doth of our coin and treasure so to wean us from our sensual delights the Scripture propoundeth to our consideration that eternal and solid joy which resulteth from the immediate fruition of God Psal. 16.11 So to wean us from vain glory and that we may be contented with the glory that comes from God only it telleth us of the honour and glory of the Saints John 5.44 All the sensual good things we dote upon are but a may-game or painted shew in comparison of what we shall enjoy there 2. Temporal bad things with eternal good things so to defeat the terrors of sense All the sufferings of the world are but as the scratch of a pin or a flea-biting to that Woe Wrath and Tribulation that abideth for every soul that doth evil no fire like the fire of hell nor pains like the pains of the worm that never dyeth Luke 12.4 5. Fear not them that kill the body and after that have no more that they can do but I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear fear him which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell Men threaten prisons God threatneth hell they can mangle the body but when they have cut it all in pieces they cannot reach the soul if we sin to avoid trouble in the world we escape at a dear rate As a nail driveth out a nail so doth one fear drive out another temporal sufferings are nothing to eternal Heb 11.35 They accepted not deliverance looking for a better resurrection the general Resurrection is better than present remission of torments 3. Temporal good with eternal evil many succeed well in a way of sinning here live without any remarkable blast and stroke of Gods Judgment but how is it with them in the other world momentum est quod delectat eternum quod cruciat Heb. 11.25 The pleasures of sin are but for a season but the punishment of sin is for ever if we compare the pleasures of sin with the pains of Hell it may be a means to reclaim us from the sensual life This short pleasure is deerly bought 4. Temporal bad things with eternal good things This here and 2 Cor. 4.17 For our light afflictions which are but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory A due sight of eternity will soon shew us the smalness of all that we can suffer here and so our afflictions are not matters much to be stood upon or accounted of the comparison must be rightly stated and weighed and improved by proper considerations 3. In this last comparison these things are considerable 1. Our sufferings come from men but our glory cometh from God now as the Agent is so is the effect man afflicts as a finite creature but God rewardeth us as an infinite and eternal being man sheweth himself in his wrath and God in his love man in his anger Isa. 51.12 Who art thou that thou shouldest be affraid of a man that shall die and of the son of man who shall be as grass Men soon perish and are gone and the effects of their anger cease with them they can do no more than God pleaseth and their time is limited they can rage no longer than God pleaseth But as man sheweth himself as man God sheweth himself as God 't is intimated in the general expression of the Covenant I will be your God be such a Benefactor as a God should be do us good so as becometh an infinite eternal Power thence are those reasonings Matth. 22.32 I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob God is not the God of the dead but of the living Heb. 11.16 But now they desire a better country that is an Heavenly wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for he hath prepared for them a city He will give us somewhat like himself now what comparison between the wrath of man and the Bounty of God 2. Our Sufferings are Earthly but our Glory is Heavenly As the place is so is the estate here both the good and evil is partial but there both are compleat For here we are in the way there in termino in our final estate here a believers spiritual condition will counterballance all his outward troubles his consolation exceed his afflictions 2 Cor. 1.5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation doth abound by Christ much more his eternal estate For now we are but in part acquainted with God but there he is all in all 2 Cor. 15.28 Here we see him in a glass but there face to face 2 Cor. 13.2 Here we have the earnest there the whole bargain here a taste there a full feast here the beginning there the consummation 3. Our sufferings are but short but our Glory eternal 1 Pet. 1.6 For a season if need be ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations the trouble is but of short continuance so 1 Pet. 5.10 He hath called you to eternal glory by Jesus Christ after you have suffered awhile 'T is but a little time that we suffer for God knoweth our spirits are soon apt to fail he considereth we are but dust Indeed the Lord useth a difference with his Children some have shorter Trials some longer but they are all but for a season If they should last for our whole Lives they are but momentary if compared with eternity But 't is not credible that our lives should be altogether calamitous there is no instance either in Scripture or the Records of Time there are intervals of rest and our Enemies cannot trouble us but when 't is permitted of God But if there were no intermission yet this life its self is but for a moment compared with eternity If you consider that which in these afflictions we most dread and beyond which the power of the most cruel adversaries cannot reach death its self 't is but for a moment in the twinkling of an Eye we are in eternity death cometh in a moment and 't is gone in a moment after that we injoy eternal rest and peace Therefore tho in our way to Heaven we should endure the most grievous calamities yet since they are but short and momentary we should submit to them that we may injoy so great a good as the vision and fruition of God Toleramus brevia expectamus eterna the Sufferings are Temporal the Glory is Eternal because it dependeth upon the will of an immutable God and the everlasting merit of a Glorious Redeemer when either of these Foundations fail your Blessedness will be at an end But these can never fail and therefore our Glory will be everlasting Well then the Pain and Suffering will be short within a little while you will feel it no more than if it had never been if the pain be remembred it will be but to increase your joy 4. As they are short so they are light Leves breves The Scripture often ioyneth them
the good and honest Heart that receiveth the good Seed so as to keep it so as to be a Principle of Life to them to these shall be given And then here is the other occasion when Christ speaks this The taking away of the Talents is after the Lord had been reckoning with his Servants after he had been a long time absent and in a far Country Therefore this taking away the Talent is not meant of the Gift its self as of the Comfort Benefit and Reward of it For all trading then is at an end that 's the time of Recompense and the Talent is lost it will do us no good to have had Estates and to have lived in Pomp and Splendour in the World if we have not made use of it for God Our Fall will be the greater because of our heighth 'T will do us no good to have born Office in the Church if we have not been faithful Matth. 7.22 Many shall say unto me in that day Lord Lord we have prophesied in thy Name Such as have taken up Office and Imployment in the Church and made no Conscience of doing the Duty that belongeth thereto these will not have but lose their Reward These are idle Shepherds Zech. 11.17 Their Unfaithfulness and Idleness in their Trust will cost them dear So for the Orninances and Means of Grace Luk. 13.26 Then shall they begin to say We have eat and drank in thy Presence 'T will be no Plea That you have been at God's Board nay you will have the greater Judgment Matth. 11.23 And thou Capernaum which are exalted to Heaven shalt be brought down to Hell A Place that enjoyeth the Gospel is near Heaven 't is the Suburbs of Heaven but where not improved these Priviledges plunge a Man deeper in the State of Condemnation Sins against the Law do not weigh so deep in his Ballance as sleighting and neglecting the Gospel that brings on heavy Wrath So for common Gifts good Affections partial Reformation 't is all lost as to any Reward Ezek. 33.13 Yea 't is worse 2 Pet. 2.20 21. For if after they have escaped the Pollutions of the World through the Knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they are again entangled therein and overcome the latter End is worse with them than the Beginning For it had been better for them not to have known the way of Righteousness than after they have known it to turn from the Holy Commandment The Wrath against them that return back to their Sins is much greater than if they had never been so enlightned and reformed Those that have had more Light and some taste of the Sweetness of Heavens way If they fall away 't is hard to renew them to Repentance This is the principal Sense intended in this Place yet because the Words are so contrived that they comprehend also the Loss we may sustain in this World while we are trading for God I shall shew you how God punisheth naughty and sloathful Servants in this World with the Loss of their Talents 1. Sometimes God taketh from them Opportunities and Liberty of doing Good Nothing is so soon lost as this Gal. 6.10 As we have therefore Opportunity let us do Good to all Men. There are some fit Opportunities offered us by the Providence of God for doing our Duty in this kind as are soon gone and being past and gone 't is hard to say whether ever we may enjoy the like As when we are specially fitted and there is a concurring Harmony of all Circumstances Therefore we should take hold of them without Delay or Foreslowing Opportunities are not alwayes as long as Life Eccles. 11.1 2. Cast thy Bread upon the Waters and give a Portion to seven and to eight for thou knowest not what Evil there may be upon Earth Embrace the present Opportunity thou canst not foresee how soon thou may'st be deprived of it Thou may'st die and leave thy Wealth to those that will shut up their Bowels Thou may'st be in want God may disable thee therefore make use of the Season for Liberality for doing Good while you have it So Office Authority Respect in the Church is an Opportunity God may cast us out of the Vineyard by the Malice of Men or as unsavoury Salt Matth. 13. Mal. 2.9 Therefore I have made you contemptible and base before the People Though all that are cast out are not so Matth. 21.35 the Husbandman took his Servants and beat one and killed another However it will be a discomfort if we have been negligent 2. Ordinances Means of Improvement may be lost Gen. 6.3 My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with Man that is by the Ministry of Noah And God threatneth to take away the Hedge of his Vineyard when all his Cost is lost Isa. 5.5 6. What could I have done more for my Vineyard So Luk. 13.7 And he said to the Dresser of the Vineyard Lo these three Years came I seeking Fruit on his Fig-tree and I find none Cut it down why cumbreth it the Ground 3. Common Gifts God justly taketh them away from those that abuse or make no good use of them Many that excelled in Gifts that seemed to have great Parts are pitifully blasted afterwards 'T is no hard matter to discern a Maim and Decay of Gifts in them that use them not as if the Spirit were departed from them Zech. 11.17 The Idol-shepherd's Arm shall be dryed up and his Eye darkned That is his Gifts shall be taken away at least the Power and Life of them Many lose the Freshness of their Gifts of Prayer the Liveliness of their Knowledge 4. Initial Grace Heb. 6. Saving Gifts and Graces are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without Repentance Rom. 11.29 Where there is Life begun 't is not quenched But where there are some hopeful Inclinations they begin to draw off their Hearts from the World to God though they had escaped the Pollutions of the World their latter End may be worse than their Beginning 2 Pet. 2.20 5. Dona Sanctificantia ought still to be improved that the Grace of God be not received in vain 1 Cor. 15.10 Grace in some measure may suffer Loss by our Negligence 1 Thess. 5.19 Quench not the Spirit despise not Prophesying Fire is quenched by pouring on Water or with-drawing Fuel So the Spirit is quenched by living in Sin which is like pouring on Water or not improving our Gifts and Grace which is like with-drawing the Fuel Gradus remitritur actus intermittitur habitus non amittitur Though the Habit be secured by God's Covenant yet such Portions and Degrees of Grace may be lost as may not easily be recovered again VSE Is to commend to us Diligence and Industry especially in the Work of our Heavenly Calling A Man's Life is divided between Waking and Sleeping so is his Waking time divided between Labour and Rest For Humane Nature cannot endure continual Exercise without Intermission Therefore a spiritual wise Man should so govern his Life
are guilty of Incogitancy at least This appeareth 1. By our Drowsiness and Weakness and Carelesness about the things of Eternity Did we believe that for every Lie we told or every one whom we deceived or slandered we were forced to hold our Hands in scalding Lead for half an Hour how afraid would Men be to commit an Offence Temporal things affect us more than Eternal Who would taste Meat if he knew it were present Death or that it would cost him bitter Gripes and Torments How cautious are we in eating or drinking any thing in the Stone or Chollick or Gout where 't is but probable it will do us hurt We know certainly that Sin hath Death in it The Wages of Sin is Death Rom. 6.23 yet we continue in Sin 2. By our backwardness to Good Works Sins of Omission will damn a Man as well as Sins of Commission small as well as great Christ saith not Ye have robbed but Not fed not cloathed Not blasphemed but not invoked the Name of God Not that you have done Hurt but that you have done no Good 3. By our Weakness in Tempatations and Conflicts We cannot deny a Carnal Pleasure nor withstand a Carnal Fear Matth. 10.28 Shrink at the least Pains in Duty The whole World promised for a Reward cannot induce us to enter into a fiery Furnace for half an Hour yet for a momentary Pleasure we run the hazard of Eternal Torments 4. By our Carelesness in the matters of our Peace If a Man were in danger of Death every moment he would not be quiet till he had got a Pardon How can a Man be quiet till he hath secured his Soul in the Hands of Jesus Christ. He that believeth not in Christ the Wrath of God abideth on him SERMON XXV MATTH XXV v. 41. Then shall he say to them on the Left Hand Depart ye Cursed into Everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels I Come now to the Second Doctrine II. Doct. That these Torments shall be full at the Day of Iudgment Then shall he say c. First There is something Presupposed that they begin presently after Death They are in Hell as soon as the Soul departeth out of the Body that is as to the Soul as to the better half Luk. 16.22 23. And it came to pass that the Begger dyed and was carried by Angels into Abraham's bosom The rich Man also dyed and was buried and in Hell he lift up his eyes being in Torments 'T is a Parable but sure Christ spake intelligibly and according to the received Doctrine of the Church in those times Mark how quick it followeth Here he had his Pleasures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Rich Man also died rich Men die as well as others and was buried it may be had a pompous and stately Funeral when the Soul is in Hell The Body is left in the hands of Death but the Soul is in a living and suffering Condition The Souls of good Men are in Heaven Heb. 12.24 Spirits of Just Men made perfect 'T would be uncomfortable for the Saints to tarry out of the Arms of Christ so long as the last Judgment to be in a drowsie Estate wherein they neither enjoy God nor glorifie him And so the Spirits of wicked Men they are in Hell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 3.19 Who were sometimes disobedient now in Prison It would be some kind of comfort to the Wicked to be so long delayed The time is long till the last Judgment and we are not moved with things at a distance what shall be thousands of years hence It begetteth a greater awe when the danger is nigh Oh let this startle wicked Men before night they may be in Hell before the Body be committed to the Grave the Soul slitteth hence as soon as it departeth out of the Body to God that gave it to receive Woe or Weal The hour of Death is sudden many are surprized and taken unawares Your carnal Companions if God would use that Dispensation that sometimes bowzed and caroused with you and wallowed in filthy Excess by this time know what 't is to be in Torments they would fain come and tell you that you are as rotten Fruit ready to tumble into the Pit of Darkness Every wicked Man groweth upon the Banks of Eternity and hangeth but by a slender String and Root one touch of Gods Providence and they drop into Hell Secondly There is something Expressed To wit That these Torments shall receive their full and final Accomplishment at the last Day That their Torments shall be increased appeareth 1. By Comparison 2. By Scripture And 3. By Reason 1. By Comparing them 1. With the Devils Jude 6. And the Angels which kept not their first Estate but left their own Habitation he hath reserved in everlasting Chains under Darkness unto the Judgment of the great day As good men are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so wicked men are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Devils for the present are under the powerful Wrath of God and horrible Despair Though they have a Ministry and Service in the World yet they carry their own Hell about with them full of Fears and Tremblings under the Wrath of God but not in that extremity discontented with their present Condition Such a Fall is much to a proud Creature and there is a despair of a better Mat. 8.29 What have we to do with thee Jesus thou Son of God art thou come to torment us before the time There is a bitter expectation of Judgment to come Now they have some delight in mischief but at the last day their power shall be restrained which is another Infelicity of their Nature Their Ignominy shall be manifested before all the World they shall be dragged before Christ's Tribunal and judged by the Saints whom they hate 1 Cor. 6.3 The good Angels shall come as Christ's Companions the evil as his Prisoners There are Sights that will work on their Envy and thwart their Pride to see the Glory of the Saints and Angels Dolet Diabolus quod ipsum Angelos ejus Christi Servus ille Peccator judicaturus est saith Tertullian Then they are confined to Hell there to keep their residence where they shall have a more active sense of their own Condition and of the Wrath of God that is upon them So 't is with wicked Men they have their Hell now but at the last day they shall be brought forth as trembling Malefactors before the Bar of Christ all their privy Wickedness shall be manifested before all the World 2 Cor. 4.1 2. However they may be honoured and esteemed now either for their Power or Holiness they shall then be put to publick shame driven out of his presence with Ignominy and Contempt cast into Hell to keep company with the Devils where their Torments shall be most exquisite and painful 2. Compare them with the Saints Heavens Joyes shall then be full so Hells Torments The full Recompense of
that dwell upon the Earth shall worship him whose Names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World Rev. 21.27 None shall enter in who are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life The Book of Life is there attributed to Christ because he took this solemn Charge upon himself to conduct the Heirs of Salvation to Glory He is to see they come to him John 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me He knoweth them by Head and Poll Isa. 49.12 Behold these shall come from far and lo these from the Land of the North and from the West and these from the Land of Sinim Man by Man they are told out to him 2. He is to keep them and look after them Though there be many thousands yet every single Believer falleth under the care of Christ and accordingly he knoweth their Names and their Necessities John 10.3 He calleth his own Sheep by Name and leadeth them out He knoweth his Sheep by Name John Anna Thomas As the High Priest carried the Names of the Tribes upon his Bosom so Christ knows the Names of all the Flock of God There is not a poor Servant or Scullion who are despicable Creatures in the World but Christ looks after him Psal. 34.6 This poor Man cried and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his Troubles Poor Soul he is under such Temptations encumbred with such Troubles in such a Task or Service my Father gave me a charge of him I must look to him So many Lambs as there are in the Flock of Christ there is not one forgotten 3. Christ is to give an account of them unto God He doth it by his constant Intercession of which this Prayer is a Copy They have kept thy Word I am glorified in them Christ is speaking good words of them to the Father He giveth you a good Report behind your back Satan is an Accuser he loveth to report ill of Believers but Christ telleth the Father how his Lambs thrive It is a grief to your Advocate when he cannot speak well of you in Heaven But solemnly he will do it at the last Day when he is to present the Elect to the Tribunal of God Heb. 2.13 Behold I and the Children which God hath given me Oh it is a goodly sight to see Christ and all his little Ones come together to the Throne of Grace There is not one forgotten in the presence of Christ and all his Angels Christ will not be ashamed to own a poor despicable Boy a Man-Servant or a Maid-Servant so they be faithful Luke 12.8 Whosoever shall confess me before Men him shall the son of Man also confess before the Angels of God I died for this poor Creature and shed my Blood for him This is intended 1 Cor. 15.24 Then cometh the end when he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God even the Father A Kingdom is sometimes put for the Form of Government sometimes for Subjects governed the Kingdom that is the Church is solemnly presented as a Prey snatched out of the Teeth of Lions Ephes. 5.27 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Christ will present his Bride in triumph Vse 1. Comfort to Believers 1. Concerning the safety of their eternal Estate Christ bargained for thee by Name That the Father and the Son should pitch upon such a forlorn and wretched piece of the Creation as thou art and they should talk together of thy Heaven Son this is one for whom thou must die that thy Name should be in the Eternal Register written with the Lamb's Blood in his own Book of Life I must have a care of him Ay you will say this were an excellent Comfort if I were sure I were one of them that is given to Christ. I Answer If he hath given Christ to you he hath given you to Christ. God maketh an offer in the Gospel Are you willing to receive him for Lord and Saviour then you put it out of question To as many as received him to them gave he Power to become the Children of God You are Fellow-Heirs with Christ Christ is given to you in time 2. In your particular straits Christ hath a care of you Do you think he will break his Engagement Christ hath plighted his Truth to God the Father Our groundless Jealousies question the truth of Christ's Word and Solemn Agreement When we say the Lord hath forgotten me this is in effect to say Christ is not faithful in his Charge The Prophet chideth them Isa. 40.27 Why sayest thou O Jacob and speakest O Israel my Way is hid from the Lord and my Judgment is passed over from my God God doth not take notice of my Case such mistrust is a lie against the care of Christ. Vse 2. To press us especially humble Sinners you that walk in darkness to come under these sweet Hopes God hath laid Souls to Pledg in the Hand of Christ Why should we be scupulous All the Father's Acts are ratified in time by Believers He ordaineth we consent he chuseth Christ for Lord and King They shall appoint themselves one Head Hosea 1.11 So he hath given Souls to Christ so should you 1. Commit your Souls to him by Faith this answereth to Christ's receiving the Elect by way of Charge 1 Pet. 4.19 Let them that suffer according to the Will of God commit the keeping of their Souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator A Man ventureth upon Duty and trusteth God with his Soul Psalm 31.5 Into thy Hands do I commit my Spirit Paul knew Christ was an able and trusty Friend 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day Committing the Soul to God is a Notion often used in the matter of Faith and doth most formally express the nature of Trust and Adherence He is willing to receive your Souls and he is able to make good the Trust. Therefore in all Times of Distress and Danger when all things are dark to us upon the Warrant of the Gospel let us commit the Soul to Christ to be kept to Salvation Refer your selves to his care for Pardon Defence Support and Glory 2. Consecrate your selves to Christ. Committing noteth Trust Consecrating Obedience You commit your selves to his Care you resign and yield up your selves to his Discipline Committing answereth the Charge but Consecration the Grant Rom. 12.1 I beseech you therefore Brethren by the Mercies of God that you present your Bodies a living Sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable Service By full consent a Man imbarketh with Christ and is resolved no longer to be at his own keeping and disposal Psalm 119.94 I am thine save me for I have
Grace and Authority Mat. 7.29 The People were astonished at his Doctrine for he taught them as one having Authority and not as the Scribes All he did was with Heavenly Majesty and Authority a Soveraign Majesty was to be seen in Christ's teaching proper to himself Besides his Faithfulness as a Minister with such Clearness Evidence and Demonstration there was sufficient Declaration to the World at his Baptism Mat. 3.17 Lo a Voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased agreeing with the Prophecy of him Isa. 42.1 Behold my Servant whom I uphold my Elect in whom my Soul delighteth At his Transfiguration before three Persons that for the Holiness of their Lives were of great Credit Mat. 17.5 Before all his Disciples John 12.28 Father glorify thy Name Then came there a Voice from Heaven saying I have both glorified it and will glorify it again To the World at his Resurrection Acts 17 31. Whereof he hath given assurance unto all Men in that he hath raised him from the dead To which Resurrection the Jews were conscious Those that reported it wrought Miracles these Men sought not themselves had no Advantage but visible Hazards their Witness was agreeable to the Writings of the Prophets the Doctrine built on it very satisfactory there is in it what every Religion pretendeth to tho in a higher way tho Miracles are now ceased yet it is confirmed by the Truth of the Word God continually confirmeth it by the Seal of the Spirit and there is an inward Certioration whereby Believers are satisfied John 18.37 For this cause came I into the World that I should bear witness unto the Truth Every one that is of the Truth heareth my Voice that is enlightned by the Holy-Ghost receiveth and believeth it but those that have a mind to wrangle God will not satisfy And then for his Miracles they were not Miracles of Pomp and Ostentation not destructive Miracles but Actions of Relief When the Pharisees said He casteth out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils Mat. 12.24 He proveth that his main aim was to cast out Satan ver 26. If Satan cast out Satan he is divided against himself Would Satan consent that his Kingdom should fall He would not go to dispossess himself All his aim was to promote Holiness and the Kingdom of God I note this 1. That you may know that the Apostles had sufficient Means to convince the World of the certainty of the Christian Doctrine The inward Testimony of the Spirit the Apostles would not alledg it by Miracles and rational Probabilities they were fitted to deal with the World and to appear as Witnesses for him when they were to give an Account Acts 5.32 And we are Witnesses of these things and so is the Holy-Ghost whom God hath given to them that obey him This inward Witness is proper to Believers the other may be alledged to Infidels By the Spirit is meant there a Power to work Miracles 2. That you may know the way of God's working with Men Usually all these three concur to the working of Faith there is the Light of the Spirit external Confirmation and the use of fit Instruments 1. The Light of the Spirit without which there can be no Grace nor Faith 1 John 5.6 It is the Spirit that beareth Witness because the Spirit is true That is That Word which the Spirit himself hath revealed is Truth for he is not only the Author and Inditer of the Word but the Witness he worketh in the Hearts of the Faithful so that he persuadeth them of the Truth of the Word 2. There is external Confirmation Tho Miracles cease yet we have the Testimony and Consent of the Church who by undoubted and authentick Rolls hath communicated her Experience to us which is visibly confirmed by the Providence of God not suffering the Truth to be oppressed 3. There is the use of fit Instruments specially gifted for this Purpose Tho the Effect of the Word doth mainly depend on the Spirit yet there is a Ministerial Efficacy in the Messengers Acts 14.1 They so spake that a multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed Not that the Faith of the Hearers doth meerly depend upon the excellency of the Preacher Yet certain it is that one way of preaching may be more fit to convert than another both in regard of Matter and Form Pure Doctrine for the Matter is more apt to convert than that which is mixed with Falshood as pure Water cleanseth better than foul and good Food nourisheth better than that which is in part tainted He that can divide the Word aright and prudently apply it is more powerful to work than he that seeth by an half Light or presseth Truth loosly and not with Judgment and Solidity Not as if they could infallibly convert but they are more likely they do not carry the Grace of Conversion in their Mouths Then for the Form with more plainness clearness strength of Argument God hath given to some Gifts above others not to bind himself to them but in the way of Instruments they are more powerful tho the weakest Gifts are not to be despised And in the quality of the Persons Holy Persons are more polished Shafts in God's Quiver 3. I observe it to press you to regard all these things 1. The Power of the Spirit if you would profit in Christ's School The watering-Pot will do nothing without the Sun nor the Word without his Testimony 1 Cor. 3.7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing neither he that watereth but God that giveth the Increase The Spirit is to confirm Truth to you by way of Witness and Argument By way of Witness 1 John 5.7 For there are three that bear record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy-Ghost There is a secret Persuasion especially when you are reading and hearing that insinuateth it self with your Thoughts doubtless this is the Word of God Acts 16.14 Whose Heart the Lord opened that she attended to those things that were spoken by Paul By way of Argument working such things from whence you may conclude it is God's Word John 8.32 Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make ye free When ye are freed from the bondage of Sin then ye are enlightned to see the Truth of the Gospel by experience ye shall know the Truth 2. Take in the advantage of external Confirmation By Miracles Christ's Testimony was made valuable to the Apostles You have not only authentick Records wherein these Miracles are recorded which as an History may be believed but the Testimony of the Church which hath experience of the Truth and Power of the Gospel for many Ages The Lives of the Godly who are called God's Witnesses 1 Cor. 14.26 The Providences of God in delivering his Church in their miraculous Preservations Psal. 58.11 Verily there is a God that judgeth in the Earth Answers of Prayers grounded on the Word Upon all these
Ordinances Heb. 6.18 We have strong Consolation Mat. 26.30 When they had sung an Hymn they went out into the Mount of Olives tho it were a sad time The Eunuch went away rejoicing as soon as he was baptized because he was made sure of the Grace of God Acts 8.39 It is as when a Man hath a good Lease confirmed to him It is not the Bread and Wine rejoiceth the Heart but the renewing of the Covenant 4. Meditation It refresheth the Soul and feeds Joy It is the proper and natural use of Reason The Speculation even of terrible Things is grateful It was the Comfort God himself took in his Works he made them he saw them It is a refreshing to the Soul to think of Creation and Providence as a Son taketh pleasure in a History wherein are recorded his Father's valiant Acts. It is a pure Recreation But oh the sweetness of Redemption the excellency of Glory The Thoughts are sent as Spies into the Land of Promise hereby we have a Pisgah-sight it giveth us a foretaste of Heaven and filleth our Souls with Joy and Blessedness SERMON XXII JOHN XVII 14 I have given them thy Word and the World hath hated them because they are not of the World even as I am not of the World CHRIST had urged several Arguments on the behalf the Apostles their Interest his own Departure their Danger in the World this is the Argument he now presseth Their Danger because of the World's hatred is set forth by the occasion of it their Office I have given them thy Word the Cause of it They are not of the World which is amplified by their conformity to the Patern and Example of Christ Even as I am not of the World So that we have here the Condition of the Saints in the World and then their Constitution and Temper I have given them thy Word Partly by external Revelation in his Ministry during Life Partly by inward Illumination he had given them the Knowledg of it John 16.27 Ye have loved me and have believed that I came out from God John 17.6 I have manifested thy Name to the Men which thou gavest me out of the World Partly by Tradition or Commission he had left the Word with them not only that they might profess it but preach it to others There is an Emphasis in Thy Word Christ grounded his Plea with the Father upon it Men are wont to respect those that suffer for their Sake and Cause And the World hath hated them By the World is meant that Party which is contrary to Christ's Kingdom they are sometimes called the Kingdom of Darkness because the Devil is their Head and Chief sometimes the World because that is their Aim they are guided by the malicious Spirit of Satan and acted by their own Ends and Interests Briefly they are called the World either because the greatest the most flourishing part of Mankind are obstinate against the Gospel or because their whole Bent their Way their Savour is of the World they relish nothing but the World the wicked unbelieving obstinate part of the World And it is said hath hated them hitherto in their Profession they have had but sad experience of the World and in the Course of their future Ministry they can expect no better Because they are not of the World Of the World that is of that strain and sort of Men as of the Devil is to be swayed by him John 8.44 Ye are of your Father the Devil and the Lusts of your Father ye will do They are different from the World in Spirit in Worship in Conversation In Spirit or in the frame of their Hearts 1 Cor. 2.12 Now we have received not the Spirit of the World but the Spirit that is of God There is a particular Genius that runneth out that way they have other manner of Affections and Dispositions In Worship they are to root out inveterate Superstitions both among Jews and Gentiles Now Men are tender of their old Customs and Traditions Unconformity doth exasperate them much more zealous opposition against Traditions received from their Fathers In Conversation they are come out from among them they are Heteroclites 1 Pet. 4.4 They think it strange that you run not with them to all excess of Riâ—i speaking evil of you Their Course is a countermotion to the Fashions of the World they have renounced worldly Desires and Practices Even as I am not of the World most estranged from the Customs and Fashions of it John 8.23 Ye are from beneath I am from above ye are of this World I am not of this World He tasted of the World's hatred John 15.18 19. If the World hateth you you know it hated me before it hated you If ye were of the World the World would love its own but because ye are not of the World but I have called you out of the World therefore the World hateth you This is added for the Consolation of the Disciples that it may not be grievous to them to suffer what their Master suffered before them When the King is wounded in Battel should the Souldier shrink They have my Spirit and are to inherit my Office and they that have Christ's Spirit must look for Christ's Entertainment Only when it is said Even as I am not of this World it noteth not an exact Equality but some Conformity Christ never was of the World Heb. 7.26 He was Holy Harmless Vndefiled separate from Sinners that is he never was of their number After the Fall all Men are of the World but by Regeneration they are so no more therefore it is said John 15.19 Ye are not of the World but I have chosen you out of the World Ye are separated by God's Fan the Wheat from the Chaff and cut off from your old Root by the Sword of the Word 1. Observe That Christians especially Ministers to whom Christ hath given his Word must expect the World's hatred I apply it to both because Christ hath given the Word to both to ordinary Christians by Regeneration to Ministers by special Commission Ordinary Christians are cut off from the World by the Sword of the Word and Conformity is the ground of Love as Difformity and Dissonancy of Practice is of Hatred and Aversation And Ministers have a special Commission to preach it And then both hold forth the Word Ministers clearly they manage the Fan and of private Christians it is said Phil. 2.15 16. That ye be blameless and harmless the Sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation among whom ye shine as Lights in the World Holding forth the Word of Life They copy out the Word in their Lives they are a living Sermon a walking Rule they preach by their Lives the Truth is held forth in a Minister's Mouth but in a Believer's Conversation 1. Christians that do not let fall the Strictness and Majesty of their Conversations if they keep the Word that Christ hath given
Nay the People of God may have a spice of Carnal Envy and be guilty of some unkindness if not hatred to their Godly Brethren Job was deeply censured by his Godly Friends and Paul by his own Hearers 1 Cor. 4.10 We are Fools for Christ's sake that is in their account Tho there be not in them that desperate hatred against the Power of Godliness yet there is offence too often taken and carried on with too great heat and animosity Some Godly Men are too favourable to their own Interests 4. When there is a secret rising of Heart against the purity and strictness of others Natural Malignity beginneth to Work you had need suppress it betimes exulcerated Lusts will grow more tumultuous One godly Man may reprove another that is less godly reprove his Conscience by his Life they cannot look upon them without shame Let it be an Holy Emulation not a Carnal Envy 5. In opposing those that are godly we had need be tender Take care what thou dost for this Man is a Roman Acts 22.26 A Man that medleth with any that profess Religion in strictness had need go upon sure grounds Mat. 18.6 Whoso shall offend one of these little Ones which believe in me it were better for him that a Milstone were hanged about his Neck and he were drowned in the depth of the Sea Men that know the danger will not easily kick against the Pricks At least do not join with the Opposite eat and drink with the Drunken and smite your fellow Servants for the Lord of that Servant shall come and cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with the Hypocrites Mat. 24.49 50 51. When you cry up a Confederacy with wicked Men to prosecute your private Differences with more advantage there is much of the hatred of Godliness in it 6. If you be glad when you find any blemish whereby to eclipse the lustre and glory of their Innocency there is a secret Hatred You should be affected with the Scandal brought upon the Common Cause Phil. 3.18 For many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the Enemies of the Cross of Christ not real Christians but Professors only The Chams of the World laugh to see a Noah drunk It is a sign you hate them because they are Holy when you are glad of any blemish wherewith to stain them especially when the Miscarriages of a few are cast upon all 7. To be at a great distance from this take heed of the hatred of any Man We should love all Men with the love of Good-will tho our delight should be in the Excellent Ones of the Earth the Saints of God There is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 1.7 Add to Brotherly-kindness Charity Live in Enmity and Malice with none tho you take just offence at their Sins as Lot's Righteous Soul was vexed from day to day 2 Pet. 2.8 For that Righteous Man dwelling among them in seeing and hearing vexed his Righteous Soul from day to day with their unlawful Deeds It troubled him to see them They are an abomination by way of caution for our selves and just abhorrence of their Impurities but we must not hate them with a mischievous hatred odio inimicitiae Vse 3. Advice to the People of God 1. Be not amazed at it if you meet with trouble and opposition from Wicked Men even for Goodness-sake 1 John 3.13 Marvel not my Brethren if the World hate you So it hath ever been and so it will be We are surprised and perplexed at it as Men use to be at something that is strange The Wonder is on the other side if there be any remission of this Enmity it were a shrewd suspicion that we were of their stamp or complied too much with their Humors and did symbolize with them in carnal Practices Luke 6.26 Cursed are you when all Men speak well of you for so they did to the false Prophets 2. To walk holily and watchfully so to live that their Religion may be their only Crime and to keep up the repute of Godliness that they may not be hated as Evil-Doers but as Saints 1 Pet. 4.15 Let none of you suffer as a Murderer or as a Thief or as an Evil-Doer or as a Busy-Body in other Mens Matters It is a sad thing to be a Martyr to Passion Interest vain Glory and private Conceits and Opinions to suffer for your own Shame The World doth but watch for such an Advantage their Conscience telleth them you do not deserve their Hatred and therefore they seek other Pretences Do not suffer for Pride indiscreet Zeal and unnecessary Intermedling It is the Glory of the Christian Religion always to have Holy Martyrs and Infamous Persecutors that they should have nothing against them but in the Matters of their God 3. Let not this discourage you tâ—â— Power of Godliness as it is a provoking so it is a daunting thing the Wicked hate you and fear you Mark 6.20 Herod feared John knowing that he was a Just Man and an Holy and observed him and when he heard him he did many things and heard him gladly He feared him not only as a zealous Preacher but as a strict Man A Man would think that John had more cause to fear Herod And God will respect it it is his Quarrel tho you have the management of it you have good Company Christ suffereth with you 1 Pet. 4.13 Rejoice in as much as ye are Partakers of Christ's Sufferings You do not only suffer for him but with him in such a case ye are not only look'd upon as His but Him they cannot hate you as much as they do Christ you are the World 's Eye-sore but God's Delight you have glorious Assistance glorious Hopes The Spirit of God and of Glory resteth upon you 1 Pet. 4.14 4. Walk wisely towards them that are without Col. 4.5 How is that Not to swerve from the course of a Godly Life or neglect our Service to God or to cool and slack in our Zeal for his Glory or to conform our selves to any of their wicked Practices but to forbear to provoke them without cause to live peaceably with all Men as much as is possible Rom. 12.18 To overcome Evil with Good Vers. 21. This was that which Christ hath prescribed Mat. 5.44 Love your Enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you 3. Point A Christian should live in the World as one that is not of the World There is not a total separation from the Men of the World Live in the World he doth here is his Corporal Presence and Conversation but not his Heart And live in the World he must here is his Station and Place of Service 1 Cor. 5.10 Yet not altogether with the Fornicators of this World or with the Covetous or Extortioners or with Idolaters for then
being dead to sin should live unto righteousness Dying to sin is made a step to the life of Righteousness So Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God We are hereby freed from clogs and impediments Fifthly Sin is the better mortified when life is introduced for the Love of God doth most ingage us to hate evil Psal. 97.10 Ye that love the Lord hate evil Life is sensible of what is contrary to it Vse 1. Information it informeth us of divers Truths 1. Except a man be turned from sin to Holiness he is not made a partaker of Christ and therefore while he lives in sin cannot be justified or have any right to pardon He that continueth to live in his sins shall dye in his sins and miserable shall his portion be for ever Well then be perswaded if we would have the comfort of Christs Death we must be changed into the likeness of it 2. How much it concerneth every Christian to be cautious and watchful For he is to remember this within himself I am to represent Christs Rising and Dying the death of sin must answer the Death of Christ and the new life his Resurrection Now is Christs dying and rising seen in us We were never implanted into him unless it be so Therefore unless we will declare to the World that we have no Union with Christ we must endeavour after Holiness What maketh so many Atheists in the World but because so few Christians discover the fruit of their Baptism they live as if they were wholly alive to sin and the world and dead to righteousness 3. That they have not yet attained to true Christianity that content themselves with abstaining from gross sins but make no conscience of loving serving pleasing and glorifying God or preparation for the World to come They do no man wrong but have no care of Communion with God Paul could say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To me to live is Christ Phil. 1.21 meaning that he had no other object and employment for his life but Christ and his Service But these wholly live to themselves a true Christian can say Rom. 14.7 8. None of us liveth to himself and no man dyeth to himself For whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we dye we dye unto the Lord whether we live therefore or dye we are the Lords Vse 2. Is Exhortation to press you 1. To dye unto sin All that profess themselves Christians are by obligation dead O do not keep it alive after you have undertaken its Death charge your Consciences with your Baptismal Vow Besides Christ hath purchased Grace enough for the subduing and mortifying of sin and we have engaged our selves to improve this Grace The Ordinances call upon us every day to do it yet more and more the Word and Sacraments with the dispensations of which there go some motions of the Holy Ghost Nehem. 9.20 Thou gavest them also thy good Spirit to instruct and teach them O quench not his motions disobey not the sanctifying Spirit If this Grace hath taken hold of your hearts in any sort and you are affected with the offers of it you are bound to improve it the more Col. 3.3 For ye are dead vers 5. Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth you are dead by Vow and Covenant dead by Grace offered dead by Grace received Habitual mortification maketh way for actual Habitual mortification is when the heart is turned from sin so that it is turned against it Actual mortification consists in the resisting and suppressing its motions Rom. 8.13 If ye through the Spirit mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live Once more none are in such a dangerous condition as those who have begun the work and then give it over 2 Pet. 2.20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they are again intangled therein and overcome the latter end is worse with them than the beginning Those that fall from a common work make their condition more uncomfortable For real Believers the reign of sin is broken its strength and power much weakened by Grace but still it is working and stirring Gal. 5.17 The flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would do Rom. 7.23 I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin that is in my members Therefore still you must take care of this work Means 1. Be sensible of the evil of sin When once we begin to make light of sin we lye ready for a temptation God doth not make little reckoning of sin Christs Death sheweth it Rom. 8 3. What the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh Infants death sheweth it Rom. 5.14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adams transgression The punishment of the wicked sheweth it Rom. 2.9 Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile The smart of Gods children sheweth it Prov. 11.31 Behold the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth much more the wicked and the sinner 2. Earnestly resolve against it in the strength of Christ 1 Pet. 4.1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffereth for us in the flesh arm your selves likewise with the same mind for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin The mind is hereby fortified Christs dying ingageth them to it Christ hath suffered for it and we are bound to subdue the flesh and deny the pleasures of it 3. Seriously endeavour against it according to the advantages the Spirit giveth you a conscientious Attender on the Ordinances of God hath many motions and helps 2. To walk in newness of life or to express the likeness of Christs Ressurection The spiritual Resurrection is described 1. By the Cause of it Joh. 5.25 The â—our is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live In the spiritual sense that Power was already executed by him in raising sinners out of the grave of sin for he saith it now is It is the Voice of Christ awakens as Lazarus come forth Do not then delay do not say it is too soon Heb. 3.15 To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts 2. The Nature of it as to the first Grace Eph. 5.14 Awake thou that sleepest arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light awake as a man out
with Christ. What that is we have explained already all that I shall now add is That in Scripture it implieth two things First Conformity with Christ in his Sufferings so we have a Saying like that in the Text 2 Tim. 2.11 It is a faithful saying for if we be dead with him we shall also live with him which presently is explained vers 12. If we suffer we shall also reign with him Secondly It implieth mortification of sin so it is understood here if we have communion and fellowship with his Death for the mortification of sin 2. The Term of Proposal conditionally If we The Particle if hath sometimes the notion of a Caution see that ye be dead with Christ sometimes it is a note of Relation when one priviledge is deduced from another as here if we partake of the effect and likeness of his Death in dying to sin we shall partake of the effect and likeness of his Resurrection in being quickened to live in Holiness and Righteousness all our days Dying to sin and newness of life are inseparable if we have the first we shall have the other also they are branches of the same work of Regeneration and both proceed from the same Cause Union with Christ. 2. The Truth hence inferred We shall also live with him This is meant both of the Life of Grace and of the Life of Glory Regeneration and Resurrection the one is to newness of Life the other is to everlasting Bless and Happiness Regeneration is the Spirits begetting us to the Image and Nature of God our heavenly Father and Resurrection is for the perfecting of that Likeness which is 't is true perfect in part here in the Soul 2 Cor. 3.18 We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Hereafter both in Body and Soul Phil. 3.21 Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his own glorious body according to the wonderful working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself As to degrees 1 Joh. 3.2 When he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is As to kinds both in Holiness and Happiness 1 Cor. 15.49 As we have born the image of the earthy we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Now we are conformed to his Image in afflictions Rom. 8.29 He hath predestinated us to be conformed to the image of his Son we look like him in the form of a Servant then we shall be like him as the Lord from Heaven heavenly Therefore the life of Glory in Heaven must not be excluded 3. The Certainty of the Inference 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is not a matter of Opinion and Conjecture but of Faith we are certainly perswaded of the truth of it We must distinguish of this Truth for it may be considered two ways First As a general Maxim or Proposition so it is absolutely true Those that are dead with Christ shall live with him This is an Article of Faith to be believed fide divinâ Secondly As it is applied to us or as it is a ground of our particular Confidence so it is true Hypothetically or upon Supposition and our Confidence can be no greater than the evidence of our Qualification If we be indeed dead with Christ we in particular shall also live with him It is but a rational Conclusion from two Premisses one of which is of Divine Revelation the other of inward Experience namely that I am dead with Christ therefore I believe that I shall live with him It is an act both of Faith and Reason an act of Faith by participation as it buildeth on a Principle of Faith Doctrine Those that are dead with Christ have no reason to doubt but that they shall also live with him I. I shall speak of the Condition If we be dead with Christ. II. Of the Benefit They shall live spiritually and everlastingly III. Of our certain Apprehension We believe I. Of the presupposed Condition If we be dead with Christ. 1. Who are dead with Christ. 2. How necessary this Order is The one will shew us that it is not an over-strict but a comfortable Condition the other that it is a Condition absolutely necessary to subsequent Grace 1. Who are dead with Christ. 1. Such as owne the Obligation which their Baptism and Profession puts upon them That reckon themselves dead indeed unto sin Rom. 6.11 that make account they are under a Vow and Bond wherewith they have bound their Souls The careless mind it not but the sincere Christians acknowledge that the debt lyeth upon them they being solemnly ingaged to Christ to do it The Apostle saith Rom. 8.12 We are debtors not to the flesh to live after the flesh as the Jew by Circumcision is bound to observe all the Rituals of Moses Gal. 6.3 so Christians by Baptism are bound to crucifie the flesh and obey the Spirit What say you Are you at liberty to do what you lift or under a strict Bond and Obligation to dye unto sin Let your lives answer for you 2. They make Conscience of it and seriously address themselves to perform it Gal. 5.24 They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts they have begun to do it and still go on to do it more and more for this is a continued action not the work of a day but of our whole lives They have not only retrenched the desires of the flesh but seek to mortifie and subdue them and perform their Promise so solemnly made to God 3. They obtain the effect in such a degree that the reign of sin is broken though sin it self be not utterly extinct us They do no longer live in their old slavery and bondage as those do who obey every foolish and hurtful lust that bubleth up in their hearts A mans condition is determined by what is in the Throne habitually and governeth our lives and actions There are two warring Principles in us full of enmity and repugnancy to each other the Flesh and the Spirit but one reigneth which constituteth the difference between the carnal and the renewed in the carnal Flesh reigneth but in the regenerate the Spirit hath the mastery and is superiour and most powerful so that a Christian sheweth himself to be Spirit rather than Flesh otherwise it could not be said That which is born of the Spirit is Spirit Joh. 3.6 The acts of sin are disowned acts and he may say with Paul It is not I but sin that dwelleth in me Sin is against the bent and habit of our wills 4. They substract the fuel of their lusts as they wean themselves from earthly things and shew such contempt of the World that the good things which they enjoy by Gods allowance are not a snare to them For the Apostle saith of those that set their affections
2 Cor. 6.1 We then as workers together with him beseech you that you receive not the grace of God in vain We frustrate the Method of God when we suffer the Gospel to be cast away upon us but to receive subjective Grace in vain is worse as this is a closer Application as a Power put into our hearts and we make the choicest gifts of the Spirit idle and unuseful Vse Is to perswade us to make our new Obedience more clear and explicite 1. By manifesting the Change 2 Cor. 5.17 If any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are passed away behold all things are become new 2. By out Growth and Increase 1 Thess. 4.1 Furthermore then we beseech you Brethren and exhort you by the Lord Jesus Christ that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God so ye would abound more and more 3. By exceeding in a course of Holiness as ye did before in Sin 1 Cor. 15.10 I laboured more abundantly than they all Reasons 1. It is not an indifferent thing whether ye be eminent in Obedience yea or no. God maketh a great matter of it as appeareth by his strict injunctions Psal. 119.4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently By his ample Promises Deut. 11.26 27 28 29. Behold I set before you this day a blessing and a curse a blessing if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you this day By his Punishment of the Disobedient 2 Thess. 1.8 9. To take vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power By the Example of Christ Heb. 5.8 9. Though he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered And being made perfect he became the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him You have gained a great point when you are perswaded of this 2. That the Government of God is not for the Rulers benefit but the Subjects welfare It is as the Physicians Prescriptions the Pilots Steerage to direct us to our Happiness the Parents Education Deut. 5.29 O that there were such an heart in them that they would fear me and keep all my commandments always that it might be well with them and with their children for ever 3. That after Grace received there is still the weakness of our flesh The Mind in part is blind and ignorant in the corrupt Will there is a back biass Passions are turbulent Temptations of Sense and Appetite are incessant and powerful therefore watchfulness and caution are not unnecessary the Heart is very treacherous 4. The Honour of Grace is much concerned in our activity and zeal for the new Creature is formed for somewhat Eph. 2.10 We are the workmanship of God created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them SERMON XX. ROM VI. 20 For when ye were the servants of sin ye were free from righteousness IN this Verse the Apostle rendreth a Reason why they should add to Righteousness Holiness as they had before added Iniquity unto Iniquity because Righteousness had no whit of their service then therefore sin should not have any jot of their service now they had devoted themselves to God He layeth before them the wretchedness of their carnal Estate in two Notions 1. They were Slaves to Sin 2. Strangers to Righteousness This latter he expresseth by this Phrase Free from righteousness 1. What it signifieth 2. Why used here 1. What it signifieth A man may be said to be free from Righteousness two ways First De Jure so no man is or can be free from Righteousness for every Creature is under a Law and an Obligation of Duty to God Saul proclaimed That whosoever would encounter Goliah his house should be free in Israel 1 Sam. 15.25 meaning not a total exemption from Obedience but have certain Regalities bestowed on his Family a Subject remaining a Subject cannot be altogether freed from Duty to his Prince Now Man being Gods Creature is also his Subject and therefore of Right â—e neither is nor can be free from Righteousness Secondly De Facto they carried themselves as if they were free never busied themselves with thoughts of God nor regarded to walk holily before him 2. Why it is put here to shew we must not divide our Service but abstain as strictly from sin as we did before from all good you must serve Righteousness as before you served Sin When you were under Sins yoke Righteousness had no power over you and now you are under Christs yoke the power of sin must at least be considerately weakened Doctrine Those who become Servants of God should be as free from Sin as before they were from Righteousness 1. I suppose that there is a Liberty which is a Perfection of Humane Nature and a Liberty which is a Defection from God That Liberty which is a Perfection is to be willing and ready to perform our Duty to God Psal. 119.45 I will walk at liberty for I seek thy precepts that Liberty which is a Defection or a Revolt from God is properly Licentiousness rather than Liberty and that is a desire to live as we list to be free from the bonds of Duty Psal. 2.3 Let us break their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us 2. They that most labour for this carnal Liberty are the most wretched Servants of Sin because they are overcome and led Captive by it and wholly give up themselves to obey sin so 2 Pet. 2.19 Whilst they promise themselves liberty they themselves are the servants of corruption The flesh seeketh its peace and quietness which it cannot injoy but by giving it self over to its lusts and so they are pleased with this servile condition and remain in this Bondage though it be the worst of all 3. That the Servants of Sin or those who are under the yoke of sin carry it as if they were free from Righteousness that is to say either by way of Neglect or by way of Resistance First By way of Neglect they made no Conscience did not so much as think what was holy and pleasing to God as some go on carelesly not considering what they do nor whereunto it will tend These are said to despise their ways Prov. 19.16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul but he that despiseth his ways shall die Some care not how they live but are carried on by their own blind lusts Righteousness or a Conscience of their Duty hath no power over them they do not consider of their actions much less take care to mend their course Secondly By way of Opposition and Resistance for they are said to be free from Righteousness that are opposite and averse from it as the carnal mind is enmity to the
his Offices John 15.26 But when the comforter is come whom I will send to you from the father even the spirit of truth that proceedeth from the father he shall testifie of me And John 16.14 He shall take of mine and glorify me He revealeth the tenor of Christs Doctrine and attests the truth of it by his gifts and graces bestowed upon the Church and to every one of us in particular by his powerful effects in our hearts Therefore 't is said We are witnesses of these things and so is the holy ghost which he hath given to them that obey Acts 5.32 Christ that taught us the Christian Religion doth work it in us by his Spirit and so doth confirm it to us and partly Because by this means all the Divine persons have their distinct work and share in our recovery to God 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the fore-knowledg of God the Father through the sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Christ. The Father concurs by Electing the Son as Purchasing the Spirit as Sanctifying and inclining us to God As the Father must not be without the Glory of his free grace nor the Son of his infinite merit so neither the Holy Ghost of his powerful and effectual application and partly also because this is agreeable to the Oeconomy or Dispensation that is observed among the Divine persons The Spirit is the effective power of God therefore he it is that causeth our life or by regeneration infuseth a new Life into us Ezek. 36.27 I will put my spirit into you and cause you to walk in my ways I prove it by three Arguments The first is taken from the nature of the thing it self certainly we cannot live independently without the influence of God for all Life is originally in him and from him conveyed to us and that by his Spirit In life natural 't is clear all that God did in Creation was done by his Spirit Job 26.13 By his spirit he hath garnished the Heavens his hands hath formed the crooked serpent The Spirit is the immediate worker in the Creation of the World by his concurrent operation with the Father and the Son all things were produced he speaketh there of the Heavenly Bodies and Constellations And again in Psal. 114.30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit and they were created And when the Creation of man is spoken of Mal. 2.15 Did he not make one yet had he the residue of the Spirit 'T is true also of Spiritual life which is called a new Birth and no man can enter into the kingdom of God but he that is born of water and the spirit John 3.5 and 't is called a new Creature All Creation is of God 2 Cor. 5.17 18. A resurrection to life or a quickning dead Souls Eph. 2.1 5. And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins Even when we were dead in sins hath he quickened uâ— together with Christ. And therefore the Spirit of Life is from God Now if God effecteth all these things by his Spirit to whom but him alone is our Salvation to be ascribed as the Scripture doth frequently mention My second Argument is taken from our incapacity to help our selves and recover our selves from the Devil the World and the Flesh to God so blind are our minds so depraved are our hearts so strong are our Lusts and so many are our Temptations and so inveterate are our evil Customs that nothing will serve the turn but the Spirit of God who doth open the eyes of our mind Eph. 1.18 Change our hearts Titus 3.5 reconcile our alienated and estranged affections to God that we may return to his Love and live in Obedience to him and finally be presented before him as fit to live for ever in his Presence 1 Cor. 21.22 And you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your minds by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight All this doth the powerful and All conquering Spirit of God by vertue of the meritorious purchase of Christ. In short he findeth in us such addictedness to Sin such a love to the present World such indulgence to the Flesh as beareth down both reason and the authority of God that no less Agent can do the work My third reason is taken from the subsequent effects If this life be strengthned by the spirit 't is much more wrought and infused by the spirit at first when all is against it Now the Scripture is copious in asserting the supply of the Spirit of Christ as necessary to do and suffer the Will of God Eph. 3.16 Strengthned with all might in the inner man from the spirit 1 Pet. 4.14 The spirit of God and of glory resteth upon you Surely he that must help us when we are living musâ— quicken us when we are dead and he that is necessary to break the force of our carnal affections still after they have received their Deaths Wound was absolutely necessary to overcome them at first when in full strength the necessity of strengthning grace doth much more shew the necessity of renewing grace for there needs much more power to overcome the corruptions of nature than to heal or prevent the infirmities of the Saints 2. The new nature is the product of the Holy Ghost John 3.6 That which is born of the spirit is spirit Men become spiritual in their dispositions inclinations actions and aims from the effects of the spirit of Regeneration which may be considered with respect to God or to man First How the converted Person or new Creature standeth affected to God seemeth to be set forth by the Apostle in that place 2 Tim. 1.7 For we have not received the spirit of fear but of love and power and a sound mind I shall explain it Observe in the negative description but one part only of Mortification is mentioned deadness to the fears of the World but that defect may be supplied from another Scripture The spirit lusteth against the flesh Gal. 5.17 he deadneth us to the delights and hopes of the world as well as the fears and sorrows but the one is understood in the other for this spirit causeth us to prepare for sufferings in the world and to look for no great matters here but to expect crosses losses wants persecutions injuries painful sicknesses and death and doth fortifie us against all bodily distresses that we are not greatly moved by them considering our relation to God and Interest in blessedness to come which doth weigh down all so 't is not a spirit of fear But then you must enlarge it by considering the main work of the spirit which is to subdue the lusts of the flesh that the government of God may be set up in our Hearts for the flesh is the great rebel against God and sanctified reason Therefore we must obey the spirit and take
part with it in these strivings yea we must strive against the flesh and overcome it so as to prevent all wilful reigning sin For they that have the spirit live in no sin but only smaller humane frailties surely where the spitit prevaileth it crucifieth the flesh and causeth men to live above all the glory riches and pleasures of the world and mortifieth our sensuality more and more and doth conquer and cast down our strongest sweetest dearest lusts that they may not hinder our love and obedience to God in Jesus Christ. But then for the positive part of the description 'T is a spirit of love power and a sound mind that is the three effects of it are life light and love there is a new vital power called there the spirit of power and then he possesseth our hearts with predominant love to God called there the spirit of a sound mind so that by these three effects doth the spirit renewing and sanctifying the souls of men discover its self in inlightning their minds and opening their hearts and fortifying their resolutions for God and the world to come and these three effects do answer the nature of God whom we apprehend under the notions of Wisdom Goodness and Power to his Wisdom there answereth the spirit of a sound mind to his goodness the spirit of love and the spirit of power to the power of God so that by these Graces we are made partakers of the divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 and do in some sort resemble God and these suit with the word of God which is sometimes represented as light because the Wisdom of God shineth forth there and is represented in the Mysteries of the Gospel where the way of Salvation is sufficiently taught We speak wisdom among those that are perfect 2 Cor. 2.6 The holy Scriptures are able to make us wise to salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 sometimes the Gospel is called the power of God Titus 2.11 and Jude 4th ver or the goodness of God because it representeth the wonders of Gods Love in our Redemption by Christ and the rich Preparations of Grace he hath made for us And these three effects of the spirit suit with the three fundamental Graces Faith Love and Hope the spirit of a sound mind is elsewhere called the spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4.13 which is the eye of the new Creature and the spirit of love is with a little variation called love in the spirit Col. 1.8 and is the heart of the new creature and the spirit of power is hope called elsewhere abounding in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost Rom. 15.13 which is the strength of the new creature whereby we overcome sins and temptations and in all these effects doth the life and power of true godliness consist for surely he is sufficiently furnished for the kingdom of Heaven and all the duties thereof whose mind is inlightned to know God in Christ Jesus and inclined to love God and live to him and who hath chosen the blessedness of the next world for his portion and liveth in the joyful hopes and foresight of it this man hath the true spirit of the Gospel and his conversation will be answerable for there are three words by which a good conversation is usually expressed holiness heavenliness and godliness holiness is sometimes spoken of as distinct from godliness 2 Pet. 3.11 and so holiness noteth purity and hatred of sin and abhorrency of sin this is the fruit of the sound mind or the love and knowledg of God in Christ for he that sinneth hath not seen God 3 John 11. that is hath no true apprehension of him for if we rightly beheld the glory of the Lord in the glass of the Gospel we are changed into his likeness 2 Cor. 3.18 And Faith which is but the knowledg of the Gospel with assent doth purifie the Heart Acts 15.9 The next property is godliness or an inclination and addictedness to God and is the fruit of love which subjecteth all to God and raiseth the heart and resigneth it to him and maketh it fit to serve please glorifie and injoy him 2 Cor. 5.14 15. For the love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judg that if one died for all then were all dead and that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live to themselves but unto him which died for them 1 Pet. 4.6 for this cause was the Gospel also preached unto them that are dead that they might be judged according to men in the flesh but live according to God in the spirit 1 Cor. 6.20 for ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your spirits which are Gods Love is most seen in a thorough resignation and obedience unto God and a desire of Communion with him here Eph. 2.8 and the full fruition of him hereafter 2 Cor. 5.1 The last property is heavenliness Phil. 3.20 but our conversations are in heaven from whence we look for a Saviour This the spirit worketh in us by hope which fortifieth us against all the terrors and delights of sense 1 John 4.4 5 6. Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world they are of the world therefore speak they of the world and the world heareth them We are of God he that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth not us hereby know we the spirit of truth and the psirit of error The Apostle is speaking there of the Trial of spirits and he puts the difference upon this issue the spirit of God and the spirit of the world and sheweth the one must needs be more powerful than the other so in that other Text 1 Cor. 2.12 For we have not received the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God A spirit raised to God and seeking the happiness to come weaneth us and draweth us off the world and so giveth us power to overcome not the world only but the Flesh and the Devil also 2. Consider this spirit as it fitteth us and frameth us for our duty to man That the Apostle sheweth Eph. 5.9 For the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness righteousness and truth That is the spirit that God hath sent among us by the preaching of the Gospel doth bring forth and produce in us all kindness justice and fidelity there is not a more benign affable thing than the Gospel-spirit nor any thing that doth more fit us to live peaceably and usefully in humane society the first property is all goodness for God is good to all and his spirit is called a good spirit Psal. 143.10 it causeth us to love all mankind with a love of benevolence and those that are holy and partakers with us in the same grace with a special love of complacency this not only keepeth us from doing those things which would hinder their good but also inclineth us to seek their good by all means possible especially the best good for
as we list without Law and Rule He came to restore us to obedience to bring us back again in heart and life to God Luke 1.75 He hath delivered us from the hands of our enemies that we might serve him in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives To this end tended his Doctrine I came not to destroy the law but to fulfil it Matth. 5.17 His example He came to do what God had commanded and to teach us to do the same Matth. 3.15 For thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness and Heb. 58.9 Tho he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered And being made perfect he became the Author of eternal salvation to them that obey him 2. Christ dispenseth by vertue of his merit regeneration or the spirit of holiness that all new creatures might voluntarily keep this law tho not in absolute perfection yet by sincere obedience This Grace is dispensed to put us into a capacity of loving pleasing and obeying God this is that he promiseth in the new covenant Ezek. 36.27 And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do them so Jer. 31.33 I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts He doth not say I will prepare them another law as if the old law of God were to be abandoned and abolished and some other precepts substituted in their Room no but to make them conformable to it in heart and life the new man is created after God for this end and purpose Eph. 4.24 fitted to obey the law so that the great Blessing of the Gospel is Grace to keep the law 3. None enter into the Gospel State but those that intirely and readily give up themselves to do the will of God and therefore none can have benefit by the sin-offering and satifaction of Christ but those that consent to return to the duty of the law and live in obedience to God Surely God never pardoneth any while they are in Rebellion and live under the full power and dominion of sin no they must consent to forsake and return to the Allegiance due to their proper Lord. This is evident for the way of entring into the new covenant is by Faith and Repentance and Repentance is nothing else but a sincere purpose of new obedience or living according to the will and law of God 'T is defined to be a breaking off of sin Dan. 4.27 and therefore the Scripture runs in this strain Isa. 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return to me saith the Lord and I will abundantly pardon and Isa. 1.16 Wash you make you clean and then tho your sins were as scarlet they shall be as white as snow The least that can be gathered from these places is That a serious vow and thorough resolution of new obedience is necessary to begin our interest in the Grace of the new covenant 4. The more we fulfill our covenant vow and resolution by obeying the law our right is the more clear and evident and more confirmed to us our participation of the blessings of the Gospel is more full and our comfort more strong Psal. 119.165 Great peace have they that love thy law and nothing shall offend them and Gal. 6.16 as many as walk according to this rule peace and mercy be upon them God loveth us the more the more we obey his law 'T is holiness maketh us more amiable in his eyes and the Objects of his delight God loveth us as sanctified rather than pardoned we love him as pardoning and forgiving so great a debt to us but he delights in holiness or the impress of his own image upon us Prov. 11.20 The upright in the way are his delight When the spirit hath renewed us according to the Image of God we are made objects of his complacency now we know Gods love by the effects and therefore the more we act and draw forth this grace the more God rewardeth our obedience with the sense of his love and the comforts of his Spirit The sum of all Religion is to love God and to be beloved of him to love him and obey him is our work and to be beloved of him is our reward and happiness Now the one followeth the other John 14.22 23. Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self to us and not unto the world Jesus answered and said unto him if a man love me he will keep my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him As we increase in Holiness and Obedience we increase in the Favour of God 1. VSE is Information it informeth us of several important truths 1. That the law is a law of perfect purity and holiness for he speaketh here of the righteousness of the law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so David Psal. 119.140 Thy law is very pure therefore thy servant loveth it and Psal. 19.8 The commandment of the Lord is pure inlightening the eyes It must needs be so if we consider the Author of it God himself and every thing that hath passed his hand hath his Character and Impress upon it 't is a law not only fit for us to receive but for God to give 't is the copy of his holiness It is all one with the image of God which man had in innocency now the image of God consisted in righteousness and true holiness Adams Principle of Obedience was also his law and rule he had that written upon his heart which was afterwards written upon tables of stone and therefore if a man would cleanse his heart and way he must study the Word of God Psal. 119.9 By what means may a young man cleanse his wâ—y by taking heed thereunto according to thy word 'T is not guide his way but cleanse his way for even the youngest are defiled Mans heart naturally is a sink of sin and there is no way to make his heart clean and his way clean but by taking Gods counsel in his Word A young man that is in the heat and strength of his lusts may learn there how to be purified and cleansed 2. That this law standeth in force We are freed from the condemning but not from the directing power thereof but it always remaineth as a rule of our new obedience Surely 't is in force now for there is no liberty given to men to live in sin God will not spare his people when they transgress it by scandalous or hainous sin Prov. 1.31 Therefore they shall eat of the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own devices Tho they be the dearly beloved of his soul the eternal punishment shall not be inflicted upon them yet they shall smart for the breaches of his law On the other side they find much incouragement comfort and peace when they set
forgetful of God unapt for spiritual things the flesh governeth but if the spiritual life doth more and more discover it self with life and power in our thoughts words and actions the Flesh is on the wane and we shall not be reckoned to have lived after the flesh but after the spirit we have every day an higher estimation of God and Christ and Grace weaneth and draweth off the heart from other things that we may grow more dead to them and live to God in the Spirit and more intirely pursue our everlasting hopes 4. Some things more immediately tend to the pleasing of the flesh as bodily pleasures and therefore the inclinations to them are called the lusts of the flesh 1 John 2.16 Other things more remotely as they lay in provisions for that end as the honours and profits of the world now tho a man be not voluptuous he may be guilty of the carnal minding because he is wholly sunk and lost in the world and is thereby taken off from a care of and delight in better things Envyings Emulations Strife and Divisions make us carnal 1 Cor. 3.3 For ye are yet carnal whereas there is among you envyings strife and divisions are ye not carnal and walk as men They have little of the spirit in them that bustle for greatness and esteem in the world tho they be not wholly given to brutish pleasures and those that will be rich are said to fall into foolish and hurtful lusts which drown the soul in perdition and destruction 1 Tim. 6.9 These are taken off from God and Christ and the world to come and therefore the fleshly minding must be applied to any thing that will make us less spiritual and heavenly Luk. 12.21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich towards God They seek outward things in good earnest but spiritual things in an overly careless or perfunctory manner 5. Some please the flesh in a more cleanly manner others in a more gross Gal. 5.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The works of the flesh are manifest adultery fornication uncleanness lasciviousness idolatry witchcraft These are the grosser out-breakings of the flesh now tho we fall not into these yet there is a more secret carnal minding when we have too free a relish in any outward thing and set loose the heart to such alluring vanities as draw us off from God and Christ and Heaven and these obstruct the heavenly life as well as the other therefore still all must be subordinated to our great Interest some are disingaged from baser lusts but are full of self-love and self-seeking I proceed to the Second Thing 2. What is that death which is the consequent of it Death signifieth Three Things in Scripture Death Temporal Spiritual and Eternal The first consisteth in the Separation of the Soul from the body The Second in the Separation of the Soul from God The Third in an Eternal Separation of both body and Soul from God in a State of endless Misery 1. Death is a separation of the Soul from the body with all its antecedent preparations As Diseases Pains Miseries Dangers these are death begun in deaths often 2 Cor. 11.13 that is in dangers that he may take from me this death Exod. 10.7 Meaning the Plague of the Locusts and death is consummated at our dissolution 1 Cor. 15.55 Now all this is the fruit of sin and they forfeit their lives that only use them for the flesh they are unserviceable to God and therefore why should they live in the world 2. Spiritual Death or an estrangement from God as the Author of the Life of Grace so we are said to be dead in trespasses and sins Eph. 2.1 and so it may hold good here 1 Tim. 5.6 She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth That is hath no feeling of the life of Grace But 3. Eternal Death which consisteth in an everlasting separation from the Presence of the Lord called the second death Rev. 20.6 On such the second death hath no power and v. 14. Death and hell were cast into the lake of fire this is the second death This is most horrible and dreadful and is the portion of all those that are slaves to the flesh Now this is called death 1. Because In all creatures that have sence their dissolution is accompaneed with pain Trees and Vegetables die without pain and so doth not Man and Beast and death to men is more bitter because they are more sensible of the sweetness of life than beasts are and have some forethought of what may follow after and because 't is a misery from which there is no release as from the first death there is no recovery into the present life This second death is set forth by two solemn notions The worm that never dieth and the fire that shall never be quenched Matth. 9.44 By which is meant the sting of Conscience and the Wrath of God both these make the sinner for ever miserable the sting of conscience or the fretting remembrance of their past folly when they reflect upon their madness in following the pleasures of sin and neglecting the offers of Grace and besides this there are pains inflicted upon them by the Wrath of God there is no member or faculty of the soul free but feeleth the misery of the second death as no part is free from sin so none shall be from punishment in the first death the pain may lie in one place head or heart but here all over the agonies of the first death are soon over but the agonies and pains of the second death indure for ever The first death the more it prevaileth the more we are past feeling but by this second death there is a greater vivacity than ever the capacity of every sence is inlarged and made more receptive of pain while we are in the body vehemens sensible corrumpit sensum the more vehemently any thing doth strike on the Sences the more doth it deaden the sense as the inhabitants about the fall of Nilus are deaf with the continual noise and too much light puts out the eyes tast is dulled by custom here the capacity is improved by feeling the power of God sustaining the sinner whilst his wrath torments him as the Saints are fortified by their Blessedness and can indure that Light and Glory the least glimpse of which would overwhelm them here so the wicked are capacitated to endure the torments in the first death our praying is for life we would not die there our wish shall be for destruction we would not live Every man would lose a Tooth rather than be perpetually tormented with the Tooth-ach these pains never cease this Death is the fruit of the carnal Life Secondly To be spiritually minded is Life and Peace Here all will be easily and soon dispatched 1. What it is to be spiritually minded I Answer When we know the Things of the Spirit so as to believe them and believe
as 't is said of Christ Luke 24.45 That he first opened the Scriptures and then opened their understandings Otherwise our light is only literal and speculative not operative and efficacious 5. The parts and branches of this leading are two First His restraining motions for the mortifying of sin and His inviting motions for the perfecting of Holiness He teacheth us as he leadeth us into all truth what we are to reject what to believe in Religion Again what is to be left undone in the practise of our lives and he backeth both with what we ought to hope and fear after death in the other world 1. His leading consisteth in his restraining motions For the mortifying of sin or the avoiding of sin when we are running into the snare he mindeth us of our danger as when any evil habit or spiritual disease is growing upon our spirits or when we are about to do something unseemly and offensive to God The spirit in effect saith Oh do not this abominable thing which I hate but cast out pride worldliness and sensuality do not give way to such and such lusts The Holy Ghost is in a singular manner familiar with Gods people taking up a place of abode in their hearts and furnishing them with sweet and necessary counsel and advice from time to time therefore he is said to strive with us when he opposeth himself to our corrupt inclinations Gen. 6.3 My spirit shall not always strive with man He striveth by inward motions and checks of conscience by which he seeketh to humble us for sin and to reclaim us from sin if we struggle against these we lose our advantage Neh. 9.29 30. Thou gavest them also thy good spirit to instruct them Thou testifiest against them by the spirit to bring them back to thy law In these and many places we read of the spirits guidance If ye through the spirit mortisie the deeds of the body We must avoid those things he disswadeth us from 2. There are his inviting and quickning motions to bring us on in a way of holiness and to perfect the work of Grace in us and fit us more for Gods use and service he doth not only close us at first with Christ but is the agent and worker of the life of Christ within us to do his work and maintain his interest and sanctiâ—ie us throughout As we have experience of his restraining motions that we may be more and more conformed to Gods Blessed Will and seek our delight and happiness in Communion with his Blessed Self Psal. 27.8 The Lord said seek ye my face and my heart said thy face Lord will I seek God speaketh to us by the injection of holy thoughts and the secret inspirations of his Grace and we speak to God by the inclinations and resolutions of our own souls This Dialogue is carried on in soul language there needs no audible words between God and the soul so in other places how often doth he solicite us by his holy motions and inspirations the spirit inclineth and presseth us to that which is good 2. As the office of the spirit is to guide and lead so it is our duty to submit to his direction to be led by him That maketh the evidence in the passive sense if we suffer our selves to be led and guided by him in all things for otherwise the spirit worketh on many but they will not hear they either neglect or resist his motions there is a double voice within us the flesh and the spirit and mens spiritual estate is determined by submission and compliance with either Rom. 8.1 That walk not after the flesh but after the spirit The flesh is near and dear to us and very imperious and importunate to be pleased now some men live in a perfect obedience to the flesh according to the fancies and appetites of corrupt nature denieth it nothing which it craveth at their hands but there is another voice within us saying This is the way walk in it Thus you must do if you mean to be happy Now let us not hear and pass by as if you heard not no you must suffer your selves to be lead and governed by this voice or this blessed spirit in all you must improve his assistance wait for his approaches obey his sanctifying motions direct all the actions of your lives according to his guidance and counsel that is your evidence 1. I shall urge it in conformity to Christ. There is a perfect likeness between Christians and Christ all the Priviledges which Christ had are conveyed to us by the spirit If Jesus be the natural Son of the Father the Christian is his Adopted Son Joh. 20.17 If Jesus be the heir of all things a Christian is a co-heir with Christ Rom. 8.17 If Jesus be innocent the Christian is justified if Jesus be born of the spirit or framed by the Holy Ghost the Christian is regenerated born also of Water and the Holy Ghost John 3.5 If Jesus be evidenced to be the Son of God by the coming down of the Holy Ghost upon him the spirit beareth witness with our spirits that we are the Sons of God Jesus was led by the spirit continually so we if he retire into the desart if he come back again into Galilee he is still led by the spirit Matth. 4. Jesus was led up of the spirit into the wilderness the Holy Ghost aiding him in that conflict when 't was ended Luke 4.14 Jesus returned in the power of the spirit into Galilee that is to preach or to execute his Prophetical Office if he cast out Devils Matth. 12.14 I cast out devils by the spirit of God Thus 't was with Christ certainly therefore whatever design we conceive whatever resolution we take whatever enterprize we would bring to pass we are always bound to depend upon the Holy Ghost the spirit must still lead us and move us in all our operations 2. The great mischief which will ensue if we obey not his sanctifying motions and inspirations you will resist the spirit and vex him Isa. 63.10 They rebelled and vexed his holy spirit And therefore he turned to be their enemy The other expression Eph. 4.30 Grieve not the holy spirit He is grieved when the flesh is obeyed before him the spirit sustaineth a double relation our Sanctifier and our Comforter let us not resist our sanctifier nor grieve our comforter surely we should not be ungrateful to this Holy Spirit if we be Holy he Sanctifieth us if free 't is he sets us at liberty if wise he inlightneth us if gatitude cannot prevail yet our interest should He is our Comforter and we blot our evidence darken his seal and so deprive our selves of that joy and peace which we might have in our souls if he were obeyed there is one great mischief above this which God sets up as a dreadful warning for our caution despighting the spirit of grace Heb. 10.29 To resist the spirit is dangerous To resist the
doth shine resplendently without us in the person of the Mediator and the riches of the Gospel yet the dead and dark heart of man is not affected with it John 1.5 And the light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not till God shine into our Hearts 2 Cor. 4.6 For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Unless this Doctrine of Gods Fatherly Love and Grace be accompanied with his illuminating Sanctifying Comforting Spirit who sheds abroad this Love in our Hearts which is revealed in the Gospel 3. The disposition thence resulting from the application of this object to us by the spirit such as the object is such are the affections stirred up in us as by Law-truths the spirit worketh conviction terrors of conscience legal contrition Acts 2.37 and thence Bondage ariseth so by the Gospel where God is represented as the Father of Mercies and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and in him our God and Father the Impression must be suitable this Spirit that worketh by the Gospel must needs be the Spirit of Adoption or such a Spirit as worketh a Child-like disposition in us for the Impression must always be according to the stamp 1. USE To perswade us to look after the spirit of adoption we never do seriously and closely christianize till we get it but either have a literal Christianity a form of knowledg in the Gospel without the Life and Power or a legal Old Testament Spirit To quicken you consider these Motives or Priviledges which you will have by it 1. Peace of conscience Or a rest from those troubled and unquiet thoughts which otherwise would perplex us Rom. 14.17 For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost and Rom. 15.13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing This calm of mind differeth from the deadness and benummedness of a stupid conscience that 's a thing we never laboured for groweth upon us we know not how 't is maintained by idleness rather than by Watchfulness and Diligence and is inconsistent with serious thoughts of God and our eternal condition but this is the fruit of our reconciliation with God and those Blessed priviledges we injoy in his Family it stirreth up admiration and thankfulness 2. Liberty in Prayer For the great help we have in Prayer is from the Spirit of Adoption Zech. 12.10 I will pour out upon you the spirit of grace and supplication That Spirit which cometh from the Grace and free Favour of God stirring up Child like addresses to God Rom. 8.26 Jude 21. Building up your selves on your most holy faith Praying in the Holy Ghost Without this our Prayers are but a vain babling 3. Readiness in duty 2 Cor. 3.17 Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty They serve God with a free spirit the Holy Life is carried on with more sweetness and success not by compulsion but with ready mind Psal. 51.12 Vphold me with thy free spirit John 8.32 If the truth shall make you free then are you free indeed men are under shackles and Bondage if they have not the Spirit of Adoption they drive on heavily have not largeness of heart and love to God Heaven and holiness Psal. 119.32 I will run the ways of thy commandments when thou shalt inlarge my heart When the heart is suited to the work there needs no other urgings but if we force a course of Religion upon our selves contrary to our own inclination all is harsh and ingrate and cannot hold long 4. Comfort in afflictions Their true consolation and support in afflictions is the Spirit of Adoption Heb. 12.5 Have you forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children and therefore he pursueth it all along They that injoy the priviledges of the Family must submit to the discipline of the Family God will take his own course in bringing up his Children he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth Heb. 12.6 7 8. while we have flesh in us there is use of the rod if God should suffer us to go on in our sins we were not legitimate but degenerate Children Children take it patiently if beaten by their Parents for their faults Pro. 9.10 Parents may err through want of wisdom their chastisement is arbirtary and irregular there is more of compassion than passion in God Gods rod is regulated with perfect Wisdom ordered by the highest love and tends to the greatest end our Holiness here and Happiness for ever and we have Christs example John 18.11 The cup which my father hath given me shall I not drink it The bitterest Potions came not from God as a Judg but as a Father are tempered by a Fathers hand 5. Hope of the benefits of the new Couenant pardon and life 1. Pardon We often forget the duty of Children but God doth not forget the Bowels of a Father our Adoption giveth us hope that he will not deal severely with us Mal. 3.17 Psal. 103.13 The relation of a Child is more durable not so easily broken off as that of a servant a Child is a Child still and therefore allowed to remain in the family when a servant must be gone Secondly For life everlasting and Glory Rom. 8.17 And if children then heirs heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with him that we may also be glorified with him 1 John 3.1 2. The Spirit of Adoption doth both incourage and incline us to wait for it Rom. 8.2 3. But what shall we do to get this Spirit of Adoption 1. 'T is certain that the gift of the spirit is the fruit of our reconciliation with God the general reconciliation with mankind was evidenced by pouring out the Spirit Personal and particular reconciliation with God is the ground of giving the Spirit of Adoption to us Rom. 5.11 We joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have received the Atonement Therefore do what God requireth in order to reconciliation enter into conditions of peace enter into Covenant with God abhor your former disobedience cast away the weapons of defiance and love God and delight in him 2. Steep your minds in frequent thoughts of Gods fatherly goodness 1 John 3.1 Behold what manner of love is this that we should be called the sons of God! Consider it and admire it 2. USE Reflection Have we the Spirit of Adoption 'T is known 1. By a kind of naturalness to come to God and open our hearts to him in all our wants go and cry Abba Father The spirit of Adoption much worketh and discovereth its self in prayer to cry to our Father is an act becoming the Sons of God the manner is fervent affectionate this cry is not by the tongue but by the heart Exod.
this actual joy for 't is possible a man may be perswaded of his sincerity or have no doubting of it and have too much deadness and dulness of soul not so comforted Well then 't is not an Oracle as to Christ Matth. 3 17 Nor an internal suggestion thou art a child of God we have no warrant for that from Scripture 't is not only to but with conscience Now conscience goeth upon rational evidence and we reason and argue from what we feel or find in our selves and 't is ascending to the covenant where Priviledges are assigned to the believer 1 John 1.2 To as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God to the penitent Acts 2 38 Repent and you shall receive the Holy ghost To the obedient He is become the author of salvation to all that obey him 2. The one superaddeth to the other Not the priviledg without the qualification that is sufficiently done by the word not the conscience by discourse and the spirit immediately no they concur to produce the same conclusion the spirits testimony superaddeth certainty authority and overpowering light 1 Cor. 4.4 For I know nothing by my self yet am I not hereby justified but he that sudgeth me is the Lord and Rom. 9.1 I say the truth in Christ I lye not my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy ghost As the influences of the Heavens work strongly but imperceptibly while they mingle themselves with the motions of the creatures so doth the spirit with our spirit it fortifieth and strengthneth the testimony of a mans own heart and so doth with more authority and power perswade us that we are the children of God 3. The necessiry of this to our full comfort 1. We cannot pray without it For the Text is brought to prove that they have a spirit within them which inclineth them to cry Abha Father surely 't is a great advantage in prayer to be able to say Psal. 63.26 Doubtless thou art our father and again Isa. 64.8 But now Lord thou art our father But how will you do unless you be Gods children and how will you know you be Gods children but by the spirit bearing witness to and with your spirits I know all Gods children have not the comfort of the spirit but they have the spirit of comfort and in some measure can come to God as a Father 2. We cannot apply the promises without it For the promises are childrens bread unless we be the children of God what comfort can we take in the promises unless we have an interest in them priviledges have their conditions annexed the right is suspended till the condition be performed that is till we know our selves to be true believers the promises are in vain and of no effect if to all you deceive the most for tho some are of Gods Family the whole world lieth in wickendness the most are the children of the Devil If to some they have their characters which occasioneth the restraint and you are told here this is known by the spirits bearing witness to our spirits But what shall poor creatures do that have not yet this clear testimony 1. Disclaim all other confidence When you cannot apply Hos. 14.3 Ashur shall not save us we will not ride upon horses neither will we say any more to the works of our hands Ye are our gods for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy 2. Own God in the humbling way Creep in at the back door of the promise 1 Tim. 1.15 Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners If Christ came to save sinners I am sinner enough for Christ to save Luke 15.18 19. I will arise and go to my father and will say unto him Father I have sinned against heaven and before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy son make me as one of thy hired servants 3. Come to him as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Eph. 3.14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Certainly God will love and accept all those that come to him by Christ. 4. There is a child-like inclination when there is not a childlike familiarity and boldness The soul cannot keep away from God and that is an implicite owning of him as a Father Jer. 3.19 Thou shalt call me father ond shalt not turn away from me We call him Father optando si non affirmando unspeakable groans discover the spirit of adoption as well as unutterable joys we own him by way of option and choice tho not by actual assurance of our special relation to him and interest in his fatherly love there may be a child like love to God when we have no assurance of his paternal love to us 5. There is a childlike reverence and awe when not a childlike confidence Their heart standeth in awe of as the Rechabites their fathers command dare not displease him for all the world these in time will overcome in short God hath a title to our dearest love when we cannot make out a title to the highest benefit SERMON XXV ROM VIII 17 If children then heirs heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with him that we may also be glorified together THE Apostle had shewed v. 13. That if we through the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body we shall live He proveth it by this medium and argument That as many as obey the sanctifying motious of the spirit are children of God and children may look for a childs portion He proveth they are children because the spirit accompanieth the dispensation of the New Covenant whereby we are adopted into Gods family and this spirit acts suitably as is evident by his impression v. 15. By his Testimony and Witness v. 16. Now he goeth on further and proveth That if we be children we are heirs and that we shall live if we mortifie the deeds of the body is more abundantly proved for our inheritanâ—e is eternal life and glory And if children then heirs c. In the Words observe 1. A Dignity inferred from our Adoption 2. The Amplification of it from the excellent nature of this inheritance Heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. 3. 'T is applied as a comfort against adversities If so be that we suffer with him that we may also be glorified together 1. The Dignity inferred is that we are Heirs The Inheritance belonging to Children jure nascendi all Children are not necessarily heirs but only males and among them the first born but jure Adoptionis they that are Adopted are adopted to some Inheritance so here if Children then heirs be they Sons or Daughters begotten to God sooner or later Male are Female are all one in Christ Gal. 3.18 they are not debarred from the Inheritacce 2. The amplification of it Or the greatness and excellency of this Inheritance in two expressions Heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.
together 2 Cor. 4.17 This light affliction which is but for a moment They are light just so they are short in comparison of eternal Glory as of short continuance if compared with eternity so of small weight if compared with the reward eternity maketh them short and the greatness of the reward maketh them easie There are degrees in our troubles some of the Saints get to Heaven at a cheaper rate than others do but yet the afflictions of all are light if we consider the unspeakable Glory of the world to come indeed we do but prattle when we presume fully to describe it for it doth not appear what we shall be and it hath not entered into the heart of man to conceive the great things which he hath prepared for them that love him But the Scripture expressions every where shew it shall be exceeding great and also by the beginnings of it the world is ignorant and incredulous of futurity therefore God giveth us the beginnings of Heaven and Hell in this world in a wounded spirit and the comforts of a good Conscience these things we have experience of we know not exactly what our future condition will be but the hopes and fears of that estate are very affective the fears and horrors of eternal torment which are found in a Guilty Conscience do in part shew what hell will be or the nature of that wo and anguish which abideth for the impenitent Prov. 18.14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity but a wounded spirit who can bear The Salve for this Sore must come from Heaven only so the joys of a good conscience which are unspeakable and glorious 1 Pet. 1.8 shew that the happiness appointed for the Saints will be exceeding great for if the foretast be so sweet the hope and expectation be so ravishing what will the injoyment be Besides God moderateth our sufferings that they may not be overlong or over grievous 1 Cor. 10.13 But God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it If the trial be heavy he fortifieth us by the comfort and support of the spirit and so maketh it light and easie to us To a strong Back that Burden is light which would crush the weak and faint and cause them to shrink under it but tho God moderateth our afflictions he doth not abate our Glory that is given without measure A far more exceeding weight of glory 5. The sufferings are in our mortal bodies but the glory is both in soul and body 'T is but the flesh which is troubled and grieved by affliction the flesh which if delicately used soon becometh our enemy the Soul is free and not liable to the power of man now it becometh a man much more a believer to look after the Soul Heb. 1◠39 We are not of them who draw back to perdition but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Implying that they that are tender of the flesh are Apostates in heart if not actually and indeed so yet in practice But those which will purchase the saving of the Soul at any rates are the true and sound Believers The World which gratifieth the bodily life may be bought at too dear a rate but not so the Salvation of the Soul they that are so thrifty of the Comforts and Interests of the Bodily Life will certainly be prodigal of their Salvation But a Believer is all for the saving of his Soul That is the end of his Faith and labours and sufferings and his Self-denial The end of his Faith is to save his Soul 1 Pet. 1.9 So much as God is to be preferred before the Creature Heaven before the World Eternity before Time the Soul before the Body so much doth it concern us to have the better part safe But yet this is not all that which is lost for a while is preserved to us for ever if the body be lost temporally 't is secured to all eternity If we lose it by the way we are sure to have it at the end of the journey when the body shall have many priviledges bestowed upon it but this above all the rest that it shall be united to a Soul fully sanctified from which it shall never any more be seaprated but both together shall be the eternal Temple of the Holy Ghost 6. Sufferings do mostly deprive us of those things which are without a man but this is a glory which shall be revealed in us By sufferings we lose estate liberty comfortable abode in the world among our Friends and Relations If life its self which is within us 't is only as to its capacity of outward injoyments for as to the fruition of God and Christ so 't is true he that loseth his life shall save it Matth. 25.16 and shall live tho he die John 11.25 'T is but deposited in Christs hands But this Glory is revealed in us in our Bodies in their Immortality agility clarity and brightness in our Souls by the beatifical vision the ardent love of God the unconceivable joy and everlasting peace and rest which we shall have when we shall attain our end now if we be deprived of things without us for such things within us if we be denyed to live in dependance on the creature that we may immediately enjoy God should we grudg and murmur 7. Our sufferings dishonour us in the sight of the world but this glory maketh us amiable in the sight of God For having such a near relation to God and being made like him we are qualified for a perfect reception of his love to us we love God more in the glorified estate and God loveth us more as appeareth by the effects for he communicateth himself to us in a greater latitude than we are capable of here now is the hatred of the world worthy to be compared with the love of a Father Or should their frowns be a temptation to us to divert us from that estate wherein we shall be presented holy and unblamable and irreprovable in his sight Col. 1.22 When perfectly sanctified we love God more and are more beloved by him 8. The order is to be considered for look as to the wicked God will turn their glory into shame so as to the godly he will turn their shame into glory 'T is good to have the best at last for 't is a miserable thing to have been happy and to have had experience of a better condition and to become miserable Luke 6.20 Wo to you rich for you have received your consolation and Luke 16.25 Son in thy life time thou receivedst thy good things and Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented The beggar had first temporal evils and then eternal good things but the rich man had first temporal good things and then eternal evil
to stand upon our guard and defend our selves but we must implore the divine assistance which is ingaged for us Eph. 3.16 That he would grant unto you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man 1 Pet. 1.5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation 1 Cor. 10.13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape The spirit that inlightneth a Christian fortifieth him and the same grace which he sheddeth abroad in the soul filleth us both with light and strength and as a spirit of strength and counsel doth inable us to bear all the afflictions which otherwise would shake and weaken our resolutions for God and Heaven 4. They that rouze up themselves and use all means are in a nearer capacity to receive influences from the spirit than others For the Apostles word is he helpeth also We have been at the work reasoning and pleading but he maketh our thoughts effectual Psal. 27.14 Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thy heart wait I say on the Lord. If we do not exercise faith and hope How can we look for the assistance of the Holy Ghost If we give way to discouragement we quit our own Comfort But when we strive to take courage from the grounds of faith 't is followed with strength from God to undergo the trouble So Psal. 31.24 Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart all ye that hope in the Lord. When we arm our selves with constancy and fortitude there is no doubt of Gods seasonable relief but if you out of love of the ease and contentment of the flesh give way to difficulties and despond How can you expect Gods assistance You banish it from you 1. USE Is Comfort to the children of God for the Lord is not a spectator only of our troubles but an helper in our Conflicts We are set forth as a spectacle to God Men and Angels 1 Cor. 4.9 Therefore we should see how we acquit our selves but our comfort is that he is the strength of our souls that we are ingaged in his Cause and by his power and strength God will not desert us or deny to support us unless we give him cause by our negligence and grievous sins no if you wait upon him strength will be renewed to you Isa. 46.31 They that wait on the Lord shall not faint but renew their strength in our weakness he maketh his strength and power to appear and can inable his servants to do and endure any thing rather than quit his cause they shall have a new supply of strength when they seem to be clean spent And overcome all difficulties in the way to Heaven 2 USE Is direction To ascribe our standing to the spirit We are weak creatures of our selves able to do nothing but through the spirit of Christ all things Phil. 4.13 That is go through all conditions we owe all that we are and all that we do to the holy spirit We live by his presence understand by his light act by his power suffer by the courage he inspireth into us We are ingrateful to the holy spirit if we ascribe that to our selves as authors whereof we are scarce servants and Ministers Paul more humbly acknowledges 1 Cor. 15.10 But by the grace of God I am what I am 3. USE Is Exhortation Let us not faint under our troubles There are many considerations 1. Sinners are not discouraged by every inconvenience occasioned by their sins but can deny themselves for their lusts sake And shall we be discouraged in Gods service Every lesser inconvenience that befalleth us in the way of our duty is taken notice of but the great evils of sin are not regarded When you see sin's Martyrs walk about the streets or carried to their Execution it should be a shame to Christians Some whose flesh is mangled by their sin impoverished by their sin brought to publick shame by their sin die for their sin and are we so weak when we suffer for Christ 2. Others have born for heavier burdens and yet do not sink under them The Lord Christ Heb. 12.3 endured the Contradiction of sinners and many of his precious servants Heb. 11.35 They accepted not deliverance looking for a better resurrection They might upon certain conditions have been free from their cruel pains and Tortures But these conditions were contrary to the law of God therefore would not by indirect means get off their trouble now shall we praise their Courage and not imitate it That is to be Christians in speculation 3. God promiseth to moderate the afflictions and sweeten the bitterness of them lest we should faint Isa. 57.16 I will not be wroth for ever and contend always for so the spirit should faint and the soul which I have made God hath great consideration of manâ— infirmity and weakness and how unable they are to hold out under long and grievous troubles Therefore he stayeth his hand will not utterly dishearten and discourage his people A good man will not over-burden his beast if you be satisfied in the wisdom and faithfulness of Gods providential Government you have no reason to faint but keep up your dependance upon him 4. When reason is tired faith should supply its place and we should hope against hope Rom. 4.18 Faith can fetch water not only out of the Fountain but out of the Rock when other helps fail then is a time for God to work 5. Give vent to the ardour of your desires in prayer Luke 18.1 Christ taught men to pray always and not to faint Keep up the suit and it will come to an hearing-day ere it be long Jonah 2.7 When my soul fainted within me I remembred the Lord and my prayer came unto thee into thy holy temple When our infirmity cometh to a degree of faintness then 't is a time to be earnestly dealing with God 6. What will you get by your fainting but the creature of God Heb. 3 1â— Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God Murmuring for Prayer Lam. 3.39 40. Wherefore doth a living man complain a man for the punishment of his sins let us search and try our ways and turn to the Lord. Unlawful shifts for duty Isa. 28.15 For we have made lies our refuge and under falshood have we hid our selves This is overmuch hast will you chuse God for your enemy to escape the enmity of man and perdition for salvation Heb. 10.39 but be not of them who draw back unto perdition but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Will you run into hell for fear of burning 7. The holy Spirit blesseth these coâ—siderations and doth further comfort
of particular persons 't is much more true of the Church all is for good Psal. 76.10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee and the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain Christ many times gets up on the Devils shoulders All Providence is for the Elects sake 2 Tim. 2.10 Therefore I endure all things for the elects sake that they may obtain salvation by Christ with eternal glory The sufferings of the Apostles conduced to the good of true Christians God considered the good of the whole Church USE Is Information 1. That the exception against Gods Providence from the evils that abound in the world is vain and frivolous 'T was an old doubting question If there be a God how are there evils If there were not a God how is there good One part answereth the other the Text more fully he turneth evil unto good That there are Devils God knoweth how to make use of them to punish the wicked and exercise the godly that there is sin if there had been no sin no Christ that there are miseries if no miseries many graces would be lost there would be no fortitude no patience no earnestness in prayer that there are wicked men it sheweth Gods distinguishing Mercy that when so many are drowned in the common shipwrack of mankind 't is the greater mercy that we escape if others are bad let us bless God that made us better Lastly that there is death that there might be a passage out of this world and a period to our labours and sorrows 2. It teacheth us how to interpret prayers We have prayed for the continuance of a blessing and lost it for the riddance of a trouble yet it continueth upon us this is the very case here if God heareth them how come they to suffer such hard things The spirit teacheth us to pray now the denyal of either suit turneth to good We often come to God with carnal requests which being interpreted sound but thus Give me that wherewith I may offend thee or have my flesh pleased or lusts fed God findeth us doting on the creature and we take it ill to be interrupted in our Whoredoms We must distinguish between what is really best for us and what we judg best other diet is more wholsome for our souls than what our sick appetites craveth we are best many times when weakest worst when strongest 3. It giveth us a reason of waiting Tho we do not presently know why every thing is done let us wait Providence doth not work without a cause we see it not now but we shall see it when God turneth it to good We must not judge of Gods work by the beginning God seemeth an adversary for a while to them that indeed injoy his eternal love let patience have its perfect work and when Providence is come to a period you will know more 4. What reason to trust God with events Some things fall under our duty others are a meer event our care is about events rather than duty and so we take Gods work out of his hands and so 't is not care so much as carking we enquire what shall become of us rather than what we shall do do you do your duty and God knoweth how to turn all things for good Phil. 4.6 7. Nothing can go amiss to him that is found in the way of duty 5. It informeth us of the happiness of Gods children We may put in for a share when we are sanctified to God all things are sanctified to us and things that otherwise would be snares prove helps and discouragements prove furtherances the creature is as if it were another thing to the Saints if they are advanced their hearts are inlarged to God 2 Sam. 7.2 And the king said unto Nathan the prophet See now I dwell in an house of Cedar but the Ark of God dwelleth within curtains Neh. 1.11 O Lord I beseech thee let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant and to the prayer of thy servants who desire to fear thy name and prosper I pray thee this day thy servant and grant him mercy in the sight of this man for I was the kings cupbearer meaning he had improved this place for God When they are afflicted they do not fret or faint but humble themselves under the mighty hand of God and so meet him at every turn Oh what a blessed thing is it to be under the special care of God and to have all things about us ordered with respect to our eternal welfare 't is not so with the wicked if God make Saul a King Judas an Apostle Balaam a Prophet their preferment will be their ruin Hamans honour Achitophels wit Herods applause turned to their hurt if in prosperity they contemn God in adversity they deny and blaspheme God This evil is from the Lord why should I wait on him any longer As the salt Sea turneth all into salt water so a man is as the constitution of his heart is 2. USE is Caution 1. Against misconstruction of Providence 2. Against non-improvement 1. Against misconstruction of Providence There may be a seeming harshness in some of Gods dealings but all things considered you will find them full of mercy and truth Psal. 25.10 If there be a seeming contradiction between his Word and Providence you must not always interpret the word by Providence but Providence by the word Psal. 73.17 Vntil I went into the Sanctuary of God then I understood their end 2. Against non-improvement Let us not lose the benefit by our negligence and folly let us observe how we make profit of every thing God would not send this affliction did he not know how it would be good for me Therefore to this end 1. Take these Motives 2. Consider what profit is to be gotten by afflictions 1. Motives 1. 'T is not enough to be good in the affliction but we must get good by the affliction Carnal men are somewhat good in the affliction more modest when Gods hand is heavy upon them and they are somewhat disabled or discouraged from following their lusts yea and may make great promises of reformation when God hath them under but as soon as they are delivered they encourage themselves in the practice of their old sins as metals are melted while they are in the furnace but assoon as they are taken out they return to their natural hardness again But the godly are the better afterwards they cannot forget their old smart by sin Josh. 22.17 Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us from which we are not cleansed unto this day They remember what was the great burden in their troubles and what was the great comfort and support under them and are the better all their lives but others are of another temper Psal. 78.34 When he sâ—ew them then they sought him and enquired early after God The sense of present smart and the terror of an angry God may frighten them into a little religiousness for
to him dependeth upon his love to us and 't is the reason Christ loveth us first best and most 1 John 4.19 We love him because he loved us first That is because of the great things he hath done for us in a way of satisfaction to reconcile God to us and in a way of conversion to reconcile us to God and in a way of preparation for our eternal blessedness in the fruition of God In a way of satisfaction 't was his love ingaged him to die for us Gal. 2.20 Who loved me and gave himself for me Rev. 1.5 Who hath loved us and washed us in his blood This was the internal bosome-cause of all that he did for us His love in conversion in that he brought us home to God Eph. 2.4 5. For his great love wherewith he loved us when we were dead in sins he quickned us So his rich preparations for our blessedness 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him And 1 John 3.1 2. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God therefore the world knoweth us not behold now are we the Sons of God and it doth not appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Now what is of such moment as to cause us to cease loving him who hath loved us at such an high rate Secondly 'T is the effective cause not an exciting argument only for his love inclines to improve his power to preserve us in a state of Grace Three things concur to that His intercession with God His giving the Spirit to his people and his Government over the world 1. Christ intercedeth for us in all our conflicts and temptations because he loveth us and is mindful of us Heb. 2.18 For that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted And Heb. 4.15 16. For we have not an high Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are Therefore let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in a time of need He knoweth what it is to suffer hunger and nakedness and poverty and exile and contempt in the world he knoweth the heart of a tempted man therefore he will have compassion upon us and procure seasonable help for us He knoweth how hard a thing it is to be tempted and not to sin he himself was hard put to it though he had such power to overcome temptations he sitteth at the right hand of God for this end and purpose 2. His giving the Spirit to help us and relieve us and preserve his people in temptation Phil. 4.13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me Phil. 1.19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 1 John 4.4 Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world 2 Tim. 4.17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me and strengthened me If Christ will stand by us and keep us in his own hand what shall separate 3. Christ hath the Government of the world or a power and dominion over all things which may help or hinder his peoples happiness therefore his love inclineth him to order all things so as may be for their good John 5.22 He hath committed all judgment to the Son and John 3.35 He hath given all things into his hand So Eph. 1.22 Head over all things to the Church Things are not left to the arbitrement or uncertain contingency of second causes but are under the Government of a supream providence the Administration of which is in the hands of him that loved us and therefore he will exercise his Dominion as shall be for Gods glory and our good and so curb all opposition and moderate all temptations as may be consistent with his love and care over us 1 Cor. 10.13 He will not suffer you to be tempted 〈…〉 you are able In short being so near to God and having the dispensation of 〈◊〉 â—pirit and the Administration of Providence his great love maketh him pity his people in their necessities they are his dear purchase therefore he will not lose them John 13.1 Jesus having loved his own which were were in the world he loved them to the end They were in the world when he was to go out of the world left on the midst of waves when he was got ashore He knew the dangers to which they were exposed if they miscarry his own people miscarry therefore his heart is moved with all their dangers and difficulties and when we are most in danger then is love most at work to provide help for us in all our temptations as the mother keepeth with the sick child 5. That love which cometh from the impression of this love is of an unconquerable force anâ— efficacy Cant. 8.6 Love is strong as death jealousie as cruel as the grave the coals thereof are as the coals of fire which hath a most vehement flame many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drown it If a man would give all the substance of his house for love it would utterly be contemned There the vehemency and unconquerable constancy of love is set forth it will not be quenched it will not be bribed At this rate Christ loved us his love was as strong and stronger than death He debased himself from the heighth of all his glory to the depth of all misery for our sakes suffered death and overcame all difficulties His love carryed him to us his love could not be quenched by the waters of affliction for he endured the Cross and despised the shame Heb. 12.2 And his love would not be bribed by the offers of Preferment Matth. 4.9 All these things will I give if thou wilt fall down and worship me Ease Matth. 16.22 Then Peter took him and began to rebuke him saying be it far from thee Lord this shall not be unto thee Honour Matth. 27.40 42. If thou be the Son of God come down from the Cross let him come down from the Cross and we will believe him None of this could draw him from his work and in their measure 't is fulfilled in Christians waters cannot quench it Acts 21.13 What mean ye to weep and break my heart for I am ready not only to be bound but to die at Jerusalem Rev. 12.11 And they loved not their lives unto the death They have not learned to love at a cheaper rate It will not be â—ribed Matth. 19.27 And Peter said We have forsaken all and followed thee Luke 14.26 If any man come to me and hate not his Father and Mother and Wife
door to God Page 250 Our example Page 301 And encouragement Page 302 How we may be like him Page 303 In seven directions he was delivered for us and how Page 325 Given for and given to us how differ Page 328 Christs love to his what Page 374 375 Christians of two kinds Page 19 100 Few like Christ Page 302 Have in them a principle and power opposite to flesh Page 76 Their life should convince the world Page 78 Indeed who Page 79 All such have the spirit Page 80 Different sorts of Christians Page ib. True Christianity what Page 109 They are warned to take heed of foulest sins Page 127 Are by the spirit exactly made like Christ and wherein Page 149 Children of God shall be manifested Page 128 Might live safe above enemies Page 320 And how Page 320 321 Are compleatly provided for Page 326 Church finally conquers Page 371 Condemnation what Page 2 Freedom from it Page 340 It is either by law of Works or Grace Page 2 The word of God the rule of it Page 2 When final and eternal Page 2 Fears of it hardly rid Page 34 Deserved by sin Original and Actual Page 3 Sin Conversion Page 3 Dreaded by Conscience Page 3 How we exempted Page 3 Out of Christ under Condemnation Page 7 Conformity to Christ in afflictions in holiness in glory Page 299 Corruption of man Page 106 Crucifixion a painful and shameful death Page 137 Conquerors and more Christians Page 366 How and who Page 367 Conscience Page 3 22 65 171 Checks for sin urges to duty Page 3 139 Presignifies Gods Iudgments Page 3 Is a rule Page 171 Not to be slighted Tho from spirit of Bondage Page 157 343 Not to be slighted When from spirit of Adoption Page 171 Presupposeth a God and a Law Page 171 Conviction smother'd tend to Atheism Page 78 Where Conviction begins Page 111 115 Conversation good wherein Page 16 Conversion what Page 5 6 God doth all at first yet we must do and what Page 115 'T is a mighty Work Page 135 Covenants two Page 40 Of nature brings us under fears Page 155 Covenant of Grace a Law of the spirit and why Page 9 10 11 Hath all requisites of a Law Page 11 Is Christs Law Page 17 Giveth liberty Page 20 Set up a remedy for us Page 24 Creatures as such subjects of God Page 35 36 Their state shall be renewed and how probably Page 192 D DEath and sin go together Page 21 89 How many kinds of Death and what each is Page 58 It is a punishment Page 89 A mark of Gods Displeasure Page 89 The Destruction of sin in Believers Page 89 To them a means to enter into glory Page 89 90 Comfortable onely to the holy Page 91 92 Death of Saints differs from Death of sinners and how Page 97 What is Death to sinners Page 108 Very fit Eternal Death be the punishment of sin Page 108 Debtors to the spirit Page 99 100 Christians are so Page ib. One Debt to God is indissoluble Page 101 Increased by Redemption Page 102 104 Decrees vid. Election Purpose Deliverance from Bondage of sin and Death very great priviledge Page 23 But begun now full at last Page 96 Dependence on God binds us to please him Page 68 Subjects us to God Page 102 Desires of Rest prove there is rest to be had Page 220 Desires of Hope strong Page 242 Destiny worthy to be known Page 40 41 117 Deadness to duty whence Page 131 Difficulties whet Christian hopes Page 238 Discouragements in obedience injurious to Christ and us Page 38 Lessen our Comforts Page 246 Sinners not Discouraged in sin Saints should not be in duty Page 247 Discourse with our selves Page 55 Disorder in mans mind Page 20 How great and whence Page 116 Dispair twofold and what each is Page 154 Displeasure of God seen most in his internal Government Page 85 Dissent too weak is too much consent to sin Page 52 Distress what Page 351 And why Page 341 Divel Flesh and World set out their best first Christ sets out his worst first his last is best Page 143 Divine works equally the works of Father Son and holy Ghost Page 94 In way proper to each Page ib. Do and Suffer ere we come to Heaven Page 241 Do as you can in Duty tho you cannot as you would Page 254 Dominion of the spirit Page 74 82 Of our Creator Page 100 Of Property and of Iurisdiction Page 100 In God is Universal Page 101 Dominion of God over all Page 316 Dominion of Man over the Creatures was by gift Page 195 Doubts of Eternity lye at bottom of our backwardness to good Page 143 Drooping Christians wanting to themselves Page 156 Die to sin and live to holiness mutually help each other Page 139 We must to live Page 242 Duty tho small yet must in their season be done Page 361 Dying men usually inquire whither going Page 40 117 To Believers is Christs pulling down their Cottage to build them a Palace on his own Charges Page 360 E EArnest of our Inheritance what how long continues Page 96 Earnestness of desire with hope Page 234 Earth and Heavens new Page 188 End of things best measure of them Page 143 269 Effectual Calling what Page 289 And its properties Page ib. Of meer love of God to us Page 290 Wrought by Almighty power Page 291 The particulars of it Page 291 Ends and aims of men different and they are as is their End Page 107 Election of particular persons to Life Page 293 Of meer grace unchangeable Page 293 Agreeable to the honor of God Page 294 And unsearchable in the methods of love to the Elect Page 294 295 Hence they are made to differ from others Page 295 296 By their conformity to Christ Page 299 In what this is Page ib. Shall be Called Iustified c. Page 304 Obligeth us to Duty and gratitude Page 309 Election and the effects are of grace in excellent order and connexion Page 308 This should affect our hearts and in what particulars Page 309 Endeavours must be continued to success Page 49 Eenemies of our Salvation agree in making us Rebels against God Page 64 Cannot hurt us while God is for us Page 314 315 316 Are in chains of Providence Page 321 Enquiry which dying men make Page 40 117 Episcopius fountain of new Theologie Page 5 Estates two in which all end Page 40 Which is ours we may know by the Scriptures Page 172 Esteem of God and things of God discover what we are Page 44 Eternity compar'd with time may set all right Page 182 Eternal Life what Page 59 Eternal death what Page 59 Exaltation of Christ our justification Page 348 Exhortation more necessary than tryal for weak Christians Page 47 Excommunicated by men received by God Page 186 Expiation of sin previous of our being heirs of God Page 179 Events are to be left to God Page 273 Evidence of true Christianity Page 82 83 84 330 Qualities of
earnestly sought after Therefore the Heavenly minded are meet 't is their proper place and Countrey they may say God hath wrought us to this very thing Use. Are we framed are we made fit are we made new creatures have we the general fitness which is of absolute necessity 'T is a certain truth that God doth not only give us Heaven but maketh us fit for Heaven He saveth none but those whom he maketh fit to be saved The Elect do not by and by from a corrupt estate go to a glorified but an holy and fit preparation cometh between till we be regenerate and sanctifyed we are in a total unfitness for none but the pure in heart shall see God Matth. 5.8 And without holiness no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12.14 All they and none but they Titus 3.5 But according to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost You may as well expect that God should turn day into night to please a Drunkard as make the way to Hell to be the way to Heaven to please an Impenitent sinner Those to whom Christ will say Come ye Blessed of my Father he first saith come unto me ye that are weary and heavy laden Unless we have past from death to life in a way of grace we cannot expect to pass from death to life in a way of Glory 2. That gradual and perfective meetness must be lookt after too though it be not so absolutely and indispensably necessary as the former 1. Are we more dead to the world Every day somewhat of the Spirit of the World is found in Gods Children but all that while they are unready to get home When 't is a more indifferent thing to have or want pleasure or honour or profit here they you begin to be weaned when these things are lessened in your Eyes 1 Cor. 4.2 But with me it is a small thing that I should be judged of you or of mans Judgment And 1 Cor. 6.2 Are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters 'T is not so great a matter to be rich or renowned Other things are greatned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 1.4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these ye might be partakers of the Divine Nature When you see a greater worth in heavenly things and more affect them than ever you did before and can be glad that you are fitted for this glory though by the smart discipline of the Cross then you ripen apace for Heaven 2. If more sanctified Every degree of growth in grace is a step nearer to Heaven the more holy any man groweth the faster he is getting home then they are pressing towards the mark Phil. 3.14 Then you make speed to Heaven when you thrive inwardly the more sins mortified the graces exercised the more you rid way in your Journey to Heaven in this sense Salvation is nearer every day Rom. 13.11 Also some are scarce entred in by the strait gate got but a step or two in their Race they do press onward 3. The more heavenly minded When the concernments of the other world do more take up your hearts and minds you are as standing at Heavens Gate to see when God will open the door and call you in when Death shall draw aside the Vail and God will shew you his Blessed face 'T is against Nature barely to desire a dissolution but yet this doth not damp your affections nor quench the joy of your Faith When a man beginneth to live as a stranger and pilgrim here 1 Pet. 2.11 and as a Citizen of Heaven Phil. 3.20 But our conversation is in Heaven then the work goeth on apace God hath wrought you for this very thing and will in the fittest season translate you 2. Let us give God all the glory of whatever grace or heavenly affection is wrought in us The first Entrance and all the whole Preparation of the Elect unto glory is of God Blessed be God who hath made us meet and he that hath wrought us unto this very thing is God 1. The first Entrance for we are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 2.10 his workmanship created in Christ Jesus We are his workmanship not only by natural Creation but supernatural Renovation not only as made but as made over again his creating power is seen in framing the New Creature as well as in framing our natural substance and natural powers by divesting us of the evil Qualities in us and planting contrary graces and vertues in their stead that the old man is put off and the new man put on which is created after God Eph. 4.24 'T is just such another work as Creation was for 't is done by God's own immediate hand And as in the beginning God created something out of nothing and some things out of praeexisting matter but such as was wholly unfit and indisposed for any thing to be made out of it as Adam out of the dust of the ground Gen. 2.7 Eve out of Adam's Rib ver 22. so our faculties were wholly indisposed to good and averse from it resisting and opposing what was holy and godly Job 21.14 Therefore to him alone be all the glory and praise 2. After Conversion he keepeth us in this estate and encreaseth our fitness We read in Scripture that Heaven is kept for us and we are kept for Heaven and both by God 1 Pet. 1.4 5. Which is preserved in Heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation As our Inheritance is above hazard and kept from being lost so also we are kept that we may not be lost in the way to the Possession of it An Earthly Inheritance may be kept sure enough by the faithful Guardian for an Heir but who can keep or secure the Heir from death and other accidents But the Regenerate their Inheritance is reserved in heaven for them and they are kept by the power of God for it There are so many Temptations and Tryals and we are are so weak that 't is God alone that can keep us and maintain his Interest in our Souls 3. To the very last there is his gracious and fatherly Acceptance For this meetness standeth in two things God's powerful Operation and gracious Acceptation His powerful Operation I have spoken of already Now the other is as necessary they are worthy But who are those whom God counteth meet and worthy So 't is explained Luke 20.35 They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that World Luke 21.36 That ye may be accounted worthy to stand before the Son of Man Therefore besides his powerful Influence Divine Acceptation which covereth our infirmities accepteth our weak endeavours for perfect Obedience Even the renewed were not fit to enter glory without it for their Renovation is not perfect so that all their acceptance depends on God's Free Grace in Christ Psal. 143.2 Eph. 1.6 Vse 3. To inform us That the
not appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him For we shall see him as he is This is the end of all for this Christ dyed and for this we believe and hope and labour even for that happy estate when we shall be brought nigh God and be companions of the Holy Angels and for ever behold our glorified Redeemer and see our own Nature united to the God-head and have the greatest and nearest intuition and fruition of God that we are capable of and live in the fullest love to him and delight in him And the Soul shall for ever dwell in a glorified Body that shall be no clog but an help to it and be no more troubled with infirmities necessities and diseases but for ever be at rest with the Lord lauding his name to all Eternity Now shall all this be done for us and shall we not love Christ Certainly if there be faith to believe this there will be love And if there be love there will be obedience be it never so tedious and irksome to our natural hearts 2. The strength of love ariseth from the manner how it is considered by us and applyed to us 1. Partly by Faith And 2. Partly by Meditation And 3. Partly by the Spirit 1. Faith nothing else will inkindle and blow up this holy fire of love in our hearts For affection followeth perswasion Till we believe these things we cannot be affected with them To a carnal natural heart the Gospel is but as a fine speculation or a well contrived fable or a dream of a shower of rubies falling out of the clouds in a night But Faith or a firm perswasion that affecteth the heart and therefore the Apostle speaketh of Faith working by love Gal. 5.6 Faith reporteth to the Soul and filleth the Soul with the apprehensions of Gods love in Christ and then maketh use of the strength and sweetness of it to carry forth all acts of obedience to God 2. By meditation The most excellent things do not work if they be not seriously thought of Affections are stirred up in us by the inculcation of the thoughts As by the beating of the steel upon the flint the sparks fly out As the Apostle perswadeth to this Eph. 3.17 18. That ye being rooted and grounded in love may be able with all Saints to comprehend what is the height and depth and length of the love of God in Christ and may know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge This is the blessed Imployment of the Saints that they may live in the consideration and admiration of this wonderful love that so they may ever keep themselves in the love of Christ. Nothing exciteth us to our duty so much as this therefore we should not content our selves with a superficial view of it but dwell upon it in our thoughts 'T is our narrow thoughts our shallow apprehensions of Gods love in Christ our cold and unfrequent meditation of it which maketh us so barren and unfruitful as we are 3. The Spirit maketh all effectual The Gospel containeth the matter meditation is the means to improve it but if it be an act of the humane Spirit only it affecteth us not the thoughts raised in us by bare and dry reason are not so lively as those raised in us by Faith that puts a life into all our notions Now the acts of faith are not so forcible as when the Spirit of God sheddeth abroad this love in our Souls Rom. 5.5 We must use the Gospel must use reason must use faith in meditation on the Love of Christ but we must beg the effectual operation of the Holy Ghost who giveth us a tast and feeling of this love and most thankfully to entertain it USE It sheweth us how we should excite and rowse up our selves in every duty especially in those that are difficult displeasing to the flesh The Apostle Paul indured prisons stripes reproaches disgraces yea death it self out of the unconquerable force of love Therefore if you have any great thing to do for God and would work to the purpose let faith by the Spirit set love a work Faith is needful the work of redemption being long since over and our Lord is absent and our rewards future and love is necessary because difficulties are great and oppositions many the Flesh would fain be pleased but when Faith telleth love what great things God hath done for us in Christ the Soul is ashamed when it cannot deny a little ease pleasure or profit SERMON XXIV 2 Cor. 5.14 For the Love of Christ constraineth us because we thus Iudge that if one dyed for all then were all dead I Have chosen this Scripture to speak of the love of gratitude or that thankful return of love which we make to God because of his great love to us in Christ. Before I go on further in this discourse I shall handle some cases of Conscience 1. About the reason and cause of our love Whether God be only to be loved for his beneficial goodness and not also for his essential and moral perfections The cause of doubting is this Whether true love doth not rather respect God as amiable in himself than beneficial to us The ancient writers in the Church seemed to be of this mind Lombard out of Austine defineth love to be that grace by which we love God for himself and our neighbour for Gods sake Ans. 1. There are several degrees of love 1. Some love Christ for what is to be had from him and that he may be good to us There we begin The first invitation to the creature is the offer of pardon and life Matth. 11.28 29. Come unto me all you that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your Souls And Heb 11.6 He that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a Rewardeâ— of them that diligently seek him Self-love and the natural sense of our own misery and the sense of our burden and the desires of our happiness have a marvellous influence upon us yea wholly govern us in our first address to God by Christ Now this is not altogether to be blamed and condemned Partly Because there is no other dealing with mankind tell a malefactour of the perfections of his Judge this will never induce him to love him And Partly Because we may and must love Christ as he hath revealed himself to our love Now he hath revealed himself as a Saviour as a pardoner as a rewarder for surely we may make use of Gods motives he suffereth us to begin in the flesh that we may end in the Spirit there is some grace in this very seeking love You are affected with the true cause of misery not outward necessity but sin you seek after the right remedy which is in Christ there
things found in them but the carnal minding is not mortified nor doth the meek holy heavenly Spirit prevail in them There are others 2. Who are regenerate but Grace is weak in them and corruptions break out and shake off the Empire of Grace for a time tho it habitually prevail and governs their Actions Now for the former we must perswade them to get a good and an honest heart that is that their intentions be more sincere and fixed their way more thorough and exact least they get a Name for Relgion to do a mischief to it For most of the calamities of the Church and the Prejudices against Religion and hardening by scandals and blemishes come from that sort of men and are to be laid at their doors And for the second we are to advise them and call upon them to distinguish themselves from the carnal state more clearly and explicitely For tho God may accept them yet whilst they border too near upon the carnal World it is in vain to find out Evidences whereby they may assure their hearts before God For tho God possibly hath given them saving Grace and will accept them at last yet he will not give them assurance and we do but perplex Cases of Conscience to reconcile the Tenor of Christianity with their weak estate Exhortation doth better than Tryal If they be sincere they will come on in the way of godliness and then that which was doubtful will be more clear and satisfactory and their sincerity will be more unquestionable 3. Because God's dear children write bitter things against themselves either out of weakness of Judgment or consciousness of too much prevalency of corrupt affections and tenderness of God's Honour and trouble for their own imperfections it will be necessary further to state the point There is to the very last flesh and spirit in the best Gal. 5.17 For the flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit lusteth against the flesh yet there is enough to distinguish them from the carnal World and that is the potency and the predominancy of the spiritual Principle Denominatio est a potiori not from what is perfect but from what is sincere and habitually reigneth and beareth the upper hand in the soul. But then the Question returneth How shall we know the prevalency I answer 1. Negatively Not by a bare sense of duty or a dictate of Conscience that sheweth what ought to be done but many times we do quite otherwise for many hold the truth in unrighteousness Rom. 1.18 A dictate of Conscience is unsufficient to change the heart and sanctifie the life Nor barely by the resolution of the Will for that may be uneffectual and without a full purpose of heart I go Sir said the first Son in the Parable but went not Mat. 21.30 Many resolve well but they have not an heart to verifie and make good their Resolutions Deut. 5.29 The Jews said All that the Lord hath spoken we will do Oh that there were such an heart in them saith God! Nor by a faint desire for many can wish not only for Heaven and Happiness but that it might be otherwise with them in point of Holiness that God would change their Natures but they do not use the means The soul of the sluggard desireth and hath nothing Prov. 13.4 None goeth to Heaven by the Sluggard's wishes not by prevailing in one act or more for many in a pang of Zeal may do much for God Gal. 4.18 It is good to be zealously affected always in a good matter Psal. 106.3 Blessed are they that do righteousness at all times Nor by every kind of dislike and resistance of sin that may sometimes arise from other Lusts for they sometimes fight among themselves James 4.1 Whence comes wars and fightings among you come they not hence even from your lusts which war in your selves Or from Hypocrisie to hide and feed some other Lusts the more plausibly Or if from Conscience the resistance is too feeble to break the power of sin till the heart be renewed or more thoroughly set towards God and Heavenly Things 2. Positively 1. By the course of our Actions Habits are known by the Uniformity of Acts when the effects of the Spirit are more constant than those of the Flesh and the drift and business of our lives is for God and our salvation our bent and business is the pleasing of God and the saving of our own souls Men must be judged not by a few Acts but their Walk or the Tenor of their Conversations They that spend their time in knitting one carnal contentment to another and glut themselves with all manner of vain delights and God hath from them but what the Flesh can spare a little formal slight service that they may pacifie Conscience and enjoy their Pleasures with less remorse what are they doing but the Flesh's business 2. By cherishing the best Principle with all care and diligence and mortifying and suppressing the other The better Principle must be cherished that is we must get more degrees of Faith Love and Hope that Faith may be more strong Love more fervent Hope more lively 2 Pet. 3.18 But grow in grace and in the knowledg of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. On the other side the Flesh would fain be pleased before God but you must subdue it more and more 1 Cor. 9.22 I keep under my body and bring it into subjection give it not what it craveth Rest not in endeavours without success for Gal. 5.24 They that are Christ's have crucified the flâ—sh with the affections and lusts thereof A Christian is seen proposito conatu eventu Some Victory there must be over the carnal mind See that the power of the Flesh be diminished in you both as to the motions of it and your obedience to it VSE 2. Is Exhortation First Negatively Not to mind the things of the Flesh That is Take heed not only of the grosser out-breakings of the Flesh but of serving it in a more cleanly manner by too free and full a gust and relish in any outward thing for by this means it securely gets interest and gaineth upon you If you freely let loose the heart to every alluring Object and withhold not your selver from any Joy Lust will grow bold and head-strong and be hardly kept within bounds Motives 1. Consider your engagement as you are Christ's Gal. 5.24 They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof Every man is engaged by his Profession and Covenant sealed in Baptism so to do which should be a very moving Argument to press us to do things cross and unpleasing to the Flesh. 2. Your comfort dependeth on it For here is your evidence either you must mortifie the Flesh or gratifie the Flesh if you gratifie the Flesh you are not under the conduct of the Spirit and so not under the hope of glory if you mortifie it then you shall live The only evidence that
will content and satisfie you as to your gracious state is such an high estimation of God and Christ and Grace as weaneth you and draweth off the heart from other things A dull approbation of that which is good will make no evidence nor a few good wishes nothing but such a strong bent as deadneth your affections to the World Gal. 6.14 God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified to me and I unto the world 3. This will be your Wisdom There is a false Wisdom and a true Wisdom James 3.15 This wisdom descendeth not from above but is earthly sensual devillish Ver. 17. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceable c. This is the true Wisdom to be wise for the Spirit I do the rather insist upon this because there is a Notion of Wisdom in the Word of the Text. Carnal men judg their own way wisest and the way of the godly to be meer folly 1 Cor. 2.14 The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishness to him neither can he receive them because they are spiritually discerned The godly imploy themselves to get things spiritual and such as God's Honour is mainly concerned in and are not attended with an Income of worldly advantage but rather of loss and detriment But yet the end shall prove that they that thought themselves the only wise men and gainers have been meer fools and the greatest losers those others whom they looked upon as mad men are the wisest adventurers and the greatest gainers The issue will shew it Gal. 6.8 He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting Rom. 8.6 To be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace 4. The Flesh is really our enemy yea our greatest enemy Therefore we should not indulge the Flesh but give up our selves to be ruled by the Spirit 1 Pet. 2.10 11. Take heed of fleshly lusts which war against the spirit That it is one of our enemies is clear by that Eph. 2.2 3. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the prince of the power of the air the spirit that now ruleth in the children of disobedience among whom also we had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature the chiâ—dren of wrath even as others There is the course of this World and the Prince of the power of the Air and our own Flesh. Corrupt Nature within us would make us vile enough without external incitements and suggestions tho there were never a Devil to tempt or evil Example to follow If the Devil should stand by and say nothing there is enough within us to put us upon all manner of evil tho there were no other irritation than God's Law Rom. 7.9 When the commandment came sin revived and I died Other enemies could do us no harm without our own Flesh. We are tempted to sin by Satan encouraged to sin by the example and custom of others inticed to sin by the baits and allurements of the World but inclined to sin by our own Flesh It is the Flesh that holdeth correspondence with Satan the Flesh that openeth the door to Temptations the Flesh that maketh our abode in the World so dangerous the Flesh that choaketh the good Seed that hindereth all our heavenly thoughts and maketh the Service of God so burdensome The Flesh is within us and maketh a part of our selves There is more imminent danger from a Plague in the body than from an enemy that waiteth in the streets to kill us If we would but keep our selves from our selves we should do well enough It is the Flesh that lulleth us asleep in carnal security that tainteth all our Actions and is so ready to betray us The Devil dealeth with us as Baalam by the Israelites all his Curses and Charms prevailed nothing till he found a means to destroy them by themselves to corrupt them by Whoredom and by Whoredom to draw them to Idolatry It is the Flesh that is the Domestical Enemy that dwelleth with us and in us and so maketh us a ready prey to Satan We carry it about with us wherever we go and so it is ready to do us mischief upon all occasions When we are about holy Duties it distracteth us with vain thoughts and taketh off our edg and makes us drowzy and dead-hearted and weary of God's Service When we are about our Gallings it is the Flesh that maketh us lazy and negligent and diverteth us by the proposals of sensual Objects or else to be so earnest in them that we have no time nor heart for God and Soul-Necessities When we are eating and drinking it is the Flesh that turneth our Table into a Snare and tempts us to glut our selves with carnal delights and to oppress our bodies when we should refresh them and strengthen them for God's Service In our Recreations it is the Flesh that maketh us inordinate in them and to forget our great Work and last End and so we are the more intangled in sin when we should be more fit to glorifie God It is the Flesh that being beaten out at one Door entreth by another and still assaults us afresh to our great spiritual prejudice And will you study how to please the Flesh that is so great an Enemy to your Souls That Flesh that resists all the motions of God's Spirit that cloggeth you in every Duty and draweth you off from the pursuit of everlasting Happiness 5. Consider how ill Christ will take it and what just cause you give him to withdraw when you prize the things of the Flesh before him and the comforts of the Spirit Must not the Lord Jesus take it exceeding unkindly that after all his love and the discoveries of his grace you should study to please his Competitor and your own Enemy Is his Grace and Glory worth no more than so and hath he deserved no better at your hands God spared not his own Son but gave him up to the death for us Rom. 8.32 Christ pleased not himself Rom. 15.3 There is nothing so answerable as some self-denial on our part The most genuine and natural influence from this Grace is That we should spare nothing please not our selves Titus 2.11 The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts Teaching us c. How By way of Precept no by way of Argument It perswadeth us to deny Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts. 6. Consider the more you indulge the Flesh the more it is an enemy and the more is your slavery and bondage increased and still you grow the more brutish forgetful of God and unapt for