multitude of their riches these seeme to be very powerfull Masters yet marke what the holy Ghost sayth of such Psal. 49. 6 7 8. None of them can by any meanes redeeme his brother nor give to God a ransome for him for the Redemption of the soule is precious and ceaseth for ever All the men in the world with all the wealth in the world are not able to save one soule And what is a man profited if he could winne the whole world if he loose his soule sayth our Saviour Mat. 16. 26. But now this our heavenly Master is able to save a soule from death and cover a multitude of sinnes Thou hast delivered my soule from death sayth David Psal. 116. 8. Yea he is the author of eternall salvation to them that doe obey him Heb. 5. 9. Here is a Master worth serving that is able to save the soules of his servants with an everlasting salvation Psal. 3. 8. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord i. e. it is his peculiar Sixthly He is readie to accept and take in good part the poore endeavours of his servants yea their desires if sincere and fervent doe finde acceptance with him God doth indeed set his servants hard taskes many times such as they are never able to performe of themselves He commandeth us to love him with all our hearts and keep all his Commandements but his meaning is according to the mitigation of the Gospell onely that we should earnestly desire and doe our best endeavour to doe so and then it is sufficient in Gods account A loving Father that would try the willingnesse of his childe biddeth him goe sirrah runne and fetch me such a great piece of wood which it may be is as much as five or six men could carry but if he finde him willing and readie to doe his best endeavour it contenteth the Father so dealeth God with his servants He spareth them as a man spareth his owne sonne that serveth him Mal. 3. 17. Yea if there be but first of all a willing minde it is accepted according to that we have and not according to that we have not sayth the Apostle 2 Cor. 8. 12. Yea sincere desires are graciously accepted See how Nehemiah propoundeth his case Neh. 1. 11. O Lord I beseech thee let thine eares be attentive to the prayer of thy servant and to the prayers of thy servants that desire to feare thy Name especially if these be seconded and accompanied with earnest and sincere endeavours Thus Abrahams resolution to offer his Sonne Gen. 22. 12. was accepted as if he had actually done it and therefore by faith Abraham when he was tryed offered up Isaac sayth the Holy Ghost Heb. 11. 17. and yet we see in the Storie that actually and really he did it not no the Lord himselfe withheld him by a voyce from heaven and yet in this place yee see it is said that he did offer Isaac when he was tryed that is he was readie to have done it it was his purpose if God himselfe had not granted him a dispensation and therefore in Gods account it was done Yea sayth the Lord himselfe Gen. 22. 13. Because thou hast done this though indeede he did it not yet because he was willing to have done it it was done in Gods account and in his gracious acceptance Oh who would not be constant and abundant in the service of such a Master Seventhly This gracious disposition of our Master doth farther shew it selfe in that he is readie to helpe and assist his servants in doing that worke which he requireth of them he affoordeth them helpe and strength to doe their worke and therefore though Paul when he looketh upon his own weaknesse and inabilitie is readie to cry out 2 Cor. 2. 26. Who is sufficient for these things yet when he considereth the helping hand of God then he can say I am able to doe all things through Christ that strengtheneth me Phil. 4. 13. And indeed most true is that of our Saviour Joh. 15. 5. Without me yee can doe nothing so by his assistance we can doe all things that he commandeth so as he is pleased to accept of them for the Lord himselfe putteth to his helping hand Psal. 37. 24. Isa. 41. 10. Feare not Iacob I am with thee c. I will helpe thee He will helpe us pray his Spirit shall helpe our infirmities Rom. 8. 26. and helpe us preach and heare and in a word is readie to worke all our workes for us As we deale with a young Scholler that beginneth to write his hand is guided so doth the Lord deale with us Isa. 26. 12. Thou hast wrought all our workes for us Eighthly Let us be abundant and spend much time in Gods service for he is a good pay-master we are not onely sure of our wages because he is constant and faithfull in keeping Covenant as yee heard before but also he is exceeding bountifull and liberall See one expression of his bounty in this Psalm 84. 11. He will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walke uprightly As he himselfe loveth a bountifull giver so he is such a one himselfe sc. bountifull and liberall He giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not sayth the Apostle Iam. 1. 5. He doth even daily load his servants with benefits Psalm 68. 19. Blessed be God even the God of our salvation who doth dayly loade us with his benefits Oh who would not be diligent in the service of such a bountifull Master Yea he rewardeth all his Servants with no lesse then a Kingdome Luk. 12. 32. Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers pleasure to give you a Kingdome So Mat. 25. 34. Come yee blessed children of my Father inherit the Kingdome provided for you from the beginning of the world Yea such a kingdome that consisteth of an eternall and exceeding weight of glory 2 Co. 4. 17 Even such as eye hath not seen neither hath eare heard nor hath ever entred into the heart of man to conceive the worth of 2 Co. 2. 9. O how can we thinke all our time sufficient to spend in the service of such a Master that is thus beneficiall unto his servants Consider also his bounty in giving raine from heaven Act. 14. 17 with Ier. 5. 24. Let us now feare the Lord c. I omit to shew further how slow he is to anger how ready to forgive to be reconciled He doth even beseech us to be reconciled unto him as the Apostle speaks 2 Co. 5. 20 Ninthly He is such a Master that taketh pleasure in the prosperitie of his servants and is constant in his love towards them earthly Masters are changeable and fickle and doe often envie the prosperitie of their servants but the Lord hath pleasure in the prosperitie of his seruants and his love towards them is constant and unchangeable For the first observe it Psal. 35. 27. Let them say continually let
justly to be excused namely that they were preached to a plaine Countrey people which though of good affection and inclination towards pietie I hope are yet but of meane and small capacitie and understanding in the things of God Besides my care hath ever beene rather to speake to the hid man of the heart in a plaine way then tickle the eare with a neat discourse perhaps not understood and therefore without all benefit and profit Besides no marvell if these Sermons want ornaments when the Anthour himselfe was scarce supplyed with necessaries the greatest part of my meanes at that time being wholly taken from me so that some small pittance onely of outward meanes was left me though God in his goodnesse hath graciously by your hands principally provided for me This I propound not onely by way of just excuse for these my impolished labours but also to preserve alive and keepe awake your pitie and compassion towards me and to stirre up your zealous care and diligence in the cause of God which seemeth some way endangered yea hereby you shall deeply engage a number of poore soules to pray for you when they perceive the constancie of your love towards both them and me in supporting of me by way of maintenance that I may still impart the Word of life among them and goe on still to fulfill the Ministery which I have received of the Lord IESUS Thus leaving these things to your grave and loving consideration I commend the booke unto your reading and your Worships to the protection of the Almightie and both your selves and it unto his blessing I humbly take leave and rest Canwicke this 1. of Iuly 1638. Your Worships ever to be commanded in the Lord WILLIAM HARRISON Imprimatur Tho. VVykes Octob. 15. 1638. THE Purchase of Grace CHAP. I. REV. 3. 18. I counsell thee to buy of me Gold tryed in the fire that thou mayest be rich SVch is the gracious disposition of the Almighty and so sweete is his cariage towards his dearest servants that he doth usually most comfortably reveale and communicate himselfe unto them in their extremities he hath his Cordials ready against the sicke fits of his children he loveth to comfort the abject to binde up the broken hearted to speake peace to the afflicted witnesse the cariage of our Saviour towards Saint Iohn that beloved Disciple alwayes beloved but most manifested in his afflictions when doth the Lord reveale himselfe to him so sweetly and fully but in his banishment when he was banished into the Isle Patmos Revel 1. 9. then and there was he ravished in the spirit upon the Lords days ver 10. then commeth the great and yet sweete voyce of Christ with a charge to write and send it to the seven Churches of Asia ver 11. unto Ephesus and unto Smyrna unto Pergamos and unto Thyatira unto Sardys and Philadelphia and unto Laodicea unto these seven the Evangelist dedicateth this booke of the Revelation chap. 1. 4. Iohn to the seven Churches of Asia and unto each of these he directeth as from Christ a severall Epistle Now the words which I have read are part of the Epistle written to the Church of Laodicea which continueth from ver 14. to the end of the Chapter The Epistle it selfe consisteth of three parts 1. A Proemium or inscription of the Epistle ver 14. 2. A Narration or subject matter of the Epistle unto ver 22. 3. A Peroration or conclusion Verse the last Againe in the second part or Narration we have three things 1. A Reprehension increpation or objurgation ver 15. 16 17. 2. An Exhortation or direction v. 18. 19. 3. A solemne promise or protestation ver 20. 21. Now the words which I have read are part of the exhortation or direction And in generall they hold out our Saviours advise or Counsell to the Church wherein he fitly prescribes severall remedies for all their infirmities a salve for every sore They were wretched and miserable and poore and blind and naked Now in this verse wee have a remedy for all these 1. Here is gold to enrich them 2. White Rayment to cover their nakednesse 3. Eye salve to anoint their eyes that they might see I intend to insist only upon the first of these which containeth a remedy for their poverty and wretchednesse I counsell thee to buy of me gold tryed in the fire that thou mayest bee rich Which words are the advise and counsell of our blessed Saviour the great Counsellor Isa. 9. 6. to this Church of Laoâ—icea and in them to us also and to all true Christians to the end of the world Now mee thinkes in this I should have every mans attention for behold wee have here a Lecture of thrift a way nay the onely way to be made truely rich There bee many that say who will shew us any good Psal. 4. 6 Behold here 's for you Summum bonum the chiefest good Gold yea Gold tried in the fire gold to enrich you gold and better then gold durable riches that which will make you rich indeed rich towards God as our Saviour speakes Luk. 12. 21. Now for the parts of the Text. Here is direction to get a precious and excellent commodity metaphorically set out unto us under the name of gold Wherein we have more particularly described 1. The worth and excellency of it gold tryed in the fire that is a precious rare spirituall commoditie which is like gold tryed in the fire 2. The meanes to attaine it and that is buying it must be bought 3. The Chapman of whom we must buy it and that is Christ buy of me saith our Saviour 4. The end of buying that thou mayest be rich which argueth still the worth and excellency of the commodity And so you see the parts of the Text and the words divided 2. For the explication and sense of the words The words are metaphoricall the Chapman the Commodity the Bargaine the Profit all is spirituall 1. The Chapman is Christ even 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that sendeth the Epistle to this Church He is the Chapman 2. The commodities to be bought here are the graces of Gods Spirit or if you please Christ himselfe and the graces of his Spirit that accompany salvation which are fitly compared unto gold tryed in the fire and that in many respects as wee shall see by and by The bargaine or buying is spirituall and so are the riches here mentioned spirituall riches such as will make us rich towards God The words thus opened and explained doe hold out unto us these three Propositions or points of Instruction or Doctrine 1. That Christ Iesus and the saving graces of his Spirit are fitly resembled and compared unto gold yea pure gold Gold tryed in the fire 2. That this gold is the only meanes to make us spiritually and truly rich 3. That all that would have this precious commodity must buy it of
be here on earth Jam. 2. 5. Hath not God chosen the poore of the world rich in faith and heires of the kingdome which God hath promised to them that love him Fourthly and lastly He that hath true saving grace and speciall interest in Christ hath a comfortable right and title to the things of this life which God conferres upon him yea unto all the good things of God whether spirituall or temporall all is theirs Gods ordinances are theirs Gods Ministers are theirs all the good creatures and blessings of God are theirs yea even those that seeme to have nothing if they have true saving grace have interst in and possession of all things Observe that speech of the Apostle 1 Cor. 3. 21 22 23. All is yours whether it be Paul or Apollos or Cephas or life or death c. all are yours and yee are Christs and Christ is Gods Here we see that Christians and such as have true grace are no beggars but the richest persons under heaven They that have true grace and title to Christ have a comfortable right and title to all the good things of God spirituall and temporall all is theirs yea which is most strange all is the true christians even in possession 2 Cor. 6. 10. As having nothing and yet possessing all things Loe here the wealth and riches of all true Christians even when they seeme to have nothing they have all things in possession so that get Christ and get all Rom. 8. 32. God that spared not his owne Sonne but delivered him to the death for us all how shall he not with him freely give us all things And therefore all such as have true grace are the richest persons in the world though enjoying little yet in a contentation and competency abounding in all things The houses of all good men being open to the Apostles First This serveth to teach us how much the world is deceived in judging and censuring of the estate and condition of Gods people Oh! the world thinketh Gods people to be the poorest and basest yea and most despicable people in the world whereas here you see that they are best furnished with that most precious commodity which is able to make them truely and spiritually rich even rich towards God Doe but consider of what rich parentage they come they have the God of heaven and earth for their Father the Lord for their portion and their helper and heaven it selfe for their inheritance yea and all the Ordinances and Ministers and all the good things of God are theirs and therefore they are absolutely the most wealthy and the richest persons in the world they are indeed the poore of the world yet rich in faith and inheritors of the kingdome of heaven yea howsoever the world judgeth of them they are the most precious and honourable persons in the world in Gods account they are such of whom the world was not worthy Heb. 11. 37 38. See the high esteeme that God hath of all such as are religious Isa. 43. 5. Since thou art precious in my sight and honourable and I have loved thee sayth God They are the most precious and honourable persons in the world in Gods account See then how the mis-judging world is deceived in this case in accounting Gods people to be the scumme and off-scouring of the world whereas indeed they are the most glorious and most honourable persons in the world The righteous is more excellent then his neighbour Pro. 12. 26. sc. that is not righteous yea and a farre richer and a better man in Gods account as Pro. 28. 6. Better is the poore that walketh in his integritie then he that is perverse in his wayes although he be rich A godly poore man is farre better yea which is strange farre richer in Gods account then any ungodly rich man whatsoever for hee is rich in Christ rich in faith full of the golden graces of Gods Spirit and therefore the world is utterly deceived that doe judge the contrary and thinke and esteeme most basely of him Secondly This serveth to comfort Gods people in respect of the disgrace and pressure of worldly povertie The poore is hated even of his neighbour Pro. 14. 20. Povertie is of it selfe sufficient to bring Gods people into contempt and hatred yet let Gods people and such as are religious comfort themselves in this case upon these ensuing particulars First That howsoever the world speaketh or esteemeth of thee yet thou art truely rich in Gods account full of spirituall wealth and riches even rich towards God as our Saviour himselfe speaketh Luk. 12. 21. Rich in faith Iam. 2. 5. though perhaps poore in respect of gold and silver rich in hope yea full of spirituall wealth and riches in possession all Gods ordinances the Word and Sacraments are thine Gods faithfull Ministers are thine yea the graces of Gods Spirit are thine all the promises recorded in Scripture are thine inheritance Who through faith and patience inherit the promises sayth the Text Heb. 6. 10. So that hence it followeth that Gods promises are the Christians inheritance Looke into the rich wardrobe of Gods promises and then consider how rich you are therein and certainly it will exceedingly comfort you in regard of worldly povertie Secondly Consider that as â—od regardeth no man that more simply for his wealth and riches so he thinketh never the worse of any for his povertie if he be otherwise truely godly and religious Observe it Iob 34. 19. He regardeth not the rich more then the poore sayth the Text sc. for his riches riches availe not in that case nor can procure any the least acceptance with GOD onely the true feare of God and faith in Christ is that which doth procure acceptance with God Acts 10. 35. Of a truth sayth the Apostle I perceive that God is no respectâ—r of persons but in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousnesse is accepted with him sc. how poore soever they may be for outward things Oh! how this may comfort us in respect of the disgrace and contempt that is cast upon us by the world sc. that God himselfe doth highly esteeme and kindly accept of us The Lord maketh choice in speciall manner of such as are godly and religious Psal. 4. The Lord hath chosen or set apart for himselfe the man that is godly yea how poore soever he be if he be also poore in spirit the Lord will never reject him but freely make choice of him to be his sonne and servant Iam. 2. 5. Hath not God chosen the poore of the world rich in faith Onely let our care be to be rich in faith and then let us never doubt of finding acceptance with God notwithstanding our outward povertie Here is the second ground of comfort for all godly poore ones sc. that they finde farre better acceptance and favour with God then any ungodly person whatsoever It is not povertie but sinne onely that can
respect of God Himselfe 1. Not with God but without God in the world and without Christ according to that of the Apostle Eph. 2. 12. That at that time yee were without Christ being Aliens from the common-wealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world where the Apostle speaketh of the time that they had spent in the state of nature according to the Prince of the aire after the lusts of the flesh c. Ver. 2. 3. Now see how wofully and fearefully hee concludeth as touching all that time that is so spent namely That it is time spent without Christ without the Pale of the Church wirhout promise without hope and lastly without God in the world no time better spent then that time which is spent with God and therefore no worse time then that which is spent without God Thus Cain spent his time after hee had slaine his brother Abel He went out from the presence of the Lord saith the Text Gen. 4. 16. and this is a chiefe branch of the eternall punishment of the wicked in hell They shall bee punished with everlasting perdition from the presence of God saith the Apostle 2 Thes. 1. 9. Hereupon was that earnest and importunate sute of David Psa. 51. 11. Cast me not Lord out of thy presence to intimate untous what a woful thing it is to be without God or to be cast out of his presence 2. Time spent in the devils service in vicious courses is it not spent for God but against him not for his glory but to his dishonour Thou that boastest of the Law through breaking the Law dishonourest thou God saith the Apostle Rom. 2. 23. Time spent in the breach of Gods Law is spent unto Gods dishonour robbeth God of his honour and glory that is due unto him and therefore the worst spent time that can be Thirdly Time spent in sinning is not spent to Gods pleasure but the contrary it doth even provoke the eyes of his glory Isa. 3. 6. Their tongue and their doings are against the Lord to provoke the eyes of his glory yea the Lord is not only offended at it but even grieved and wearied with time so spent How can a child spend his time worse then in grieving and breaking the hearts of his loving Parents This is the very case of all those that spend time in vicious courses Observe it Isa. 7. 13. Is it a small thing for you to wearie men but yee will weary my God also O wofull thing to weary and grieve God with our sinfull courses Fortie yeares long was I grieved with this generation saith the Lord Psalm 95. 11. I am broken with their whorish heart which is departed from me Ezec. 6. 9. Yea his very heart is broken with the griefe of it as the Prophet speakes Ier. 23. 9. Yea the Lord is oppressed with our sinnes as a cart is pressed with sheaves it is the Holy Ghosts expression Amos 2. 13. Yea the Lord is so farre from being well pleased or delighted with it that on the contrary hee hateth and abhorreth it yea he smiteth his hands together in detestation of it I have smitten my hands at thy dishonest gaine saith the Lord Ezec. â—2 1â— the Lord will not spare that man which so spendeth his time but his wrath and jealousie shall smoke against him to blot his name out from under heaven Deut. 29. 20. 1. It is the worst spent time that can be in regard of ourselves for there is neither profit nor credit nor safety nor pleasure nor comfort in it but the contrary to all these as is easie to manifest in sundry particulars 1. Time spent in the devils service is the worst spent because there is no profit in it a man is alwayes on the loosing hand now this is most evident that all sinfull courses are unfruitfull and unprofitable courses Have no fellowship with the unfruitfull workes of darknesse Ephesians 5. 8. All sinfull workes are both workes of darkenesse and unfruitfull workes hence that of the Apostle Rom. 6. 21. What fruite had ye in those things whereof yee are now ashamed Observe the confession and expression of every true penitent according to that wee reade Iob 33. 37. God looketh upon men and if any say I have sinned and perverted that which is right and it profited me not Every true convert is able to tell you out of his experience that all sinfull courses are unprofitable courses in conclusion for they loose Gods favour they loose their interest in Christ they loose the comfort of a good conscience they looâ—e their soules Matth. 16. 26. and in a word they loose heaven these are the fruits of time spent in sinning Iudge then if all such bee not damned loosers in the end unlesse they repent speedily and turne to God Againe there is no true pleasure but vanity and vexation of spirit Take the sinne of uncleannesse which seemeth to have the most pleasure in it and you shall finde at last there is no pleasure in it but the gall of bitternesse In the end it biteth like a Serpent and â—urteth like a Cochatrice See a notable place for this purpose Pro. 5. where the Wiseman disswading from the sinne of uncleannesse Ver. 8. Remove thy way farre from her and come not nigh the doore of her house and then see what excellent arguments He useth to this purpose Verse 9. 10 11. Lest thou give thy honour to others and thy yeeres to the cruell there is losse of credit Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth c. there is losse of goods and outward estate Thus sinne bringeth beggery And thou mourne at last when thy flesh and thy body is consumed there is losse of pleasure and comfort and say How have I Oh how have I mispent my time in the service of sinne and Sathan Oh let us strive to see this in time and labour to prevent it Lastly there is no safety but death and danger in it for the wages of sinne is death Rom. 6. 2â— The like I might say in regard of others but this is enough to prove that time spent in sinning is absolutely the worst spent time for body and soule Secondly For Humiliation Seeing time spent in Gods service is the best spent time This serveth to teach us what cause wee have even the best of us to be humbled that we have spent so little time in the duties of Gods service and have beene so lavish and prodigall of our precious time in other things For. 1. What a great deale of most precious time have we spent before our conversion before we spent in effect any time at all in Gods service All the time of our unregeneration hath beene utterly spent in the service of sin and Sathan wee were vassalls to the Prince that ruleth iâ— the ayre the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience Ephes. 2.
fearefull token of Reprobation to bee a persecuter in that case Fifthly and lastly It is a fearefull signe that a man belongeth to the Devill This is a speciall worke of the devill to hate and maligne and persecute men for their piety If a man therefore resolve to goe on in this case it is a fearefull signe that a man is even a very childe of the Devill Thus our Saviour disputeth the case with the Pharisâ—es Iohn 8. 1. They bosted that Abraham was their father nay saith our Saviour yee goe about to kill me a man that hath told yee the truth that did not Abraham saith hee verse 40. why then say they we have one father even God verse 41. No saith our Saviour verse 44. Yee are of your father the Devill and the workes of your father ye will doe All that persecute Gods people for their piety are of their father the devill in that case see Acts 13. 8 9 10 c. CHAP. V. Containing the third Vse of the point viz. for Exhortation THirdly Is it so that time spent in Gods service is the best spent time This serveth then to exhort us to sundry duties 1. In regard of our selves 2. In respect of others 1. This Doctrine serveth to exhort us to a threefold duty For seeing time spent in Gods service is the best spent time let us then 1. Begin betime to serve God 2. Be constant 3. Be abundant in it and spend as much time in it as we can possibly 1. This serveth to exhort every one of us that speedily and without delay we set our selves to the duties of Gods worship and service How can we spend our time better All time is even wholly mispent that is spent in the neglect of this Oh therefore old men young men all men let us speedily set our selves to the duties of Gods service Now is the accepted time now is the day of salvation 2 Cor. 6. 2. Seeke the Lord whilest he may be found and call upon him while he is neere Isaiah 55. 6. Why should we deferre any longer considering that one day nothing will vexe and grieve us more then that wee began no sooner Art thou an old man Then thou hadst need to begin with all speed lest thou be prevented by death Art thou young Oh then begin speedily to prevent mispending thy precious time in the service of sinne and Sathan I write unto you young men to exhort you to begin to serve God betime in the flower of your youth How can you spend the flower of your youth better than in the service of your Maker Give me leave therefore to perswade and presse every one of you in the words of the wisest Salomon Eccles. 12. 1. Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth before the evill day come It is a young mans greatest honour to bee religious betimes Oh what an honour to young Salomon to be vertuously instructed even from his child-hood with Know thou the God of thy fathers 1 Chron. 28. 9. So an everlasting credit for young Samuel to be trained up in the duties of Gods service of a childe Samuel ministred before the Lord being a child saith the Text 1 Sam. 2. 18. And againe The child Samuel ministred unto the Lord before Ely 1 Sam. 3. 1. Yea this was so famous and admirable a thing that all Israel tooke notice of it for they all knew that Samuel was established to be a Prophet of the Lord saith the Text 1 Samuel 3. 20. verse This set such a Crowne of glory upon his head that it is not forgotten to this day Hee that setteth himselfe to serve and honour God in his youth shall have the honour and credit of it for ever So for Iosiah What glorious things are spoken of him to this day even in this respect See how the Spirit of God reporteth it in 2 Chron. 34. 3. In the eight yeare of his reigne while he was yet young he began to seeke after the God of David his father young indeed for he was but eight yeares old when he began to reigne verse 1. So that he could bee but sixteene yeares of age at the most when this was reported of him O what an excellent patterne is here for young men let them all learne of this young Saint to bestow the flower of their youth upon God it will set an everlasting crowne of glory upon their head To the same purpose is that of famous Timothy of whom it is said That he knew the Scriptures of a child which was able to make him wise unto salvation 2 Timothy 3. 15. Wherewithall shall a young man cleanse his way and become religious Surely by imitating and following the example of such rare young men as these are Now the better to stirre up young men hereunto I have two generall Motives to propound unto them besides the honour of it viz. 1. The Vtilitie 2. The Necessity 1. The Vtility Hearken to this O yee young men for it is for your profit heare it and doe it for your good Behold here I will shew you the good and right way sc. feare the Lord and serve him in your youth First seeke Gods kingdome and the righteousnesse of it as our blessed Saviour himselfe adviseth Matthew 6. 33. Acquaint your selves with God even in your youth and serve him for hereby good shall come unto you as one of Iobs friends speaketh excellently Iob 22. 21. 1. For. 1. The Lord will take it exceeding kindly we shall please him exceedingly yea the Lord will be so much affected with it that he will never forget it To sacrifice our youth unto Gods service is as it were to sacrifice our Isaac to him now see how kindly the Lord tooke Abraham's purpose in that case Genesis 22. 12. By my selfe have I sworne because thou hast done this thing that in blessing I will blesse thee He that dedicateth his youth unto Gods service shall be remembred with a blessing in his age So when Israel was newly come out of Aegypt no marvell if they were much affected with his admirable mercies towards them they could not choose for the present but love him entirely and even set the dearest of their affections upon him Now see how kindly this was taken and remembred a long time after yea notwithstanding their manifold infirmities their murmurings their infidelity c. yet see how lovingly the Lord maketh mention of it a long time after Ieremy 2. 2. Thus saith the Lord I remember thee the kindnesse of thy youth the love of thine espousals when thou wentest after me in the wildernesse c. The kindnesse of their youth is kindly remembred With such sacrifices the Lord is well pleased This is the first benefit Secondly If we set our selves to serve God in our youth it will be an excellent meanes to prevent the lustes of youth which if they be not prevented will be bitter and terrible in the time
he trusted here is the excellency of the Word preached So observe another testimony to this purpose which sheweth the excellency of this Ordinance Heb. 4. 12. For the Word of God is quicke and powerfull and sharper then any two edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soule and spirit This sword of the Spirit is a most excellent Ordinance of God it is a speciall Shield to defend us against the fury of all our spirituall enemies See the Apostles testimony for this Ephes. 6. 16. Take the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God See how our blessed Saviour with this put Sathan to flight Mat. 4. Scriptum est this was his weapon and see the conclusion ver 11. Then the Devill left him This sword will pierce the very â—â—ead of that great Leviathan Oh how we should love it if this was rightly considered Thirdly and lastly Consider the singular use and benefit of Gods Ordinances in regard of us Give me leave to instance in one of Gods Ordinances sc. the Word preached Certainly the utilitie of it is extraordinarie if it be well considered observe it I beseech you and see in some particulars First The Word preached is the Word of life the meanes to quicken a dead soule It is the meanes both to beget and to preserve spirituall life in the soule of a Christian Psal. 119. 50. This is my comfort in mine affliction for thy Word hath quickened me We are by nature all dead in trespasses and sinnes Eph. 2. 1. Now the Word faithfully preached is the meanes to revive and raise us up unto newnesse of life Ioh. 5. 25. Verely I say unto you sayth our Saviour the houre is comming and now is when the dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God and they that heare it shall live See here the meanes to revive and quicken our dead soules Oh therefore let us love the Word even as we love our life Pro. 8. 35. He that findeth me findeth life and shall obtaine favour of the Lord Oh the worth of life Life is sweet especially spirituall yea naturall life is very deare unto us Skinne for skinne and all that a man hath will he give for his life sayth the Text Job 2. 4. Now the Word of God faithfully preached is our very life Pro. 4. 13. Take fast hold of Instruction let her not goe keepe her for shee is thy life sayth the Wise-man How can we choose but love the Word if we consider this Secondly Because life it selfe without health is but a burthen rather then any benefit A sicke man is even weary of his life so was Iob in his extremitie My soule is weary of my life Iob 10. 1. sc. for want of health Therefore in the second place the Word of God is health as well as life to them that truely embrace it My Sonne attend to my words sayth Salomon Pro. 4. 20. Why so See the worth of them sc. Ver. 22. For they are life unto those that finde them and health unto all their flesh Life is a sweet thing if it be accompanied with health so Pro. 3. 8. It shall be health to thy navell and marrow to thy bones Health is a most precious Iewell and therefore the Word which is the meanes to beget and preserve it must needs be precious Thirdly But what is life and health without comfort And therefore in the third place the Word preached is the chiefe meanes of comfort that we doe enjoy This is our chiefe support and consolation next under God himselfe Psal. 119. 92. Vnlesse thy Law had beene my delight I should have perished in my affliction The Word preached is the Word of comfort proceeding from the God of all comfort 1 Cor. 1. 3. which is able to comfort us in all our tribulations that we may be able to comfort others with the same comfort wherewith we our selves are comforted of God Yea the holy Word of God is both written and preached to this end and purpose 1. It is written to this end Rom. 15. 4. Whatsoever is written aforetime is written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Yea secondly This is one end of preaching Isa. 40. 1. Comfort ye comfort yee my people sayth your God speake comfortably to Jerusalem Hence also is that of the Apostle 1 Cor. 14. 3. when shewing the excellency of preaching he giveth this for one of the chiefe reasons of his Encomium But he that prophesieth speaketh to men unto edification and exhortation and comfort He that preacheth aright preacheth to the comfort of Gods people Indeed as for the wicked of the world here is no comfort for them they must goe to the world for comfort for the Word hath none for them it is the terror of the Lord to torment them before the time but to the godly and such as are religious it is to them a Word of strong consolation yea the very joy and rejoycing of their heart sayth Ier. 15. 16. This was Davids comfort Psal. 119. 50. This is my comfort in my affliction for thy Word hath quickened mee And indeed what greater comfort then for a condemned man to heare of a pardon Men in a desperate condition to heare of a Saviour Joh. 5. 39. Search the Scriptures for they are they that testifie of me sayth our Saviour himselfe What greater comfort The Scriptures tell us of the gracious readinesse of God to be reconciled to poore sinners 2 Cor. 5. 20. We are Embassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us and we pray you in Christs stead to be reconciled to God The Word assureth us that upon our repentance our sinnes are forgiven us Ezech. 18. 21. which is one of the chiefe grounds of comfort that can be propounded Thus Christ comforted the poore Palsie-man Mat. 9. 2. Sonne be of good cheare thy sinnes are forgiven thee Men may seeme but can never be truely chearfull in the want of this favour Thus also would our Saviour comfort the poore weeping penitent Luk. 7. 48. Thy sinnes are forgiven thee He knew she could receive no better ground of comfort So when God would have his people comforted Isa. 40. 1. see what direction he giveth to that purpose Comfort ye my people Comfort ye Jerusalem How Tell her that her iniquities are pardoned c. As if he had said If any thing will affoord her comfort that will doe it Blessed is the man whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sinnes are covered Psal. 32. 1 2. He that is assured of happinesse may well be comforted Yea the Word preached is the glad tydings of Salvation it doth assure us of our interest in Christ and that He is made of God unto us Wisedome and Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1. 30. As also that Christ with all his merits doe properly belong unto us 1 Cor. 3. 21 22
23. All is yours whether it be Paul or Apollos c. all is yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods Now what greater comfort So that ye see that the Word faithfully preached is the Word of comfort and therefore wee have reason to love it in that regard Fourthly Because carnall or worldly comfort is little worth therefore in the fourth place the Word preached is the best meanes of spirituall comfort gracious and heavenly consolation Hereupon it is called the Grace of God Titus 2. 11. And the Word of 〈◊〉 Grace Act. â—0 32. And the ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 8. It is the Instrument that the Spirit of God useth to worke grace in the hearts of Gods people It is the ministery of reconciliation 2 Cor. 5. 18. Yea the Word of regeneration Iam. 1. 18. Of his owne will begate he us with the Word of Truth sayth the Apostle It is the immortall sâ—ede of our new birth 1 Pet. 1. 23. yea the chiefe meanes of our Conversion Psal. 19. 7. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soule Yea it is the chiefe meanes of our Sanctification Psal. 119. 9. Wherewithall shall a young man cleanse his way c Ioh 15. 3. Now are yee cleane through the Word that I have spoken unto you sayth our Saviour and Ioh. 17. 17. Sanctifie them with thy Truth thy Word is Truth Loe the chiefe Instrument of our Sanctification Yea as God himselfe is the God of all grace so is his Word the Word of all grace for what grace of the Spirit is it that is not usually begotten in us by the Word whether knowledge or faith or repentance or the feare of God c. 1. Out of question it is the chiefe meanes of knowledge and wisedome and understanding in the things of God See it in Davids example Psal. 119. 98. Thou through thy Commandements hast made me wiser then mine enemies for they are ever with me Ver. 99. I have more understanding then all my teachers for thy Testimonies are my meditation Ver. 100. I understand more then the Ancient because I keepe thy precepts Then for faith the Word is the meanes to beget and preserve that for it is the Word of faith Rom. 10. 8. And the Apostles conclusion is Ver. 17. So Then faith commeth by hearing and hearing of the Word of God And then for the feare of God another excellent grace of the Spirit the Word of God is the chiefe meanes to beget that Deut. 17. 19. Where it is said of the King that he shall write him a copie of the booke of the Law and reade in it all the dayes of his life Why so That he may learne to feare the Lord his God and to keepe all the words of this Law Yea this is the end of our publike meeting to heare the Word faithfully preached all both old and young must come to heare it Deut. 31. 12. Gather the people together men and women and children and the stranger that is within thy gates All sorts must constantly frequent the Church assemblies and depend upon the ministery of the Word Why so That they may heare and that they may learne and feare the Lord your God and observe to doe all the words of this Law The true feare of GOD must be learned out of the Booke of GOD and hearing the Word preached is the means to attaine thereunto The like might easily be shewed of sundry other graces But this is not all the Word preached is not onely the meanes to beget the graces of Gods Spirit in us but to encrease them also Observe it 1 Pet. 2. 2. As new borne Babes desiâ—e yee the sincere milke of the Word that yee may grow thereby sayth the Apostle So that the ministery of the Word is not onely the seede of our new birth but also the chiefe means of our encrease and growth in Grace yea it will still build us up farther untill we come to perfection Act. 20. 32. And now brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace which is able to build you up farther and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified Oh precious Word and well worthy of all high esteeme that is able to build us up in grace farther and farther untill wee come to perfection How can we choose but love the Word exceedingly and delight to spend much time in it if we seriously consider how usefull it is unto us also in this respect Fifthly and lastly The Word preached is not onely the chiefe meanes of spirituall life and comfort but of our eternall happinesse and salvation It is not onely the Word of grace but of glory too and of salvation Romans 1. 16. I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ saith the Apostle Why so Because how simple or despicable so ever it may seeme in it selfe yet it is the power of God through faith unto salvation a foolish thing indeed it is in the eye of flesh and bloud and of carnall Reason but yet it pleaseth God even by the foolishnesse of preaching to save them which doe believe 1 Cor. 1. 21. Yea it is the Word of salvation so that he is farre from salvation that rejects it Psalm 119. 155. Yea it is the Word of eternall life and therefore he that thrusteth it from him doth judge himselfe unworthy of eternall life See two direct Testimonies for this the one is the speech of Peter to our Saviour Iohn 6. 68. Will ye also goe away saith our Saviour to his Disciples The Apostle Peter maketh answer Whither should we goe where shall wee thinke to mend our selves thou hast the words of eternall life And therefore he that rejecteth it and careth not to spend time in the hearing and reading and serious perusall of it doth even judge himselfe unworthy of everlasting life Acts 13. 46. saith the Apostle addressing his speech to the Iewes It was necessary that the Word of God should be first preached unto you the preaching of Gods Word is of necessary use in the Church of God but since that ye thrust it from you and judge your selves unworthy of everlasting life c. behold wee turne to the Gentiles Oh how readily and with what great affection would we receive the Word if this was rightly considered CHAP. X. Containing part of the fifth Direction c. FIfthly All that desire to spend much time in Gods service must follow that golden rule of the Apostle sc. of redeeming the time Redeeming the time because the dayes are evill saith the Apostle Ephes. 5. 16. Which rule he repeateth againe to the Colossians Colos. 4. 5. Now if you aske me From what wee must redeeme the time I answer from all such lets and impediments that will hinder this way There are diverse great consumers of precious time from which he must carefully redeeme it that would spend much time in Gods service I shall need to say
the lesse in this case in regard of that which I have already said as also in respect of a Treatise written to this purpose called The Redemption of time Yet because I would not leave the point imperfect I will briefly insist upon some few particulars 1. Therefore all men must very carefully and watchfully subdue and suppresse all those great mispenders of time which like so many gracelesse spend-thrifts doe wast and consume many precious houres and much golden time that was farre better spent in Gods worship and service which are especially sixe 1. Sinning 2. Sleeping 3. Carking and caring 4. Sporting or recreations with immoderate feasting 5. Foolish thinking 6. And lastly idle speaking which is usually a fruit of the former because Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh whereof some of these must bee mortified and put to death and others againe restrained and regulated or bound as it were to the good behaviour 1. The first and the worst and chiefe mispender of precious time is Sinning when we spend time in doing that which is directly naught as lying swearing drunkennesse wantonnesse and such like works of the flesh and of the Devill this is the worst spent time of all as being directly contrary to that which is spent in Gods service as I have already shewed in the first use of the point Now this thiefe is utterly to be mortified and put to death imprisoning or binding to the good behaviour will not serve the turne for indeed this is a desperate ruffian or swaggerer that is not capable of any good behaviour and therefore must needs be put to death and wholly suppressed We must endeavour as much as in us lyeth that wee spend no time in sinning but carefully mortifie the deeds of the body by the Spirit this is the Apostles rule Colossians 3. 1 2 5. If ye then be risen with Christ seeke those things which are above be heavenly minded set your affections upon things above Let your conversation be in heaven Phil. â— 30. But what course must wee take to this end That the Apostle sheweth verse 5. Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth Where wee see this truth most clearely manifested that all that would spend much time in Gods service and holy performances must carefully mortifie their members here on earth and put sinfull lusts to death For this horrible thiefe and great mispender of precious time is like some mischievous person or desperate ruffian that flyeth in a mans face and will either kill or bee killed and therefore must needs be killed that hee doth not kill us for the wages of sinne is death Romans 6. 23. So that wee must either kill our corruptions or they will bring our sonles to death Rom. 8. 13. For if yee live after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit doe mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live Where you see that our precious soules cannot live but by the death of our corruptions the life of the one is the death of the other as Ahab lost his owne life for preserving Benhadads Thy life shall goe for the life of him in 1 Kings 20. 42. so our soules must eternally perish if we suffer our corruptions to survive But how should we so mortifie our lusts that we may spend little or no time time in vicious courses and so consequently more time in Gods service An. 1. Let us diligently search that we may plainly discover and finde out that speciall sinne wherewith we have beene formerly most pestered It is impossible to execute a malefactor untill he be found out and apprehended diligent search is first made and Hue and cry sent after him to finde him out so wee must deale with those lusts wherein formerly wee have spent too much time Lamentations 3. 40. Let us search and try our wayes and turne to the Lord our God This was Davids practise Psalme 119. 59. I examined or considered or thought on mine owne wayes and turned my feete unto thy Testimonies yea because he knew his heart was deceitfull and fraudulent Ier. 17. 9. Hee doth beseech God to assist him in it and to doe it for him Psalme 26. 2. Examine me O Lord and prove me try my reines and my heart Like a man that heareth proclamation for the apprehension of such and such a Traytor hee not only searcheth his owne house himselfe but he setteth open the doore and intreateth the officer to enter and make what diligent search he can that if there be any traytor lurking there hee may bee found out and executed so David search me ô Lord examine my heart and house and see if there bee any sinfull lust there and let them bee all mortified To the same purpose is that we have Psal. 139. 23 24. Search me O God and know my heart try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting Loe here was sincerity and this was the best way to finde out our most secret lusts and hidden corruptions O therefore let us not be strangers at home but examine our owne hearts as the Psalmiâ—â— speaketh Psalme 4. 4. A sweet place for this purpose is that of the Apostle 2 Cor. 13. 5. Examine your selves whither yee bee in the faith or no prove your owne selves know you not your owne selves i. e. what an absurd thing is it for you to bee skilfull in others affaires and neglect your owne to know other men and not your owne selves what greater hypocrisie The Hypocrite is sharpe sighted abroad but blinde at home He can see a mote in the eye of another but doth not discerne the beame that is in his owne it is our Saviours character of an hypocrite Matthew 7. 5. But on the contrary the advise of the Apostle is excellent Galathians 6. 4. But let every owne prove his owne worke seeke to finde out his owne lusts then shall hee have rejoycing in himselfe and not in another Secondly When we have found out this waster and apprehended this Traytor then let us directly smite it with the two edged sword of the Spirit upon the head which is the Word of God a speciall part of a Christians armour and so much the more excellent in this case because it is a weapon both defensive and offensive Ephesians 6. 16. And take the Helmet of salvation and the Sword of the Spirit which is the Woâ—d of God See what admirable worke our Saviour made with this spirituall weapon in the single combate that he had with Sathan hand to hand Matthew 4. Scriptum est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verse 4. And againe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verse 6. And see the event of this combate v. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Then the Devill left him c. This put him utterly to flight And no marvell for the Word of God is quicke and powerfull
Sacrament is meant the very Body and Bloud of Christ which are verily and indeed taken and received of the faithfull in the Lords Supper And for the proofe of this we have the expresse words of our Saviour Take eate this is my Body So that herein Christ Iesus with all the merits of his Body and Bloud are offered unto us and bestowed really and effectually on all worthy receivers 2. By receiving of this Sacrament we joyntly professe our common interest in Christ and our communion with him and one with another and hereupon this Sacrament is fitly called the communion 1 Cor. 10. 16. 3. Hereby the promises of God and the merits of Christ are sealed up unto us So that hereby we come to have both Gods Hand Seale to assure us of the pardon of our sins and of eternall happinesse in which respect the Sacraments are called the Seales of righteousnesse Rom. 4. 11. Fourthly Hereby our corruptions are mortified and the graces of Gods Spirit greately augmented and confirmed in us These Ordinances through the speciall blessing of God doe nourish and feede our soules unto life eternall So that most true we shall finde that speech of our Saviour Ioh. 6. 55. For my Flesh is meate indeed and my Bloud is drinke indeed Yea ver 51. I am the living Bread which came downe from heaven if any man eat of this bread hee shall live for ever and the bread which I will give is my Flesh which I will give for the life of the world Only remember that all this must bee understood of spirituall eating as our Saviour Himselfe in the same place giveth us expresly to understand for when his grosse hearers made that carnall question saying How can this Man give us his flesh to eate verse 52. Our Saviour doth earnestly confirme it still ver 53. Except ye eate the Flesh of the Sonne of Man and drinke his Bloud you have no life in you c. Yea when many of the Disciples were offended and murmured at it see how he giveth them satisfaction ver 63. It is the Spirit that quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing the words which I speake unto you they are Spirit and they are life to shew that all this must be spiritually understood for the foode is spirituall and so of necessitie the eating and drinking must needs be So that this is enough to perswade us to value and highly to esteeme this Ordinance because therein Christ Iesus is verily and indeed taken and received to the eternall benefit and comfort of all worthy receivers an argument sufficient not only to perswade us to take all opportunities of receiving this Sacrament our selves but also to perswade others hereunto in regard of the great benefits that are here offered and exhibited to the soules of all worthy receivers Fifthly Hereby we have the commemoration of Christs death most lively and effectually represented unto us So that we may in this case use the benefit of our eyes to see the Bread broken and the Wine powred out to signifie the death of Christ and the shedding of his Bloud so that our hands do as it were handle the Word of life Christ as 1 Iohn 1. 1. The Word foundeth in our eare but in the Sacrament the same is most lively represented unto our eyes sc. the death of Christ So that as often as wee eate that bread and drinke that cup we shew the Lords death till he come faith the Apostle 1 Cor. 11. 26. Yea and this is a speciall end for which this Sacrament was ordained at the first Doe this in remembrance of me saith our Saviour Matth. 26. Yea the Sacraments are most lively representations of the sufferings of Christ as if therein Christ was really againe crucified before our eyes according to that speech of the Apostle to the Galathians chap. 3. 1. O foolish Galatians Who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes Iesus Christ was evidently set forth even crucified amongst you How was he crucified among them but only in the Word and Sacraments So that where the Word is faithfully preached and the Sacraments duly celebrated there is Iesus Christ so evidently set forth as if he was even crucified among that people Oh how this also should perswade us not only to serve God our selves but also to doe our best to perswade others to spend time in Gods service especially if we remember the Doctrine which is the ground of this whole discourse namely this that time spent in the duties of Gods service is absolutely and incomparably the best spent time then certainely we would easily be perswaded not only to spend much time in Gods service our selves but also earnestly to doe our best endeavour to cause others to doe the like especially 〈◊〉 â—amilies and those which are more especially committed unto our charge that so we may not only save our selves but also them that belong unto us 1 Tim. 4. 16. FINIS The context and coherence Division parts of the Text. Explication 3. Doct. 1. Doct. 2. Doct. 3. Doct. Doctrine 1. That Christ and the saving graces of his Spirit are fitly compared unto Gold tried in the fire Reason Precious like gold 2. Reason Fit to pay debts or keepe out of prison 3. Reason Because pure like gold 4. Reason Because fit for purchase 5. Reason In respect of beautie and ornament 6. Reason Of sweet smell Dulcis odor luâ—â—â—â—e re qualibet 7. Reason Vses 1. Instruction The worth and excellency of true grace Grace better then gold 1. Gold is fading and perishing but grace is permanent and lasting 2. Grace is able to help in the day of wrath Grace leadeth to glory 2. Instruct. Gracious Religious people most excellent 1. They come of excellent parentage The wicked children of wrath Are borne to a most excellent inheritance A most rare and excellent portion Have most excellent attendance 3. Instruct. To justifie the care paine to get grace Diligence to get true grace Be not discouraged by the opposition of wicked men Grace will bring joy comfort in death Vse 2. For Reprehension of such as neglect and despise the meanes to get grace Folly of such as neglect to get grace 2 Cor. 4. 3. Contempt of the means of grace a fearefull signe of perdition or reprobation 3. Vse Examination whether wee have true grace yea or no. Motive 1. Toperswade us to examine whether we have true grace sc. the difficulty All sorts of men apt to be deceived in judging in this case The wicked deceived Godly deceived in thinking he hath no grace when indeed hee hath Grace a Treasure hid in the field Much counterfeit grace in the world Melting the chiefe meanes to discerne which is the true gold Some kinde of Innocency without true grace 2. Motive The danger of being mistaken 3. Motive The possibilitie of prevailing notwithstanding the difficultie Reason Of the possibility of being assured that wee have true