we are here we are complaining of our wants weeping over our sins but there we shall be praising God How will the Birds of Paradise chirp when they are in that Caelestial Country There the Morning Stars will sing together and all the Saints of God shout for joy O what should we aspire after but this Country above Such as have their eyes opened will see that it doth infinitely excel An ignorant man looks upon a Star and it appears to him as a little silver spot but the Astronomer who hath his Instrument to judge of the dimension of a Star knows it to be many degrees bigger than the earth So a natural man hears of the heavenly Country that it is very glorious but it is at a great distance and because he hath not a spirit of discerning the world looks bigger in his eye but such as are Spiritual Artists who have the Instrument of Faith to judge of Heaven will say it is far the better Country and thither will they hasten with the Sails of desire SECT XV. 15. A godly man is a zealous man grace turns a Saint into a Seraphim it makes him burn in holy zeal zeal is a mixed affection a compound of love and anger it carries forth our love to God and anger against sin in the most intense manner Zeal is the flame of the affections a godly man hath a double baptism of water and fire he is baptized with a spirit of zeal hee is zealous for Gods honour truth worship Psal. 119. 139. my zeal hath consumed me it was a crown set on Phineas his head hee was zealous for his God Numb 25. 13. Moses being touched with a coal from Gods altar in his zeal hee breaks the Tables Exod. 32. 19. our blessed Saviour in his zeal whips the buyers and sellers out of the Temple Ioh. 2. 17. the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up But there is a Praeternatural heat something looking like zeal which is not a Comet looks like a Star I shall therefore show some differences between a true and a false zeal 1 A false zeal is a blinde zeal Rom. 10. 2. They have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge this is not the fire of the spirit but wild-fire The Athenians were very devout and zealous but they knew not for what Acts 17. 23. I found an Altar with this Inscription 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To the unknown God Thus the Papists are zealous in their way but they have taken away the key of knowledge 2 A false zeal is a self-seeking zeal Iehu cries come see my zeal for the Lord 2 King 10. 16. but it was not zeal but ambition he was fishing for a Crown Demetrius pleads for the Goddess Diana but it was not her Temple but her Silver shrines he was zealous for Such zealots Ignatius complains of in his time that they made a Trade of Christ and Religion thereby to enrich themselves 'T is probable many in King Henry the eights time were forward to pull down the Abbies not out of any zeal against Popery but that they might build their own houses upon the ruines of those Abbies like Eagles which fly aloft but their eyes are down upon their prey If blind zeal be punished seven fold hypocritical zeal shall bee punished seventy and seven fold 3 A false praeposterous zeal is a misguided zeal it runs out most in things which are not commanded It is the sign of an hypocrite to be zealous for traditions and careless of institutions The Pharisees were more zealous about washing of their cups than their hearts 4 A false zeal is fired with passion Iames and Iohn when they would call for fire from heaven were rebuked by our Saviour Luk. 9. 54. Yee know not what spirit yee are off it was not zeal but choller many have espoused the cause of Religion rather out of faction and humour than out of zeal to the truth But the zeal of a godly man is a true and holy zeal which evidenceth it self in the effects of it 1 True zeal cannot bear an injury done to God zeal makes the blood rise when Gods honour is impeached Rev. 2. 2. I know thy works and thy labour and patience and how thou canst not bear them which are evil hee who zealously affects his friend cannot hear him spoken against and be silent 2 True zeal will encounter with the greatest difficulties when the world holds out a Gorgons head of danger to discourage us zeal casts out fear it is quickned by opposition Zeal doth not say there is a Lyon in the way zeal will charge through an Army of dangers it will march in the face of death Let news be brought to Paul that he was way-laid in every City bonds and imprisonment did abide him this sets a keener edge upon his zeal Acts 21. 13. I am ready not only to bee bound but to dye for the name of the Lord Iesus as sharp frosts do by an antiparistasis make the fire burn hotter so sharp oppositions do but inflame zeal the more 3 True zeal as it hath knowledge to go before it so it hath sanctity to follow after it Wisdome leads the van of zeal and holiness brings up the rear an hypocrite seems to be zealous but he is vitious the godly man is white and ruddy white in purity as well as ruddy in zeal Christs zeal was hotter than the fire and his holiness purer than the sun 4 Zeal that is genuine loves truth when it is despised and opposed Psal. 119. 126. They have made void thy law therefore I love thy commandements above gold the more others deride holiness the more we love it what is Religion the worse for others disgracing it doth a Diamond sparkle the less because a blinde man disparageth it the more outragious the wicked are against the truth the more couragious the godly are for it When Mical scoffed at Davids religious dancing before the Ark if saith he this be to be vile I will yet be more vile 2 Sam. 6. 22. 5 True zeal causeth fervency in duty Rom. 12. 11. fervent in spirit Zeal makes us hear with reverence pray with affection love with ardency God kindled Moses his sacrifice from heaven Lev. 9. 24. There came a fire out from before the Lord and consumed upon the Altar the burnt offering when we are zealous in devotion and our heart waxeth hot within us here is a fire from heaven kindling our sacrifice how odious is it for a man to be all fire when he is sinning and all yâ—e when he is praying A pious heart like water seething hot boils over in holy affections 6. True zeal is never out of breath though it be violent 't is perpetual no waters can quench the flame of zeal it is torrid in the frigid zone The heat of zeal is like the natural heat coming from the heart which lasts as long as life That zeal which is not constant was
never true Use 1. How opposite are they to godliness who cry down zeal and count it a Religious phrensie They are for the light of knowledge but not for the heat of zeal When Basil was earnest in preaching against the Arrian Heresie it was interpreted folly and dotage Religion is a matter requires zeal the Kingdom of heaven will not be taken but by violence Mat. 12. 11. Object But why so much fervour in Religion what becomes then of Prudence Answ. Though Prudence be to direct zeal yet not to destroy it because sight is requisite must the body therefore have no heat If Prudence be the eye in Religion zeal is the heart Quest. But where is moderation Answ. Though moderation in things of indifferency be commendable and doubtless it would much tend to the setling the peace of the Church yet in the main Articles of Faith wherein Gods glory and our Salvation lie at stake here moderation is nothing else but sinful neutrality It was Calvins advice to Melancthon that he should not so affect the name of moderate that at length he lost all his zeal Object But the Apostle presseth moderation Phil. 4. 5. Let your moderation be known to all Answ. The Apostle speaks there of moderating our passion the Greek word for moderation signifies candour and meekness opposite to rash anger and so the word is rendred in another place Patient 1 Tim. 3. 3. By moderation then is meant meekness of spirit and that is clear by the subsequent words The Lord is at hand As if the Apostle had said avenge not your selves for the Lord is at hand he is ready to avenge your personal wrongs but this doth not at all hinder but that in matters of Religion a Christian should be zealous 2 What strangers are they to godliness who have no zeal for the glory of God they can see his ordinances despised his worship adulterated yet their spirits are not at all stirred in them How many are of a dull lukewarm temper zealous for their own secular interest but have no zeal for the things of heaven hot in their own cause but cool in Gods The Lord doth most abominate lukewarm professours I had almost said hee is sick of them Rev. 3. 15. I would thou wert cold or hot any thing but lukewarm but because thou art neither cold nor hot I will spue thee out of my mouth A lukewarm Christian is but dough-baked just like Ephraim Hos. 7. 8. Ephraim is a cake not turned To keep up a form of Religion without zeal is to be like those bodies the Angels assumed which mooved but had no life in them I would ask these Tepid neutral professors this question If Religion be not a good cause why did they undertake it at first if it be why do they go so faintly about it why have they no more holy ardours of soul these persons would fain go to heaven in a soft bed but are loath to bee carried thither in a fiery Chariot of zeal Remember God will be zealous against them who are not zealous he provides the fire of hell for those that want the fire of zeal Use 2. As you would be found in the catalogue of the godly labour for zeal as good bee of no religion as not to be zealous in religion Beware of carnal policy This is one of those three things which Luther feared would bee the death of Religion Some men have been too wise to bee saved Their discretion hath quenched their zeal beware of stoth which is an enemy to zeal be zealous and repent Rev. 3. 19. Christians what do you reserve your zeal for is it for your gold that perisheth or for your lusts that will make you perish can you bestow your zeal better than upon God how zealous have men been in a false religion Isa. 46. 6. They lavish gold out of the bag and weigh silver in the ballance The Iews did spare no cost in their idolatrous worship nay Ier. 32. 35. They cause their Sons and Daughters to pass thorow the fire to Molech They were so zealous in their idol-worship that they would sacrifice their Sons and Daughters to their false Gods how far did the purblinde Heathens go in their false zeal 〈◊〉 the Tribunes of Rome complained they wanted gold in their Treasurâ—es to offer to Apollo the Roman Matrons plucked off their chains of gold and rings and bracelets and gave them to the Priests to offer up sacrifice were these so zealous in their sinful worship and will not you bee zealous in the worship of the true God can you loose any thing by your zeal shall it not bee super-abundantly recompenced what is heaven worth what is a sight of God worth was not Jesus Christ zealous for you he sweat drops of blood hee conflicted with his Fathers wrath how zealous was hee for your redemption and have you no zeal for him is there any thing you your selves hate more than dulness and slothfulness in your servants you are weary of such servants do you dislike a dull temper in others and not in your selves what are all your duties without zeal but non entia meer fancies and nullities Do you know what a glorious thing zeal is it is the lustre that sparkles from grace it is the flame of love it resembles the Holy Ghost Act. 2. 2. There appeared cloven tongues like fire which sat upon them and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost Tongues of fire were an Emblem to represent that fire of zeal which the spirit powred upon them Zeal makes all our religious performances prevalent with God When the iron is red hot it enters best and when our services are red hot with zeal they soonest pierce heaven SECT XVI 16. A godly man is a patient man Iam. 5. 11. Ye have heard of the patience of Iob. Patience is a star which shines in a dark night There is a twofold patience 1. Patience in waiting 2. Patience in bearing 1. Patience in waiting A godly man if he hath not his desire presently he will wait till the mercy be ripe Psa. 130. 6. My soul waiteth for the Lord. Good reason God should have the Timing of our mercies Isa. 60. 22. I the Lord will hasten it in his time Deliverance may tarry beyond our time but it will not tarry beyond Gods time Why should not we wait patiently upon God 1. We are servants it becomes servants to be in a waiting posture 2. We wait upon every thing else we wait upon the fire till it burns we wait upon the seed till it grows Iam. 5. 7. Why cannot we wait upon God 3. God hath waited upon us Did not he wait for our repentance How often did he come year after year before he found fruit Did God wait upon us and cannot we wait upon him A godly man is content to stay Gods leisure though the Vision tarry he will wait for
with my Love Christ. The Bird desires to be out of the Cage though it be hung with Pearl Such is the love a gracious Soulbears to God that many waters cannot quench it he loves a frowning God Though I am out of sign and clean forgot Let me not love thee if I love thee not A godly man loves God though he be reduced to straits A Mother and her Childe of nine years old being ready to perish with hunger the Childe looking upon its Mother said Mother do you think God will starve us No Childe said the Mother he will not The Childe replied But if he do we must love him and serve him Use. Let us try our godliness by this Touch-stone Do we love God Is he our Treasure and Center Can we with David call God our Ioy yea our exceeding Ioy Psal. 43. 4. Do we delight in drawing nigh to him and come before him with singing Psal. 100. 2. Do we love him for his Beauty more than his Iewels Do we love him when he seems not to love us If this be sign of a godly man how few will be found in the number Where is the man whose heart is dilated in love to God Many court him but few love him People are for the most part eaten up with self-love they love their ease their worldly profit their lusts but they have not a drop of love to God Did they love God would they be so willing to be rid of him Iob 21. 14. They say to the Almighty depart from us Did they love God would they tear his Name by their Oaths Doth he love his Father who shoots him to the heart Though they worship God they do not love him they are like the Souldiers that bowed the knee to Christ and mocked him Mat. 27. 29. He whose heart is a grave in which the love of God is buried deserves to have that Curse written upon his Tomb-stone 1 Cor. 16. ult Let him be Anathema Maranatha A Soul void of Divine Love is a temper that best suits with damned spirits But I shall wave this and pass to the next SECT IV. 4. A godly man is like God he hath the same judgement with God he thinks of things as God doth he hath a God-like disposition he partakes of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. A godly man doth bear Gods Name and Image godliness is God-likeness 'T is one thing to profess God another thing to resemble him A godly man is like God in Holiness Holiness is the most orient Pearl of the King of Heavens Crown Exod. 15. 11. Glorious in Holiness Gods power makes him Mighty his mercy makes him lovely but his holiness makes him glorious The Holiness of God is the intrinsick purity of his Nature and his abhorrency of sin A godly man bears some kind of Analogy with God in this He hath the Holy Oil of Consecration upon him Psal. 106. 16. Aaron the Saint of the Lord. Holiness is the Badge and Livery of Christs people Isa. 63. 18. The people of thy Holiness The godly are as well an Holy as a Royal Priesthood 1 Pet. 2. 9. Nor have they only a Frontispiece of holiness like the Egyptian Temples which were fair without but they are like Solomons Temple which had gold within they have written upon their heart Holiness to the Lord The holiness of the Saints consists in their conformity to Gods Will which is the rule and patern of all Holiness Holiness is a mans glory Aaron put on garments for glory and beauty Exod. 28. 2. So when a person is invested with the embroidered garment of Holiness it is for glory and beauty The goodness of a Christian lies in his Holiness as the goodness of the Air lies in the clearness of it the worth of gold in the pureness Quest. Wherein do the godly discover their holiness Answ. 1. In hating the garment spotted by the flesh Iude 3. The godly do set themselves against evil both in purpose and practise they are fearful of that which looks like sin 1 Thes. 5. 22. The appearance of evil may prejudice a weak Christian If it doth not defile a mans own Conscience it may offend his Brothers Conscience and to sin against him is to sin against Christ 1 Cor. 8. 12. A godly man will not go as far as he may least he go further than he should he will not swallow down all that others bribed with preferment may plead for 'T is easie to put a golden colour upon a rotten stuff 2. The godly discover their holiness in being Advocates for Holiness Psal. 119. 46. I will speak of thy Testimonies before Kings and will not be ashamed When Piety is calumniated in the world the Saints will stand up in the defence of it they will wipe off the dust of a reproach from the face of Religion Holiness defends the godly and they will defend Holiness it defends them from danger and they will defend it from disgrace Use 1. How can those be reputed godly who are unlike God they have nothing of God in them not one shread of holiness They call themselves Christians but blot out the word holiness you may as well call it day at midnight So impudent are some that they boast they are none of the holy ones Is it not the Spirit of Holiness which marks the sheep of Christ from the goats Eph. 1. 13. Ye were sealed or marked with the Holy Spirit And is it a matter for men to boast of that they have none of the Spirits ear-mark upon them Doth not the Apostle say that without holiness no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. Such as bless themselves in their unholiness had best go ring the Bells for joy that they shall never see God Others there are that hate holiness sin and holiness never meet but they fight holiness dischargeth its fire of zeal against sin and sin spits its venom of malice at holiness Many pretend to love Christ as a Saviour but hate him as he is the Holy One Act. 3. 14. Use 2. Let us labour to be like God in holiness 1. This is Gods great design he drives on in the world 't is the end of the Word preached the silver drops of the Sanctuary are to water the seed of grace and make a crop of holiness spring up What use is there of the Promises but to bribe us to holiness What are all Gods Providential Dispensations but to excite holiness As the Lord makes use of all the seasons of the year frost and heat to bring on the harvest so all prosperous and adverse providences are for the promoting the work of holiness in the soul. What is the end of the mission of the spirit but to make the heart holy When the ayr is unwholesome by reason of foggy vapours the wind is a fan to winnow and purifie the ayr so the blowing of Gods Spirit upon the heart is
the spirit comes very neer to the despighting of it How can men be sanctified but by the spirit therefore to reproach that is to make merry with their own damnation Use 2. As you would be listed in the number of the godly labour for the blessed indwelling of the spirit pray with Melancthon Lord inflame my soul with thy holy spirit and with the Spouse Awake O North-wind aad come thou South blow upon my garden Cant. 4. 16. As a Mariner would desire a wind to carry him to Sea so beg the prosperous gales of the spirit and the Promise may add wings to prayer Luke 11. 13. If ye being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Spirit to them that ask him Gods spirit is a rich Jewel go to him for it Lord give me thy spirit where is the Jewel thou didst promise me When shall my soul be as Gideons Fleece wet with the dew of heaven Consider how needful the spirit is without it we can do nothing acceptably to God 1 VVe cannot pray without it 't is a spirit of Supplication Zac. 12. 10. It both helps the invention and the affection Rom. 8. 26. The spirit helps us with sighs and groans 2. We cannot resist temptation without it Act. 1. 8. Ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you He who hath the tyde of corrupt nature and the wind of temptation must needs be carried down the stream of sin if the contrary wind of the spirit doth not blow 3. VVe cannot be fruitful without the spirit Aureus imber sitientia caelo â—orda rigans VVhy is the spirit compared to dew and rain but to show us how unable we are to bring forth a Crop of Grace unless the dew of God fall upon us 4. VVithout the spirit no Ordinance is effectual to us Ordinances are the Conduit-Pipes of Grace but the spirit is the Spring Some content themselves that they have a Levite to their Priest but never look any further as if a Merchant should content himself that his ship hath good tackling and is well manned though it never have a gale of wind The Ship of Ordinances will not carry us to heaven though an Angel were the Pylot unless the wind of Gods Spirit blow The Spirit is the Soul of the Word without which it is but a dead letter Ministers may prescribe Physick but it is Gods spirit must make it work Our hearts are like Davids body when it grew old they covered him with cloathes but he gat no heat 1 King 1. 1. So though the Minister of God ply us with prayers and counsels as with hot cloathes yet we are cold and chill till Gods spirit comes and then we say as the Disciples Luke 24. 32. Did not our hearts burn within us Oh therefore what need have we of the spirit 3. You who have the blessed spirit manifested by its energy and vital operations 1. Acknowledge Gods distinguishing love the spirit is an ear-mark of Election 1 Iohn 3. 4. Christ gave the bag to Iudas but not his spirit The spirit is a Love-token where God gives his spirit for a pawn he gives himself for a portion The spirit is an Epitomizing blessing it is put for all good things Mat. 7. 11. What were you without the spirit but as so many carkasses Without this Christ would not profit you the Bloud of God is not enough without the Breath of God Oh then be thankful for the spirit this Loadstone will never leave drawing you till it hath drawn you up to heaven 2. If you have this spirit do not grieve it Eph. 4. 30. Shall we grieve our Comforter Quest. How do we grieve the Spirit Answ. 1. When we unkindly repel the motions of it The spirit sometimes whispers in our ears and calls to us as God did to Iacob Gen. 35. 1. Arise go to Bethel So saith the spirit Arise go to prayer retire thy self to meet thy God Now when we stifle these motions and entertain temptations to vanity this is a grieving of the spirit if we check the motions of the spirit we shall lose the comforts of the spirit 2. We grieve the spirit when we deny the work of the spirit in our hearts if one gives another a token and he should deny it and say he never received it this were to abuse the love of his friend So Christian when God hath given thee his spirit witnessed by those meltings of heart and passionate breathings after heaven yet thou deniest that thou ever hadst any renewing work of the spirit in thee this is high ingratitude and is a grieving the good spirit renounce the sinful works of the flesh but do not deny the gracious work of the spirit SECT XI 11. The godly man is an humble man he is like the Sun in the Zenith which when it is at the highest shows lowest St. Austin calls Humility the Mother of the Graces but ere I show you who is the humble man I shall lay down three distinctions 1. I distinguish between being humbled and humble a man may be humbled and not humble a sinner may be humbled by affliction his condition is low but not his disposition a godly man is not only humbled but humble his heart is as low as his condition 2. I distinguish between outward humility and inward there 's a great deal of difference between an humble carriage and an humble spirit a person may carry it humbly 1. Towards others yet be proud who more humble than Absalom in his outward behaviour 2 Sam. 15. 5. When any man came neer to do him obeysance Absalom took him by the hand and kissed him But though he had an humble carriage he aspired after the Crown ver 10. As soon as ye hear the sound of the Trumpet ye shall say Absalom reigneth in Hebron Here was Pride dressed in Humilities Mantle 2. A person may behave himself humbly towards God yet be proud 1 King 21. 27. Ahab put on sackcloth and fasted and went softly but his heart was not humble A man may bow his head like a bull-rush yet lift up the Ensigns of Pride in his heart 3. I distinguish between Humility and Policy many make a shew of Humility to work their own ends The Papists seem to be the most humble mortified Saints but it is rather subtilty than humility for by this means they get the Revenues of the earth into their possession all this may be and yet no godliness Quest. How may a Christian know that he is humble and consequently godly Answ. 1. An humble soul is emptied of all swelling thoughts of himself Bernard calls Humility a Self-annihilation Iob 22. 29. Thou wilt save the humble In the Hebrew it is Him that is of low eyes An humble man hath lower thoughts of himself than others can have of him
comes from a broken heart Psa. 51. 17. The Sacrifices of God are a broken spirit The Incense was to be beaten to typifie the breaking of the heart in Prayer 'T is not the voluble tongue but the melting heart God accepts Oh saith a Christian I cannot pray as others as Moses said to the Lord I am not eloquent But canst thou weep and sigh Doth thy soul melt out at thy eyes God accepts broken expressions when they come from broken hearts I have read of a Plant that bears no fruit but it weeps forth a kind of Gum which is very costly So though thou dost not flourish with those gifts and expressions as others yet if thou canst weep forth tears from a contrite heart these are exceeding precious to God and he will put them in his bottle Iacob wept in prayer and had power ever the Angel Hos. 12. 4. 5. A spiritual Prayer is a believing Prayer Mat. 21. 22. Whatever ye shall ask in prayer believing ye shall receive The reason why so many Prayers suffer shipwrack is because they split against the Rock of unbelief Praying without Faith is shooting without bullets When Faith takes Prayer by the hand then we draw neer to God we should come to God in Prayer as the Leper Mat. 8. 2. Lord if thou wilt thou canst heal me 'T is a disparagement to Deity to have such a whisper in the heart that Gods ear is heavy and cannot hear What is said of the people of Israel may be applyed to Prayer It could not enter in because of unbelief 6. A Spiritual Prayer is an holy Prayer 1 Tim. 2. 8. Wherefore lift up pure hands Prayer must be offered upon the Altar of a pure heart sin lived in makes the heart hard and Gods ear deaf sin stops the mouth of Prayer it doth as the Thief to the Traveller puts a Gagg in his mouth that he cannot speak sin poysons and infects prayer A wicked mans prayer is sick of the Plague and will God come neer him The Loadstone loseth its virtue when it is bespread with Garlick so doth prayer when it is polluted with sin Psa 66. 18. If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me 'T is foolish to pray against sin and then to sin against prayer a spiritual prayer like the spirits of Wine must be refined and taken off the Lees and dregs of sin Mal. 3. 3. That they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness If the heart be holy this Altar will sanctifie the gift 7. A spiritual prayer is an humble prayer Psa. 10. 17. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble Prayer is the asking of an Alms which requires humility Luke 18. 13. The Publican standing afar off would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven but smote upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a sinner Gods incomprehensible glory may even amaze us and strike an holy consternation into us when we approach nigh to him Ezra 9. 6. O my God I blush to lift up my face to thee 'T is comely to see a poor nothing lye prostrate at the feet of its Maker Gen. 18. 27. Behold I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord which am but dust and ashes The lower the heart descends the higher the prayer ascends 8. A spiritual prayer is when we pray in the name of Christ To pray in the name of Christ is not only to name Christ in prayer but to pray in the hope and confidence of Christs mediation as a Childe claims his Estate in the right of his Father who purchased it so we come for mercy in Christs Name who hath purchased it for us in his bloud unless we pray thus we do not pray at all nay we rather provoke God as it was with Uzziah when he would offer Incense without a Priest God was angry and struck him with Leprosie 2 Chron. 26. 16. So when we do not come in Christs Name in prayer we offer up Incense without a Priest and what can we expect but to meet with wrath 9. A spiritual prayer is when we pray out of love to prayer A wicked man may pray but he doth not love prayer Iob 27. 10. Will he delight himself in the Almighty A godly man is carried upon the wings of delight he is never so well as when he is praying he is not forced with fear but fired with love Isa. 56. 7. I will make them joyful in my house of prayer 10. A spiritual prayer is when we have spiritual ends in prayer There is a vast difference between a spiritual prayer and a carnal desire the ends of an Hypocrite are secular and carnal he looks asquint in prayer it is not the sense of his spiritual wants that moves him but rather lust Iam. 4. 3. Ye ask amiss that ye may consume it upon your lusts The sinner prays more for food than Grace this God doth not interpret praying but howling Hosea 7. 14. They howled upon their beds they assemble for corn and wine Da modo lucra mihi Prayers which want a good aim want a good answer A godly man hath spiritual ends in prayer he sends out his prayer as a Merchant sends out his Ship that he may have large returns of spiritual blessings his design in prayer is that his heart may be more holy and that he may have more communion with God A godly man drives the Trade of prayer that he may encrease the stock of Grace 11. A spiritual prayer is accompanied with the use of means there must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as well as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When Hezekiah was sick he did not only pray for recovery but he laid a lump of figs to the boyl Isa. 38. 21. Thus it is in case of the soul when we pray against sin and avoid temptations when we pray for Grace and improve opportunities this is the laying a fig to the boil which wil make us recover To pray for holiness and neglect the means is like winding up the Clock and pulling off the weights 12. A spiritual prayer is that which leaves a spiritual frame behind upon the heart a Christian is better after prayer he hath gotten more strength over sin as a man by exercise gets strength The heart after prayer keeps a tincture of holiness as the Vessel savours and relisheth of the Wine that is put into it Moses having been with God on the Mount his face shined so having been on the Mount of prayer our Graces shine and our lives shine This is the sign of a godly man he prays in the spirit This is the right kind of praying the gift of prayer is ordinary like Culinary fire but spiritual prayer is more rare and excellent like Elementary fire which comes from heaven Use 1. Is a godly man of a praying spirit then this excludes them from being godly 1. Who pray not at all
have his approbation who was the Judge and Umpire of the Race There is a time shortly coming when a smile from Gods face will be infinitely better than all the applauses of men How sweet will that word be Euge bone serve Well done thou good and faithful servant Mat. 25. 21. A godly man is ambitious of Gods Letters-Testimonial the hypocrite desires to carry it fair with men Saul was for the vogue of the people 1 Sam. 15. 30. A godly man approves his heart to God who is both the Spectator and the Judge 3. The godly man is ingenuous in laying open of his sins Psa. 32. 5. 1 confessed my sin to thee and my iniquity have I not hid The hypocrite doth vail and smother his sin he doth not abscindere peccatum but abscondere like a Patient that hath some loathsome disease in his body he will rather die than confess his disease But a godly mans sincerity is seen in this he will confess and shame himself for sin 2 Sam. 24. 17. Lo I have sinned and I have done wickedly Nay a Childe of God will confess sin in particular an unsound Christian will confess sin by wholesale he will acknowledge he is a sinner in general whereas David doth as it were point with his finger to the sore Psal. 51. 4. I have done this evil He doth not say I have done evil but this evil he points at his bloud-guiltiness 4. The godly man hath blessed designs in all he doth he propounds this end in every Ordinance that he may have more acquaintance with God and bring more glory to God as the herb Heliotropium turns about according to the motion of the Sun so a godly mans actions do all move towards the glory of God It is an axiom in Phylosophy The means are in order to the end A godly mans praying and worshipping is that he may honor God though he shoots short yet he takes a right aim the hypocrite minds nothing but self-interest the sails of his Mill move not but when the wind of preferment blows he never dives into the waters of the Sanctuary but to fetch up a piece of gold at the bottom 5. The godly man abhors dissimulation towards men his heart goes along with his tongue he cannot flatter and hate commend and censure Rom. 12. 9. Let love be without dissimulation Dissembled love is worse than hatred counterfeiting of friendship is no better than a lye for there is a pretence of that which is not Many are like Ioab 2 Sam. 20. 9. He took Amasa by the beard to kiss him and smote him with his sword in the fifth rib and he died Impia sub dulci melle venena latent There is a River in Spain where the fish seem to be of a golden colour but take them out of the water and they are like other fish All is not gold that glisters there are some pretend much kindness but they are like great veins which have little bloud if you lean upon them they are as a Leg out of joynt For my part I much question his truth towards God that will flatter and lie to his friend Pro. 10. 18. He that hideth hatred with lying lips is a fool By all that hath been said we may try whether we have this note of a godly man to be sincere Sincerity as I conceive is not properly â— grace but rather the ingredient into every grace Sincerity is that which doth qualifie grace and without which grace is not true Eph. 6. ult Grace be with them which love our Lord Iesus Christ in sincerity Sincerity qualifies our love sincerity is to grace as the bloud and spirits are to the body there can be no life without the bloud so no grace without sincerity Use. As we would be reputed godly let us labour for this Character of sincerity 1. Sincerity renders us lovely in Gods eyes God saith of the sincere soul as of Sion Psal. 132. 14. This is my rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it A sincere heart is Gods Paradise of delight Noah found grace in Gods eyes Why what did God see in Noah he was girt with the girdle of sincerity Gen. 6. 9. Noah was perfect in his Generation Truth resembles God and when God sees a sincere heart he sees his own Image and he cannot chuse but fall in love with it Pro. 11. 20. He that is upright in his way is Gods delight 2. Sincerity makes our services find acceptance with God the Church of Philadelphia had but a little strength her grace was weak her services slender yet of all the Churches Christ wrote to he found the least fault with her What was the reason because she was most sincere Rev. 3. 8. Thou hast kept fast my word and hast not denied my Name Though we cannot pay God all we owe yet a little in currant Coyn is accepted God takes sincerity for full payment A little gold though rusty is better than Alchimy be it never so bright a little sincerity though rusted over with many infirmities is of more value with God than all the glorious flourishes of hypocrites 3. Sincerity is our safety false hearts that will step out of Gods way and use carnal policy when they think to be most safe they are least secure he that walketh purely walketh surely Pro. 10. 9. A sincere Christian will do nothing but what the word warrants and that is safe as to the Conscience Nay oftentimes such as are upright in their way the Lord takes care of their outward safety Psal. 4. I laid me down and slept David was now beleaguer'd with Enemies yet God did so incamp about him by his Providence that he could sleep securely as in a Garrison Ver. 5. The Lord sustained me The only way to be safe is to be sincere 4. Sincerity is Gospel perfection Iob 1. 8. Hast thou considered my servant Job that there is none like him in the earth a perfect and an upright man Though a Christian be full of infirmities and like a Childe that is put out to Nurse weak and feeble yet God looks upon him as if he were compleatly righteous Every true Saint hath the Thummim of perfection upon his breast-plate 5. Sincerity is that which the Devil strikes most at Satans spite was not so much at Iobs Estate as his integrity he would have wrested the Shield of Sincerity from him but Iob held that fast Iob 27. 6. A Thief doth not fight for an empty purse but for money The devil would have robbed Iob of the Jewel of a good Conscience and then he had been poor Iob indeed Satan doth not oppose Profession but Sincerity Let men go to Church and make glorious pretences of holiness Satan doth not oppose this this doth him no hurt nor them no good but if men will be sincerely pious then Satan musters up all his forces against them Now that which
it 2. Patience in bearing This patience is twofold 1. Either in regard of man when we bear injuries without revenging Or 2. In regard of God when we bear his hand without repining A good man will not only do Gods will but bear his will Mica 7. 9. I will bear the indignation of the Lord. This patient bearing of Gods will is not 1. A Stoical Apathy Patience is not insensibleness under Gods hand we ought to be sensible 2. It is not patience upon force to bear a thing because we cannot help it which as Erasmus saith is rather necessity than patience But patience is a cheerful submission of our will to God Act. 21. 4. The will of the Lord be done A godly man doth acquiesce in what God doth as being not only good but best for him The great quarrel between God and us is whose will shall stand Now the Regenerate will falls in with the will of God â—here are four things opposite to this patient â—ame of soul. 1. Disquiet of spirit When the soul is discomposed and pulled off the hinges insomuch that it is unfit for holy duties when the strings of a Lute are snarled the Lute is not fit to make Musick so when a Christians spirit is perplexed and disturbed he cannot make melody in his heart to the Lord. 2. Discontent which is a sullen dogged humour When a man is not angry at his sins but at his condition this is different from patience Discontent is the daughter of pride 3. Prejudice which is a dislike of God and his ways and a falling off from Religion Sinners have hard thoughts of God and if he doth but touch them in a tender part they will presently be gone from him and throw off his Livery 4. Self-vindication when instead of being humbled under Gods hand a man justifies himself as if he had not deserved what he suffers A proud sinner stands upon his own defence and is ready to accuse God of unrighteousness which is as if we should tax the Sun with darkness this is far from patience A godly man subscribes to Gods wisdome and submits to his will he saith not only good is the Word of the Lord Isa. 3â—â—8 but good is the Rod of the Lord. Use. As we would demonstrate our selves godly let us be eminent in this grace of patience Eccles. 7. 8. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit There are some Graces which we shall have no need of in heaven we shall have no need of Faith when we have full Vision nor patience when we have perfect joy but in a dark sorrowful night there is need of these stars to shine Let us show our patience in bearing Gods will patience in bearing Gods will is two-fold 1. When God removes any comfort from us 2. When God imposeth any evil upon us 1. We must be patient when God removes any comfort from us Doth God take away any of our Relations Ezek. 24. 16. I will take away the desire of thine eyes with a stroak yet it is our duty patiently to acquiesce in the Will of God The loss of a dear Relation is like the pulling away a Limb from the body Homo toties moritur quoties amittit suos But grace will make our hearts calm and sedate and work us to an holy patience under such a severe dispensation I shall lay down eight considerations which may be as spiritual Physick to kill the worm of impatience under the loss of Relations 1. The Lord never takes away any comfort from his people but he gives them that which is better The Disciples parted with Christs corporal presence and he sent them the Holy Ghost God eclipseth one joy and augments another he doth but make an exchange he takes away a Flower and gives a Diamond 2. Godly friends dying are in a better condition they are taken away from the evil to come Isa. 57. 1. They are out of the storm and are gotten to the Haven Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord Rev. 14. 13. The godly have a portion promised them upon their marriage with Christ but the portion is not paid till the day of their death The Saints at death are preferred to Communion with God they have that they so long hoped for and prayed for why then should we be impatient at our friends preferment 3. Thou that art a Saint hast a friend in heaven which thou canst not lose The Jews have a saying at their Funerals Let thy consolation be in heaven Art thou a close Mourner look up to heaven and fetch comfort thence thy best kindred are above Psa 27. 10 When my Father and Mother forsake me then the Lord will take me up God will be with thee in the hour of death Psa. 23. 4. Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death thou art with me Other friends thou canst not keep God is a friend thou canst not lose he will be thy Guide in life thy Hope in death thy Reward after death 4 Perhaps God is correcting thee for a fault and it so it becomes thee to bee patient it may bee thy friend had more of thy love than God and therefore God did take away such a relation that the stream of thy love may run bak to him again A gracious woman having been deprived first of her Children then of her Husband Lord saith she thou hast a plot upon me thou intendest to have all my love God doth not like it to have any Creature set upon the throne of our affections hee will take away that comfort and then he shall lye nearest our heart If an Husband bestow a jewel upon his Wife and she doth so fall in love with that jewel as to forget her Husband hee will take away the jewel that her love may return to him again a dear relation is this jewel if we begin to idolize it God will take away the jewell that our love may return to him â—gain 5 A Godly Relation is parted with but not lost that is lost which wee are out of hope ever of seeing again religious friends are but gone a little before A time will shortly come when there shall bee a meeting without parting 1 Thes. 5. 10. How glad is one friend to see another that hath been long absent Oh what glorious acclamations shall there bee when old relations shall meet together in heaven and be in each others embraces when a great prince lands at the shore the guns go off in token of joy when godly friends shall be all landed at the heavenly shore and shall congratulate one anothers felicity what stupendious joy will there be what musick in the quire of Angels how will heaven ring of their praises and that which is the crown of all they who were here joyned in the flesh shall bee joyned nearer than ever in the mystical body and shall lye together in Christs bosome that bed of
idle person is the Devils Tennis-ball which he bandies up and down with temptation and at last the Ball falls into the Hazzard 4 A godly man sets bounds to himself in things lawful he abates in matters of recreation and diet hee takes only so much for the recruits of nature as may the better dispose him for Gods service Hierom lived abstemiously his diet was a few dried Figs and cold water And Austin in his Confessions saith thus Lord thou hast taught me to go to my meat as to a medicine If the snaffle of reason much more should the curbing-bit of grace check the appetite the life of a Sinner is bruitish the glutton feeds without fear Iude 2. and the drunkard drinks without reason Too much oyle choaks the Lamp whereas a lesser quantity makes it burn brighter a godly man holds the golden bridle of temperance and will not suffer his Table to be a snare 5 A godly man is careful about moral righteousness he makes conscience of equity as well as piety the Scripture hath linked both together Luk. 1. 75. That wee might serve him in righteousness and true holiness Holiness there is the first Table Righteousness there is the second Table Though a man may be morally righteous and not godly yet no man can be godly but hee must be morally righteous This moral righeousness is seen in our dealings with men a good man observes that golden maxim Mat. 7. 12. Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them There is a threefold injustice in matters of dealing 1 Using of false weights Hos. 12. 7. The ballances of deceit are in his hands men by making their weights lighter make their sin heavier Amos 5. 8. They make the Ephah small the Ephah was a measure they used in selling they made the Ephah small they gave but scant measure a godly man who takes the Bible in one hand dares not use false weights in the other 2 Imbasing a commodity Amos 8. 6. They sell the refuse of the wheat they would pick out the best grains of the wheat and sell the worst at the same price as they did the best Isa. 1. 22. Thy wine is mixed with water they did adulterate their wine yet make their customers beleeve it came from the pure grape 3 Taking a great deal more than the commodity is worth Lev. 25. 14. If thou sell ought to thy neighbour ye shall not oppress one another a godly man deals exactly but not exactingly he will sell so as to help himself but not damnifie another His motto is A conscience void of offence towards God and towards men Act. 23. 16. The Hypocrite separates these two which God hath joyned together Righteousness and Holiness he pretends to be pure but is not just This brings religion into contempt when men hang forth Christs colours yet will use fraudulent circumvention and under a mask of piety neglect morality a godly man makes conscience of the second Table as well as the first 6 A godly man will forgive them that have wronged him revenge is sweet to nature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A gracious spirit passeth by affronts forgets injuries and counts it a greater victory to conquer an enemy by patience than by power This is truly heroical To overcome evil with good Though I would not trust an Enemy yet I would endeavour to love him though I would exclude him out of my Creed yet not out of my prayer Mat. 5. 4. Quest. But doth every godly man arrive at this to forgive yea love his Enemies Answ. He doth it in a Gospel-sense that is 1. Quoad assensum he subscribes to it in his judgement as a thing which ought to be done Rom. 7. 18. With my mind I serve the Law of God 2. Quoad dolorem A godly man mourns that he can love his Enemies no more Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am O this base canker'd heart of mine that have received so much mercy and can show so little I have had Talents forgiven me yet I can hardly forgive Pence 3. Quoad votum A godly man prays that God will give him an heart to love his Enemies Lord pluck this root of bitterness out of me perfume my soul with love make me a Dove without gall 4. Quoad conatum A godly man doth in the strength of Christ resolve and strive against all rancour and virulency of spirit This is in a Gospel-sense to love our Enemies a wicked man cannot do this his malice boils up to revenge 7. A godly man lays to heart the miseries of the Church Psal. 137. 1. We wept when we remembred Sion I have read of certain Trees whose leaves if cut or touched the other leaves begin to contract and shrink up themselves and for a space hang down their heads Such a spiritual sympathy is there among Christians when other parts of Gods Church suffer they feel themselves as it were touched in their own persons Ambrose reports that when Theodosius was sick unto death he was more troubled about the Church of God than about his own sickness When Aeneas would have saved Anchises his life saith he Absit ut excisa possim supervivere Troiâ Far be it from me that I should desire to live when Troy is buried in its ruines there are in Musick two Unisons if you strike one you shall perceive the other to stir as if it were affected When the Lord strikes others a godly heart is deeply affected Isa. 16. 11. My bowels shall sound like an Harp Though it be well with a Childe of God in his own particular he dwells in an house of Cedar yet he grieves to see it go ill with the publick Queen Esther enjoyed the Kings favour and all the delights of the Court yet when a bloudy Warrant was signed for the death of the Jews she mourns and fasts and ventures her own life to save theirs 8. A godly man is contented with his present condition if provisions grow low his heart is tempered to his condition Many saith Cato blame me because I want and I blame them because they cannot want A godly man puts a candid interpretation upon Providence when God brews him a bitter Cup this saith he is my diet-drink it is to purge me and do my soul good therefore he is well content 9. A godly man is fruitful in good works Titus 2. 7. The Hebrew word for godly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies merciful implying that to be godly and charitable are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one and the same A good man feeds the hungry cloathes the naked he is ever merciful Psal. 37. 6. The more devout sort of the Jews at this day distribute the tenth part of their Estate to the poor and they have a Proverb among them give the tenth and you will grow rich The hypocrite is all for Faith
our felicity And thus I have shown the Marks and Characters of a godly man If a person thus described be reputed a Phanatick then Abraham and Moses and David and Paul were Phanaticks which I think none will dare to affirm but Atheists CHAP. V. Containing two Conclusions COncerning the Characteristical signs afore-mentioned I shall lay down two Conclusions 1 These Characters are a Christians box of evidences for as an impenitent sinner hath the signs of reprobation upon him whereby as by so many spots and tokens he may know he shall dye so he who can shew these happy signs of a godly man may see the Symptomes of Salvation in his Soul and may know he is passed from death to life he is as sure to go to heaven as if he were in heaven already such a person is undoubtedly a member of Christ and if he should perish then something of Christ might perish These blessed Characters may comfort a Christian under all worldly dejections and Diabolical suggestions Satan tempts a Childe of God with this that he is an hypocrite and hath no title to the Land of promise a Christian may pull out these evidences and put the Devil to prove that ever any wicked man or hypocrite had such a fair Certificate to shew for heaven Satan may sooner prove himself a lyar than the Saint an hypocrite 2 He who hath one of these Characters in truth hath seminally all he who hath one link of a Chain hath the whole Chain Object But may a Childe of God say either I have not all these Characters or they are so weakly wrought in me that I cannot discern them Answ. To satisfie this scruple you must diligently observe the distinctions the Scripture gives of Christians it casts them into several classes and orders some are infantuli little children who are but newly laid to the breast of the Gospel others are adulti Young men who are grown up to more maturity of Grace others are patres Fathers who are ready to take their degree of Glory 1 Iohn 2. 12. 13 4. Now you who are but in the first rank or classis yet you may have the vitals of Godliness as well as those who have arrived at an higher stature in Christ the Scripture speaks of the Cedar and the bruised Reed the last of which is as true a Plant of the heavenly Paradise as the other so that the weakest ought not to be discouraged all have not these characters of godliness written in Text-Letters if they be but dimly stamped upon their souls God can read the work of his spirit there Though the seal be but weakly set upon the wax it ratifies the will and gives a real conveyance of an estate If there be found but some good thing towards the Lord as it was said of Abijah God will accept it CHAP. VI. Containing the first Vse Exhorting all to become Godly Use 1 FRom all that hath been said I would draw three great Uses First Such as are still in their natural estate who never yet did relish any sweetness in the things of God let me beseech them in the bowels of Christ that they would labour to get these Characters of the Godly engraven upon their hearts though godliness be the object of the worlds scorn and haâ—ed as in Tertullians daies the name of a Christian was a crime yet be not ashamed to espouse godliness know that persecuted godliness is better than prosperous wickedness what will all the world avail a man without godliness To be learned and ungodly is like a Devil transformed into an Angel of light to be beautiful and ungodly is like a fair picture hung in an infected room to be honourable in the world and ungodly is like an Ape in purple or like that Image which had an head of gold upon feet of clay 't is godliness that en-nobles and consecrates the heart making God and Angels fall in love with it Labour for the reality of godliness rest not in the common workings of Gods spirit think not that it is enough to be intelligent and discurive a man may discourse of Religion to the admiration of others yet not feel the sweetness of those things in his own Soul the Lute gives a melodious sound to others but is not at all sensible of the sound it self Iudas could make an elegant discourse of Christ but did not feel vertue from him Rest not in having your affections a little stirred an hypocrite may have affections of sorrow as Ahab affections of desire as Balaam these are sleight and flashy and do not amount to real godliness Oh I labour to be as the Kings daughter glorious within Psa. 45. 13. That I may perswade the sons of men to become godly I shall lay down some forcible Motives and Arguments and the Lord make them as nails fastened by his spirit 1 Let men seriously weigh their misery while they remain in a state of ungodliness which may make them hasten out of this Sodome the misery of ungodly men appears in nine particulars 1 They are in a state of death Eph. 2. 1. dead in Trespasses dead they must needs be who are cut off from Christ the principle of life for as the body without the soul is dead so is the soul without Christ. This spiritual death is visible in the effect it bereaves men of their senses sinners have no sense of God in them Ephe. 4. 19. who being without feeling all their moral endowments are but strewing flowers upon a dead corpse and what is hell but a sepulchre to bury the dead in 2 Their offerings are polluted not only the Ploughing but the praying of the wicked is sin Prov. 15. 8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord If the water be foul in the well it cannot be clean in the bucket if the heart be full of sin the duties cannot be pure In what a strait is every ungodly person if he doth not come to the Ordinance he is a contemner of it if he doth come hee is a defiler of it 3. Such as live and die ungodly have no right to the Covenant of Grace Eph. 2. 12. At that time ye were without Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strangers from the Covenants of Promise And to be without Covenant is to be like one in the old World without an Ark. The Covenant is the Gospel-Charter which is enriched with many glorious priviledges but who may plead the benefit of this Covenant Surely only such whose hearts are in-laid with grace Read the Charter Ezek. 36. 26. A new heart will I give you and I will put my spirit within you Then it follows ver 28. I will be your God A person dying in his ungodliness hath no more to do with the New Covenant than a Ploughman hath to do with the priviledges of a Corporation Gods Writing is always before his Seal 2 Cor. 3. 3. Ye are
a steeping in Christs blood and breathe holiness into your heart O what cause have you to write your selves eternal debtors to free grace Hee denies God to be the Authour of his Grace who doth not give him the praise of it O acknowledge the love of God admire distinguishing mercy set the Crown of your praise upon the head of free grace If wee are to bee thankful for the fruits of the earth much more for â—he fruits of the Spirit it is well there is an eternity coming when the Saints shall triumph in God and make his praise glorious 3 Let me speak to the godly by way of Comfort you that have but the least dram of godliness in sincerity let me give you two rich Consolations 1 That Jesus Christ will not discourage the weakest Grace but will cherish and preserve it to Eternity Grace which is but newly budded shall by the beams of the Sun of Righteousness bee concocted and ripened into Glory This I shall speak more fully to in the next CHAP. XI Showing that the least degree of Godliness shall bee preserved Mat. 12. 20. A bruised Reed shall hee not break and smoking flax shall hee not quench till hee send forth Iudgement unto Victory THis Text is spoken Prophetically of Christ hee will not insult over the infirmities of his people hee will not crush Grace in the infancy A bruised Reed shall he not break and smoking flax shall be not quench I begin with the first the bruised Reed Quest. What is to bee understood here by a Reed Answ. It is not to bee taken litterally but mystically It is a Rational Reed the Spiritual part of man the Soul which may well bee compared to a Reed because it is subject to imbecility and shaking in this life till it grow up unto a firm Cedar in Heaven Quest. What is meant by a bruised Reed Answ. It is a soul humbled and bruised in the sense of sin it weeps but doth not despair it is tossed upon the waves of fear yet not without the Anchor of Hope Quest. What is meant by Christs not breaking this reed Answ. The sense is Christ will not discourage any mournful spirit who is in the pangs of the New-birth If the bruise of sin be felt it shall not be mortal A bruised reed shall he not break In the words there is a Miâ—oâ—â—s he will not break that is he will bind up the bruised reed he will comfort it The result of the whole is to show Christs compassion to a poor dejected sinner that smites upon his breast and dares hardly lift up his eye for mercy the bowels of the Lord Jesus yern towards him this bruised reed he will not break In the Text there are two parts 1. A Supposition a soul penitentially bruised 2. A Proposition it shall not be broken Doct. The bruised soul shall not be broken Psal. 147. 3. He bindeth up their wounds For this end Christ received both his Mission and Unction that he might bind up the bruised soul Isa. 61. 1. The Lord hath anointed me to bind up the broken-hearted But why will not Christ break a bruised reed 1. Out of the sweetness of his Nature Iam. 5. 11. the Lord is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 very pitiful he begets bowels in other creatures therefore is called the Father of mercies 2 Cor. 1. 3. and surely he himself is not without bowels when a poor soul is afflicted in spirit God will not exercise harshness towards it lest he should be thought to put off his own tender disposition Hence it is the Lord hath been ever most solicitous for his bruised ones as the Mother is most careful of her Children that are weak and sickly Isa. 40. 11. He shall gather the Lambs with his arm and carry them in hiâ— bosome Such as have been spiritually bruised who like Lambs are weakly and tender Christ will carry them in the arms of free-grace 2 Jesus Christ will not break the bruised reed because a contrite heart is his sacrifice Psa. 51. 17. A bruised spirit sends forth tears which are as precious wine Psa. 56. 8. A bruised soul is big with holy desires yea is sick of love therefore if a bruised reed hath such virtue in it Christ will not break it no Spices when they are bruised are so fragant to us as a contrite spirit is to God 3 The bruised reed shall not be broken because it doth so nearly resemble Christ Jesus Christ was once bruised on the cross Isa. 53. 10. It pleased the Lord to bruise him his hands and feet were bruised with the nails his side was bruised with the Spear A bruised reed resembles a bruised Saviour nay a bruised reed is a member of Christ which though it be weak Christ will not cut off but cherish so much the more 1. Will not Christ break the bruised reed this tacitly implies he will break unbruised reeds such as were never touched with trouble of spirit but live and die in impenitency these are hard reeds or rather rocks Christ will not break a bruised reed but he will break an hard reed Many know not what it is to be bruised reeds they are bruised outwardly by affliction but they are not bruised for sin they never knew what the pangs of the New birth meant You shall hear some thank God they were always quiet they never had any anxiety of spirit these bless God for the greatest Curse Such as are not bruised penitentially shall be broken judicially they whose hearts would not break for sin shall break with despair in hell there is nothing to be seen but an heâ—p of stones and an hammer an heap of stones that is hard hearts and an hammer that is Gods Power and Justice breaking them in pieces 2. Will not Christ break a bruised reed See then the gracious disposition of Jesus Christ he is full of clemency and sympathy though he may bruise the soul for sin he will not break it The Chyrurgion may lance the body and make it bleed but he will bind up the wound as Christ hath beams of Majesty so bowels of mercy Christ gives the Lyon in his Scutchion and the Lamb the Lyon in respect of his fierceness to the wicked Psal. 50. 22. And the Lamb in respect of his mildness to his people his name is Iesus a Saviour and his office is an healer Mal. 4. 2. Christ made a plaister of his own bloud to heal a broken heart Christ is the quintessence of love One saith if the sweetness of all flowers were in one flower how sweet would that flower be How full of Mercy is Christ in whom all mercy meets Christ hath a skilful hand and a tender heart He will not break a bruised reed Some are so full of Ostracisme and cruelty as to add affliction to affliction which is to lay more weight upon a dying man but our Lord Jesus is a compassionate
grace shine in his soul and the next day his light put out in obscurity This would spill a Christians comfort and break asunder the golden Chain of Salvation but be assured O Christian he who hath begun a good work will ripen it into perfection Christ will send forth judgement unto victory he will make grace victorious over all opposite corruption If grace should finally perish what would become of the smoaking flax And how would that title properly be given to Christ Finisher of the Faith Object No question this is an undoubted priviledge to such as are smoaking flax and have the least beginnings of grace but I fear I am not smoaking flax I cannot see the light of grace in my self Answ. That I may comfort the smoaking flax why dost thou thus dispute against thy self What makes thee think thou hast no grace I believe thou hast more than thou wouldst be willing to part with thou valuest grace above the gold of Ophir How couldst thou see the worth and lustre of this Jewel if Gods Spirit had not opened thy eyes Thou wouldst fain believe and mournest that thou canst not believe are not these tears the Initials of Faith Thou desirest Christ and canst not be satisfied without him this beating of the pulse evidenceth life The iron could not move upward if the Loadstone did not draw it the heart could not ascend in holy breathings after God if some heavenly Loadstone had not been drawing it Christian canst thou say sin is thy burden Christ is thy delight and as Peter once said Lord thou knowest I love thee This is smoaking flax and the Lord will not quench it thy grace shall flourish into glory God will sooner extinguish the light of the Sun than extinguish the dawning light of his spirit in thy heart 2. Let a Christian pursue his duty There are two duties required of believers 1. Love 2. Labour 1. Love Will not the Lord quench the smoaking flax but make it at last victorious over all opposition how should the smoaking flax flame in love to God Psal. 31. 23. love the Lord all ye his Saints The Saints owe much to God and when they have nothing to pay it is hard if they cannot love him O ye Saints it is God who carries on grace progressively in your souls He is like a Father who gives his son a small stock of money to begin with and when he hath traded a little he adds more to the stock So God adds continually to your stock he is every day dropping oyl into the lamp of your grace and so keeps the lamp burning This may inflame your love to God who will not let the work of grace miscarry but will bring it to perfection The smoaking flax he will not quench How should Gods people long for heaven when it will be their constant work to breathe forth love and found forth praise 2. The second duty required of Christians is labour Some may think if Christ will not quench the smoaking flax but make it burn brighter to the Meridian of glory then we need take no pains but leave God to bring his own work about Take heed of drawing so bad a Conclusion from such good premises What I have spoken is to encourage Faith not to indulge sloath Do not think God will do our work for us and we sit still As God will blow up the spark of grace by his spirit so we must be blowing it up by holy endeavours God will not bring us to heaven sleeping but praying The Lord told Paul all in the Ship should come safe to shore but it must be in the use of means Act. 27. 21. Except ye abide in the Ship ye cannot be saved So the Saints shall certainly arrive at Salvation they shall come to shore at last but they must abide in the Ship in the use of Ordinances else they cannot be saved Christ assures his Disciples None shall pluck them out of his hand Ioh. 10. 28. But yet he gives that counsel Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation Mat 26. 41. The seed of God shall not die but we must water it with our tears the smoaking flax shall not be quenched but we must blow it up with the breath of our endeavour The second comfort to the godly is that godliness advanceth them into a near and glorious union with Jesus Christ But of this in the next CHAP. XII Shewing the Mystical union between Christ and the Saints CANT 2. 16. My beloved is mine and I am his IN this Book of the Canticles we see the love of Christ and his Church running toward each other in a full torrent The Text contains three general Parts 1 A Symbol of affection my beloved 2 A term of appropriation is mine 3 An holy resignation I am his Doct. That there is a conjugal union between Christ and beleevers The Apostle having treated at large of marriage he windes up the whole chapter thus Eph. 5. 32. This is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the Church what nearer than union what sweeter there is a twofold union with Christ 1 A natural union this all men have Christ having taken their nature upon him and not the Angels Heb. 2. 16. but if there be no more than this natural union it will give little comfort thousands are damned though Christ be united to their nature 2 There is a sacred union whereby we are mystically united to Christ the union with Christ is not personal if Christs essence were transfused into the person of a beleever then it would follow that all which a beleever doth should merit But the union between Christ and a Saint is 1 Faederal my beloved is mine God the Father gives the bride God the Son receives the bride God the Holy ghost tyes the knot in marriage he knits our wills to Christ and Christs love to us 2 This union is vertual Christ unites himself to his spouse by his graces and influences Iohn 1. 16. Of his fulness have we all received and grace for grace Christ makes himself one with the spouse by conveying his Image and stamping the impress of his own holiness upon her This union with Christ may well be called mystical it is hard to describe the manner of it as it is hard to shew the manner how the soul is united to the body so how Christ is united to the soul but though this union be spiritual it is real Things in nature work often insensibly yet really Eccles. 11. 5. we do not see the hand move on the Dial yet it moves the Sun exhales and draws up the vapours of the earth insensibly yet really so the union between Christ and the soul though it be imperceptible to the eye of reason yet is real 1 Cor. 6. 17. Before this union with Christ there must be a separation the heart must be separated from all other lovers as in marriage there is a leaving of
Father and Mother Psa. 45. 10. Forget also thine own people and thy Fathers house So there must be a leaving of our former sins a breaking off the old league with hell before wee can bee united to Christ Hos. 14. 8. Ephraim shall say what have I to do any more with Idols or as it is in the Hebrew with sorrows Those sins which before were looked upon as lovers now they are sorrows there must be a divorce before an union The end of our conjugal union with Christ is twofold 1 Co-habitation this is one end of marriage to live together Ephes. 3. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts it is not enough to give Christ a few complemental visits in his ordinances hypocrites may do so but there must be a mutual associating we must dwell upon the thoughts of Christ 1 Iohn 3. 24. he that dwelleth in God married persons should not live asunder 2 Fructification Rom. 7. 4. That ye should 〈◊〉 married to another even to him who is raised from the dead that we should bring forth fruit unto God the Spouse brings forth the fruits of the spirit love joy peace long-suffering gentleness Gal. 5. 22. Barrenness is a shame in Christs spouse This marriage-union with Christ is the most noble and excellent union 1 Christ unites himself to many in other marriages there is but a person taken but here millions are taken alas else poor souls might cry out Christ hath married himself to such an ones person but what is that to me I am left out no Christ marries himself to thousands 't is casta polygamia an holy and chaste polygamy multitudes of persons doth not defile this marriage-bed no poor sinner but bringing an humble beleeving heart may be married to Christ. 2 In this holy marriage is a nearer conjunction than can be in any other in other marriages two make one flesh but Christ and the beleever make one spirit 1 Cor. 6. 17. He that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit now as the soul is more excellent than the body and admits of far greater joy so this spiritual union brings in more astonishing delights and ravishments than any other marriage-relation is capable of the joy that flows from the mystical union is unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1. 8. 3 This union with Christ never ceaseth Foelices ter amplius quos irrupta tenet copula Other marriages are soon at an end Death cuts asunder the marriage-knot but this conjugal union is eternal thou that art once Christs spouse shalt never be a widdow more Hos. 2. 19. I will betroth thee unto me for ever to speak properly our marriage with Christ begins where other marriages end at death In this life is but the contract the Iews had a time set between their espousals and marriage sometimes a year or more in this life is but the affiancing and contract promises are made on both sides and love passeth secretly between Christ and the soul he gives some smiles of his face and the soul sends up her sighs and drops tears of love But all this is but a praevious work and something tending to the marriage the glorious compleating and solemnizing of the Nuptials is reserved for heaven there is the marriage-supper of the Lamb Rev. 19. 9. and the Bed of glory perfumed with love where the souls of the elect shall be perpetually solacing themselves 1 Thes. 4. 17. then shall we ever be with the Lord so that death doth but begin our marriage with Christ. Use 1 If Christ be the head of the body Mystical Ephes. 1. 22. then this Doctrine doth behead the Pope that man of sin who usurps this prerogative to be Ecclesiae caput the head of the Church and so would defile Christs marriage-bed what blasphemy is this two heads is monstrous Christ is head as he is husband there is no vice-husband no deputy in his room The Pope is the Beast in the Revelation to make him head of the Church what were this but to set the head of a Beast upon the body of a Man Use 2 Is there such a conjugal union let us try whether we are united to Christ. 1 Have we chosen Christ to set our love upon and is this choice founded upon knowledge 2 Have we consented to the match 't is not enough that Christ is willing to have us but are we willing to have him God doth not so force salvation upon us as that wee shall have Christ whether wee will or no we must consent to have him many approve of Christ but do not give their consent and this consent must be 1 Pure and genuine we consent to have him for his own worth and excellency Psa. 45. 2. Thou art fairer than the Children of men 2 It must be a present consent 2 Cor. 6. 2. now is the accepted time if we put Christ off with delayes and excuses perhaps he will come no more he will leave off wooing his spirit shall no longer strive and then poor finner what wilt thou do when Gods wooing ends thy woes begin 3 Have we taken Christ faith is vinculum unionis the bond of the union Christ is joyned to us by his spirit and we are joyned to him by faith Faith tyes the marriage-knot 4 Have we given up our selves to Christ thus the spouse in the Text I am his as if she had said all I have is for the use and service of Christ have we made a surrender have wee given up our name and will to Christ when the Devil solicites by a temptation do we say we are not our own we are Christs our tongues are his wee must not defile them with oathes our bodies ar◠his temple we must not pollute them with sin if it be thus it is a sign the Holy ghos◠hath wrought this blessed union between Christ and us Use 3. Is there this Mystical Union then from hence we may draw many Inferences 1. See the dignity of all true believers they are joyned in Marriage with Christ there is not only assimilation but union they are not only like Christ but one with Christ This honor have all the Saints A King marrying a Beggar by virtue of the union she is ennobled and made of the Bloud-Royal 〈◊〉 wicked men are united to the Prince of darkness and he settles Hell upon them for their Jointure So the godly are divinely united to Christ who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. 16. By virtue of this Sacred Union the Saints are dignified above the Angels Christ is their Lord but not their Husband 2. See how happily all the Saints are married they are united to Christ who is the best Husband Cant. 5. 10. The chief of ten thousand Christ is a Husband that cannot be parallel'd 1. For tender care 2. For ardent affection 1. For tender care The Spouse cannot be so tender of her own soul and credit as Christ is