an hour may bring forth thou canst not tell what deadly sin what deadly temptation what deadly Judgement may over-take thee if thou dost not now even now remember thy Creator Remember now thy Creator Remember to know him remember to love him remember to desire him remember to delight in him remember to depend upon him remember to get an interest in him remember to live to him and remember to walk with him Remember now thy Creator the Hebrew is Creatours Father Son and Spirit To the making of man a Council was called in Heaven in the 1. of Genesis and 29 vers Remember thy Creatours remember the Father so as to know him so as to bee inwardly acquainted with him Remember the Son so as to beleeve in him so as to rest upon him so as to imbrace him and so as to make a compleat resignation of thy self to him Remember the Spirit so as to hear his voice so as to obey his voice so as to feel his presence and so as to experience his influence c. Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth hee doth not say in the time of thy youth but in the dayes of thy youth to note that our life is but as a few dayes t is but a vapour a span a flower a shadow a dream and therefore Seneca saith well that though death bee before the old mans face yet hee may bee as near the young mans back c. Mans life is the shadow of smoak Aug. l. 1. Confess the dream of a shadow one doubteth whether to call it a dying life or a living death ah young men God commands you to bee good betimes Remember young men that it is a dangerous thing to neglect one of his commands who by another is able to command you into nothing or into Hell To act or run crosse to Gods expresse command though under pretence of Revelation from God is as much as a mans life is worth as you may see in that sad story 1 King 13. ch 24. verse c. Let young men put all their carnal reasons though never so many and weighty into one scale and Gods absolute command in the other and then write Tekel upon all their reasons They are weighed in the ballance and found too light Ah sirs what God commands must bee put in speedy execution Obedientia non discutis Dei mandata sed facit Prosper without denying or delaying or disputing the difficulties that attend it Most young men in these dayes do as the Heathens when their gods called for a man they offered a candle or as Hercules offered up a painted man in stead of a living When God calls upon young men to serve him with the Primrose of their youth they usually put him off till they are overtaken with trembling joynts dazled eyes fainting hearts failing hands and feeble knees but this will bee bitternesse in the end

and cryed if any man thirst let him come to mee and drink So in that Rev. 22.17 Let him that is a thirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely so in that Rev. 3.20 Cant. 2.8 Christ comes leaping upon the Mountains and skipping upon the hills to shew his readinesse and willingness to do good to souls Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and will sup with him and hee with mee and so in that Luk. 14.21 The Master of the house said to his Servant go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the City and bring in hither the Poor and the maimed and the halt and the blinde Here is no man of quality of dignity of worldly pomp or glory or of any self-sufficiency that is invited to the feast but a company of poor raged deformed slighted neglected impoverished wounded sinners these are invited to feast with Christ Concerning this willingness of Christ I shall speak more when I come to deal with Old sinners in the close of this discourse and to that I refer you for further and fuller satisfaction concerning the great readiness and willingness of Jesus Christ to entertain returning Sinners Fourthly If you would bee good betimes then you must know betimes that Jesus Christ is designed sealed and appointed by the Father to the office of a Mediatour John 6.27 The father sealed even God so the Greek hath it Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth to everlasting life which the Son of man shall give unto you for him hath God the father sealed God the father hath made Christs Commission authentical as men do theirs by their Seal It is a metaphor a simile taken from them who give Commissions under hand and seal God the father hath given it under his hand and seal that Jesus Christ is the onely person that he hath appointed and sealed allowed and confirmed to the office of our redemption If Jesus Christ were never so able to save and never so willing and ready to save poor Sinners yet if hee were not appointed designed and sealed for that work the awakened Sinner would never look out after him nor desire union with him nor interest in him and therefore it is of very great consequence to know that God the father hath sent and sealed Christ to be a Saviour to his people him hath God the father sealed sealed by way of destination and sealed by way of qualification sealed by his doctrin sealed by his miracles sealed by his baptism sealed by his Resurrection but above all sealed by his glorious unction Isa 61.1 2 3 Luk. 4.18 Christ was anointed of God 1 By way of designation 2 By way of Qualification 3 By way of Inauguration This annointing was ordinarily used in the installing men to offices of any eminence The spirit of the Lord is upon mee because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tydings unto the meek hee hath sent mee to bind up the broken hearted to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God to comfort all that mourn to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion to give unto them beauty for ashes the oyle of joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness that they might bee called trees of righteousness the planting of the Lord that hee might bee glorified neither Saints nor Angels are sealed and anointed to the great work of redemption but the Lord Jesus is you should always look upon the Lord Jesus as sealed and anointed to the Office of a Mediatour and accordingly plead with him Ah Lord It is thy Office as thou art a sealed and an anointed Saviour and Redeemer to subdue my sinnes to change my nature to sanctify my heart to reform my life and to save my soul and therefore do it for thy names sake O do it for thy Office sake do it for thy glories sake Psal 41.8 Act. 4.27 Thou art anointed with the Oile of gladness above thy fellows thou hast a larger effusion of the spirit upon thee than others thou art anointed with the Holy-Ghost Act. 10.38 and with power after an extraordinary measure and manner thou art indued with all Heroical gifts and excellencies plentifully John 1.16 John 3.34 abundantly transcendently thou art sealed and predestinated thou art invested into this office of Mediatorship under the fathers hand and seal and therefore whether should I go for salvation for remission for redemption for grace for glory but to thee Fi●thly If you would bee good betimes then you must know betimes that there is no way to salvation but by Jesus Christ Act. 4.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is by or thorow the mediation of any other neither is there salvation in any other speaking of Christ for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved if ever you are saved you must bee saved by him and him onely you must not look for another Saviour nor you must not look for a co-saviour you must be saved wholly by Christ and onely by Christ or you shall never be saved Act. and Mon. you must cry out as Lambert did when hee was in the fire and lifted up his hands and fingers ends flaming none but Christ none but Christ When Augustus Caesar desired the Senate to joyn two Consuls with him for the better government of the State Suetonius the Senate answered that they held it as a diminution of his dignity and a disparagement of their own judgement to joyn any with so incomparable a man as Augustus Ah Friends It is a dimiuntion of Christs dignity sufficiency and glory in the business of your salvation to joyn any thing with the Lord Jesus and it is the greatest disparagement in the World to your own judgments knowledge Prudence and wisdome to yoak any with Christ in the work of Redemption in the business of salvation Augustin saith that Mercellina hung Christs picture and the picture of Pithagoras together many there are not only in Rome but in England yea I am afraid in London who joyn Christ and their works together Christ and their Prayers together Christ and their Teachers together Christ and their mournings together Christ and their hearings together Christ and their Alms together Ah! what a poor what a weak what an impotent what an insufficient Saviour doth these men make Jesus Christ to bee Except these men come off from these things and come up onely to Jesus Christ in the great businesse of salvation they will as certainly and as eternally perish notwithstanding their hearing knowing and talking much of Christ as those that never heard of Jesus Christ In the Old Testament Deut.