birth qualities and deaths of 〈◊〉 man Psal 139. 16 and the deeds of all men according to which they must be iudged The speciall fore-knowledge of God lookes vpon the 〈◊〉 onely and is ioyned with an infinite 〈◊〉 and delight in them Rom 8. 27. 11. 2. 〈◊〉 2. 9. Exod. 33. vlt. This is called the Lambs 〈◊〉 of life and the writing of the house of Israel Esay 4. 4. Reuel 20. 12. Phil 4. 3. Dan 12. 1. Ezech 13. 9. The Vses follow 1. For information Wee haue here a sea of contemplation that the heart of man can neuer be able to conceiue of How great cause had the Apostle to cry out as he did O the depths of the wisdome of God! so Dauid Ps 114. 24. Ro 11. 29. Secondly this may shew vs that men cannot possibly be iust before God seeing the knowledge of God is so excellent and infinite Iob 9. 2 3. 2. The doctrine of this infinite and eternall knowledge or fore-knowledge of God is vsed in diuers scriptures for singular consolation in diuers distresses as 1. Against the malicious practises of euill men that set themselues against the godly They shall not preuaile though they thinke the Lord doth not see yet they shall one day know that he that made the eye doth see and he that gaue man vnderstanding will correct and for the godly in the meane time this may comfort them that all the haires of their head are numbred Psal 94. 1. to 12. Matth 24. 2. Against the errors spirituall frauds and deceits of men The deceiuer and the deceiued are with the Lord Iob 12. 13. 16 and therefore it is not possible that the Elect should be finally deceiued Matth 24. 3. Against our owne cares and doubtfulnesse vnder the afflictions and troubles of this life Doth our heauenly Father know what wee stand in neede of Matth 6. 33. doth not knowledge also extend to the number times places and measure of our crosses and not our persons onely but our banishment â—eares c are in his booke Ps 56. 9. 4. Against our vnbeleefe and distrust of Gods loue and fauourable acceptance of vs His eye hath beene euer is and will be vpon the righteous Psal. 34. 16. 5. Against the feare of falling away Is not the foundation of God sure Hath it not this seale hee knoweth who are his 2 Tim 2. 19. 6. Against the spirituall distresses and diseases of our soules Hee hath experience and skill to heale the broken heaâ—ted and this is a great addition to our comfort he knowes our destres in all the afflictions of our spirits Ps 147. 5. 7. Against the troubles of our priuate Calling Thus God comforâ—ed and incouraged Ieremy Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee and before thou camest out of the wombe I ordained thee a Prophet to the Nations c. Ier 1. 5 6 7. 8. Against the weaknesse of our faith in things promised and are not yet performed In respect of this fore-knowledge he calls things that yet are not 〈◊〉 they were Rom 4. 17. 9. Against the doubt of audience and succese in prayâ—er and the Lord said vnto Moses I will doe this thing also that thou hast spoken For thou hast found grace in my sight and I know thee by name Exod 33. 1â— 10. Against the feare of Gods wrath and forsaking of man when he enters into iudgement The Lord will not cast off the people whom he knew before Ps. 94. 12. to 17. Rom. 11. 2. 8. 29. 11. Against the contempt of the world and the censures of the wicked and all their slanders and indignities The Lord knowes vs and our desires and indeuours God knowes our hearts and our innocencie whatsoeuer the world say or thinke of vs It matters not what the prisoner saith if the Iudge acquite vs If God know vs it is no matter whether the world do or no. 12. Lastly How can it be but well with the righteous whom not onely a God loues but with such a lasting and preuenting loue when hee cares for them and takes order so long before 3. Thirdly the doctrine of Gods fore-knowledge may teach vs 1. To feare God and forsake sinne and not to dally with disobedience seeing all is naked and manifest before him with whom we haue to deale Heb 4. 13 and wee may be the surer of it seeing his very word can tell vs of our thoughts and the secret intent of our hearts v. 12. 2. To trust vpon God and rely vpon him in all estates seeing there is nothing but he knowes it and hath considered of it long since 3. It should inflame vs to piety seeing no good can be done but he will know it though it be done neuer so secretly It should make euen holy thoughts precious and deare to vs and it should make vs abhoâ— hypocrisie seeing it is so vaine and God seeth so euidently through vs at all times and in all actions Ps 139. 17. 1 Thess 5. 8 9. 4. It should quicken vs to the meditation and care of our assurance of our eternall saluation God hath delighted himselfe to foresee it from eternitie and shall not we fore-know and fore-meditate of our owne glory 5. Paul vseth this as a reason why we should helpe and incourage Christians and doe all the good we can for them For their names are in the booke of life Phil. 4. 3. c. 6. When we are to choose men for any Calling we should learne of God to know before and those we see to be wicked we should neuer Elect custome riches friends intreaty kinred c should neuer preuaile with vs. 7. It shewes vs how we should loue one another wee should imitate God no time should weare out our affection God is not sadded with loue though he set his affections vpon vs before the beginning of the world was 4. This doctrine of Gods eternall knowledge is terrible for wicked men and that in foure respects 1. Against the conceit of their owne parts and praises Iob 11. 11. If God should set in order before thee what he knowes by thee thou wouldst appeare more vgly then any Leper 2. Against their perswasion of secrecy in their sinnes as these places tell them Psal 90. 8. 139. 1. 11. to 16. Ier 17. 9 10 11 yea this doctrine tells them that God hath had time enough to know them hee hath obâ—eâ—â—d them from eternitie 3. Against their perswasion of impunitie they thinke they shall escape punishment for their sins but they are deceiued as is at large shewed Psal 94. 1. to 11. 139. 8 9. Reuel 2. 23. 4. Lastly woe to the man whom the Lord doth not acknowledge by his word spirit and children in this world This imports that he shall not be knowne in the day of Christ oh how woefull will that sentence be when he shall say away from me yee workers of iniquitie I know you not Matth 7. 27. Hitherto of the foundation The
sanctified 2 Wherein lieth the sanctification of the spirit of man Our spirits haue great neede to be sanctified 1 By reason of the first sinne they want originall righteousnesse and they are corrupt and infected with a generall leprosie 2 By reason of the steine and vncleanenesse all our actuall sins haue added to the former corruption 3. By reason of the inhabitation of vncleane spirits our spirits haue in them trenches cages fortes and strong holds of Sathan 2 Cor. 10. 4. and therefore had neede to bee cleansed after such foule spirits haue beene there 4 The naturall spirit of man â—rames nothing but euill and that continually this makes God so weary Gen. 6. In particular all the faculties of the spirit of man needâ— sanctification 1 The minde is couered with a vaile wrapped in an vgly mantle of darkenesse distracted with error coupled with a thousand formes of euill thoughts 2 The memory performes no seruice to God it should be Gods Treasurer and Register but no body is in the Office to keepe record 3 The Will is grieuously diseased and with sicknesse so distempered that it will not bee ruled by any not by God not by men not by reason not by religion nor doth it agree with it selfe For man wills not alwaies the same thing 4 The affections out of the first poison of naturall corruption haue such monstrous births of euil that the spirit by them is set out of all order they are compared to beasts Esay 11. To fighting souldiers 1 Pet. 2. 12. To Tyrants making cruell lawes and leading into bondage Rom. 7. 5 The wretched Conscience then which there was once no diuiner thing on earth is now in miserable case For either it is sicke of a Lethargy and sleepes or if it waken it is like a madde Dog or Lion or a Iudge transported with rage It is ignorant without light it is soiled or steined with a thousand sinnes It is impure and exceeding base and without all properties of a diuine Iudge For it is blinde and will be corrupted and will deferre the Assise c. In steed of a throne of iudgement it is thrust into a hole and horrible dungeon of darkenesse where the Sunne of righteousnesse shineth not and there for the most part as if it were still night it lieth obscure and sleepeth And thus of the neede we haue of sanctification in our spirits The sanctification of the spirit lieth in two things 1 In clensing the spirit from sinne 2 In adorning the spirit with graces In the clensing of the spirit consider both from what and how For the first if any aske what 〈◊〉 is in our spirits needes clensing away I answer That besides what hath beene shewed many more particulars may be set out thus There are vile both impieties and vnrighteousnes in our spirits must be done away For impieties There is ignorance error atheisticall thoughts pride hypocrisie inconstancie hardnes of heart and diuision of heart conceitednes vanitie selfâ—-loue hatred of goodnes false feares carnall confidence forgetfulnes doubts vnsetlednes vnbeliefes of all sorts and loue of the world For vnrighteousnes There are euill cares and couetousnes lusts of all sorts hatred malice desire of reuenge anger fretting worldly griefe bitternesse discontentment vaine-glory emulation inordinate affection and euill concupiscence as good as men thinke their hearts and meanings are they may by this taste see how foule their spirits are Now for the second The spirit is clensed from these sins by degrees and to that purpose thâ— spirit of God worketh vseth 8 distinct new qualities which haue not place in the soule but vpon occasion of this seruice against sin And these are 1. Spirituall pouerty or sense of sin and misery 2. Base estimation viz of the world with the pleasures profits and lusts of it Phil 3. 8. Esay 30. 22. 3. Hatred of sinne 4. Shame for sinne Rom 6. 21. 5. Godly sorrow 6. Feare 7. Indignation 8. A purpose and inclination to forsake sinne Thus of the clensing of the spirit The adorning of the spirit followes The spirit of man in sanctification is adorned with holy graces and here I consider of the adorning 1. of the minde 2. of the heart 3. of the conscience The minde is adorned with three things which come new into it 1. The first is a heauenly light 2. The second is humblenes of minde 3. The third is puritie of imaginations 1. This light comes in by the illumination of the spirit setting in the minde a celestiall kinde of knowledge and this stands in two things For first this sanctification breakes open a way and sets at liberty the light of nature which was imprison'd and withheld in vnrighteousnesse and then there is besides infused a new light from aboue and this light hath in it 1. A holy discerning of good and euill truth and falshood by which the minde in a measure discerneth a generall course of auoiding the waies of death and the doctrine of hell 2. A holy inquiry by which the minde aspireth after God and truth and tryeth things that differ 3. Wisdome from aboue by which the minde is caried not onely to a foresight and forecast forâ—the things of the soule and a better life aboue the things of the body and this life but is furnished with certaine seedes of discretion for practise with obseruation of the circumstances of time place persons manner end occasions c. 4. A sacred frame of piety and patterne of godlinesse and truth and this patterne is so communicated to the vnderstanding that it is indelible no dangers sinne or death can euer vtterly abolish it This frame of truth is perfected by degrees 5. There is planted in the minde Gods watch by the light whereof all the waies of the heart and life are ouer-looked 2. The second grace planted in the minde is humblenes of minde 1 Pet 5. 5. and this hath in it 1. A sense of the wants of the soule and life of man 2. A lowly kinde of forecast in all things to glorifie God and profit man accounting it no abasement to serue and please with all readinesse 3. A thankfull acknowledgment of the mercies of God infinitely aboue desert by which a man holds himselfe not worthy of the least of Gods mercies 4. A freedome in matters of opinion from selfe-conceit by which a man attaines to that not to be wise in himselfe or to rely vpon his owne reason or iudgment Thus a man is not high-minded 5. An accounting of others of Gods seruants better then our selues 6. A pronenesse to humiliation for sinne and humilitie in cariage 3. The third thing brought into the minde is puritie of imaginotions holy thoughts by which the minde converseth as it were in heauen already and feedeth vpon the fairest obiects in heauen and earth Proâ— 14. 22. Phil 3. 20. Colos. 3. 1. Thus much of the adorâ—ing of the minde 2. The heart is adorned with
8 graces 1. Holy desires such as the heart felt not before such as these after remission of sinnes and righteousnes by Christ Matth. 5 after the meanes of Gods kingdome and the power of it Psal. 42. 1 Pet. 2. 2 after the presence of God euen that of glory and the comming of Christ 2 Tim 4. 8. 2 Cor. 5. 8 after communion of Saints the heart longing after them and in a word after all sorts of heauenly things 2. Diuine loue and that of God Ps 18. 1. of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 8. of the word Ps. 119. 103. of Gods house Ps. 26. 8. 84. 5. of the godly Psal. 16. 3. 1 Ioh. 3. 14. 3. Ioy in the Holy Ghost Rom 14. 17. in such things as these 1. In the satisfaction of Christ for sinne Gal 6. 14. Rom. 5. 11. 15. 13. 2. In his Election Luk. 10. 20. 3. In the breasts of the Churches consolation Esay 66. 10. 4. In the word both read and heard Ps. 119. 77. Ier. 11. 16. Ioh. 3. 29. and so in the sacraments 5. In the sabboth Esay 58. 13. 6. In well-doing Prou 21. 15. 7. In suffering for righteousnes Matth 5. 10 8. In the presence of God knowing the soule in adursitiâ— especially Ps. 31. 7. Rom. 5. 4. 9. In the people of God Ps. 137. 6. 10. In all the good things the Lord hoth giuen as the pledges of his loue Deut. 26. 11. 11. In the things that pertaine to God Rom 15. 17. In these a Christian hath his seasons and though he may sow in teares yet he reapes in â—oy 4. A holy feare of God and that of his mercies Ps 147 11. Hos. 3. 5 of his word Esay 66. 2. of his presence especially in time of his seruice Heb 12. 28 and of his name and glorious titles Deut 28. 58 and in all things a feare of his offence and displeasure in respect of which a man is ielous of his owne infirmities Pro. 28. 18. 1 Pet. 1. 17. 5. Confidence in which the godly are as mount Sion that cannot bee moued Psal. 125. 5 by which he committeth his way to God Ps 37. 5 and runneth to God for refuge that hee may be vnder his armes for euer Deut 33. 27 Gods name is to him a strong tower Prou. 18 in respect of which his place is on high euen in the defence of the munitions of the rocks Esay 33. 16. c yea such is the power of this confidence sometimes that though God trouble him with his owne hands yet he will hope Iob 15. 19. By this signe God knowes his in the day of trouble and will owne them Neh 1. 7. and the eye of God is neuer off them because they trust in his mercies Ps 33. 18. 6. A holy hatred by which he cannot abide sinne â—s 97. 10 the garment spotted with the flesh Iud 23 any false way Psalm 119. 128 wicked company Ps. 26. 5 the worke of such as fall away Psal. 101. 3 them that hate God and goodnesse Psalme 139. 21. 7. Peace whereby a man is made to rest from passions and perturbations and enioyeth tranquillitie in the contemplation of Gods fauor Rom 14. 17. 8. Bowels of mercy Col 3. 12. I omit hope patience meeknes and the rest either because they some way belong to some of these or because these are the most eminent and easie to be discerned and all these are put on by faith And thus much of the adorning of the heart 3. The conscience also is adorned with 9 gifts 1. Life it being quickned from the dead sleepe it was in 2. Light from ignorance 3. Peace from terrors differing from securitie 4. Puritie and care in all things to doe vprightly Act 23. 1. Heb 13. 1. 2 Tim 2. 3. 5. Ioy and refreshing it is now a continuall feast Prou 15. 15. 6. Constancie Iob 27. 6. so as no power can compell it 7. Plainenesse and harmelesnes 2 Cor. 1. 12. 8. A diuine sentence so as in determining it iudgeth for God and as God 9. Tendernesse so as it will now smite for lesser euills All this doctrine concerning the sanctification of the spirit may serue First for humiliation We may all say if God looke vpon our spirits 〈…〉 passed vs Psal 40 and therefore we had neede to pray to God to clense vs from secret sinnes euen those sinnes of our spirits 2. For admonition to all men to take heed that they neglect not this great worke of inward sanctification especially if God haue touched the heart with any inward feeling of thy estate and remorse of sinne Looke to thy selfe thy heart is deceitfull and sinne is a witch watch against securitie or relapse into securitie Be perswaded it is a dangerous thing to sinne against the purposes of amendment The axe is now laid to the roote of the tree and therefore trifle not let not thy righteousnesse be as the morning deaw thou art come neere to the kingdome of God quench not the sparkles of light and remorse And much more this may warne such as will not be touched with the care of sanctification take heed of a swinish and dogged heart the Lord will not cast pearles before such swine still And thirdly it may warne such as rest in giuing faire words If they praise the Sermons and speake faire to Gods seruants they thinke all is well The Diuell could speaâ—e Christ faire to be rid of him Mark 1. 24 and so did Herod Mark 6. 20. 3. For instruction to all sorts of men that yet finde not comfort in this worke oh labour about it that thou maist be clensed from all filthinesse both of flesh and spirit euen sanctified throughout following after holinesse without which no man shall see God 2 Cor. 7. 3. 1 Thess. 5. 23. Heb. 12. 14 and if there were in men a hart to returne there are many incouragements Christ is giuen to vs of God to be sanctification and in his intercession hee remembred to pray for this that God would sanctifie vs 1 Corinth 1. 30. Ioh 17. 14. 17. 19 and the word of Christ is able to saâ—ctifie vs Act 20. 32 and Christ hereby proues his resurrection from the dead Rom 1. 4 and God hath promised his spirit to helpe vs Ezech. 33. 37. 4. For confirmation since this is so let him that is holy be holy still 5. For much thankfulnes in such as haue attained in any measure to the gifts of Gods grace herein 2 Thess 2. 13. Thus much of the sanctification of the spirit Vnto obedience The first end of our sanctification is that our liues may be brought into obedience This obedience must bee considered eyther in the 1. whole or in the 2. parts 1. In the whole it is profitable to obserue three things 1. the originall of true obedience 2. The rules or properties of true obedience in the manner of it 3. The motiues that might stirre vs vp to the care of obedience 1 The cause of