eatest of it thou shalt surely die The Subject then of our next Discourse is the Covenant of Works This Covenant was made with Adam and all Mankind for Adam was a publick Person and the Representative of the World Quest. For what Reason did God make a Covenant with Adam and his Posterity in Innocency Resp. 1. To shew his Soveraignty over us we were his Creatures and as God was the great Monarch of Heaven and Earth God might impose upon us terms of a Covenant 2. God made a Covenant with Adam to bind him fast to God as God bound himself to Adam so Adam was bound to God by the Covenant Quest. What was the Covenant Resp. God commanded Adam not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge God gave Adam leave to eat of all the other Trees of the Garden God did not envy him any Happiness only meddle not with this Tree of Knowledge because God would try Adam's Obedience As King Pharaoh made Ioseph chief Ruler in his Kingdom and gave him a Ring off his Finger and a Chain of Gold only he must not touch his Throne Gen. 41.40 in like manner God dealt with Adam he gave him a sparkling Jewel Knowledge and araid him with a fine Vesture put upon him the Garment of Original Righteousness only saith God Touch not the Tree of Knowledge for that is aspiring after Omnisciency Adam had power to have kept this Law Adam had the Copy of God's Law written in his heart This Covenant of Works had a Promise annexed to it and a Threatning 1. The Promise Do this and live In case Man had stood it is probable he had not died but had been translated to a better Paradise 2. The Threatning Thou shalt die the death Hebr. in dying thou shalt die that is thou shalt die both a natural Death and an Eternal unless some other Expedient be found out for thy Restoration Quest. But why did God give Adam this Law seeing God did foresee that Adam would transgress Resp. 1. It was Adam's fault he did not keep the Law God gave him a stock of Grace to trade with but he of himself broke 2. Though God foresaw Adam would transgress yet that was not a sufficient reason that Adam should have no Law given him for by the same reason God should not have given his written Word to Men to be a Rule of Faith and Manners because he foresaw that some would not believe and others would be prophane Shall not Laws be made in the Land because some break them 3. God though he foresaw Adam would break the Law he knew how to turn it to a greater good in sending Christ. The first Covenant being broken he knew how to establish a second and a better Well concerning the First Covenant consider these four Things 1. The Form of the first Covenant in Innocency was working Do this and live Working was the Ground and Condition of our Justification Gal. 3.12 Not but that working is required in the Covenant of Grace we are bid to work out salvation and be rich in good works But works in the Covenant of Grace are not required under the same Notion as in the first Covenant with Adam Works are not required to the Iustification of our Persons but as a Testification of our Love to God not as a Cause of our Salvation but as an Evidence of our Adoption Works are required in the Covenant of Grace not so much in our own strength as in the strength of another It is God which worketh in you Phil. 2.13 As the Scrivener guides the Child's hand and helps him to form his Letters so that it is not so much the Child's writing as the Scriveners that guides his hand so not our working as the Spirit 's co-working 2. The Covenant of Works was very strict God required of Adam and all Mankind 1. Perfect Obedience Adam must do all things written in the Book of the Law Gal. 3.10 and not fail either in the matter or manner Adam was to live up to the whole breadth of the Moral Law and go exactly according to it as a well made Dial goes with the Sun a sinful thought had forfeited the Covenant 2. Personal Obedience Adam must not do his work by a Proxy or have any Surety bound for him no it must be done in his own Person 3. Perpetual Obedience He must continue in all things written in the Book of the Law Gal. 3.10 Thus it was very strict There was no Mercy in case of failure 3. The Covenant of Works was not built upon a very firm Basis therefore it must needs leave Men full of Fears and Doubts The Covenant of Works rested upon the strength of Man's inherent Righteousness which though in Innocency was perfect yet was subject to a change Adam was created holy but mutable He had a power to stand but not a power not to fall Adam had a stock of Original Righteousness to begin the World with but he was not sure he should not break Adam was his own Pilot and could steer right in the time of Innocency but he was not so secured but that he might dash against the Rock of a Temptation and he and his Posterity suffer Shipwrack So that the Covenant of Works must needs leave Jealousies and Doubtings in Adam's heart he having no Security given him that he should not fall from that glorious state 4. The Covenant of Works being broken by Sin Man's Condition was very deplorable and desperate He was left in himself helpless there was no place for Repentance the Justice of God being offended sets all the other Attributes against Mandkind When Adam lost his Righteousness he lost his Anchor of Hope and his Crown there was no way for Man's relief unless God would find out such a way that neither Man nor Angels could devise Use 1. See the Condescension of God who was pleased to stoop so low as to make a Covenant with us For the God of Glory to make a Covenant with Dust and Ashes for God to bind himself to us to give us Life in case of Obedience Entring into Covenant was a sign of God's Friendship with us and a Royal Act of his Favour 2. See what a glorious Condition Man was in when God entred into Covenant with him 1. He was placed in the Garden of God which for the pleasure of it was called Paradise Gen. 2.8 he had his choice of all the Trees one only excepted he had all kind of precious Stones pure Mettals rich Cedars he was a King upon the Throne and all the Creation did obeysance to him as in Ioseph's Dream all his Brethrens sheaves did bow to his sheaf Man in Innocency had all kind of Pleasure that might ravish his Sences with delight and be as Baits to allure him to serve and worship his Maker 2. Besides he was full of Holiness Paradise was not more adorned with Fruit then Adam's Soul was with Grace He was the Coin on which God had
Who mind earthly things They pull down their Souls to build up an Estate they are not redeemed by Christ who not from the World 3. Use of Comfort to such as are redeemed You are happy the lot of free grace is fallen upon you you who were once in the Devil's Prison you have broke this Prison you that were once bound in the Chains of Sin God hath begun to beat off your Chains and hath freed you from the Power of Sin and Curse due to it What a Comfort is this And is there any Consolation in Christ it is thine is there any sweet Fruit growing upon the Promise thou maist gather it are there any glorious Priviledges in the Gospel they are thy Joynture Justification Adoption Coronation is there any Glory in Heaven thou shalt shortly drink of that River of Pleasure hast thou any Temporal Comforts these are but a Pledge and Earnest of more Thy Meal in thy Barrel is but a Bait by the way and an Earnest of that Angels Food which God hath prepared for thee How maist thou be comforted in all Worldly Afflictions though the Fig-tree flourish not nay in case of Death Death hath lost its Sting Mors obiit morte Christi Death shall carry thee to thy Redeemer fear not dying not happy but by dying Use ult of Exhortation Long for the time when you shall have a full and perfect Redemption in Heaven an eternal Jubilee when you shall be freed not only from the Power but from the Presence of Sin Here a Believer is as a Prisoner that hath broke Prison but walks with a Fetter on his Leg. When the Banner of Glory shall be displayed over you you shall be as the Angels of God you shall never have a sinful Thought more When no Pain or Grief no aking Head or unbelieving Heart you shall see Christ's Face and lye for ever in his Arms. You shall be as Ioseph Gen. 41.14 They brought him hastily out of the dungeon and he shaved himself and changed his raiment and came in unto Pharaoh Long for that time when you shall put off your Prison-Garments and change your Raiment and put on the Embroidered Garment of Glory O long yet be content to wait for this full and glorious Redemption when you shall be more Happy than you can desire when you shall have that which eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor can it enter into man's heart to conceive Of FAITH Gal. 2.20 The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of GOD. THE Spirit applys to us the Redemption purchased by Christ by working Faith in us Christ is the Glory and Faith in Christ the Comfort of the Gospel Quest. What are the kinds of Faith Resp. Fourfold 1. An Historical or Dogmatical Faith which is the believing the Truths revealed in the Word because of Divine Authority 2. There is a Temporal Faith which lasteth but for a time and vanisheth Matth. 13.21 Yet hath he not root in himself but dureth for a while A Temporary Faith is like Ionah's Gourd which came up in a night and withered Cap. 4.10 3. A Miraculous Faith which was granted to the Apostles to work Miracles for the Confirmation of the Gospel This Iudas had he cast out Devils yet was cast out to the Devil 4. A true justifying Faith which is called A faith of the operation of God Col. 2.12 And is a Jewel hung only upon the Elect. Quest. What is justifying Faith Resp. I shall show 1. What it is not It is not a bear Acknowledgment that Christ is a Saviour indeed there must be an Acknowledgment but that is not sufficient to justifie The Devils acknowledged Christ's Godhead Matth. 8.29 Iesus thou Son of God There may be an Assent to Divine Truths yet no Work of Grace on the Heart many assent in their Judgments that Sin is an evil thing but they go on in Sin their Corruptions are stronger than their Convictions and that Christ is excellent cheapen the Pearl but do not buy 2. What justifying Faith is I answer True justifying Faith consists in three things 1. Self-renunciation Faith is a going out of one's self a Man is taken off from his own bottom he sees he hath no Righteousness of his own to save him Phil. 3.9 Not having my own righteousness Self-righteousness is a broken Reed the Soul dares not lean on Repentance and Faith are both Humbling Graces by Repentance a Man abhors himself by Faith he goes out of himself Is is with a Sinner in the first Act of Believing as with Israel in their Wilderness-march behind them they saw Pharaoh and his Chariots pursuing them before them the Red Sea ready to devour them so the Soul behind sees God's Justice pursuing him for Sin before Hell ready to devour him and in this forlorn Condition he sees nothing in himself to help him but he must perish unless he can find help in another 2. Recumbency The Soul casts itself upon Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Faith rests on Christ's Person Faith believes the Promise but that which Faith rests upon in the Promise is the Person of Christ Therefore the Spouse is said to lean upon her Beloved Cant. 8.5 And Faith is described to be a believing on the Name of the Son of God Ioh. 3.23 viz. On his Person the Promise is but the Cabinet Christ is the Jewel in it Faith embraceth the Promise is but the Dish Christ is the Food in it which Faith feeds on And as Faith rests on Christ's Person so on his Person under this Notion as he was crucified Faith glories in the Cross of Christ Gal. 6.14 To consider Christ as he is crown'd with all manner of Excellencies doth rather stir up Admiration and Wonder but Christ looked upon as Bleeding and Dying is the proper Object of our Faith therefore it is call'd Faith in his blood Rom. 3.25 3. Appropriation or the applying Christ to ourselves A Medicine though it be never so soveraign yet if it be not applyed to the Wound will do no good tho' the Plaister be made of Christ's own Bloud yet it will not heal unless it be applyed by Faith the Bloud of God without Faith in God will not save this applying of Christ is called a receiving of him Joh. 1.12 The hand receiving of Gold enricheth so the hand of Faith receiving Christ's Golden Merits with Salvation enricheth us Quest. How is Faith wrought Resp. By the Blessed Spirit it is called the Spirit of Grace Zec. 12.10 because it is the Spring and Efficient of all Grace Faith is the chief Work which the Spirit of God works in a Man's heart In making the World God did but speak a Word but in working Faith he puts forth his Arm Luke 1.51 The Spirits working Faith is called The exceeding Greatness of God's Power What a Power was put forth in raising Christ from the Grave when such a Tombstone lay upon him the Sins of all
God Resp. God is a Spirit Infinite Eternal and Unchangeable in his Being Wisdom Power Holiness Justice Goodness and Truth Here is 1. something implied That there is a God 2. Expressed that he is a Spirit 3. What kind of Spirit 1. Implied that there is a God The question What is God takes it for granted that there is a God the belief of God's Essence is the Foundation of all Religious Worship Heb. 11.6 He that comes to God must believe that he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there must be a first Cause which gives a Being and Existence to all things besides We come to know that there is a God 1. By the Book of Nature the Notion of a Deity is engraven in Man's Heart it is demonstrable by the Light of Nature I think it hard for a Man to be a natural Atheist he may wish there were no God he may dispute against a Deity but he cannot in his Judgment believe there is no God unless by accumulated Sin his Conscience be sear'd and he hath such a Lethargy upon him that he hath sinn'd away his very Sense and Reason 2. We come to know that there is a God by his Works and this is so evident a Demonstration of a God-head that the most Atheistical Spirits when they have considered these Works of God have been forced to acknowledge some Wise and Supream Power the Maker of these Things as 't is reported of Galen and others 1. We will begin with the greater World 1. The Creation of the glorious Fabrick of Heaven and Earth sure there must be some Architect or first Cause the World could not make itself Who could hang the Earth on Nothing but the Great God Who could provide such rich Furniture for the Heavens the glorious Constellations the Firmament bespangled with such glittering Lights all this speaks a Deity We may see God's Glory blazing in the Sun twinkling in the Stars Who could give the Earth its Clothing cover it with Grass and Corn adorn it with Flowers enrich it with Gold only God Iob 28.4 Who but God could make the sweet Musick in the Heavens cause the Angels to joyn in consort and sound forth the Praises of their Maker Job 38.7 When the morning-stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy If a Man should go into a far Country and see stately Edifices there he would never imagine that these could build themselves but that some greater Power built them To imagine that the Work of the Creation was not framed by God is as if we should conceive a curious Landskip to be drawn by a Pensil without the Hand of a Limner Acts 17.24 God that made the world and all things therein To Create is proper to a Deity 2. The wise Gubernation of all things evince there is a God God is the great Superintendent of the World he holds the Golden Reins of Government in his Hand guiding all things most regularly and harmoniously to their proper end who that eyes Providence but must be forced to acknowledge there is a God Providence is the Queen and Governness of the World it is the Hand that turns the Wheel of the whole Creation Providence sets the Sun its Race the Sea its Bounds If God should not guide the World things would run into an Ataxy and Confusion When one looks on a Clock and sees the motion of the Wheels the striking of the Hammar the hanging of the Plummets he would say there were some Artificer did make it and put it into that Order So when we see the excellent Order and Harmony in the Universe the Sun that great Luminary dispensing its Light and Heat to the World without which the World were but a Grave or Prison the Rivers sending forth their silver Streams to refresh the Bodies of Men and prevent a Drought and every Creature acting within its Sphere and keeping its due Bounds we must needs acknowledge there is a God who wisely orders and governs all these things Who could set this great Army of the Creatures in their several Ranks and Squadrons and keep them in their constant March but he whose Name is The LORD of Hosts And as God doth wisely dispose all things in the whole Regiment of the Creatures so by his Power he doth support them Did God suspend and withdraw his Influence never so little the Wheels of the Creation would unpin and the Axle-tree break asunder 3. The Motion of the Creatures All Motion as the Philosophers say is from something that is unmoveable As for Example The Elements are moved by the Influence and Motion of the heavenly Bodies The Sun and Moon and these Planets are moved by the highest Orb call'd Primum Mobile now if one should ask Who moves that highest Orb or the first Mover of the Planets Sure it can be no other hand but God himself 2. Let us speak of Man who is a Microcosm or lesser World The excellent Contexture and Frame of his Body who is wrought curiously as with Needle-work Psal. 139.15 I was curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth And the Endowment of this Body with a noble Soul who but God could make such an Union of different Substances Flesh and Spirit In him we live and move and have our being The quick acute Motion of every Part of the Body shews that there is a God we may see something of him in the sparkling of the Eye And if the Cabinet of the Body be so curiously wrought what is the Jewel The Soul hath a Coelestial Brightness in it as Damascen saith 'T is a Diamond set in a Ring of Clay What noble Faculties is the Soul endowed with Understanding Will Affections which are a Glass of the Trinity as Plato speaks The Matter of the Soul is Spiritual 't is a Divine Sparkle lighted from Heaven and being spiritual is immortal as Scaliger notes Anima non senescit the Soul doth not wax old it lives for ever And who could create a Soul enobled with such rare Angelical Properties but God We must needs say as the Psalmist It is he that hath made us and not we our selves Psalm 100.3 2. We may prove a Deity by our own Conscience Conscience is God's Deputy or Vicegerent Conscience is a Witness of a Deity If there were no Bible to tell us there is a God yet Conscience might Conscience as the Apostle saith either accuseth or excuseth Rom. 2.15 Conscience acts in order to an higher Judicatory 1. Natural Conscience being kept free from gross sin excuseth When a Man doth Vertuous Actions lives soberly and righteously obeserves the golden Maxim Doing to others as he would have them do to him then Conscience approves and saith well done Conscience like a Bee gives Honey 2. Natural Conscience in the Wicked doth accuse When Men go against the Light of Conscience then they feel the Worm of Conscience Eheu quis intus scorpio Sen. Conscience being sinned against spits fire in Mens
Eye was upon him so which way soever we turn our selves still God's Eye is upon us Iob 37.16 Dost thou know the balancing of the Clouds the Works of him who is perfect in knowledge God knows whatever is knowable he knows Future Contingencies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys. He foretold Israels coming out of Babylon and the Virgins conceiving By this the Lord proves the Truth of his God-head against Idol-Gods Isa. 41.23 Indicate Futura Shew the things that are to come hereafter that we may know ye are gods The Perfection of God's Knowledge is that it cannot be searched out to perfection Job 11.7 What Angel can reach the top of these Pyramids But 1. God's Knowledge is Primary He is the Original the Patern and Prototype of all Knowledge others borrow their Kowledge of him the Angels light their Lamps at this glorious Sun 2. God's Knowledge is Pure It is not contaminated with the Object Divina Natura non est immista râ—bus aut sordibus inquinata Aug. Though God knows sin yet it is to hate and punish it No Evil can mix or incorporate with his Knowledge no more than the Sun can be defiled with the Vapors which arise from the Earth 3. God's Knowledge is Facil it is without any difficulty We study and search for Knowledge Prov. 2.4 If thou seekest for her as Silver But the Lamp of God's Knowledge is so infinitely bright that all things are easily intelligible to him 4. God's Knowledge is infallible there is no mistake in his Knowledge Humane Knowledge is subject to errour and misprision A Physician may mistake the Cause of a Disease but God's Knowledge is un-erring he can neither deceive nor be deceived He cannot deceive because he is Truth nor be deceived because he is Wisdom 5. God's Knowledge is Instantanious Our Knowledge is successive one thing after another We argue from the Effect to the Cause God knows Things past present and to come uno intuitu at once They are all before him in one intire prospect 6. God's Knowledge is Retentive he never looseth any of his Knowledge he hath reminiscentia as well as intelligentia he remembers as well as understands Many things elapse out of our Mind but God's Knowledge is eternized Things transacted a thousand years ago are as fresh to him as if they were done but the last minute Thus he is Perfect in Knowledge Object But is it not said Gen. 18.21 I will go down and see whether they have done according to the cry which is come up unto me and I will know Resp. It could not be a nesciency that God was ignorant because there is mention made of a Cry but the Lord speaks there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after the manner of a Judge who will first examine the Cause before he passeth the Sentence God when he is upon a work of Justice is not in a Riot as if he did not care where he hits but he goes in the way of a Circuit against Offenders he lays Iudgment to the Line and Righteousness to the Plummet Isa. 28.17 Object Hos. 13.12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up his sin is hid Resp. Not that his sin was hid from God but his sin is hid that is it is recorded it is laid up against a Day of Reckoning That this is the meaning is clear by the fore-going words His iniquity is bound up as the Clerk of the Assizes binds up the Indictments of Malefactors in a Bundle and at the Assizes brings out the Indictments and reads them in Court so God binds up Mens sins in a Bundle and at the Day of Judgment this Bundle shall be opened and all their sins brought to light before Men and Angels That God is thus infinite in his Knowledge 1. It cannot but be so For he who is the Original Cause and gives a Being to things must needs have a clear inspection into them Psal. 94 9. He that planted the Ear shall not he hear he that formed the Eye shall not he see He who makes a Watch or Engine knows all the Workmanship in it God that made the Heart knows all the Motions and Fallacies of it He is like Ezekiel's Wheels full of Eyes and as Austin saith Totus oculis all eye 2. It ought to be so for he is to be Iudge of all the World Gen. 18.25 There are so many Causes to be brought before him and so many Persons to be tried that he must have a most exquisite perfect Knowledge or he could not do Iustice. An ordinary Judge cannot proceed without a Jury the Jury must search the Cause and give in their Verdict but God can judge without a Jury He knows all things in and of himself and needs no Witness to inform him A Judge judgeth only Matters of Fact but God judgeth the Heart He not only judgeth wicked Actions but wicked Designs He sees the Treason of the Heart and punisheth it Use 1. Is God infinite in Knowledge 1 Iohn 1.5 He is Light and in him is no Darkness then how unlike are they to God who are Darkness and in them is no Light who are destitute of Knowledge such as the Indians who never heard of God And are there not many among us who are no better than baptized Heathens who are to seek in the first Principles of the Oracles of God It is sad that after the Sun of the Gospel hath shined so long in our Horison yet to this day the Veil should be upon their Heart Such as are inveloped with Ignorance cannot give God a reasonable Service Rom. 12.1 Ignorance is the Nurse of Impiety the Schoolmen say Omne peccatum fundatur in ignorantia Jer. 9.3 They proceed from evil to evil and know not me saith the Lord. Where Ignorance reigns in the Understanding Lust rageth in the Affections Prov. 19.2 That the Mind be without Knowledge it is not good neither Faith nor Fear no Faith for Knowledge carries the Torch before Faith Psal. 9.10 They that know thy Name will put their trust in thee A Man can no more believe without Knowledge than the Eye can see without Light Nor Fear of God How can they fear him whom they do not know The Covering of Haman's Face was a sad Presage of Death When Peoples Minds are covered with Ignorance this Covering of the Face is a fatal fore-runner of Destruction 2. If God be a God of Knowledge then see the folly of Hypocrisy Hypocrites do not virtutem facere but fingere Melanct. they carry it fair with Men but care not how bad their Hearts are they live in secret sin Psal. 73.11 They say how doth God know Psal. 10.11 God hath forgotten he â—ideth his face he will never see it But Psal. 147.5 His Understanding is infinite He hath a Grate Crates that looks into Mens Breasts he hath a Key for the Heart he beholds all the sinful workings of Men's Spirits As in a Glass-Hive we can see the Bees working in their Combs Matth.
have the knowledge of the true God is more then if we had Mines of Gold Rocks of Diamonds Islands of Spices especially if God hath savingly revealed himself to us if he hath given us eyes to see the light if we so know God as to be known of him as to love him and believe in him Matth. 11.25 We can never be enough thankful to God that he hath hid the knowledge of himself from the wise and prudent of the World and hath revealed it unto us The TRINITY Quest. VI. HOw many Persons are there in the Godhead Resp. Three Persons yet but one God 1 John 5.7 There are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one God is but One yet there are three distinct Persons subsisting in one God-head This is a sacred Mystery which the Light within could never have discovered As the two Natures in Christ yet but one Person is a wonder so three Persons yet but one God-head I am in a great deep the Father God the Son God the Holy Ghost God yet not three Gods but one God The three Persons in the blessed Trinity are distinguished but not divided three Subsistances but one Essence This is a Divine Riddle where one makes three and three make but one Our narrow Thoughts can no more comprehend the Trinity in Unity then a little Nutshel will hold all the Water in the Sea Let me shadow it out by this similitude In the Body of the Sun there is the Substance of the Sun the Beams and the Heat the Beams are begotten of the Sun the Heat proceeds both from the Sun and the Beams but these three though different are not divided they all three make but one Sun So in the blessed Trinity the Son is begotten of the Father the Holy Ghost proceeds from both yet though they are three distinct Persons yet but one God First let me speak of the Unity in Trinity then of the Trinity in Unity 1. Of the Unity in Trinity The Unity of the Persons in the Godhead consists in two things 1. The identity of Essence In the Trinity there is an Oneness of Essence the three Persons are of the same Divine Nature and Substance so that in Deo non est magis minus there are no degrees in the Godhead one Person is not God more then another 2. The Unity of the Persons in the Godhead consists in the mutual in-being of them or their being in one another The three Persons are so united that one Person is in another and with another Iohn 17.21 Thou Father art in me and I in thee 2. Let me speak of the Trinity in Unity 1. The first Person in the Trinity is God the Father Hâ— is call'd the first Person in respect of Order not Dignity for God the Father hath no essential Perfection which the other Persons have not He is not more wise more holy more powerful then the other Persons are a Priority not Superiority 2. The second Person in the Trinity is Iesus Christ who is begotten of the Father before all Time Prov. 8.23 24 25. I was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the earth was When there were no depths I was brought fortth when there were no fountains abounding with water Before the mountains were set led before the hills was I brought forth Which Scripture declares the Eternal Generation of the the Son of God This second Person in the Trinity who is Jehovah is become our Jesus The Scripture calls him the Branch of David Jer. 23.5 and I may call him the Flower of the Virgin having assum'd our Nature By him all that believe are justified Acts 13.39 3. The third Person in the Trinity is the Holy Ghost who proceeds from the Father and the Son His work it is to illuminate the Mind and inkindle sacred Motions The Essence of the Spirit is in Heaven and every where but the Influence of it is in the Hearts of Believers This is that blessed Spirit who gives us the holy Unction 1 Iohn 2.20 Though Christ merits Grace for us it is the Holy Ghost works it in us Though Christ makes the Purchase it is the Holy Ghost makes the Assurance and Seals us up to the Day of Redemption Thus I have spoken of all the three Persons The Trinity of Persons may be proved out of Matth. 3.16 Iesus when he was baptized went up straitway out of the water and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting upon him and lo a voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son Here are three Names given to the three Persons He who spake with a Voice from Heaven was God the Father He who was baptized in Iordan was God the Son He who descended in the likeness of a Dove was God the Holy Ghost Thus I have shewn you the Unity of Essence and the Trinity of Persons Use 1. It confutes the Jews and the Turks who believe only the first Person in the Godhead this cuts assunder the Sinews of our Comfort Take away the distinction of the Persons in the Trinity and you overthrow Man's Redemption for God the Father being offended with Man for sin how shall he be pacified without a Mediator This Mediator is Christ he makes our Peace and Christ having died and shed his Blood how shall this Blood be applied but by the Holy Ghost Therefore if there be not three Persons in the Godhead Man's Salvation cannot be wrought out If there be no second Person in the Trinity then there is no Redeemer If no third Person then there is no Comforter And so the Plank is taken away by which we should get to Heaven 2. It confutes the execrable Opinion of the Socinians who deny the Divinity of the Lord Jesus they make him only to be a Creature of an higher Rank As the Papists blot out the Second Commandment so the Socinians would the Second Person in the Trinity If to oppose Christ's Members be such a sin what is it to oppose Christ himself 1. Jesus Christ is coequal with God the Father Phil. 2.6 He thought it no robbery to be equal with God 2. He is coeternal with God the Father Prov. 8.23 I was from the beginning for else there was a time when God was without a Son and so he should be no Father nay else there was a time when God was without his glory for Christ is the brightness of his Fathers glory Hebr. 1.3 3. He is coessential with God the Father The Godhead subsists in Christ Col. 2.9 In whom dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily 'T is said not only Christ was with God before the beginning but he was God John 1.1 and 1 Tim. 3.16 God manifest in the flesh The Title of Lord so often given to Christ in the New Testament doth answer to the Title of Jehovah in the Old Testament Deut. 6.5 Matth. 22.37 so that Christ hath a
and Drunkenness in Noah and Cursing in Iob If God leave a Man to himself how suddenly and scandalously may Original sin break forth in the holiest Men alive 5. Original sin doth mix and incorporate it self with our Duties and Graces 1. With out Duties as the hand which is paralitical or palsy cannot move without shaking as wanting some inward strength so we cannot do any holy action without sinning as wanting a Principle of Original Righteousness As the Leper whatever he touched became unclen if he touched the Altar the Altar did not sanctifie him but he polluted the Altar such a Leprosy is Original sin it defiles our Prayers and Tears we cannot write without blotting Though I do not say that the holy Duties and good Works of the Regenerate are sins for that were to reproach the Spirit of Christ by which they are wrought yet this I say that the best works of the godly have sin cleaving to them only Christ's Blood makes atonement for our holy things 2. With our Graces There is some Unbelief mixed with Faith Lukewarmness with Zeal Pride with Humility As bad Lungs cause an Astmah or shortness of breath so Original Corruption having infected our heart our Greaces breath now very faintly 6. Original sin is a vigorous active Principle within us it doth not lye still but is ever exciting and stirring us up to evil it is an Inmate very unquiet Rom. 7.15 What I hate that do I. How came Paul to do so Original sin did irritate and stir him up to it Original sin is like Quicksilver always in motion when we are asleep sin is awake in the Fancy Original sin sets the Head a plotting evil and the Hands a working it it hath in it principium motus not quiet is it is like the Pulse ever beating 7. Original sin is the cause of all Actual it is fomes peccati it is the Womb in which all actual sins are conceived Hence come Murders Adulteries Rapines it is the Trojan Horse out of which a whole Army of Impieties come Though Actual sins may be more scandalous yet Original sin is more heinous the Cause is more then the Effect 8. It is not perfectly cured in this Life Grace though it doth subdue sin yet not wholly remove it Though we are like Christ having the first fruits of the Spirit yet we are unlike him having the remainders of the Flesh. There are two Nations in the Womb. Original sin is like that Tree Dan. 4.23 though the Branches of it were hewen down and the main body of it yet the stumps and root of the Tree were left Though the Spirit be still weakning and hewing down sin in the godly yet the stump of Original sin is still left it is a Sea that will not in this Life be dried up Quest. But why doth God leave Original Corruption in us after Regeneration he could quite free us from it if he pleased Resp. 1. He doth it to shew the power of his Grace in the weakest Believer Grace shall prevail against a Torrent of Corruption Whence is this the Corrupion is ours but the Grace is Gods 2. God leaves Original Corruption to make us long after Heaven when there shall be no Sin to defile no Devil to tempt When Elias was taken up to Heaven his Mantle dropped off so when the Angels shall carry us up to Heaven this Mantle of sin shall drop off we shall never complain more of an aking head or an unbelieving heart Use 1. If Original sin be propagated to us and will be inherent in us while we live here then it Confutes the Libertines and Quakers who say they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without sin they hold Perfection they shew much Pride and Ignorance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but we see the Seeds of Original sin remain in the best Eccles. 7.20 There is not a just man lives and sins not And St. Paul complained of a body of death Rom. 7.24 Grace though it doth purifie Nature it doth not perfect it Object But doth not the Apostle say of Believers that their old man is crucified Rom. 6.6 and they are dead to sin Rom. 7.11 Resp. They are dead 1. Spiritually they are dead as to the Reatus the guilt of it and as to the Regnum the power of it the love of sin is crucified 2. They are dead to sin Legally as a Man that is Sentenced to Death is dead in Law so they are legally dead to Sin there is a Sentence of Death gone out against sin it shall die and drop into the Crave but at the present sin hath its Life lengthened out nothing but Death of the Body can quite free us from the Body of Death Use 2. Let us lay to heart Original sin and be deeply humbled for it it cleaves to us as a Disease it is an active Principle in us stirring us up to Evil. Original sin is worse then all Actual sin the Fountain is more then the Stream Some think as long as they are civil they are well enough I but thy Nature is poisoned thou hast a proud lustful envious Nature a River may have fair Streams but Vermin at bottom Thou carriest an Hell about thee thou canst do nothing but thou defilest it thy Heart like muddy ground defiles the purest Water that runs thorow it Nay though thou art Regenerate there is much of the Old Man in the New Man O how should Original sin humble us This is one reason God hath left Original sin in us because he would have it as a Thorn in our side to humble us as the Bishop of Alexandria after the People had embraced Cristianity destroyed all their Idols but one that the sight of that Idol might make them loath themselves for their former Idolatry So God leaves Original sin to pull down the Plumes of Pride Under our silver Wings of Grace are black feet 2. Let the sence of this make us daily look up to Heaven for help beg Christ's Blood to wash away the guilt of sin and his Spirit to mortifie the power of it beg further degrees of Grace Gratiam Christi eò obnixiùs ambiamus though Grace cannot make sin to be yet not to reign though Grace cannot expel sin it can repel it and for our Comfort where Grace makes a Combat with sin Death shall make a Conquest 3. Let Original sin make us walk with continual Iealousie and Watchfulness over our Hearts The Sin of our Nature is like a sleeping Lion the least thing that awakens it makes it rage The Sin of our Nature though it seem quiet and lies as Fire hid under the Embers yet if it be a little stirr'd and blown up by a Temptation how quickly may it flame forth into scandalous Evils therefore we had need always walk watchfully Mark 13.37 I say to you all watch A wandring heart needs a watchful Eye MAN's Misery by the FALL Quest. XIII WHat is the Misery of that Estate whereinto Man fell
me But if it be of Faith where is boasting Faith fetcheth all from Christ and gives all the glory to Christ 't is most humble Grace Hence it is God hath singled out this Grace to be the Condition of the Covenant And if Faith be the Condition of the Covenant of Grace it excludes desperate presumptuous Sinners from the Covenant They say there is a Covenant of Grace and they shall be saved but did you ever know a Bond without a Condition The Condition of the Covenant is Faith and if thou hast no Faith thou hast no more to do with the Covenant than a Foreigner or a Country Farmer with the City Charter Use 1. of Information See the amazing Goodness of God to enter into Covenant with us He never entred into Covenant with the Angels when they fell It was much Condescension in God to enter into Covenant with us in a state of Innocency but it was more to enter into Covenant with us in a state of Enmity In this Covenant of Grace we may see the Cream of God's Love and the working of his Bowels to sinners This is a Marriage-Covenant Ier. 3.14 I am married to you saith the Lord. In the New Covenant God makes himself over to us and what can he give more And he makes over his Promises to us and what better Bond can we have Use 2. of Trial. Whether we are in Covenant with God There are three Characters 1. God's Covenant People are an humble People 1 Pet. 5.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be ye clothed with humility God's People esteem of others better then themselves they shrink into nothing in their own thoughts Phil. 2.3 David cries out I am a worm and no man Psal. 22.6 though a Saint though a King yet a Worm When Moses's Face shin'd he covered it with a Vail God's People when they shine most in Grace are covered with the Vail of Humility Pride excludes from the Covenant God resisteth the proud 1 Pet. 5.5 and sure such are not in Covenant with God whom he resists 2. A People in Covenant with God are a willing People though they cannot serve God perfectly they serve him willingly They do not grudge God a little time spent in his Worship they do not hesitate or murmur at Sufferings they will go through a Sea and a Wilderness if God calls Psal. 110.3 Thy people shall be a willing people Hebr. gnam nedabot a people of willingness This spontanity and willingness is from the attractive Power of God's Spirit the Spirit doth not impellere force but trahere sweetly draw the Will and this willingness in Religion makes all our Services accepted God doth sometimes accept of willingness without the work but never the work without willingness 3. God's Covenant People are a consecrated People they have holiness to the Lord written upon them Cast a placent superis Deut. 7.6 Thou art an holy people to the Lord thy God God's Covenant People are separated from the World and sanctified by the Spirit The Priests under the Law were not only to wash in the great Laver but were araied with glorious Apparel Exod. 28.2 This was Typical to shew God's People are not only washed from gross sin but adorned with holiness of heart they bear not only God's Name but Image Tamerlain refused a Pot of Gold when he saw it had not his Fathers stamp upon it but the Roman stamp Holiness is God's stamp if he doth not see this stamp upon us he will not own us for his Covenant People Use 3. of Exhort To such as are out of Covenant labour to get into Covenant and have God for your God How glad would the old World have been of an Ark How industrious should we be to get within the Arke of the Covenant Consider 1. the Misery of such as live and die out of Covenant with God 1. Such have none to go to in an hour of distress When Conscience accuseth when Sickness approacheth which is but an Harbinger to bespeak a Loding for Death then what will you do whither will you fly will you look to Christ for help He is a Mediator only for such as are in Covenant O! how will you be filled with horrour and despair and be as Saul 1 Sam. 15.28 The Philistines make war against me and the Lord is departed 2. Till you are in Covenant with God there is no Mercy The Mercy-Seat was placed upon the Ark and the Mercy-Seat was no larger then the Ark to shew that the Mercy of God reacheth no further then the Covenant 2. The Excellency of the Covenant of Grace it is a better Covenant then the first made with Adam 1. Because it is more friendly and propitious Those Services which would have been rejected in the first Covenant are accepted in the second Here God accepts of the Will for the Deed 2 Cor. 8.10 here sincerity is crowned In the Covenant of Grace wherein we are weak God will give strength and wherein we come short God will accept of a Surety 2. It is a better Covenant because it is surer 2 Sam. 23.5 Thou hast made with me an everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure The first Covenant was not sure it stood upon a tottering foundation Works Adam had no sooner a stock of Righteousness to trade with but he broke but the Covenant of Grace is sure it is confirmed with God's Decree and it rests upon two mighty Pillars the Oath of God and the Blood of God 3. It hath better Priviledges The Covenant of Grace brings preferment Our Nature is now more enobled we are rais'd to higher Glory then in Innocency we are advanced to sit upon Christ's Throne Rev. 3.21 we are by virtue of the Covenant of Grace nearer to Christ then the Angels They are his Friends we his Spouse 3. God is willing to be in Covenant with you Why doth God woe and beseech you by his Ambassadors to be reconciled if he were not willing to be in Covenant Object I would fain be in Covenant with God but I have been a great sinner and I fear God will not admit me into Covenant Resp. If thou seest thy sins and loathest thy self for them yet God will take thee into Covenant Isa. 43.24 Thou hast wearied me with thy iniquities I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions As the Sea covers great Rocks so God's Covenant-Mercy covers great Sins Some of the Jews that crucified Christ yet had their sins washed away in his Blood Object But I am not worthy that ever God should admit me into Covenant Answ. It never came into God's thoughts to make a New Covenant upon Terms of Worthiness If God should shew Mercy to none but such as are worthy then he must shew Mercy to none at all But it is God's design in the New Covenant to advance the riches of Grace to love us freely and when we have no worthiness of our own to accept us through Christ's worthiness Therefore
bosom as the Spouse did Cant. 1.13 lye betwixt my Breasts What was said of Ignatius that the Name of Jesus was found written in his heart should be verified of every Saint he should have Jesus Christ written in his heart CHRIST a Prophet DEUT. 18.15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet c. HAving spoken of the Person of Christ we are next to speak of the Offices of Christ Prophetical Priestly Regal 1. Prophetical The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet Enunciatur hic locus de Christo 't is spoken of Christ. There are several Names given to Christ as a Prophet He is called the Counsellor Isa. 6.9 In uno Christo Angelus faederis completur Fagius The Angel of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 a Lamp 2 Sam. 22.29 the bright Morning-star Rev. 22.16 Jesus Christ is the great Prophet of his Church the Woman of Samaria gave a shrewd guess Iohn 4.19 He is the best Teacher he makes all other teaching effectual Luke 24.45 Then opened he their Understanding He did not only open the Scriptures but opened their Understanding He teacheth to profit Isa. 48.17 I am the Lord thy God who teacheth thee to profit Quest. How Christ teacheth Resp. 1. Externally By his Word Psal. 119.105 Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet Such as pretend to have a Light or Revelation above the Word or contrary to it never had their Teaching from Christ Isa. 8.20 2. Christ teacheth these sacred Mysteries Inwardly by the Spirit John 16.13 The World knows not what it is 1 Cor. 2.14 The natural man receives not the things of God neither can ye know them He knows not what it is to be Transformed by the renewing of the mind Rom. 12.2 or what the inward workings of the Spirit means these are Riddles and Paradoxes to him He may have more insight into the things of the World then a Believer but he doth not see the deep things of God A Swine may see an Acorn under the Tree but he cannot see a Star he who is taught of Christ sees the Arcana imperii the Secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven Quest. What are the Lessons Christ teacheth Answ. 1. He teacheth us to see into our own Hearts Take the most Mercurial Wits the greatest Politicians that understand the Mysteries of State yet they know not the Mysteries of their own Hearts they cannot believe there is that Evil in them as is 2 Kings 8.13 Is thy servant a dog Grande profundum est homo Aug. The Heart is a great deep which is not easily fathomed But Christ when he teacheth removes the Vail of Ignorance and lights a Man into his own Heart And now he sees swarms of vain Thoughts he blusheth to see how Sin mingles with his Duties his Stars are mixt with Clouds he prays as Austin that God would deliver him from himself 2. The second Lesson Christ teacheth is the Vanity of the Creature A Natural Man sets up his Happiness here worships the golden Image but he that Christ hath anointed with his Eye-salve hath a Spirit of Discerning he looks upon the Creature in its night dress sees it to be empty and unsatisfying not commensurate to an Heaven-born Soul Solomon had put all the Creatures into a Limbeck and when he came to extract the Spirits and Quintissence all was Vanity Eccl. 2.11 The Apostle calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Show or Apparition 1 Cor. 7.31 having no intrinsical Goodness 3. The third Lesson is the Excellency of Things unseen Christ gives the Soul a sight of Glory a prospect of Eternity 2 Cor. 4.18 We look not at things which are seen but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things which are not seen Moses saw him who is invisible Hebr. 11.27 And the Patriarks saw a better Country viz. an heavenly Hebr. 11.16 where Delights of Angels Rivers of Pleasure the Flower of Joy fully ripe and blown Quest. How doth Christ's Teaching differ from other Teaching Resp. Several ways 1. Christ teacheth the Heart Others may teach the Ear Christ the Heart Acts 16.14 Whose heart the Lord opened All that the Dispensers of the Word can do is but to work Knowledge Christ works Grace They can but give you the light of the Truth Christ gives you the love of the Truth They can only teach you what to believe Christ teacheth how to believe 2 Christ gives us a Taste of the Word Ministers may set the Food of the Word before you and carve it out to you but it is only Christ causeth you to taste it 1 Pet. 2.3 If so be ye have tasted the Lord is gracious Psal. 34.8 Taste and see that the Lord is good It is one thing to hear a Truth preached another thing to taste it one thing to read a Promise another thing to taste it David had got a taste of the Word Psal. 119.102 103. Thou hast taught me How sweet are thy words unto my taste yea sweeter then honey to my mouth The Apostle calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the savour of Knowledge 2 Cor. 2.14 The light of Knowledge is one thing the savour another Christ makes us taste a savoriness in the Word 3. Christ when he teacheth makes us obey Others may instruct but cannot command obedience They teach to be humble but Men remain proud The Prophet had been denouncing Judgments against the People of Iudah but they would not hear Ier. 44.17 We will do whatsoever goeth out of our own mouth to bake cakes to the Queen of Heaven Men come quasi armed in Coat of Male that the Sword of the Word will not enter but when Christ comes to teach he removes this obstinacy he not only informs the Judgment but inclines the Will He doth not only come with the Light of his Word but the Rod of his Strength and makes the stubborn sinner yield to him His Grace is irresistible 4. Christ teacheth easily Others teach with difficulty Difficulty in finding out a Truth and in inculcating it Isa. 28.10 Precept must be upon precept line upon line some may Teach all their lives and the Word take no impression They complain as Isa. 49.4 I have spent my labour in vain Plough on Rocks But Christ the great Prophet teacheth with ease He can with the least touch of his Spirit convert He can say Let there be light with a word he conveys Grace 5. Christ when he teacheth makes Men willing to learn Men may teach others but they have no mind to learn Prov. 1.7 Fools despise instruction they rage at the Word as if a Patient should rage at the Physician when he brings him a Cordial thus backward are Men to their own Salvation But Christ makes his People a willing people Psal. 110.3 they prize Knowledge and hang it as a Jewel upon their Ear. Those that Christ teacheth say as Isa. 2.3 Come let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in
Request for them in Heaven Quest. What are the Fruits of Christ's Intercession Resp. 1. Iustification In Justification there is two things 1. Guilt is remitted 2. Righteousness is imputed Ier. 23.6 The Lord our Righteousness We are reputed not only Righteous as the Angels but as Christ having his Robes put upon us 2 Cor. 5.21 But whence is it that we are justified 'T is from Christ's Intercession Rom. 8.33 34. Lord saith Christ these are the Persons I have died for look upon them as if they had not sinned and repute them Righteous 2 d Fruit. The Unction of the Spirit 1 Iohn 2.20 Ye have an Unction from the holy one This Unction or Anointing is nothing else but the Work of Sanctification in the heart whereby the Spirit makes us partake of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Such as speak of the Philosophers Stone suppose it to have such a Property that when it toucheth the Mettal it turns it into Gold such a Property hath the Spirit of God upon the Soul when it toucheth the Soul it puts into it a Divine Nature it makes it to be holy and to resemble God This sanctifying work of the Spirit is the fruit of Christ's Intercession Iohn 7.39 The Holy Ghost was not yet given because Iesus was not yet glorified Christ being glorified and in Heaven now he prays the Father and the Father sends the Spirit who pours out the holy Anointing upon the Elect. 3 d Fruit. The Purification of our holy Things It is Christ's work in Heaven not only to present his own Prayers to his Father but he prays over our Prayers again Rev. 8.3 Another Angel came having a golden Censer and there was given to him much Incense that he should offer it with the Prayers of all Saints upon the golden Altar This Angel was Christ he takes the golden Censer of his Merits and puts our Prayers into this Censer and with the Incense of his Intercession makes our Prayers go up as a sweet perfume in Heaven It is observable Lev. 16.16 Aaron shall make Atonement for the holy Place this was Typical to shew that our holy Duties need to have Atonement made for them Our best Services as they come from us are mixed with Corruption as Wine that tasts of the Cask Isa. 64.6 they are filthy rags But Christ purifies and sweetens these Services mixing the sweet odours of his Intercession with them and now God accepts and Crowns them What would become of our Duties without an High Priest Christ's Intercession doth to our Prayers as the Fan to the Chaff it winnows it from the Corn so Christ winnows out the Chaff which intermixeth with our Prayers 4 th Fruit. Access with boldness unto the Throne of Grace Hebr. 4.16 We have a great High Priest that is passed into the Heavens let us go Come boldly to the Throne of Grace we have a Friend at Court that speaks a good word for us and is following our Cause in Heaven therefore let this animate and encourage us in Prayer We think it too much boldness what such Sinners as we to come for pardon we shall be denied this is a sinful modesty Did we indeed come in our own Name in Prayer it were presumption but Christ intercedes for us in the forcâ— and efficacy of his Blood now to be afraid to come to God in Prayer is a dishonour to Christ's Intercession 5 th Fruit. The sending the Comforter Iohn 14.16 I will pray the Father and â—e will give you another Comforter The Comfort of the Spirit is distinct from the Anointing this Comfort is very sweet sweeter than the Honey drops from the Comb it is the Manna in the Golden Pot it is Vinum in pectore a drop of this heavenly Comfort is enough to sweeten a Sea of worldly Sorrow It is called arrhabo the earnest of the Spirit 2 Cor. 1.22 an Earnest assures one of the whole Sum. The Spirit gives an Earnest of Heaven in our Hand whence is this comforting work of the Spirit Thank Christ's Intercession for it I will pray the Father and he shall send the Comforter 6 th Fruit. Perseverance in Grace Iohn 17.11 Keep through thy own Name those which thou hast given me It is not our prayer or watchfulness or grace that keeps us but it is God's care and manu-tenancy he holds us that we do not fall away and whence is it God preserves us it is from Christ's Intercession Father keep them That Prayer of Christ for Peter is the Copy of his Prayer now in Heaven Luke 22.32 I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not Peter's Faith did fail in some degree when he denied Christ but Christ prayed that it might not totally fail The Saints persevere in believing because Christ perseveres in praying 7 th Fruit. Absolution at the Day of Judgment Christ shall judge the World Iohn 5.22 God hath committed all Iudgment to the Son Now sure those that Christ hath so prayed for he will Absolve when he sits upon the Bench of Judicature Will Christ condemn those he prays for Believers are his Spouse will he condemn his Spouse Use 1. Branch 1. See here the Constancy of Christ's Love to the Elect. He did not only die for them but intercedes for them in Heaven when Christ hath done dying he hath not done loving he is now at work in Heaven for the Saints he carries their names on his breast and will never leave praying till that Prayer be granted Iohn 17.24 Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am Branch 2. See whence it is that the Prayers of the Saints are so powerful with God Iacob as an Angel prevailed with God Moses's Prayer tied God's hands Precibus suis tanquam vinculis ligatum tenuit Deum Let me alone Exod. 32.10 Whence is this It is Christ's Prayer in Heaven makes the Saints Prayers so available Christ's Divine Nature is the Altar on which he offers up our Prayers and so they prevail Prayer as it comes from the Saints is but weak and languid but when the Arrow of a Saint's Prayer is put into the Bow of Christ's Intercession now it pierceth the Throne of Grace Branch 3. It shows where a Christian must chiefly fix his Eye when he comes to prayer viz. on Christ's Intercession We are to look up to the Mercy-seat but to hope for Mercy through Christ's Intercession We read Levit. 6. That Aaron made the Atonement as well by the Incense as the Bloud We must look to the Cloud of Incense viz. the Intercession of Christ. Christian Look up to thy Advocate one that God can deny nothing to A word from Christ's Mouth is more then if all the Angels in Heaven were interceding for thee If a Man had a Suit depending in the Court of Chancery and had a skilful Lawyer to plead this would much encourage him Christ is now at the Court appearing for us Heb. 9.24 and he hath great Potency in Heaven
cross to Flesh and Bloud Faith obeys Heb. 11.8 By faith Abraham obeyed Faith is not an Idle Grace as it hath an Eye to see Christ so it hath an Hand to work for him Faith doth not only believe God's Promise but obey his Command It is not your having Knowledge will evidence you to be Believers the Devil hath Knowledge but wants Obedience and that makes him a Devil And the true Obedience of Faith is a chearful Obedience God's Commands do not seem grievous Have you the Obedience and obey chearfully What say you to this do you look on God's Command as your Burden or Priviledge as an Iron Fetter about your Leg or a gold Chain about your Neck 4. Faith is an assimulating Grace it changeth the Soul into the Image of the Object it makes it like Christ. Never did any look on Christ with a believing Eye but he was made like Christ. A deformed Person may look on a beautiful Object but not be made beautiful but Faith looking on Christ transforms a Man and turns him into his Similitude Faith looking on a bleeding Christ causeth a soft bleeding heart Looking on an holy Christ causeth sanctity of Heart looking on an humble Christ makes the Soul humble As the Camelion is changed into the Colour of that which it looks upon so Faith looking on Christ changeth a Christian into the similitude of Christ. 2. By the growth of it if it be a true Faith it grows living things grow Rom. 1.17 From faith to faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quest. How may we judge of the growth of Faith Answ. Growth of Faith is judged 1. By strength We can do that now which we could not do before When one is Man-grown he can do that he could not do when he was a Child he can carry a heavier burden so thou canst bear crosses with more patience 2. Growth of Faith is seen by doing Duties in a more spiritual manner viz. with fervency we put coals to the Incence from a principle of love to God When an Apple hath done growing in bigness it grows in sweetness thou dost Duties in love and now are sweeter and come off with a better relish Object But I fear I have no Faith Resp. We must distinguish between weakness of Faith and nullity a weak Faith is true The bruised Reed is but weak yet it is such as Christ will not bruise Though thy Faith be but weak yet be not discouraged 1. A weak Faith may receive a strong Christ. A weak hand can tye the Knot in Marriage as well as a strong a weak Eye might have seen the brasen Serpent The Woman in the Gospel that but touched Christ received Vertue from him The Touch of Faith 2. The Promise is not made to strong Faith but to true The Promise doth not say Whosoever hath a Giant-faith that can remove Mountains that can stop the mouth of Lions shall be saved but whosoever believes be his Faith never so small Though Christ sometimes chides a weak Faith yet that it may not be discouraged he makes a Promise to it Matth. 5.3 Beati qui esuriunt 3. A weak Faith may be fruitful Weakest things multiply most the Vine is a weak Plant but it is fruitful Weak Christians may have strong Affections How strong is the first love which is after the first planting of Faith 4. Weak Faith may be growing The Seed springs up by degrees first the Blade then the Ear then the full Corn in the Ear. Therefore be not discouraged God who would have us receive them that are weak in Faith Rom. 14.1 will not himself refuse them A weak Believer is a Member of Christ and though Christ will cut off rotten Members from his Body yet not weak Members Effectual Calling ROM 8.30 Them he also called Quest. XX. WHat is effectual Calling Answ. It is a gracious work of the Spirit whereby he causeth us to embrace Christ freely offered to us in the Gospel In this Verse is a golden Chain of Salvation made up of four Links this is one Vocation Them he also called Calling is nova Creatio a new Creation the first Resurrection There is a twofold Call 1. An extrinsick or outward Call 2. An intrinsick or inward effectual Call 1. An extrinsick or outward Call which is God's offer of Grace to sinners inviting them to come in and accept of Christ and Salvation Matth. 20.16 Many are called but few chosen This outward Call shews Men what they ought to do in order to Salvation and renders them inexcusable in case of Disobedience 2. There is an intrinsick or effectual Call when God with the offer of Grace works Grace by this Call the Heart is renewed and the Will effectually drawn to embrace Christ. The outward Call brings Men to a profession of Christ the inward to a possession of Christ. Quest. What is the means of this effectual Call Resp. Every Creature hath a Voice to call to us The Heavens call to us to behold God's glory Psal. 19.1 Conscience calls to us God's Judgments call to us Repent Mic. 6.9 Hear ye the Rod. But every Voice doth not convert There are two means of our effectual Call 1. The preaching of the Word which is the sounding God's silver Trumpet in Mens Fears God doth not speak by an Oracle he calls by his Ministers Samuel thought it had been only the Voice of Eli that called to him but it was God's voice 1 Sam. 3.6 So perhaps you think it is only the Minister speaks to you in the Word but it is God himself speaks Therefore Christ is said Now to speak to us from Heaven Hebr. 12.25 How doth he speak but by his Ministers as a King speaks by his Ambassadors Know that in every Sermon preached God calls to you and to refuse the Message we bring is to refuse God himself 2. The other means of our effectual Call is the Holy Spirit The Ministry of the Word is the Pipe or Organ the Spirit of God blowing in it doth effectually change Men's hearts Acts 10.44 While Peter spake the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the Word of God Ministers knock at the door of Men's hearts the Spirit comes with a Key and opens the door Acts 16.14 A certain woman named Lydia whose heart the Lord opened Quest. From what doth God call Men Resp. 1. From sin He calls them from their Ignorance and Unbelief 1 Pet. 1.14 By Nature the Understanding is inveloped with Darkness God calls Men from darkness to light Eph. 5.8 as if one should be called out of a Dungeon to behold the Light of the Sun 2. From Danger As the Angel called Lot out of Sodom when it was ready to rain fire so God calls his People from the Fire and Brimstone of Hell and from all those Curses they were exposed to 3. He calls them out of the World as Christ called Matthew from the Receipt of Custom Iohn 17.16 Ye are not of the world Such as are
Calls Satan calls by a Temptation Lust calls evil company calls But as the Adder stops its Ear against the Voice of the Charmer so he who is effectually called stops his Ear against all the Charms of Flesh and Devil Use 3. Of Comfort to them who are the called of God This Call evidenceth Election Rom. 8.30 Whom he predestinated them he also called Election is the cause of our Vocation and Vocation is the sign of our Election Election is the first Link of the golden Chain of Salvation Vocation is the second he who hath the second Link of the Chain is sure of the first Link As by the Stream we are led to the Fountain so by Vocation we ascend to Election Calling is an earnest and pledge of Glory 2 Thess. 2.13 God hath chosen you to salvation through sanctification We may read God's predestinating love in the work of Grace in our heart Branch 2. To such as are called to be thankful to God for this unspeakable Blessing be thankful to all the Persons in the Trinity to the Father's Mercy to the Son's Merit to the Spirit 's Efficacy To make you thankful consider when you had offended God that he should call you that when God needed you not he had Millions of glorified Saints and Angels to praise him yet he called you Again consider what you were before God called you you were in your sins when God called Paul he found him persecuting when he called Matthew he found him at the Receipt of Custom when he called Zacheus he found him using Extorsion When God calls a Man by his Grace he finds him seeking after his Lusts as when Saul was called to the Kingdom he was seeking the Asses That God should call thee when thou wert in the hot pursuit of sin admire God's Love exalt his Praise Again that God should call you and pass by others what Mercy is this Matth. 11.26 Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight That God should pass by the wise and noble Persons of sweeter disposition acuter parts guilty of less Vice and that the Lot of Free-grace should fall on you O astonishing Love of God It was a great favour of God to Samuel that God call'd to him and revealed his Mind to him and passed by Eli though a Priest and a Judge in Israel 1 Sam. 3.9 so that God should call to thee a flagitious sinner and pass by others of higher birth and better morals here is that calls aloud for Praise As God so governs the Clouds that he makes them rain upon one place and not upon another so doth he dispence his Grace it shall drop its sweet dew upon one and not another Two at a Sermon one his heart the Lord opens the other is no more affected with it than a deaf Man with the sound of Musick Here is the Banner of Free-grace display'd and here should be the Trophies of Praise erected Eliah and Elisha were walking together on a sudden there came a Chariot of Fire and carried Eliah up to Heaven but left Elisha behind so when two are walking together Husband and Wife Father and Child that God should call one by his Grace but leave the other carry one up in a triumphant Chariot to Heaven but let the other perish eternally O infinite rich Grace how should they that are call'd be affected with God's discriminating Love how should the Vessels of Mercy run over with Thankfulness how should they stand upon Mount Gerizim blessing and praising God O begin the work of Heaven here Such as are Patterns of Mercy should be Trumpets of Praise Thus S. Paul being call'd of God and seeing what a Debtor he was to Free-grace breaks forth into Admiration and Gratulation 1 Tim. 1.13 Use 4. To the Called walk worthy of your high Calling Eph. 4.1 I beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called in two things 1. Walk compassionately pity such as are yet uncalled Hast thou a Child that God hath not yet called a Wife a Servant Weep over their dying Souls They are in their Bloud under the Power of Satan O pity them Let their sins more trouble you then your own Sufferings If you pity an Ox or Ass going astray will you not pity a Soul going astray Show your Piety by your Pity 2. Walk holily yours is an holy Calling 2 Tim. 1.9 You are called to be Saints Rom. 1.7 Show your Vocation by a Bible-conversation Shall not Flowers smell sweeter than Weeds Shall not they who are ennobled with Grace have more Fragrancy in their Lives than Sinners 1 Pet. 1.15 As he who hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation O dishonour not your high Calling by any sordid Carriage When Antigonus going to defile himself with Women one told him He was a King's Son O remember your Dignity Called of God! of the Bloud-Royal of Heaven do nothing unworthy of your Honourable Calling Scipio refused the Embraces of an Harlot because he was General of an Army Abhor all Motions to sin because of your high Calling 'T is not fit for them who are the Called of God to do as others tho' others of the Iews did drink Wine it was not fit for the Nazarite because he had a Vow of Separation upon him and had promised Abstinence Though Pagans and loose Christians take liberty to sin yet it is not fit for them who are called out of the World and have the Mark of Election upon them to do so You are consecrated Persons your Bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost and your Souls must be a Sacrary or Holy of Holies OF IVSTIFICATION Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace Quest. XXI WHat is Iustification Resp. It is an Act of God's Free-grace whereby he pardoneth all our sins and accepts us as righteous in his sight only for the Righteousness of CHRIST imputed to us and received by Faith Iustification is the very Hinge and Pillar of CHRISTIANITY and an Errour about Iustification is dangerous like a Crack in the Foundation or an Errour in the first Concoction Iustification by Christ is a Spring of the Water of Life and to have the Poison of corrupt Doctrine cast into this Spring is damnable It was a Saying of Luther That after his Death the Doctrine of Iustification would be corrupted As it hath been in these latter Times the Arminians and Socinians have cast a dead Fly into this Box of precious Oyntment I shall endeavour to follow the Star of Scripture to light me through this Mysterious Point Quest. What is meant by Iustification Resp. It is verbum forense a word borrowed from Law-courts wherein a Person arraigned is pronounced Righteous and is openly absolved in the Court Thus God in justifying a Person pronounceth him to be Righteous and looks upon him as if he had not sinned Quest. What is the Ground of Iustification Resp. The Causa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the
justified then he is but he may be more sanctified than he is Sanctification is still encreasing like the Morning Sun which grows brighter to the full Meridian Knowledge is said to encrease Col. 1.10 and Faith to encrease 2 Cor. 10.15 a Christian is continually adding a Cubit to his spiritual Stature It is not with us as it was with Christ who received the Spirit without measure Christ would not be more holy then he was But we have the Spirit only in measure and may be still augmenting our Grace as Appelles when he had drawn a Picture he would be still mending it with his Pencil The Image of God is drawn but imperfectly in us therefore we must be still mending it and drawing it in more lively Colours Sanctification is progressive if it doth not grow it is because it doth not live Thus you see the Nature of Sanctification Quest. What are the Counterfeits of Sanctification Resp. There is something looks like Sanctification which is not 1. The first Counterfeit of Sanctification is Moral Vertue To be just temperate to be of a fair deportment not having ones Scocheon blotted with ignominious scandal this is good but not enough this is not Sanctification A field flower differs from a garden flower 1. Heathens have attain'd to Morality Cato Socrates Aristides Civility is but Nature refined there 's nothing of Christ there the heart may be foul and impure under these fair Leaves of Civility the worm of Unbelief may be hid 2. A Moral Person hath a secret antipathy against Grace he hates Vice and he hates Grace as much as Vice The Snake hath a fine colour but a sting A Person adorned and cultivated with Moral Vertue hath a secret spleen against Sanctity Those Stoicks which were the chief of the moralized Heathens were the bitterest Enemies St. Paul had Acts 17.18 2. The second Counterfeit of Sanctification is superstitious Devotion this abounds in Popery Adorations Images Altars Vestments Holy Water which I look upon as a religious frenzy This is far from Sanctification 1. It doth not put any intrinsical goodness into a Man it doth not make a Man better If the legal Purifications and Washings which were of God's own appointing did not make them that used them more holy the Priests who wore holy Garments and had holy Oil poured on them were never the more holy without the anointing of the Spirit then surely those superstitious Innovations in Religion which God never appointed cannot contribute any holiness to Men. 2. A superstitious Holiness costs no great labour there is nothing of the Heart in it If to tell over a few Beads or bow to an Image to sprinkle themselves with Holy-water if this were Sanctification and were all that were required of them that should be saved then Hell would be empty none would come there 3. The third Counterfeit of Sanctification is Hypocrisie when men make a pretence of that Holiness which they have not A Cemet may shine like a Star such a Lustre shines from their Profession as dazleth the eyes of the beholders 2 Tim. 3.5 Having a form of godliness but denying the power These are Lamps without Oil whited Sepulchres like the Egyptian Temples which had fair Out-sides but within Spiders and Apes The Apostle speaks of true holiness Eph. 4.24 implying there is an Holiness which is spurious and feigned Rev. 3.1 Thou hast a name to live but art dead like Pictures and Statutes which are destitute of a vital principle Iude 12. Clouds without water They pretend to be full of the Spirit but empty Clouds This shew of Sanctification when it is nothing else is Self-delusion He who takes Copper instead of Gold wrongs himself most the Counterfeit Saint deceives others while he lives but deceives himself when he dies To pretend Holiness when there is none is a vain thing What were the foolish Virgins better for their blazing Lamps when they wanted Oil What is the Lamp of Profession without the Oil of Saving Grace what Comfort will a shew of Holiness yield at last will painted Gold enrich painted Wine refresh him that is thirsty will painted Holiness be a Cordial at the hour of Death A pretence of Sanctification is not to be rested in Many Ships that have had the name of the Hope the Safe-guard the Triumph yet have been cast away upon the Rocks so many who have had the name of Saintship have been cast into Hell 4. The fourth Counterfeit of Sanctification is restraining Grace When Men forbear Vice though they do not hate it This may be the sinners Motto Fain I would but I dare not The Dog hath a mind to the Bone but is afraid of the Cudgel Men have a mind to Lust but Conscience stands as the Angel with a flaming Sword and affrights They have a mind to Revenge but the fear of Hell is a Curb-bit to check them Here is no change of heart sin is curbed but not cured a Lion may be in Chains but is a Lion still 5. The fifth Counterfeit of Sanctification is common Grace which is a slight transient work of the Spirit but doth not amount to Conversion There is some light in the Judgment but it is not humbling some Checks in the Conscience but they are not awakening This looks like Sanctification but is not Men have Convictions wrought in them but they break loose from them again like the Deer which being shot shakes out the Arrow After Conviction Men go into the House of Mirth take the Harp to drive away the Spirit of Sadness and so all dies and comes to nothing Quest. Wherein appears the necessity of Sanctification Resp. In six things 1. God hath called us to it 2 Pet. 1.4 Who hath called us to glory and vertue to Vertue as well as Glory God hath not called us unto uncleanness but unto holiness 1 Thess. 4.7 We have no call to sin we may have a temptation but no call no call to be proud or unclean but we have a call to be holy 2. The necessity appears in this without Sanctification there is no evidencing our Justification Justification and Sanctification go together 1 Cor. 6.11 But ye are sanctified but ye are justified Mic. 7.18 Pardoning iniquity there is Justification ver 19. He will subdue our iniquities there is Sanctification Out of Christs sides came water and blood 1 Joh. 5.6 Blood viz. Justification Water viz. Sanctification Such as have not the Water out of Christ's sides to cleanse them shall never have the Blood out of his sides to save them 3. Without Sanctification we have no title to the New Covenant The Covenant of Grace is our Charter for Heaven The Tenure of the Covenant is that God will be our God the crowning Blessing But who are interessed in the Covenant and may plead the benefit of it only sanctified Persons Ezek. 36.26 A new heart will I give you and I will put my spirit within you and I will be your God If a Man
Job 15.14 God can do it Out of an unholy Heart he can produce Grace O! make David's Prayer Psal. 51.10 Create in me a clean heart O God Lay thy Heart before the Lord and say Lord my unsanctified Heart pollutes all it toucheth I am not fit to live with such an Heart for I cannot honour thee nor to die with such an Heart for I cannot see thee O create in me a clean heart Lord consecrate my heart and make it thy Temple and thy Praises shall be sung there for ever Use 3. of Thankfulness Hath God brought a clean thing out of an unclean hath he sanctified you wear this Jewel of Sanctification with thankfulness Col. 1.12 Giving thanks to the Father 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who hath made us meet for the Inheritance c. Christian Thou could'st defile thy self but not sanctifie thy self But God hath done it he hath not only chain'd up sin but chang'd thy Nature and made thee as a King's Daughter all glorious within He hath put upon thee the Breast-place of Holiness which though it may be shot at can never be shot thorow Are there any here that are sanctified God hath done more for you then millions They may be illuminated but not sanctified He hath done more for you then if he had made you the Sons of Princes and caused you to ride upon the high places of the Earth Are you sanctified Heaven is begun in you Happiness is nothing but the quintissence of Holiness O how thankful should you be to God Do as that blind Man in the Gospel after he had received his sight He followed Christ glorifying God Luke 18.43 Make Heaven ring of God's Praises Of ASSVRANCE Quest. WHat are the Benefits flow from Sanctification Resp. Assurance of God's Love Peace of Conscience Ioy in the Holy Ghost Encrease of Grace and Perseverance therein to the end 1. Benefit flowing from Sanctification is assurance of God's Love 2 Pet. 1.10 Give Diligence to make your Calling and Election sure Sanctification is the Seed Assurance is the Flower which grows out of it Assurance is a consequent of Sanctification the Saints of old had it 1 Iohn 2.3 We know that we know him 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed here was Sensus Fidei the reflex act of Faith and Gal. 2.20 Christ hath loved me Here was Faith flourishing into Assurance Aecolampadias when he was Sick pointed to his Heart Hic sat Lucis Here I have Light enough meaning Comfort and Assurance Quest. 1. Have all Sanctified Persons Assurance Resp. They have a right to it and I do incline to believe that all have it in some degree before their last expiring though their Comfort may be so strong and their Vital Spirits so weak that they cannot express what they feel But I dare not positively affirm that all have Assurance in the first moment of their Sanctification A Letter may be written when it is not Sealed so Grace may be written in the heart yet the Spirit may not set the Seal of Assurance to it God is a free Agent and may give or suspend Assurance pro libito as he please Where there is the Sanctifying work of the Spirit he may withhold the Sealing work partly to keep the Soul Humble partly to punish our careless walking We neglect our Spiritual watch grow remiss in duty and then walk under a Cloud We quench the Graces of the Spirit and God withholds the Comforts and partly to put a difference between Earth and Heaven This I the rather speak to bear up the Hearts of Gods People who are dejected because they have not Assurance You may have the Water of the Spirit poured on you in Sanctification though not the Oyl of Gladness in Assurance there may be Faith of Adherence and not of Evidence there may be Life in the Root when there is no Fruit in the Branches to be seen so Faith in the Heart when no Fruit of Assurance Quest 2. What is Assurance Resp. It is not Vocal any audible Voice or brought to us by the help of an Angel or Revelation Assurance consists of a Practical Sylogism where the Word of God makes the major Conscience the minor the Spirit of God the Conclusion The Word saith He that fears and loves God is loved of God there is the major Proposition then Conscience makes the minor but I fear and love God then the Spirit makes the Conclusion therefore thou art loved of God And this is that which the Apostle calls The Witnessing of the Spirit with our Spirits that we are his Children Rom. 8.16 Quest. 3. Whether hath a Sanctified Soul such an Assurance as excludes all doubting Resp. He hath that which bears up his Heart from sinking he hath such an Earnest of the Spirit that he would not part with for the Richest Prize but his Assurance though it be infallible it is not perfect There will be sometimes a Trepidation or Trembling he is safe yet not without fears and doubts as a Ship lies safe at Anchor yet may be a little shaken by the Wind. If a Christian had no Doubtings there should be no unbelief in him had he no Doubtings there would be no difference between Grace Militant and Triumphant Had not David his Ebbings sometimes as well as his Flowings like the Mariner who sometimes cries out Stellam Video I see a Star sometimes the Star is out of Sight Sometimes we hear David say Thy Loving Kindness is before mine Eyes Psal. 26.3 But at another time he was at a loss Psal. 89.49 Lord where are thy former Loving Kindnesses And there may fall out an Eclipse in a Christians Assurance to put him upon longing after Heaven Then there shall not be the least doubting then the Banner of Gods Love shall be always display'd upon the Soul then the light of God's Face shall be without Clouds and have no Sun-setting then the Saints shall have an uninterrupted Assurance and be ever with the Lord. Quest. 4. What are the differences between true Assurance and Presumption Resp. 1. They differ in the method or manner of working Divine Assurance flows from Humiliation for Sin I speak not of the measure of Humiliation but the Truth There are in Palermo Reeds growing in which there is a Sugred Juice A Soul humbled for Sin is the Bruised Reed in which grows this sweet Assurance God's Spirit is a Spirit of Bondage before it be a Spirit of Adoption but Presumption ariseth without any humbling work of the Spirit How camest thou by thy Venison so soon The Plow goes before the Seed be sown the Heart must be plowed up by Humiliation and Repentance before God sows the Seed of Assurance 2. He who hath a real Assurance will take heed of that which will weaken and darken his Assurance he is fearful of the Forbidden Fruit he knows though he cannot sin away his Soul yet he may sin away his Assurance But he who hath the Ignis Fatuus of
Presumption doth not fear defiling his Garments he is bold in sin Ier. 3.4 5. Wilt thou not cry unto me my Father behold thou hast done evil things as thou couldest Balaam said My God yet a Sorcerer A Sign he hath no Mony about him who fears not to Travel all Hours in the Night a sign he hath not the Jewel of Assurance who fears not the works of Darkness 3. True Assurance is built upon a Scripture-basis the Word saith The effect of Righteousness shall be Quietness and Assurance for ever Isa. 32.17 A Christians Assurance is built upon this Scripture God hath sown the Seed of Righteousness in his Soul and this Seed hath brought forth the Harvest of Assurance But Presumption is a spurious thing it hath no Scripture to shew for its Warrant it is like a Will without Seal and Witnesses which is null and void in Law Presumption wants both the Witness of the Word and the Seal of the Spirit 4. Assurance flowing from Sanctification always keeps the Heart in a lowly posture Lord saith the Soul what am I that passing by so many the Golden Beams of thy Love should shine upon me St. Paul had Assurance is he proud of this Jewel No. Ephes. 3.8 To me who am less than the least of all Saints The more love a Christian receives from God the more he sees himself a Debtor to free Grace and the sense of his Debt keeps his Heart Humble but Presumption is bred of Pride He who Presumes Disdains he think himself better than others Luke 18.11 God I thank thee I am not as other Men are nor as this Publican Feathers fly up but Gold descends he who hath this Golden Assurance his Heart descends in Humility Quest. 5. What is it may excite us to look after Assurance Resp. To consider how sweet it is and the noble and excellent effects it produceth Effect 1. How sweet it is This is the Manna in the Golden Pot the white Stone the Wine of Paradise which chears the Heart How comfortable is God's Smile The Sun is more refreshing when it shineth out that when it is hid in a Cloud it is a praelibation and fore-tast of Glory it puts a Man in Heaven before his time none can know how delicious and ravishing it is but such as have felt it as none can know how sweet Hony is but they who have tasted it 2. The noble and excellent Effects it produceth 1. Assurance will make us love God and Praise him 1. Love him Love is the Soul of Religion the Fat of the Sacrifice and who can love God so as he who hath Assurance The Sun reflecting its Beams on a burning Glass makes the Glass burn that that is near to it So Assurance which is the reflection of Gods love upon the Soul makes it burn in love to God St. Paul was assured of Christ's love to him Gal. 2.20 who hath loved me and how was his Heart fired with love he valued and admired nothing but Christ Phil. 3.8 as Christ was fastned to the Cross so he was fastned to Paul's Heart 2. Praise him Praise is the Quit-rent we pay to the Crown of Heaven who but he who hath Assurance of his Justification Man in a Swoon or Apoplexy Praise God that he is alive Can a Christian staggering with Fears about his Spiritual Condition praise God that he is elected and justified No The living the living he shall praise thee Isa. 38.19 Such as are enliven'd with Assurance they are the fittest Persons to sound forth Gods Praise Effect 2. Assurance would drop Sweetness into all our Creature-Enjoyments it would be as Sugar to Wine an earnest of more it gives a Blessing with the Venison As Guilt imbitters our Comforts it is like drinking out of a Wormwood Cup So Assurance would indulcorate and sweeten all Health and the Assurance of Gods Love are sweet Riches with the Assurance of a Kingdom are delectable Nay a Dinner of Green Herbs with the Assurance of Gods Love is Princely Fare Effect 3. Assurance would make us Active and Lively in Gods Service it would excite Prayer quicken Obedience as Diligence begets Assurance so Assurance begets Diligence Assurance will not as the Papists say breed Security in the Soul but Industry Doubting does discourage us in Gods Service but the Assurance of his Favour breeds Joy And the Ioy of the Lord is our strength Nehem. 8.10 Assurance makes us mount up to Heaven as Eagles in Holy Duties it is like the Spirit in Ezekiel's Wheels that moved them and lifted them up Faith would make us Walk but Assurance would make us Run We should never think we could do enough for God Assurance would be as Wings to the Bird as Weights to the Clock to set all the Wheels of Obedience a running Effect 4. Assurance would be a Golden Shield to beat back Temptation Assurance Triumphs over Temptation There are two sorts of Temptation Satan useth 1. He tempts to draw us to Sin Now the being assured of our Justification would make this Temptation vanish What Satan shall I Sin against him who hath loved me and washed me in his Blood Shall I return to Folly after God hath spoken Peace Shall I weaken my Assurance wound my Conscience grieve my Comforter Avoid Satan Tempt no more 2. Satan would make us question our Interest in God he tells us we are Hypocrites and God doth not love us Now there is no such Shield against this Temptation as Assurance What Satan have I a real Work of Grace in my Heart and the Seal of the Spirit to witness it and dost thou tell me God doth not love me Now I know thou art an Impostor who goest about to disprove what I sensibly feel If Faith resists the Devil Assurance would put him to flight Effect 5. Assurance would make us contented though we have but a little in the World He who hath Enough is Content He who hath Sun-light is Content though he wants Torch-light A Man that hath Assurance hath enough In uno salvatore omnes florent gemmae ad salutem He hath the Riches of Christs Merit of his Love an Earnest of his Glory he is fill'd with the Fulness of God here is enough and having enough he is Content Psal. 16.5 The Lord is the portion of my Inheritance The Lanes are fallen unto me in a pleasant place and I have a goodly Heritage Assurance will rock the Heart quiet the reason of Discontent is either because Men have no Interest in God or do not know their Interest St. Paul I know whom I have believed 2 Tim. 1.12 There was the Assurance of his Interest and 2 Cor. 6.10 As sorrowful yet always rejoycing c. There was his Contentment Get but Assurance and you will be out of the weekly Bill of Murmurers you will be discontented no more What can come amiss to him that hath Assurance God is his Hath he lost a Friend His Father lives Hath he lost his only Child
Peace to the World 3. Peace is a fruit of the Spirit He seals up Peace to the Conscience the Spirit clears up the work of Grace in the Heart from whence ariseth Peace There was a Well of Water near Hagar but she did not see it therefore wept A Christian hath Grace but doth not see it therefore Weeps Now the Spirit discovers this Well of Water it enables Conscience to witness to a Man that he hath the real work of Grace and so Peace flows into the Soul Thus you see whence this Peace comes the Father decrees it the Son purchaseth it the Holy Ghost applies it Quest. 3. Whether such as are destitute of Grace may have Peace Resp. No. Peace flows from Sanctification but they being unregenerate have nothing to do with Peace Isa. 57.21 There is no Peace saith my God to the Wicked They may have a Truce but no Peace God may forbear the Wicked a while and stop the Roaring of his Cannon but though there be a Truce yet no Peace The Wicked may have something which looks like Peace but is not They may be fearless and stupid but there is a great difference between a stupified Conscience and a pacified Conscience Luke 11.21 When a strong Man keeps his Palace his Goods are in Peace This is the Devils Peace he rocks Men in the Cradle of Security he cries Peace Peace when Men are upon the Precipice of Hell The seeming Peace a Sinner hath is not from the knowledg of his Happiness but the ignorance of his Danger Quest. 4. What are the Signs of a false Peace Resp. 1. A false Peace hath much Confidence in it but this Confidence is Conceit The Sinner doth not doubt of Gods Mercy from which presumptuous Confidence ariseth somâ— kind of quiet in the Mind The same Word in the Hebrew Gasal signifies both Confidence and Folly Indeed a Sinners Confidence is Folly How confident were the Foolish Virgins 2. False Peace separates those things which God hath joyned together God joyns Holiness and Peace but he who hath a false Peace separates these Two He lays claim to Peace but banisheth Holiness Deut. 29.19 I shall have Peace though I walk in the imagination of my Heart to add Drunkenness to Thirst. The Wicked are loose and vain and yet thank God they have Peace A Delusion You may as well suck Health out of Poison as Peace out of Sin 3. False Peace is not willing to be Tried a sign they are bad Wares which will not endure the Light a sign a Man hath stolen Goods when he will not have his House Searched A false Peace cannot endure to be tryed by the Word The Word speaks of an humbling and refining work upon the Soul before Peace false Peace cannot endure to hear of this The least trouble will shake this Peace it will end in despair In a false Peace Conscience is asleep but when this Lion of Conscience shall be awaken'd at Death then it will roar upon a Man he will be a Terror to himself and be ready to lay violent Hands upon himself Quest. 5. How shall we know that ours is a true Peace Resp. 1. True Peace flows from Union with Christ Communio â—undatur in unione The Graft or Cien must first be inoculated into the Tree before it can receive Sap and Nourishment from it So we must first be ingrafted into Christ before we can receive Peace from him Have we Faith By Holiness we are made like Christ by believing we are made one with Christ and being in Christ we have Peace Iohn 16.33 2. True Peace flows from Subjection to Christ where Christ gives Peace there he sets up his Government in the Heart Isa. 9.7 Of his Government and Peace there shall be no end Christ is called a Priest upon his Throne Zach. 6.13 Christ as a Priest makes Peace but he will be a Priest upon his Throne he brings the Heart in subjection to him If Christ be our Peace he is our Prince Isa. 9.6 Whenever Christ pacifies the Conscience he subdues the Lust. 3. True Peace is after Trouble First God le ts loose a Spirit of Bondage he convinceth and humbleth the Soul then he speaks Peace Many say they have Peace but is this Peace before a Storm or after it True Peace is after Trouble First there was the Earthquake and then the Fire and then the still small Voice 1 Kings 19.11 Thou who never hadst any legal Bruisings mayest suspect thy Peace God pours the Golden Oyl of Peace into Broken Hearts Quest. 6. Whether have all Sanctified Persons this Peace Resp. They have a Title to it they have the Ground of it Grace is the Seed of Peace and it will in time turn to Peace as the Blossoms of a Tree to Fruit Milk to Cream They have a Promise of it Psal. 29.11 The Lord will bless his People with Peace They may have Peace with God though not Peace in their own Conscience they have the initials and beginnings of Peace There is a secret Peace the Heart hath in serving God such Meltings and Enlargements in Duty as do revive the Soul and bear it up from sinking Quest. 7. But why have not all Believers the full enjoyment and possession of Peace Why is not this Flower of Peace fully ripe and blown Resp. Some of the Godly may not have so full a degree of Peace 1. Through the fury of Temptation the Devil if he cannot destroy us he will disturb us Satan disputes against our Adoption he would make us question the work of Grace in our Hearts and so troubles the Waters of our Peace Satan is like a subtil Cheater who if he cannot make a Mans Title to his Land void yet he will put him to many troublesom Suits in Law If Satan cannot make us Ungodly he will make us unquiet Violent Winds make the Sea rough and stormy the Winds of Temptation blowing disturb Peace of Spirit and put the Soul into a Commotion 2. The Godly may not enjoy Peace through mistake and misapprehension about Sin They find so much Corruption that sure if there were Grace there would not be such strong Workings of Corruption Whereas this should be so far from discouraging Christians and hindering their Peace that it is an Argument for them Let me ask whence is it that you feel Sin no Man can feel Sin but by Grace A wicked Man is insensible lay an 100 weight upon a Dead Man he doth not complain but the being sensible of Corruption argues a Gracious Principle Rom. 7.21 Again whence is it that there is a Combat with Sin but from the Life of Grace Gal. 5.17 Dead things cannot Combat Whence is it that the Saints weep for Sin what are these Tears but Seeds of Faith The not understanding of this hinders a Christians Peace 3. The Godly may not injoy Peace through remisness in Duty they leave their first Love When Christians abate their fervency God abates their Peace if you slacken
and discussing this great point let me first clear the Sense of it which I shall first do by way of Concession or Grant When I say Believers do persevere First I grant that such as are so only in Possession may fall away 2 Tim. 4.10 Demas hath forsaken us Blazing Comets soon Evaporate A Building on Sand will fall Mat. 7.26 Seeming Grace may be lost no wonder to see a Bough fall from the Tree that is only tied on Hypocrites are only tied on to Christ by an External Profession they are not ingrafted Who ever thought artificial motion would hold long The Hypocrites motion is only Artificial not Vital All Blossoms do not ripen into Fruit. Secondly I grant that if Believers were left to stand upon their own Legs they might fall finally Some of the Angels who were Stars full of Light and Glory yet did actually lose their Grace and if those pure Angels fell from Grace much more would the Godly who have so much Sin to betray them if they were not upheld by a Superior Power 3. I grant true Believers though they do not fall away actually and lose all their Grace yet their Grace may fail in the degree and they may make a great Breach upon their Sanctification Grace may be moritura not mortua dying but not dead Rev. 3.2 Strengthen the things which are ready to dye Grace may be like Fire in the Embers though not quenched yet the Flame is gone out This decay of Grace I shall shew in two particulars 1. The lively actings of Grace may be suspended Rev. 2.4 Thou hast left thy first love Grace may be like a sleepy Habit the Godly may act faintly in Religion the pulse of their Affections may beat low The wise Virgins slumbred Matt. 25.5 The Exercise of Grace may be hindred as when the course of Water is stop'd and doth not run 2. Instead of Grace exercising in the Godly Corruption may exercise instead of Patience Murmuring instead of Heavenliness Earthliness How did Pride put forth it self in the Disciples when they strove who should be greatest How did Lust put forth in David Thus lively and vigorous may Corruption be in the Regenerate they may fall into Enormous Sins But though all this be granted yet they do not penitus excidere fall away finally from Grace David did not quite lose his Grace for then why did he pray Take not away thy Holy Spirit from me He had not quite lost the Spirit As Eutiches when he fell from a Window Acts 20. and all thought he was dead No saith Paul there is Life in him So David fell foully but there was the Life of Grace in him Though the Saints may come to that pass they have but little Faith yet not to have no Faith Though their Grace may be drawn low yet not drawn dry Though Grace may be abated not abolished though the wise Virgins slumbred yet their Lamps were not quite gone out Grace when it is at the lowest shall revive and flourish as when Sampson had lost his strength his Hair grew again and he renewed his strength Having thus explained the Proposition I come now to the amplifying this great Doctrin of the Saints Perseverance Quest. 1. By what means do Christians come to persevere Resp. 1. By the Manuduction and help of Ordinances Prayer Word Sacraments Christians do not arrive at Perseverance when they sit still and do nothing It is not with us as with Passengers in a Ship who are carried to the end of their Voyage and they sit still in the Ship or as it is with Noble-men who have their Rents brought in without their Toyl or Labour but we arrive at Salvation in the use of Means as a Man comes to the end of a Race by running to a Victory by fighting Matt. 26.41 Watch and Pray As Paul said Acts 27.31 Except ye abide in the Ship ye cannot be saved Believers shall come to shore at last arrive at Heaven but Except they abide in the Ship viz. in the use of the Ordinances they cannot be saved The Ordinances cherish Grace as they beget Grace so they are the Breast-Milk by which it is nourished and preserved to Eternity 2. Auxilio Spiritus By the Sacred Influence and Concurrence of the Spirit The Spirit of God is continually at work in the Heart of a Believer to carry on Grace to Perseverance it drops on fresh Oyl to keep the Lamp of Grace burning The Spirit excites strengthens encreaseth Grace and makes a Christian go from one step of Faith to another till he comes to the end of his Faith Salvation 1 Pet. 1.9 It is a fine Expression of the Apostle 2 Tim. 1.14 The Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us He who dwells in an House keeps the House in repair the Spirit dwelling in a Believer keeps Grace in repair Grace is compar'd to a River of the Water of Life Iohn 7.38 This River can never be dried up because Gods Spirit is a Spring which continually feeds it 3. Grace is carried on to Perseverance by Christs daily Intercession As the Spirit is at work in the Heart so is Christ at work in Heaven Christ is ever praying that the Saints Grace may hold out Iohn 17.11 Conserva illos Father keep those whom thou hast given me keep them as Stars in their Orb keep them as Jewels that they may not be lost Father keep them That Prayer Christ made for Peter was the Copy of his Prayer he now makes for Believers Luke 22.32 I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that it be not totally eclipsed How can the Children of such Prayers perish Quest. 2. By what Arguments may we prove the Saints Perseverance Resp. 1. A veritate Dei from the Truth of God God hath both asserted it and promised it 1. God hath asserted it 1 Iohn 3.9 His Seed remaineth in him 1 Iohn 2.27 The anointing ye have received of him abideth in you 2. As God hath asserted it so he hath promised it The Truth of God the most Orient Pearl of his Crown is laid a Pawn in the Promise Iohn 10.28 I give unto them eternal Life and they shall never perish Jer. 32.42 I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my Fear in their Hearts that they shall not depart from me God will so love his People that he will not forsake them and they shall so fear him that they shall not forsake him If a Believer should not persevere God should break his Promise Hos. 2.19 I will betroth thee unto me for ever in righteousness and loving kindness God doth not Marry his People to himself and then Divorce them he hates putting away Mal. 2.16 Gods love tyes the Marriage Knot so fast that neither Death nor Hell can break it asunder 2. The second Argument is à potentia Dei from the Power of God In the Text we
Christians it is but a while and you shall have done Weeping and Praying and be triumphing You shall put off your Mourning and put on white Robes you shall put off your Armour and put on a Victorious Crown You who have made a good Progress in Religion you are now almost ready to Commence and take your Degree of Glory now is your Salvation nearer than when you began to believe When a Man is almost at the end of a Race will he now tire or faint away O labour to persevere your Salvation is now nearer you have but a little way to go and you will set your Foot in Heaven Though the way be up-Hill and full of Thorns viz. Sufferings yet you have gone the greatest part of your way and shortly you shall rest from your Labours 3. How sad it is not to persevere in Holiness you expose your selves to the Reproaches of Men and the Rebukes of God First To the Reproaches of Men. They will divide both you and your Profession Luke 14.28 This Man began to Build and was not able to finish Such is he who begins in Religion and doth not persevere He is the Ludibrium and Derision of all Secondly To the Rebukes of God God is most severe against such as fall off because they bring an Evil Report upon Religion Apostacy breeds a bitter Worm in Conscience What a Worm did Spira feel and it brings swift Damnation It is a drawing back 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Perdition Heb. 10.38 God will make his Sword drunk with the Blood of Apostates 4. The Promises of Mercy are annexed only to Perseverance Rev. 3.5 He that overcometh shall be cloathed in white Raiment and I will not blot out his Name out of the Book of Life Non pugnanti sed vincenti dabitur corona Aug. The Promise is not to him that Fights but that overcomes Luke 22.28 Ye are they which have continued with me and I appoint unto you a Kingdom The Promise of a Kingdom saith Chrysostom is not made to them that heard Christ or followed him but that continued with him Perseverance carries away the Garland No Man hath the Crown set upon his Head but he who holds out to the end of the Race O therefore by all this be perswaded to Persevere God makes no account of such as do not persevere Who esteems of Corn that sheds before Harvest or Fruit that falls from the Tree before it be Ripe Quest. 2. What expedients or means may be used for a Christians Perseverance Resp. 1. Take heed of those things which will make you desist and fall away First Take heed of Presumption Do not presume upon your own strength Exercise an Holy Fear and Jealousie over your own Hearts Rom. 11.20 Be not high minded but fear 1 Cor. 10.12 Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lâ—st he fall It was Peter's Sin he lean'd more upon his Grace than upon Christ and then he fell A Christian hath cause to fear lest the Lusts and Deceits of his Heart betray him Take heed of Presuming Fear begets Prayer Prayer begets Strength and Strength begets Stedfastness Secondly Take heed of Hypocrisie Iudas was first a Sly Hypocrite and then a Traitor Psal. 78.37 Their Heart was not right with God neither were they stedfast in his Covenant If there be any Venom or Malignity in the Blood it will break forth into a Plague-sore The Venom of Hypocrisie is in danger of breaking forth into the Plague-sore of Scandal Thirdly Beware of a Vile Heart of Unbelief Heb. 3.12 Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil Heart of Unbelief departing from the Living God Whence is Apostacy but from Incredulity Men do not believe the Truth and then they fall from the Truth Unbelieving and Unstable go together Psal. 78.22 They believed not in God ver 41. They turned back 2. If you would be Pillars in the Temple of God and persevere in Sanctity First Look that you enter into Religion upon a right ground be well grounded in the distinct knowledg of God you must know the Love of the Father the Merit of the Son the Efficacy of the Holy Ghost Such as know not God aright will by degrees fall off The Samaritans sometimes sided with the Jews when they were in favour afterwards disclaimed all Kindred with them when Antiochus persecuted the Jews And no wonder the Samaritans were no more fixed in Religion if you consider what Christ saith of the Samaritans Iohn 4.22 Ye worship ye know not what They were ignorant of the True God let your Knowledge of God be clear and serve him purely out of Choice and then you will persevere Psal. 119.30 I have chosen the way of Truth I have stuck unto thy Testimonies Secondly Get a real work of Grace in your Heart Heb. 13.9 It is a good thing that the Heart he established with Grace Nothing will hold out but Grace 't is only this Anointing abides Paint will fall off Get an heart-changing-Heart-changing-work 1 Cor. 6.11 But ye are Washed but ye are Sanctified Be not content with Baptism of Water without Baptism of the Spirit The reason Men persevere not in Religion is for want of a Vital Principle A Branch must needs wither that hath no root to grow upon Thirdly If you would Persevere be very Sincere Perseverance grows only upon the Root of Sincerity Psal. 25.21 Let Integrity and Uprightness preserve me The Breast-Plate of Sincerity can never be shot thorough How many Storms was Iob in The Devil sets against him his Wife tempted him to Curse God his Friends accused him for an Hypocrite here was enough one would think to have made him desist from Religion Yet for all this he perseveres What preserved him it was his Sincerity Iob 27.6 My Righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go my Heart shall not Reproach me so long as I live Fourthly If Persevere be Humble St. Chrysostom calls it the Mother of all the Graces God lets a poor Humble Christian stand when others of Higher Parts and who have higher Thoughts of themselves fall off by Apostacy They are likest to Persevere who God will give most Grace to But he gives Grace to the Humble 1 Pet. 5.5 They are likest to persevere who have God dwelling in them But God dwells in the Humble Soul Isa. 57.15 Non requiescit Spiritus Sanctus nisi super Humilem Bern. The lower the Tree roots in the Earth the firmer it is the more the Soul is rooted in Humility the more stablished it is and in less danger of falling away Fifthly If Persevere cherish the Grace of Faith Faith doth stabilire Animum 2 Cor. 1.24 By Faith ye stand 1. Faith knits us to Christ as the Members are knit to the Head by Nerves and Sinews 2. Faith fills us with Love to God It works by Love Gal. 5.6 And he who loves God will rather dye than desert him The Soldier who loves his General will die in
our strength lay But in a true Gospel Sense we may so obey the Moral Law as to find Acceptance Which Gospel-Obedience consists in a Real Endeavour to observe the whole Moral Law Psal. 119.166 I have done thy Commandments Not I have done all I should do but I have done all I am able to do and wherein our Obedience comes short we look up to the perfect Righteousness and Obedience of Christ and hope for Pardon through his Blood This is Evangelically to obey the Moral Law which though it be not to Satisfaction yet it is to Acceptation Thus I have done with the first The Preface to the Preface God spake all these words I should now come to the second the Preface it self to the Commandments I am the Lord thy God c. Of the Commandments Exod. 20.2 I am the Lord thy God c. 2. THE Preface it self which consists of three parts 1. I am the Lord thy God 2. Which have brought thee out of the Land of Egypt 3. Out of the House of Bondage 1. I am the Lord thy God Where we have a Description of God 1. By his Essential Greatness I am the Lord 2. By his relative Goodness Thy God 1. By his essential greatness I am the Lord or as in the Hebrew Iehovah This name of God sets forth his Majesty Sanctius habitum fuit saith Buxtorf the name Iohavah was had in more Reverence among the Jews than any other name of God it signifies Gods Self-sufficiency Eternity Independency Immutability Mal. 3.6 Use 1. If God be Iehovah the Fountain of being who can do what he will let us fear this great Lord Deut. 28.58 That thou maist fear Hashem Hanicbad Jehovah this glorious and fearful name Jehovah Use 2. If God be Iehovah the supream Lord then it condemns the Blasphemous Papists who speak after this manner Our Lord God the Pope Is it a Wonder the Pope lifts his Tripple Crown above the Heads of Kings and Emperors when he Usurps Gods Title Shewing himself that he is God 2 Thess. 2.4 The Pope goes to make himself Lord of Heaven for he will Canonize Saints there Lord of Earth for with his Keys he doth bind and loose whom he pleaseth Lord of Hell for he can free Men out of Purgatory But God will pull down these Plumes of Pride He will consume this Man of sin with the breath of his mouth and the brightness of his coming 2 Thess. 2.8 Use 3. God is described by his relative goodness Eloeka Thy God Had God only called himself Iehovah it might have terrified us and made us fly from him but when he saith Thy God this may allure and draw us to him This though a Preface to Law is pure Gospel This word Eloeka Thy God is so sweet that we can never suck out all the Hony in it I am thy God not only by Creation but by Election This word Thy God though it was spoken to Israel yet it is a Charter belongs to all the Saints For the further Explication here are three Questions Quest. 1. How God comes to be our God Resp. Through Jesus Christ Christ is a middle Person in the Trinity He is Emanuel God with us He brings two differing Parties together He makes our Nature lovely to God and Gods Nature lovely to us He by his Death causeth Friendship yea Union He brings us within the Verge of the Covenant and so God becomes our God Quest. 2. What doth this imply God being our God Resp. It is comprehensive of all good things God is our strong Tower our Fountain of living Water our Salvation More particularly God being our God implies the sweetest Relation 1. The Relation of a Father 2 Cor. 6.18 I will be a Father unto you A Father is full of tender care for his Child Who doth he settle the Inheritance upon but his Child God being our God will be a Father to us a Father of Mercy 2 Cor. 1.3 the everlasting Father Psal. 9.7 If God be our God we have a Father in Heaven that never dies 2. It imports the Relation of an Husband Isa. 54.5 Thy Maker is thy Husband If God be our Husband he esteems us precious to him as the Apple of his Eye Zech. 2.8 He imparts his Secrets to us Psal. 25.14 He bestows a Kingdom upon us for our Dowry Luke 12.32 Quest. 3. How may we come to know this Covenant-Union That God is our God Resp. 1. By having his Graces planted in us Kings Children are known by their costly Jewels It is not having common Gifts which shews we belong to God many have the Gifts of God without God but it is Grace gives us a true genuine Title to God In particular Faith is Vinculum Unionis the Grace of Union By this we may spell out our Interest in God Faith doth not as the Mariner cast its Anchor downwards but upwards it trusts in the Mercy and Blood of God and trusting in God engageth him to be our God Other Graces make us like God Faith makes us one with him 2. We may know God is our God by having the Earnest of his Spirit in our Hearts 2 Cor. 1.22 God often gives the Purse to the Wicked but the Spirit only to such as he intends to make his Heirs 1. Have we had the Consecration of the Spirit If we have not had the Sealing work of the Spirit have we had the Healing work 1 Iohn 2.20 Ye have an Unction from the Holy One. The Spirit where it is stamps the Impress of its own Holiness upon the Heart It embroiders and bespangles the Soul and makes it all glorious within 2. Have we had the Attraction of the Spirit Cant. 1.4 Draw me we will run after thee Hath the Spirit by its magnetick Vertue drawn our Hearts to God Can we say as Cant. 1.7 O thou whom my Soul loveth Is God our Paradise of Delight Our Segullah or chief Treasure Are our Hearts so chained to God that no other Object can inchant us or draw us away from him 3. Have we had the Elevation of the Spirit Hath it raised our Hearts above the World Ezek. 3.14 The Spirit lifted me up Hath the Spirit made us superna anhelare seek the things above where Christ is Though our Flesh is on Earth is our Heart in Heaven Though live here trade above Hath the Spirit thus lifted us up By this we may come to know that God is our God Where God gives his Spirit for an Earnest there he gives himself for a Portion 3. We may know God is our God if he hath given us the Hearts of Children Have we obediential Hearts Psal. 27.8 Do we subscribe to Gods Commands when his Commands cross our Will A true Saint is like the Flower of the Sun it opens and shuts with the Sun He opens to God and shuts to Sin If we have the Hearts of Children then God is our Father 4. We may know God is ours and we have an Interest in
take heed of which will bring the Fire of God's Wrath. 1. The Fire of Rash Anger Some who profess Religion yet cannot bridle their Tongue they care not what they say in their Anger they will curse their Passions St. Iames saith The Tongue is set on Fire of Hell Chap. 3.6 O take heed of a Fiery Tongue leâ—t it bring thee to Fiery Torment Dives begg'd a Drop of Water to cool his Tongue St. Cyprian saith He had offended most in his Tongue and now that was most set on Fire 2. Take heed of the Fire of Malice Malice is a malignant Humour whereby we wish Evil to another It is a Vermin lives on Blood it studies Revenge Caligula had a Chest where he kept deadly Poysons for them he had Malice against The Fire of Malice brings Men to the Fiery Furnace of God's Wrath. 3. Take heed of the Sin of Vncleanness Heb. 13.4 Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Such as burn in Uncleanness are in great Danger to burn one Day in Hell Let one Fire put out another let the Fire of God's Wrath put out the Fire of Lust. 3 d. Br. To you who have a well-grounded hope that you shall not feel this Wrath which you have deserved let me exhort you 1. To be very thankful to God who hath given his Son to save you from this tremendous Wrath. Iesus hath deliver'd you from Wrath to come The Lamb of God was scorch'd in the Fire of God's Wrath for you Christ did feel the Wrath which he did not deserve that you may escape the Wrath which you have deserved Pliny observes that there is nothing better to quench Fire than Blood Christ's Blood hath quench'd the Fire of God's Wrath for you Vpon me upon me be the Curse said Rebecka to Iacob Gen. 27.13 So said Christ to God's Justice Upon me be the Curse that my Elect may inherit the Blessing 2. Be patient under all the Afflictions which you endure Affliction is sharp but this is not Wrath this is not Hell Who would not willingly drink in the Cup of Affliction that knows he shall never drink in the Cup of Damnation Who would not be willing to bear the Wrath of Men that knows he shall never feel the Wrath of God Christian tho thou mayst feel the Rod thou shalt never feel the bloody Ax. Austin once said Strike Lord where thou wilt if sin be pardoned So say Afflict me Lord as thou wilt in this Life seeing I shall escape Wrath to come Quest. What doth God require of us that we may escape the Wrath and Curse due to us for Sin Answ. Faith in Iesus Christ Repentance unto Life with the diligent use of all the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the Benefits of Redemption I begin with the First Faith in Iesus Christ Rom. 3.25 Whom God hath set forth to be a Propâ—tiation through Faith in his Blood The great Priviledge in the Text is to have Christ for a Propitiation which is not only to free us from God's Wrath but to ingraâ—iate us into God's Love and Favour And the Means of having Christ to be our Propitiation is Faith in his Blood There is a two-fold Faith Fides quae creditur i. e. The Doctrine of Faith and Fides qua creditur i. e. the Grace of Faith The Act of Justifying Faith lies in Recumbency We do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rest on Christ alone for Salvation As a Man that is ready to drown catcheth hold on the Bough of a Tree So a poor trembling Sinner seeing himself ready to perish catcheth hold by Faith on Christ the Tree of Life and so is saved The Work of Faith is the Holy Spirit therefore Faith is called the Fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 Faith doth not grow in Nature it is an outlandish Plant a Fruit of the Spirit This Grace of Faith is Sanctissimum humani pectoris Bonum of all others the most precious rich Faith and most Holy Faith and Faith of Gods Elect. Hence it is called Precious Faith 2 Pet. 1.1 As Gold is the most precious among the Metals so is Faith among the Graces Faith is the Queen of the Graces Faith is the Condition of the Gospel Thy Faith hath saved thee Luke 7.50 Not thy Tears Faith is the Vital Artery of the Soul it animates it Hab. 2.4 The Iust shall live by his Faith Unbelievers tho they breathe yet want Life Faith is as Clemens Alexandrinus calls it a Mother-Grace it excites and invigorates all the Graces Not a Grace stirs till Faith sets it awork Faith sets Repentance awork 't is like Fire to the Still Faith sets Hope awork First we believe the Promise then we hope for it Did not Faith feed the Lamp of Hope with Oyl it would soon die Faith sets Love awork Gal. 5.6 Faith which worketh by love Who can believe in the Infinite Merits of Christ and his Heart not ascend in a Fiery Chariot of Love Faith is a Catholicon or Remedy against all Troubles A Sheat-Anchor we cast out into the Sea of God's Mercy and are kept from sinking in Despair Other Graces have done worthily but thou O Faith excellest them all Indeed in Heaven Love will be the chief Grace but while we are here militant Love must give place to Faith Love takes possession of Glory but Faith gives a Title to it Love is the crowning Grace in Heaven but Faith is the conquering Grace upon Earth 1 Iohn 5.4 This is the Victory that overcometh the World even our Faith Faith carries away the Garland from all the other Graces Other Graces help to sanctifie us but it is Faith only that hath the Honour to Justifie Rom. 5.1 Being justifyed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By Faith Quest. But how comes Faith to be so precious Ans. Not as it is a more holy Quality or as if it had more Worthiness than other Graces but respectu Objecti As it lays hold on Christ the blessed Object and fetcheth in his Fulness Iohn 9.16 Faith in it self consider'd is but manus mendica The Beggar 's Hand But as this Hand receives the rich Alms of Christ's Merits so it is precious and doth Challenge a Superiority over the rest of the Graces Vse I. 1 st Br. Of all Sins beware of the Rock of Vnbelief Heb. 3.12 Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil Heart of Vnbelief Men think as long as they are not Drunkards or Swearers it is no great matter to be Unbelievers This is the Gospel-sin it dies your other Sins in Grain 1. Unbelief is a Christ-reproaching Sin Unbelief disparageth Christ's Infinite Merit as if it could not save Unbelief makes the Wound of Sin to be broader than the Plaister of Christ's Blood This is an high Contempt offered to Christ and is a deeper Speaâ— than that which the Jews thrust into his Side 2. Unbelief is an Vngrateful Sin Ingratus vitandus est ut dirum scelus tellus ipsa foedius nihil creat
not having a Wedding Garment Men are loth to ask themselves the Question O my Soul art thou a fit Guest for the Lord's Table Are there not some Sins thou hast to bewail Are there not some Evidences for Heaven that thou hast to get Now when Persons will not ask themselves the Question then God will bring such a Question as this to them How came ye in hither to my Table not prepared How came ye in hither with an unbelieving or profane Heart It will be such a Question as will cause an Heart-trembling God will examine a Man as the chief Captain did Paul with Scourging Acts 22.24 'T is true the best Saint if God should weigh him in the Ballance would be sound defective But when a Christian hath made an impartial Search and hath laboured to deal uprightly between God and his own Soul Christ's Merits will cast in some Grains of Allowance into the Scales 4. Self-examining is needful because of that Secret Corruption in the Heart which will not be found out without searching There are in the Heart Plangendae Tenebrae Aug. Hidden Pollutions It is with a Christian as with Ioseph's Brethren when the Steward accused them of having the Cup they were ready to swear they had not the Cup in their Sack but upon Search it was found there Little doth a Christian think what Pride Atheism Uncleanness is in his Heart till he searcheth Therefore if there be such hidden Wickedness like a Spring that runs under Ground we had need examine our selves that finding out our secret Sin we may be humbled and repent Hidden Sins if not searched out defile the Soul If Corn lie long in the Chaff the Chaff defiles the Corn hidden Sins layn long in defile our Duties Needful therefore it is before we come to the Holy Supper to search out these hidden Sins as Israel searched for Leaven before they came to the Passover 5. Self-examining is needful because without it we may easily have a Cheat put upon us Ier. 17.9 The Heart is deceitful above all things Many a Man's Heart will tell him he is fit for the Lord's Table As when Christ asked the Sons of Zebedee Matth. 20.22 Are ye able to drink the Cup I shall drink of Can ye drink such a Bloody Cup of Suffering They say unto him We are able So the Heart will suggest to a Man He is fit to drink of the Sacramental Cup he hath on the Wedding Garment Grande profundum est homo Aug. The Heart is a Grand Impostor It is like a cheating Tradesman which will put one off with bad Wares The Heart will put a Man off with â—â—eming Grace in stead of saving A Tear or two shed is Repentance a few lazie Desires is Faith Blue and red Flowers that grow among the Corn look like good Flowers but they are beautiful Weeds The foolish Virgins Lamps looked as if they had had Oyl in them but they had none Therefore to prevent a Cheat that we may not take False Grace in stead of True we had need make a thorough Disquisition and Search of our Hearts before we come to the Lord's Table 6. Self-examining is needful because of those False Fears the Godly are apt to nourish in their Hearts which make them go sad to the Sacrament As they who have no Grace for want of Examining presume so they who have Grace for want of Examining are ready to despair Many of God's Children look upon themselves through the black Spectacles of Fear They fear Christ is not formed in them they fear they have no Right to the Promise and these Fears in the Heart cause Tears in the Eye Whereas would they but search and examine they might find they had Grace Are not their Hearts humbled for Sin And what is this but the bruised Reed Do they not weep after the Lord And what are these Tears but Seeds of Faith Do they not Thirst after Christ in an Ordinance What is this but the New Creature crying for the Breast Here are you see Seeds of Grace and would Christians examine their Hearts they might see there is something of God in them and so their false Fears would be prevented and they might approach with Comfort to these Holy Mysteries in the Eucharist Mark XIV 22 Iesus took Bread c. 7. Self-examining is needful in respect of the Danger in coming unworthily without Examination 1 Cor. 11.27 He shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. Par facit quasi Christum trucidaret Grotius i. e. God reckons with him as with a Crucifyer of the Lord Iesus He doth not Drink Christ's Blood but sheds it and so brings that Curse upon him as the Jews His Blood be upon us and our Children The Vertue of Christ's Blood nothing more comfortable the Guilt of it nothing more Formidable 4. We must examine our selves before the Sacrament in respect of the Difficulty of Self-examining Work Difficulty raiseth a Noble Spirit Self-examining is difficult 1. Because it is an Inward Work it lies most with the Heart External Acts of Devotion are easie To lift up the Eye to bow the Knee to read over a few Prayers this is as easie as for the Papists to tell over a few Beads But to examine a Man's self to take the Heart as a Watch all in pieces to make a Scripture-Trial of our Fitness for the Lord's Supper this is not easie Reflexive Acts are hardest The Eye cannot see its self but by a Glass We must have the Glass of the Word and Conscience to see our own Hearts 'T is easie to spy the Faults of others but it is hard to find out our own 2. Self-examination is difficult in regard of Self-Love As Ignorance blinds so Self-love flatters What Solomon saith of Love Prov. 10.12 Love covereth all Sins is most true of Self-love A Man looking upon himself in the Glass of Self-love that flattering Glass his Vertues appear greater than they are and his Sins lesser Self-love makes a Man rather excuse himself than examine himself Self-love makes one think the best of himself and he who hath a good Opinion of himself doth not suspect himself and not suspecting himself he is not forward to Examine himself The Work therefore of self-Examination being so difficult it requires the more Impartiality and Industry Difficulty should be a Spur to Diligence 5. We must examine our selves before we come because of the Beneficialness of Self-examination The Benefit is great which way soever things turn If upon Examination we find that we have not Grace in Truth then the Mistake is discovered and the Danger prevented If we find that we have Grace we may take the Comfort of it He who upon Search finds that he hath the Minimum quod sic The least Degree of Grace he is like one that hath found his Box of Evidences he is an happy Man he is a fit Guest at the Lord's Table he is Heir to all the Promises he is
dead Saints but persecute living I may say of these as the Apostle Heb. 12.8 They are bastards not sons 4. Effect of love if we love our Heavenly Father then we will be Advocates for him and stand up in the defence of his Truth He who loves his Father will plead for him when he is traduced and wronged He hath no Child-like heart no love to God who can hear Gods name dishonoured and be silent Doth Christ appear for us in Heaven and are we afraid to appear for him on Earth Such as dare not own God and Religion in times of danger God will be ashamed to be called their God it would be a reproach to him to have such Children as will not own him 2. A Child-like love to God is known as by the Effects so by the Degree it is a superiour love We love our Father in Heaven above all other things above Estate or Relations as Oyl runs above the Water Psal. 73.25 A Child of God seeing a super eminency of Goodness and a constellation of all Beauties in God he is carried out in love to him in the highest measure As God gives his Children such a love as he doth not bestow upon the wicked electing love so Gods Children give God such a love as they bestow upon none else adoring love they give him the flower and spirits of their love they love him with a love joyned with worship this spiced Wine they keep only for their Father to drink of Cant. 8.2 4. A Child-like disposition is seen in honouring our Heavenly Father Mal. 1.6 A Son honoureth his Father Quest. How 〈◊〉 show our honour to our Father in Heaven Resp. 1. By having a reverential awe of God upon us Lev. 25.17 Thou shalt fear thy God This reverential fear of God is when we dare do nothing that he hath forbidden in his Word Gen. 39.9 How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God It is the part of the honour a Son gives to his Father he fears to displease him 2. We show our honour to our Heavenly Father by doing all we can to exalt God and make his Excellencies shine forth though we cannot lift up God higher in Heaven yet we may lift him higher in our hearts and in the esteem of others When we speak well of God set forth his renown display the trophies of his goodness when we ascribe the glory of all we do to God when we are the trumpeters of Gods praise this is an honouring our Father in Heaven and a certain sign of a Child-like heart Psal. 50.23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me 2. We may know God is our Father by our resembling of him The Child is his Fathers Picture Iudg. 8.18 Each one resembled the children of a King Every Child of God resembles the King of Heaven herein Gods adopting Children and Mans differ A Man adopts one for his Son and Heir that doth not at all resemble him but whosoever God adopts for his Child is like him he not only bears his Heavenly Fathers Name but Image Col. 3.10 And have put on the new man which is renewed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after the image of him that created him He who hath God for his Father resembles God in Holiness Holiness is the glory of the Godhead Exod. 15.11 The Holiness of God is the intrinsick Purity of his Essence He who hath God for his Father partakes of the Divine Nature though not of the Divine Essence yet of the Divine Likeness As the Seal sets its print and likeness upon the Wax so he who hath God for his Father hath the print and effigies of his Holiness stamped upon him Psal. 106.16 Aaron the Saint of the Lord. Wicked Men desire to be like God hereafter in glory but do not affect to be like him here in grace they give it out to the World that God is their Father yet have nothing of God to be seen in them they are unclean they not only want his Image but hate it 3. We may know God is our Father by having his Spirit in us 1. By having the intercession of the Spirit 'T is a Spirit of Prayer Gal. 4.6 Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Prayer is the Souls breathing it self into the bosom of its Heavenly Father None of Gods Children are born dumb implet Spiritus sanctus organum suum tanquam Pila chordarum tangit Spiritus Dei corda sanctorum Prosper Acts 9.11 Behold he prayeth But it is not every Prayer evidenceth Gods Spirit in us Such as have no grace may excel in gifts and affect the hearts of others in Prayer when their own hearts are not affected As the Lute makes a sweet sound in the ears of others but it self is not sensible how therefore shall we know our Prayers are indited by Gods Spirit and so he is our Father Resp. 1. When they are not only Vocal but Mental when there are not only gifts but groans Rom. 8.26 The best Musick is in consort the best Prayer is when the heart and tongue joyn together in consort 2. When they are zealous and fervent Iam. 5.16 The effectual fervent Prayer of a righteous man availeth much The eyes melt in Prayer the heart burns Fervency is to Prayer as Fire to the Incense it makes it ascend to Heaven as a sweet perfume 3. When Prayer hath Faith sprinkled in it Prayer is the Key of Heaven and Faith is the hand that turns it Rom. 8.15 We cry Abba Father We cry there is fervency in Prayer Abba Father there is Faith Those Prayers suffer shipwrack which dash upon the rock of unbelief Thus we may know God is our Father by having his Spirit praying in us As Christ intercedes above so the Spirit intercedes within 2. By having the renewing of the Spirit which is nothing else but Regeneration which is called a being born of the Spirit Iohn 3.5 This regenerating work of the Spirit is a transformation or change of Nature Rom. 12.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind He who is born of God hath a new heart New not for substance but for qualities The strings of a Viol may be the same but the Tune is altered Before this Regeneration there are Spiritual Pangs much heart-breaking for Sin Regeneration is called a circumcising of the heart Col. 2.11 In Circumcising there was pain in the flesh so in this Spiritual Circumcision there is pain in the heart there is much sorrow arising from the sense of guilt and wrath The Jaylors trembling Acts 16.30 was a pang in the new birth Gods Spirit is a Spirit of Bondage before it be a Spirit of Adoption This blessed work of Regeneration spreads over the whole Soul it irradiates the Mind it consecrates the Heart and reforms the Life Though Regeneration be but in part it is in every part 1 Thess. 5.23 Regeneration is the signature
and engraving of the Holy Ghost upon the Soul The new born Christian is bespangled with the Jewels of the 〈◊〉 which are the Angels glory Regeneration is the spring of all true joy At our first birth we come weeping into the World but at our new birth there 's cause of rejoycing for now God is our Father and we are begotten to a lively hope of glory 1 Pet. 1.3 We may try by this our relation to God Hath a regenerating work of Gods Spirit passed upon our Souls Are we made of another Spirit Humble and Heavenly This is a good sign of Son-ship and we may say Our Father which art in Heaven 3. By having the conduct of the Spirit We are led by the Spirit Rom. 8.14 As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God Gods Spirit doth not only quicken us in our Regeneration but leads us on till we come to the end of our Faith Salvation It is not enough the Child have Life but he must be led every step by the Nurse Hos. 11.3 I taught Ephraim to go taking them by their armes Their Armes as the Israelites had the Cloud and Pillar of Fire to go before them and be a guide to them so Gods Spirit is a guide to go before us and lead us into all truth and counsel us in all our doubts and influence us in all our actions Psalm 73.24 Thou shalt guide me by thy counsels None can call God Father but such as have the conduct of his Spirit Try then what Spirit you are led by Such as are led by a Spirit of Envy Lust Avarice these are not led by the Spirit of God it were blasphemy for them to call God Father These are led by the Spirit of Satan and may say Our Father which art in Hell 4. By having the Witness of the Spirit Rom. 8.16 The Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirit that we are the Children of God This Witness of the Spirit suggesting that God is our Father is not a Vocal Witness or Voice from Heaven The Spirit in the Word witnesseth The Spirit in the Word saith he who is so qualified who is an hater of Sin and a lover of Holiness is a Child of God and God is his Father if I can find such qualifications wrought here is the Spirit witnessing with my Spirit that I am a Child of God Besides we may carry it higher the Spirit of God witnesseth to our Spirit by making more than ordinary impressions upon our hearts and giving some secret hints and whispers that God hath purposes of Love to us Here is a concurrent witness of the Spirit with Conscience that we are Heirs of Heaven and God is our Father This Witness is better felt than expressed this Witness scatters doubts and fears silenceth temptations but what shall one do that hath not this Witness of the Spirit If we wâ—â—t the Witness of the Spirit let us labour to find the Work of the Spirit if we have not the Spirit testifying labour to have it sanctifying and that will be a support to us 4. If God be our Father we are of Peaceable Spirits Matth. 5.9 Blessed are the peace-makers they shall be called the children of God Grace infuseth a sweet amicable disposition it files off the ruggedness of Mens Spirits it turns the Lion-like fierceness into a Lamb-like gentleness Isa. 11.7 They who have God to be their Father follow Peace as well as Holiness God the Father is called the God of Peace Heb. 13.20 God the Son the Prince of Peace Isa. 9.6 God the Holy Ghost is a Spirit of Peace It is called the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Eph. 4.3 The more peaceable the more like God It is a bad sign God is not their Father 1. Who are fierce and cruel as if with Romulus they had sucked the Milk of a Wolf Rom. 3.17 The way of peace have they not known they sport in mischief these are they who are of a persecuting Spirit as Maximinus Dioclesian Antiochus who as Eusebius took more tedious journeys and run more hazards in vexing and persecuting the Iewes than any of his Predecessors had done in getting of Victories These Furies cannot call God Father if they do they will have as little comfort in saying Father as Dives had in Hell when he said Father Abraham Luke 16.24 2. Who are makers of division Rom. 16.17 Mark them which cause divisions and avoid them Such as are born of God are makers of Peace what shall we think of such as are makers of Division will God Father these The Devil made the first division in Heaven they may call the Devil Father they may give the Cloven Foot in their Coat of Armes their sweetest Musick is in Discord they unite to divide Sampsons Fox-tails were tyed together only to set the Philistians Corn on fire Iudg. 15 4. Papists unite only to set the Churches Peace on fire· Satans Kingdom goes up by Divisions St. Chrysostome observes of the Church of Corinth when many Converts were brought in Satan knew no better way to dam up the current of Religion than to throw in an Apple of Strife and divide them into Parties one was for Paul and another for Apollos but few for Christ. Would not Christ have his Coat rent and can he endure to have his Body rent Sure God will never Father them who are not Sons of Peace Of all them who God hates he is named for one who is a sower of discord among brethren Prov. 6.19 5. If God be our Father then we love to be near God and have converse with him An ingenuous Child delights to approach near to his Father and go into his presence David envyed the Birds that they built their Nests so near Gods Altars when he was debarred his Fathers house Psal. 84.3 True Saints love to get as near to God as they can In the Word they draw near to his Holy Oracle in the Sacrament they draw near to his Table a Child of God delights to be in his Fathers presence he cannot stay away long from God he sees a Sabbath day approaching and rejoyceth his heart hath been often melted and quickened in a Ordinance he hath tasted the Lord is good therefore he loves to be in his Fathers presence he cannot keep away long from God Such as care not for Ordinances cannot say Our Father which art in Heaven Is God their Father who cannot endure to be in his presence VSE I. Of Instruction See the amazing goodness of God that is pleased to enter into this sweet relation of a Father God needed not to adopt us he did not want a Son God did not want a Son but we did a Father God showed Power in being our Maker but Mercy in being our Father When we were enemies and our hearts stood out as garrisons against God that he should conquer our stubbornness and of enemies make us children and write his
Wind blowes no wonder Men go full sail in sin when the Devil the Prince of the Air blowes them Thus it is till the kingdom of Grace come Men are under the power of Satan who like Draco writes all his Lawes in blood 6. Till the kingdom of Grace comes a Man lyes exposed to the Wrath of God And who knowes the power of his anger Psal. 90.11 If when but a spark of Gods Wrath flyes into a Mans Conscience in this Life it is so terrible what then will it be when God stirs up all his anger So unconceivable torturing is Gods Wrath that the wicked call to the rocks and mountains to fall on them and hide them from it Rev. 6. 1st The Hellish torments are compared to a fiery lake Rev. 20.15 other fire is but painted in comparison of this And this lake of fire burns for ever Mark 9.44 Gods breath kindles this fire Isa. 30.33 and where shall we find engines or buckets to quench it Time will not finish it tears will not quench it To this fiery Lake are Men exposed till the kingdom of Grace be set up in them 7. Till the kingdom of Grace come Men cannot dye with comfort only he who takes Christ in the armes of his Faith can look Death in the face with joy But it is sad to have the king of Terrors in the Body and not the kingdom of Grace in the Soul 'T is a wonder every Graceless person doth not dye distracted What will a Grace-despiser do when Death comes to him with a Writ of Habeas Corpus Hell followes Death Rev. 6.8 Behold a pale horse and his name that sat on him was death and hell followed him Thus you see what need we have to pray that the kingdom of Grace may come He that dyes without Grace I may say as Christ Matth. 26.24 It had been good for that-man he had not been born Few do believe the necessity of having the kingdom of Grace set up in their hearts as appears by this because they are so well content to live without it Doth that Man believe the necessity of a Pardon that is content to be without it Most People if they may have Trading and may sit quietly under their Vines and Fig-trees they are in their kingdom though they have not the kingdom of God within them If the Candle of Prosperity shine upon their head they care not whether the Grace of God shine in their hearts Do these Men believe the necessity of Grace Were they convinced how needful it were to have the kingdom of God within them they would cry out as the Jaylor Acts 16.30 What shall I do to be saved Quest. 3. How may we know that the Kingdom of Grace is set up in our hearts Answ. It concerns us to examine this our Salvation depends upon it and we had need be curious in the search because there is something looks like Grace which is not Gal. 6.3 If a man think himself to be something when he is nothing he deceives himself Many think they have the kingdom of Grace come into their heart and it is only a Chimera a golden dream Quam multi cum vana spe descendunt ad inferos Aug. Zeuxis did paint grapes so lively that he deceived the living birds There are many Deceits about Grace Deceit 1. Men think they have the kingdom of Grace in their hearts because they have the means of Grace they live where the silver trumpet of the Gospel sounds they are lift up to Heaven with Ordinances Iudg. 17.13 I have a Levite to my priest sure I shall go to Heaven The Iewes cryed Ier. 7.4 The temple of the Lord The temple of the Lord we are apt to glory in this the Oracles of God are committed to us we have Word and Sacrament Alas this is a fallacy we may have the means of Grace yet the kingdom of Grace may not be set up in our hearts we may have the kingdom of God come nigh us Luke 11.20 but not into us the sound of the Word in our ears and not the savour of it in our hearts Many of the Iewes who had Christ for their Preacher were never the better Hot clothes will not put warmth into a dead Man Thou may'st have hot clothes warm and lively Preaching yet be Spiritually dead Mat. 8.12 The children of the kingdom shall be cast out Deceit 2. Men think they have the kingdom of Grace set up in their hearts because they have some common works of the Spirit 1. They have great enlightnings of mind profound knowledge and almost speak like Angels drop'd from Heaven but the Apostle supposeth a case that after Men have been enlightened they may fall away Heb. 6. Quest. But wherein doth this illumination come short Answ. The illumination of Hypocrites is not vertual it doth not leave an impression of Holiness behind 't is like weak Physick that will not work The mind is enlightned but the heart is not renewed A Christian is all head but no feet he doth not walk in the wayes of God 2. Men have had convictions and stirrings of Conscience for sin they have seen the evil of their wayes therefore now they hope the Kingdom of Grace is come but I say convictions though they are a step towards Grace yet they are not Grace Had not Pharaoh and Iudas convictions Exod. 10.16 Quest. What makes convictions prove abortive wherein is the defect Answ. 1. They are not deep enough A Sinner never saw himself lost without Christ. The seed that wanted depth of earth withered Matth. 13.5 These convictions are like blossoms blown off before they come to maturity 2. These convictions are involuntary the Sinner doth what he can to stifle these convictions he drowns them in Wine and Mirth he labours to get rid of them as the Deer when it is shot runs and shakes out the arrow so doth he the arrow of conviction Or as the Prisoner that files off his fetters and breaks loose so a Man breaks loose from his convictions His corruptions are stronger than convictions 3. Men have had some kind of humiliation and have shed tears for their sins therefore now they hope the Kingdom of Grace is come into their hearts But this is no infallible sign of Grace Saul wept Ahab humbled himself Quest. Why is not humiliation Grace Wherein doth it come short Answ. 1. Tears in the wicked do not spring from love to God but are forced by affliction Gen. 4.13 as water that drops from the Still is forced by the fire The tears of Sinners are forced by Gods fiery Judgments 2. They are deceitful tears lachrymae mentiri doctae Men weep yet go on in sin they do not drown their sins in their tears 4. Men have begun some reformation therefore sure now the Kingdom of Grace is come But there may be deceit in this 1. A Man may leave his Oaths and Drunkenness yet â—â—ill be in love with Sin he may leave Sin
the Bible Object 5. Where the Kingdom of Grace comes it softens the heart but I find my heart frozen and congealed into hardness I can hardly squeeze out one tear Do Flowers grow on a Rock can there be any Grace in such a rocky heart Answ. 1. There may be grief where there are no tears The best sorrow is rational In your judgment you esteem sin the most hyperbolical evil you have a disgust and displacency against sin this is a rational sorrow and such as God will accept 2. A Christian may have some hardness in his heart yet not have an hard heart subjectum a praestantiori parte A field may have Tares in it yet we call it a field of Wheat in the best heart is a mixture of hardness yet because there is some softness and melting God looks upon it as a soft heart therefore Christian dispute not against thy self if thou canst find but one thing that the frame and temper of thy Soul be holy art thou still breathing after God delighting in him is the complexion of thy Soul Heavenly Canst thou say as David Psal. 139.17 When I awake I am still with thee As Colours laid in Oyl or a Statue carved in Gold abide so doth an holy complexion the Soul is still pointing towards God If it be thus with thee assure thy self the Kingdom of Grace is come into thy Soul be not unkind to God to deny any work of his Spirit which he hath wrought in thee VSE I. Of Exhortation Labour to find that this Kingdom of Grace is set up in your hearts while others aspire after Earthly Kingdoms labour to have the Kingdom of God within you Luke 17.21 The Kingdom of Grace must come into us before we can go into the Kingdom of Glory Motives 1. Motive This Kingdom of God within us is our Spiritual Beauty the Kingdom of Grace adorns a person and sets him off in the eyes of God and Angels This makes the Kings daughter all glorious 〈◊〉 Psal. 45.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys. Grace sheds a glory and lustre upon 〈◊〉 Soul As the Diamond to the Ring so is Grace to the Soul An heart beautified with Grace hath the King of Heavens picture hung in it 2. Motive The Kingdom of Grace set up in the heart is our Spiritual Defence Grace is called the armour of light Rom. 13.12 It is light for beauty and armour for defence He who hath the Kingdom of Grace within him is strengthened with all might according to Gods glorious power Col. 1.11 he hath the shield of Faith the helmet of Hope the breast-plate of Righteousness This armour can never be shot through it fortifies a Christian against the assaults of Temptation and the terrours of Hell 3. Motive The Kingdom of Grace set up in the heart brings Peace with it Rom. 14.17 The kingdom of God is righteousness and peace There is a secret Peace breeds out of Holiness Peace is the best Blessing of a Kingdom Pax una triumphis innumeris melior The Kingdom of Grace is a Kingdom of Peace Grace is the root Peace is the flower grows out of it it is Pax in procella such Peace that no worldly affliction can shake The doors of Solomons Temple were made of Olive-tree carved with open flowers 1 Kings 6.32 in a gracious heart is the olive of Peace and the open flowers of Joy 4. Motive The Kingdom of Grace enricheth the Soul A Kingdom hath its riches A Believer is said to be rich in faith Iam. 2.5 how rich is he who hath God for his God who is heir to all the Promises Heb. 6.17 A Man may be rich in Bills and Bonds a Believer though he may say as Peter Silver and gold have I none Acts 3.6 yet he is rich in Bills and Bonds he is Heir to all Gods Promises and to be Heir to the Promise is better than to be Heir to the Crown 5. Motive When the Kingdom of Grace comes it doth fix and establish the heart Psal. 57.7 O God my heart is fixed Before the Kingdom of Grace comes the heart is very unfixed and unsettled like a Ship without a ballast like Quick-silver that cannot be made to fix but when the Kingdom of Grace comes it doth stabilire animum it fixeth the heart upon God and when the heart is fixed it rests quiet as in its center 6. Motive This Kingdom of Grace is distinguishing it is a sure pledge of Gods love God may give Kingdoms in anger but where ever the Kingdom of Grace is set up it is in love God cannot give Grace in anger The Crown alwayes goes with this Kingdom let us therefore be ambitious of this Kingdom of Grace Quest. How shall we do to obtain this Kingdom Answ. 1. In General Take pains for it We cannot have the World without labour and do we think to have Grace If thou seekest her as silver Prov. 2.3 A Man may as well expect a crop without sowing as Grace without labour We must not think to have Grace as Israel had Manna they did not plough or sow but it was rained down from Heaven upon them no we must operam dare take pains for Grace Our Salvation cost Christ blood it will cost us sweat 2. Let us go to God to set up this Kingdom of Grace in our hearts God is called the God of all grace 1 Pet. 5.10 Say Lord I want this Kingdom of Grace I want an humble believing heart O enrich me with Grace let thy Kingdom come and be importunate suitors As Achsah said to her Father Caleb Iosh. 15.19 Thou hast given me a south-land give me also springs of water So Lord thou hast given me enough of the World here is a South-land but Lord give me the upper springs of Grace let thy Kingdom come What is the Venison thou hast given me without the Blessing When we are importunate with God and will take no denyal then he will set up his Kingdom within us 3. Keep close to the Word preached the Word preached is virga virtutis the rod of Gods strength it is the great engine God useth for the setting up the Kingdom of Grace in the heart Rom. 10.17 Faith comes by hearing Though God could work Grace immediately by his Spirit or by the ministry of Angels from Heaven yet he chooseth to work by the Word preached this is the usual means by which he sets up the Kingdom of Grace in the heart and the reason is because he hath put his divine sanction upon it he hath appointed it for the means of working Grace and he will honour his own Ordinance 1 Cor. 1.21 What reason could be given why the Waters of Damascus should not have as soveraign vertue to heal Naamans Leprosie as the Waters of Iordan only this because God did appoint and sanctifie the Waters of Iordan to heal and not the other Therefore let us keep to the Word preached because the power of God goes along with it VSE
2. That it may encrease and flourish 3. That the Kingdom of Glory may hasten and that God would in his due time translate us into it 1. What this Kingdom of Glory is 2. What are the Properties of it 3. Wherein it exceeds all other Kingdoms 4. When this Kingdome comes 5. Wherein appears the Certainty of it 6. Why we should pray for its coming 1. What this Kingdom of Glory is Answ. By this Kingdom is meant that glorious Estate which the Saints shall enjoy when they shall reign with God and Angels for ever If a Man stand upon the Sea-shore he cannot see all the Dimensions of the Sea the length breadth and depth of it yet he may see it is of a vast Extension So though the Kingdom of Heaven be of that incomparable Excellency that neither Tongue of Man or Angels can express yet we may conceive of it to be an exceeding glorious thing such as eye hath not seen Concerning the Kingdom of Heaven I shall show What 1. It Implies 2. It imports 1. What it implies Answ. It implies A blessed Freedom from all Evil. 2. What it imports Answ. It Imports glorious Fruition of all good 1. What the Kingdom of Heaven implies Resp. It implies a blessed freedom from all evil 1. A freedom from the Necessities of Nature We are in this Life subject to many Necessities We need Food to nourish us Cloathes to cover us Armour to defend us Sleep to refresh us But in the Kingdom of Heaven there is no need of these things and it is better not to need them then to have them as it is better not to need Crutches then to have Crutches What need will there be of Food when our Bodies shall be made spiritual 1 Cor. 15.44 Though not spiritual for substance yet for qualities What need will there be of Clothing when our Bodies shall be like Christs glorious Body what need will there be of Armour when there is no Enemy what need will there be of Sleep when there is no Night Rev. 22.5 The Saints shall be freed in the Heavenly Kingdom from those Necessities of Nature to which now they lye exposed 2 In the Kingdom of Heaven we shall be freed from the Imperfections of Nature Since the Fall our Knowledge hath suffered an Eclipse 1. Our Natural Knowledge is imperfect it is checkered with Ignorance There are many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hard Knots in Nature which we cannot easily unty Why the Sea should be higher then the Earth yet not drown it What way the Light is parted Iob 38.24 What is the reason of all the occult Qualities Sympathies and Antipaâ—â—â—es He who sees clearest hath a Mist before his Eyes Socrates said on his Death-bed there were many things he had yet to learn Our Ignorance is more then our Knowledge 2. Our Divine Knowledge is imperfect we know but in part said Paul 1 Cor. 13.9 though he had many Revelations and was wrapt up into the third Heaven We have but dark Conceptions of the Trinity Iob 11.7 Canst thou by searching find out God our narrow Capacities will no more contain the Trinity then a little Glass-Vial will hold all the Water in the Sea we cannot unriddle the Mistery of the Incarnation the Humane Nature assumed into the Person of the Son of God the Humane Nature not God yet united with God We see now in aenigmate in a Glass darkly but in the Kingdom of Heaven the Vail shall be taken off all Imperfections of Nature shall be done away When the Sun-light of Glory shall begin to shine in the Heavenly Horizon all dark shadows of Ignorance shall flye away our Lamp of Knowledge shall burn bright we shall have a full knowledge of God though not know him fully 3. In the Kingdom of Heaven we shall be freed from the toylsome Labours of this Life God enacted a Law in Paradise In the sweat of thy Brows thou shalt eat Bread Gen. 3.9 There is the Labour of the Hand in Manufacture and the Labour of the Mind in Study Eccl. 1.8 All things are full of Labour but in the Kingdom of Heaven we shall be freed from our Labours 1. There needs no Labour when a Man hath got to the Haven he hath no more need of failing In Heaven there needs no Labour because the Saints shall have that Glory which they laboured for 2. There shall be no Labour Rev. 14.13 They rest from their Labours As God when he had finished the Work of Creation rested from his Labours Gen. 2.2 So when the Saints have finished the Work of Sanctification they rest from their Labours Where should there be rest but in the Heavenly Center Not that this sweet rest in the Kingdom of Heaven excludes all Motion for Spirits cannot be idle but the Saints Glorified shall rest from all wearisome Imployment it shall be a labour full of ease a Motion full of Delight The Saints in Heaven shall love God and what labour is that Is it any Labour to love Beauty They shall praise God and that sure is delightful When the Bird sings it is not so much a Labour as a pleasure 4. In the Kingdom of Heaven we shall be freed from Original Corruption This is causa causati the root of all Actual Sin There would be no Actual Sin if there were no Original there would be no Water in the Stream if there were none in the Fountain Original Sin is incorporated into our Nature 't is as if the whole mass of Blood were corrupted This makes a Christian weary of his Life he offends that God whom he loves What would a Christian give to have his Chains taken off to be rid of vain thoughts How did Paul that bird of Paradise bemoan himself for his Sins Rom. 7.24 we cannot act either our Duties or Graces without Sin The Soul that is most refined and clarified by Grace is not without some dregs of Corruption but in the Kingdom of Heaven the Fountain of Original Sin shall be quite dryed up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 What a blessed time will that be never to grieve Gods Spirit more In Heaven are Virgin Souls there is Beauty which is not stained with Lust nothing enters there that defiles Rev. 21.27 5. In the Kingdom of Heaven we shall be freed from all sorrows Rev. 21.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There shall be no more sorrow Our Life here is interlarded with trouble Psal. 31.10 either Losses grieve or Law-suits vex or Unkindness breaks the heart We may as well separate moisture from Air or weight from Lead as Troubles from Mans Life Quid est diu vivere nisi diu torqueri Aug. but in the Kingdom of Heaven sorrow and sighing shall fly away Here the Saints sit by the Rivers weeping but one smile from Christs Face will make them forget all their Sufferings their Water then shall be turned into Wine their Mourning into Musick 6. We shall in the Kingdom of Heaven be freed from the immodesty of
〈◊〉 to depart and be with Christ from this Connexion departing and being with Christ we see clearly that there is a subitus transitus speedy passage from death to Glory No sooner is the Soul of a Believer divorced from the Body but it presently goes to Christ 2 Cor. 5.8 absent from the Body present with the Lord it were better for Believers to stay here if immediately after death they were not with Christ in Glory for here the Saints are daily encreasing their Grace here they have many praelibamina sweet tasts of Gods love so that it were better to stay here if their Soul should sleep in their body and they should not have a speedy sight of God in Glory But this is the Consolation of Believers they shall not stay long for their kingdom 't is but winking and they shall see God it will be a blessed change to a Believer from a Desert to a Paradise from a bloody battle to a victorious Crown and a sudden Change no sooner did Lazarus dye but he had a Convoy of Angels to conduct his Soul to the kingdom of Glory You who now are full of bodily Diseases scarce a well day Psal. 31.10 My Life is spent with Grief be of good Comfort you may be happy before you are aware before another Week or Month be over you may be in the kingdom of Glory and then all tears shall be wiped away 2. The Glory in the kingdom of Heaven will be fully perfected at the Resurrection and general day of Judgment then the Bodies and Souls of Believers will be re-united what Joy will there be at the Re-union and meeting together of the Soul and Body of a Saint O what a welcome will the Soul give to the Body O my dear Body thou didst oft joyn with me in Prayer and now thou shalt joyn with me in Praise thou wert willing to suffer with me and now thou shalt reign with me thou wert sown a vile Body but now thou art made like Christs Glorious Body we were once for a time divorc'd but now we are married and Crowned together in a kingdom and shall mutually congratulate each others Felicity 5. Quest. Wherein appears the Certainty and infallibility of this Kingdom of Glory Resp. That this blessed kingdom shall be bestowed on the Saints is beyond all Dispute 1. God hath promised it Luke 12.32 It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a Kingdom Luke 22.29 I appoint unto you a Kingdom Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I bequeath it as my last Will and Testament Hath God promised a kingdom and will he not make it good Gods promise is better then any Bond Tit. 1.2 In hope of eternal Life which God that cannot lye hath promised The whole Earth hangs upon the Word of Gods Power and cannot our Faith hang upon the Word of his Promise 2. There is a Price laid down for this kingdom Heaven is not only a kingdom which God hath promised but which Christ hath purchased 'T is called a purchased Possession Eph. 1.14 Though this kingdom is given us freely yet Christ bought it with the Price of his blood Christs blood is an Heaven-procuring blood Heb. 10.19 Having boldness to enter into the Holiest i. e. into Heaven by the blood of Iesus Crux Christi Clavis Paradisi Christs blood is the key that opens the Gates of Heaven to us should not the Saints have this kingdom then Christ would lose his Purchase Christ on the Cross was in hard Travail Isa. 13.11 he travailed to bring forth Salvation to the Elect should not they possess the kingdom when they dye Christ should lose his Travail all his Pangs and Agonies of Soul upon the Cross should be in vain 3. Christ prays that the Saints may have this kingdom settled upon them Iohn 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am i. e. in Heaven This is Christs Prayer that the Saints may be with him in his kingdom and be bespangled with some of the Beams of his Glory now if they should not go into this heavenly kingdom then Christs Prayer would be frustrated but that cannot be for he is Gods Favourite Iohn 11.42 I know thou hearest me alwaies and besides what Christ prays for he hath power to give Observe the manner of Christs Prayer Father I will Father there he prays as Man I will there he gives as God 4. The Saints must have this blessed kingdom by vertue of Christs Ascension Iohn 20.17 I ascend to my Father and your Father to my God and to your God Where lies the comfort of this here it lies Jesus Christ ascended to take Possession of heaven for all Believers as an Husband takes up Land in another Country in the behalf of his Wife so Christ went to take possession of heaven in the behalf of all Believers Iohn 14.2 I go to prepare a place for you My Ascension is to make all things ready against your coming I go to prepare the heavenly Mansions for you The Flesh that Christ hath taken into heaven is a sure Pledge that all our Flesh and Bodies shall be where he is ere long Christ did not ascend to heaven as a private Person but as a publick Person for the good of all Believers his Ascension was a certain Fore-runner of the Saints ascending into heaven 5. The Elect must have this blessed kingdom in regard of the previous Works of the Spirit in their hearts they have the beginning of the kingdom of heaven in them here Grace is heaven begun in the Soul besides God gives them primitias spiritus the first Fruits of the Spirit Rom. 8.23 These First-fruits are the Comforts of the Spirit the First-fruits under the Law were a certain sign to the Jews of the full Crop or Vintage which they should after receive The First-fruits of the Spirit consisting in Joy and Peace do assure the Saints of the full Vintage of Glory they shall be ever reaping in the kingdom of God and the Saints in this Life are said to have the earnest of the Spirit in their hearts 2 Cor. 5.5 as an earnest is part of Payment and an assurance of Payment in full to be made in due Time So Gods Spirit in the hearts of Believers giving them his Comforts bestows on them an earnest or tast of Glory which doth further assure them of that full Reward which they shall have in the kingdom of heaven 1 Pet. 1.8 believing ye rejoyce there is the earnest of heaven Verse 9. receiving the end of your Faith Salvation there is the full Payment 6. The Elect must have this blessed Kingdom by virtue of their Coalition and Vnion with Jesus Christ. They are Members of Christ therefore they must be where their Head is Indeed the Arminians hold that a justified person may fall from Grace and so his Union with Christ may be dissolved and the Kingdom lost but I would demand of them can Christ lose a
a means to bring us thither 18. The last means for obtaining the Heavenly Kingdom is Perseverance in Holiness Rev. 2.10 Be thou faithful unto death and thou shalt receive the Crown of Life In Christians non initia sed finis laudantur Hierom. 1. Is there such a thing as persevering 2. How doth a Christian come to persevere 3. What are the Incouragements 4. What Helps 1. Is there such a thing as persevering till we come to Heaven The Arminians deny it and truly that any one holds out to the Kingdom is a wonder if you consider 1. What a world of Corruption is mingled with Grace Grace is apt to be stifled as the Coal to be choaked with its own ashes Grace is oft like a Spark in the Sea 't is a wonder it is not quenched 'T is a wonder sin doth not do to Grace as sometime the Nurse to the Child overlay it that it dye so that this Infant of Grace is not smothered 2. The Implacable malice of Satan he denies that we should have a Kingdom when he himself is cast out it cuts him to the heart to see a piece of dust and clay be made a bright Star in Glory and he himself an Angel of Darkness he will Acheronta movere move all the Powers of Hell to hinder us from the Kingdom he spits his Venome shoots his fiery Darts raiseth a storm of persecution yea and prevails against some Rev. 12.4 There appeared a great red Dragon and his Tail drew the third part of the Stars of Heaven and did cast them to the Earth By the Dragon is meant the Heathenish Empire now when his Tail cast so many to the Earth it is a wonder that any of the Stars keep fixed in their Orb. 3. The Blandishments of Riches The Young man in the Gospel went very far thou art not far from the Kingdom of God but he had rich Possessions and these golden weights hindred him from the Kingdom Luke 18.23 Ionathan pursued the Battle till he came at the Honey-comb and then he stood still 1 Sam. 14.27 Many are forward for Heaven till they tast the sweetness of the World but when they come at the Honey-comb then they stand still and go no further Faenus pecuniae funus animae Those who have escaped the Rocks of gross sins yet have been cast away upon the Golden Sands What a wonder therefore that any doth hold on till he comes to the Kingdom 4. A wonder any holds out in Grace and doth not tire in his march to Heaven if you consider the difficulty of a Christians Work he hath no time to lye fallow he is either watching or fighting nay a Christian is to do those Duties which to the eye of sence and reason seem inconsistent While a Christian doth one duty he seems to cross another e. g. he must come with holy boldness to God in Prayer yet must serve him with fear he must mourn for sin yet rejoyce he must be contented yet covet 1 Cor. 12.32 contemn Mens Impieties yet reverence their Authority What difficult work is this a wonder any Saint arrives at the Heavenly Kingdom to this I might add the evil Examples abroad which are so atractive we may say the Devils are come among us in the likeness of Men what a wonder is it that any Soul perseveres till it comes to the Kingdom of Heaven but as great a wonder as it is there is such a thing as perseverance a Saints perseverance is built upon three immutable Pillars 1. Gods Eternal Love We are inconstant in our Love to God but he is not so in his Love to us Ier. 31.9 I have loved thee with an everlasting Love a havath gnolam with a Love of Eternity Gods Love to the Elect is not like a Kings Love to his Favourite when it is at the highest Spring-Tide it soon ebbs but Gods Love is eternized God may desert not disinherit he may change his Love into a Frown not into hatred he may alter his Providence not his decree When once the Sun-shine of Gods Electing Love is risen upon the Soul it never sets finally 2. A Saints Perseverance is built upon the Covenant of Grace 〈◊〉 a firm impregnable Covenant This you have in the words of the sweet Singer of Israel 2. Sam. 23.5 God hath made with me an everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure 'T is a sweet Covenant that God will be our God the marrow and quintessence of all Blessing and it is a sure Covenant that he will put his Fear in our heart and we shall never depart from him Ier. 32.40 This Covenant is inviolable cannot be broken indeed sin may break the Peace of the Covenant but it cannot break the Bond of the Covenant 3. The third Pillar Perseverance is built upon is the Mistical Union Believers are incorporated into Christ they are knit to him as Members to the Head by the Nerve and Ligament of Faith that they cannot be broken off Eph. 5.23 What was once said of Christs natural Body is as true of his mistical Body Iohn 19.36 A bone of it shall not be broken As it is impossible to sever the Leaven and the Dough when they are once mingled so it is impossible when Christ and Believers are once united ever by the Power of Death or Hell to be separated How can Christ lose any Member of his Body and be perfect You see on what strong Pillars the Saints Perseverance is built 2 Quest. How doth a Christian hold on till he comes to the Kingdom How doth he persevere Resp. 1. Auxilio Spiritus God carries on a Christian to perseverance by the Energy and vigorous working of his Spirit The Spirit maintains the Essence and Seed of Grace it doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 blow up the Sparks of Grace into an holy Flame Spiritus est Vicarius Christi Tertul. 't is Christs Deputy and Proxy is it every day at work in a Believers heart exerting Grace into Exercise and ripening it into perseverance The Spirit doth carve and polish the Vessels of Mercy and make them fit for Glory 2. Christ causeth perseverance and carries on a Saint till he comes to the Heavenly Kingdom vi orationis by his Intercession Christ is an Advocate as well as a Surety he prays that the Saints may arrive safe at the Kingdom Heb. 7.25 Wherefore he is able to save them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the uttermost i. e. perfectly seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them that Prayer he made for Peter on Earth he prays now in Heaven for the Saints that their Faith fail not Luke 22.32 that they may be with him where he is Iohn 17.24 and sure if he pray that they may be with him in his Kingdom they cannot perish by the way Christs Prayer is efficacious if the Saints Prayers have so much force and prevalency in them Iacob had power with God and as a Prince prevailed Hos. 12.4 By Prayer Eliah unlocked
do but he cannot give him strength to work but God as he cuts us out work so he gives us strength Psal. 86.16 Give thy strength unto thy servant God not only gives us a Crown when we have done running but gives us legs to run he gives exciting assisting Grace Lex jubet Gratia juvat The Spirit helping us in our work for Heaven makes it easie If the Loadstone draw the Iron it is not hard for the Iron to move If God Spirit drawes the heart now it moves towards Heaven with facility and alacrity 10. The more pains we have taken for Heaven the sweeter Heaven will be when we come there As when an Husbandman hath been grafting Trees or setting Flowers in his Garden it is pleasant to review and look over his labours so when in Heaven we shall remember our former zeal and earnestness for the Kingdom it will sweeten Heaven and add to the joy of it For a Christian to think such a day I spent in examining my heart such a day I was weeping for Sin when others were at their sport I was at Prayer and now have I lost any thing by my Devotion My Teaâ—s are wiped away and the Wine of Paradise chears my heart I now enjoy him whom my Soul loves I am possessed of a Kingdom my labour is over but my joy remains 11. If you do not take pains for the Kingdom of Heaven now there will be nothing to be done for your Souls after death This is the only fit season for working and if this season be lost the Kingdom is forfeited Eccles. 9.10 Whatever thy hand findeth to do do it with thy might for there is no work nor device nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest It was a Saying of Charles the Fifth I have spent my Treasure but that I may recover again I have lost my Health but that I may have again but I have lost a great many brave Souldiers but them I can never have again So other Temporal things may be lost and recovered again but if the term of Life wherein you should work for Heaven be once lost it is past all recovery you can never have another season again for your Souls 12. There is nothing else but this Kingdom of Heaven we can make sure of We cannot make sure of Life Quis scit an adjiciant hodiernae crastina Vitae tempora dii superi Hor. When our Breath goes out we know not whether we shall draw it in again how many are taken away suddenly We cannot make Riches sure it is uncertain whether we shall get them The World is like a Lottery every one is not sure to draw a Prize Or if we get Riches we are not sure to keep them Prov. 23 5. Riches make themselves wings and fly Experience seals to the truth of this Many who have had plentiful Estates yet by Fire or losses at Sea they have been squeezed as spunges and all their Estates exhausted but if Men should keep their Estates a while yet Death strips them of all When Deaths gun goes off away flyes the Estate 1 Tim. 6.7 It is certain we can carry nothing out of the World So that there is no making sure any thing here below but we may make sure of the Kingdom of Heaven Prov. 11.18 To him that worketh righteousness is a sure reward He who hath Grace is sure of Heaven for he hath Heaven begun in him A Believer hath an evidence of Heaven Heb. 11.1 Faith is the evidence of things not seen he hath an earnest of Glory 2 Cor. 1.22 Who hath also given us the earnest of his Spirit an earnest is part of the whole summe he hath a sure hope Heb. 6.19 Which hope we have as an anchor this anchor is cast upon Gods promise Titus 1.2 In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lye hath promised So that here is great encouragement to take pains for Heaven we may make sure of this Kingdom 13. The Kingdom of Heaven cannot be obtained without labour Non est ad astra mollis e terris viâ— A boat may as well get to land without oars as we to Heaven without labour We cannot have the World without labour and do we think to have Heaven If a Man digs for Gravel much more for Gold Phil. 3.14 I press toward the mark Heaven Gate is not like that â—â—on-gate which opened to Peter of its own accord Acts 12.10 Heaven is not like those ripe figs which fall into the mouth of the eater Nahum 3.12 No there must be taking pains Two things are requisite for a Christian a watchful eye and a working hand We must as Hannibal force a way to the Heavenly Kingdom through difficulties We must win the garland of Glory by labour before we wear it with triumph God hath enacted this Law That no man shall eat of the Tree of Paradise but in the sweat of his browes how then dare any censure Christian diligence how dare they say you take more pains for Heaven than needs God saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strive as in an agony fight the good sight of Faith and these say you are too strict But who shall we believe an holy God that bids us strive or a prophane Atheist that saith we strive too much 14. Much of our time being already mispent we had need work the harder for the Kingdom of Heaven He who hath lost his time at School and often played truant had need ply it the harder that he may gain a stock of Learning he who hath slept and loytered in the beginning of his journey had need ride the faster in the evening least he fall short of the place he is travelling to Some here present are in their Youth others in the flower of their Age others have gray hairs the Almond tree blossoms and perhaps they have been very regardless of their Souls or Heaven Time spent unprofitably is not time lived but time lost if there be any such here who have mis-spent their golden hours they have not only been sloathful but wastful Servants how had you need now redeem the time and press forward with might and main to the Heavenly Kingdom 1 Pet 4.3 The time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles It may suffice us that we have lost so much time already let us now work the harder Such as have crept as Snails had need now fly as Eagles to the Paradise of God if in the former part of your Life you have been as Willows barren in goodness in the latter part be as an Orchard of Pomegranats with pleasant fruits Cant. 4.13 Recompence former remisness with future diligence 15. How uncomely and sordid a sloathful temper of Soul is Zeph. 1.12 I will punish the men who are settled on their lees Hebr. Hakkophim Coagulatos curdled on their lees Settling on the lees is an emblem of a dull unactive Soul The Snail by reason of its slow
his second Subtilty Satan chooseth the fittest season when to throw in a Temptation Subtilty 3. A third subtil Policy of Satan in tempting is He baits his Hook with Religion the Devil can hang out Christ's Colours and tempt to sin under pretences of Piety Now he is the White Devil and transforms himself into an Angel of Light Celsus wrote a Book full of Errour and he Intitled it Liber Veritatis The Book of Truth So Satan can write the Title of Religion upon his worst Temptations He comes to Christ with Scripture in his Mouth It is written c. So he comes to many and tempts them to sin under the pretence of Religion he tempts to Evil that Good may come of it He tempts men to such unwarrantable Actions that they may be put into a Capacity of honouring God the more He tempts them to accept of Preferment against Conscience that hereby they may be in a condition of doing more good He put Herod upon killing Iohn Baptist that hereby he might be kept from the Violation of his Oath He tempts many to Oppression and Extortion telling them they are bound to provide for their Families He tempts many to make away with themselves that they may live no longer to sin against God thus he wraps his poisonous Pills in sugar Who would suspect him when he comes as a Divine and quotes Scripture 4. Subtilty of Satan is to tempt to sin Gradually The old Serpent winds himself in by degrees He tempts first to lesser sins that so he may bring on greater A small Offence may occasion a great Crime as a little prick of an Artery may occasion a mortal Gangrene Satan first tempted David to an impure glance of the Eye to look on Bathsheba and that unclean look occasion'd Adultery and Murder First the Devil tempts to go into the Company of the wicked then to twist into a Cord of Friendship and so by degrees to be brought into the same Condemnation with them This is a great Subtilty of Satan to tempt to lesser sins first for these harden the Heart and fit men for the committing of more horrid tremendous Sins 5. Subtilty Satans Policy is to hand over Temptations to us by those whom we least suspect 1. By near Friends he tempts us by them who are near in Blood He tempted Iob by a Proxy he handed over a Temptation to him by his Wife Iob 2.9 Dost thou still retain thy Integrity As if he had said Iob thou seest how for all thy Religion God deals with thee His hand is gone out sore against thee what and still pray and weep Cast off all religion turn Atheist Curse God and die Thus Satan made use of Iob's Wife to do his work the woman was made of the Rib and Satan made a Bow of this Rib out of which he shot the Arrow of his Tentation Per costam petit Cor the Devil oft stands behind the Curtain he will not be seen in the Business but puts others to do his work As a man makes use of a Sergeant to arrest another so Satan makes use of a Proxy to tempt as he did creep into the Serpent so he can creep into a near Relation 2. He tempts sometimes by religious Friends The Devil keeps still out of sight that his Cloven Foot may not be seen Who would have thought to have found the Devil in Peter When he disswaded Christ from suffering Master spare thy self Christ spied Satan in the Temptation Get thee behind me Satan When our religious Friends would disswade us from doing our Duty Satan is a lying spirit in their Mouths and would by them entice us to Evil 6. Subtilty Satan tempts some Persons more than others some are like wet Tinder who will not so soon take the fire of Temptation as others Satan tempts most where he thinks his Policy 's will more easily prevail some are fitter to receive the impression of Temptations as soft Wax is fitter to take the stamp of the Seal The Apostle speaks of Vessels filled for Destruction Rom. 9.22 so there are Vessels fitted for Temptation Some like the spunge suck in Satan's Temptations There are five sorts of persons that Satan doth most sit brooding upon by his Temptations 1. Ignorant Persons The Devil can lead them into any snare you may lead a blind man any whither God made a Law that the Iews should not put a stumbling block in the way of the blind Levit. 19.14 Satan knows it is easie to put a Temptation in the way of the blind at which they shall stumble into Hell When the Syrians were smitten with Blindness the Prophet Elisha could lead them whither he would into the Enemies Country 2 Kin. 6.20 The bird that is blind is soon shot by the Fowler Satan the God of this World blinds men and then shoots them An ignorant man cannot see the Devils snares Satan tells him such a thing is no sin or but a little one and he will do well enough 'T is but repent 2. Satan tempts Vnbelievers He who with Diagoras doubts of a Deity or with the Photinians denies Hell what sin will not this man be drawn to He is like mettal that Satan can cast into any Mould he can dye him of any colour An Unbeliever will stick at no sin Luxury Perjury Injustice Paul was afraid of none so much as them that did not believe Rom. 15.31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea 3. Satan tempts proud Persons these he hath more power of none is in greater danger of falling by a Temptation than he who stands high in his own Conceit When David's Heart was lifted up in pride then the Devil stirr'd himself up to Number the people 2 Sam. 24.2 Celsae graviore casu decidunt Turres feriuntque summos fulmina montes Hor. Satan made use of Hamans pride to be his shame 4. Melancholy Persons Melancholy is atra bilis a black Humour seated chiefly in the Brain Melancholy clothes the Mind in Sable it doth disturb Reason Satan works much upon this Humour There are three things in Melancholy which give the Devil great Advantage 1. It unfits for Duty it pulls off the Chariot-Wheels it dispirits a man Lute-strings when they are wet will not sound When the spirit is sad and melancholy a Christian is out of tune for spiritual Actions 2. Melancholy sides often with Satan against God the Devil tells such a person God doth not love him there is no Mercy for him and the Melancholy Soul is apt to think so too and sets his hand to the Devils Lies 3. Melancholy breeds Discontent and Discontent is a cause of many sins Unthankfulness Impatience and oft it ends in self-murder Judge then what an Advantage Satan hath against a melancholy Person and how easily he may prevail with his Temptations A melancholy person tempts the Devil to tempt him 4. Idle Persons He who is idle the Devil will find him work to do Ierom
Grace in them Had they no Grace the Devil would not disturb them where he keeps possession all is in peace Luk. 11.21 his Temptations are to rob the Saints of their Grace a Thief will not assault an empty House but where he thinks there is Treasure A Pyrate will not set upon an empty Ship but that is full fraught with Spices and Jewels so the Devil most assaults the people of God because he thinks they have a rich treasure of Grace in their Hearts and he would rob them of that What makes so many Cudgels be thrown at a Tree but because there is so much fruit hanging upon it the Devil throws his temptations at you because he sees you have so much fruit of Grace growing upon you Tho to be tempted is a trouble yet to think why you are tempted is a comfort 3 The third Rock of support or comfort is that Jesus Christ is near at hand and stands by us in all our temptations Here take notice of two things 1. Christs sympathy in temptation 2. Christs succour in temptation 1. Christs Sympathy in our temptations Nobis compatitur Christus Heb. 4.15 We have not an High-priest who cannot be touch'd with the feeling of our Infirmities Jesus Christ doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sympathise with us he is so sensible of our Temptations as if he himself lay under them and did feel them in his own Soul As in Musick when one string is touched all the rest sound So Christs Bowels sound we cannot be Tempted but he is touched If you saw a Wolf worry your Child would you not pity your Child You cannot pity it so as Christ doth tempted ones Christ had a fellow feeling when he was upon Earth much more now in glory Quest. But how can it stand with Christs glory now in Heaven to have a fellow-feeling of our miseries and temptations Answ. This fellow-feeling in Christ ariseth not from any infirmity or passion but from the mystical union between him and his Members Zach. 2.8 He that toucheth you toucheth the Apple of mine Eye Every injury done to a Saint Christ takes as done to him in Heaven every temptation is a striking at Christ and he is touch'd with the feeling of our temptations 2. Christs succour in temptation as the good Samaritan first had compassion on the wounded Man there was Sympathy then he poured in Wine and Oil there was succour Luke 10.34 So when we are wounded by the Red Dragon Christ is first touched with compassion and then he pours in Wine and Oil Heb. 2.18 in that he himself hath suffer'd being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted The Greek word to succour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to run speedily to ones help so fierce is Satan so frail is Man that Christ who is God-man runs speedily to his help When Peter was ready to sink and said Lord save me Christ presently stretched forth his hand and caught him So when a poor Soul is tempted and cries to Heaven for help Lord save me Christ comes in with his Auxiliary Forces Noscit Christus our Lord Jesus knows what it is to be tempted therefore is so ready to succour such as are tempted it hath been an observation that child-bearing Women are more pittiful to others in their Travails than such Women as are Barren So the Lord Jesus having been in Travail by Temptations and Sufferings is more ready to pity and succour such as are tempted Concerning Christs succouring the Tempted consider two things 1. Christs Ability to succour 2. His Agility to succour 1. Christs Ability to succour Heb. 2.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he is able to succour them that are tempted Christ is call'd Michael Rev. 12.7 which signifies Who is like God Tho' the Tempted Soul is weak yet he fights under a good Captain The Lion of the Tribe of Iudah When a tempted Soul fights Christ comes into the Field as his Second Michael will be too hard for the Dragon when the Devil lays the Siege of a Temptation Christ can raise the Siege when he please He can beat through the Enemies quarters and can so rout Satan that he shall never be able to rally his forces any more Jesus Christ is on the Saints side and who would desire a better Live-guard than Omnipotency 2. Christs Agility in succouring As Christ is able to succour the tempted so he will certainly succour them Christs power inables him his love inclines him his faithfulness engageth him to succour tempted Souls This is a great comfort to a Soul in Temptation he hath a succouring Saviour as God did succour Israel in the Wilderness among fiery Serpents they had the Rock set abroach the Manna the Pillar of Cloud the Brazen Serpent what was this but a Type of Gods succouring a poor Soul in the Wilderness of Temptation stung with the Devil that fiery Serpent Alexander being asked how he could sleep so securely when his Enemies were about him said Antipater is awake who is always vigilant So when our tempting Enemy is near us Jesus Christ is awake who is a Wall of Fire about us There is a great deal of succour to the tempted in the Names given to Christ. As Satans names may terrifie so Christs names may succour The Devil is called Apollyon the Devourer Rev. 9.11 Christ is called a Saviour the Devil is call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Strong man Mat. 12.29 Christ is call'd el Gibbor the mighty God Isa. 9 6. the Devil is call'd the Accuser Rev. 12.10 Christ is called the Advocate 1 Ioh. 2.1 The Devil is called the Tempter Mat. 4.3 Christ is called the Comforter Luke 2.25 The Devil is call'd the Prince of Darkness Christ is call'd the Sun of Righteousness The Devil is call'd the Old Serpent Christ is call'd the Brazen Serpent that Heals Iohn 3.15 Thus the very names of Christ have some succour in them for Tempted Souls Quest. How and in what manner doth Christ succour them that are tempted Answ. Several ways 1. Christ succours them by sending his Spirit whose works it is to bring those promises to their mind which are fortifying Iohn 14.26 he shall bring all things to your remembrance The Spirit furnisheth us with promises as so many Weapons to fight against the old Serpent Rom. 16.20 the Lord will shortly bruise Satan under your feet 1 Cor. 10.13 God will not suffer you to be tempted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 above that ye are able Gen. 3.15 The Seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents Head We are oft in times of Temptation as a Man that hath his House beset and cannot find his Weapons he hath his Sword and his Gun to seek now in this case Christ sends his Spirit and he brings things to our remembrance that help us in our Combat with Satan The Spirit of Christ doth to one that is tempted as Aaron and Hur did to Moses they put a Stone under him and held up his Hands and
as he cannot answer It was a saying of Luther I have had great Troubles of Mind but so soon as I laid hold on any place of Scripture and staid my self upon it as upon my chief Anchor straightway my Temptations vanished away there 's no Temptation but we have a fit Scripture to answer it If Satan tempts to Sabbath-Breaking answer him It is written Remember to keep the Sabbath Day Holy If he tempts to Uncleanness answer him It is written Whore-Mongers and Adulterers God will judge If he tempts to Carnal Fear say It is written Fear not them that kill the Body and after that have no more that they can do No such way to confute Temptation as by Scripture The Arrows which we shoot against Satan must be fetch'd out of this Quiver Many People want this Sword of the Spirit they have not a Bible others seldom make use of this Sword but let it rust they look seldom into the Scripture therefore no wonder they are overcome by Temptations He who is well skill'd in the Word is like one who hath a Plaister ready to lay upon the Wound assoon as it is made and so the danger is prevented Oh study the Scripture and you will be too hard for the Devil he cannot stand against this 8. Let us be careful of our own Hearts that they do not DECOY us into sin The Apostle saith A Man is drawn away of his own Heart and enticed Iam. 1.14 Quisque sibi Satan est Bâ—rn Every man hath a Tempter in his own Bosom A Traitor within the Castle is dangerous The Heart can bring forth a Temptation tho' Satan doth not Midwife it into the World If Satan were dead and buried the Heart could draw us to Evil. As the Ground of all Diseases lies in the Humours of the Body so the Seed of all sin lies in Original Lust. Look to your Hearts 9. If you would not be overcome of Temptation fly the Occasions of sin Occasions of sin have a Great Force in them to awaken Lust within He that would keep himself free from Infection will not come near an infected House if you would be sober avoid drunken Company Ioseph when he was enticed by his Mistress shun'd the Occasion the Text saith he would not be with her Gen. 39.10 If you would not be ensnared by Popery do not hear the Mass. The Nazarite who was forbid Wine might not eat Grapes which might occasion intemperance Come not near the Borders of a temptation Suppose one had a body made of Gunpowder he would not come near the least spark of Fire lest he should be blown up Many Pray Lead us not into Temptation and they run themselves into temptation 10. If you would not be overcome by temptation make use of Faith above all things Take the Shield of Faith Ephes. 6.16 Faith wards off Satan's fiery darts that they do not hurt 1 Pet. 5.9 Whom resist stedfast in Faith Mariners in a storm flie to their Anchor Flie to your Anchor of Faith Faith brings Christ along with it Duellers bring their Second with them into the Field Faith brings Christ for its Second Faith puts us into Christ and then the Devil cannot hurt us The Chicken is safe from the Birds of Prey under the Wings of the Hen and we are secure from the Tempter under the Wings of the Lord Iesus Though other Graces are of use to resist the Impulsions of Satan yet Faith is the Conquering Grace Faith takes hold of Christ's Merits Value and Vertue and so a Christian is too hard for the Devil The Stars vanish when the Sun appears Satan vanisheth when Faith appears 11. If you would not be overcome of temptation be much in Prayer Such as walk in infectious places carry Antidotes about them Prayer is the best Antidote against temptation When the Apostle had exhorted to put on the whole Armour of God Ephes. 6.11 he adds Vers. 18. â—raying with all Prayer Without this Reliqua arma parum prosunt Zanchy All other Weapons will do little good Christ prescribes this Remedy Watch and pray lest ye enter into temptation Mark 14.38 A Christian fetcheth down strength from Heaven by Prayer Let us Cry to God for help against the Tempter as Sampson cried to Heaven for help Judg. 16.28 O Lord God remember me and strengthen me I pray thee that I may be avenged of the Philistines and vers 30. The house fell upon the Lords and upon all the People Prayer is stagellum diaboli it whips and torments the Devil The Apostle bids us Pray 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without ceasing 1 Thes. 5.17 It was Luther's advice to a Lady when temptation came to fall upon her knees by Prayer Prayer doth asswage the force of a temptation Prayer is the best Charm or Spell we can use against the Devil Temptation may bruise our Heel but by Prayer we wound the Serpents Head When Paul had a Messenger of Satan to buffet him what remedy doth he use He betook himself to Prayer 2 Cor. 12.8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me When Satan assaults furiously let us Pray fervently 12. If you would not be overcome of temptation be Humble in your own eyes Such are nearest falling who presume of their own strength Penelton who said his fat flesh should melt in the fire instead of his fat melting his heart melted and he turned from the Truth When Men grow into a big conceit God lets them fall to prick the Bladder of Pride O be humble Such are like to hold out best in a temptation who have most Grace but God gives more Grace to the humble Iames 4 6. Beware of Pride an Imposthume is not more dangerous in the Body than Pride in the Soul The Doves saith Pliny take a pride in their Feathers and in their flying high at last they flie so high that they are a prey to the Hawk When Men flie high in Pride and Self-confidence they become a prey to the Tempter 13. If you would not be foil'd by temptation do not enter into a Dispute with Satan When Eve began to argue the Case with the Serpent the Serpent was too hard for her The Devil by his Logick disputed her out of Paradise Satan can mince sin and make it small and varnish it over and make it look like Vertue Satan is too subtil a Sophister to hold an Argument with him Dispute not but Fight If you enter into a Parley with Satan you give him half the Victory 14. If we would not be overcome of Satan let us put on Christian Fortitude An Enemy we must expect who is either shooting of darts or laying of snares therefore let us be armed with courage 2 Chr. 19.11 Deal couragiously and the Lord shall be with the good The Coward never won Victory And to animate us in our Combat with Satan 1. We have a good Captain that Marcheth before us Christ is called the Captain of our
expos'd to the Waves and Rocks 3. Watch your Temptations Satan continually lies in ambush and watcheth to draw us to sin Stat in procinctu diabolus he is fishing for our Souls he is either laying of snares or shooting of darts therefore we had need watch the Tempter that we be not decoyed into sin Most sin is committed for want of watchfulness 7. If you would be kept from the evil of sin consult with the Oracles of God be well versed in Scripture Psal. 119.11 Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee The word is Anceps gladius a two-edged Sword to cut asunder mens lusts When the Fogs and Vapours of sin begin to arise let but the Light of Scripture shine into the Soul and it dispels those Fogs Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you Col. 3.16 Alphonsus King of Arragon read over the Bible Fourteen times The word shews the damnable evil of sin it furnisheth us with Precepts which are so many Receipts and Antidotes against sin When Christ had a Temptation to sin he beat back the Tempter and wounded him Three times with this Sword of the Spirit It is written Why do men live in sin but because they either do not Read the Word or do not believe it 8. If you would be preserv'd from gross presumptuous sin get your hearts fired with love to God Love hath a great force in it it is strong as death it breaks the league between the heart and sin Two things in God cause Love First His Orient Beauty Moses desired to see some glimpse of it Lord shew me thy glory 2. His Amazing Love What a Prodigy of Love was it to give his Son out of his Bosom and lay such a Jewel to pawn for our Redemption These two the Orient of God's Beauty and the Magnitude of his Love may like two Loadstones draw our Love to God and if we love him we will not sin against him He that loves his Friend will not by any means displease him I have read of four men meeting together who asked one another What it was that kept them from sinning One said The Fear of Hell Another said The Joys of Heaven The Third said The Odiousness of Sin The Fourth said That which keeps me from sin is Love to God Shall I sin against so good a God Shall I abuse Love Love to God is the best Curben-bit to keep from sin 9. If you would be kept from the evil of sin be diligent in a Calling Dū laboribus omnia vendunt Adam in Paradise must till the Ground Such as live idly expose themselves to sin if we have no work to do Satan will find us work He sows most of his seed in Fallow ground A Woman being much tempted to sin came to Reverend Mr. Greenham for Advice What she should do to resist the Temptation He gave her this Answer Be always well employed that so when Satan comes he may find thee busied in thy Calling and thou maist not be at leisure to listen to his Temptations 10. If you would be kept from sin fix the eye of your Mind upon the Beauty of Holiness Holiness consists in our Conformity to God Holiness is the sparkling of the Divine Nature a beam of God shining in the Soul How lovely is Christ's Bride when decked and bespangled with the Jewels of Holiness What makes the Seraphims Angels of Light but their Holiness Do but think with your selves what a splendid glorious thing Holiness is and it will cause a disgust and hatred of sin which is so contrary to it The beholding of Beauty makes one out of love with Deformity 11. If you would keep from the evil of sin meditate frequently of Death First The unavoidableness of it Heb. 9.27 Statutum est It is appointed for all once to die We are not so sure to lie down this night in our Bed as we are to lie down in our Grave Secondly The uncertainty of the Time We are but Tenants at will we hold our Life at the Will of our Landlord And how soon may God turn us out of this house of clay Death oft comes when we least look for it The Floud as some Learned Writers observe came in the Month Zif or April in the Spring when the Trees were Blossoming and the Birds Singing then came the Floud when they least looked for it So oft in the Spring of Youth when the Body is most healthy and the Spirits most sprightly and vigorous and Death is least thought on then it comes Could we think often and seriously of Death it would give a death's-Death's-wound to sin Nihil sic revocato peocata quà m crebra mortis contemplatio Aug. No stronger Antidote against sin than this Am I now Singing and to morrow may be Dying What if Death should take me doing the Devil's work Would it not send me to him to receive my Wages Would but the Adulterer think I am now in the Act of Sin but how soon may Death come and then I who have burned in lust must burn in Hell This sure would strike a damp into him and make him afraid of going after strange Flesh. 12. If you would be kept from Gross Scandalous Sins beware of a Covetous Heart Covetousness is a dry Drunkenness He who thirsts insatiably after the World will stick at no sin he will betray Christ and a Good Cause for Money Cui nihil satis eidem nihil turpe Tacitus 1 Tim. 6.10 The love of Money is the root of all evil From this Root comes First Theft Achan's covetous humour made him steal the VVedge of Gold Josh. 7.21 Covetousness makes the Jayls so full Secondly From this root comes Murder VVhy did Ahab Stone Naboth to death but to possess his Vineyard 1 King 21.13 Covetousness hath made many swim to the Crown in blood Thirdly From this bitter Root of Covetousness proceeds Cousenage It is the Covetous hand holds false weights Fourthly From this Root of covetousness comes Uncleanness You read of the hire of a Whore Deut. 23.18 For Money she would let both her Conscience and Chastity be set to sale O if you would be kept from the evil of sin beware of Covetousness which is the In-let to so many sins 13. Let us be much in Prayer to God to keep us from Ingulphing our selves in sin Psal. 19.11 Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins We have no power inherent to keep our selves from evil Arnoldus saith That Man in his corrupt estate hath Aliqua◠reliquias vitae Spiritualis Some Reliques of Spiritual Life left And Arminius saith Man hath a sufficiency of Grace in himself whereby he may Abstinere à malo abstain from evil Free-will is a sufficient curb to check and pull him back from sin But then what needed Christ to have Taught us this Prayer Libera nos à malo Deliver us from evil If we have power of our selves to keep from sin What need we pray to
Second Birth added to the First Ioh. 3.3 It may be thus described It is a Supernatural Work of God's Spirit renewing and transforming the Heart into the Divine Likeness 1. The efficient Cause of the New Creature is the Holy Ghost no Angel or Archangel is able to produce it Who but God can alter the Hearts of Men and turn Stones into Flesh If the New Creature were not produced by the Holy Ghost then the greatest Glory in a Man's Conversion would belong to himself but this Glory God will not give to another the turning of the Will to God is from God Ier. 31.19 After I was turned I repented 2. The Organical Cause or Instrument by which the New-Creature is formed is the Word of God Iam. 1.18 Of his own Will begat he us by the Word of Truth The Word is the Seed out of which springs the Flower of the New-Creature 3. The Matter of which the New-Creature consists is the restoring God's Image lost by the Fall Quest. But doth God in the New Creature give a new Soul Answ. No he doth not bestow new Faculties but new Qualities as in the altering of a Lute the Strings are not new but the Tune is mended So in the New Creature the substance of the Soul is not new but is new tun'd by Grace the Heart that before was Proud is now Humble the Eyes that before were full of Lust are now full of Tears Here are new Qualities infused II. What a kind of Work the New Creature is I. The New Creature is a Work of Divine Power so much it imports because it is a Creation The same Power which raised Christ from the Grave goes to the production of the New Creature Eph. 1.20 It is a Work of greater Power to produce the New Creature than to make a World 'T is true in respect of God all things are alike possible to him But as to our apprehension it requires a greater Power to make a new Creature than to make a World For 1. When God made the World he met with no opposition but when God is about to make the New Creature he meets with opposition Satan opposeth him and the Heart opposeth him 2. It cost God nothing to make the World but to make the New Creature costs him something Christ himself was fain to become Man In making the World it was but speaking a Word but in making of the New Creature it cost Christ the shedding of his Blood 3. God made the World in six Days but he is carrying on the New Creature in us all our Lives long The New Creature is but begun here it is not perfected or drawn in all its Orient Colours till it come to Heaven II. The New Creature is a Work of Free Grace There is nothing in us to move God to make us anew by Nature we are full of Pollution and Enmity yet now God forms the New Creature Behold the Banner of Love displayed The New Creature may say By the Grace of God I am what I am In the Creation we may see the Strength of God's Arm in the New Creature we may see the Working of God's Bowels That God should Consecrate any Heart and Anoint it with Grace is an Act of pure Love That he should pluck one out of the State of Nature and not another must be resolved into Free Grace Matth. 11.26 Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight This will increase the Saints Triumphs in Heaven that the Lot of Free Grace should fall upon them and not on others 3. The New Creature is a Work of rare Excellency A Natural Man is a lump of Earth and Sin God loaths him Zach. 11.8 But upon the New Creature is a Spiritual Glory As if we should see a piece of Clay turned into a sparkling Diamond Cant. 3.16 Who is this that cometh out of the Wilderness like Pillars of Smoak perfumed with Myrrhe and Frankincense That is the Natural Man coming out of the Wilderness of Sin perfumed with all the Graces of the Spirit The New Creature must needs be Glorious for it partakes of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 A Soul beautified with Holiness is like the Firmament bespangled with glittering Stars It is God's lesser Heaven Isa. 57.15 In the Incarnation God made himself in the Image of Man in the New Creation Man is made in the Image of God By our being Creatures we are the Sons of Adam by being New Creatures we are the Members of Christ. Reason makes one live the Life of a Man the New Creature makes him live the Life of God A New Creature excells the rational Nature and equals the Angelical It is excellent to hear of Christ's being Crucified for us but more excellent to have Christ formed in us Concerning the New Creature I shall lay down Two Positions 1 Posit That it is not in the Power of a Natural Man to convert himself because it is a New Creation As we cannot make our selves Creatures so not New Creatures Quest. But why doth God command us to convert our selves if we have no Power Ezek. 18.31 Make you a New Heart Answ. 1. We once had Power God gave us a Stock of Holiness but we lost it If a Master give his Servant Money to imploy in his Service and he wastes and imbezles it may not the Master require the Money of him Though we have lost our Power to Obey God hath not lost his Right to Command 2. Though Men cannot convert themselves and make themselves new Creatures yet they may do more than they do in a tendency to it they may avoid Temptations they may read the Word the same Feet that carry them to a Play will carry them to a Sermon they may implore Divine Grace but they do not what they are able they do not improve the Power of Nature to the utmost and put God to the Trial whether he will give Grace 3. God is not wanting to them who seek to him for Grace Deus volentibus non deest He is willing to put to his helping Hand With his Command there goes a Promise Ezek. 18.31 Make you a New Heart and there is a Promise Ezek. 36.26 A New Heart will I give you 2 Posit When God converts a Sinner he doth more than use a Moral Perswasion For Conversion is a New Creation Eph. 4.24 The Pelagians talk much of Free Will they say the Will of Man is by Nature asleep and Conversion is nothing but the awakening a Sinner out of sleep which is done by a Moral Perswasion But Man is by Nature dead in Sin Eph. 2.1 And God must do more than awaken him he must enliven him before he be a New Creature 1 Vse Terrour to such as are not New Creatures such as are still growing upon the Stock of Old Adam who continue in their Sins and are resolved so to do these are in the Gall of Bitterness and are the most miserable Creatures that ever God made
except the Devils These stand in the place where all God's Arrows fly these are the Centre where all God's Curses meet An Unregenerate Person is like one in Debt that is in fear to be arrested he is every Hour in fear to be arrested by Death and carried Prisoner to Hell Can that Traytor be happy who is fed by his Prince in Prison only to be kept alive for Execution God feeds the Wicked as Prisoners they are reserved for the Day of Wrath 2 Pet. 2.9 How should this fright Men out of their Natural Condition and make them restless till they are New Creatures 2 Vse Trial whether we are New Creatures our Salvation depends upon it 1. I shall show you the Counterfeit of the New Creature or that which seems to be the New Creature but is not 1 Counterfeit Natural Honesty Moral Vertue Prudence Justice Liberality Temperance these make a Glorious show in the Eye of the World but differ as much from the New Creature as a Meteor from a Star Morality indeed is commendable and it were well if there were more of it This our Saviour loves Mark 10.21 Then Iesus beholding him loved him It was a love of Compassion not Election Morality is but Nature at best it doth not amount to Grace 1. There is nothing of Christ in Morality and that Fruit is sowre which grows not upon the Root Christ. 2. Moral Actions are done out of a vain-glorious Humour not any respect to God's Glory The Apostle calls the Heathen Magistrates Unjust 1 Cor. 6.1 While they were doing Justice in their Civil Courts they were Unjust their Vertue became Vice because Faith was wanting and they did all to raise them Trophies for their own Praise and Fame so that Morality is but the wild Olive of Nature it doth not amount to Grace Heat Water to the highest degree you cannot make Wine of it it is Water still So let Morality be raised to the highest it is Nature still 't is but Old Adam put in a better dress I may say to a civil Man Yet lackest thou One Thing Mark 10.21 Moral Vertue may stand with the hatred of Godliness A Moral Man doth as much hate Holiness as he doth Vice The Stoicks were Moralists and had sublime Notions about Vertue yet were the deadliest Enemies St. Paul had Acts 17.18 So that this is a counterfeit Jewel 2 Counterfeit Religious Education is not the New-Creature Education doth much cultivate and refine Nature Education is a good Wall to plant the Vine of Grace against but it is not Grace King Ioash was good as long as his Unkle Iehoiada lived but when Iehoiada died all Ioash his Religion was buried in his Unkle's Grave 2 Kings 12.2 Have not we seen many who have been trained up religiously under their Parents and were very hopeful yet these fair Blossoms of Hope have been blown off and they have lived to be a shame to their Friends 3 Counterfeit A Form of Godliness is not the New Creature Every Bird that hath fine Feathers hath not sweet Flesh. All that shine with the Golden Feathers of Profession are not Saints 2 Tim. 3 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Having a Form of Godliness but denying the Power What is a lifeless Form Formality is the Ape of Piety Formalists may perform all the external parts of Religion Pray Fast give Alms. Whatever Duties a Believer doth in sincerity the same may a Formalist do in Hypocrisie How devout were the Pharisees How Humble was Ahab What a Reformer was Iehu yet all this was but a formal show of Religion Daedalus by art made Images to move of themselves insomuch that People thought they were living Formalists do so counterfeit and play a Devotion that others think they are living Saints They are Religious Mountebanks 4 Counterfeit Every Change of Opinion doth not amount to the New Creature A Man may change from Error to Truth yet no New Creature here is a Change in the Head but not in the Heart One may be Orthodox in his judgment yet not cordially embrace the Gospel He may be no Papist yet no true Believer He who is changed only in Opinion is but almost a Christian and shall be but almost saved 5 Counterfeit Every sudden Passion or stirring of the Affections is not the New Creature There may be Affections of Sorrow some upon the reading the History of Christ's Passion may be ready to weep but it is only a Natural tenderness which relents at any Tragical sight Affections of desire may be stirred Ioh. 6. Lord evermore give us this Bread But these basely deserted Christ and would walk no more with him ver 66. Many desire Heaven but will not come up to the Price Affections of Ioy may be stirred In the Parable the Second sort of Hearers are said to receive the Word with joy Matth. 13.20 What was this but to have the Affections moved with delight in hearing Yet that this did not amount to the New Creature is plain 1. Because those Hearers are said to have no root 2. Because they fell away ver 21. King Herod did hear Iohn Baptist gladly he was much affected with Iohn's Preaching Where then was the defect Why was not Herod a New Creature The reason was because Herod was not reformed by the Baptist's Preaching his Affections were moved but his Sin was not removed Many have sweet Motions of Heart and seem to be much affected with the Word but their love to Sin is stronger than their love to the Word therefore all their good Affections prove abortive and come to nothing 6 Counterfeit One may have trouble for Sin yet not be a New Creature Trouble of Spirit may appear while God's Judgments lie upon Men but when these are removed their trouble ceaseth Psal. 78.34 When he slew them then they sought him nevertheless they did flatter him with their Lips Metal that melts in a Furnace take it out of the Furnace and it returns to its former hardness Many in time of Sickness seem to be like melted Metal What Weeping and wringing of Hands What Confessions of Sin will they make Do not these look like New Creatures But assoon as they recover they are as bad as ever their Pangs go off again and it never comes to a New Birth 7 Counterfeit A Man may have the Spirit yet not be a New Creature The Apostle supposeth a Case that one might be made Partaker of the Holy Ghost yet fall away Heb. 6.4 A Man may have some slight transient Work of the Spirit but it doth not go to the root he may have the common Gifts of the Spirit but not the special Grace he may have the Spirit to convince him not to convert him the Light he hath is like a Winter Sun which hath little or no influence it doth not make him more Holy he hath the Motions of the Spirit but walks after the Flesh. 8 Counterfeit Every abstaining from Sin is not the New Creature This abstaining may be
Hell is heated to throw Lyars into Rev. 22.15 Without are Dogs and Sorcerers and Whoremongers and whosoever loveth and telleth a Lye 9. The Evil Tongue is the Flattering Tongue That will speak fair to ones Face but will defame Pro. 26.25 He that hateth dissembleth with his Lips When he speaketh fair believe him not Dissembled Love is worse than Hatred Some can commend and reproach flatter and hate Honey in their Mouths but a sting of Malice in their Hearts Better are the Wounds of a Friend than the Kisses of such an Enemy Hierome saith The Arrian Faction pretended Friendship they saith he kissed my Hands but slandered me and sought my Ruine Many have dissembling Tongues they can say Your Servant and lay Snares Prov. 29.5 A Man that flattereth his Neighbour spreadeth snares for his Feet You oft think you have a Frieâ—d in your Bosom but he proves a Viper To dissemble Love is no better than a Lye for there is a pretence of that Love which is not Many are like Ioab 2 Sam. 20.9 And Joab said to Amasa art thou in Health my Brother and he took him by the Beard to kiss him and he smote him in the Fifth Rib that he dyed Impia sub dulci melle venena latent For my part I much question his Truth towards God that will flatter and lye to his Friend He who counterfeits love to his Friend is worse than he that Coins counterfeit Money God will bring such an one to shame at last Prov. 26.26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit his Wickedness shall be shewed before the whole Congregation 10. The Evil Tongue is the Tongue given to Boasting Iam. 3.5 The Tongue is a little Member and boasteth great things There is an Holy boasting Psal. 44.8 In God we boast all the Day when we triumph in his Power and Mercy But it is a sinful boasting when Men display their Trophies boast of their own Worth and Eminency that others may admire and cry them up A Man's sâ—lf is his Idol and he loves to have this Idol worshipped Acts 5.36 There arose up Theudas boasting himself to be Somebody 2. Sinful boasting is when Men boast of their Sins Psal. 52. 1. Why boastest thou thy self in mischief O mighty Man Some boast how wicked they have been how many they have made drunk how many they have deflowered As if a Beggar should boast of his Sores or a Thief boast of being burnt in the Hand Such as boast of their sinful Exploits will have little cause to rejoice or hang up their Trophies when they come to Hell XI The Evil Tongue is the Swearing Tongue Matth. 5.34 Swear not at all The Scripture allows an Oath for the ending of a Controversie and to clear the Truth Heb. 6.16 But in ordinary discourse to use an Oath and so to take God's Name in Vain is sinful Swearing may be called the unfruitful Work of Darkness there is neither Pleasure nor Profit in it 't is like an Hook the Fish comes to without a Bait. Ier. 23.10 Because of Swearing the Land Mourns Some think it the grace of their Speech but will God reckon with Men for idle Words what will he do for sinful Oaths Obj. But it is only a petty Oath they but Swear by their Faith Answ. Sure they which have so much Faith in their Mouth have none in their Heart But it is my Custom Is this an excuse or an aggravation of the Sin If a Malefactor should be Arraigned for Robbing and he should say to the Judge Spare me it is my Custom to rob on the Highway the Judge would say Thou shalt the rather die For every Oath thou Swearest God puts a drop of Wrath into his Viol. Obj. But may some think what though now and then I Swear an Oath Words are but Wind Answ. But they are such a Wind as will blow thee into Hell without repentance 12. The Railing Tongue is an evil Tongue This is a Plague-Sore breaking out at the Tongue when we give opprobrious Language When the Dispute was between the Arch-Angel and the Devil about the Body of Moses Jude v. 9. the Arch-Angel durst not bring a railing Accusation against him but said The Lord rebuke thee The Arch-Angel durst not rail against the Devil Railing oft ends in Reviling and so Men bring themselves into a Praemunire and are in danger of Hell-Fire Matth. 5.22 13. The Seducing Tongue is an evil Tongue The Tongue that by fine Rhetorick decoys Men into Error Rom. 16.18 By fair Speechs they deceive the hearts of the simple A fair Tongue can put off bad Wares Error is bad Ware which a seducing Tongue can put off The Deceit lies in this a smooth Tongue can make Error look so like Truth that you can hardly know them asunder As thus in Iustification Christ bears infinite Love to justified Persons this is a glorious Truth but under this Notion the Antinomian presseth Libertinism Believers may take more liberty to sin and God sees no Sin in them Thus by crying up Iustification they destroy Sanctification Here is the Seducing Tongue and Error is as dangerous as Vice One may die by Poyson as well as a Pistol 14. The evil Tongue is the cruel Tongue that speaks to the wounding the hearts of others The Tongue is made almost in the fashion of a Sword and the Tongue is sharp as a Sword Psal. 57.4 Their Tongue is a sharp Sword Kind loving Words should be spoken to such as are of a heavy heart Iob 6.14 To him that is afflicted pity should be shown Healing Words are fittest for a broken heart but that is a cruel unmerciful Tongue which speaks such Words to the afflicted as cut them to the heart Psal. 69.26 They talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded Hannah was a Woman of a troubled Spirit 1 Sam. 1.10 She was in bitterness of Soul and wept sore And now Eli ver 14. said unto her How long wilt thou be drunken Put away thy Wine from thee This Word was like pouring Vinegar into the Wound When Iob was afflicted with God's Hand his Friends instead of comforting him tell him he was an Hypocrite Iob 11.2 These were cutting Words which went to his heart Instead of giving him Cordials in his fainting they use Corrosives This is to lay more weight upon a dying Man 15. The evil Tongue is the murmuring Tongue Iude 16. These are Murmurers Murmuring is Discontent breaking out at the Lips Men quarrel with God and tax his Providence as if he had not dealt well with them Why should any murmur or be discontented at their Condition Doth God owe them any thing Or can they deserve any thing at his hands Oh how uncomely is it to murmur at Providence It is fittest for a Cain to be Wroth with God Gen. 4.6 1. Murmuring proceeds from Unbelief When men distrust God's Promise then they murmur at his Providence Psal. 106.24 25. They believed not his Word but murmured When Faith
Moderation when he saw their Idolatry at Athens the Fire of his Zeal broke forth Acts 17.16 His Spirit was stirred in him 'T was good advice Calvin gave to Melancthon that he should not so affect the Name of Moderate as to lose all his Zeal To be cool and silent when God's Blessed Truths are undermined or adulterated is not Moderation but Luke-warmness which is to God a most hateful temper Rev. 3.15 I would you were cold or hot any thing but Luke-warm This is to shew Prudence and Holiness when we are Moderate yet Zealous 9. To Unite Serpent and Dove consists in this when we defend the Truth by Argument and adorn it by Life Defending the Truth is the Serpent's Wisdom An intelligent Christian can 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 convince Gainsayers This Wisdom of the Serpent was eminently in Stephen Act. 6.9 There arose certain of the Synagogue disputing with Stephen and they were not able to resist the Wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake We read in the Acts and Monuments of the Church Iohn Fryth Martyr being opposed by three Papists he like another Hercules fighting with all three at once did by his Wisdom so convince them that one of them turned from Popery and became a zealous Protestant Herein is the Wisdom of the Serpent not only to love them that profess the Truth but silence them that oppose it But with this Wisdom of the Serpent there must be joyned the Dove together with defending the Truth by Argument there must be adorning it by Life Tit. 2.10 That they may adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour There are some who can dispute for the Truth but disgrace it by their bad living This is to act both the Serpent and the Dove when we not only plead for the Truth but walk in the Truth like Nazianzen of whom it was said he did Thunder in his Doctrine and Lighten in his Conversation 10. The uniting the Serpent and the Dove is to be Serious in Religion yet Cheerful Seriousness puts the Heart in an Holy Frame it fixeth it on God Seriousness is to the Soul as Ballast to the Ship it keeps the Soul from being overturned with Vanity The Heart is ever best when it is serious but this Seriousness in Religion must be mixed with Cheerfulness Cheerfulness conduceth to Health Prov. 17.22 it Honours Religion it proclaims to the World we serve a good Master Cheerfulness is a Friend to Grace it puts the Heart in Tune to praise God Psal. 71.23 Unchearful Christians like the Spies bring an evil report on the Good Land Others suspect there 's something unpleasant in Religion that they who profess it hang their Harps upon the Willows and walk so dejectedly Be serious yet cheerful Phil. 4.4 Rejoyce in the Lord always Why was Christ anointed but to give the Oyl of Joy for Mourning Isa. 61.1 Joy is as well a Fruit of the Spirit as Faith Gal. 5.22 One way of grieving the Spirit saith Heinsius is by Christians unchearful walking If you would render the Gospel lovely mix the Dove and the Serpent be serious yet chearful in God 11. The uniting of the Serpent and the Dove Wisdom and Holiness consists in this when we so lay up as we lay out 'T is a Duty to provide for our Charge 1 Tim. 5.8 If any provide not for his own he is worse than an Infidel To lay up for our Family here 's the Wisdom of the Serpent but we must lay out for the Poor two here 's the mixture of the Dove 1 Tim. 6.17 Charge them that are rich in the World that they do Good that they be rich in Good Works The Poor Man is as it were an Altar if we bring our Alms and lay upon it with such Sacrifices God is well pleased Faith though it hath sometimes a trembling Hand it must not have a withered Hand but must stretch forth it self to Works of Mercy There 's nothing lost by Charitableness Prov. 11.25 The liberal Soul shall be made fat Psal. 41.1 Blessed is he that considereth the Poor thou wilt make all his Bed in his Sickness While Men do so remember their Family that they do not forget the Poor they show both Prudence and Piety they unite the Serpent and the Dove 12. The Serpent's Wisdom and the Dove's Innocency is seen in this so to avoid Danger as not to commit Sin to preserve our Liberty yet keep our Integrity There 's a sinful escaping Danger namely when we are called to suffer for the Truth and we decline it But there 's an escaping Danger without Sin as thus when we do not betray our selves into the Enemies Hands by rashness nor yet betray the Truth by Cowardice we have a Pattern of this in our Saviour he avoided his Enemies in one place that he might Preach the Gospel in another Luk. 4.30 They brought him to the brow of the Hill that they might cast him down headlong but he passing through the midst of them went his way There was Christ's Wisdom in not betraying himself to his Enemy And ver 43. I must Preach to other Cities also There was his Holiness Christ's securing of himself was in order to the Preaching of the Gospel This is to mix Prudence and Innocency when we so avoid Danger as we do not commit Sin Thus I have as briefly and as clearly as I could shown you how we must unite these Two the Serpent and the Dove Prudence and Holiness For want of Coupling these two together Religion doth much suffer in the Christian World What Christ hath joyn'd together let no Man put asunder Observe these two Prudence and Holiness here is the Serpent's Eye in the Dove's Head When these Two Wisdom and Innocency like Castor and Pollux appear together they presage much Good and Happiness that will befall a Christian. Who in are Christ are New Creatures 2. Cor. 5.17 Therefore if any Man be in Christ he is a New Creature Old Things are passed away behold all Things are become New IN this Scripture consists the Essence and Soul of Religion I note here Two Things 1. Doctr. That the true Definition of a Christian is to be in Christ If any Man be in Christ. He may be in the Church Visible yet not in Christ. 'T is not to be baptized into Christ's Name makes a true Christian but to be in Christ that is to be grafted into him by Faith And if to be in Christ makes a Christian then there are but few Christians Many are in Christ nominally not really they are in Christ by Profession not by Mystical Union Are they in Christ that do not know him Are they in Christ who persecute them that are in Christ Sure such an Holy Head as Christ will disclaim such spurious Members 2. Doctr. That whosoever is in Christ is a New Creature For Illustration I shall shew I. What a New Creature is II. What a kind of Work it is I. What a New Creature is It is a