joyned with an high estimation of Divine Truths more then men has of thousands of gold of honey and of spoil or plunder as was in David Then mayest thou be assured thou art partaker in some measure of that Spirit of knowledge that was poured forth and rested on Christ thine Head Ps 119.72 103 162. Thou art one of his sheep effectually called and elected to be set on his right hand for his sheep know his voice Joh. 10.4 If the Spirit of the fear of the Lord be in thine heart a fear with humble submission to the will of God both for doing and suffering his will Is 50.10 a fear joyned with hope and confidence on his mercy Ps 145.11 a fear joyned with reverence in his holy worship Ps 5.7 a fear joyned with zeal provoking others by word and good example to worship and fear the Lord Act. 10.2 3. Then mayest thou be assured thou art of the Spirit of Christ for the Spirit of the fear of the Lord rested on him there was in him a fear joyned with submission in the day of his sad affliction for he said not my will but thine be done there was in him a fear joyned with active and passive obedience Philip. 2.8 a fear joyned with confidence even in his greatest desertion and sad complaint my God my God c. a fear joyned with reverence in prayer Luk. 22.44 and a fear joyned with zeal provoking others to fear the mighty God above all things Mat. 10.28 Vse 3. Here is sure ground of unspeakable comfort to the Church and company of Believers against all their fears from the worldly wisdom and power of the enemies of the Kingdom of Christ there is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord Pro. 21.30 The spirit of wisdom in him who is set over the house of God doth far surpass and over-reach all their wisdom falsly so called the enemies of the people of God said Let us deal wisely with them Exod. 1.10 but the Lord in the depth of his wisdom turned their cruel policy to the good and increase of his Church and People it was as the heavy weight unto the Palm-tree to raise them the higher and as the inundation of Nilus to make them the more fruitful in every good work there is no counsel against the Lord for he throughly sees the devices and plots even in the heart of the enemies Is 10.7 He is the stone with the seven eyes Zachar. 3.9 he can discover their secret designs as he did to his servant Elisha 2 King 6.12 He discovered the secret conspiracy against Paul Act. 23.16 The power of the wicked is finit and limited but his power being God is infinit and there is no proportion between finit and infinit He can limit their power and say as to the proud waves come no farther though he permit them to come to the neck yet they shall not drown them Is 8.8 Their Head the Lord Jesus Christ is now far above all the waters of affliction and persecution he can restrain their malice he cuts the horn of the wicked he breaks their teeth Ps 3.7 although they bark yet they bite not or if he permit them to bite yet their bite is not deadly like that of some mad dogs he can put a bridle in the jaws of Sennacherib he can defeat their counsels and contrivances as he did that of Achitophel turned it to folly and ruine to himself he did defeat and wonderfully disappoint the counsel of Haman against Mordecai according to that of Job 5.13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness and the counsel of the froward is carried head-long and in his unsearchable wisdom he turns their malice to the praise of his great Name who is mighty to save his people maugre all opposition Ps 76.10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee There is no might nor power worldly that can overthrow the Church of Christ The gates of hell shall not prevail against it Mat. 16.18 Because it is built on him who is the Rock of Ages and is the strength of all who by faith are built on him they are kept by the Father Joh. 10.29 and by the power of God through saith 1 Pet. 1.5 The Church and company of Believers is compared to a strong City fortified with strong Walls and with a deep and broad Ditch Isa 26.1 Isa 33.21 because the mighty Lord is in the midst of them It is true the Lord doth not alwayes shew his might in holding off the trouble from them yet he makes manifest his might and power in upholding them under troubles and in strengthning them to patience and long-suffering with joyfulness they are cast down but not destroyed persecuted but not forsaken perplexed but not in despair 2 Cor. 4.9 Psal 46.5 He that dwells in the bush though he suffer fire to enter into it yet he keeps it from being consumed because he strengthens his own children to bear afflictions Isa 41.10 Fear thou not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness Likeas a Physician holding his Patient by the hand doth encourage him under the present pain and throws from a bitter potion by confirming him in the hope of better health thereafter Joh. 16.20 2 Cor. 4.17 Sometimes he comforts them with a sense of his love shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost which as a cordial doth preserve and revive them that they faint not altogether in times of great trouble 2 Cor. 1.3 4. As a tender father speaketh more kindly to his sick child then he was wont to do formerly in time of his better health so the Lord speaketh comfort to them by his Spirit according to the word of promise when they are in a desolate condition like unto a wilderness wherein they have none or few to speak a word of comfort unto them Hos 2.14 Stephen the Martyr had never such a manifestation of Gods gracious presence as in the day of his greatest affliction and persecution Acts 7.56 And the young Confessor Theodorus as testifies Eusebius felt never more sweetness then in the time he was upon the rack Consider the merciful Lord moderats their afflictions in the specie or kind in not sending alwayes his sorest plagues Sometimes in the number he lays not on all his rods he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east-wind Isa 27.8 Sometimes in the degree and measure in not afflicting them in extremity The Lord hath chastised me sore saith David but he hath not given me over to death Psal 118.18 And he moderats the afflictions in respect of the time and endurance Psal 125.3 The rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity The Lord by the spirit of wisdom and power turns all their afflictions in end
in reason should be so to grieve the Kings Secretary that has past their gift gratis through the Seals 3. The Spirit of God is the comforter And shouldest thou grieve him who many a time has comforted and supported thee in the day of thy trouble and grief If thou grieve the Comforter to whom wilt thou go in the day of new troubles on thy spirit for comfort and strength Vse 1. Therefore grieve not the holy Spirit in whom ye live 1. By your unruly passions he is the Spirit of love and peace grieve him not by your envy and malice one against another it was a grief to Moses his spirit who was a man living in the Spirit to see the Hebrews at strife one with another the holy Spirit is a Spirit of purity and vile thoughts and motions in the heart entertained with delight grieveth him as the daughters of Heth did grieve Rebekah he is a liberal Spirit as he is called Psal 51.12 and our base nigardness and unmercifulness toward the poor doth much grieve him 2. Grieve not the Spirit by speaking or doing against the light of your conscience which being inspired by the Word of God is the counsel of the Spirit thus did Ananias grieve the Spirit Act. 5.3 4. and the Rulers Act 7.51 3. We grieve him by our unbelief in new exigents of trouble notwithstanding our former experiences of his power and bounty as the Disciples grieved our Lord Mat. 16.8 9. It is no small grief to thy friend if thou distrust him in a small matter when thou hast had experience of his kindness in great matters 4. We would by all means beware of mocking the work of the Spirit in others it was a great grief to Sarah that Ishmael mocked her son Isaac so this mocking of the work of mortification and holiness doth greatly grieve the Spirit of God any Artificer is grieved to hear the work of his hands to be undervalued and despised by others so the Spirit of God is greatly grieved and displeased to see holiness which is his own proper work in all who live in the Spirit to be undervalued and despised by the men of this present world who mind not the things of the Spirit but of the flesh Labour to be spiritual and like to the Spirit by whom we live we are said to be sealed by the Spirit Ephes 1.13 and there is an impression of the seal upon the wax so if we live by the Spirit and be sealed by him there will be an impression of holineâ—s and purity in some measure answering to the Spirit by which we are sealed Let us be spiritual in our intentions toward the honour of God with any gift of the Spirit bestowed upon us for our Lord saith of the Spirit Joh. 16.14 He shall glorifie me for he shall receive of mine and shew it unto you Let us labour to be spiritual and heavenly-minded often conversing in our hearts with God Phil. 3.20 Our conversation is in Heaven like Pilgrims who being abroad do often mind their own native country let us be spiritual in our delights for they that are after the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit Rom. 8.5 Let our delight be most in God and things heavenly as in spiritual benefits spiritual ordinances and spiritual duties let us labour to be spiritual and sincere in the worship of God for the Father seeketh such to worship him Joh. 4.23 Vse 2. The duty propoâ—ed walk in the Spirit that is walk by the power and grace of the Spirit according to the light of the Word inspired and dictated by the Spirit this Word in the original signifieth to walk foot for foot after the leading and teaching of the Spirit by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as young children walk after the footsteps of their father in the same path though not with steps equal to the father or as School-boyes learn the A B C and first elements which are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one letter after another In like manner we learn precept upon precept and thereafter do construct and set the actions of our life and conversation together aright according to the rule of the Word of God so that by walking in the Spirit is meant the course of sanctification and of new obedience required by God of us in the covenant of grace as it was said by God to Abraham the father of the faithful Gen. 17.1 Walk before me and be thou upright God promiseth in the new covenant of rich and free grace that he will both give unto his people power to walk in his commandments and also actual assistance in walking Ezek. 36.26 27. A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you c. And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes To this duty we engage our selves in the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper to walk in newness of life Rom. 6.4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life And in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper we renew our engagement made in Baptism The duty of new obedience is called a walking 1. Because in waâ—king there is a place from which we walk and turn fâ—om so in the course of new obedience we must forsake our former evil wayes Isa 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts 2. There is the way wherein men do walk so the man renewed by the Spirit doth walk in the way of Gods commandments Ezek. 20.19 I am the Lord your God walk in my statutes 3. A light according to the which men walk so in ouâ— Christian walking the light is the Word of God Psal 119.105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path 4. In walking through a wilderness and dangerous places men have need of a skilful guide as Hobab was to the people of Israel in the wilderness So men renewed hath need of the holy Spirit to guide and lead them by his strength from one duty to another Therefore David prayeth so often for quickning in the wayes of Gods commandments for it is not enough that once we be quickned to a new life but we have need also to be quickned thereafter and stirred up to the duties of a new life Psal 119.37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity and quicken thou me in thy way 5. As in bodily walking there is an end and place toward which we walk so in our spiritual walking we walk from strength to strength aiming at perfection and the seeing and enjoying of God in mount Sion that is above 2 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore these promises let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God Phil. 3.13.14 I count not my self
same time he was attended by an heavenly host of Angels and was worshipped both by the wise men that came from the east and by the shepherds after he was tempted as a man in the wilderness yet the Angels ministered unto him as the Son of God after his sleeping as a man in the ship he rebuked the Sea and the Winds as the Son of God yea in his lowest condition upon the Cross he by the power of his God-head did shake the earth and raise the dead Vse 2. Meditate oft-times for thy comfort upon his lowing and humbling himself in his birth life and death look upon it as the greatest token of his love Jacobs service in so low a condition was a great token of his love to Rachel but the Prince of Glory even Jacobs Lord was in the form of a servant near-by thirty four years to espouse us who were by nature enemies to God Look upon his low condition and humiliation as a special mean to engage thy heart and affection to himself who took upon him thy nature to make thee partaker of the Divine Nature by a conformity to God in holiness in this life and in glory and happiness for ever in the other life Look upon his humiliation as thy pattern in thy behaviour to thy inferiours he condescended to us in our low estate therefore be not high-minded neither in a supercilious arrogancy stand upon your punctilio's but let the like mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus who humbled himself to do us good So should we after his example condescend to do good one to another Phil. 2.3 4 5. VERSE II. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the spirit of wisdom and understanding the spirit of counsel and might the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. FOr the better clearing these words we would answer three questions 1. Seing God gave him the Spirit not in measure Joh. 3.34 How is it that the graces of the Spirit bestowed upon him are here stinted and limited to the number of six 2. Seing he had these graces from all eternity being equal in understanding wisdom counsel might and knowledge with the Father how is the Spirit said to rest upon him in his Incarnation as if he had not been endowed with those graces before that time 3. What is meant by these several graces and gifts mentioned here I answer to the first The graces reckoned up here are such as were bestowed upon him as Man and Mediator in our nature at his Incarnation and were requisit for him in the Government of his Church and people although all other graces were habitually and eminently in him as humility meekness patience c. yet such graces are mentioned here as in a special manner qualified him for the actual discharge of the Mediatory-office as for that spoken of our blessed Lord Joh. 3.34 He received not the spirit by measure it is not to be understood simply as if the Humane Nature of Christ by way of transfusion had received an infinit measure of grace for a finit creature cannot receive such a measure seing every thing is received according to the measure and capacity of the receiver but it is spoken by way of comparison with all the intelligent creatures Angels or Men who received not such a measure of the graces of the Spirit as Christ did in his Humane Nature wherein he was anointed above his fellows Psal 45.7 Eph. 4.7 To the second Question I answer Our blessed Lord in respect of his Divine Nature was of infinit understanding wisdom counsel might and knowledge but these graces in a finit measure were communicat to the Humane Nature in the personal union thereof with the Divine Nature in his Incarnation but in a measure far above the capacity of Angels or Men because the nearer the creature is united to God the perfection of it is the greater therefore it is even so among believers in the Church here on earth some of them are more perfect then others because united to God by more of faith and love then others and in Heaven the Saints glorified are more perfect then the Saints militant on earth because they are united and near to God in the facial vision of God by full knowledge and perfect love Now of all creatures the Humane Nature of Christ was and is most perfect because united and nearest to the Divine Nature in a personal union To the third I answer We understand by the Spirit of understanding his large capacity in perceiving and up-taking what was incumbent for himself to do and suffer as our Mediator and also what the elect should do for attaining eternal life through him By the Spirit of wisdom we understand the gift of active prudence whereby he was enabled for doing and performing the duty which he understood was incumbent to him as our Mediator Psal 40.8 9 10. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation I have not concealed thy loving kindness and thy truth from the great congregation By the Spirit of counsel we understand his ability to reveal the eternal counsel and purpose of the Father concerning the way of mans salvation Joh. 6.40 And this it the will of him that sent me that every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life By the Spirit of might we understand that power and dominion over all creatures given to him as Mediator and Head of his Church Mat. 28.18 All power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth An exceeding power of invincible grace toward the Elect in their effectual calling and conversion Eph. 1.19 and also a power and mighty force to subdue his obstinat and incorrigible enemies 1 Cor. 15.25 For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet By the Spirit of knowledge we understand not only his certain and infallible knowledge of all things to be done and suffered by him for the salvation of lost man but also his knowledge and dexterity for instructing his Church in the truth and way of salvation As in the Breast-plate of the High Priest was Vrim and Thummim rendered by the 70. Interpreters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Manifestation and Truth So our Lord knew the truth and had a transcendent gift of a convincing gravity and authority as also a perswasive clearness upon the spirits and hearts of his hearers Psal 45.2 Grace is poured into thy lips Mat. 7.28 29. And it came to pass when Jesus had ended these sayings the people were astonished at his doctrine For he taught them as one having authority and not as the Scribes Luk. 24.32 And they said one to another Did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us by the way and while he opened to us the Scriptures This knowledge infused into the Humane Nature of Christ was not an absolute Omniscience which is incommunicable to any
creature yea not to the Son of man Mark 13.32 This knowledge in the Humane Nature of Christ was intrinsecal communicat from the personal union for it is said He knew in himself to wit from the God-head dwelling in him personally Luk. 8.46 Joh. 6.61 but the knowledge of the Prophets and Apostles was extrinsecal by inspiration and extraordinary revelation By the spirit of the fear of the Lord we understand that heavenly grace of unspotted holiness and purity in his Humane Nature for such an High Priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled c. Heb. 7.26 therefore is he called by way of singularity and excellency 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Holy Thing Luk. 1.35 The words being thus explained two things may be observed 1. The variety of the graces and gifts powred forth upon our Lord Jesus Christ for the good of his Church 2. The permanency and continuance of these graces and gifts in vigor and exercise it is said The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him Observ 1. Variety of graces and gifts were poured forth upon Jesus Christ our Head for the good of all the members of his mystical body the Church this is evident from this place as also from Joh. 1.14 16. He was full of grace and truth and of his fulness have we all received and grace for grace As the ointment poured forth upon the head of Aaron the High Priest did flow down to the skirts of his garment Psal 133.1 in like manner the vertue of the graces of the Spirit poured forth on Jesus Christ our great High Priest doth descend to the meanest member of his mystical body for sanctifying them throughout and for gladning their hearts with that oyl of gladness spoken of Psal 45.7 8. It is said Eph. 4.10 He asscended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things It is true believers were filled in some measure with grace through him before his ascending into Heaven yet a greater measure of the Spirit was poured forth upon them after his ascension Acts 2.33 as the Sun after its rising fills the earth with light but the higher it ascends in its course the earth is filled with more of light so there is a greater measure of spiritual knowledge and grace in believers after the ascension of Christ then was before his birth or during the time of his abode upon the earth in the time of his humiliation Vse 1. Seing the Lord Jesus Christ received all these graces and gifts of the Spirit as Mediator for the good of his Church we should in all our wants and spiritual indigencies have our recourse by prayer to him that out of his fulness we might receive grace for grace It is a sure ground of our confidence and comfort that he received all these graces and gifts for our benefit therefore we should go to him as Children of the Family to the Stewart sealed and appointed by the Father who to their certain knowledge hath got provision both of grace and glory for all of the houshold of Faith and we may be assured he is faithful in all the House of God to give unto the children their Fathers allowance Joh. 6.27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life which the son of man shall give unto you for him hath God the Father sealed Art thou dull in understanding and hath little or no sharpness of wit to understand and discern spiritual and supernatural truths no more then a blind man has sight to discern colours Go to the Lord Jesus Christ in whom was and is the spirit of understanding be thou humble under the sense of thy spiritual blindness and by prayer seek that eye-salve which is called the Vnction from the holy One 1 Joh. 2.20 and is called the Spirit of revelation Eph. 1.17 Seek it with a sincere purpose of heart to improve thy understanding of the truth revealed unto practice and doing what thou shalt understand to be Gods will and thy duty Go with confidence to the Lord Jesus Christ who is both able and willing to open thy understanding and to give a heavenly faculty to perceive and understand divine truths He not only taught the Disciples going to Emmaus by word of mouth but also opened their understandings Luke 24.44 And if thou have an honest purpose of heart to do revealed duties thy Lord will mak thee to understand and discern the truths that are necessary for the saving of thy soul Joh. 7.17 If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of my self Wouldst thou have spiritual wisdom and prudence for ordering thy conversation and doing of revealed duties Go to him upon whom was poured the spirit of wisdom by prayer seek it of him who gives liberally Jam. 1.4 Make conscience of frequent hearing and reading the Word of God which is the book of heavenly wisdom making men wise to salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 16. In difficulties and perplexities wherein thou knows no more what to do then Jehoshaphat did in a great strait 2 Chron. 20.12 go to him for counsel Prov. 8.14 Counsel is mine And here it is said The spirit of counsel was upon him He is called by way of excellency The Counseller Isai 9.6 He hath promised to give counsel to our hearts in times of greatest difficulties Luk. 21.15 and accordingly he did so to his faithful servants as to Stephen Act. 6.10 and to Paul Act. 23.6 In an hour of temptation from the power of thine own corruption from Satan and from the world go to the Lord Jesus Christ for obtaining might and power to resist and in end to overcome thy spiritual enemies thus did Paul in an hour of darkness and temptation 2 Cor. 12.9 remember the spirit of might was poured on him he is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him Go to him for strength and protection in times of great trials and persecutions keep fast the word of his patience that is his direction for carrying thy self in such a time humbly patiently and peaceably Rev 3.10 Go to him in a time of fainting that from him thou may get quickening and might to run the ways of his Commandments Because the spirit of might was poured forth upon the Captain of our Salvation to help forward poor willing souls now and then fainting in the way of their Christian race it is not enough in your regeneration at first to be quickened unto a new life but in respect of your faintings in the race and course of Sanctification ye have need of daily quickening and up-stirring to the duties of the new life Therefore it is that David a man according to Gods heart being already in the state of grace and partaker of the new life prayeth frequently for quickening unto duty Psal 119.25 37 88 107 159. and Psal 143.3 Wouldst thou have the knowledge and
perswasion of divine and supernatural truths Go to him for light and knowledge the spirit of knowledge rested on him Prov. 1.23 Prov. 2.3 4 5. Rev. 3.18 He is by Office the great Doctor of Israel and will give his Spirit to perswade the heart to receive and imbrace the precious truths revealed in the Word even unto all who seek to him for instruction and humbly submit to his discipline and correction Hast thou a prophane loose and godless heart void of the fear of God go to him on whom was poured the spirit of the fear of the Lord that he may put the fear of God in thy heart that thou mayest be sanctified throughout in spirit soul and body in a conformity to him on whom the spirit of the fear of the Lord did rest To this end he died that he might ratifie and confirm that promise of the new Covenant I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me Jer. 32.40 Vse 2. Seing these graces and gifts of the Spirit were given to Jesus Christ the Mediator for the benefit of his Church it is our duty to search our selves and try if we have received of the spirit of Christ because if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8.9 And hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his spirit 1 Joh. 4.13 As a member of the body not animated by the soul is not formally and properly a member thereof so a man not quickened by the Spirit of Christ is not an actual member of his Mystical Body the Church His Spirit is a Spirit of understanding If thou understand the fundamental and necessary saving truths and followest Christ by saith as a Schollar following and maintaining the opinion of his Teacher and if thou set thy heart to follow him by obedience in the way of his holy Commandments as a Servant following the direction of his Lord For a good understanding have all they that do his Commandments Psal 111.10 If thy understanding be seconded with an hatred of every false way Psal 119.104 then mayest thou be assured the Spirit of Christ is in thee even the spirit of sound judgement and understanding The Spirit of Christ is a Spirit of spiritual and heavenly wisdom which is pure without guile and peaceable without faction and sedition Jam. 3.17 It is true there is a wisdom that passeth under that name in this present world but it is foolishness with God 1 Cor. 3.19 there are many wise in their own generation but are fools in the great business of Regeneration such as put forth all their wit and pains for attaining the deceitful pleasures of sin which is called a plowing of iniquity Job 4.8 a sowing to the flesh Gal. 6.8 a drawing of iniquity with cart-ropes Is 5.18 a travelling with iniquity Ps 7.14 and making provision for the flesh Rom. 13.14 Such as lay forth all their wit and pains for attaining uncertain riches or unconstant honour of a present world these men are like unto stupid Idiots preferring base mettal to the Pearl of price and the others are like to mad men running with all their speed into a precipice or gulph for their own destruction Such men are worldly wise who lay all the stress of their trust upon the uncertain insufficient and perishing things of this world as that miserable worldling Luk. 12.20 Such also who are nimble wits to meddle in all business except the business of their own salvation of such fools we read Prov. 20.3 And there be also too many hypocritical fools that have a frame and set form of some good holy words without any foundation of new obedience in their heart and without good works in their life and conversation such a man was that foolish builder Mat. 7. and the foolish Virgins Mat. 25. But has thou that wisdom which is from above which appears in the choice of the best thing Mat. 13.46 in active intentions for attaining the chief end even Gods glory and thine own salvation which appears also in strong desires following after the means of salvation Ps 27.4 One thing have I desired and that I will desire c. It appears in an heavenly conversation and minding things that are above Prov. 15.24 The way of life is above to the wise that he may depart from hell beneath and in providing wisely for the time to come by doing works of piety and charity 1 Tim. 6.19 If thou be wise in this manner then thou mayest be assured thou hast received of the Spirit of wisdom that rested on Christ thy Head The Spirit of Christ was a Spirit of sound counsel if thou has received of that Spirit thou wilt not give pernicious counsel to others as Jonadab did to Ammon to further them in any sinful course nor wilt thou give counsel against others to their hurt or ruine as Achitophel did against David But thou wilt give good counsel as Daniel did to Nebuchadnezar Dan. 4.27 If thy counsels be according to the Word of God as the testimonies of God were Davids faithful counsellers Ps 119.24 then mayest thou be assured thou art of the Spirit of Christ who according to the Word of God did delight to do the will of the Father Ps 48. If thou rejectest with an holy indignation evil counsel and suggestion though given by a friend when he would disswade thee from duty to God or to men in God this is an evidence thou art of the Spirit of Christ who rejected such evil counsel Matth. 16.24 Hast thou power and might to resist the onsets and bickerings of inward corruption It is an evidence thou art partaker of the vertue of the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8.37 We are more then conquerors through him that loved us Gal. 5.24 They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Hast thou power and ability to walk equally and evenly both in prosperity and in adversity humble and moderat in that and patient in this thou art partaker of the Spirit of Christ who was of a moderat and sober mind when they would have made him a King he withdrew himself Joh. 6.15 he was patient in adversity as a sheep before the shearer Is 53. Art thou able through his grace to do Christian-duties with some measure of sincerity fervency and cheerfulness then art thou of the Spirit of Christ for it was his meat and drink to do the will of the Father Joh. 4.34 If the Spirit of sound and heavenly knowledge be in thee not only wilt thou have the knowledge of simple apprehension in thine uptaking the literal sense of Scripture truths but also thou wilt have a knowledge of discerning the sublime majesty the admirable simplicity and infallibility of Divine Truths both in promises and threatnings far above all humane Writings that thou wilt say from perswasion never man spoke as he spoke and thy knowledge will be
for their spiritual advantage By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sin Isa 27.9 Dan. 12.10 They shall be made white c. And many times he orders their afflictions to the good of others who are confirmed in the way of truth and righteousness from the example of their patience in suffering for the truth Phil. 1.12 The dispersing of some Christians in that persecution against Stephen was in the wisdom and power of God ordered for the in gathering of many people in Samaria unto the Christian faith Acts 8. Observ 2. As the gifts and graces of the Spirit were poured forth upon Christ in great variety so they were permanent and abiding in him without any change and without remitting of their vigour and exercise upon all occasions the Spirit of the Lord shall rest on him The Spirit which descended from Heaven like a Dove did abide upon him Joh. 1.32 The extraordinary gift of revealing things secret by the light of Prophesie was not at all times permanent in the Prophets 2 King 4.27 As light within the house occasioned by lightning in the air is transient and not permanent so neither was the gift of miracles or healing the sick alwayes permanent in our Lords Disciples Mark 9.18 Yea Paul left his beloved Trophimus sick at Miletum 2 Tim. 4.20 But our blessed Lord healed all whom and when he pleased It is true the sanctifying graces in the Elect are alwayes permanent Joh. 4.14 1 Joh. 3.9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God They are permanent in respect of the root of the seed and of the habit but not in respect of the fruit and exercise but the graces of Christ were ever flourishing and fruitful Graces in the godly have decays and changes even Abraham the father of the faithful had a fit of diffidence when in his fear he dissembled twice to wit in Gerar and in Egypt but our blessed Lord his confidence was permanent in the hour of temptation for he witnessed a good confession even to the last before Pontius Pilat Moses was a meek man yet was surprised with a fit of bitterness at Meribah but our blessed Lord was meek at all times for his scourging out the profaners of the Temple Joh. 2. was not a fit of passion and perturbation but an heroick act of holy zeal proceeding from judgement and deliberation because it was written His Fathers house should be the house of prayer The habits of grace in Christ were full and perfect whereas it is said Luke 2.52 He increased in wisdom We grant he increast in wisdom and in knowledge experimental he learned obedience by the things which he suffered Heb. 5.8 as a Physician who hath an habitual gift of healing such and such a disease may grow in his experience although his knowledge of healing groweth not in the habit It is a growth extensive in respect of divers objects toward which it is extended but it is not intensive in respect of the habit it self The graces of Christ were permanent in their fulness and not more remiss at one time and more intense at another because the absolute fulness of grace in his Humane Nature so far as it could be capable being a sequel of the personal union did exclude all intensive growth It is true there were different degrees in the manifestations and expressions of his graces at one time more than at another Christ his dying for us was an higher expression of his love to lost man than was his suffering of poverty hunger c. yet all the expressions of his love to the elect did proceed from love in his heart equally intense at all times More of his patience was manifested in his agony and bloody sweat than in his suffering of reproaches and buffettings His love and devotion toward God was full at all times and did not admit of degrees whereas it is said Luke 22.44 he prayed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more earnestly and therefore it might appear he was more servent in his devotion and religious affection at one time than at another I answer 1. Some render it prolixius he prayed longer which did proceed from a deeper impression of his sufferings upon his spirit but his love and devotion toward God was still equally intense in his soul For even in godly men short ejaculations at one time and prayers longer at another time may proceed from devotion in the heart equal at both times 2. Though he prayed more earnestly yet this earnestness was not in respect of his devotion toward God unto whom he prayed whom Christ as man loved fully and perfectly at all times but this greater earnestness was in respect of the great and inexpressible sufferings against which he prayed being in an agony and under the sense of greater inward pains than any he had felt formerly This manner of expression will not infer any intenseness of his devotion and love to God but only that there was an intenseness of pain and agony in his spirit from what he suffered and against which he prayed yet alwayes with submission to the will of the Father Vse In all our intermittings of the exercise of grace or in the remittings of degrees in gracious actings we should go to Christ on whom the Spirit rested as in time of drought when waters fail we go to the fountain because the dearest children of God are subject to decay of grace in respect of degrees and to intermission in the exercise of grace through their own sluggishness in prayer they have sometime a great freedom and out-flowing of the Spirit Job 32.13 At another time they are so bound up and overwhelmed with griefs and fears that they cannot speak to God Ps 77.4 At one time their faith and confidence is very strong Ps 27.10 but at another time very weak Ps 31.22 At one time they have a soft heart and abundance of tears Ps 6.7 but at another time their heart like Nabal is dead and stupid and their eyes are dry as was in David for some time till the Prophet Nathan did awake him At one time they have great joy and comfort Ps 23.4 but at another time especially after relapses into sins against the light of their own conscience they have much heaviness and suppression of spirit Ps 51.8 At one time they have great zeal as David dancing before the Ark and at another time they are much damped and disheartned in the course of Godliness by reason of some cross dispensation in their course as David was in bringing up the Ark when he saw the breach made upon Vzza 2 Sam. 6.8 9. Quest What is the cause of such intermiting and remitting of the exercise and degrees of grace in the godly Ans The causes are especially 1. Pride and conceit of our own ability to improve the habit and stock of grace
is not enough that an object to be seen in a due distance be set before the eye unless the same be inabled to see it for blind men see not what is set before them so it is not enough that the object of faith be set before us in the Word unless the eye of our understanding be opened to perceive it 2. The Lord makes us by the inward illumination of the Spirit and by the light of his Word to discern and put a difference between temptations and duties as for example when it is born in upon the spirit of an unlettered and unqualified man in these our days to preach the Gospel a spiritual-discerning privat Christian looks upon it as a temptation from the Spirit of errour and not upon it as a duty because he knows and discerns by the Spirit of the Lord from the holy Word 1 Tim. 2. and Tit. 1.9 The Minister of the Gospel should be a man able to teach and to convince the gain-sayers 3. The Spirit of the Lord makes us to discern between sin and duty Abâ—shai through want of this gift of spiritual discerning thought it a duty incumbent on David to kill Saul because God in a providence by appearance had cast his enemy into his hand but holy David by the Spirit of God discerned it to be a sin if he should make such use of that opportunity and he looked upon it rather as an occasion to try his loyalty to King Saul and to stop the mouths of calumniators who spake of him as an enemy to the King 4. He makes us to discern the opportunities of speaking and doing things in due season it was the Lord that put it in the heart of Jacob to seek the blessing in time for soon after he went out from his father Isaac his brother Esau came in Gen. 27.30 It was the Lord who put it in the heart of Abigail both for her own and Davids good to meet David in the way before he came to the house of Nabal 1 Sam. 25.5 He makes us to discern our own spiritual estate that we are under the banner of his love and makes us by a reflex act to know the saving graces of the Spirit bestowed upon us 1 Cor. 2.12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God 5. He gives us the gift of wisdom and discerning matters civil and moral He gave sagacity unto David to smell out Joabs subtilty and to perceive his hand in suborning the woman of Tekoa 2 Sam. 14.19 He made Solomon in his sagacity to discern between the true and counterfeit mother by the affection of the one and the unnaturalness of the other Thus God put it in the heart of King James of blessed memory to smell out the Powder-plot and horrid treason Anno Dom. 1605. from a word in an unsubscribed Letter by one of the Conspirators to the Lord Mont-eagle desiring him to keep himself out of the Parliament-house on such a day whereon there would be a sudden clap or blast which the King by an act of special discerning given him of God did presage was to be by Powder and so after a narrow search the Plot was discovered and through Gods gracious providence and the Kings sagacity was disappointed 6. God gives the gift of skill unto men both in their publick and privat imployments as the spirit of Government to Rulers whether supreme or subordinat and also to men for their privat imployments Isa 28.26 Vse 1. This should humble us under the sense of our own silliness and want of knowledge of many things that we may and should know in respect of the many means given to instruct us in things that differ and also to humble us when we compare our knowledge with others who know much more than we though we have had the same or greater opportunities for learning Socrates upon a time shewing the universal Mapp of the World to that vocky young man Alcibiades said unto him Look there and see how little your parcel of ground is in like-manner the knowledge of any particular person is very little in comparison of that vast and universal knowledge men would have had if they had continued in that first estate of primitive integrity Vse 2. To convince many in this generation of petulant and luxuriant spirits or the wits as they are called who are of quick understanding in many curious and unnecessar speculations which the Apostle calls the Raveries of a sick and distempered mind 1 Tim. 6.4 and yet how slow and dull are they to discern and take up the necessar and fundamental truths of Religion Of such men we may speak in the words of Eliphaz Job 15.2 Should a wise man utter vain knowledge and fill his belly with the east wind How many are quick and sagacious in their worldly matters and no man is able to over-reach them but they have little or no understanding in the great bargain of Salvation to these I may say as our blessed Lord said to the Pharisees This ye should have done and not left the other undone Vse 3. As thou wouldst have the gift of spiritual discerning 1. Pray to the Father of lights to open the eyes of thine understanding Psal 119.18 Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law 2. Labour diligently to keep thine heart pure from carnal lusts which as gross vapours many times obscure the judgement that it cannot discern spiritual matters in the right colours but oftentimes the judgement is miscarried to a wrong sentence by a deceived heart The intemperat person discerns not the evil of intemperance nor the incontinent the evil of his unclean ways because these vile lusts do distemper their judgement The worldly-minded man discerns not the excellency of things heavenly because his heart is not purged from the love of the world and his surfeit of worldly cares obstructs the smelling and rellishing of things heavenly to his taste 3. Beware of curiosity in desiring to know things unnecessar or secret which God hath reserved to himself Deut. 29.29 for it is just with God when men misimploy the quickness of their natural understanding many times so to blunt their understanding in order to supernatural truths that they become more dull and incapable even than many others whom they despised as silly ignorants As the sharper the edge of the new polished Knife be if it be used to cut hard Metalls especially at first it becomes so blunt that it cannot cut such things as are soft and more easie to cut even by these who had not such a sharp edge as themselves seemed to have had Observ 2. Our blessed Lord is quick of understanding he has a piercing eye to discern the hearts of all his subjects Heb. 4.13 All things are naked in his eyes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as blemishes and bruises are
For comfort to the poor who are despised and oppressed let them not be altogether discouraged nor despair of redress but let them quietly without tumult noise or sedition make their address and appeal to the supreme Judge and Lord who judges righteously Ps 10.14 The poor leaveth himself upon thee thou art the helper of the fatherless Thus did our blessed Lord 1 Pet. 2.23 not cry bitterly against the oppressor but cry quietly to God who will comfort the oppres'd and redress the wrongs done to them Job 35.9 10 14. Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him yet judgement is before him therefore trust thou in him Observ 2. God avenges the cause of the meek and humble in spirit for it is said here he shall reprove with equity for the meek of the earth David was meek and silent when foul-mouthed Shimei railed against him and was confident God would do him good for his cursing and one time or other give to the insolent and insulting railer a sad reproof as the Lord did afterward by Solomon punishing him In like manner the people of Israel were silent at the blasphemous railing of Rabshekah and God gave a sad reproof both to him and his Master by that extraordinar and visible judgement upon that great Army Vse 1. For admonition to proud insolent brawlers not to injure and affront the meek and therefore insult over them as silly base-spirited men because they are quiet and do not render evil for evil although they are sensible of the wrong done to themselves yet they are sensible of their duty to God and his holy Commandment Rom. 12.19 Avenge not your selves but rather give place unto wrath for it is written Vengeance is mine and I will repay saith the Lord. And from sense of the wrong done they lay it forth in secret before the Lord who will reprove for them and speak by his judgements in their behalf as many times he has plagued the wicked who oppress the meek of the earth yea sometimes he punishes even the godly when they out of a fit of envy do wrong to the meek God gave a sad reproof by a visible judgement to Miriam when out of envy she spoke against meek Moses Numb 12. Vse 2. For admonition to these who are wronged and oppressed in any manner or measure let them study to be of a meek spirit and of a quiet deportment avenge not thy self by contumely or injury for if thou do so God will look on and suffer thee to be doing but in so doing thou wilt spoil and marr thy own cause not unlike to some poor ignorant Countrey-men who presuming to speak for themselves at the Bar of Justice do oft-times marr their own Cause But if thou be meek and patient God will stand up in his own good time he will plead thy cause and make thy just possession of thy good name and estate to out-live the unjust calumny oppression or violent intrusion of thine adversaries Ps 37.6 11. He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light and thy judgement as the noon day the meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace Mat. 5.5 Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth VERSE IV. And he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked WE have heard of our Lords wisdom and sagacity for governing his subjects we have heard also here of his justice and equity now he speaketh of his power and faithfulness in governing In these words and he shall smite c. we have 1. a description and designation of the Word of God the rod of his mouth 2. The power of the Word preached and applyed he shall smite c. 3. The subject matter or object that he shall smite the earth 4. The sad judgement of God upon such as continue obstinat in their evil wayes he shall slay the wicked By the rod of his mouth is meant the Word of God inspired into the Prophets and Apostles by the Spirit of God as men do communicate their mind and thoughts one to another by the expression of the tongue So God in an extraordinary manner did communicate his mind and counsel by the inspiration of the holy Ghost 2 Tim 3.15 2 Pet. 1.19 Justine Martyr compares the inspiration of the Spirit unto a quill or pen descending from heaven and he compares the Prophets and Apostles unto a Sittern or Lute touched by it and sending forth the sound of heavenly Doctrine therefore what they spoke the mouth of the Lord is said to have spoken it Is 1.20 because the Spirit of God did direct them both in the matter and manner of expression Observ 1. The word of God is fitly called a Rod 1. in respect of its usefulness for describing and pointing forth to us our heavenly inheritance Jer. 51.19 Israel is called the rod of his inheritance men measured their earthly inheritance with a measuring rod or with a line or cord In like-manner the Word of God but more especially the Holy Gospel doth point forth to us our heavenly inheritance in and with Christ for which cause it is called the Gospel of the Kingdom Mat. 4.23 2. The Word of God is compared to a rod for direction as a man by a rod in his hand points out the way wherein the passenger should walk So the word of God sheweth unto us in this time of our sojourning the way wherein we should walk toward our Countrey that is above to wit the way of repentance of faith in Christ and of new obedience Act. 3.19 Act. 16.31 Heb. 5.8 3. It is compared to a rod for correction as the shepherds rod serveth to smite the sheep when they go astray So the Word of God doth sharply convince the understanding and withall smites the heart with sorrow for erring and departing from the Lord Isa 58.1 2 Tim. 3.15 4. It is compared to a rod because it strengtheneth and comforteth the fainting spirit and weary heart as a weak or weary man leaneth upon his rod or staff the sweet promises of the Gospel are like unto the honey touched and applyed by Jonathans rod it did revive him and quicken him unto the pursuit of his enemies therefore it is called the rod of his strength Ps 110.2 The promises of the Gospel do minister comfort to Believers in their greatest extremities Ps 23.4 Ps 119.92 as the rods Gen. 30. laid before the sheep in the troughs or gutters made them to conceive with young So the promises of God laid forth in the Word before believers in their weak and feeble condition maketh them to conceive with comfort in the hid man of the heart Vse 1. For admonition not to despise the holy Word which is called here the rod of his mouth although it be spoken by weak men who carry this heavenly treasure in earthen vessels who would refuse precious gold though offered in a
pot of earth Ministers are the Lords Heraulds and the affront done to the Heraulds doth reflect upon the Prince who sent them David was highly provocked by the affront done to his Ambassadours 2 Sam. 10. And he punished it severely 2 Sam. 12.31 In like manner our blessed Lord taketh the contempt done to his Ministers as done unto himself Luk. 10.16 Vse 2. For exhortation to receive this sacred Word as the Word of God It is the rod of his mouth the whole Scripture is given by inspiration 2 Tim. 3.16 It is the Lanthorn which sheweth us the way to Heaven Psal 119.100 2 Pet. 1.19 It is the rule of our faith Joh. 20.31 and of our obedience and conversation Gal. 6.16 It worketh effectually only in these who with a single heart receive it as the Word of God 1 Thes 2.13 Observ 2. The Word of God is powerful He shall smite c. This is evident 1. From these things unto which it is compared as Jer. 23.29 to fire which so smiteth and pierceth the hard rock with heat that the same is rent in pieces and to an hammer which breaks the hard stone It is compared unto a sword Heb. 4.12 which opens up and discovers the heart like the Anatomists razor and sheweth the inward vileness of our hearts 2. It is evident from the high Elogies given to the Word it is called the wisdom of God 1 Cor. 12 8. and the reproof of wisdom doth come home to the heart and smite it soundly The wise reproof given by Nathan to David in a parable did smartly smite the heart of David The Word is called the power of God Rom. 1.16 not that any natural power is inherent in the letters or syllables of the words as may be seen Acts 19.15 but because God doth ordinarily with the power of the Holy Ghost accompany his own sacred Ordinance spoken in simplicity of words and in sincerity of affection unto the hearts of his Elect that so they are powerfully induced to believe the Word and tuâ—n unto the Lord Acts 11.21 3. It is evident from examples as in Josiah humbled at the heart by the reading of this word 2 Chron. 24 27. The convert-Jews were pricked at the heart by this word Acts 2.37 We have a memorable example of the power of the Word recorded by Cyrill Bishop of Alexandria an eye-witness of the same At the first Council of Nice saith he there came out of curiosity thither an Heathen Philosoph who was a subtile and acute Logician but a great adversary to the Christian Religion some of the learned Fathers there reasoned with him by way of School-disputes but he by one or other distinction did elude the force of their Arguments whereupon one of the most simple in that famous Council being a very pious though not a learned man came against him like David against Goliah and in great simplicity of words with much zeal saith to him O Philosopher in the Name of Jesus Christ hearken to these things that are truths there is one God who made Heaven and Earth who made man of the earth and breathed life into him who created all things visible and invisible by the power of his Word and upholds all things by the same this Word and Wisdom which we call the Son of God having pity on man in his lost condition was born of a Virgin and by his suffering of death hath delivered us from eternal death by his resurrection he applyes to us eternal life and we look for him to come and to judge us according to the things done in the body O Philosopher believest thou it to be so Then he without all contradiction as astonished with the power of the Word could only answer this that it was a truth indeed which he had spoken Thereafter the aged Father desired him to follow after himself and to receive Christian an Baptism the seal of his faith into that saving truth whereupon he immediatly followed and turning himself toward his Schollars that came along with him and to the other hearers said So long as men did deal with me by bare words only I did oppose words to words and by artifice of words I did elude what they spoke but when power came forth from the mouth of the speaker my naked words could not resist divine power neither could man withstand God and therefore saith he to his Schollars believe ye in Christ and together with me follow this aged man in and by whom God hath spoken to me at this time Ruffinus Hist Lib. 1. Cap. 13. relating this History saith It was from God for verifying that place of holy Scripture 1 Cor. 4.20 The kingdom of God is not in word but in power for when the Spirit of God is with the Word we see it can so smite the heart that it brings all our imaginations captive to it 2 Cor. 10.4 Quest How doth the Word of God smite the heart Ans 1. By light shewing and convincing the understanding of the errours and dangers of our sinful wayes for by the Law is the knowledge of sin Rom 7.7 And in the Word as in a mirrour the vileness of sin which is compared to things most vile as to the dross of mettal to the scum of a pot to putrified sores to leprosie to dung to swine wallowing in the mire and to a dog licking up his own vomit but the vileness of sin is most seen in the mirrour of the Gospel because nothing could cleanse us from the filth of sin but the precious bloud of the Son of God And the danger of sin is seen in consequents thereof to wit all misery in this life not only the first but also the second death and damnation eternal unless it be preveened by true repentance and faith in Jesus Christ Luke 13.5 Joh. 3.18 2. The heart is smitten after conviction by grief and sorrow Acts 2.37 The convert-Jews being convinced of the wickedness and hainousness of their sin by Peters Sermon were pricked in their hearts cried out from fear Men and brethren what shall we do And the afâ—â—gâ—ted Jaylour being afrighted from apprehension of the dangeâ— of his sins cried out Acts 16.30 Sirs What must I do to be saved In like manner Felix the Governour being convinced of his sins and afrighted with the apprehension of Judgement to come did tremble Acts 24.25 3. After the conscience is awakened with fear then the will is pained and confounded with shame and displeasure Jer. 31.18 19. Rom. 6.21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed for the end of those things is death Vse 1. For admonition unto men of an hard and stupid heart to resort often unto the hearing and reading of the Word of God for who can tell but God one time or another will smite the earthy and obdured heart and open it as he did the heart of Lydia Acts 14. Object 1. But many have heard the Word and yet their hearts
1. Man before his conversion to God is compared to creatures void of reason and carried away by their sensual appetites unto objects pleasing to sense so that they are liker to brute beasts then to men of sound reason therefore in holy Scriptures they are compaâ—ed sometimes to the beasts in the field sometimes to the fowls in the air sometimes to the fishes in the sea and sometimes to creeping things To beasts of the field are compared such obstinat sinners who oppose the Gospel and will not forsake their sins that Christ may reign in them such are as head-strong beasts 1 Cor. 15.32 Acts 19.29 in which respect men are called brutish Psal 92.6 7. Psal 94.8 Isai 19.11 Open and fierce persecuters are compared to the fierce lion 2 Tim. 4.17 Hereticks who subtilly seduce people from Christ and from his truth as also being cruel hypocrites are compared to wolves Acts 20.29 Mat. 7.15 The furious and outragious man to a boar robbed of her whelps that doth run against any he meets with though possibly innocent Prov. 17.12 such were the furious Donatists and Circumcellions who massacred these of the orthodox Church that withstood their schism The oppressour who by violence beareth down all who stand in his way is compared to the ranging bear Prov. 28.15 The vindictive man who dissembles his malice and watcheth for an opportunity of revenge is compared to lions and leopards who lurk privily and setteth upon the Passenger unawares Psal 10.9 Secret and subtile detractors of the children of God are compared to foxes which peel the bark from the Vines so they by blasting their reputation endeavour to make their labours fruitless and unprofitable to others through calumny and prejudice Cant. 2.15 The insolent and riotous man who roaving in his wild courses doth puff at all that reprove him is compared to the wilde ass snuffing up the wind and will not be turned back Jer. 2.24 The man that inconsideratly and yet willingly casts himself into temptations is compared to a horse rushing into the battel Jer. 8.6 The man who is not over-awed by the fear of God nor led by the counsel of God in his Word but must be restrained by outward force or judgements is compared to the horse and mule Psal 32.9 The man that is inconstant in the way of his Religion is compared to a dromedary Jer. 2.23 The prophane men who have no esteem of the precious Ordinances of God are compared to swine and dogs Mat. 7.6 Seducers who infect others with the poyson of their pernicious errours are likened to mad dogs Phil. 3.2 Men who after profession of repentance return to their old sins are compared unto swine and dogs 2 Pet. 2.20 Men who revile Rulers unto barking dogs 2 Sam. 16.9 Covetous men unto greedy dogs Isa 56.11 The beautiful woman who wants discretion and doth expose her self unto temptations is compared to the swine The silly person drawn away to uncleanness by her allurements is likened unto the ox led to the slaughter Prov. 7.22 The base-spirited man who submits to adversaries upon any termes though never so unhonest is compared unto an ass Gen. 49.14 So is also the base servile spirit that doth not duty out of love but only out of servil fear Prov. 26.3 And the drunkard is worse than the beast in the field because the beast thirsteth for drink only to satisfie necessity and his natural appetite but the drunkard thirsteth for drunkenness to satisfie his sensual and sinful appetite They are compared to the fowls in the Air the man that walks disorderly and waits not upon the employments of his lawful calling is compared to a bird wandering from its nest Prov. 27.8 The unnatural parent careless of breeding or providing for his children is compared unto the Ostriche Job 39.14 Lament 4.3 The deceitful man who by fraud and unrighteousness maketh his purchase and thereafter in the just providence of God is spoiled thereof is compared unto a Partridge gathering and hatching eggs but beaten or chased away from them by the hunter or some ravenous fowl Jer. 17.11 The ambitious proud man that sets his nest on high and thinketh no hand is able to remove him is compared to an eagle Jer. 49.16 The man who preyes upon the simplicity and weakness of others is compared unto ravenous birds Is 46.11 The pusillanimous man afraid of every thing is compared unto the silly dove Hos 7.11 They are compared unto fishes in the Sea the great men on earth who to satisfie their lusts of covetousness and ambition do trouble the peace of the Sea of this world are compared unto whales Ezek. 32.2 The dissembling cruel man unto the crocodile that seems to weep and yet devours tne passenger that comes under his reach Is 27.1 Such a man was Ishmael the son of Nethaniah Jer. 41.6 They are compared to creeping things the false turbulent Prophet by his loud and frequent cryings stirring up the powers of the earth to war one against another is compared unto frogs and as the loud cryings of frogs is ordinarily the sign of an ensuing tempest So is the seditious upstirrings of seditious false Prophets a sign of ensuing troubles unless God in mercy preveen it Rev. 16.14 15. Seditious whisperers detractors and calumniators are compared unto vipers Mat. 3.7 and here they are compared unto asps which are serpents full of wyndings like unto the plyes of a buckler as the Greek word imports and they do hurt men at unawares Gen. 49.17 Ps 140.3 And great men of bitter and fierce spirits are compared here to the cockatrice the chief of serpents called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latine Regulus and because the wicked counsels of leading-men do much harm therefore they are compared to the eggs of the cockatrice Is 59.5 Vse 1. For admonition to all men living yet in the state of nature and walking after their own sensual lusts Look into the glass of Gods Word take a view of your deformity through corrupâ— nature and be humble in the sigh and sense of it because your sinful lusts prevailing in you makes you rather like unto beasts than unto rational men At this the very Heathens of old did glanse in their Mythologies and poetical Metamorphosis as in Actaeon turned into a pufillanimous hart by his fond lusts and Lycaon into a wolf by his cruel and tearing oppression this is the spiritual use we should make of the History of some of the beasts recorded in holy Scripture to this end that beholding in that mirrour of these creatures our deformity in our conformity unto them we may be humbled ashamed and study in time coming to conform our selves unto the will of God revealed in the holy Word Let us not be like unto these of whom the Apostle speaketh Jam. 1.24 who behold their natural face in a glass but straight-way forget what manner of men they were far less should we be like unto the Apes who beholding their deformed and
natural determination to this or that yet he lost the liberty of rectitude and uprightness by being now after his fall perversly inclined to that which is displeasing in the eyes of God Rom. 5.10 We are called enemies to God by nature and enmity is properly in the will He lost purity in his affections our affections at first were like clean and pure water running in a clean channel but now they are muddy and earthly there being much perturbation in them like water running through a muddy channel Joh. 3.31 He that is of the earth is earthly Our affections at first were straight set upon God and things above but now they are bowed down and through the strength of corrupt nature set on things below Rom. 8.5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh Although fallen man hath not lost the faculty of conscience yet he hath lost that clearness quietness and calmness that was in it at the first for so long as man lived in a communion and harmony with God there was also inward peace and a pleasant harmony in his conscience like an instrument well tuned but when by sin he brake harmony and communion with God then his conscience became like a troubled sea roaring out into his ears a dreadful sound from fear of wrath to come as a mighty tempest to drive them into hell then as Out-laws they were afraid at every thing So Adam and Eva after the fall had a mighty tempest in their consciences which did drive them away to hide themselves from the presence of the Lord. Consider 3. In conversion to an estate of grace there is a happy change 1. In the mind by illumination and light as at first God created light in the first creation so in the second creation and regeneration he first creats the light of faith whereby we see God reconciled to man in Christ the Mediator 2 Cor. 4.6 God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ When a man is converted he gets a new light in respect of his mind which is the subject of it but it is not a new light in respect of the object he hath not new spiritual and saving truths revealed to him beside or far less contrary to the Word as a blind man when his eyes are opened doth not see another Sun then what was before in the firmament though not seen by him until his eyes were opened 2. God makes a change in the will by taking away the stony heart Ezek. 36.26 Acts 16.14 He removes impenitence and unbelief which are as two strong barrs to resist his call by the outward means until he remove them by the power of his invincible grace whereby he worketh mightily in those that believe Eph. 1.19 For not only doth he preach deliverance by his Word but also he sets at liberty such as are bruised with sorrow in their hearts for their sins Luk. 4.18 2 Cor. 3.17 Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty August Lib. 1. against the 2 Epist of Pelag. Cap. 19. citing that place Joh. 6.44 No man can come to me except the Father draw him observes it is not said no man can come to me except the Father lead him that so we might think the will of man did preceed and thereafter the Father did lead and promove his will but it is said except the Father draw him and who can be said to be drawn if he himself first be willing therefore saith he they are made in a wonderful manner even to be willing by him who knoweth how to work inwardly upon the hearts of men not that any man for that is impossible should believe against his will but because of not-willing he is made willing 3. There is a change in their affections which in some measure are purified and rectified the sense of Gods love in Christ worketh godly sorrow in their hearts Zech. 12.10 It works a filial fear in them to do any thing that may offend God Jer. 32.40 I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me 4. There is a change in the conscience after conversion it is quiet and calm the righteousness of Christ apprehended by a lively saith doth quiet the conscience both with the peace of Justification Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ And with the peace of Sanctification Rom. 14.17 The kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost The conscience after conversion becomes more tender of duty and sensible even of smaller offences like the flesh of Naaman cleansed from his leprosie such tenderness we see in David Psal 119.113 I hate vain thoughts but thy Law do I love 5. There is a change in the body and conversation the body it becomes a temple to the Holy Ghost and all its members like several Vessels in the Temple are consecrat to the service of God 1 Cor. 6.19 Rom. 6.19 Consider 4. This change is not perfect in degrees 1. Our knowledge in the state of grace here is but in part 2 Cor. 13.9 For we know in part In many mysteries of Religion we know that such a thing is an undoubted truth from divine revelation but the cause and manner how such and such things are we know not as the eternal generation of the Son the manner of the eternal procession of the Holy Ghost from the Father and the Son the individual unity of the three blessed Persons in the Divine Essence these mysteries we know in a confused and general manner like the sight of the blind man of Bethsaida Mark 8.24 But in Heaven our knowledge of these great mysteries will be more clear like the sight of that same blind man by a second touch and by the light of glory when we shall see light in his light Psal 36.9 and when we shall see him as he is 1 Joh. 2.2 2. Although there be a change of our will at our conversion yet there remains in it corruption which is the seed of disobedience to the will of God Gal. 5.17 The flesh lusteth against the spirit This tumult and insurrection of corruption against grace in the will doth pain and vex the godly like the twains which strove in the womb of Rebekah but after our change at death to immortal glory our petition put up to God in this life shall be fully answered Thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven then shall we be like unto Angels and our will shall cleave unto God and his will indeclinably for ever 3. Our affections after our change and conversion in this life are not wholly pure who can say he hath made his heart clean Prov. 20.9 As shoes open above as was the manner of the Jewish Nation
in our blessed Lord his time did contract dust and fuilÈie and their feet had need of daily washing so our affections are not so closly united to God but many times they are open and enlarged toward the world which defiles the heart and puts even men converted unto a daily necessity of repentance and cleansing from all uncleanness of the flesh and the spirit 2 Cor. 7.1 But in Heaven there will be perfect purity of heart like Angels not a wandering motion there we will be far above the world which defiles the heart and far above the vain shadows of this present world which now and then interveening draws our eye and heart off God but at our change into glory nothing can or will interveen between God and us our minds and our hearts then will be wholly and unchangeably set upon him 4. Though now after conversion there may be some calmness in the conscience yet it continues not alwayes alike some of the godly do say as Job 7.4 I am full of tossing to and fro as David Ps 42.7 All thy waves and thy billows have gone over me and as Hezekiah Is 38.13 As a lyon so will he break all my bones c. But at our last change to glory in heaven there will be a perfect and an everlasting calm like that of men tossed at Sea when they come within a safe Harbour for the salvation of God will be a perpetual bullwark unto them 5. The body of the godly in this life is subject many times as a drudge unto a corrupt and imperious will but at our last change as the will of the godly will be wholly and sweetly subordinat unto the will of God so in the day of resurrection the body with all its members shall be a Temple filled with the Holy Ghost then there shall not be a wrong look in the eye nor an impertinent word in the tongue nor a wrong step in all the course of our bodily motion and conversation the body now is weak and sickly but then it will be ever healthful and strong now it is weary and subject to fainting but then it will be agile as Augustine speaketh it will be in an instant of time wheresoever the spirit shall desire to be then shall our bodies and tabernacles of clay be conform to the pattern shown in the mount when our blessed Lord was transfigured Philip 3.20 Vse 1. For conviction of many who think they are in a state of grace when in the mean time they are carryed away with sense and masterful passions like brute-beasts toward the fulfilling of their sinful lusts some are like Lyons in fierceness some like Bears in their inconsiderat wrath some like evening Wolves in their cruel covetousness some like the Asps in the venom of their tongues and others like the Crocodiles in dissembling their cruelty with false shews of pity that the more easily they may destroy the simple ones but such men would consider in time how far they are from being of the meek Spirit of Jesus Christ now if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8.9 Vse 2. For exhortation to all such who are yet the old men like Moab not changed from their Lees consider 1. in Gods accompt ye are compared to Beasts before this happy change spoken of here be wrought in you and as it is truly said it is better to be a beast than truly compared to a beast 2. Ye can have no evidence that ye are in Christ but from this change If any man be in Christ he is a new creature 2 Cor. 5.17 and if any man be not a new creature he is not yet actually in Christ and it is not possible to be with him in glory after this life except ye be in him first as new creatures in this life for as there is no condemnation to them that are in him so there is no salvation to them that are not in him who is the Saviour only of his mystical body Eph. 5.23 3. If there be no change from thy state of corrupt nature death in its approach will be terrible like a Serjeant at Armes to apprehend a rebel in his act of rebellion and straightwayes to hale him before the Kings Bench Psal 7.12 13. 4. There is no coming to heaven without this change as lepers under the Law were not admitted into the assemblies of the people of God before they were cleansed from their leprosie So there will not be admission into the assembly of the first-born in heaven untill you be cleansed from your sins and all your presumptuous thoughts of salvation without cleansing the heart and conversation are but vain imaginations and groundless phantasies Jer. 4.14 O Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee Vse 3. For confort to all such in whom God by his Word and Spirit has wrought a real change from their former vain and sinful conversation be of good comfort he who has begun the good work of grace in thy soul will finish it untill the day of Jesus Christ Phil. 1.6 he is the wise builder and will perfect his work of free grace begun in thee in this life though thy knowledge of God and of thy happiness in him be but in part yet in the other life it will be full like the light of the Sun at noon-day 1 Cor. 13.12 Now thy knowledge is mediat as through a lattesse then shall it be immediat and intuitive 1 Joh. 3.2 we shall see him as he is In this state of grace our will is not only mutable by nature but also of a mutable condition even after we are in a state of grace and has a proneness and liberty unto evil but in heaven our will shall be of an immutable condition fixed alwayes upon God and subordinat unto his will necessarily yet most freely without all force and co-action for then it will be our meat and drink to do the will of our heavenly Father then there will be perfect purity in the affections we shall be presented to the Father altogether faultless Jude Epist 24. then shall there be full joy and everlasting delight in God himself the supreme good There will be an everlasting calm in the conscience not so much as an air of temptation or whisper of any inordinat motion and all the members of the body will be weapons of righteousness like vessels in the temple above wholly consecrat to God Therefore let the children of God in all the outward changes they see in this unconstant world and in some inward changes they feel now and then in themselves in respect of their spiritual condition yet hold fast their confidence in God and rejoyce in the hope of that unchangeable condition that abides them in heaven Quest Some will say I have a purpose to change and have some wishes for it as a thing necessar in this life before
comes by looking upon sore eyes so infection taketh hold upon many from their beholding the evil example of others for thou art more ready to comply with their corruption then they are to follow any grace or virtue that is in thee thou hath corruption dwelling in thy mortal body which is ready to correspond with them and to concurr in their works of darkness but they have not grace in them to correspond with thee in gracious dispositions or actions 2. Through their evil company thou may be in danger of a temporal judgment as was good Jehoshaphat 2 Chron. 18.31 Yea not only in danger but also involved in the same common calamity with them as was righteous Lot Gen. 14.12 3. By thy intimat fellowship with prophane men thou doth great prejudice to thine own good name and reputation for others seeing or hearing of thy fellowship with them cannot but think thou art like unto them as birds of one feather flocking together but thou shouldest consider that next to a good Conscience a good Name is to be sought and preserved Prov. 22.1 a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches and loving favour rather than silver and gold Silver and gold may be lost and recovered again but a good name once lost is not easily recovered it will cost a man more pains and labour to recover it then it would cost him to have preserved it It is compared to precious oyntment Eccles 7.1 A good name is better than precious oyntment It is more precious and fragrant than oyntment yet evil company is as a flee in the oyntment spoils it and makes it unsavoury 4. It is the will of God thou shouldest abstain not only from the substance of evil but also from the circumstances and appearances of evil 1 Thess 5.22 abstain from all appearance of evil 1 Joh. 5.21 keep your selves from idols Not only from the act but also from the object of idolatry therefore the Lord would not have the people of Israel plant a grove of any trees near unto the Altar of the Lord Deut. 16.21 lest it being too nigh the people might creep into the groves and there sin against the Lord for it becometh Christians to walk circumspectly even before the world a chaste and honest conversation becometh well the Spouse of Christ Cesar said it became Cesars Wife not only to be honest in deed but also to be free from all occasion of suspition how much more doth it well become all espoused to Christ to walk humbly with God and without offence before men 5. The man who without a call doth frequent evil company provokes God to leave him and to give him over unto the evil counsels and temptations of such evil company therefore godly men though never so resolute yet should they not without a call from God as Joseph and Daniel had for their being in Egypt and Babylon cast themselves into the snare of evil company no man nearest to danger by his own free option is long safe no wise Mariner in time of calm should cast anchor hard by a rock for he knoweth not how soon the storm may arise and dash the Vâ—ssel against the rock It was the wisdom of chaste Joseph not to abide privatly in one and the same room with that shameless woman Gen. 39.10 Vse 2. For exhortation to frequent most the company of such as fear the Lord because 1. their good example and instruction may be unto thee a restraint from evil doing as good Jehoiadah was to Jehoash for a long time 2 King 12.2 2. It may hold off a judgement temporal even from wicked men if there had been but ten righteous persons in Sodom it had been spared for their sakes yea Gen. 19.22 the Angel said he could bring no judgement upon it untill Lot was first gone out of it 3. The company of the godly through Gods blessing may do much good unto thee by their good example and counsel Prov. 13.20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise This may be clearly seen in the godly servants of Abraham and Cornelius the Centurion Gen. 24. Act 10.7 by their religious speech and dialect ye may easily discern they have been bred in the company of these who feared God yet sometimes it may be otherwayes contrary to the good example and instructions of the Masters of the families for in Davids company there was an Achithophel in Elisha's a Gehazi and even in Christs own company the Traitor Judas The second evidence of a real change and of true conversion is a willing submission to the Word of God in the ministry of his weak Servants subjected to the like passions as we our selves are a little child shall lead them these that are led by another have first life within them So men are first quickened by the life of faith through the Word by the Spirit and thereafter they are easily led by the Ministers of Jesus Christ unto duties revealed by God in the holy Word Joh. 10.27 My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me By the Spirit of God working effectually with the Word they are first made sheep and thereafter they follow him in the way of obedience to his counsel and direction Rom. 6.17 God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you because the Word of God by the Spirit puts a stamp and impression upon their spirits as the printing-iron doth upon the paper that a man may see therein the very letter of the Type it self this is signified in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this submission in believers is by the assent of faith in their minds to the Word as the infallible truth of the God of truth and by love in our hearts to it as the good and righteous Word of God which is able to save the soul of the believers 1 Thes 2.13 Ye received the Word of God not as the word of men but as the Word of God And withall there is an honest purpose of heart to obey the direction of the Word in practical duties Luk. 8.15 That seed on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart having heard the Word keep it and bring forth fruit with patience Rom. 16.19 Your obedience is come abroad unto all men Vse 1. For conviction and reproof of many visible Professors who by their willful disobedience and rejecting the counsel of the divine truth declare themselves in effect not yet truly changed and converted from what they were formerly some flatly reject the Word as these Jews Jer. 44.16 others speak fair but prove indeed like the young fair-spoken son Mat. 21.31 He said I go Sir and went not How many in time of sad affliction confess their sins and profess a purpose of amendment as Pharaoh did Exod. 9.27 28. but all these professions and appearing resolutions are like the morning
cloud and as the early dew soon dryed up with the heat of a new temptation Hos 6.4 Quest It may be asked what is the cause that men do not submit to the counsel of the Word of God Ans 1. Their deadness and absolute want of the life of grace they are dead in their sins and dead men cannot be led it is true some time as dead men they may be carryed on by the example of others to some outward performances as Simon Magus was baptized with others but they are not truly led as men living by a principle of faith within themselves 2. Pride is a cause of that disobedience for as humility is the mother of obedience to the Word of God Mat. 11.5 The poor in spirit receive the Gospel So pride is the mother of disobedience to the Word as was seen in those proud civil Rulers Jer. 43.2 and in these Ecclesiastick Rulers Joh. 7.48 3. Ambition and vain-glory makes men to reject the counsel of God Joh. Epist 3. Diotrephes who loveth to have the preheminence among them receiveth us not 4. Covetousness and worldly-mindedness Matth 13.22 The care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choak the Word As thorns draw away the sap of the earth from the good seed that it groweth not so the thorny cares of the world do draw away or at least weaken mens affection toward the Word and makes them to mock at the word and counsel which crosseth their worldly interests Luk. 16.14 And the Pharisees also who were covetous heard all these things and they derided him 5. An obstinat love to one idol-lust or other draweth the heart away from God and from his Word Joh. 3.19 This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil Vse 2. For exhortation to submit unto the Word of God in the mouth of his Ministers 1. Thy hearty submission is a comfortable evidence of thy regeneration for men who follow their leader have life walking by the Spirit according to the direction of the Word is a sure evidence of a Spiritual life in us Gal. 5.25 If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit It is an evidence of our Adoption Rom. 8.14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sonnes of God 2. Consider God is thy supreme Lord and law-giver therefore thou should submit to him who is infallible and most just even by an implicit faith and obedience as Abraham obeyed and he went out not knowing whither he went Heb. 11.8 Thou shouldest also without all murmuring and fretting submit to judgments threatned in the Word or inflicted in the course of divine providence as Eli did 1 Sam. 3.18 and David 2 Sam. 15.26 He is the absolute Lord and giveth not an accompt of his matters to the children of men Job 33.13 3. Without this submission by faith and obedience the Word will not profit us unto the Salvation of our souls Heb. 4.2 The Word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it As meat not received or not retained in the stomach doth not nourish 4. Consider in time if thou wilt not submit willingly to the word of his righteous command thou shalt one day mauger thy will be subjected unto that punishment threatned in the Word against the disobedient and obstinat Take the unprofitable servant c. Matth. 41.46 Object But I have a prejudice against the Leader and Minister I am not satisfied with the manner of his entry therefore I cannot submit to him as my Leader Answ Although there were some defect as thou apprehends in the manner of his entry yet consider well every defect about the administration even of divine Ordinances doth not make them void and null there was a defect in the high priest his entry in our Lord's time wherein it was annual and the investitour was by the Roman Deputies and yet our Lord did not reject them upon that accompt there was in Augustin's time a defect in the ordination of some Ministers who formerly had been ordained by the Novatians yet when these Ministers afterward were received into the Communion of the Orthodox Church they were not of new ordained again August Lib. 2. against Parmen chap. 13. If Ministers saith he return to the Communion of the true Church they are not to be reordained but as their baptism so their ordination remaineth intire He speaks of such as had been baptized or ordained by the Novatians with whom remained the substance of these ordinances though in some circumstances there was a defect It is true the baptism administred by the Paulinianists being Anti-trinitaries was by the Orthodox Church thought null and void as also the ordination by them as was declared in the first Council of Nice Yea it is well known that some of our learned and worthy Reformers received ordination from the Church of Rome and yet the reformed Church did heartily reverence and submit to the Word of God preached by them Vse 3. For direction what to do in order to submission 1. Purge thine heart by repentance from noysome lusts as the body is purged from obstructions that it may grow by wholesome food so the soul must be purged from noysome affections that many a time obscure the judgment and disturb the will the soul must be purged from malice from guile from hypocrysie from envy from evil speaking 1 Pet. 2.1 2. Purge it from malice which is as canker and abundance of choler eating up some children and bindring them to grow Purge from guile because the deceitful man is an enemy to the word of truth as was Elymas a man full of deceit Act. 13. Purge from hypocrysie because the hypocrite is an enemy to the word of light that taketh the vizorn off his face and this discovery galleth him to the heart as was seen in the Pharisees Mark 12.12 Purge from envy because envy is as soreness of the eyes and hateth the light Joh. 11.48 Purge thy soul from evil speakings because thy evil speaking of the Minister unto others doth great prejudice both to thy self and to others it puts thy heart out of that frame of meekness required for receiving the ingrafted Word Jam. 1.21 and he that speaketh lyes of the Minister begins to hate him who is wronged by him Prov. 26.28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it 2. Set God before thee and hear the Word as in his fight who one day will judge us according to that Word thus did the godly Centurion Act. 10.33 Now therefore are we all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God 3. Labour for a humble spirit bringing all thine imaginations and thoughts captives â—o follow the Lord Jesus Christ triumphing in the chariot of sacred truth 2 Cor. 10.5 The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God
correcting and allaying the fits of discontentment arising now and then even in the hearts of the children of God from some present sad dispensations or pressing wants Abraham the father of the faithful Gen. 15.2 said What availeth all that I have seing I am childless Godly Rachel was discontent with her own barrenness and envyed her sister Leah Asaph had a sharp fit of discontentment with the great prosperity of the wicked and the great adversity of the godly Psal 73.13 And Jonah was absurd and most unreasonable in his fretting and orping at the removing of the Gourd which he himself never planted so we see even the godly sometimes have their own repinings of heart when God in his unblameable providence sometime removes what himself freely gave whereas they should be thankful to his rich and free bounty for the former loan and submissive to his wisdom and soveraignty in removing what he himself gave Therefore consider 1. Such fretting discontentment doth not become thy profession thou dost profess thy self a child of God and should a wise and kindly child take the pett at the allowance of his wise and loving Father Doth it not become thee rather to say as thy elder Brother said before thee Joh. 18.11 The cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it 2. Thy fretting discontentment is a questioning of the wisdom of God who knows well what is best for his own children of the justice of God who is righteous in all his wayes of the soveraignty of God who may dispose of his creatures at his own pleasure and wisdom Eccles 7.14 God also hath set the one over against the other to the end that man should find nothing after him The wise God in his various providence sets prosperity at one time against adversity and contrariwise as upon the earth there is oftentimes a valley and an hill joyned together And consider thy discontentment is a questioning the love of God who not only chasteneth but even sometime scourgeth his own children Heb. 12.6 3. Look unto Christ and this will cure thy fretting canker of discontentment Art thou in poverty fret not but look to him who being rich became poor for us his ordinary fare was barley loaves and a few fishes and he had not whereon to lay his head Art thou reproached and disgraced unjustly by men do not thou fret and repine against providence nor faint as one that could not live but in the popular air Look unto Christ who endured such contradiction of sinners Heb. 12.3 He was called a Samaritan a deceiver a phanatick or phrantick Mark 3.21 and a complyer with Beelzebub Mat. 12. Vse 3. For exhortation to be content with thy present condition till God in his good providence by means of his own appointment call thee to a better and more prosperous condition 1 Cor. 7.20 21. Because 1. God increaseth his gifts and graces to contented and thankful man as unto Abraham content with Ishmael he gave an Isaac and to Solomon content with the gift of wisdom for ruling the people he gave abundance of riches also 2. Contentment with the things a man hath for the present makes him to possess himself in patience and to prevail over his masterful passions Luke 21.19 In your patience possess ye your souls But discontentment and repining doth so distract and distemper the spirit that some malcontents turn hypochondriack and stupid like Nabal and others turn mad and furious like Nebuchadnezzar raging against every thing they meet with in the course of their life 3. Contentment with little preserves a man from many snares and temptations a man content with glad and honest poverty is not easily entangled with the bait of unlawful gain and a man content with a low degree or place is not easily tempted with the wages of unrighteousness unto the way of Balaam VERSE VIII IX And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice den They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain c. THe fourth evidence of true and sincere conversion to the Christian faith is peaceable-mindedness and an harmless conversation In the dayes of this great change foretold by the Prophet men who before their conversion by the Gospel to faith in Jesus Christ were bitter and cruel to all with whom they conversed and were to them like asps and cockatrices shall be new creatures and so harmless that other Christians like sucking or weaned children though weak and without power to defend themselves shall not be hurt by them and these Christians that were converted before them they shall live without any annoyance from them for after their conversion as it is said in the Text They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain that is in the Christian Church so called in allusion to mount Sion where was the Temple of Jerusalem which was the place of the solemn Assemblies for the worship of God for the Psalmist speaking of the Messias and his kingdom resembleth the Christian Church by mount Sion Psal 2.6 Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion If any man from the prophesies of an Altar and Sacrifices to be in the dayes of the Gospel Isa 19.19 Mal. 1.11 would infer there shall be Altars and external Sacrifices under the Gospel he may as well alledge that the worship under the Gospel shall be upon a mountain from this place and from Isai 2.2 All that can be concluded from these allusions unto the worship under the Law is this that the object of Worship will be one and the same both under the Law and under the Gospel in respect of substance but not in respect of some circumstances and Ceremonies which were to endure under the Law untill the time of Reformation by Jesus Christ Heb. 9.10 The Christian Church is compared to mount Sion 1. This mount was a Fort of the Jebusites at first but afterward taken by David and inhabited by him So by nature our understandings wills and affections are strong holds for errour disobedience and sinful lusts untill Christ the Son of David subdue them by the power of his Word and Spirit 2 Cor. 10.4 The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ 2. Mount Sion was a place pleasant and delectable for situation so the Lord delighteth in his Church and people Psal 149.4 The Lord taketh pleasure in his people Therefore they are called his Spouse Hos 2.19 his Treasure Psal 135.4 and his Jewels Mal. 3.17 3. Although mount Sion was high and visible yet sometimes it was over-clouded with a mist so the true Church is not alike visible at all times as may be known from Elias his sad complaint 1
good of the Church by the Christian Magistrat with the advice and consent of the Church-assemblies Therefore all moderat and sound Christians should rest on that golden midst far distant from these two extream errours Mat. 22.21 Render therefore unto Cesar the things which are Cesar's and unto God the things that are God's And it is our duty to pray unto God that the Christian Magistrat may use his power in things indifferent and external according to the Apostolical Rule to the edification of the Church in piety and charity 1 Cor. 14.26 We would be moderat in matters circumstantial in matters not defined and determined by the holy Scriptures In such things saith holy Augustine the custom of the people of God and the ordinances of Ancestors are to be counted for a Law and seing such things do not import any necessary documents of truth we must take heed that we overcloud not the fair face of Charity by the tempest of Contention August Epist 86. to Casul Such was the moderation and peaceableness of holy Ambrose as he is cited by August Epist ad Januar. Iâ— ye would not commit an errour do ye saith he what I use to do for to whatsoever Church I come I conform my self to the Ceremonies thereof Calvin Epist ad Farel Concerning Ceremonies labour with your brethren saith he that they contend not pertinaciously with their neighbours so it shall come to pass that all things may be ours we our selves free from all and also be the servants of peace and concord Calvin Lib. 4. Institut Cap. 10. Sect. 32. We must endeavour by our outmost diligence that no errour creep into the Church that no particular Church despise another for variety of external Discipline that in such things we prescribe not to our selves any perpetual Law that we refer the whoâ—e use and end of such observancies and practices unto the edification of the Church in which if it be needful and expedient not only something may be changed but also whatsoever in matter of Discipline hath been formerly in use and observance with us may be suffered to be abrogated and abolished without taking any offence thereat Bullinger Epist ad Calvin which is to be found amongst Calvins Epistles saith Albeit our Discipline doth not answer in all things to yours yet it is tempered according to the times places and persons neither do our Churches therefore upon that difference incline that your Discipline should be overturned P. Martyr Epist to Hooper Bishop of Glochester I am not ignorant that the authority of Churches whether present or former should not so much prevail with us that by them the truth of the Word of God should be suppressed for albeit the world should be dissolved yet the divine truth abides alwayes unmoveable and unshaken but for matters indifferent I think saith he and contend for it as a duty that we should neither condemn them nor speak irreverently of them but now saith he when a change is brought into the Church in points necessary about Religion and that with so great difficulty if these things also which are in themselves indifferent shall be held forth by us as in themselves impious thereby the minds of almost all men are so alienated from us that they will not any more shew themselves attentive and patient hearers of sound Doctrine even about things necessary The third mean required for a peaceable disposition and conversation in a particular Christian Church wherein we live for the time is mutual forbearance one of another in love Eph. 4.3 not but we may and should admonish one another in smaller errours whether of opinion or practice 1 Thes 5.14 Lev. 19.17 But we should not separat from Church-communion with them especially if the errours in judgement be of smaller moment and no ways do concern the foundation of Faith and if the Abettors of them be otherwayes lovers of piety peace and of an honest conversation in this case privat persons much more the spiritual Rulers should with all meekness and long suffering tolerat them and according to the measure of their gift admonish them and labour to reduce them unto the way of truth Gal 6.1 If a man be overtaken in a fault ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness considering thy self lest thou also be tempted Which Apostolick precept is diligently to be observed not only toward men defective in some errours of conversation but also toward others erring simply through weakness of judgement Such simple Errants are tolerated but not approven even as we tolerat some distempers in the body but delight not in them yea we seek some remedies to cure them we tolerat them as Ulcers to be cured but we do not cut off such persons by debarring them from Church-communion as a member affected with a Gangren far less should such who err out of simplicity in smaller matters be provoked or rankled by reproaches and scoffings lest the want of charity meekness and prudence prejudge them much against the true Doctrine alienat them from the truth and also render them more pertinacious in their way of errour and least of all should the Rulers of the Church provoke them by bitterness in words writings or deeds the meek Spirit of Christ and of the Gospel becometh them well Luke 9.55 56. 1 Tim. 3.3 A Bishop must be patient not a brawler Judicious Calvin is much for this forbearance Institut Lib. 4. Cap. 1. Sect. 12. Yea saith he some errour may creep into the Church either in the administration of Doctrine or of Sacraments which nevertheless should not alienat us from Church-communion for all points of true Doctrine are not of one form And in the same place citing the words of the Apostle Phil. 3.15 he saith Doth not the Apostle sufficiently declare that difference of judgement about matters not so necessary should not be the matter of division amongst Christians Beza Epist 24. to the English residing abroad in the time of Queen Maries persecution saith Therefore to avoid that ugly and pernicious renting and tearing asunder of the members in the sacred Body of Christ we think it saith he lawful for no man in any case to separat from the Church of Christ wherein at least the Doctrine remains sound and uncorrupted wherein is continued the power of Godliness and the administration of the Sacraments according to the institution of Christ For peace and concords sake there would be a forbearance and not breaking of Church-communion for every fault in the life and conversation of others for none of the children of God want their own failings and trippings Jam. 3.2 For such failings of infirmity and inadvertency which Tertullian calls quotidianae incursiones the daily out-falls and bickerings of in-dwelling corruption with the inner-man of grace therefore Augustine saith well Now do men live well if they live without a crime but if any man think he liveth without sin in so thinking he doth not effect
be brought to light and they shall know there is no name under heaven whereby they can be saved but the Name of Jesus Act. 4.12 Quest It may be asked at what time was this prophesie fulfilled For answer Consider the Gospel or Doctrine of the glad tidings of salvation in Christ was a mystery hid from the Gentiles and other heavenly Truths and Ordinances were communicat only to the Jews Ps 147.19 20. Rom. 3.2 There was not a Church among the Gentiles before the time our blessed Lord gave commission to preach unto them Mat. 28.19 It is true there were some proselytes at diverse times before the birth of our Lord in time of the Patriarchs was Melchizedeck though some think he was Shem and Job in Moses his time was Jethro in Joshua his time Rachab in the time of the Judges Ruth in the time of David Ittai the Gittit in Solomons time Hiram and in Jeremiahs time Ebedmelech these were but the first fruits of the Gentiles and drops in comparison of that great flood of Converts foretold Is 2.2 It shall come to pass in the last dayes that the mountain of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills and all nations shall flow unto it After the birth of our blessed Lord and his sending forth the Apostles to teach all Nations the knowledge of the Gospel did abound in many parts of the world as the sea abounds with waters it was foretold by our blessed Lord that this prophesie should be fulfilled in a great part even before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans Mat. 24.14 and it was fulfilled Rom. 10.18 Their sound went unto all the earth and their words unto the ends of the world Col. 1.23 which was preached to every creature which is under heaven for the Gospel was preached by the Apostles even to the greater part of the habitable world so far as it was known at that time according to that ample Commission given by our Lord to his Disciples Mat. 28 19 20. Therefore faith Augustine de Civit. Dei lib. 22.8 Whosoever he be that requires miracles at this time he himself is a great wonder and prodigy who believeth not when all the world believeth the Gospel But before the end of the world these Nations which sometimes were Christian and are now overspread with Turcism and Mahometism as at this day Assyria and Egypt and many Nations living at this day in Paganism shall be converted to the Christian Faith and the Gospel shall be preached unto many Nations which were not known in the dayes of the Apostles as it is at this day both in the Eastern and Western India Observ The preaching hearing and knowledge of the Gospel is the ordinary mean of conversion and of a Gospel-like conversation 2 Cor. 4.6 God hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Thess 2.14 God hath called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ This is evident from instances of divers persons converted to the Faith of Jesus Christ and to the way of Sanctification by the preaching of the Gospel Act. 2.37.47 Act. 16.14.33.31 It is also evident from the denominations the Gospel getteth as 1. The word of grace Act. 20.33 Not only because it is sent to a Nation or People out of Gods free-grace Matth. 13.11 It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven but to them it is not given But also by it as the ordinar instrument the holy Spirit worketh the sanctifying and saving grace of believing and turning to the Lord in all come to years of discerning and appointed for Salvation Act. 11.21 The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord. 2 Cor. 10.4 The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds c. Gal. 2.8 He that wrought effectually in Peter to the Apostleship of the circumcision the same was mighty in me towards the Gentils Therefore now in these dayes after that this sacred instrument and testimony is sealed and reposited by God in his Church the pillar and ground of the truth 1 Tim. 3 15 as the only authentical Record and invariable Rule of the Christian Faith if any man shall pretend to the inward revelation of the Spirit without or contrair to the written Word it is Enthusiasm and a delusion of his own private spirit neither let any man think it is enough to have the outward revelation of the written Word without the inward operation of the holy Spirit enlightning the understanding by Faith to perceive and assent unto the truth revealed in the Word and enclining the will by love to receive and retain it in the heart for the Lord openeth both the understanding and the heart Luk. 24.45 Act. 16.14 The Gospel is called the word of life Act. 5.20 Because the Gospel is the seed of the new life 1 Pet. 1.23 Faith and belief to the threatnings of the Law is as the Plough to rent the fallow-ground of our heart but Faith conceiving and embracing Christ in the promises of the Gospel is the seed of our regeration Jam. 1.18 Of his own will beg at he us by the word of truth It is called the word of reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 Because in the Gospel remission and reconciliation in the blood of Christ is offered unto all who repent and believe in him Act. 10.43 To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins And it is called The word of Salvation Act. 13.26 Because it is the ordinar mean of Salvation Rom 1.16 2 Thess 2 13. God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth That the Gospel is the ordinar mean of Conversion to the Faith of Christ is evident from Reason and clear consequences from Scriptural truths 1. Hope of life and immortality is a strong motive to turn men from the broad way that leadeth unto death and to everlasting destruction Now the Gospel sheweth unto us life and immortality in Christ Jesus Rom. 6.6 Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin 2 Tim. 1.10 The grace of God is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel 2. By the knowledge we have of Christ and by believing in him as he is offered in the Gospel we are turned from an estate of condemned rebels unto an estate of persons justified and reconciled in the blood of Jesus Christ Isa 53.11 By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many for he shall
bear their iniquities Isa 53.11 3. By the manifestation of Jesus Christ and by believing in him as he is offered in the Gospel in all his Mediatory-offices such a deep impression of his rich and free love is put upon our spirits that we are turned to a conformity unto him in our wills and affections unto the will of God 2 Pet. 1.4 By the precious promises ye are made partakers of the divine nature This impression is like the Spirit moving the wheels of our inner man and making them to follow the Spirit in their motions conform to his Word Ezech. 1.20 our hearts become like the paper stamped with the printing iron and receiving an impression thereby conform to the impression of the Spirit by his word and the doctrine of the Gospel is therefore called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 16.17 the impression of doctrine Quest If the great mystery of Redemption and Salvation in Christ may be known by the light of Nature and of humane Reason Answ 1. There are means given of God whereby all people on earth may know God in his existence and something of his power wisdom and justice as the book of Creation Psal 19.11 Rom. 1.20 The Book of ordinary Povidence bearing witness there is a God Acts 14.17 Acts 17.27 The Works of his extraordinary Providence carried by report or otherwayes unto the Heathens Josh 2.10 The report of the silence of the Oracle at Delphos made unto Octavius Augustus did so affect him with admiration that he caused erect an Altar with this Inscription 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To the God first-born by the Minut-book of mans own conscience which is a vade-mecum something of the justice of God both preceptive and vindicative is known and was known to the Heathens from the light of Nature Rom. 2.14 15. When the Gentiles which have not the Law do by nature the things contained in the Law these not having the Law are a Law unto themselves which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts their conscience also bearing witness and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another The Heathens knew something of the revenging justice of God from the great terrours upon the spirits of those that do evil as upon these wicked men Caligula and Nero but shall these Books there was not one sylable of the way of salvation by Jesus Christ that knowledge of the Law of Nature from the light of Nature maketh them inexcusable before God because they glorified not God and did not all the good and moral duties they might have done if they had improven that light of Nature so that they are without excuse Rom. 1.20 2. The Heathens before and under the Law and even many at this very day from the light of Nature and by tradition as the learned Grotius thinks in his Book of the satisfaction of Christ from Noah and from Japhet and Ham the Progenitors of the Gentiles as also from their posterity downwards to the Heathens and Pagans at this very day they had and now have the custom of sacrificeing although the Heathens by these sacrifices did and do acknowledge from the light of Nature the Majesty Sanctity and Justice of God which is to be satisfied and appeased by the children of men guilty of many iniquities yet they did not know Jesus Christ who offered up himself a sacrifice by his death to satisfie Divine Justice and to preserve us from eternal wrath this is only known by Divine Revelation in the holy Scriptures wherein we are required by faith to behold him who taketh away the sin of the world Joh. 1.29 3. The Heathens by the light of Nature knew that in great calamities it was their duty to pray unto God for help and relief the Mariners in the Ship with Jonah being afraid in the great storm did cry every man unto his God Jonah 1.5 but they knew not Jesus Christ the alone Mediator between God and man and therefore did not pray in his Name in whom alone both our persons and our supplications are accepted the knowledge of this we have in the holy Scriptures from our blessed Lord John 16.23 Verily verily I say unto you whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name he will give it you 4. The knowlege of the work of Redemption and Salvation in Jesus Christ is only known from Divine Revelation in the holy Scriptures Acts 4.12 Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other Name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved This great mystery is only known by revelation in the holy Scriptures Mat. 11.25 our Lord said I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes Mat. 16.17 Blessed art thou Simon Bar-jona for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven The Incarnation of the Son of God and the Salvation of lost man by him is called a mystery hid from the Gentiles for many ages Eph. 3.9 This sublime mystery the natural man cannot know by the strength of humane reason 1 Cor. 2.14 The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Some who magnifie the strength of humane reason think that by the natural man in this place is to be understood the carnal man addicted to his sinful desires which hinder him by the strength of his own reason to take up these divine mysteries but it is clear from the series of the sacred Text that natural man signifieth one indued only with the light of reason and it is some way opposed by way of distinction to the spiritual man inlightened and renewed by the illumination of the Holy Spirit as also spiritual man is taken Gal. 6.1 Brethren if a man be overtaken in a fault ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness Chrysost on this place by natural man understandeth a man indued only with the light of reason That man saith he who liveth for the flesh neither is yet illuminat in his mind by the Spirit but only has that inbred humane wisdom which the Creator of all things has put into the souls of men Grotius upon that place speaketh thus The natural man and the carnal man is not the same thing the natural man is he who is guided only by the light of humane reason but the carnal man is he who is ruled by the affections of his body It is true some of the ancient Fathers in the Christian Church who before their conversion had been eminent Philosophers themselves and had a great kindness for some of the best of them as Socrates and Plato they do speak very charitably concerning their salvation although they lived in Gentilism yet they thought not that they were saved without some
to them that repent and believe the Promise as the sight of a Corner-stone is very comfortable to a weary person sinking under an heavy burden as the sight of the brazen serpent in the wilderness was most comfortable to those who were stung with the fire serpents In like manner the Lord Jesus Christ the true Manna is sweet and precious to Believers 1 Pet. 2.7 He is sweet in the Promises sweet in the first-fruits of eternal life when by the holy Spirit he sheds abroad his love like precious oyntment in our hearts when he gives peace to our Consciences and joy to our hearts in the hope of Salvation but the heart cannot conceive how sweet and comfortable this true Manna will be in Heaven when we shall be filled with the full and everlasting Fruits of his glory then shall we say as the Queen of Sheba said of Solomons glory It was true that was told me on Earth by the Ministers of the Gospel but the half was not told me of that I do now see and enjoy in Heaven 3. They gathered the Manna in the morning so by Faith bring in Christ the true Manna early to feed and refresh thy soul acquaint your selves in time with him for he will not make new acquaintance at his second coming with any who neglected to come to him in this their day He will say to the foolish and sloathful Virgins Depart from me I know you not Mat. 25. Bring Spiritual hunger with you it is a sauce to provoke appetite after Christ the true and hid Manna Joh. 6.27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life which the Son of man shall give unto you for him hath God the Father sealed Bring Faith with you for by it we seed on Christ and draw vertue from him for our spiritual nourishment and preservation unto eternal life Joh. 6.35 And Jesus said unto them I am the bread of life He that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thrist 4. God ordained a Pot full of Manna to be kept in remembrance of his special providence toward them in the wilderness that from the remembrance of it they should praise him and by Faith depend on him and his care in time-coming so lay thou up in thy memory any experience of refreshment at any time by the Word or Sacrament and depend on him for time-coming in all thy wants spiritual or bodily when thou findest any faintness or failing of Spirit and no liveliness in thy soul for the time then remember thou bygone experience of former refreshment Our Lord saith to you as to his Disciples Mat. 16.8 9. O ye of little faith why reason ye among your selves do ye not yet understand neither remember the five Loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets ye took up c. Remember ye not the former experience ye have had of spiritual refreshment by the holy ordinances of God Then say thou to thy disquieted Soul as Psal 42.6 O my God my soul is cast down within me therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan and of the Hermonites from the hill Mizar And resolve thou and conclude as the Prophet doth vers 11. Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God Seeing our blessed Lord is the Truth in his lips was never found guile truth and faithfulness cleaveth to his reins as a girdle Isa 11.5 In all thy doubts of acceptance into his favour or perseverance in his favour I speak to thee who art humbled under thy sins and in thy fear and unbelief standest aloof from him consider he is the Truth and hath promised acceptance to all who wearied of their sins come unto him Joh. 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wayes cast out And as he hath promised acceptance so he hath promised the grace of perseverance Joh. 10.27.28 My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand Object I cannot deny my own sense for I am weary of sin and yet I find no sensible rest and quietness to my soul notwithstanding the promise of rest Ans 1. Consider well the ground of thy weariness that thou be not wearied only of sin as it carrieth along with it a burden of wrath and punishment thus Cain was wearied when he said my punishment is heavier then I can bear but also that thou be wearied of it as an unclean and vile thing as it is an offence against thy gracious God then if thou be thus wearied come to Christ the precious corner-stone laid in Sion and although thou get not rest to thy sense as thou wouldest yet make not haste to depart from waiting on him he that believeth shall not make haste Isa 28.16 wait on and adhere to the promise made to all who cast their burden upon Christ the precious corner-stone laid in Sion because those who rest on his promise and on him in whom all the promises are yea and amen shall not be ashamed of their hope 1 Pet. 2.6 Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture behold I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone Elect Precious and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded 2. Consider there is a fourfold rest 1. The rest or acquiescence of faith to the faithful promise of God as a debtor hath some rest in his mind when the Creditor promiseth to forgive him the debt although he hath not yet gotten his acquittance and discharge 2. There is a rest in hope of the thing promised though there be some commotion in the Spirit through weakness of Faith untill the promise be performed to their sense this rest is like unto some rest the ship that was formerly tossed with the waves has now at Anchor although not without some agitation and commotion 3. There is a rest and peace in the soul from the full assurance of Faith when the heart is perswaded by the holy Spirit and a lively faith resting on Jesus Christ that their sins are forgiven them and that they are reconciled in the blood of Jesus Christ such an assurance had Paul Rom. 8.38 39. For I am perswaded that neither death nor life c. shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. This rest is like the quietness a great debtor has in his spirit after he hath received his discharge out of the hand of his creditor 4. There is the rest of vision and fruition in Heaven when we shall ee and enjoy God and be satisfied to the ull with that fulness of joy and with those pleasures
yet hid from many Nations and many outwardly called are not drawn and called effectually Matth. 22.14 Matth. 23.37 2. It is taken by way of restriction to the subject-matter spoken of in the same place as 1 Cor. 9.22 I am made all things to all men to wit in the use of my Christian liberty in matters indifferent 3. It is taken for very many though not simply for all individuals of men Joh. 11.48 If we let him thus alone all men will believe on him that is very many will believe on him 4. It is taken for all kinds as Act. 10.12 Peter saw in a vision a great sheet wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts on the earth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rev. 5.9 Thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation So it is taken here for all kinds of men rich and poor male and famale Jews and Gentiles as it is taken Joh. 11.51 52. He prophesied that Jesus should die for that Nation and not for that Nation only but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad Joh. 10.16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice and there shall be one fold and one shepherd Gal. 3.28 There is neither Jew nor Greek there is neither bond nor free there is neither male nor female for ye are all one in Christ Jesus Col. 3.11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew circumcision nor uncircumcision Barbarian Scythian bond nor free but Christ is all and in all Augustine understands this place of these who are predestinat to salvation or of all kinds of men To the third I answer there is an outward drawing and calling by the preaching of the Word Matth. 23.37 Our Lord saith O Jerusalem how often would I have gathered thy children together c. and ye would not There is an inward drawing by the cord of Faith and Love wrought and fastned in the heart by the Holy Ghost Act. 11.21 The hand of the Lord was with these Preachers and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord. The outward drawing by the word without this inward drawing by the Spirit is not effectual for mans conversion Act. 13.45 The unbelieving and envious Jews were not drawn by the Word preached by Paul but they contradicted and blasphemed his Doctrine Heb. 4.2 But the word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it Although the word preached be a mean sufficient in its own kind that is a sufficient outward mean yet is it not simply sufficient for conversion As Plowing and Sowing are sufficient outward means for fruitfulness but are not effectual without the first and latter rain This effectual drawing is a drawing upward of the soul by faith unto an union and communion with Jesus Christ in his merits Joh. 6.65 No man said our Lord can come unto me except it were given unto him of my Father The grace of faith is given to us from above it is like a cord cast down from the Rock of our Salvation to save man from drowning and destruction in his sins it is a drawing of the heart upward unto Christ by faith in this life and a bringing of the soul to the enjoyment of glory in the life to come Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me The sense of Christs love in dying for us is like the heat descending from the Sun and drawing up the purified vapours It is like the Load-stone drawing up the hard and heavy Iron The sense of Christs love in dying for us softens our hard hearts and turneth them toward himself 2. As it is a drawing of the heart up to himself by faith and love so it is an obediential drawing by love and obedience to the wayes of his holy Commandments It is not a drawing only toward an outward profession of the truth from the custom of others or hope of worldly applause or benefit as Simon Magus was baptized that he might retain the respect and following of many Samaritans his old followers who had now been baptized neither is it a drawing to the profession of the truth only for fear of worldly loss as many of the Persians became Jews in their outward dissembled profession for fear of the Jews But this inward drawing and believing is from love to God in the will Psal 110.3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power that is when thou together with thy Word exerts the power of thy invincible gâ—ace thou wilt make thy people willing and obedient to follow thee in the wayes of thy Commandments 3. It is an equal and uniform drawing both of the inner and outer man all the powers of the soul like so many wheels anointed and moved by the Spirit of God are drawn after the Spirit according to the outward drawing of the Word as it is said of that extraordinary drawing by the Spirit Ezek. 1.20 Whithersoever the Spirit was to go they went The understanding is enlightned by heavenly knowledge and light within by the Spirit of God according to the outward light of the Word 2 Cor. 4.6 For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ The will is strongly inclined to embrace Christ and is sick of love to enjoy him Cant. 3.8 The affections like the inferiour wheels are moved and carried toward Christ by an inlightned understanding and by a vehement inclination of the will Cant. 5.4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door and my bowels were moved for him Although the drawing and motion toward Christ beginneth from within yet it stayeth not there but draweth also the outward man unto Christ the members of the body become weapons of righteousness Rom 6.13 As the motion of the Clock is first within and thereafter perceived in the regular motion of the Hand of the Horologe and in the sound of the Bell so the inward drawing and motion of the soul is perceived in our outward regular actions and gracious communications 4. It is a most sweet and delightful drawing the God of all grace by his preveening grace maketh us first willing and then by his subsequent and assisting grace draweth us most sweetly with delectation in our hearts after him It is as when one is drawn forward to a place from the sent of precious odours Cant. 1.3 4. It is as the speedy mounting of an Eagle upon wing from the smell and fight of the dead carcase so the sight and sent through faith of Christ crucified doth most sweetly and willingly draw an hungry soul unto Christ to be fed
and refreshed out of the fulness of the merit of his death Mat. 24.28 For wheresoever the carcase is there will the Eagles be gathered together Augustine in his Tractat. on this place â—aith It is a drawing as the shepherd going before draweth the sheep after him by holding forth a green branch in his hand so our blessed Lord worketh in the hearts of the elect that gracious disposition of his own sheep to hear and follow his voice and thereafter by the sweetness of the object propounded to them to wit Christ the Branch of Righteousness and by the inward operation and strong impulse of the Spirit he maketh them follow the outward call of the Word Joh. 10.4 When he putteth forth his own sheep he goeth before them and the sheep follow him for they know his voice 5. It is an invincible and irresistable drawing it is not only by moral swasion of motives taken from benefit or prejudice to their souls but it is by a powerful perswading and efficacious inclining of the heart Gen. 9.27 God shall perswade Japheth and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem. Hos 2.14 Therefore behold I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness and speak comfortably unto her or to her heart Although there is in all men a corrupt principle of resistance to the will of God yet when God is pleased to exert that exceeding greatness of his power toward them that believe Eph. 1.19 Actual resistance is overcome by the insuperable grace of God Jer. 17.14 Heal me O Lord and I shall be healed save me and I shall be saved Jer. 31.18 Turn thou me and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God Augustine calleth the operation of grace in our conversion to the wayes of God victrix delectatio an overcoming delight like a sweet and strong smell overcoming and bearing down corrupt vapours and exhalations this grace of God in conversion is rejected by no hard heart because willingness to resist is taken away as Augustine speaketh well to this purpose Therefore humble penitents should look up by faith to Christ on the Cross as he is held forth to them in the Gospel The persons stung in the wilderness looked to the brazen serpent and were healed so whatever thy sins hath been and whatsoever be the sting of thy guilty conscience confess thy sins with purpose and active endeavours for amending thy wayes draw near by faith to Jesus Christ and thou shalt be healed Joh. 3.14 15. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life Although thy faith be weak yet if convinced of thy sins and mourning for them thou look to Christ alone for salvation thou shalt be saved Isai 45.22 Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth for I am God and there is none else which place speaketh expresly of Christ if we compare vers 23. with Phil. 2.11 All that looked to the brazen serpent in the wilderness were not alike quick-sighted yet all who looked were healed So all stung with sorrow in their hearts for their sins if they fix their eye and heart upon Christ crucified they shall be saved though faith be weak in the measure for our salvation doth not depend upon the strength of our faith but upon the strength and power of Christ in whom we believe And if thou be truly drawn by faith to Christ then Christ and his Cross will be great in thine eyes and estimation far above all things here below As a man lifted up to an high mountain esteems things below in the valley to be but small so a soul elevated by saith to Christ and to things that are above esteems little of all things on earth in comparison of Christ and his unsearchable and durable riches Phil. 3.8 I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ And the true believer glorieth most in the Cross of Christ who endured the Cross and despised the shame to save us poor souls from extreme and everlasting pain and shame Gal. 6.14 As we believe the merit of the Cross of Christ so let us labour to feel more and more of the power of his Cross crucifying sin in us and drawing our hearts from the vanities of this present world and quickening us to serve and honour him who spared not his life but gave it to the death of the Cross for us To him with the Father and the Holy Spirit be all praise c. Amen Soul-healing vertue in Christ to the broken in heart SERMON III. PSAL. 147.3 He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds THe holy Prophet stirreth up his own heart and the hearts of others from the consideration of the glorious attributes and works of the Lord to praise his great Name and amongst these works for the manifestation of his compassion and mercy toward poor mourning sinners because he healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds This our blessed Lord applyeth to himself as a work of mercy common to him with the Father Luk. 4.18 He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted As in healing the diseases and wounds of the body there be these three considerable 1. The Physician 2. The Patient 3. The Cure it self So it is in healing the diseases of the soul and wounds of the spirit of man We have all these three in these words 1. The Physician is the Lord himself Jehovah He. 2. The Patient The broken in heart and wounded in spirit 3. The Cure He healeth The Lord God is the soveraign Physician who according to his good pleasure healeth all distempers He healeth a distempered civil State by restoring civil Peace Psal 46.9 Psal 147.14 A distempered Church by restoring Unity Peace and Love Isa 30.26 Jer. 30.17 Jer. 32.39 He healeth breaches in families by restoring domestick Peace and Amity He healeth distempers through bodily diseases Ezod 15.25 2 Kings 20.5 He healeth Souls distempered through the guilt and sting of an evil conscience Psal 103.3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities who healeth all thy diseases Jer. 3.22 Return ye backsliding Children and I will heal your backslidings In all our distempers it is our wisdom and duty to go to God and to his Son Jesus Christ the Soveraign Physician for healing sick Souls Psal 61.2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee when my heart is overwhelmed lead me to the rock that is higher then I. Psa 60.2 Thou hast made the earth to tremble thou hast broken it heal all the breaches thereof for it shaketh especially when the soul is in an high fever and distemper of grief and fear through bypast sins Psal 41.4 I said Lord be merciful unto me heal my soul
endure amputation and mortification of their sinful lusts which are as a gangren'd hand or foot therefore they are not healed but choose rather to pine away in their beloved lusts than to have them cut off and so to have their souls saved 2. Hardness of heart and stupid security without apprehension of the danger and vileness of their sins makes them carlesse to seek to the Lord for healing their souls Mat. 13.15 For this peoples heart is waxed gross and their ears are dull of hearing and their eyes they have closed lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and should understand with their hearts and should be converted and I should heal them 3. Willfull rejecting of the counsel and direction of the great Physician of our souls given to us by his faithfull Ministers Jer. 51.9 We would have healed Babylon but she is not healed Mat. 23.37 38. O Jerusalem Jerusalem c. how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not Behold your house is left unto you desolat c. 4. A false conceit and imagination of our own righteousness and soul-health is a great impediment to the healing of the soul as the Phrenetick man who thinks himself whole seeketh not the Physician for healing Matth. 9.12 They that be whole need not a Physician but they that are sick that is they that are sensible of their souls distemper through the malady of sin are sensible also of a necessity to be healed The outward means of Soul-healing are the Word specially the Gospel-promises Psal 107 20 He sent his Word and healed them Isai 57.15 Thus saith the high and lofty One c. I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humhle and to revive the heart of the contrite ones Isai 61.1 The Lord God hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted Psal 51.17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is an outward mean for healing a broken heart because it is a visible sign and seal of our Communion of Christs Body broken for us and of his blood shed for us and his offering of his Body and our receiving of it by Faith is the special mean to heal the broken heart by the vertue of his Body broken for us Prayer is a mean blessed of God for healing a broken heart Moses Num. 12.13 cryed unto the Lord in behalf of his leprouse sister Miriam saying heal her now O God I beseech thee And 2. Chron. 30.18 19 20. Hezekiah prayed to the Lord for healing and forgivness to the People who had prepared their hearts to eat the Passeover but had not been punctually cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary conform to the Law cerimonial And it is said the Lord hearkned to Hezekiah and healed the people The inward means of healing the Soul are specially two 1. Repentance Jer. 3.20 Return ye backsliding Children and I will heal your backslidings Jer. 4.14 O Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved Repentance cleanseth the wound and leteth out the malignant humor 2. Faith is a special mean for Soul-healing it is as the hand that applieth the healing-plaister it applies the blood of Christ wherewith the Soul is cleansed Act. 16.31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved As the Haemoroise Woman when she touched Christ was healed by the healing vertue that came out of him so when a humble broken-hearted sinner doth lay hold on Christ and the promise made in him healing vertue comes from him whereby guilt and obligation to eternal punishment is taken away in our Justification and the fever of corruption is much abaited by the work and power of Sanctification The manner of Gods healing the broken-heart is 1. Freely without any merit in man procuring the same for Who hath first given to him and it shall be recompensed to him again Rom. 11.35 To this purpose saith the prophet Isai 43.25 I even I am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake c. 2. He healeth powerfully so that when he puts to the hand of his invincible grace for healing no distemper of the will can resist him for he takes away willingness to resist and so he begins his healing in cureing the malignancy of the will Jer. 17.14 Heal me O Lord and I shall be healed Jer. 31.18 Turn thou me and I shall be turned This efficacy of Gods grace in healing Souls is called the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power It is a power exceeding and overcomming the power of our corruption at the time when God is pleased 〈◊〉 exert it 3. God heals the Soul gradually in â—espect of indwelling corruption although as is most probable God justifies a sinner at once from the guilt of all his sins actually forgiving him all his bypast sins and giving him a right and claim through Christ unto the remission of sins to come Yet the healing of the soul from the vilness of indweling corruption in the course of Sanctification is by degrees for so long as the children of God are on Earth there is in them grace and corruption and each of them lusteth one against another Gal. 5.17 4. He healeth perfectly and fully all his Patients at the end of their life from all stain of Sin and diâ—temper of Conscience through the stirring of inward corruption as the Jewish Women were fully purified after Child-birth before they were presented in the Temple so our blessed Lord and Physician after our new Birth and Regeneration doth purifie us in the course of Sanctification and at death having closed the course of our purification doth after death present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy Jud. Epist 24. Obj. One possibly may say my heart is broken with sorrow for my sins and yet their is no healing of my soul nor peace and quietness in my Conscience I may say as Jer. 4.14 19. I looked for the time of healing and behold trouble Ans God is debtor to none for healing he healeth the broken in heart but not because their heart is broken The distemper is meerly from our selves but our healing is from his free Grace with some sinners he deals more roughly than with others according to his Wisdom and good Pleasure Isai 28.27 Paul is cast down to the ground but the heart of Lydia is gently opened some are sooner cured and comforted to preveen despair others are keept long under cure and exercise of Conscience to preveen pride and presumption Therefore wait upon the Lord thy Physician with all patience and submission 1. Because he hath promised to heal the broken
clean himself who was to cleanse us and to be whole and perfect who was to heal us 2. That Serpent was not made of Gold but of Brass Jeroboams Calves were made of Gold Our Lords outward Garb and fashion before the world was without all show and pomp Isai 53.2 When we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him Luk. 17.20 The kingdom of God cometh not with observation The ordinances of men are oftentimes very specious in their out-side as were the Calves of Jeroboam but the Ordinances of God are simple without outward splendor as the holy Word preached in simplicity and the holy Sacraments administred in simple elements yet with them is great vertue and a blessing to believers The Word accompanied by the Spirit of God is the power of God to salvation Rom. 1.16 and worketh effâ—ctually in those that believe 1 Thes 2.13 The Sacrament of Baptism through the Spiâ—it is the Laver of Regeneration Acts 22.16 T it 3 5. and the Sacrament of the holy Supper is through the blessing of God the real and spiritual communion of the body and Blood of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 10.16 Jeroboam his Calves though of Gold did not heal any who worshipped them but there is much comfort and benefit to be had in the â—â—â—ple Ordinances of God much more than in all the specious and glistering inventions of men One old zealous Father at the Council of Nice prevailed more with that young Heathen Philosoph for his conversion to the Christian Faith even by speaking to him in the simplicity of the Gospel than all the learned Fathers could do by dispute and arguing 3. The occasion of making and lifting up the brazen Serpent was their great pain and danger in being deadly wounded by the fiery fleeing Serpents Numb 21. So the occasion both of the Incarnation of Christ and of his death upon the Cross was our sins wherewith we were wounded by the old Serpent and had been in pain for ever if Christ had not been Incarnat and died also for us he was wounded for our transgressions Isa 53.5 The consideration of this that our sins were the cause of the lifting up of Christ upon the Tree of the Cross should work in us these three penal affections 1. Grief and great sorrow for our bypast sins Zech. 12.10 David when he saw the innocent people destroyed by the Pestilence he was grieved at the heart and said 2 Sam. 24.17 Lo I have sinned and I have done wickedly but these sheep what have they done So we may and should say in the grief of our hearts What hath the innocent Lamb of God done who was without spot and blameless But we have sinned and we have eaten the soâ—â— Grape and his teeth was set on edge we stretched out our hearts and hands to iniquity and his back was scourged for our offences 2. It should work in our consciences shame and self-indignation and we should afflict our spirits for our sins as Ephraim did Jer. 31.19 I was ashamed yea even confounded because I did bear the reproach of my youth 3. An active detestation of all sinâ—ul wayes for time coming as it is said Job 34.32 That which I see not teach thou me if I have done iniquity I will do no more Hos 14.8 Ephraim shall say what have I to do any more with idols 2. The place wherein the Serpent was lifted up was the wilderness even there did God provide a remedy where no means of humane help was to be had there was no antidotes to be found in the wilderness against the venom for preserving from that inflâ—mmation and extreme burning with pain So fallen man was in a wilderness-estate after he had sinned against God for in holy Scripture wilderness iâ— taken for a desolat condition Isai 35 6. In the wilderness shall waters break out that is plentiful refreshment by the Messias Isai 41.18 I will make the wilderness a pool of water When no remeed for healing man could be had from creatures the righteous Angels could not satisfie infinit Justice they being finit creatures no more than the payment of ten pounds can exhaust the debt of an hundred thousand pounds holy and righteous men cannot satisfie for themselves Psal 143.2 And enter not into judgement with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified Yet in such an extremity like a wilderness wherein no out-gate is seen the Lords own arm brought salvation to his people Isai 63.5 I looked and there was none to help and I wondered that there was none to uphold therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me and my fury it upheld me In this wilderness our blessed Lord was lifted up let us look by faith to him when at any time we are stung with the tongues of a viperous generation and back-biters who are like Dan an adder by the way in such a case look thou to Jesus Christ lifted up on the Cross mocked and reviled Heb. 12.3 Consider him that endured such contradictions of sinners against himself lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds In this world that is a wilderness of many Labyrinths and difficulties wherein many times we see no probable outgate Let us lean by faith and dependance on Christ crucified the Captain of our Salvation and he will at death lead us out of this wilderness into that Paradise that is above as it is said of the spouse in Cant. 8.5 Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness leaning upon her beloved Rom. 8.39 Nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separat us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 3. As the Serpent was lifted up upon the Pole even so was Christ upon the Cross 1 Pet. 2 24. Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree the word there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth both to bear a burden as Matth. 4.6 The Angels will bear thee in their hands 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and also to take away Joh. 1.29 Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So our blessed Lord took away our sins by bearing the burden of the punishment due to us and thereby making satisfaction to Divine Justice Isai 53.6 We have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath laid on him the Iniquity of us all and vers 12 He was numbered with the transgressors and he bare the sins of many He was lifted up upon the Cross and died that kind of death to take away the curse of the moral Law threatned against us for our sins Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us for it is written cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree Although there be no proportion between a temporal curse or punishment and that eternal curse and punishment due to us for our sins
heart is ready to every good work and commanded duty with the Apostle Paul Acts 9.6 saying Lord what wilt thou have me to do For the Doctrine of Justification by Faith obligeth believers the more strictly to the duties of Sanctification for knowing they are justified in the blood of Christ which is the price of our redemption therefore should they glorify God in their body and in their spirit which are God's not only by the right of creation and temporal preservation but also by the right of redemption and everlasting salvation 1 Cor. 6.20 Seing they have the promises of free grace ratified in the blood of Christ they should cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 See more 2 Cor. 5.15 Tit. 2.11 12 14. So that the Doctrine of Justification by faith in Jesus Christ doth not make void the Law but establisheth the Law Rom. 3.31 Though it make the Law void as to Justification by it Rom 8.3 yet it doth not make it void or cancell it from being a fixt rule for our direction Now to the Lord Jesus Christ the Author and Finisher of our faith with the Father and Holy Ghost be all praise c. Amen Spiritual Life and Spiritual Walking SERMON V. GAL. 5.25 If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit THe Apostle having spoken in vers 22 23 24. of the seveâ—al fruits of the Spirit in the soul wherein he hath planted the life of grace he inferreth this conclusion If we live in the Spirit c. that is if we be quickened by the Spirit of God and raised to a new life of grace let it be seen in the course and actions of our life Let us walk by the Spirit that is by the guidance and direction of the Spirit according to the Word of God which was inspired into the Prophets and Apostles by the Holy Spirit In the words we have 1. A benefit supposed If we live in the Spirit 2. A duty proposed Let us walk in the Spirit For clearing the benefit supposed we would know 1. The nature and condition of this life which we are said here to have by the Spirit what it is 2. We would know the necessity of this life 3. The excellent quality of it in excelling all other kinds of life 1. As for the nature of this life it hath three effects or operations 1. Our Justification whereby our sins are forgiven and we are absolved from the sentence of damnation through the perfect obedience and satisfaction of our Mediator the Lord Jesus Christ as a man sentenced to death for some hainous crime is called a dead man even before the execution of the sentence and when he is absolved he is said to be a living man so by nature through sin and guiltiness we are children of wrath and dead in sins and trespasses obnoxious to eternal death and damnation but being justified by faith in Jesus Christ we are said to live in Christ and have the hope to live with him for ever This life is purchased to us by the merit of the death of Christ and is applyed by the Holy Spirit working faith in us whereby we are united to Christ and receive in and through him remission of sins offered to us in the preaching of the Gospel and sâ—aled in the holy Sacraments 1 Cor. 6.11 But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 2. The act also and operation of the life of grace is our Sanctification wrought in us by the Holy Spirit mortifying in us the deeds of the body Rom. 8.13 If ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live to wit the life of glory in Heaven and it is a quickening of us to live here unto righteousness as a man pincing away in sickness is said to be a dead man in respect of his fast approaching unto death and when he is in the way of recovery he is said to be a living man because there are pregnant hopes of his better health and life This life of Sanctification purchased also by Christ is applyed and wrought in us by the Holy Spirit through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3.5 3. There is the life of comfort and spiritual chearfulness it 's said of old Jacob Gen. 44.30 His life is bound up in the lad's life because he was much comforted in his son Joseph When sin and judgement is set before us our heart is dead and comfortless like the heart of Nabal whose heart at the report of David's wrath against him died within him through fear 1 Sam. 25.37 But when the Spirit of the Lord in our fears and faintings doth revive us by the sweet and piercing smell of the cross of Christ received by faith into the soul then we live a comfortable life and our soul rejoyceth in God our Saviour 2 Cor. 4.11 For we which live are alwayes delivered unto death for Jesus sake that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh that is that the life of comfort and inward strength from Christ might be manifested in our sufferings 1 Pet. 1.8 Whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory This life of inward comfort and strength purchased also by the merit of the death of Christ is applyed and wrought in us by the Holy Spirit Eph. 3.14 15 16. I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ c. that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner-man This life is called our life in Christ Col. 3.3 4. For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God It is purchased by him hid and preserved in him and with him as the life of the branches is preserved in the root Joh. 14.19 Because I live ye shall live also It is called the life of the Spirit or by the Spirit in this place because by the Holy Spirit we are united and joyned unto the Lord our Head and Saviour 1 Cor 6.17 He that is joyned unto the Lord is one spirit and because we are renewed to a new life by the Holy Spirit Joh. 3.5 Except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God It is called the life of faith Gal. 2.20 because by faith we receive the life of Justification Sanctification and of inward comfort from Jesus Christ 2. This life of grace is absolutely necessar as a midst and necessar antecedent unto eternal life 1. As the natural life is a necessar foundation of natural actings and operations dead Trees grow not dead Animals walk not dead men discourse not so the life
of the Spirit in us is the foundation of all our spiritual and supernatural actings without this life men are dead in sin and cannot grow in grace without it men are dead and cannot walk in the wayes of Gods commandments without it men are dead and cannot understand nor perceive the things of God in a saving way for the salvation of their souls 1 Cor. 2.14 2. The necessity of the life of grace wrought in us by the Spirit appeareth in this because without it there is no coming to the life of glory Joh 3.5 This life of grace is the infancy of the life of glory and as one cannot grow up to the perfect stature of a man unless he hath been first an infant so a man cannot be a perfect man in glory except first he be an infant in the state of grace as one cannot be put into actual possession of an inheritance till he first be born into the world so no man can be put into the possession of the heavenly inheritance until first he be born over-again by the holy Spirit the author of the life of grace and the preparer and preserver of us for the life of glory This life in or through the Spirit is absolute necessar even for all men who would come to the life of glory for it is said indefinitly Joh. 3.5 Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God Though he were never so nobly descended of earthly progenitors yet if he live not in the Spirit it may be said of him as of Judas It had been good for him he had never been born 3. It is necessar for our comfort to assure us we are united to Christ and that neither life nor death shall separat us from him as life in the branch is an evidence of its ingrafture and union with the Tree So our partaking of the life of the Spirit is a comfortable evidence that Christ is in us by the indwelling of his Spirit and we are in him by faith and love 1 Joh. 4.13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit 3. This life in the Spirit is an excellent life if simply considered in it self 1. In respect of that true and pure pleasure that attends it the deceitful pleasures of a sinful life are like the sting of an asp casting a man into a deep sleep but when the conscience is awaked the heart through fear is as Pashur Magor-missabib fear round about the conscience of a sinful liver is like a chiding wife in the bosome casting up to the man all the former evil wayes he has walked in in the dayes of his former life But the godly and spiritual liver has much inward pleasure and soul-satisfaction Pro. 14.14 The back-slider in heart shall be filled with his own wayes and a good man shall be satisfied from himself His good conscience from the sense of the life of the Spirit within him is like Abishag to David in his old age it doth cherish the inner-man and warm it with a sense of Gods love shed abroad in the heart by the holy Spirit it sweetens common mercies to the man who lives in the Spirit The primitive believers from the sense and comfort of the life in the Spirit did eat their meat with gladeness and singlness of heart Acts 2.46 Oh that profane and worldly-minded men who speak of a holy and spiritual life as a condition sad and comfortless would become spiritual livers in the Spirit and take a proof of that estate of life I say to these men as Philip said to Nathanael Come and see and after sight and proof ye will say as the Queen of Sheba did it was true that was told me but not the half of that contentment and joy I find by experience to be in a godly and spiritual life was told me The life in the Spirit has great and certain gain accompanying it together with much unspeakabl contentment 1 Tim. 6.6 Godliness with contentment that is which has contentment alwayes attending it is great gain 1 Tim. 4.8 Godliness is profitable unto all things having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come It has the promise of temporal blessings Psal 34.6 7. Rom. 8.28 and of eternal blessings 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive the things which God hath prepared for them that love him These who live in the Spirit do live in great honour and reputation with God and the greater and wiser the person is who doth bestow the honour it is the greater but so it is that the great and wise God doth esteem much of men of an holy and spiritual life he calleth them his Treasure Psal 135.4 his inheritance and portion Psal 35.12 his jewels Mal. 3.17 The friends of God 2 Chron. 20.7 The sons of God 1 Joh. 3.1 This life in the Spirit is excellent if compared with the natural life the life of the sense is common to us with the brute beasts whereof some do excel men in some outward senses the life of reason is common to us with Pagans and Infidels and many of them in their philosophy hath excelled us yea our living under the outward means of Word and Sacraments is common to us with many hypocrits and castawayes but this life in the Spirit is far more excellent than that of sense and reason as a man by reason doth far excel the most sagacious beast so doth a man living in the spirit excel the greatest Moralists who were or are void of the life of grace by the Spirit natural men partake of the divine gifts but spiritual and godly men are made partakers of the divine nature by way of assimilation 2· Pet. 1 4. And as for men living or rather dieing and stinking above the earth in their vile lusts a godly and spiritual life doth excel that vile and miserable life as far as light doth darkness and Heaven doth Hell Seing we live the life of grace by the Spirit we should be very watchful that we grieve not the Spirit 1. It is the worst sort of unthankfulness to render evil for good and it is also unnatural for children to grieve their parents that under God are the author of their natural life How great a sin then is it to grieve the holy Spirit the author of thy spiritual life 2. Thou art sealed by the Spirit who sealeth thy eternal redemption to thy faith by the promises of the Gospel and more clearly by the administration of the holy Sacraments as the outward common seal and effectually by the graces of the holy Spirit of sanctification as the inward and privy seal of thine heavenly inheritance Ephes 1.13 In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise And how loath are men and
to have apprehended but this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus This duty of walking in the wayes of Gods commandments is required of all who have the spiritual life of grace If we live in the spirit let us walk in the spirit Although the estate of grace doth free us from the Law as it was a covenant of works to man in the estate of innocency Rom. 6.14 Ye are not under the law but under grace yet we are not fred from it as the fixed and perpetual rule of the duty of thankfulness to God both upon the accompt of our creation and redemption Rom. 3.31 Do we then make void the law through faith yea we establish it The Gospel addeth a new obligation from the glade tidings of our redemption through the blood of Christ 1 Cor. 6.20 For ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your body and in your spirit which are Gods To this we are called by the Gospel of grace Tit. 2.11 12. 1 Pet. 2.24 Christ bare our sins in his own body on the tree that we being dead to sin should live unto righteousness To this walking in newness of life we are engaged by solemn profession in Baptism wherein we are said to put on Christ Gal. 3.27 and these who put on Christ should walk in newness of life Rom. 13.14 Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof And Christ giveth salvation only to them who labour to obey him by walking in newness of life Heb. 5.9 And being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him There be three evident symptoms of natural life to wit 1. Appetite toward the means of life 2. Growth and increase of stature And 3. Motion and walking In like-manner there are three signs of spiritual life 1. Appetite and desire after the word and means of Salvation 1 Pet. 2.2 As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word Although the renewed children of God do not know sometimes by the reflex act of knowledge and faith that they live by the Spirit yet others experienced Christians do know they live by perceiving their spiritual appetite after the means of the life of grace 2. Growth in Grace and Sanctification is a sign of the life spiritual infused into them by the Spirit for the Ministry of the Word is given for the perfecting of the Saints for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the meâ—sure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4.11 12 13. 3. Moving and walking in newness of life with all respect to all the holy Commandments is a sign undoubted that we live in the Spirit because these two are joyned together Ezek. 36.27 I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes As Lazarus raised from death to life did come forth from the sepulchre wherein he was laid and walked in the sight of others so a soul quickened by the Spirit doth rise from his sins wherein he was dead and buried and walketh before God and men in newness of life There is a walking after the flesh directly opposit to walking in the Spirit Rom. 8.1 There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit We must beware of such walking because the end of it is eternal destruction for he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the spirit or walketh after the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting Gal. 6.8 Such walkers after the flesh are profane men walking presumptuously in the imaginations of their own evil hearts and yet thinking to get Heaven in end as if a man walking toward the west should think in end to come to the east Of this profane and presumptuous walking and the severe punishment of it we read Deut. 29.19 This is not to walk in the power of the Spirit of God but in the strong delusion of their own deceived spirit such walkers are these spoken of 2 Pet. 3.3 There shall come in the last dayes scoffers walking after their own lusts And all such also who walk in a course of life fulfilling the sinful desires and lusts of their own hearts It is true the godly though renewed by the Spirit of God have flesh and corruption in them but they walk not aftr the flesh as their ordinary guide and counsellour The holy Scripture holds forth the manner of our walking in the Spirit in these following qualifications 1. In walking humbly with God Micah 6.8 What doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God By keeping upon thy spirit the impressions of his greatness and holiness this will make thee to walk humbly this made Isaiah humble after he had seen a visible representation of the Majesty and Holiness of God Isai 6.5 Then said I Wo is me for I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips c. This impression will make the soul obedient to the will of the Lord as Isaiah also was Isa 6.8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying Whom shall I send and who will go for us then said I Here am I send me This impâ—ession of the greatness and holiness of God will make the renewed man to shine in his conversation before the world as Moses his face did shine before the people after he had conversed with God in the mount 2. It is a spiritual and heavenly-minded walking having the way and haunt of the heart far above the things of the world Prov. 15.24 The way of life is above to the wise that he may depart from hell beneath Such walking keepeth the heart free from the bondage of many temptations and snares wherein the earthly-minded man is taken and detained as the Eagles who soar in a high way are not so easily shot and fell'd by the Fowler as the greedy Cormorants that flutter upon the surface of the earth or the vain Stanchel that hovers in the air and embraceth the wind In like manner heavenly-minded men are not so easily taken with the baits of the world as greedy and ambitious men who mind earthly things 3. It is a circumspect walking Eph. 5.15 Whereof hereafter in Serm. on that place 4. It is a sincere and upright walking Psal 84 11. No good thing will the Lord God withhold from them that walk uprightly It is a walking with a respect unto all the Commandments of God as David walked Psal 119.6 with active endeavours to keep a good conscience toward
God and man as Paul walked Act. 24.16 To have a good conscience and to be alwayes willing in all things to live honestly as the Apostle did Heb. 13.18 It is a constant walking at least in respect of a fixed purpose and resolution Psal 84 7. They go from strength to strength Phil. 3.12 Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus The impediments of walking are 1. Want of light for if a man walk in the night he stumbleth because there is no light in him Joh. 11.10 Therefore said our blessed Lord to the Pharisees Ye erre not knowing the Scriptures Mat. 22.29 Therefore as we would walk in a right way toward the Kingdom of Heaven we would labour to understand the holy Scriptures which shew us the way of truth and righteousness and we should daily pray with the holy Prophet Psal 43.3 O send out thy light and thy truth let them lead me let them bring me unto thy holy hill and to thy Tabernacles And we should pray with holy David Ps 143.10 Teach me to do thy will for thou art my God thy spirit is good lead me into the land of uprightness 2. Fetters are a great impediment to walking so our unruly and excessive passions as the excessive fear of creatures excessive desires of worldly good things excessive joy and delight in worldly pleasures are a great impediment to spiritual and heavenly walking as servants gazing and fixing their eyes upon some Pictures in their way are stayed in their walking and in going about their business Against this impediment we would pray to God for liberty and enlargement of spirit from that bondage to our masterful affections and we would turn David's resolution Psal 119.32 into a supplication O Lord enlarge thou my heart and then shall I run the way of thy Commandments It should be our daily prayer to the Lord with holy David Psal 119.37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity and quicken thou me in thy way 3. A heavy burden is a great impediment to walking so when men over-burden their spirits with the care of worldly things they walk not in the way of righteousness but many times step aside after the wages of unrighteousness the love of the world hindered the rich young man to walk after Christ Luk. 18.23 Therefore that we may walk readily and chearfully in the wayes of Gods Commandments we should cast all our care upon him for he careth for us 1 Pet. 5.7 And we should pray daily as Psal 119.36 Encline my heart unto thy Testimonies and not to covetousness 4. Fainting is a great impediment to walking Jonathan fainted in his way till he tasted of the honey Great difficulties and discouragments in the way of Holiness and uprightness are like the Sons of Anak that discouraged greatly the people of Israel from walking up the hill that thereafter they might enter into the promised Land Against this impediment of fainting in the good and perfect way from the many troubles and discouragements thou meetest with therein recollect thy self and be encouraged from the Lords faithful promise Isai 40.29 He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he increaseth strength In all the bitter mockings thou meetest with from profane men who not only mock thee but speak evil of thee because thou wilt not run with them to the same excess of riot yet be thou resolute and stedfast in thy spiritual and Christian walking as David did Psal 119.51 The proud have had me greatly in derision yet have I not declined from thy Law Yea walk the more sincerely and spiritually in conversing with God by prayer Psal 69.12 13. I was the song of the drunkards but as for me my prayer is unto thee O Lord in an acceptable time When the child of God has least acceptance or communion with profane men then is he most acceptable to God and hath most of his countenance which preserves his soul from fainting at their bitter scoffings look often unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith who endured such contradiction of sinners lest we looking too much to men who wrong us should faint in our minds Heb. 12.2 3. Be encouraged in all thy faintings from the hope of that Crown of Righteousness laid up for all these who walk with God as Enoch did Walk with God in heavenly meditations and walk thou before God as Abraham did in faith and obedience the hope o◠that Crown strengthened the heart of Paul against fainting 2 Cor. 4.16 17. For which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory Therefore seing there is an infallible connexion between spiritual life by the Spirit and spiritual walking in the strength and by the direction of the Spirit according to the Word as there is a conjunction of the stream with the fountain if we live in the Spirit let it be manifested by our walking in the Spirit and if the Spirit dwell in us the Spirit will quicken our mortal bodies and raise them up to follow the Lamb where-ever he goeth To him with the Father and Holy Spirit be all praise honour and glory for now and ever Amen Circumspect walking SERMON VI. EPHES. 5.15 See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise VERS 16. Redeeming the time because the dayes are evil AS Salvation is the end of faith on the Lord Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.9 Receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your souls So our walking in the way of holiness and good works is the way to salvation the Lord Jesus Christ is properly the living way that leadeth and guideth believers to salvation and good works are the meeths and evidences that we are in Christ the Captain of Salvation Eph. 2.10 For we are the workmanship of God created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them The Christian walking is discribed here 1. Positively See that ye walk circumspectly 2. Negatively not as fools 3. By way of opposition to the walking of fools in two qualifications required in circumspect walking But as wise redeeming the time 4. The motive to a Christian and circumspect walking is taken from the evil of the times Because the dayes are evil To walk circumspectly signifieth as the original word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 importeth an accurat and exact walking like a man walking upon the ridge of a mountain without declining to the one hand or to the other Deut. 5.32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you you shall not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left 1. In our zeal we would walk circumspectly not
side 3. Pride and self-confidence maketh even the godly sometimes rash and uncircumspect in their walking Peter from self-confidence in his own strength was rash and uncircumspect in his going into the High Priests hall 4. Forgetfulness of death and judgement and the accompt we must make to God of our walking in the time of our sojourning here doth make men walk at random in their evil wayes as Jerusalem sometime did Lament 1.9 Her filthiness is in her skirts she remembereth not her last end Amos 6.3 Ye that put far away the evil day and cause the seat of violence to come near Means and Helps for a circumspect walking are 1. Sound knowledge of the good and acceptable will of God from the word of light and salvation because the word of God is the rule and measure according to which we walk circumspectly in obedience to the holy commandments like children walking in one step after another according to their grounds and elements in learning Gal. 6.16 And as many as walk according to this rule peace be on them When we walk according to this rule we walk circumspectly for we need not be ashamed when we have respect unto all his commâ—ndments Psal 119.6 This rule keeps us from wandering rashly into the paths of wicked and profane men Psal 17.4 Concerning the works of men by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the pathes of the destroyer 2. As ye would walk circumspectly look to God in all your wayes he is now a witness and one day will be thy judge Gen. 17.1 Walk before me saith the Lord and be thou upright He seeth in secret therefore walk circumspectly in secret although no man did see thee yet the Lord ponders and considers all thy wayes Prov. 5.21 The wayes of man are before the eyes of the Lord and he pondereth all his goings The all-seeing wise God pondereth all the steps of humane actions in their desires intentions and courses though thy profession be never so fair before the world yet he ponders the intention of thine heart he saw the hypocrisie and crooked walking of Jehu notwithstanding his fair and large profession of zeal for the Lord He ponders the time of thy sinning and unrighteous walking if it be after mercies received Deut. 32 13 15. Jer. 5.7 When I had fed them to the full they then committed adultery The Lord ponders if thy unrighteous walking be in a time of affliction when thou should walk humbly and circumspectly he observed wicked Achaz in his trespassing more and more in the day of his distress 2 Chron. 28.22 he ponders the place where thou walks in thy ungodly way Isai 26.10 In the land of uprightness will he deall unjustly that is in a place of uprightness where he might have seen the good example of some men walking uprightly and circumspectly before God and the world yet he will walk in the way of injustice 3. Walk circumspectly in respect of the holy Angels 1 Cor. 11.10 The Apostle will have women in the Church-assemblies to carry themselves decently in respect of the Angels who are frequently there to behold and admire the wisdom and mercy of God revealed to his Saints in the holy Word they â—re ministring Spirits to the heirs of salvation â—nd our uncircumspect conversation and walking is very displeasing unto them as the rash speeches and actions of an inconsiderat pupil doth much grieve his Governour and Tutor 4. Walk circumspectly in respect of the godly because by thy rashness and failings thou wilt make the hearts of the righteous sad Paul was much grieved with Peters dissimulation at Antioch by thy rashness and failings through uncircumspect walking thou stumbles the weak who by thy evil example are drawen from the way of righteousness Many were drawn away by the example of Peters dissimulation Gal. 2. and how fearful and dangerous a sin it is to give offence to the weak we may clearly see Matth. 18.6 Paul would rather never eat flesh than he should stumble his weak brother by eating thereof 1 Cor. 8.13 Walk circumspectly in respect of wicked men who watch for thy halting who will magnifie themselves when thy foot slippeth and speak evil not only of thee alone but also of thine holy profession and of all the Saints as if they were all hypocrites David by his uncircumspect walking opened the mouths of adversaries 2 Sam. 12.14 Therefore pray thou daily as David did Psal 27.11 Teach me thy way O Lord and lead me iâ— a plain path because of mine enemies or observers 5. As ye would walk circumspectly remember frequently the Lords former mercies toward you that so ye may not deparâ— from his wayes and so sin against the God of your mercies This consideration Ezra holds forth to the people of God that in time coming they may walk more circumspectly Ezra 9.13 14. Seing thou our God hast given us such deliverance as this should we again break thy commandments and joyn in affinity with the people of these abominations The remembrance of former mercies made Hezekiah after his recovery from a dangerous sickness to walk softly and circumspectly all his years in the bitterness of his soul Isai 38.15 And our blessed Lord holdeth forth this consideration to the man that was healed of a longsome disease Joh. 5.14 Behold thou art made whole sin no more c. 6. Fear of thine own weakness and fears from the many temptations and snares in this present evil world is a special mean to make thee walk circumspectly fear to slip and fall maketh men walk circumspectly in slippery places Rom. 11.20 Be not high-minded but fear therefore walk circumspectly and humbly with thy God in the remembrance of his former mercies in the remembrance of thy former sins in the conscience and sense of thy present weakness and in the fear of many and manifold temptations in this evil world as a man walketh circumspectly looking well to every step in the midst of snares 7. As ye would walk circumspectly be not rash to venture upon temptations Cyprian saith truly Nemo periculo proximus est diu tutus no man near to the temptation and danger is long safe his advice is good that men would be circumspect like mariners at Sea who in time of a calm do not cast anchor beside a rock because they know not how soon a storm may arise and dash the Vessel against the rock so a Christian would be circumspect though his affections be quiet and still for the present time yet if he venture upon the place of temptations and snares he cannot tell how soon the wind of temptation may arise and bring the shipwrack of peace and a good conscience 8. As ye would walk circumspectly at all times and in all places remember often the necessity of our compearance after death before the tribunal of Jesus Christ this consideration made Paul circumspect both in his personal and ministerial conversation 2 Cor. 5.9 10. Wherefore we labour
that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him for we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Not as fools The Apostle speaketh more particularly of our Christian walk and that negatively that we walk not as fools 1. Not as the atheistical and profane fool who walketh without any serious thoughts of God in his heart Ps 14 1. The fool hath said in his heart there is no God they are corrupt they have done abominable works there is none that doth good Ezek. 8.12 They say the Lord seeth us not Psal 94 8 9. Vnderstand ye brutish among the people and ye fools when will ye be wise He that planted the ear c. Therefore be not profane and godless fools but fear God and depart from evil Prov. 3.7 2. Be not vain and arrogant fools walking in the imaginations of your own evil hearts Prov. 12.15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes 3. Walk not in the way of the licentious fool aâ—ter the lusts of uncleanness or drunkenness Prov. 7.7 The young man that followed the strange woman is said to be simple and void of understanding he is a mad fool running in the way of riot and uncleanness to his own destruction Walk not in the way of drunkenness and excess for the Scripture saith that drunkards are benummed and besotted fools Hos 4.11 Whoredome and wine take away the heart 4. Walk not in the way of worldly-minded and covetous men who set up their rest upon the things of this world and make no conscience of their purchase for the Scripture calleth such men fools Jer. 17.11 As the partridge sitteth on eggs and hatcheth them not so he that getteth riches and not by right shall leave them in the midst of his dayes and at his end shall be a fool Luk. 12.20 But God said unto him Thou fool c. 5. Walk not in the way of strise and contention for such men are in the Scripture-phrase fools Prov. 20.3 Every fool will be medling Prov. 26.17 He that passeth by and medleth with strife belonging not to him is like one that taketh a dog by the ears he doth at first rashly engage himself into the quarrel and is afraid how he shall come off fairly without prejudice to his credit or estate 6. Walk not in the way of malice for the Scripture calleth malicious and wrathful men fools Eccles 7.9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry for anger resteth in the bosome of fools 7. Walk not wilfully and obstinatly in any evil custom or way for such men the Scripture calleth fools who will not be reclaimed by the rods of God upon their backs Prov. 27.22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a morter among wheat with a pestel yet will not his foolishness depart from him Jer. 5.3 4. But they have refused to receive correction they have made their faces harder than a rock they have refused to return therefore I said surely these are poor they are foolish 8. Walk not in the way of malicious dissimulation though such dissemblers may be esteemed witts and active men in this present world yet in Gods account they are fools Prov. 10.18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips and he that uttereth slander is a fool 9. Walk not in the way of slothful men who delay from time to time to go about the great business and work of their own salvation such persons in holy Scripture are compared to the foolish Virgins Mat. 25. 10. Walk not in the way of bare formality resting upon the performance of some outward duties only because such men are compared to the foolish builder who built upon the sand such fools are these who rest on the hearing of the Word but prepare not themselves to do it Mat. 7.26 11. Walk not here and there departing from a known and received truth in the matter of Religion for such wavering and unconstant men are called fools Gal. 3.1 O foolish Galatians who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified among you But as wise The Apostle 1 Cor. 3.18 speaketh of a twofold wisdom an heavenly wisdom when a man preferreth his duty to God unto all things worldly such was the wisdom of Paul Act. 20.23 24. The Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city saying that bonds and afflictions abide me but none of these things move me neither count I my life dear unto my self so that I might finish my course with joy and the Ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testifie the Gospel of the grace of God This wisdom is thought foolishness to the worldly man whose mind and heart is fixed on things earthly And there is a worldly wisdom when men in their practice and endeavours do prefer the good things of this life unto the best things of the life to come as Demas did this wisdom is foolishness in Gods account for what avails it a man to gain all the world and lose his own soul This Christian Heavenly wisdom standeth 1. In mens proposing to themselves a good and happy end of their actions when they propone to themselves as the great and supreme end of all their actions the glory of God of whom through whom and for whom are all things 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether ye eat or drink do all to the glory of God when in the next place they propose to themselves that subordinat end to wit the salvation of their own souls Phil. 3.14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus and when they propose to themselves the good of others by following their own example in well-doing Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven 2. True Christian-wisdom stands in a serious deliberation and search out of Gods Word what are the fitest means for attaining these ends as by well-doing and suffering for well-doing to glorifie God 1 Pet. 4.14 If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are ye for the Spirit of Glory and of God resteth upon you on their part he is evil spoken of but on your part he is glorified When we search and consider from the Word of God that true repentance lively faith and sincere obedience are the means whereby we attain salvation Acts 3.19 Acts 16.31 Rom. 2.6 7. 3. It stands in a careful and timous applying of the means necessary for these great ends So if ye be truly wise Christians ye will be diligent and active in using the means whereby God may be glorified and your souls saved Jam. 3.13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge amongst you let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of