enlarge his Church in the daies of the Apostles Luk. 10.1 how contrary were his waies and dispensations to the judgments of most then In sending forth a few poore plaine men two and two to preach the Gospell and win soules how did the Learned proud Pharisees and most of the people despise them and persecute them from city to city They understood not what God was about no more then the people of this generation O how contrary are the dispensations of God to the apprehensions of most in this age They speake against his waies contradicting and blaspheming Yea the waies of God are contrary to the apprehensions of many of the godly among us some of them directly oppose God and his great designe others doe not cannot put to their hand to further it for they apprehend it not they cannot close with it In their Sermons Prayers Discourses they speak nothing of it to promote it nay being darkned through interests and corruptions they oppose it and speake against it and those who carry it on The reasons hereof are cheifely these As for all naturall men they judge of things according to carnall Principles sence and Reason now when the waies of God are not suted to these they cannot see nor judge of them The naturall man cannot perceive the things of God for they have no spirituall Principles 1 Cor. 2.14 Secondly In the people of God there is much pride and selfe-love carnall ends interests c. which many times sway their affections much and thereby their Iudgments are darkened according to the degrees of these corruptions For as any soule growes in grace and holinesse and gets more of the divine Nature or Image of God so are the things of God more or lesse manifest to such a one Thirdly God will be seene and acknowledged in the world especially in his great dispensations therefore are his waies often so unsuted to the apprehensions of men but when they see at length that God brings about his ends by them which they thought so unlikely then they admire He will get himselfe glory in all his workings by doing his worke his strange worke and bringing to passe his Act his strang act Esay 28 21. Hence we may see the certaine downefall of Antichrist and all his partakers all the Enemies of God because the waies of God are Vse 1 contrary to them and they know them not thence it is that they doe and will oppose God and fight against him to their owne destruction Though the arme of the Lord be made bare and lifted up never so high and apparently in the world in carrying on his designes yet they will not see it nor acknowledg it they will not behold the majesty of the Lord Esay 26.10 When his hand is lifted up they will not see but they shall see and be ashamed vers 11. Hardned Pharaohs with all the blind multitude opposers of God his waies and his people shall be at last all cast as a Milstone into the midst of the sea never to rise more Are the waies of God in the sea and his pathes in the deepe waters and his footsteps not knowen and contrary to the Iudgments of most Vse 2 and is it too true that many of Gods owne people stumble at his waies and dispensations and in a sort oppose God or no way help forward his designes O then let us be earnest with God for wisdome from above and his spirit to make out the mind of God to us not only to know the things freely given to us of God but also to know what things are of God in the world to know the designe of God in our generation 1 Cor. 2.21.2 that so we may be so farre from staning out against it as that we may comply with it and help it on with all our might The foure and thirtieth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman having great Plantations in hand calleth none to helpe him in his speciall works about his Fruit-trees but such persons as have skill and experience in the severall works he sets them about for if he should imploy ignorant and unskilfull men about grafting Inoculating setting and ordering of his young trees they would doe more hurt then good therefore it is necessary his servants and under workmen should have some competent skill and experience in the works about which he imployes them This shadowes out unto us That Proposition shadowed Those who have not the sanctifying spirit and grace of God in them are unfit for the worke of the ministry such bring more prejudice then advantage to the Church of God Ministers of the Gospell they who are so indeed are Gods Husbandmen Co-workers fellow-laborers with God in his Orchards and Gardens his Churches about his spirituall fruit-trees We are laborers together with God 1 Cor. 3.9 Ye are Gods husbandry ye are Gods building I have planted Apollo watred and God have the increase 1 Cor. 3.6 They are imployed by God to open blind eyes and to turne soules from darknesse to light and from the power of Sathan unto God Acts 26.18 God gives them a Command and Commission to preach the Gospell to every creature that is to all mankind to teach all Nations and to Baptize them into the Name of God that is Instrumentally to ingraft soules into Christ to worke grace or holinesse the Nature or Image of God which is baptizing them into the Name of God the Name of God and his Nature being all one Christ and his spirit the efficient cause being in them and with them who sanctifies his people through the washing of water by the word Ephe. 5.26 In Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospell 1 Cor. 4.15 Now whom God calls to this great worke he prepares and fits them in some good measure for it he powres his spirit upon them they have an unction from the holy one who teacheth them all things 1 Ioh. 2.20 Their wisdome is from above Iames. 3.17 By this anointing of the spirit men are fitted for the worke of the Ministry but without they are not fit though they have humane learning and parts which are of speciall use and advantage in the Church of God if sanctified yet without the spirit of Christ men are in darknesse and cannot see the things of God 1 Cor. 2.14 They cannot say with the true ministers of Christ who are chosen called and sent the things we have heard and seene declare we unto you 1 Joh. 1.3 Luk 12.3 When God called and sent Moses Samuel Esay Jeremy and the rest of the Prophets he fitted them for the worke The Apostles when called and sent had all a Mouth and wisdome given them Luk. 21.15 That is the spirit this anointing was powred out upon them They were indued with power from on high Luk. 24.49 As Jesus Christ the first Minister of the new Testament was fitted to preach and publish the mind of his father so are his people whom he
are all the Treasures of wisdome and knowledge Col. 2.3 being filled with all the fulnesse of God out of which he fills his people who receive of him grace for grace and are changed from glory to glory by his spirit 1 Cor. 3.18 These are workmen that neede not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth 1 Tim. 2.15 Object If it be objected If Ministers of the Gospell have but little humane learning how will they stand themselves and be able to maintaine the Truths of God against Learned hereticks and enemies of Christ Answ It is answered Regenerate persons in whom Christ dwels stand upon surer grounds and are more safe from (a) It is true the best of Gods people Ministers of the Gospell and others are subiect to some errors in Judgement as they are subiect to some sinnes and infirmities in their conversations But yet that promise Joh. 16.13 shall be fulfilled That the spirit of God shall lead his people into all necessary thruths damnable Heresies though they have but little humane Learning and but weake parts then the most learned carnall person in the world because they stand by the Power of God the other by a humane power Christ hath undertaken to keepe them none are able to pluck them out of his hand the gates the powers of hell shall not prevaile against them it is not possible any should deceive the Elect Mat. 24.24 And though they cannot perhaps maintaine an Argument in a scholasticall way yet they can maintaine it in a better way that is according to scripture the word of God which dwels in them plenteously in all wisdome thereby they have confuted and so shall hereafter their adversaries Out of the mouths of Babes and sucklings that is men of despised parts with the carnall world God hath ordained strength even to the stilling and silencing of the Enemy Ps 8.2 Hath not God said this againe and againe in severall expressions why will not men even some of Gods owne people believe it but bring a disparagement upon the wisdome of Christ and upon his people by their contradictions that so they may set up secretly some thing of their owne see what the Apostle Paul saies to this purpose and beware of holding the truth in unrighteousnesse 1 Cor. 27.28 God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and the weake things of the world to confound the mighty things and vile things and things that are dispised hath God chosen and things which art not to bring to nought things that are Though the carnall wisdome of men accompts the Prayers discourses Arguments Gifts and attainments of the saints and all their waies to be foolish weake vile vaine c. yet even by these the power and spirit of Christ being in them God will confound and bring to nought their High things their great things and break downe all their strong holds for the foolishnesse of God as men count foolishnesse is wiser then men and the weaknesse of God is stronger then men 1 Cor. 1.25 It is certainely the wisdome of the flesh and not that which is from above to conceive that none but men bred up in Vniversities are fit to preach the Gospell of Christ For the word and spirit are able not only to make men wise unto salvation but also to make the man of God Regenerate men absolute and throughly furnished unto this and everie good worke 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. els how are the words of the Apostle true These things being so then Governours and Tutours in every Vse 4 society where this great worke is intended should make it their maine businesse to instruct the youth in the things of the Kingdome of God and to be instrumentall for their Ingrafting into Iesus Christ without which they can never be fit nor able Ministers of the New Testament though they have the highest attainements in Learning and parts that the nature of man is capable of There is great care taken to enlarge the faculties and to gaine spirituall Gifts and parts common as well to the Reprobate as the Elect by study and exercises and all meanes possible whereas the truth is the attainement of these without a Principle of grace together with them does but make men more blind in spirituall things and makes the boults and barrs of corruption the stronger to shut out Iesus Christ As it was with the learned but carnall Graecians to whom Christ and the things of Christ were foolishnesse so it is with learned unregenerate men in all ages Therefore this is that unum necessarium that one necessary thing a Principle of grace without which all humane learning and parts are but as an empty sound and to be accompted as all things else but as dung and drosse to the saving Experimentall knowledge of Christ this men will readily acknowledg in the Notion and common apprehension Vse 5 O but why is the Practicall Iudgment so contradictory Notwithstanding what hath been said let none that are godly take occasion hereby to entertaine too high conceipts of themselves and of their abilities to teach and instruct others in the things of God upon this ground because they are regenerate and have the spirit and upon that accompt be so ignorantly confident of their abilities as to despise or neglect any meanes for their growth and increase in all gifts and graces as conceiving they have all knowledg immediately upon their interest in Christ which yet it may be is very weake and little let us take heed of thinking more highly of our selves then we ought to thinke but to thinke soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of Gifts and graces and let us labour to improve our Talents great or small more or few and to lay them out for the best advantage both of our Master of ourselves and others Even to the glory of God and profit and edification of one another Neither ought men from what hath beene said to take occasion to despise or undervalue humane Learning and parts which are of singular use in the Church of God when sanctified and joyned with grace and holinesse There are very many instances not onely in former ages but also in this present generation of Ministers of the Gospell and others Men eminent in humane Learning and parts and in grace also who have beene and are great and speciall Instruments imployed by God for the destruction of Antichrist and the enlargement and building up of the Church of God The five and thirtieth Observation in Nature THe husbandman Grafts all the wild Plants that he brings into his Orchard None but engrafted Trees must grow there None must be Pruned and Ordered but they must also certainely be engrafted being wild and naught by nature he engrafts them with some good and choice fruits otherwise they will beare sower bitter and unpleasant fruits This is another Similitude of the state of spirituall fruit-trees whence we learne That none
well as to another all were purchased at one and the same rate even with his owne blood The ninetie eighth Observation in Nature SOme Fruit-trees are profitable for one purpose and some for another their fruits being of severall kinds some are usefull one way and some another some are fittest for Cider others to bake or to be prepared severall waies for the Table others are eaten of themselves without any preparation some are fit for foode some for Physick some for Cordials all are good and profitable in their kinds according to their severall uses Proposition shadowed This shadowes out unto us this Proposition That The people of God bring glory to him profit and edification to the body of Christ in divers respects according to the diversity of the Gifts Graces and Operations of the spirit of God in them This is manifest from Scripture and continuall Experience Believers having severall Gifts and endowments in Nature and grace are imployed and set on worke by God in their generations according as he hath fitted them for their severall work For as the Members in the Naturall body have not all one and the same Office so neither the Mysticall body Rom. 12.6 Having then Gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us whether prophesie let us prophesie according to the proportion of faith vers 7. Or Ministry let us wait on our Ministring or he that teacheth on teaching or he that exhorteth on exhortation c. As every man hath received the gift so Minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God Let him do it as of the ability which God giveth that God in all may things be glorified through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 4.10 11. What ever his gifts or abilities be weake or strong meane or eminent they are his Talents or one at least which must not be hid but used and imployed for the glory of God and profit of himselfe and others As among the Members of the body the least and meanest is use full and profitable to the body And the eye cannot say unto the hand I have no neede of thee nor againe the head to the feete I have no need of you but such as seeme to be most feeble are necessary 1 Cor. 12.21 22. so in the body of Christ and also in the politicall body the Common-wealth the laboring husbandman and the meanest Tradesman are necessary and their labours and industries in severall and various waies are all as really in their measure conducing to the upholding and advantaging of a Nation as those in the highest imployments The Apostle shewes this truth very largely 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6. c. There are diversities of Giftes diversities of administrations diversities of operations by the same spirit vers 8. To one is given the word of wisdome to another the word of Knowledg to another faith to another the gifts of Healing to another the working of Miracles to another Prophesie to another discerning of spirits to another divers Tongues to another the interpretation of tongues All these worketh that one and the selfe same spirit dividing to every man severally as he will Seldome or never is it seene that any one man is eminent in all the faculties of the mind in all gifts and graces but if he excell in one he is defective in another If his gift lie in solidity of Iudgment and understanding it may be he is defective in his utterance or ready making out what he conceives and apprehends wherein some others excell that come short of him in Iudgment one man excells in quicknesse of apprehensions another in soundnesse of Judgment another in the gift of memory another in a facile and ready expression One is eminent in the grace of faith another in love another in humility another in patience another in zeale One man hath skill in one science another man in another One in this Art or Trade another in some other As the Members in the Naturall body have severall formes and severall uses and offices so is it in the Mysticall body the Church and also in the state or Common wealth that in various and severall respects all might bring Glory to God and benefits one to another The consideration of this should make us to admire the wonderfull Vse 1 wisdome of God in so ordering and disposing of things that one person might be helpfull and profitable to another every one usefull in his place and calling by their severall gifts graces actings and operations of severall natures and degrees among themselves and one with another that all should conduce and worke together though in severall waies and respects to bring glory to God and profit and edification each to other Vse 2 This also should teach Governours and all who have any charge over others to observe and find out what the Gift and qualification is of those over whom they have any charge that so accordingly they may designe them and dispose of them this is their duty and their wisdome And it is every ones duty in reference to himselfe before he enter upon any Calling or course of life to consider wherein cheifey his gift lies that accordingly he may apply himselfe For seeing the spirit of God divides to euery man gifts and qualifications severally as he will 1 Cor. 12.11 it is our duty to row with the streame and saile with the wind we shall make the speedier and better progresse And for want of this many men dishonour themselves their Callings God most of all by entring upon those waies and works for which they are no way fit as wanting a Gift to that purpose it lying in some other respect which they ought to have searched out and improved that so they might have brought thereby more glory to God and more profit to the body of Christ And further in this Proposition as in a glasse we may see the folly and pride of some men who being eminent in some Gifts or Vse 3 endowments and thereby also it may be answerably profitable in Church or Commonwealth upon occasion of which they despise others who are their inferious in such gifts but know O vaine man that those others may excell thee in some other Gifts and may bring glory to God and benefit to the body of Christ as much another way by their fervent prayers spirituall speeches and conferences holy and humble walking diligent improvement of Gifts Talents advantages which God hath put into their hands And therefore Christians should walke humbly though never so eminent in qualifications even upon this consideration as well as others that though they excell their brethren in these and these things yet those their brethren may go beyond them in other gifts and be profitable as much or more than themselves another way according to what God hath given them The ninetie ninth Observation in Nature All the winter long there is sap abiding in the tree and continually rising
Now let it be considered What infinite advantages arise to a Christian by Early beginnings and setting forward in the waies of God betime the Priviledges are exceeding great and many These things may be great Encouragements to all young Plants to labour for them The sixt Observation in Nature WE know at the end of Sommer the sunnes influences being withdrawne in a great measure Fruit-trees cease growing their fruits and Leaves fall off and decay during the time of winter are shaken with winds pinched with Frosts and cold weather seeme to those that cannot well judg of them to be even as dead which yet when the spring of the yeare comes the spirit and sap that is naturally existing in them all winter is refreshed againe by the heat of the sunne that then approaches the branches againe begin to bud and by new supplies from the Roote grow forth and bare store of wholsome fruits This is another Similitude and shadowes out unto us this Proposition VVhich also concurres with the word and experience That When the spirit of God withdrawes Proposition shadowed then mysticall fruit-trees cease growing their leaves and Fruits fall and they indure sore conflicts for a time but at the returne of the spirit they are restored to former comforts with advantage As the sun is the efficient cause of life and growth in naturall fruit trees and all Vegetables so is the spirit of God the efficient cause of motion and growth in all spirituall fruit-trees while the spirit is sensibly present and works in the soule there is motion growth budding blossoming and bearing fruits but when the spirit withholds and withdrawes when this sunne goes afar off as to his sensible workings and effects and hides his face then the fruit-trees are at a stand and have no power in themselves to grow or beare fruits The Lord is a Sun unto his people Ps 84.11 and the face of this sun is sometimes clouded and hid from them and is as if he were afar off Esa 54.7 For a small moment have I hid my face The Church complaines in the time of this spirituall winter Cant. 5.6 My beloved had withdrawne himselfe and was gone VVhen this Sun is afar off and clouded then followes a dark and gloomy time Lam. 3.1 I am the man that have seen affliction by the rod of his wrath he hath led me and brought me into darknesse and not into light I remembred God and was troubled I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed Ps 88.16 Thy fierce wrath goeth over me thy terrors have cut me off Ps 38.8 The Church in this long and sharp winter the sun being a far off complaineth bitterly and is almost in dispaire Esay 49.14 This is a wofull state the greatest of all miseries on this side Hell even the want of the light of Gods countenance to him that hath sensibly enjoyed it a long time together and instead thereof to have the terrors of God fight against him and make immediate impressions upon the soule yet so it is with some of the servants of God for a time Former Evidences are then of no more strength than the strength of meat and drink is to the body after a long time of fasting when the body hath beene shut up in prison and almost starv'd for want of foode It s true indeed former Evidences might something uphold in the sense of present distresse if the soule were sure they were undoubtedly true and sound because we know true grace once received cannot be lost but there lies the doubt and the ground of feare and distrust he calls all former Evidences into question and perhaps at some times concludes against himselfe that all are nothing because of present feelings of the contrary I know a man who about Ten yeares agoe was cast under this Temptation and had Experience of this woefull state and condition he lay in it for the space of Seventeene or Eighteene Months or thereabouts Having early in his youth even the first houre of the day passed through the pangs of the new birth and spirit of bondage afterwards enabled to lay hold on Christ by faith and by degrees got up to a comfortable well grounded confidence of the love of God in Christ wherein he walked chearefully many yeares together yet afterwards even about the middle of the day according to the Prophets computation Psalm 90.10 the Sun was clouded and the spirit and sap suspended so that by degrees he lost not only the sense of the light of Gods countenance towards him and the sight of the graces of his spirit but questioned all his former Evidences of his interest in Christ and especially at some times even gave all for lost And notwithstanding the dayly use of all spirituall meanes he still fell lower and lower more and more feares and terrors increased in him which were made more sharpe and heavy by many outward afflictions great crosses and disappointments at the same time which befell him in reference to his body name outward estate Calling friends and relations every one of which was a sore affliction single and of it selfe notwithstanding all came upon him in a short space and that not long after great and more then ordinary spirituall comforts evidences of the love of God in Christ which though they might have beene some ground to have upheld the soule from sinking so low yet by degrees were all weake and of no power to uphold amidst such a throng and present sense of heavy and lasting Temptations as were upon both his inward and outward man but by reason thereof the immediate succeeding desertion was the more sensible and took the deeper impression As a man that falls suddenly from a high and eminent Condition of outward comforts into great misery and want the sense of his present misery is therefore the more pressing In this sad and darke time he laboured by Prayer Fasting help of freinds and all waies of humbling himselfe to get comfort and support but still it was hâ—d from him he was by degrees cast downe very low and brought even to despair in-somuch that at some times through the violence of Temptations and apprehensions of the absence and losse of God he cryed out roared as a man in torment of body that had had some disease or burning in his Bowels At some times when he heard the word preached such terrors seased upon him that he had no rest neither in body nor mind he could neither sit still nor stand still nor rest in any posture fearefull injections thronged in upon him and such woefull apprehensions of an undone Condition were at those seasons especially represented to the mind that he was not able to expresse the horror of them And after a certaine time of the absence of the Spirit in the feeling workings of it and sence of the graces Corruptions at sometimes more especially grew strong Passions and murmurings against the righteous proceedings of God with him
same folly as those who take more care about the shape and fashion of the Garment than the health and soundnesse of the body Or to use the Metaphor in hand they bring forth Leaves instead of fruits and so are unprofitable trees lyable to Gods displeasure and cutting downe every moment and also to be accompted by discerning Spirits to be such as have little or nothing of The power of godlinesse The Eighth Observation in Nature THe Fruits of trees discover plainly of what kind the Trees are the Leaves and blossomes especially of some kinds may deceive us but the fruits cannot deceive us but discover manifestly of what Nature the trees are From this Observation we learne That Proposition shadowed By the Fruits of Spirituall Trees we may conclude the Nature of the Trees The waies and Conversations of men discover what their Natures are If men of discerning Judgments will but exactly observe and try the Actions of others they may by degrees conclude from what Principles they act It s true indeede from the Actions and waies of some persons a man cannot easily conclude this vices in some are clothed in the habits of Vertues howsoever of some others this is more cleare The worke of grace in the hearts of some is so cleare and apparent in their lives and Conversations that if men will but judge according to Scripture rules the worke will be manifest So on the other side concerning Profane and scandalous persons a man may without breach of charity conclude such persons to be at present in the gall of bitternesse and bond of iniquity And though Formall Professors may for a time deceive us by their Leaves and blossoms of good words shewes Professions Formes and outward Observations Wolves may have on Sheeps clothing Yet if we tast and observe their fruits after a time we shall know them Mat. 7.16 by their fruits ye shall know them So againe Lu. 6.44 Every tree is knowne by his own fruit Vse 1 This should teach every one to try their owne fruits by the word of God for thereby will be comfort to them that feare God they may have continuall grounds of rejoycing when they observe their fruits to be good to be such as the husbandman cals for and approves of they may thence conclude that they are Trees of the Lords planting Engrafted Trees and this is a ground of joy indeed to know our names are written in heaven And here also will be grounds of conviction to unsound Christians for by a certaine knowledge of the Fruits they may have a certaine knowledge of the Trees And therefore let such seeing and considering their bad fruits give themselves no rest untill they find the nature of their fruits changed whereby they may conclude that the nature of the tree is also changed Vse 2 The thorough and serious consideration of this Proposition may be a speciall meanes to support and satisfie the spirits of Gods people who are in a doubting condition and question the truth of their graces for let such consider that hereby they may receive the best satisfaction that believers can possibly receive next unto the immediate testimony of the spirit of God to look upon and try their fruits by the word for fruits are infallible evidence of the nature of the Tree that brings them forth Therefore observe if these and such like fruits are brought forth the Tree is certainly good an ingrafted tree If there be fervent desires pantings and breathings of the soule after God delight in the word and ordinances Love to God and his people secret goings out of the soule after and closing with spirituall things disliking and hating corruptions and whatsoever is against the mind of God and opposing of it with a rising of spirit against it with zeale and indignation if there be a secret joy and cheerefullnesse in the spirit when things goe well with the people of God when holinesse and the power of godlinesse is like to be set up promoted and encouraged and sin suppressed if the spirit be stirred to pray against the dominion and power of wicked and unregenerate men not onely such as are prophane but also such as are but morally honest yea though they be accomplisht with the utmost of naturall and morall endowments prising and preferring sincerity and holinesse in any person before all gifts without grace These fruits I say are reall and infallible evidences of a good tree of a Tree ingrafted into Christ and that soule that finds them in it selfe if the spirit of God shine upon them and shew them may as certainly conclude upon the truth of grace there as if an Angell were sent from God to tell such a one that he is beloved of God It is as possible in nature for Thornes to bring forth Grapes or Thistles Figgs as for a Bad tree a person out of Christ to bring for h these fruits Let not such soules therefore so dishonour God wrong themselves and gratifie Sathan as to question the truth of grace in themselves but rejoyce evermore because their names are written in heaven Hereby we know we are translated from death to life because of these fruits 1 Joh. 3.14 The Ninth Observation in Nature THe branches of fruit-trees if cut off and stuck in the ground they will in the spring bud and blossome and be as forward as the boughes that grow upon the stock or root and will seeme to grow but when the sun drawes neere and the weather growes hot these boughes begin to decay and wither they cannot indure heat they within a while shew that they want a roote This is another Similitude of the state of spirituall fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition Proposition shadowed That some persons flourish with a profession for a time but in the heat of affliction they fall off Many Christians will flourish with a profession in the time of prosperity when many showers of blessings and outward comforts fall on them but when the hot sunne of troubles and afflictions begins to scorch and the dewes and raine of temporall blessings are taken away and withheld then they shew themselves to be but as Boughes stuck in the ground and without roots which bud and blossome but can bring forth no fruit These are they spoken of in the Parable Luk. 8.13 The seede that falls upon the Rock springs up as well it may be as that on the good ground but when the sun growes hot it scorcheth it and it withers Mat. 13.21 He hath no roote in himselfe but endureth for a while and in time of persecution he is offended Such the Apostle speakes of 1 Joh. 2.19 They went out from us because they were not of us c. This shewes us the end of Hypocrites formall professors who Vse 1 have no root in Christ such as are not really ingrafted into Christ they will certainly fall away at last none can persevere but by being in Christ Job 27.10 Will he the
That grace in the hearts of Believers is not suddenly strong Proposition shadowed but strength is gotten by degrees Grace is compar'd to a Grain of Mustardseede which though it be very small yet by degrees it groweth very great Mark. 4.31 It is like a Graine of Mustardseed which when it is sowen in the Earth is lesse then all the seeds that be in the earth vers 32. but when it is sowen it groweth up and becometh greater then all herbs and shooteth out great Branches c. The inclinations and new dispositions which the spirit of God beginneth to worke in the soule they are then but very weake and slender scarce it may be to be perceived but afterwards they are more sensible it is as Corne sowed in the field our Saviour holds it forth by that Similitude Mark. 4.28 which bringeth forth first the blade then the Eare after that the full corne in the Eare. Corne wee know springs up at first very small and slender and scarcely to be distinguished from Grasse so the first springings of Grace in some are so small that they are scarce to be perceived nor are they easily distinguished from Morall vertues The word of God is compar'd to seede Luk. 8.11 the seed is the word c. Now the spirit of God being the efficient Cause or worker As the husbandman casteth seede into his ground which he has prepar'd for that purpose so does the spirit cast or put the word into the heart he causeth it to fasten to take hold and to make impression in the heart and conscience of believers and there he waters it and causeth it to grow he makes it take effect and to worke according to the Nature of the word And of this seede the New man is borne 1 Pet. 1.23 being borne againe not of corruptible seede but of incorruptible by the word of God c. A Child newly borne is not presently a Man but he growes up by little and little God hath Children young men and fathers in his great family the Church believers of severall ages some weake and some strong Vse 1 This being so then the sower harsh doctrine that some men often dispence without due ingredients or distinctions is not according to wisdome laying loads and burthens upon weake shoulders and giving strong meate to Babes defining faith to be a full perswasion of the love of God which is onely applicable to some strong well growne Christians and not to the weake In the discoverie of the Characters of Grace such are often held forth as whereto none attaine but the elder and stronger sort of Believers which are stumbling blocks and grounds of Temptations and doubts to the weaker Paul should be made a Patterne in this case 1 Cor. 3.2 I have fed you with milke and not with meate for hitherto ye were not able to beare it Vse 2 Let not any soule be discouraged though Graces are weake at present they will grow stronger and stronger in the diligent use of all good meanes though thou seemest to be even overturned by Sathans Temptations and thy owne Corruptions frequently yet carry this in thy Mind I shall be stronger And be sure to eye Christ all along having once got a sight of him though thy sight be but weake and dim yet take heed of loosing it and strength will come from Christ often acting of faith upon Christ will increase and strengthen the Principle or habit of faith Though thou art not able to lay fast hold upon Christ with the hand of faith yet if thou canst but touch him as it were but with the little finger of faith vertue will come from him to refresh thy soule Daily study the Promises of the New-Covenant and ye may draw Milke out of those Breasts of Consolation which will feede and strengthen all the Graces 1 Pet. 2.2 As new borne Babes desire the sincere milke of the word that ye may grow thereby But some soules Object against themselves that they doe not grow after long use of the meanes they find little or no growth in Grace It may be Answered sure thou art mistaken for those who often complaine of the want of growth which is their greife and burthen certainely such soules doe grow Their clearer sence and sight of Corruptions with bewailing of them is a plaine Evidence of growth compare what thou findest now with what hath beene aforetime and it will be more visible Fruit trees nor Branches cannot be seene to grow yet compare their breadth and bignesse now with what they were aforetime and their growth will be manifest The foure and twentieth Observation in Nature WEe see by Experience that Grafts do sooner and more generally take hold of the stocke receive sap and life from it in a mild spring when there is calme warme weather gentle showers and now and then some warme gleames of the sunne then they do in a cold spring when there are many Frosts dry harsh East winds such a season keeps back most Grafts and hinders their springing and shooting forth as they would do in calme weather This is another Similitude c. and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Discoveries of the Love of God to soules prepared for Christ does hasten their closing with him When a soule lies under convictions for sin and apprehensions of the wrath of God for it the great thing is then how to make such a soule to close with and lay hold on Christ whereby onely he shall have true peace and so proceede unto growth and bearing fruits Now if such a one live under a harsh Ministry where the Law is frequently thundred out against sinners with little mixture of the Gospell or if he meete with passages in bookes which naturally beget feares or converse with unskilfull friends who through ignorance of such a condition will be apt to censure as Jobs friends lay on more load upon his spirit such a one hereby may be kept a great while from closing with Christ and resting on him by faith Whereas cleare discoveries of the kindnesse and love of God in Christ of readinesse to receive and bid welcome such a one is the most likely meanes to bring the soule to close with Christ When the 3000 were pricked in their hearts at Peters Sermon Acts 2. the Apostle encourages them with good words and assurance of entertainment and acceptance and thereupon they believe and rest on Christ So when the Jayler was struck with terrors Paul immediately encourages him to beleive and he forthwith closeth with Christ Acts 16.31 When a soule is wounded and bruised with the sight of sin and apprehensions of wrath then the soft Oyle or Balme of the Gospell should be powred in Esay 35.4 Say to them that are of a fearefull heart be strong feare not behold your God will come with a Recompence he will come and save you This is the very Office of Christ and his Ministers Esay 61.1 To preach glad tidings to the
Charets like a Whirle-wind vers 16. For the Lord will judg with fire and with his sword all flesh Now when shall this be even when the Lord will enlarge his Church when he will extend peace to Ierusalem as a River and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing streame Esay 66.12 When the isles a farre off shall declare his glory among the Gentiles and brethren shall be brought out of all Nations when the new heavens and the new earth shall be made the Church of God enlarged and beautified as we may see at large vers 19.20 c. The Prophet Jeremiah speakes likewise to the same purpose c. 23.19.20 Behold the tempest of the Lord goeth forth in wrath a violent whirles wind shall fall downe upon the head of the wicked and the anger of the Lord shall not returne untill he have executed and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart Now when these things shall be we see vers 20. in the latter daies when God is enlarging his Church ye shall understand it plainely This God will doe that he may glorifie himselfe in shewing forth his power and justice towards his enemies love to his people This may informe us and give some light unto us why all the Vse 1 destructions confusions and overturnings which have beene in these Nations of late yeares have come to passe and what other Nations shall shortly find also The great husbandman is about the enlarging of his Orchard according to the many Prophesies and promises in his word Now therefore who or whatsoever hinders and stands in the way shall certainely be removed 2 Thes 2.7 The Lord shall consume him Antichrist with the spirit of his mouth and destroy him with the brightnesse of his coming Vse 2 As this is unspeakable consolation to the saints who are the goodly fruit-trees in this large garden so is the same cause of trembling and astonishment to all opposers of God in this his great worke Weeds and wild Plants in a garden that 's carefully ordered are not so sure of plucking up as these persons are of a downfall for God hath said it he will plant his Garden and enlarge it upon an high mountaine and eminent and then up goe the wild trees though never so high and beautifull Ezek. 17.24 Then all the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought downe the high tree have exalted the low tree have dryed up the greene tree and made the dry tree to flourish I the Lord have spoken it and have done it Vse 3 Thirdly yee that stand out and oppose the worke of God be perswaded to deliver your selves from destruction beware of hardnesse of heart in refusing to see and acknowledge the hand of God in his dispensations for as Pharaoh the inhabitants of Egypt Canaan and others were destroy'd in their opposition against the plantation of old so shall it be with all hardned sinners in these latter daies Those being but Types and shadowes of things that shall come to passe in these gospell times Heb. 10.1 The law hath a shadow of good things to come Not only as they shadow forth Jesus Christ but also the things of Christ in his Church Vse 4 And further Let this Caution Gods owne people It is to manifest and evident that even some of them doe in some respects oppose the worke of God we see what divisions and contentions there are amongst them about the things concerning the kingdome of Christ Now therefore take heed of opposing the mind of God for if he be displeased with those who help not the Lord against the mighty will he not be much more displeased with those that oppose him and are against him in any of his designes It may hinder them of much good which otherwise they might have received from God See Pag. yea it may provoke God to cut them off though his owne people The husbandman sometimes cuts off a Branch or cuts downe even a good tree when it is in his way and hinders any of his great workes so doubtlesse does the Lord with some of his owne people when through any worldly interest or corruption they oppose his designes Therefore take heede speake not neither act against God and his waies through mistakes be not unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is Eph. 5.17 The eight and twentieth Observation in Nature WHen rare and excellent fruit-trees and fruits are first knowne there being but few of them they are more valued and esteemed then afterwards when they are multiplyed and growen common though the commodities are still the same in goodnesse as at first This shadowes out unto us That The constant enjoyment of the best things from God through corruptions makes them lesse noted and esteemed Proposition shadowed The nature of man is much taken with new things which having beene a while used and enjoyed are not afterwards of so much value with us though the things remaine in their former goodnesse and worth health peace and plenty and the best good things of this life yea the Ordinances of Christ society of the saints seasons and oportunities of grace spirituall priviledges are lesse observed and prized after a long enjoyment of them then at the first Though Manna was a pleasant bread Angels foode and the people of Israel were well pleased with it for a time yet afterwards they were weary of it Numb 21.5 Our soule loatheth this light bread When the people of God see the necessity and want of good things and earnestly pray and waite for them and at length God satisfies their desires and gives out the mercy longed for then they are much taken and affected with it their affections are raised and enlarged they put a price and value upon it greatly rejoycing in it and blessing God for it But after a certaine time of enjoyment the heart is lesse upon it the streames of affections are abated and run lower there is not that frequent notice taken of it neither when the mind reflects upon it at any time are the affections stirred as at the first when the thing was new Thus it is even in respect of the best and choicest things wee receive from God in this life even the sence and evidences of the love of God pardon of sin intrest in Christ Communion with the father and the sonne through the spirit These things after an habituall long enjoyment of them are lesse noted and lesse affect the heart then upon their first discovery so that God expostulates with his people about it he takes notice of it and observes the difference of the frame of their spirits what it hath beene and what it is afterwards Jer. 22. I remember the kindnesse of thy youth the love of thine espousales c. when thou wentest after me in the wildernesse time was when we were first acquainted and thou didst take me for thy Lord and Husband thou didst expresse much love towards me and
acting so the habit improves if the Acts of grace be but seldome and but weake the Habits and Principles grow but slowly And when Acts cease for a time as in some Temptations yet the habits seeds and Principles lie secret and sure in the soule and will as heat pent up and smoothered for a time breake forth afterwards more strongly and will enable the soule to trample upon all enemies The use of this may be to discover who are really in Christ Vse As there is an increase in all the Members and parts of Children if in health so in the spirituall man Ephes 4.16 according to the effectuall working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body As it is thus of the Church so also of every particular Member of it Now this increase is not in all alike nor at all times to be perceived in any one person but differs according to Talents of grace at first received and also according to the operations of the spirit and according to the meanes and helps that Christians have and use in the course of their lives Therefore labour to discerne an increase And lest some weake soules should stumble at this and question the truth of all because they discerne not an increase of grace in themselves but rather a decay because they find not now such vehement workings of affection nor such enlargednesse of heart as sometimes heretofore Let such consider that God sometimes withdrawes that they may be sensible of the different states tempers and frames of their spirits which may be made use of as a speciall evidence of spirituall life Secondly strength of grace consisteth not in the enlargednesse of the affections in duties which is usually most in young Christians but in a solid well grounded faith knowledg experience and cleare apprehensions of the love of God in Christ these more or lesse if we are diligent in the use of meanes grow to the last though there are in some Christians some interruptions through Trials and temptations which yet God doth order for their advantage The seventy first Observation in Nature SOme fruit-trees that are but weake crooked and uncomly Trees that have little beauty in respect of shape and colour c. they are notwithstanding more profitable and bring forth more pleasant and more usefull fruits than many faire tall and beautifull trees To instance in the Vine Ficus uvae inter fructus autumnales principatum obtinent Proposition shadowed and the fig-tree what trees are so low crooked weake of so deadish coloured outsides as they which yet yeild the most refreshing pleasant nourishment Many high strong beautifull trees are farre short of them in worth and goodnesse This Observation shadowes out unto us That Many persons of a low ranke and but of despised parts do yet bring forth more profitable fruits than many others eminent in gifts and outward respects Many of the Saints in their measure and proportion are as their Lord and Saviour of whom it is said he hath no forme nor comlinesse there is no beauty that we should desire him he is despised and rejected of men c. Esay 53.2.3 and yet who brought forth such fruits as he who besides that great and maine worke for which he was sent went daily about doing good did alwaies that which was pleasing to his father Joh. 8.29 As he was despised and rejected of men for the holinesse and spirituallnesse of his doctrine and life as well as for his meanesse in the world even so are many of his people at this day And so it was too in former times Were not the Apostles and disciples of Christ of a low ranke in the world taken from meane imployments whose naturall parts had little improvement by humane Learning which caused the proud Pharisees to despise and reject both them and their doctrine and yet who brought forth the best fruits they or the Pharisees That great fruit-tree mentioned Luk. 18.11 which was growen in his owne conceipt and its like in others too as high as heaven and spread large yet his fruits were not accepted as the fruits of the poore low despised shrub the Publican who came far short of the Pharases in outward respects That of the Apostle 1 Cor. 1.27 c. is a sufficient proofe for this point The foolish things the weake things the base things the despised thing The persons and things their Gifts and endowments their Judgments and actings that the worldly and carnall wise men and some spirituall men very carnall in their Judgments and waies account foolish weake base and altogether despise and trample on these even these are of more esteeme with God and are more profitable in his Church than many persons and things eminent in the world and of highest esteeme among men Learn then to judg and esteeme of persons and things Vse of Trees and fruits as God doth judg righteous Judgment looke upon things with a spirituall eye and tast them with a spirituall Palat God expects now that his people should be more spirituall than in former times that they should come off more from Externals whereon former ages have so much stood Gospell worship and conversation is more in the spirit than many even of the godly are yet convinced of The plaine simplicity of the Gospell in the delivery and manifestation of it to others is despised Persons who preach and publish the Gospell and cannot but speake the things they have heard and seene are neglected despised and cried downe Acts 4.20 unlesse they come adorned with eminent Gifts Humane learning and other externall qualifications which the fleshly wisdome of men eyes more than the spirituall savory well tasted fruits they bring forth to the refreshing and feeding the soules of men to eternall life One of these poore low despised spirituall trees without forme or comlinesse in a carnall eye brings forth more good and profitable fruits than an hundred of some of those who come with externall Ornaments of Titles degrees tongues excellency of speech and b It s true indeede humane learning and eminent parts are excellent and of singular use in the Church of God if sanctified if in regenerate persons especially in such who have also great measures of grace to make all subservient thereunto othewise all is used and turned for selfe and sinister ends and purposes and against Christ Humane wisdome which the Apostle who had more Learning than they car'd not for in his Ministry 1 Co. 2.1 4. My speech and my preaching was not with the enticing words of mans wisdome but in the demonstration of the spirit and of power Plaine experimentall discourses of spirituall holy men but of ordinary gifts about Christ and his kingdome are for the most part more profitable amongst the vulgar sort of people than the discourses of learned men about the same thing One reason besides the speciall presence of the spirit may be because the Matter Method and expressions
of ordinary gifted persons are all suted and fitted to Common capacities they expresse themselves in words easie to be understood as the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 14.9 They speak to men as the Apostles in their time in their own Language therefore things have the more easy and ready entrance and admission into their spirit Whereas persons of high attainments in Gifts most commonly speake as the Apostle saies into the aire in an unknowne Tongue as to vulgar understandings when perhaps they think they speake plainely 1 Cor. 14.9 Now besides what has been said continuall experience proves these things abundantly Therefore let not Morall Gifts and attainements be over valued while the spirit of Christ and his graces are neglected The seventie second Observation in Nature THe Husbandman expects fruits from all his Fruit-trees he will not approve of any one barren-tree in his Orchard Though he lookes not that all should beare alike yet he will not indure any fruit-trees that are not fruit-full or some way or other profitable to him Hereby we are taught That God will not allow an idle person but expects every one should be profitable in his place Proposition shadowed The world is Gods great family and he will have no one idle but every one that is able to labour some way or other imployed in that which is good And therefore he bestowes upon every one a Talent at least upon some two upon some more some Gift or Gifts of body or mind or both which they ought to imploy and improve for the honour of their Lord and Master and good of their brethren A day of accompt is coming and hard by when there will be a sad reckoning for all idle persons Matth. 25.26 thou wicked and slothfull servant cast ye the unprofitable servant into utter darknesse vers 30. No one is exempted from a particular calling or labour 1 Cor. 7.20 Let every man saith he abide in the same calling wherein he was called Paul could not abide an idle person he would not allow a man meate unlesse he would worke if able 2 Thes 3.10 Thus we commanded you That if any would not worke neither should he eat we must worke either with the hand August de Op. Mona Lib 2. or with the mind Laborant qui mente operantur We command you saith the Apostle worke with your own hand 1 Thes 4.11 And againe Ephes 4.28 Working with his hands the things that is good that he may have something to give to him that needeth The spirit gives Gifts diversly but the end is to profit withall 2 Cor. 12.7 Such as have Gifts and Talents and use them not are like Idols who have eyes and see not ears and heare not hands and worke not feet and walke not Psal 150.5.6.7 Hence we see the shame and danger of many persons in the world Vse 1 especially of the richer and greater sort who having severall Gifts and Talents bestowed on them are notwithstanding idle and unprofitable letting their parts rust and lye hid in a napkin Though they have rich Revenues to live upon yet they ought to labour for God his Church and the Common-wealth Nemo sibi natus Every man is a Member of the body Politique and ought to do something for the good of the whole body as the Members in the Naturall body Here what a Directions for walking with God pag. 49. Mr Boulton saies of such as are unprofitable in Church and Common wealth he is saith he a cursed drone a child of idlenesse and sloth the very tennis-ball of Temptation most unworthie of the blessings and benefits of humane society who doth not one way or other cooperate and contribute to the Common good with his best endeavours in some honest particular calling The best men in all ages have ever set themselves to some good Imployments God would have none idle no not Adam even in his state of innocency he had an Imployment assigned him being put into the Garden of Eden to dresse it and to keep it Gen. 2.15 So then her 's an Imployment among others fit for the best men the worke of the first man even in his perfect state and that appointed by God himselfe as befitting such a condition Philosophers Kings Emperors in former ages delighted in the worke of an Orchard as was formerly shew'd at large Men may honour God greatly profit themselves the Church and Common-wealth by their studies and labors in a Garden of Fruit-trees The seventie third Observation in Nature SOme Fruit-trees live longer than others some die while they are young others when they are large trees at their full growth perhaps by diseases or excessive heat and drynesse at their roots or are violently cut downe for their barrennesse or bad fruits others live till they be growen very old and die by degrees with very age and as these are removed the husbandman plants others in their roomes This shadowes out unto us the state of Mysticall fruit-trees in this Proposition That Proposition shadowed The life of man is very uncertaine some die in Childhood others in youth others in old age and in the roome of these others arise Seeds of decay are sowen in the best soyle of mans body which spring and grow and bring forth sooner or later dissolution The Causes of decay and death both in naturall and spirituall fruit-trees are often alike The husbandman observing the Canker wormes or other diseases to seise upon some of his bad trees which he sets little by he neglects them and saies if they die let them die I 'le set better in their roomes So saith the Mysticall Husbandman of his fruit-trees because of their barrennesse or bad fruits when he sees diseases or miseries seise upon them I will will not feede you that that dieth let it die and that that is to be cut off let it be cut off Ezek. 11.5 he hath not that care of them as he hath of his fruitfull trees they are not within his speciall protection John 17.9 I pray not for the world Againe some he cuts downe in their full strength as was prophesied against Elies house 1 Sam. 2.33 All the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age So Ier. 15.8 a spoyler at noone day her sunne is gon downe while it was yet day as to the people of Iudah in the generall in time of their prosperity so to many in particular in their health and full strength Psal 55.25 The blood thirsty and deceitfull man shall not live out halfe their daies So Psalm 37.36 Now as these are cut downe others are planted Ps 109 7. Let his daies be few and let another take his office and Ps 75.8 he putteth downe one and setteth up another Others againe live till they be very old and decay by degrees and are like old Barzillai 2 Sam. 9 35. who by reason of age could not tast what he ate or dranke c. they live till they be
satisfied with age Ps 91.16 Seeing our lives are so uncertaine and that wee know not when Vse 1 our Lord will come Mark 13.35 Whether in the evening or at midnight or at the dawning of the day we should therefore be alwaies ready that is to be sure that we have an interest in Christ without which there can be no preparation for death This shewes the desperate estate of all unregenerate persons they are in danger every moment of a sudden destruction and Vse 2 many times it comes in the height and fulnesse of their outward prosperity as with Herod upon the Throne of his glory Belshazzar in the midst of his feast Dan. 5.6 Haman at the Banquet of wine in his glory Hester 7.10 I have seen saith David the wicked in great power and spreading himselfe like a greene Bay-tree c. But how quickly was he gon Psal 37.35 Hence we should be stirred up to bring forth good and profitable Vse 3 fruits that so the husbandman may take care of us and nourish and prune and order his fruit-trees for many yeares according to his promise Prov. 10.27 My sonne keepe my Commandements for length of daies and long life and peace shall they adde to thee especially let us attend to the works of our generation according to the pointing out of the word and hand of providence The seventy fourth Observation in Nature WE see by experience that what kinds of seeds of fruit-trees wee sow in our Nurseries such will be the trees and consequently the fruits of those trees if the seed be good the trees and fruits will be so also if the seed be naught so will be the trees and fruits the seed containes in it the forme of the trees and fruits This is another Similitude of the state of spirituall fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed According to mens Principles such are their actings and their rewards according to both Originall sin corruption of Nature is the seede that lies in the soule of all mankind which naturally springs up and growes like a plant or tree higher and larger and stronger every day branching it selfe and breaking forth in thoughts words and works now according to the Nature of this seede or these branches or trees such will be the fruits Jer. 6.19 Behold I will bring evill upon this people even the fruit of their thoughts we see what those fruits were in the following words even perishing and destruction Also Jer. 32.19 Thine eyes are upon all the waies of the sonnes of men to give everie one according to his waies and according to the fruit of his doings And againe Hos 10.13 Ye have prolonged wickednesse ye have reaped iniquity ye have eaten the fruit of lies and what the fruit was we see in the following verses dashing in peeces and utter destruction So also on the other side the seed or principles of grace in the soule springs up and growes like a tree into a body boughes and branches which bring forth good and pleasant fruits whereof we may eat not only in this life but also to all Eternity This seede springs up and branches it selfe into thoughts words actings multitudes of-waies in our conversations a wholsome tongue is a tree of life Prov. 15.3 The fruit of this Tree in Prayer Praises c. hath a sweete and acceptable tast in the account of the husbandman So also is it pleasant unto men Prov. 25.11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of Gold in pictures of silver All sorts of spirituall seede brings forth answerable fruits Gal. 6.8 He that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting The spirit of God and the habits of grace in the soule continually spring up and bring forth good fruits persons in whom these dwell act according to their Natures and fruits and rewards are accordingly dispensed Rom. 6.22 Ye have your fruit unto holinesse and the end everlasting life These things being so they call aloud to every unregenerate Vse 1 person to breake off their sinnes by Repentance thereby to cut off all the boughes and branches that spring from the seed and roote of corrupt Nature otherwise they will certainly bring forth poysonous and deadly fruits whereof they shall eat and drinke to all eternity Rom. 7.5 The motions of sin which were by the Law did worke in our Members to bring forth fruit unto death Naturall men cannot act any thing that 's good because ther 's no good seede no spirituall principles therefore it necessarily followes their fruit will be bitter Gal. 5.7 Be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man sowes that shall he also reape he that seweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption The fruit the reward is perdition eternall misery They shall eat the fruit of their owne way Prov. 1.31 so also Job 4.8 and Prov. 22.8 Men may as rationally expect pleasant Apples from Crab-seede or good wheat from Tare seede as comfort or happinesse from coâ—rupt Principles This Proposition is a ground of unspeakable comfort and encouragement Vse 2 unto all that feare God they have a seede within them 1 Joh. 3.9 his seed remaineth in him that is the vigour the workings the efficacy of the spirit Principles and habits of grace the word of God these remaine in believers which spring up grow and bring forth fruit to eternall life the fruit is according to the seede their reward according to their Principles and actings Gal. 6.8 He that now goes on his way weeping and beareth good seede shall doubtlesse come againe with joy bringing his sheaves with him Psalm 126.6 Ther 's an Emphasis in the word doubtlesse out of all question nothing more certaine we shall reap in due time if we faint not Gal. 6.9 And that we may not faint let us often make use of these cordiall promises already mentioned with this and the like wrought downe to us from the hand of God Esay 3.10 say ye to the righteous it shall goe well with them for they shall eat the fruit of their doings The seventie fifth Observation in Nature Of this see at large Obser 64. FRuit-trees are profitable many waies in the wood and boughes pruned off to burne also for Ioyners and other Tradesmen the boughes and blossomes adorne the house in the spring their odor is refreshing to the spirits and their coole shade in the heat of summer but especially profitable in their fruits whereof we eat and drink all the year long This is another Similitude and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed Spirituall Fruit-trees ingrafted into Christ are many waies profitable in their Generations Such as fear God will certainly follow some profitable course of life some lawfull calling or labour either of body or mind or both whereby they may advantage themselves and others They are also profitable in many spirituall respects by discourse reproofe counsell and admonition by Prayer Preaching
printing Bookes communicating their Talents for the good of others by their Almes and acts of charity and love to their brethren and to all by their good Examples which shine forth as lights in the world directing others They are profitable to others both in privative and positive respects wicked persons who live amongst them are often spared for their sakes the Tares are suffered to grow because amongst the Wheat yea and share of many positive outward blessings for their sakes Laban and his family shared of the blessings powred downe upon Jacob Gen. 30.27 which Laban acknowledged I have learned saith he by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake So Potiphar had many outward blessings for Iosephs sake likewise Pharaoh and all his Court fared the better because of Ioseph he and his house had a full Table when others perished with hunger Yea Godlinesse and Godly men are profitable to all purposes 1 Tim. 4.8 having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come Hence we may conclude the madnesse and unreasonablenesse Vse 1 of all unregenerate persons who hate the godly and persecute them continually although they are their best freinds preserving them from many Judgments and procuring to them many temporall blessings every man naturally seekes the destruction of things dangerous and deadly to him but who but unreasonable men will seek to destroy things usefull and profitable to them yea persons and things without which they cannot subsist for were the Godly taken out of the world a floud of fire would quickly consume the wicked A whole City was preserved for a time for Lots sake Gen. 19.22 I cannot do any thing till thou be come to Zoar. Vse 2 This should make every one to love and cherish these profitable Trees where ever they grow and to defend them from spoyle or hurt as much as in us lies When Onesimus was ingrafted into Christ then he became profitable both to Paul and to others Epistle to Philemon 10 11. Now profitable both to thee and me so that Paul requires of Philemon to accompt of him now not as a servant but as a brother even as of Paul himselfe vers 12. So that we should love the people of God not only because they are belov'd of God and beare his Image and are fellow brethren and fellow Members with us but also because they are so many waies profitable The seventy sixth Observation in Nature THe sower and bitter sap of the wild stocke which is ingrafted runs through all the whole tree into the body boughes branches buds leaves blossomes fruits and does something a Although the graft changes the sap of the wild stock into its owne Nature yet not totally a tang of the wild nature remaines imbase the fruits making them lesse pleasant and sweete yet the fruits are good and acceptable fruits This shadowes out unto us That Proposition shadowed The most spirituall actings of believers tast of corrupt nature which notwithstanding are acceptable unto God The soule and spirit of man is the stock into which the word of God and Principles of grace are ingrafted and these drawing and making use of the sap life strength and powers of the soule in all the faculties doe change them into their owne spirituall nature in a great measure yet not totally even as the a Of this see more pa. 119. Observ 59. naturall grafts of a good and pleasant nature do change the sap vertue and strength of the wild and sower stockes so much thereof as the Grafts draw into their owne nature in a great measure but not wholly Though Christ and his graces dwell in his people yet corruption in a measure abides there also and this corruption runs through the whole man and is mixed with all our thoughts words and actings though they proceed from the principles and habits of grace fixed in the soule by the spirit of God as some noxious or hurtfull quality in the Liver mixeth it selfe with the blood and staines it throughout all the body Spirituall acts as they proceed from the spirit of God Principles of grace and are done in love to God and directed to right ends are pure and perfect these fruits have a pleasant tast with God the husbandman yet as they proceed from us and are acted in and through the faculties of the soule where Corruptions and imperfections reside they are imperfect This mixture of corruptions with our services and duties was typified in the offerings of the people Exod 28.38 Aaron a type of Christ bore the iniquity of the holy things And the Prophet Esay upon this accompt pronounces all our best righteousnesses to be as filthy raggs Esay 64.6 The Apostle also knowing this complained of it Rom. 7.21 I find a Law that when I would do good evill is present with me All believers know and find this by continuall Experience Vse 1 This shewes the vanity and unsoundnesse of that Doctrine that maintaines good workes as meritorious and meanes of Justification but let us looke unto Christ our high Priest to beare the imperfections of our best workes The consideration of this may be a meanes to pull downe the high thoughts of such as are lifted up in looking upon their Gifts Vse 2 of Nature acquired abilities graces and best workes in regard Corruption runnes through all these and staines them our purest wine is mixt with water and our best fruits are but bitter-sweets This should make us rejoice in and admire the infinite love of Vse 3 God in Christ who notwithstanding all imperfections and failings accepts and likes yea and is delighted with the duties and services of his people Love covereth all sins Prov. 10.12 Though the Church and every believing soule be black and spotted as the Moone through the staines of Corruptions yet such is the love of Christ that he over lookes all as though nothing were amisse Can. 4.7 Thou art faire my love there is no spot in thee The seventie seventh Observation in Nature IN Fruit-trees are two Natures the one of the sower wild stock the other of the pleasant graft Now these two natures being in one body strive together as all contraries joined do to convert each other into its owne kind or nature a Even as hot water and cold being mixed these qualities strive to change each other and that which is most powerfull prevailes but the Nature of the graft is predominant and converts the sap that it drawes into its owne nature though not totally See pag. 119. This Observation shadowes out unto us That There is a continuall combate betweene grace and nature in every regenerate person but grace prevailes Every believer by engrafting into Christ Proposition shadowed receives another nature the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 which abides in the soule together w th the other the corrupt nature which it had before Now these two natures being contary oppose one another all our lives long
There are motions of the spirit and motions of the flesh upon all occasions workings and inclinations in the soule towards and against good and evill 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 The flesh still moves against the motions of the spirit of God and principles of grace framing objections and reasonings against good motions Rom. 7.21 I find then a law that when I would do good evill is present with me The spirit is ready to every good worke but the flesh is sluggish loath backward vers 22. I delight in the Law of God concerning the inner man but I see another Law in my Members warring against the Law of my mind c. But now though it be so that the motions of the flesh oppose the motions of the spirit yet for all that the spirituall man rules in the soule for the maine and generality of our lives And Christians know by Experience that according to the promise Gal. 5.16 Walke in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh when they walke circumspectly and watch over the heart to keepe it up in a spirituall frame in communion with God then the flesh is low and kept under Vse 1 Seeing there is a continuall combate betweene the flesh and the spirit this should make us watchfull against the flesh that it prevaile not we know the flesh never sturs but to do us hurt who would not be incensed against such an enemie now the way to prevaile against the flesh is to cherish and delight to obey the motions of the spirit as before Gal. 5.16 The seventie eighth Observation in Nature SOme fruit-trees as being of different kinds and for severall other causes bring forth more fruits than others and the same fruit-trees bring forth more fruits some yeares than they do some other yeares Experience tells us that when there comes a pleasant and mild spring with other concurrent advantages trees beare as many fruits as in 3 or 4 other yeares Proposition shadowed This shadowes out unto us That Some believers are by advantages more fruitfull than others and at some more than at other times Every Christian being engrafted into Christ brings forth some good fruits and having a Talent or more a stock of grace gifts and advantages he imployes and improves all one way or other for the honour of God but some believers have greater measures of grace and more advantages of improving them than others and therefore their returnes are greater and their fruits are more We see Matth. 25.20 He that had five Talents he brought forth more fruits than they that had received lesse And the Apostle saies 1 Cor. 15.10 I labored more abundantly than they all Some Christians as they have greater measures of the spirit and the graces of the spirit so they have better naturall parts and more outward helps and meanes in respect of time to heare and read the word to converse with others speciall dispensations of Providence and the like advantages whereby they are enabled to bring forth more fruits than others who want such helps and means of fruitfulnesse Some are carried on with vigorous actings of spirit with a lively hope with a strong faith with fervent love and with great measures of every grace and can do and suffer more for God than other believers can Others againe having but weake naturall parts small measures of knowledge and grace wanting helps and meanes of growth and improvement having but dim evidences of the love of God their fruits are according to these fewer and smaller than some other Christians bring forth Yea the same individuall person brings forth more and better fruits at some seasons than at others At those times when the soule is in a more spirituall frame and temper in more immediate communion with God when the spirit of God sensibly actuates and quickens the Principles and habits of grace in the soule and makes them lively and vigorous when the North and south winds blow upon the Gardens then the spices thereof flow forth and fruits abound But at some other times the actings of the soule are but low and weake while the spirit withdrawes and withholds his operations if the winds blow not the ship with all its sailes moves slowly This being so let no sincere soule be discouraged and dishartned Vse 1 yeilding to a temptation to see some other Christians go beyond them in fruitfulnesse if such diligently presse on towards the marke they shall be accepted It may be others have received more from God than thou hast more Talents of Gifts Graces time and many advantages Now there being a sincere and ready mind it is accepted according to what a man hath and not according to what he hath not 2 Cor. 8.12 Vse 2 Secondly seeing we are more fruitfull at some than at other times this should teach every one of us to observe and watch over the frame of our spirits from day to day that so when they are in that low and dull temper we may endeavour what in us lies by all experienced meanes to raise them out of it into that spirituall and lively frame afore mentioned wherein we bring forth more fruits and obtaine unspeakable advantages The seventie ninth Observation in Nature THe husbandman rejects not his fruit-trees because they sometimes faile in bringing forth fruits perhaps a cold time may come when they are in blossome and spoile much or most of them or if that fruit they bring forth be somewhat imperfect by spots roughnesse chaps or the like yet if it tast well if it have a good relish he approves of the fruits and commends them makes much of the trees notwithstanding all imperfections in both Hence we learne this Lesson That God beares with the failings and imperfections of his people and is ever ready to take notice of Proposition shadowed and commend the good that is in them The Lord is pleased to beare with the failings of his people and seemes not to see them but contrariwise takes notice of what good is in them and speakes of it with commendation as if it were their owne We see this fully in the case of Job God passeth by his many and great failings and scarce takes notice of them in standing so much upon his justification and breaking out to curse the day of his birth c but on the contrary obserues and commends what is good in him Ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right as my servant Job hath and Jam. 5.11 ye have heard of the patience of Job David sinned and failed very much in many things as in purposing and going about to destroy Naball and all his house 2 Sam. 25.22 without a just cause in numbring the people and in many other things upon record all which God passeth by as if they had not
beene and saies of him that David walked before him with a perfect hear t and departed not from him in any thing save in the matter of Vriah 1 Kings 15.5 How wonderfully did God beare with Jonah and how mild was God towards him when Iona was up in an angry sturdy humour and would needs maintaine it and answere God peremptorily I do well to be angry Jonah 4.9 So Christ passeth by the ignorance and prejudice of Nathaniel concerning himselfe and insted of a reproofe gives him a commendation Behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile Joh. 1.46.47 And as this is the love of Christ towards particular persons so also towards his whole Church though the Church be as full of spots as the Moone yet the exceeding love of Christ covers a multitude of faults Prov. 10.12 and saies thou art all faire my love there is no spot in thee Can. 4.7 Love beareth all things endureth all things 1 Cor. 13.7 God doth not only conceale the failings of his people very much but he takes notice of and commends the most secret good they doe and sometimes publisheth the secret and closet good works of his people upon the house top Luk. 12.3 Do that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same Rom. 13 3. Yea praise not only of men but of God Rom. 2.29 As it is our duty to speake well of God and the things of God to his praise so it is the pleasure and good will of God to speake well of his people to their praise and commendation so he spake of Abraham Gen. 18.19 I know that he will command his children and houshold to walke in my waies c. The like commendation is given of Moses My servant Moses is faithfull in all mine house There are many instances of Gods concealing the faults and failings of his people with commendation of the good that is in them Now God judgeth righteous judgment therefore 't is our true honour to be commended by him Not he that commendeth himselfe is approved but he whom the Lord commendeth 2 Cor. 10.18 Vse 1 This should make us very carefull to avoid what may offend this our indulgent and gratious father seeing he shewes his love in concealing our faults let us shew our love in suppressing and declining what is evill let this be one fruit of our Love to God Let it be far from us to turne this grace and kindnesse of God into wantonnesse to be the more bold and take more liberty in sinning because God is so ready to pardon and passe it by Psal 97.10 Yee that love the Lord hate evill the hatred of evill is a fruit of love Vse 2 The consideration of this is a speciall meanes to support the people of God against discouragements and droopings in looking upon sins failings seeing we serve so good a master that is not rigorous and severe as some earthly Masters are that all their poore diligent servants can do will not please them but our Master is of a sweete nature passing by the infirmities and accepting the sincere indeavours of his servants and that with commendation Vse 3 Hence we should be greatly encouraged in all well doing and be the more diligent and industrious to please God in all things an ingenuous and good nature will do more for love than for feare a servant though but morally honest and of a good disposition will do more for a mild Master that beares with him than if he were harsh and hard to please The Cords of love and kindnesse will draw a man of an honest mind in the way of obedience faster than scourges can drive him Vse 4 We should set this before us as a patterne for our imitation if God be so kind and forbearing towards us betweene whom there is such an infinite distance shall not we mete the same measure towards our fellow brethren it is the use the Apostle makes of the same doctrine 1 Joh. 4.11 Beloved if God so loved us we ought also to love one another Let us beare with one anothers infirmities and take notice of all the good we can in each other This is to be like God Shall God forgive Talents of sins to us and shall not we forgive a few pence to our brethren See the reproofe and punishment of the want of this duty Matth. 18.32.33 Consider the sweet exhortation of the Apostle to this purpose Eph. 4.23 Be ye kind one to another tender harted forgiving one another even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you The eightieth Observation in Nature FRuit-trees bring forth their fruits in their seasons some at one time some at another some sooner some later in sommer and Autumne every kind observes the Law of Nature which God hath fixed in them in respect of times and seasons of bearing fruits From hence we may observe That Trees of the Lords planting bring forth fruits seasonably Proposition shadowed All that are branches of the true Vine doe not only bring forth good fruits and by the purging and ordering of the husbandman bring forth much good fruit John 15.2 but also they bring forth good fruit in due season good fruits brought out unseasonably loose thereby much of their beauty and goodnesse therefore observe the season The Prophet David describing a Godly man one of his properties is this he brings forth his fruit in due season Psal 1.3 Solomon saies a foole utters all his mind but a wise man keeps it in till afterwards Prov. 29.7 A wise man brings forth the fruit of his lips seasonably The voice of a foole is in the multitude of words while others are speaking that 's no good season but a man should stay and wait for a fit time for an opportunity when his words may be heard yea and when the minds of the hearers are best prepared to hear such or such a truth when its most like to take impression Believers have spirituall wisdome wisdome from above Esay 50.4 The Lord hath given me the tongue of the learned that I might know how to speake a word in season to him that is weary Though this be principally meant of Christ the head yet his members have from him the same spirit of wisdome to speake seasonably to weary soules and to speake in the cause of God when there is occasion and season This is to admonish every one to consider and observe the season Vse 1 the fittest season for every duty looking unto God for direction therein This will be much to the beauty and worth of them Every thing is beautifull in his season To every thing there is a season Eccl. 3.1 Circumstances commonly make or marre things and sometimes that which is a duty as to the substance and matter is turn'd into sin in respect of the manner and time of performance so that this is of very great consequence to observe a due season in duties Prov. 15.23 A word spoken in season how good is it
it is like Apples of gold in pictures of silver Prov. 25.11 The husbandman lookes and calls for fruits in their season Mar. 12.2 At the season he sent a servant that he might receive of the fruits of the vineyard So Mat 21.41 We ought in private meetings to consider what discourse is most seasonable what questions exhortations reproofs are most sutable and seasonable and accordingly apply our selves our spirits at some seasons are farre more apt to receive impressions than at other times Now therefore we should be seasonable in publique and private duties but some take little heed to this when the subjects they hold forth in Sermons suite neither with persons nor things to which they ought to apply their doctrine if they will speake seasonably but are like snow in harvest or singing songs to an heavy heart Many things materially good for want of due circumstances and seasonablenesse in performance are of little worth Those doctrines in publique and discourses and duties in private which are not only agreeable to the word in generall but also concurre with and carry on Gods maine designes in the generation we live in such fruits are seasonable fruits otherwise though good in themselves they are not seasonable Also when the word is so divided as to give to every one his portion and application is made to particular and different cases and Conditions of persons then these fruits are seasonably brought forth The eightie first Observation in Nature FRuit-trees yeild forth their fruits as well to the wicked as the godly The unholy and profane do yearly eat and drinke of their fruits and have profits and advantages by them as well as the most holy This shadowes out unto us Proposition shadowed That The godly are profitable not only one to another but the wicked also faire the better for them They that feare God have great and precious promises made to them concerning the good things of this life as well as of the life to come which God performeth to them as he sees is best for them of which outward good things the wicked who grow amongst them as Tares amongst the Wheate are partakers Also being partakers of the divine nature and having the spirit of their heavenly father dwelling in them they imitate God in some measure who doth good to the just and unjust and lets his raine fall and sun shine upon the wicked and the good Matth. 5 25. They do good to all according to the command Gal. 6.10 and that of Matth. 5.44 Love your enemies blesse them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you Wicked men share both of privative and positive blessings among the godly Even Sodome was spared for a time while righteous Lot was among them How many fared the better for Josephs sake David was kind to churlish Nabal in keeping his Cattle from spoile while he remained by them Laban was blessed in outward things for Jacobs sake Gen. 30.27 Potiphar and his house Pharaoh and all Egypt fared the better for Joseph Gen. 39.5 and 41. c. Also they reprove exhort and admonish the ungodly as well as the godly they give and lend and doe good not only to them that will do good and lendâ— and give to them but also to their enemies if their enemy hunger they will feede him if he thirst they will give him drinke Vse 1 Hence we may take notice of the noble and excellent nature of Gods people in that they do good to all to those who do hurt to them the ungodly are not so the righteous is more excellent than his carnall neighbour Prov. 12.26 and Prov. 17.27 He is of an excellent spirit Herein he holds forth some resemblance of the Nature of God his father who does good to the just and unjust Vse 2 We may also hence take occasion to observe the basenesse and unworthinesse of the spirits of ungodly persons who hate the righteous notwithstanding all their love they returne evill for Good Psal 109.4 for my love they are mine adversaries This is the highest aggravation of mans sin against God to sin against love against mercy and kindnesse God calls Heaven and Earth to wonder at it Esay 1.2 Here O Heavens and give eare O Earth c. I have nourished and brought up children and they have rebelled against me so in a proportion is the sin aggravated in respect of men it is the highest ingratitude to returne hate for love evill for good The eightie second Observation in Nature SOme fruit-trees are slow in bearings fruits many yeares passe ere they beare any considerable quantity of fruits but notwithstanding the husbandman does not presently cut them downe but prunes them diggs about them waters and orders them from yeare to yeare and waits for their fruits This shadowes out unto us this Proposition That When men are slow in the duties of obedience God is patient towards them Proposition shadowed and in the use of all meanes waits for their fruitfulnesse God is the great Husbandman of his Vineyard the Church and having many fruit-trees in it he prunes orders and gives them convenient culture from yeare to yeare by his word spirit Ministers Providences favours frownes Chastisements and all meanes and lookes every one should be fruit-full under all his dispensations And yet so it is that many are unfruitfull or beare but few and small fruits though God expect much they returne but little now notwithstanding God of his infinite patience tarries and waites upon them for their fruits Many yeares did the Lord waite for the fruits of Repentance from the old world 1 Pet. 3.20 The long suffering of God waited in the daies of Noah And Esay 30 18. The Lord will wait that he may be gratious He Plants and waters and prunes and dresses his fruit-trees and then waits for their fruits in their seasons Luke 13.7 These three yeares I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree God cuts not downe fruit-trees suddenly for their unfruitfulnesse but sends his word and spirit and causeth the dewes and raine of Heaven to fall upon them in manifold mercies and Providences and then waits for and expects fruits God is as the Apostle saith 2 Pet. 3.9 Long suffering to us ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance This should make us observe and admire the abundant kindnesse Vse 1 and love of God towards us that God who is infinite in power wisdome justice and absolute of himselfe having no neede at all of his Creatures and in a moment able to bring to nought whatsoever shall oppose him shall yet wait upon his Creatures as if he had some need of them or expected some advantage by them whereas it is for our profit and advantage he is indulgent towards his Children bearing with them Ps 103. when they beare some good fruits he purgeth and pruneth them that they may bring forth
great duties of love and charity towards our fellow members what do we wher 's our Religion Pure Religion and undefiled before God even the father is this to visit the fatherlesse and widdowes in their afflictions c. James 1.27 See what our Saviour saies of these duties Matth. 25.36 Magistrater ought not only to restraine and punish what is to Gods dishonour but also to contrive stand for and uphold what is acceptable to him Ministers of the Gospell ought not only to preach the Gospell in the publique congregation but also to take all occasions in private to exhort rebuke instruct and encourage the people in the things of God to be instant in season and out of season inquiring how the worke of grace goes on in the hearts of their people and to know their state which Paul so much enquired after in his owne person and by others that he might speak and write more sutable to their conditions Phil. 2.19 Col. 4.8 how Sathan works what dispensations they have from God and to learne experiences from them studying men as they study books by which course they may become wise and skillfull workmen and know those waies and workings of God of Sathan of Grace and Corruption which otherwise they can never know Pastors of congregations have a strict charge Acts 20.28 Take heed to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers Now to oversee the Church imports more than only to Preach in publique that is but a part of their worke A speciall care should be had of the different state of particular persons Vse This should put us upon Examination what works and duties God requires of us in our generall and particular Callings that knowing them we may observe one as well as another and have respect to all Gods Commands Let us not suffer one duty to justle out another which is frequent among Christians Many think if they are still doing what is good and about the worke of God they look not so much about them nor consider what is necessary besides or what is more necessary and profitable and so many times neglect the maine worke They let some branches of duties wither and dye while the sap and strength of the Tree presseth forth and spends it selfe in other branches lesse fruitfull The eightie fifth Observation in Nature WHile fruit-trees remaine ungrafted all the labour and culture the husbandman can bestow upon them will not make them bring forth good fruits though they grow in the best place of the Garden and be watred pruned and ordered never so well yet because they are ungrafted and wild trees they will beare sower and noughty fruits This is another Similitude of the state of spirituall fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That While persons remaine in an unregenerate state all the meanes of grace is unprofitable to them Proposition shadowed Many make a profession who yet have nothing of the power of godlinesse they attend the Ordinances they heare the word pray have priviledges among the Saints yet bring forth no good fruit Judgments Mercies favours outward providences inward workings of the spirit by reproofes counsells inlightnings c. all is in vaine to them they cannot receive these things nor profit by them because not engrafted they reject the word Psal 50.17 Thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee And Heb. 4 2. The word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it And as they reject the word so also they resist the spirit Acts 7.51 Ye do alwaies resist the Holy Ghost as your fathers did so do yee Yea Judgments and punishments are ineffectuall to them Esay 9.13 The people turneth not unto him that smiteth them neither do they seeke the Lord of Hosts Amos 4 9. I have smitten you with blasting and mildew c. yet ye have not returned unto mee saith the Lord I have sent amoung you pestilence and ye have not returned unto me And vers 11. I have overthrowne some of you c. yet ye have not returned unto mee saith the Lord. So we see all that God doth for or against persons out of Christ all the meanes of grace is unprofitable to them they neglect the mercies of God reject the word spirit Judgments of God and all the reproofes admonitions Counsels Exhortations and Examples of his people Hence we see the miserable condition of persons out of Christ Vse 1 seeing nothing will do good upon them would it not be accompted a heavy curse if the Lands of some men should bring forth nothing but bryers thorns and weeds with all the good husbandry that could be bestowed on them with raine sunne and dewes when by the same meanes other mens grounds are made fruitfull this spirituall curse upon the soules of unregenerate persons is infinitely greater such without Repentance are nigh unto cursing and everlasting burnings Heb. 6.8 Labour then with all thy might to get this evidence of Regeneration Vse 2 even to thrive and profit by the meanes of grace The eightie sixt Observation in Nature FRuit-trees when they prosper well and grow in a decent comly forme and bring forth much good fruit as they do profit many so also hereby they credit the husbandman they bring some reputation to him who orders them but if they grow poorely and bring forth little they discredit their keeper This teacheth us this Lesson That Christians by walking holily and fruitfully Proposition shadowed they bring much honour to God but if otherwise dishonour Every one of the people of God that professeth Christ is as a City upon a hill as our Saviour said of his disciples and therefore their waies are seen and observed by all sorts of persons so that if they walke wisely circumspectly and fruitfully they bring honour to God and credit to their profession Matth. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your father which is in heaven And againe 1 Pet. 2.12 having your conversation honest among the Gentiles c. they may by your good works which they shall behold glorify God in the day of visitation But if on the contrary professors walke loosely and negligently these things reflect upon God to his dishonour As a servant to a great person if he behave himselfe licentiously by drunkenesse swearing and the like it reflects in some sort upon his Master who keeps such a person in his house So it is betweene God and his people if they walke circumspectly in a holy and fruitfull conversation they glorifie the name of God to whom they have relation but if they walke vainely and loosely if they walke in pride minding earthly things the two grand sins of many professours in our times scraping and holding together the trash of the world as though there were no better things to be had in the waies of God then they cause the name of God to be
afterwards gloried in this in that he was imployed about this worke of being instrumentall in this great plantation which now God was about having newly begun it of implanting or ingrafting the Gentiles into Christ the true Vine and Olive tree In as much as I am the Apostle of the Gentiles I magnifie mine office Rom. 11.13 He rejoyced greatly to foresee by faith such a huge and vast Orchard consisting of many millions of goodly fruit-trees that were to be planted in it which would bring forth abundance of good fruits to the husbandman so did Peter also and many with him rejoyce at it Acts 10.45 They were astonished because that on the Gentiles also was powred out the gift of the Holy Ghost and Acts 11.18 They glorified God saying then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life They saw this wonderfull great plantation begun and cut out of the wast and barren Wildernesse of the Gentiles and they rejoyced in it and helped to carry it on Paul planted a large peece of ground and God watered it and gave the increase for he tells us Rom. 15.19 from Jerusalem round about unto Illyricum he fully preached the Gospell of Christ he through the power of the word and spirit made wild trees barren unfruit-full trees to be engrafted fruitfull trees The Gospell containing the unsearchable riches of Christ which he preached among the Gentiles became in ingrafted word in their hearts and sprang and grew up and brought forth fruit as he tels us Col. 1.6 The Gospell which is come unto you as it is in all the world and bringeth forth fruits as it doth also in you since the day ye heard of it Now here were great and glorious beginnings and proceedings for many yeares together in the Apostles and Primitive times but afterwards the worke went on more slowly when Antichrist was revealed he that did let being taken out of the way that is the Emperour who had his seate in Rome being removed to Germany when the Pope and the whole Hierachy of Rome had gotten head and strength and credit in the world then they greatly hindred the worke though it hath beene carried on ever since yet much more slowly than at the beginning After a time there arose many and great enemies against the Church and every where persecuted the Saints The Beast out of the bottomlesse Pit the red Dragon the Beast with seven heads and ten hornes The Beast with two hornes like the Lamb the Whore of Babylon the Beast with the false Prophet c. these enemies of the Church hindred as much as in them lay the propagation of the Gospell As formerly enemies hindred the building of the Materiall Temple so have they ever since hindred the building of the spirituall Temple or according to the Similitude the great Plantation of the husbandman It is a very great Orchard there is much work to be done in it and about it and many and powerfull enemies are against it therefore the husbandman is long about it It is so large that it reacheth to the ends of the earth over every kindred and Tongue and People and Nation Rev. 5.9 And as it is large so there is much worke and but little help Matth. 9.37 The harvest truly is great and the Laborers but few There is herein a ground of exceeding great gladnesse and rejoycing Vse 1 seeing that God the great and skilfull husbandman hath undertaken this worke of Planting so large an Orchard or Garden for himselfe over all Nations though there have beene but slow proceedings in the worke for a long time yet the proceedings have beene sure God his people have been at worke ever since they began it unto this day and we have Prophesies Promises that it shall go on unto perfection yea and more speedily too in these latter daies than in former times Esay 60.3 4 5 c. Lift up thine eyes round about and see all they gather themselves together they come to thee the abundance of the sea or Nations shall be converted unto thee the forces of the gentiles shall come to thee They shall flie as doves to their windowes vers 8. Yea here is a ground of rejoycing indeede when we consider the exceeding largnesse of this Orchard which shall take in not only the wildernesse of the Gentiles but also his old decayed forsaken Orchard the Nation of the Jewes the husbandman will joyne them to it and Graffe them these decayed broken withered Branches in againe and their comming in shall be as life from the dead Rom. 11.15 it shall be a mighty advantage to the whole Church in all parts here will be a wonderfull beautifull large Orchard let us cast our eyes above as well as below and looke upon that part now already transplanted into heaven as well as that upon Earth and withall consider it with its increase that it is daily growing larger and larger Zach. 2.11 Many Nations shall be joyned to the Lord in that day what day even when the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy Land and shall chuse Jerusalem againe Here is a Prophesy of the comming in both of the Jewes and Gentiles about one time which will greatly inlarge the Church and is aground of great rejoycing to all the people of God Vse 2 Seeing God is a long time in calling of the Gentiles this should stirre up the people of God in this Nation and other Nations who are called unto continuall praises unto him for that he hath done the worke already for us many other parts of the world are yet in darknesse they are yet as the wildernesse wild trees and unmanured not yet within the compasse of this pleasant Orchard we might have beene in their case Vse 3 Thirdly Seeing the worke is great and God hath beene a long time about it and is yet going on let all that can helpe forward the worke God is able to do all works which he wills by his owne immediate hand but he is pleased to use Instruments therein The great husbandman hath subhusbandmen underworkmen in his great Plantation All his people are required to put to their hand for the enlargement of the kingdome of Christ by their Prayers exhortations reproffes instructions admonitions Examples c. according to the gifts But this is no liberty for any people under the pretence of new revelations from God and a light within to go about reaching things contrary to his word and reveled will and to condemne all Churches and Congregations persons things though never so holy that are not of their way and cast into their mould Talents they have received Especially now in this generation seeing God by his providentiall dispensations cals aloud for it having given his people â— freedome and liberty in all places and great encouragements in the worke of the Lord which in former ages they have not had It is the duty not only of Pastors and Officers of particular congregations
but of all believers to labour to enlarge the kingdome of Iesus Christ and to be faithfull diligent laborers in the Lords Vineyard This is the Lords great designe and the very worke of this generation in a particular respect who so hinders or neglects it even of Gods owne people shall suffer for it who so faithfully acts in it shall meete with speciall manifestations of the Love of God towards them The ninetie fourth Observation in Nature THe husbandman does not much stand upon the outward forme of his Orchards and Gardens to have them all just of one fashon and shape either round or long or square or otherwise He having divers Orchards and gardens they are some of one forme and some of another as some are larger than others so some are of one cut or shape and some of another he accompts it not necessary that they be all Vniforme but so the inward forme be good so the trees have good Natures and properties bringing forth good fruits that 's it he values it s all in all This shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Externall Vniformity in the Churches of Christ Proposition shadowed is of small accompt with him in respect of Vnity and spirituall worship Severall congregations or Churches of Christ having the spirit of Christ faith love unity of doctrine and ordinances may have divers formes and waies of outward administrations and every Church is to be left to its owne liberty therein and not to be in joyned such or such Formes Methods and waies of proceedings in the worship of God or in the discipline and goverment of the particular Churches For now in the time of the New Testament the worship of God consisteth not in Externals neither are they commanded as heretofore under the old administrations of the law But our Saviour tels us John 4.23 The houre commeth and now is when the true worshipers shall worship the father in spirit and in truth Many in the Apostles time had vaine and needlesse disputations about meat and drink and observation of daies and such like Rom. 14.1 3 5 10 13. c. he tels them vers 17. The Kingdome of God is not meat and drinke it consisteth not in any externall thing but it is righteousnesse peace and joy in the holy Ghost So that he leaves them to the using or not using of such outward things to their owne pleasures being of an indifferent Nature vers 5. let every man be fully perswaded in his owne mind Now so it is in respect of External Vniformity in Churches the worship of God being Now spirituall he leaves the externall part of it unto the choice and pleasure of his people to concurre in one way or Externall forme or to vary as they judg meete and convenient every particular Church among themselves in respect of time b As for one day in seven to be dedicated to God in worship that is the morall part of the fourth commandment and was changed from the seventh to the first day of the weeke by Christ himselfe and observed by his Apostles and Disciples place manner and forme and would not have his people to fall out and differ about tything Mynt Anise Cummin petty and indifferent things while they neglect the weighty and great matters of the Law unity and spirituall worship The Apostle Paul sharply reproves the Corinthians for standing so much upon Men Names Titles 1 Cor. 1.12 One saies I am of Paul another I am of Apollo another of Cephas another of Christ even as many in our daies they stick in the outside in Names and Formes Lutherans Calvinists some are for the Episcopall way some for the Presbiterian some for the Independent some for the Rebaptized way some reject all these as the b These people proceede further in censuring others then ever any did for they judge and condemne not only the Fortunes outward administrations of all Churches but also the whole sirituall state conditiō of all persons that are not of their way and that suddenly and rashly without knowledg of the persons contrary both to Scripture and Reason crying up a dimme Naturall light within and neglecting the true light of the word and spirit of Gods who not trying the spirits whether they be of God or not they in many things put darknesse for light and light for darknesse Quakers say their's is the way So that may we not say as the Apostle said 1 Cor. 3.3 Are ye not carnall for whereas there is among you envying and strife and divisions are ye not carnall and walke as men In as much as they differ about Names and Formes and neglect and breake love and unity they are herein carnall though there may be truth of grace in and among them yet in this thing they are weake they are carnall this is knowing and approving of men after the flesh which the Apostle Paul allowes not 2 Cor. 5.16 I suppose it may be said of this or that Forme of worship as Paul saies of Circumcision 1 Cor. 7.19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but keeping the Commandments of God and Gal. 6.15 In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but a New creature neither this or that forme or externall way of worship availeth any thing but faith love spirituall worship righteousnesse peace and joy in the holy Ghost an interest in Christ regeneration or becoming a new Creature unity and love with and towards one another walking with God in fellowship with the father and with his sonne Jesus Christ in spirituall worship these are the things that God requires of his people Not but that God cals for the service and worship of the outward man and some Externall formes and waies in his spirituall worship as well as inward worship but he ties not his people to one way or forme as men would do and stand for and make divisions amoung the Churches about it which God no where requires in his word and as for Examples in the Apostles times they vary in every Church as occasions required ther 's no one forme only established As for that Command 1 Cor 14.40 Let all things be done decently and in Order the meaning is not that the worship of God in his Ordinances or practises in all Churches should be all in one manner way or forme but that they should observe Order among themselves in every particular Church or congregation As in Cities and Townes Corporate though their Customes differ one from another yet there is Order in and among themselves in each particular place The Apostle tels us Acts 10.34 35. That in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousnesse is accepted with him Now in many or severall Nations there are many and severall waies and formes in and about the worship of God in the administrations of the Ordinances of Christ yet all are accepted of God when the worsh p is in spirit and in
truth Bodily exercise profiteth little 1 Tim. 4.8 any thing whatsoever wherein the body is exercised is of little or small accompt in respect of spirituall worship it is the acting of the spirit soule exercise that God looks after and stands upon he values but little bodily exercise any thing whatsoever that is externall in his worship Now the reason why God stands not upon externals in his worship or the same customes and orders among all the Saints is because he is a spirit and spirituall worship is sutable unto him let it be clothed with this or that forme it is accepted if it be in sincerity and truth Secondly because Christ hath set his people free from the yokes of bondage Gal. 5.1 Not only from Circumcision and legall Ceremonies and formes but also from all other Rules and precepts of men which his word hath not laid downe It is true indeede in time of the Law for 2000 yeares together the Church was under formes and set praescript Rules for the externall part of worship but when Christ came he set his people free not only from sin as before his comming in the flesh but also from all those Methods and Formes Rites and Ceremonies commanded by Moses from the mouth of God Ephe. 2.15 He abolished the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances that is the old externall administrations about the worship of God that so all his people as well Gentiles now as Jewes might worship God in spirit and in truth but no more in this or that externall forme and no other And accordingly the Church of Christ hath beene at liberty in respect of formes in the Apostles and primitive times and for many ages together afterwards untill of latter times externall Vniformitie was earnestly pressed in the Churches which Luther and other Good men opposed The Essence of the Kingdome of God is not any externall thing but righteousnesse peace and joy in the holy Ghost faith love holinesse walking with God in these things Vse 1 From what hath beene said we may conclude That to stand for Vniformity or onenesse in the externall part of the worship of God in the Ordinances or Government of Churches and for want thereof to breake off unity love and Communion with the people of God it is of the flesh and not of the spirit This hath beene and is the great sin and mistake even of many of the people of God the ground of whose differences lies in such externall things circumstances and formes as the word hath not determined or prescribed to be either so or so though men would be thought to prove their opinions in particular things as to the forme of worship and Church Government by the Scriptures The Godly of the Episcopall and Presbyterian Judgment the Independent and Rebaptized Churches and others differing from them what do they differ about Not the Essentials of Religion or worship but meerely in Ceremonies formes and Externall things which are not clearely held forth neither in the Doctrine of the Gospell nor in any constant practise of the Saints For we cannot find in all the Acts of the Apostles or primitive Christians any constant Methods and Formes in the worship of God or in Goverment of Churches but they varied in the formes and externall Acts as occasion was offered Paul preached sometimes on the Jewes Sabbath sometimes on the first day yea as occasion was every day and sometimes in the night sometimes he prayed and taught in the house sometimes in a ship sometimes by a River side sometimes in a Temple To the Iewes he became as a Jew to the Greeks as a Greeke to the strong as strong to the weake as weake he became all things to all that he might winne some he stood not upon externall formes in worship but upon the substance and Essence of it which is spirituall Our Saviour Christ sometimes he prayed long all night sometimes he was breife sometimes he stood and lift up his eyes to heaven sometimes being prostrate on the ground sometimes he taught in the Temple sometimes in a private house sometimes in a ship sometimes on the shore sometimes standing sometimes sitting The disciples of John they fasted often but Christs Disciples tooke more liberty in the use of the Creatures Christ administred the Sacrament of the supper in the evening Paul at midnight some in the Morning others at noone some Churches receive it sitting others kneeling some take the Elements from the Ministers hand others sit about the table and take the bread and wine themselves some partake of this Ordinance every weeke others every moneth some twice in a moneth others twice in the yeare or as oft as they please And as there is a liberty in the Churches to vary and no Vniformity in these Ordinances so also the Customes have beene various in respect of Baptisme some Churches Baptize with dipping others by sprinkling some Churches Baptize Infants of believing Parents others only those persons who can give an accompt of their faith and hence now ariseth the great controversie and contention amongst brethren who fall out by the way and break peace love and Communion one with another about the shadow the signe the forme though both have and hold the substance Many Members of both Churches are Baptized with the holy Ghost and with fire as Iohn 1.5 are baptized into one body by the spirit 1 Cor. 12.13 yea and have beene baptized with water also though there be not a Vniformity in their practise perhaps the difference will prove when throughly understood but a circumstantiall difference and doubtlesse no sufficient ground to breake off Communion amongst the Members of Christ Surely Jesus Christ will not take it well at their hands who refuse Communion and fellowship with those with whom he himselfe delights to have Communion and who are ashamed to call them brethren whom Christ himselfe is not ashamed to call brethren Heb 2.11 All believers are brethren not by a conformity or Vniformity in any Ceremony or externall observation but by faith in Christ All have the priviledge to be the sonnes and daughters of God who believe on his name John 1.12 all are the Children of God by faith in Christ Jesus John 3.26 Now therefore for men to refuse or neglect Communion and fellowship with their fellow Members and brethren for want of Vniformity in a Ceremony in the signe though they have the substance is it not carnall do not such walke as men Vse 2 Let us maintaine unity love and fellowship with all the Godly though they differ from us in Judgment or practise in the way and manner of administrations in the worship of God or particular practises in Government for the ground of the Churches Vnity is not Vniformity in any externall things but it is their having all but one head The Apostle most earnestly beseecheth them to maintaine Vnity upon a sevenfold ground but in them all not a word of Vniformity Ephes 4.4 There is one
body and one spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling one Lord one faith one baptisme one God and father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Here we see 1. All believers though multitudes of Members yet are but one body 2. That one body hath but one spirit As one soule animates and sets on worke all the Members of the Naturall body so does this one spirit in the mysticall body 3. There is also one hope All believeâ—s have an expectation of the enjoyment of God in glory for ever 4. They have all one Lord are fellow servants under one Lord Iesus Christ 5. So also have they but one faith believers in all ages of the world have but one faith in the same God and Saviour 6. They have but one Baptisme not baptisme of the signe but of the substance all believers are baptized with the baptisme of the spirit Iewes and Gentiles in all ages 1 Cor. 12.13 By one spirit we are all baptised into one body whether we be Jewes or Greeks 7. Believers have but one God and Father they are all borne of God are brethren in the Lord sonnes and daughters alike to the Lord Almighty Heires together of one Inheritance and Kingdome So then Here are strong bonds of Vnity and love among the Saints though Vniformity in outward things be wanting here 's no mention at all of Vniformity though they differ in their opinions in waies and formes of worship and Government yet being all one body having all one spirit one hope one Lord one faith one baptisme one God and Father these are sufficient grounds of their Vnion and love one with and to another These are the things that God stands upon having Vnity here in these things whereby they worship him in spirit and truth though they vary in many externall parts of worship and outward administrations they are dispensed withall as we see Rom. 14.18 he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men and vers 3. God hath received him or approved of him Let not men therefore disowne their brethren for differing from them in the forme in outward administrations of worship or Government when yet they worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth which if they doe it is from the carnall part and to be mortified The ninetie fifth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman often makes a hedg or fence about his Orchard and Garden with wild plants unfruitful trees or such as beare naughty unpleasant fruits as Crabtrees Thornes Bryers Okes Ashes Elmes or any such like which serve well for a mound or fence about his fruitfull Trees and preserve them from anoyances and hurts that else they are subject unto by Cattle and otherwise in many respects This shadowes out unto us That God many times makes use of wicked Proposition shadowed and unregenerate persons for the preservation and good of his owne Children Many Kings and Magistrates though wicked and carnall have beene set up for the defence of the Godly very many carnall persons though they have but only generall convictions a forme of Godlinesse common Gifts and graces yet they owne the true Religion and the professors of it notwithstanding they have no true nor cordiall love to either God makes such as an outward common fence against the breakings in of Tyrannicall and savage persons who might otherwise anoy the Church of God Yea many Morall persons are not only a meanes of defence to the Godly but they are also helpers many waies by their Gifts and Talents and outward good things which God hath given them The spirit of God doth convince the world of unregenerate persons upon this Accompt even for the good of his owne people giving to them some common light and graces and apprehensions of the things of God that so he may take off their fiercenesse and bitternesse that otherwise would naturally break out against the Godly and not only so but that also they may be helpfull and profitable to his owne people Pharaoh was convinced that God was with Ioseph and so became his freind yea and to all his brethren and his fathers house and preserved them and nourished them with the best things of the Land of Egypt Gen. 40. Laban entertained and preserved Iacob above 20 yeares together Gen. 29. c. Pharaohs daughter nourished Moses the whole Court was his freind many yeares King Nebuchadnezzar was convinced that God was with Daniel preserved and promoted Daniel so did Belshazzar And King Darius afterwards Dan. 6.3 Shadrach Meshach and Abednego were not only preserved but advanced in the Province of Babylon by King Nabuchadnezzer a heathen king There is abundant Experience of this truth in all ages especially in these times of the Gospell multitudes having common convictions of the things of God and entertaining the forme of Godlinesse though they want the power They generally if they have power preserve the people of God and Religion from overthrowes and destructions which otherwise Tyrants and barbarous enemies would bring upon them Yea and God makes them many waies usefull and helpfull to his people by their Gifts and Common graces in Naturall and Morall things Vse This discovers the speciall care and love of God the power wisdome goodnesse of God towards his owne people who maketh even their enemies to become freinds to them Enemies indeed in their Principles Natures but freinds through the overruling power of God The world all the creatures in it are ruled ordered for the good of the people of God All things are yours saith the Apostle 1 Co. 3.21.22 the world life death things present things to come all are yours God useth overruleth and ordereth all things for the advantage of them that feare him The ninetie sixth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman in Ordering of his fruit-trees observes the seasons some works are to be done at such a time of the yeare The spring is the season for Grafting the sommer for Inoculating Autumne and winter for Transplanting pruning and other workes he carefully observes the seasons for particular works This shadowes out unto us this Proposition Proposition shadowed That God in his infinite wisdome and goodnesse observes the fittest times in all his dispensations towards his people The great husbandman of his Vineyard and Garden enclosed as he gives discretion to men to order their works of husbandry Esay 28.26 doth with infinite more wisdome order his owne husbandry in respect of the matter manner and seasons of his worke Ier. 30.11 When he correcteth his people as he does it in measure so also in season when it is most likely to prevaile and take effect and when his spirit reproves the soule it is alwaies in season When he speakes to comfort and refresh the soule it is in season Esay 50.4 That I should know how to speake a word in season to him that is weary he gives his