subscribe that since Christian Religion was profest there was never a Collection of more Godly Orthodox and Learned Divines then in this present Century Yet I am far from excusing or extenuating the Animosities Heart-divisions uncouth unseemly Habits self interests carnal Policies unwarrantable separations and that Latitude which many take unto themselves now adays The good old Puritan would not take an Inch formerly where many now venture to take an Ell. I heartily wish a Reformation thorow impartial that what we condemn in others we may avoid each one in himself O that it might be the main design we drive at to advance the power of godliness and to go before each other in a real example of Reformation Let 's all labor as one man to be found in the Faith and holy in life so that Heresies Blasphemies and all forts of profaneness may be abominated and extirpated And let it be our endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace So Eph. 4. 3. that according to those Prophesies the accomplishment whereof we daily expect We may all worship the Lord with one consent that the Zeph. 3. 9. Zech. 13. 9. Lord may be one and his name one And let us never forget that the vows God are upon us which we ought to our power to endeavor to keep inviolably in that Solemn National Covenant which was made in a day of distress with our hands lifted up to the most high God Let not that Solemn Oath be accounted as an Almanack out of date lest the Lord send a Sword to avenge the quarrel of a broken Covenant Let 's expostulate with Ezra Should we again break the Commandment Ezra 9. 14. and joyn in affinity with the people of these abominations After Oathes Covenants Days of Humiliation and after so many signal Deliverances shall we again hancker after superstitious Ceremonies a formal Service Book a Lordly Prelacy unwarrantable Separations Schisms Machiavilian Policies self-seeking Interests The Lord forbid that we should be so unthankful for the mercies received and so unmindeful of those particular Duties which God expects from us in our several Places and Callings But I shall not exceed the bounds of a Preface Although this may be accounted a Digression yet I hope may be of some use to the Reader Thus much I was willing to premise as far as I apprehend having a single eye at Gods Glory and the Publick Benefit Wherefore be pleased Reader to peruse deliberately and candidly these three Decads of Sermons Preach'd with much plainness to the Auditors accompanied with a vehement desire to do good and afford the Author thy Prayers who desires a share in the Prayers of all the Israel of God and remains Magdalen-Hall Oxon April 9. 1660. Thy souls servant HENRY WILKINSON To the Reader WHen it was told David after the defeat of Absolom that Ahimaaz the sonne of Zadok came running the King said He is a good man and cometh with good tideings I may truly say so of these Sermons and the reverend Author of them He is a good man and therefore we may be sure that he bringeth good tydings with him He is a right Nathanael a true Israelite without guile an able Preacher a vigilant Governour a faithfull friend a bountifull distributer to whom much of the Character of Aristotles magnanimous man doth exactly agree 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who dares openly to love a friend when others reject him and openly to disprove the faults of those whom others feare and flatter As is the man and his Communication such is his doctrine sound wholsome savory edifying not meerly notionall and suited onely to the fancy but properly calculated for the Conscience and conversation unto which the more any doctrine is fitted the more it is according to the mind of the spirit of Christ speaking in the Word and to the direction of his Apostles who used great plainnesse of speech and such demonstration of the Spirit and power as might manifest the truth to every mans conscience in the sight of God who gave instruction unto others whom they had separated to the work of the Gospell to hold fast the wholsome forme of sound words by sound doctrine to Exhort and Convince gainsaiers to shew in doctrine incorruptnesse gravity sincerity sound speech which cannot be condemned to speak to rebuke to exhort with all Authority to teach men to maintaine good workes for necessary uses to preach such things as are good and profitable unto men Though I have not had opportunity to peruse all these Sermons yet having been an hearer of many of these and finding in those which I have read the same even and serious spirit and withall great variety of profitable matter I may safely commend them to the Christian Reader as Sermons drawn according to these prescripts of the Apostle and consequently very usefull unto publick edification unto which all our studies labours and writings should be subservient Apr. 4. 1660. Thine in our Common Lord EDWARD REYNOLDS The contents of the first Decad. SERM. 1. 1. COr c. 2. vers 2. For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified p. 1. The Text divided p. 3 and handled 1 Concerning knowledge in Generall p. 4. 5 6. 2 Concerning the knowledge of Christ pag. 7. 8. And this knowledge hath 3 characters Fundamentall excellent and soule-saveing pag. 9. 3 Cautions concerning the use of humane learning pag. 11. 12. 3 Concerning the knowledge of Christ crucified pag. 13. 14. Applic what Ministers must teach pag. 14. 15 16. 2 What all must learne p. 16. 17 18. SERM. II. IEr 45. v. 5. And seekest thou great things for thy selfe seek them not Text devided pag. 22. Severall sorts of seekers pag. 25. 26 27 28 29 30. The Person seeking p. 31. 32 33. Applic Vse 1. For exposition pag. 34. 35 36 37. Vse 2 For direction in 4 Particulars pag. 38. 39 40 41. Vse 3 For exhortation in 4 Considerations pag. 42. 43 44 45 46 47 48. SERM. III. PRov. 11. 30. Hee that winneth soules is wise The Text divided pag. 50. 51. The Doctrine propounded That it 's a choice fruit of wisdome to winne soules unto God pag. 51. Method propounded 1 the proofe of the Poynt pag. 52. 53. 2. 4 Arguments for confirmation p. 53. 54 55. 3. Two Characters of him that is likeliest to winne soules pag. 56. 57 58 59 60 61. 4. Applic. 1. For Humiliation pag. 63. 3. For Direction in 7 particulars pag. 66. 67. SERM. IV. MAtth 13. 45 46. pag. 68. Again the Kingdome of Heaven is like unto a Merchant man seeking godly Pearles who when hee had found one Pearle of great price hee went and sold all that hee had bought it The Context opened pag. 69. 70. The Text divided pag. 71. 72. Two Doctrines raised pag. 73 Doct 1. That every true Believer is a Merchant of goodly Pearles Method propounded 1. By illustrating the
of grace unto another till at length he attaines unto the end of his faith the salvation of his immortall soule And thus you have heard a comparison betwixt materiall and immateriaâ—l pearles between an earthly and a heavenly Merchant In the close of this point suffer I beseech you Brethren one word of exhortation and that is to perswade you to be Merchants of pearles Let me expostulate the case as the Prophet did Wherefore Is 55. 2. do yee spend money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satissieth not Be no more Merchants for Gugawes and triffles and the vanities of the world which if you should get you could find no solidity nor satisfaction in them But let your labour be bestowed in seeking out the goodly pearls of the Gospell Negotiate for heavenly treasures which alone are solid which only are satisfactory able to inrich your soules Seeke after the Cabinet which is the Gospell and set an high estimate upon it but above all seeke after Christ who is the pearle of price in the Cabinet and having found Christ imitate the wife Merchant in the text Sell all you have to purchase this pearle of price which brings me to my second Doctrine 2 Doctrine That every spirituall Merchant venturer must sell all for the purchase of the pearle of price For unfolding of this pretious point I shall observe this Method Method 1. To illustrate the truth by Parallell examples 2. To prove it by scripture Precepts 3. To confirme it by Evidence of reason 4. And lastly To set it home upon the conscience by particular Application First To illustrate this by Examples time would faile me to inlarge 1 Illustration by Examples my selfe in so great a cloud of witnesses Review v 44. of this chapter set Abrahams example for your imitation God bids Abraham leave his country Gen 12. 1. and makes him a promise to blesse him v. 3. Abraham disputes not the command but obeyes it v. 4. And this arose from a principle of faith so the Apostle Heb 11. 8. mentions And what was the moving cause v 10. For he looked for a City which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God God was better to Abraham then kindred possessions and houses He loved his relations well but loved God better That one promise Gen 17. 7. I will be thy God and the God of thy seed was of more value to him then all the world besides Wherefore at the command of God with all readinesse he foregoes all Thus Moses left a kingdome for Christ Josephus reports that Thermuthis Pharaohs daughter Joseph Aâ—tiq had no child and therefore having found him she set her heart upon him and fained her selfe to be with child and kept Moses hid untill such time as it might be thought to be her owne Child to that end that he might inherit her fathers crowne This is doubtfull but what the Apostle delivereth is an undoubted truth Heb 11. 24 25 26. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When he became great he refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter Moses who was skilled in all the learning of the Aegyptians the adopted son of Pharaohs daughter educated in a palace a man mighty in words and deedes forsooke all for Jesus Christ so the Apostles forsooke all for Christ The primitive converts sold all their possessions for the Gospels sake Math 19. 37. When the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified at Ephesus those Act 4 3. that vsed curious arts burnt th ir bookes the price amounting to 50. Thousand peeces of silver Elisha left his Oxen and followed Eliah Acts. 19. 19. Matthew left the receit of custome and followed Christ Marcus Galeacius Caracciolus of whom Calvin makes honourable mention left his Marquesdome his great Relations and all his proffers of honour for Jesus Christ It was a truly noble protestation which he vsed Cursed be he that preferres all the gold and silver in the world before one dayes communiâ—n with Jesus Christ I have read of one Hormisdays a noble Persian who would rather leave his noble Robes and weare beggars raggs then deny Jesus Christ He was degraded of all his honours and put to serve Camels and was cloth'd with raggs Once to tempt him to deny Christ they put on him silken garments He presently in scorne tore them in peeces refusing silken garments upon such base termes proposalls The Lord Cobham as the Acts and monuments record notwithstanding many v. Fox Acts Monum flattering intreaties denyed the Popes spiritualty and sayed he was the Antichrist he rather would dye then acknowledg him Christs Vicar He lost his life in that cause All those are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 examples to us that we should fore-go our Relations interests liberties estates even all for Jesus Christ To purchase the pearle of price we must foregoe all Now in the second place for precepts commanding read Prov 23. 2 Proof by Precept 23. Buy the truth and sell it not Now if we would buy the truth we must come up to its price If it be to loose our Ease Promotions Riches Pleasures Profits we must sell them all for the purchase of truth We are commanded by the wise man Wisedom is the principall thing therefore get wisedome and withall thy getting get understanding And Christs counsell Prov 4. 7. is above all most excellent I counsell thee to buy of me gold and aâ—oynt thy eyes with eye salve c. By eye salve we understand illumination Rom 3. 18 of the spirit by gold a pure and pretious faith by white Rayment the innocency of Christ his immaculate robes to cloath us These are not to be had for nothing they must sano sensu be bought after a manner and a price pay'd to purchase them and to the same effect tends the counsell to the rich man By our Saviour Marke 10 21. goe thy way and sell what soever thou hast and give to the Poore and thou shalt have treasure in heaven come take up the crosse and follow me I proceed to the 3. Head propounded the confirmation of the 3 Proof by Evidence of Reason poynt by evidence of Reason the Pearle of Price the Lord Jesus is of that infinite price dignity and value as all must be sold to purchase him And this I 'le make good by these ensuing Demonstrations First The pearle of price is not to be had for nothing we must Reason 1. The pearle of price is not to be had sor nothing buy it even give all that we have to purchase it Ephron would give Abraham the cave of Machpelah Gen 22. 11. But Abraham would buy it neither doth he dodge and abate any thing but gives the full price which was 400. shekells of silver currant money with the Merchant v. 16. T' is sayed Araunah gave all the sacrifices to David as a King 2 Sam 24. 23. But David would not
great matter they shall bring unto thee but every small matter they shall judge so shall it be easier for thy self and they shall bear the burthen with thee He must be an able man 1. He must first be a man of judgement Qualif I. A Judge must be an able Man and understanding well skilled in the Laws He must have a spirit of discerning to discern between right and wrong Judges pass many years study at Inns of Court before they come to this promotion They must be men of mature age and solid parts Learned Grave and Judicious 2. He must be able in respect of moderation and equanimity able to subdue and get the mastery of his own passions not suffering his affections to pervert judgement Hercules Club they say was made of Olive Wood There must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a Judge he must be willing to bear and forbear the rusticity and homely delivery of Evidences from illiterate people and stoop to the capacity of the meanest Countrey-man who comes for Iustice 3. A Iudge must be able in respect of courage Iudges are to turn the Wheel over the Wicked they are to encounter with Beasts of Ephesus they must be of such a Lion-like spirit as to pluck the prey out of the Lions mouth Hereupon it 's conceived that Judah the Law-giving Tribe had the Lion couchant sitting by the prey for its Scutcheon The Lion couchant is not afraid of any Resâ—uer This likewise was symboliz'd in the steps of Solomons Throne adorned with Lions A Judge must grapple with the Hydra of sin and oppose the Current of Times and Torrent of Vice he must be of a resolved courage with Esther If I perish I perish and with Luther when he went to Wormes If every tile was a Devil yet he would goe to Wormes and preach Christ Come what will come a good Judge accounts this Maxime like the Law of the Medes and Persians Fiat justitia ruat coelum The second Qualification of a Iudge is He must be a man fearing Qualif 2. A Judge must be a man â—eaâ—ing God God 2 Sam. 23. 3. The God of Israel said the Rock of Israel spake unto me he that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God Only a godly man is fit to be a Iudge though I abhor that Anabaptistical Opinion Dominium temporale fundatur in gratiâ yet I am assured that the fear of God planted in the heart of a Iudge moves him to judge righteous judgement This serves him as a compass to steer his actions by And when he is tempted to pervert Iustice by great mens Letters he sets Josephs resolution before him as a continual Monitor How shall I do this great wickedness and sin against God He will neither be threatned nor intreated nor Courted nor Complemented nor Flattered nor Over-awed to wound his Conscience by perverting Iustice This this it is even the fear of God that will beautisiâ— the soul of a Iudge The Iudges Scarlet Robes puts a glory and lustre upon the Beholders eyes but Divine Graces make him more glorious within Such a Cloathing is of wrought Gold If the fear of God be wanting in a very short time judgement will be turned into gall and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock Wisdom will degenerate into craft and subtilty Power into private revenge Valour and Courage into violence and peremptory obstinacy Now the fear of God will set all right if this be in the heart it will set all right in the practice of the life 3. A Iudge must be a man of truth A true-hearted Nathaniel Qualif â— A Judge must be a man of truâ—â— no Machivilian nor Iesuitical Politician He must be a plain-hearted man His heart must dictate to his tongue and the Spirit of God dictate to his heart He is such a Prudent Man that his Heart addeth Learning to his Lips Prov. 16. 23. The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth and addeth learning to his lips He 's a Man of Integrity he speaks truth loves truth and searcheth every Thicket and sifteth the matter to the bottom to finde out the truth and it 's his care to keep men of truth about him even such servants as are persons of integrity Psalm 101. 7. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell in my house he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight 4. A Iudge must be a man hating covetousness Covetousness is Qualif 4. the mother of Oppression Bribes blinde his eyes he dares not meddle with them Bribes are pitch he dares not touch them lest he be defiled He 's afraid that his hands will wither therefore he shakes his hands of them He 's afraid that they will prove like Equus Sejanus or aurum Tholossanum a Moth a Canker to consume the rest of his substance Job 15. 34. The câ—ngregation of hypocrites shall be desolate and fire shall consume the Tabernacles of Bribery Corrupt Iudges are Icterici they as was before hinted cannot see aright But an upright Iudge seeth clearly he washeth his heart and his hands both He dares not take a Bribe in a private Chamber he fears lest the Timber and Stones may cry out against him When he comethon the Bench he fixeth his eye neither before him on the person nor about him on the Beholders nor behind him for Bribes but he looks upward towards God remembring that he who sits now to judge others shall himself be judged at a higher Tribunal by the impartial Iudge of Heaven and Earth and there give an exact account of all his proceedings Thus Right Honorable you have the Glass of Jâ—thro set before you wherein you may behold your own face You have heard what manner of Persons you ought to be who undertake this weighty Calling 2. In the next place give me leave to set down the Rules which 2. you ought to observe in execution of Iustice You must execute judgement speedily yet deliberately impartially according to truth regularly and compassionately Iustice must be executed speedily Such a charge we read Ezra Rule 1. Justice must be executed speedily 7. 26. Who will not do the Law of God and the Law of the King let judgement be executed speedily upon him whether it be to Death to Banishment or to Consiscation of Goods or to Imprisonment English delays as some have observed are worse then Spanish Strappado's Let not the poor Client be tired out by tedious attendances tossed up and down and never a whit the nearer from Court to Court but let his business be dispatch'd with all convenient expedition Unconscionable Lawyers deal like unconscionable Chyrurgions who keep the Wound long in Cure for their own advantage Non missura cutem nisi plena cruoris hirudo You that are Lawyers doe not snarle and intangle a cause and so bring it into Mazes and Labyrinthes but with what facility and expedition may bee let the controversie bee decided
Bernards counsell to Eugenius may bee a good motto for the Councellour at Law Frustratorias vexatorias praecide dilationes By unnecessarie delayes and tedious suites many are served by Lawyers as the poore woman mentioned in the Gospel was served by Physitians They left her uncured of her disease and poverty Mark 5. 26. to boote I have read of a Chancellour of England who in a fore-noone dispatch't all the causes brought before him and hee askt whether there were any other causes and they answered no. I wish Law suits especially Chancery suits were ended with more expedition lest by reason of tedious waiting the remedy oft-times proves worse than the disease But secondly Justice must notwithstanding be executed deliberately Rule 2. Justice must be executed deliberately It must not be delayed on the one side nor rashly determined on the other side It must be performed with mature advice and deliberation There 's Pondus Causae Pondus Legis to be taken in to ferious consideration Justitia licet sit coeca exequendo tamen â—culata dijudicando A Judge must not be Vir Tenâ—dius as Lycophron mentions nor must his instrument of Justice be Tenedia bipennis making as our Proverbe is more haste then good speed Nulla unquam de morte hominis cunctatio longa If there be an Acre of ground an Oxe or an Horse in question Oh! what adoe is there to get an ablesufficient Jury And surely the life of a man is more precious Can Ignoramusses serve for life and death You that are concerned herein seek for sufficient men men of conscience and understanding take not up men that can neither write nor read who must take all upon trust Judgement on life and death is a serious worke and requires prudence and deliberation Joh. 7. 51. Doth our Law judge any man before it heare him and know what he doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 goes before 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 before 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 your Commission is of Oyâ—r and Terminer First you are to heare before you determine Job searched out the cause which he knew not Job 26. 19. There must be a serious inquisition after the truth The greatest paines is little enough for the investigation of the truth and the right administration of Justice Justice must be executed impartially Levi must know neither Rule 3. Justice must be executed impartially father nor mother Amicus Plato amicus Socrates sed magis amica Veritas A Judge he mustnot pervert Justice to pleasure my Lord or my Lady mine antient friend and acquaintance Threats flatteries gold or silver may not turne him one jot out of the Bias of Justice It 's said of Fabricius That the Sun might sooner be turned out of it's course then he out of the course of Justice Neither doth a just Judge favour a poore man in an unrighteous cause Exod. 23. 3. Neither shalt thou countenance a poore man in his cause He dares not judge for popular applause to get himselfe a name to be the poore mans Advocate and so swerve from the rules of Justice A just Judge will frequently and seriously catechise his owne conscience and aske this question how shall I answer this great Iudgement before the great Judge of heaven and earth How shall I answer that charge Levit. 19. 15. Yee shall do no unrighteousnesse in judgement thou shalt not respect the person of the poore nor honour the person of the mighty but in righteousnesse shalt thou judge thy neighbour It was a gallant speech of Worthy Mr Pym a renowned and true hearted Patriot of his Countrey See Mr Marshals Sermon at his sunerall Such a one indeed is my good Friend but I will never pay my private dâ—bts out of the publicke stocke Iustice must be executed according to truth Truth is of such an Rule 4. Justice must be executed according to truth invaluable price as we must buy it at any rate Prov. 22. 23. There 's an heavy charge Is 59. 4. None calleth for justice nor any pleadeth for truth they trust in vanity and speake lies they conceive mischiefe and bring forth Iniquity v. 14. And judgement is turned away backward and justice standeth a farre off for truth is fallen in the street and equity cannot enter You call your Iury good men and true I heartily wish they were all so and the witnesses must be men of truth The ninth Commandement forbids false-witnesse-bearing False witnesse was so abominable among the purblind Heathen that the Law of the 12. Tables ordered That if any bore false witnesse he should See Beards Theater of God's Judgments be tumbled downe the Tarpeian rocke Many fearsull judgements have overtaken perjured persons They are upon record in diverse writers and others are sufficiently knowne by experimentall Knowledge even in our dayes Be sure you that give evidence that you keepe your oath to sweare the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth Iustice must be executed regularly Neither passion nor prejudice Rule 5. Justice must be executed regularly nor friendship nor gifts may rule nor any unknowne arbitrary Law There 's a Buoy in maritime Lawes to give warning of an Anchour There 's a Pole-starre to direct the Pilot. And the Law of God and of the Land in subordination thereunto must rule The Law of God is the Archetypum All other Lawes are but Transcripts An able Iudge is well-skill'd in the Law of God he hath a copy of it before him So he is charged Josh 1. 7. Onely be thou strong and very couragious that thou mayest observe to doe according to all the Law which Moses my servant commanded thee turne not from it to the right hand or to the left that thou mayest prosper wheresoever thou goâ—st And he 's well skill'd in the Lawes of the Land he needs not the Tutoring of a Clerke he feares no contradiction of By-standers to say This is against Law We read Esth 1. 15. What shall we doe unto the Queene Vasti according to Law because she hath not performed the commandement of the King Ahasuerus by the Chamberlaines So that hence it is evident that the Law is the rule of Iudicature Both sides are allowed a faire hearing None may be praejudged and condemned without hearing Thus many laid the charge as a terrible Tyranny on Richard the 2d who first hang'd men and afterwards proceeded in a tryall against them Qui statuit aliquid parte inaudita altera aequum licet statuerit haud aequus fierit Iudgment is to bee given secundum allegata probata And this is a regular administration of justice 6ly and lastly Iustice must be executed compassionately Rule 6. Justice must be executed compassionately Iudges were usually Fathers and so more likely to shew compassion A Iudges Motto is Peccata interficio hominem amplector King Edward the sixth wept when hee gave his consent to put Joane Butcher to death though
a sweet savour behinde them viz. Peter Martyr Humfred Abbot Holland Prideaux Sanderson Hoyle And the present Professor though I conceal his name deserves an Honorable mention whose Parts and Graces adorned with so great Humility render him an useful Instrument for Publick Good It 's worth our Observation That in former times still God raised up Men of Heroick Courage and Invincible Resolution to lop off and fear the Hydra of Heresies and defend the truth against all Gain-sayers I shall onely make mention of some remarkable passages within my own remembrance When that novel upstart Doctrine of Arminius novel I call it unless Arminius be Pelagius redivivus and upon that account may plead more Antiquity was broach'd when some not all Prelates countenanced those Tenets and preferred those of that Perswasion to places of Preferment How many then of the younger Students bent their Studies that way Insomuch as I have seen a Remonstrance of Parliament above thirty years ago declaring That the study of Arminianism was the ready way to preferment and the Arminians were compared to the Jesuits For my own observation I have for the most part apprehended an Arminian to be compounded of a Jesuit and a formal Protestant That so by the one he may ingratiate himself thus by broaching pleasing Doctrines of General Redemption Free Will c. And by the help of the other he may carry on his Designs with more subtlety It cannot be deny'd but twenty years ago Arminians had a great Harvest in both Universities yet in both God raised up worthy Champions to oppose and confute all those rotten Opinions To instance onely according to my own Personal knowledge In this University the * Learned Professor of the Chair stood up with Dr. Prideaux Courage in his Lectures and Disputations against Arminianism Dr. Twisse put forth that Learned accurate Book called Vindiciae Gratiae c. Since him Dr. Kendall wrote after the same Copy Maugre Inhibitions Affrightments and other dangers of those times yet some there were who not afraid of the face of men cry'd aloud against the Errors of the Time Two or three more I shall mention * One Preach'd upon this Text Numb 14. 4. And they said one unto Mr. Hodges of Excter Coll. another Let us make a Captain and return into Egypt In which Sermon Gravenchovius was quite beat out of the Field Another Preach'd on this Text 2 Thess 2. 10. Because they received Mr. Ford of Magdalen Hall not the love of the truth that they might be savâ—d He gave Arminius a deadly blow and cry'd down Superstitious Innovations in these words Altar High Altars the uncouth Language of a strange Land These suffered Banishment and their suffering was their Crown A third whom I heard Preach in Latine about 27 years agoe Mr. Croke of Brâ—sen-nose Colledge charged Arminius through and through and in conclusion was not afraid to call a Spade a Spade These were as I well remember his ipsissima verba-Postremo agendum est mihi cum Jacobo Arminio qui etiamsi non essâ—t Orthodoxus utinam non esset perjurus And in the Publick Act the same year a worthy Doctor answered And at another Dr. Staunton now President of C. C. C. time a Batchelour of Divinity who both couragiously and faithfully defended this Truth against their Antagonists Deus non est Author mali secundum Reformatorum Placita A fourth I shall mention is about 22 years agoe an ancient Bachelour Mr. 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—ll of Divinity who defended the Orthodox Docâ—â—â—ne against the Arminian Faction His Text was Pâ—il 2. 12. Work out yâ—ur own salvation with fear and trembling Being callâ—d in question for that Sermon he ingeniously confest That the self-same Sermon he had Preach'd in St. Mary's Pulpit sixteen years before and then it waâ— well approved of and accounted tâ—ue Doctrine Neither can I bury in silence to Gods glory be it mentioned that Oxford hath afforded many faithful and constant Preachers this laâ—â— Century What excellent Preaching was there as I have received from good hands at Alhollows by the Tuesday Lecturers for which Dr. White a worthy Benefactor to the University and â—ounder of the 5 Exhibitions in Magdalen Hall left an allowance Then Dr. Jâ—h Reynolds Dr. Ayry and others supplyed that course And Dr. Ayry for many years together Preached at St. Peters in the East each Lords Day and his excellent Pains are made publick in those Lectures on the Philippians Within the compass of my own remembrance for thirty years at least I can speak there were many able and Iudicious Preachers in particular Parishes who constantly labored in the Word and Doctrine Of such were choice Ministers of the Gospel at * Alhollows at St. * Michaâ—ls * St. Peters in the East by Mr. Pope Mr. Black burn Mr. â—ight Mr. Eâ—stoâ— whose Ministry blessed be God I received much edification Other able and faithful Preachers are yet alive who have and do at present take abundance of pains in the Work of the Gospel amongst us whose Names though I pass by yet are no whit the less to be esteemed of I would not willingly give offence neither to Jâ—w nâ—r Gentile nor Church of God Yet I must speak my conscience without respect of persons that for these thirteen years last past there hath been more constant and more practical edifying Preaching amongst us then the eldest alive can remember was ever before in this University Every Lords Day at several hours three or four Sermons are Preached Likewise every Tuesday Thursday Friday and Saturday constant Lectures are Preached besides many other Lectures in private Chappels Upon these considerations it plainly appears what care and industry is taken to propagate Religion in the University and City And many there are amongst us of that excellent temper of Amaziah the Son of Zichri who willingly offer up themselves unto 2 Chro. 17. 16. the service of the Lord Who give their Labors as a free-will-offering gratis I may truly say I wish not Ingratis It 's not in my intention to make up a Nomâ—nclature and compleat Catalogue of the Worthies of our Universities Many not named perhaps may be no whit inferior to those that are already named My design is to stop the mouthes of Clamorous Envious and Malicious Persons who asperse and traduce Vniversities as useless and little better then Hives of Wasps and Drones although I know no reason why because of some Wasps and Drones the whole Hive should be destroyed But those Machiavilian Counsels take place too too much now adays Audacter criminare aliquid haerebit Neither do I in the least question but that the Venerable Vniversity of Cambridge can produce a parallel number of choice Divines and Scholars such as were Whitaker Cartwright Ward Davenant Greenham Perkins Baynes Sibbs Preston Dod Hildersham Hill Arrowsmith c. But I proceed no further in this Argument By what I have observ'd from others to whom I
ever did nor shall ever goe away a looser by Gods service God keeps the wages 'till afterwards Here we may have an earnest part of payment but the great summe is reserved for another world And they that honour God in bringing converts to the Gospell and making Proselytes to Jesus Christ they are highly honoured of God Them that honour me saith God I will honour 1 Sam. 2. 30. And what honour God will one day put upon them you may read Dan. 12. 3. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament and they that turne many to righteousnesse is the stars for ever and ever such honour hath all his Saints When Andrew shall come in with Achaia by him converted to the truth John with Asia Thomas with India Peter with the Jewes and Paul with the Gentiles and all the Ministers of the Gospell and others whom God hath made instrumentall in this great service when these shall be able to say Behold Lord here we are and the children which thou hast given us then will the Lord say to them well done good and faithfull servants enter into your masters joy And thus I have dispatcht the first head propounded in the second 2. Head The Characters of him that win neth soules Charact. 1. He must abound in love place I am to give in the character of him who of all others is likeliest to win soules how such a one should be qualified I shall represent unto you in these ensuing Characters 1. He must abound in the grace of love his heart must be enflamed with seraphicall love unto Jesus Christ It 's a passage frequently used in Ignatius Epistles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my love is crucified It 's an excellent saying in Paul 2 Cor. 5. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the love of Christ constrains us A faithfull Minister acts altogether from a principle of love to Jesus Christ He prayeth preacheth giveth almes fasteth watcheth and hee 's indefatigable in his labours and what 's the reason or ground of all Because the love of Christ constrains him Then onely are we upon sure grounds when the love of Christ is that primum mobile that sets all the other orbes in their motion and where there 's a principle of love to Jesus Christ there will be shed abroad mutuall love towards our brethren such love was unparalleld in Moses who wish'd himselfe blotted out of the boâ—ke of life Exod. 32. 3. And in Paul who wished himselfe an Anathema for the Jewes Rom. 9. 3. Here 's soule love indeed beyond compare O what an ardent affection and tender compassion ought Ministers to have to the soules of their people Love to their soules will make them runne through fire and water grapple with beasts of Ephesus sons of Anak even Herculean labours But where 's love to the fleece onely Mercenary hopes of promotions dignities carnal interest all such self-ends and sinister respects will be but as so many Ignes fatui to lead men away into dangerous and destructive ways It 's onely love to the soul that will set thee a working to good purpose And further he that is thus set on fire with love to Christ and to his Brethrens souls must be a man of such wisdom as to temper all his counsels in love In all his Meditations and Exhortations Love is one main Ingredient in the composition He abhors sin in any and reproves it but whilest he hates the sin he loves the person and whilest he endeavors to slay and utterly to destroy the sin he would gladly be instrumental to save the soul of the sinner This is the rule which the Apostle gives Eph. 4. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some render it speaking some following some doing the truth But if the English word may be admitted it 's rendred most suitable to the Original truthing of it in love 2. He must be a man of a willing minde God expects his offering Charact. 2. A man of a willing minde of the willing hearted Exod. 35. 5. And the people are commended for willingly offering themselves Judg. 5. 2. The question was asked 1 Chron. 29. 5. Who then is willing to consecrate his service to the Lord and it 's said v. 6. Then the chief of the Fathers and the Princes of the tribes of Israel c. offered willingly And Gods people are a willing people people of willingnâ—sse Psalm 110. 3. Every one set apart for the Ministry must have such a Spirit as Amasiah the Son of Zichri had who willingly offered himself unto the Lord And this was as eminent in Paul And I will very gladly spend 2 Chro. 17. 16. 2 Chro. 12. 15. and be spent for you Necessity and constraint may not put any upon a Ministerial Function Quasi ultimum refugium not an Advowson purchased by the Father and intended for the Son nor an Impropriator who intends his Son for his Substitute at a venture A strange Soloecism saith Mr. Boltâ—n that holy man of God a Lay-Rector and not Preach nor a Collegiate Education by Statute enjoyning at such a standing to enter into Orders whereas alass many venter thus upon this calling who have neither heart nor hand to put forth to the work but onely that they might keep their places I say none of those can be a sufficient warrant in point of conscience to take upon them so high a Calling This Calling must be took upon choice and serious deliberation It must be willingly entred upon and willingly performed No thinking of putting thy hand to the Plough and looking back such are not fit for the service of the Lord This must be thy resolution come good report come evil report honor dis honor prosperity or adversity I will give my self up to God as Hannah gave Samuel for a loan all the days of my life 3. He must be a man of a meek spirit such a singular spirit was Charact. 3. A man of a meek spirit in Moses Numb 12. 3. And beyond all parallel in Christ He propounds himself the pattern of our imitation Matth. 11. 29. How must the servant of the Lord be qualified 2 Timothy 2. 24 25. And the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all mâ—n apt to teach patient in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves And how must an erring brother be dealt withal you may observe the rule Gal. 6. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 4. He must be a man of zeal and courage in the cause of God Every Charact. 4. He must be a man of zeal and courage thing is beautiful in its season There 's a season for meekness and a season for zeal Moses who was meek in his own cause yet was highly transported with zeal in the cause of God Some are Boanergesses Sons of Thunder and others are Barnabasses sons of consolation It 's observed that notwithstanding many failings there 's some good spoken of all the
Churches of Asia onely Laodicea Rev. 3. 16 19. excepted because they wanted zeal they were luke-warm neither cold nor hot and therefore God will spew them out of his mouth Wherefore God commands the Angel or Minister of the Church v. 19. Be zealous and repent He that will gain souls must have his heart boyling in zeal to Gods glory Paul when he came to Athens and observing their Superstition was not afraid of the Philosophers encounter neither was he mealy-mouthed for all their reproaches but tells them plainly to their faces Ye men of Athens I Acts 17. 22. perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious Sin must not be connived at though in Athens nay rather the more to be reproved because in such a place eminent for Learning more is given and more is to be required and he that knoweth his masters will and doth it not shall be beatâ—n with more stripes Who can refrain speaking in the cause of God unless he be spiritually stupified and have a dumb Devil within him It was Luthers brave resolution to go to Melch. Ad. in vira Lutheri Wormes and preach the Gospel though every tile was a Devil to oppose him However zeal may be censured for phrenzy it s but the same Livery that Festus bestowed on Paul And thou mayest urge Pauls Apology I am not mad but speak forth the words of truth and soberness Act. 27. 24 25. And resolve with David if to be zealous for God be accounted vileness resolve to be more vile 5. He that would win souls must be a man of knowledge Charact. 5. He must be a man of knâ—wledge Where God gives a calling he furnisheth men with a competent measure of gifts for the discharge thereof Blinde guides Ignoramusses are none of Gods sending They run before they are sent Prophets were called Seers and the Priestslips should preserve knowledge As the Mal. 2. 7. Priest under the Law so the Minister under the Gospel must be a man of knowledge How should the Minister be able to grapple with the Hydra of Heresies to contend for the Faith to convince gain-sayers unless he be a man of knowledge There 's much use of secular Learning Arts and Sciences are Hand-maids to Divinity As long as they keep their distance they contract a good esteem but if the Hand-maid will have the preheminence of her Mistress 't is high time she should be casheered And there 's exceeding great use of Nurseries of Learning and Schools of the Prophets But here 's the knowledge which above all others you must get even the knowledge of Jesus Christ All the Fathers and Schoolmen and philosophers though in their due place they must be reverenced yet all their Learning put together cannot make you gainers of Souls It s Christ alone that can do it He can infuse Divine knowledge and give you eye-Salve as he promiseth Rev. 3. 18. He can give you that Vnction whereby you shall know all things This is a rare 1 Iohn 2. 20. knowledge to know how to gain a soul This onely is to be learnt in the School of Jesus Christ 6. He must be a man Orthodox in judgement one that hath the Charact. 6. He must be a man Orthodox in judgement Spirit of discerning to understand the ways of God able to distinguish truth from falshood otherwise being blinde and ignorant the blinde leading the blinde both must fall into the ditch God goeth not forth with the Ministry of false Teachers They may deceive souls but cannot gain them unless in that sense which is said that the Scribes and Pharisees did which compassed sea and land to gain a Proselyte and when he is made he becomes seven Matth. 23. 15. times worse the childe of the devil then before Such a gain is a dreadful loss not a winning but a destroying of souls It should therefore be our principal business to study the Scriptures and to be well grounded in the truth to be stedfast and setled in the faith not being carried about with every winde of Doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive Eph. 4. 14. There are three emphatical words in the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Dye counterfeit Teachers imitate counterfeit Gamesters they can cog a Dye 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every work any trick any shift 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a wiley art of legerdemane To be fenced against these what need have we to pray for a spirit of discerning to know the truth and to have our hearts stablisht with grace as the Apostle exhorts Heb. 13. 9. 7. He must be a man of an holy life and exemplary conversation 7. He must be a man of a boly life Concionatoris vita Concionis anima Gregory de Pastorali curâ tells us Necesse est ut esse munda studeat manus quae diluere aliorum sordes curat That hand must be clean that 's imployed in wiping of others filthiness The Exhortation is urgent Isa 52. 11. Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. A good life is a good Commentary upon a good Sermon The Apostle is earnest in his Exhortations Rom. 2. 21. Thou that teachest others teachest thou not thy self c. Ministers lives should be standing Sermons their whole conversation a pattern of Piety They are Beacons set upon an Hill the eye of the whole Countrey is upon them As the godly observe So the eye of the wicked watch for their halting ready to make them an offender for a word It 's a common observation that the contention of Abrahams and Lots Herdsmen hath a greater aggravation because the Canaanite was then in the Land The observation of the wicked Gen. 13. 7. is not a small motive to engage us unto circumspect walking The very breathings of a Minister should be spiritual full of grace in his lips ministring grace to the hearers his words savory tending to edification his carriage serious grave exemplary adorning his Profestion as becometh the Gospel What an efficacy hath a good Phil. 1. 27. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sermon when it s backt with an holy life and conversation We should therefore pray for a serious heavenly frame of spirit 8. He that would win souls must be a man of industry This is Charact. 8. He must be a man of industry that Apostolical Character To be a work-man that needeth not to be ashamed 2 Tim. 2. 15. Christ admits no Truants in his School no Droans in his Hive no Loyterers in his Vineyard It 's said The labâ—râ—r not the loyterer is worthy of his hire Ministers are in Scripture called Pastors Seers Watch-men Work-men It s a palpable contradiction for to be a Pastor and not to feed a Seer and to be blinde a Watchman and to sleep and a Work-man to be idle Pharaoh bids Joseph set any of his Brethren that were men
of Jordan If lesser afflictions cast thee down low will not greater quite overwhelme thee consider of those things in thy most serious composed thoughts The 4th Use and last is for direction The Question will be askt Use 4. For Direction 1. Direction Come to the mankets what meanes must bee used for the purchase of this pearle In the winding up of all I 'le prescribe a few principall means and forthwith conclude 1. You must come to the markets whilst they last and whilst the shops are open To day is the market and the Ministry of the Gospell shewes forth the most pretious wares Now then come here and buy Mary found Christ in the midst of the Doctors and the blind man lay in the way where Christ came by Jacobs sons must goe to Aegypt to fetch corne The five Virgins are bid to goe to them that sell Matth. 25. 9. The Minister tenders these commodities Sabboths are market daies and the publick assemblies market places sit then at the feet of your teachers come frequently to the meanes of grace This coming is accepted as a kind of price though not meritorious paid to purchase Christ Though grace be free and we cannot bring mony in our hands yet come come come t is thrice ingeminated Isay 55. 1. 2. When you are gone from hence give your selves to reading 2. Direction Give your selâ—es to Reading and Meditation meditation and conference Read and search the Scripture bring all with the Beraeans to the touchstone of the word John Husse was converted by reading the Scripture then there was no open vision But the word preached is like the breast milke most nourishing To reading adde meditation meditate of the worth of this Pearle What you read or heare labour to digest by meditation and to meditation adde conference Mal. 3. 16. so those old Disciples spake often one to anothâ—r c. 3ly Seek the face of God by prayer They that seek have a promise of finding To aske for Christ and his grace is a Petition suteable to the will of God And as king according to God's will wee have a promise of being heard Let us cry after Christ as hid treasures Lord give me this pearle or else I am undone Le ts resolve with Bernard Nunquam 1 Joh. 5. 14. discedam à te Domine sine te Le ts herein be importunate beggars take no nay no repulse resolving never to be driven away from our Fathers doore 4ly Buy the truth Prov 23. 23. Bee at any cost paines or charges for the Purchase of truth and what 's the truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joh. 14 6. I am the way the truth and the life Give all diligence to know the truths recorded in the word of God Bee unwilling to part with the smallest truth Take such a delight and love to the truth as thou wilt leave no meanes unattempted for the purchase of it Every truth is gold and the least shaving of gold is pretious One truth is more worth than a world Not an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of truth shall fall to the ground Therefore thou must study the truth read pray meditate conferre and hear to attain unto the knowledge of the truth 5ly Lastly buy this pearle of price in the season and opportunity when it 's tendred Take the benefit of the present time To every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven Eccles 3. 1. Let that excellent covnsell make deep impression upon your spirits Is 55. 6. Seeke ye the Lord while he may be found c. And let Jerusalems misery be our warning peece Luk. 19. 42. If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things which belong unto thy peace but now they are hid frâ—m thy eyes Now is the market it yet lasts blessed be God other the opportunity Neglect not these golden seasons now tendr'd to you It 's now day fall a working whilst its day the night cometh when no man can work Joh. 9. 4. You have here a tender of the pearle of price this day you know not whether you shall live to have a second tender The Lord of heaven set home this word upon your consciences and perswade you speedily readily and cheerfully to sell all you have to purchase this Pearle of price the Lord Jesus who is of superlative value more worth then millions of worlds A Suffering Faith Discovered from Philip. 1. 29. For unto you it is given in the behalfe of Christ not onely SERM. 5. At St. Maries Oxon. Decemb. 24. 1648. to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake THe Apostle having encouraged the Philippians to contend for the faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vers 27. prepares them for encounters with adversaries vers 28. And in nothing terrified by your adversaries which is to them an evident token of perdition but to you of salvation and that of God he tells them plainly what they must meet withall in the reason of the Text. The words containe three generalls A Duty An Object An Ability to performe the same 1. For the duty and that is double to believe and to suffer or Thetext divided it 's but one even a suffering faith 2. For the Object it s twice repeated but one and the same on Christ and for Christ Christ is the object of faith and for his sake we must be willing to suffer 3. Here 's the abilitie to performe both duties of believing and suffering To you it is given None can believe in Christ nor suffer for Christ except it be given from above Before I draw forth the Doctrine I will insist a while in the explanation of the words It 's said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it s gratia gratis data gratia gratum faciâ—ns Faith is no hearb that groweth in our gardens but it s a plant of our heavenly Father's plantation It s an habit infus'd by the spirit the supernaturall worke of God No morall perswasion no principle of nature no volumes of glimmering Philosophers can make discovery of this pearle Nature is as dimme-sighted as a mole in divine mysteries It s beyond the kenne of a naturall man to discerne spirituall things 1 Cor. 2. 14. But the naturall man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned As John gave Testimonie of Christ John 3. 27. That a man can receive nothing except it be given him from above so it may be said of Faith except it be given thee from above thou canst not receive it It followes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hence its evident that every faith is not a suffering faith when the sonne of man comes shall he find faith on the earth A temporary verball dogmaticall or historicall faith are every where to be found like the Sycamores in the valleyes for abundance But a true saving justifying faith that
over me yet now having heard what God says unto me I am armed Cap-a-pee against them all Hence 1. Learn our duty to wait upon God with a quiet spirit whatever reproofs or oppositions we may meet withal from men or Devils And secondly To set an high estimate upon the word of God and stick close to it as the rule No matter what men say against thee if God be for thee And thirdly Not to follow any devised way of man but to make the Word of God the Umpire guide rule of thy life And lastly Though God speak not presently we must not be hasty but wait his time For when we wait for an answer then are we put in a capacity to receive it The Prophet waited for an Answer and an Answer he obtains ver 2. And the Lord answered and said Write the vision and make it plain upon Tables that he may run that readeth it Note how opportunely God answers the Prophet upon his watch An Angel revealed the welcome news of a Saviour to the Shepheards keeping their flocks by night And a Vision is revealed to the watching Prophet And because the Vision was principally for publick use and edification it was to be writ in legible Characters even Capital Letters that any one might read it in transitu and not stop Q. But when shall the Vision come to pass might some say When will it come Oh! it 's a long time a coming and hope deferred makes the heart sick The Caldeans may quite ruine our nation We may fall every one of us by the hand of the enemy â—efore this Vision may be accomplished Every minute is long When Oh when will the Vision be performed A. To such impatient querulous Speeches I oppose the reason or strong ground of incouragement from my Text For the Vision is yet for an appointed time c. Which words contains a Prophetical Promise incouraging and a Text divided special duty prescribed As first For the Prophetical Promise 1. You have set forth the matter of it A vision 2. The limitation thereof for an appointed time 3. The truth of it it shall not lie 4. The ingemination for the certainty it shall speak it will surely come it will not tarry 2. For the duty It 's set in opposition to hastiness of Spirit Wait for it The words need a Paraphrase Let 's review them apart Q. 1. It shall be asked What 's meant by Vision A. You know God spake at sundry times and in divers manners 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 1. 1. in times past to the Fathers by the Prophets Sometimes by dreams other times by Urim and Visions sometimes vivâ voce to the Fathers of old to us by his Son voce scriptâ in his written Word so that Dreams Visions and Revelations cease which were extraordinary and onely pro tempore We are to keep close to the written Word and take heed of being wise above what is written By the Vision some understand the Administration of the Gospel of Christ and his glorious Appearances But Calvin whom I follow 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as much as any Interpreter since the Apostles times by Vision understands Admonition and Instruction to the People of God And though this may be dark it shall speak and not lie not in vain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Numb 23. 19. so the 70. Not an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Word of God shall fail God is the God of eternal Truth Mercenary Balaam gives this true attestation God is not a man that he should lie neither the son of man that he should repent Hath he said and shall he not do it or hath he spòken and shall he not make it good God doth not delay his people on purpose to deceive them and frustrate their expectations but to exercise their faith and patience and to prepare them for the better reception and entertainment of a mercy when it comes Q. 2. But secondly Why is it said it 's yet for an appointed time A. 1. To shew that it is in the power of God alone to prefix a time He created time and limits time and seasons according to his pleasure He sets bounds and periods to all Kingdoms Nations Languages 2. And secondly For a Caveat to us to beware of limiting God to our times and seasons 3. To stop our running not to make more haste then good speed but to wait upon God in his own way who will accomplish his Vision in his own time for his own glory Q. 3. What 's meant by waiting here A. Be silent and murmur not because the Vision seems to linger Though sence fails yet let not Faith fail It 's the nature of Faith to wait for the execution of a promise though it be long a coming Faith hath a Prophetical vertue to see a Promise a great way off and a Magnetical vertue to draw it near to it So that if the Question be moved to a Believer What wilt thou do in these cloudy days How wilt thou behave thy self amidst these dark passages of Providence His answer is I 'le hope against hope wait with Faith and Patience and adhere unto the Word of God and am resolved not to let go my confidence However works of Providence may seem cross yet I 'le depend upon the truth and faithfulness of God I will wait and believe though sense be non-pluss'd and I can see no reason why I should wait on the Lord any longer And here 's the acting of Faith indeed in a true Believer who resolves I will trust my God depend upon his Word stay upon his Promises rely upon his Attributes Though he kill me yet I will trust in him as Job resolved Q. 4. Lastly Here seems to be a contradiction though it tarry it Job 13. 15. Argumentum ad hominem creaturas non ad Deum creatorem will not tarry How can these be reconciled A. This is an Argument to Men and Creatures and not to God and Creator There 's no tarrying in God Time past present and to come are all one in him A thousand years in his sight are but as yesterday We are then to distinguish between the Decree and the Mora resertur ad sestinationem nostram Caeterum si respicimus ad Dei coâ—silium nunquam moram facit Calv. in Loc. Execution thereof The Decree tarries not nor seems to tarry But according to the execution of the Decree as it falls under our apprehensions and manifestations it may seem to stay and linger There is then no tarrying in God but there is in the Creature And though flesh and blood cannot apprehend it yet in tarrying God makes haste You have here represented what Faith can do David told Achish when he was going to Battle Thou shalt see what thy servant can doe Behold here what Faith through the strength of God can do Faith meets with many Obstructions and many Repulses yet it will fall on
meanes to move God to extend mercy compassion and deliverance to them Method propounded In handling of this precious point I shall thus dispose of my Method 1. To give in a full proofe from Scripture asserting the truth 2. Contribute some reasons confirming the same 3. Represent the manner how justice must be executed This shall be by way of Direction 4. And fourthly conclude with a word of exhortation and so presse closely the duty of the Text the establishment of Iustice and 1. The Doctrine proved this shall be my particular application I resume what I first propounded to assert the truth of the point See Jer. 5. 1. Run ye to and fro in the streets of Jerusalem and see now and know and seek in the broad places thereof if ye can find a man if there be any that executeth judgment that seeketh the truth and I will pardon it So Ier. 7. 5 6 7. for if you thorowly amend your waies and your doings if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his nâ—ighbour if ye oppresse not the stranger the fatherlesse and the widow and shed not innocent blood in this place nâ—ither walke after other Gods to your hurt then will I cause you to dwell in this place in the land which I gave unto your fathers for ever and ever So Isaiah 1. 17 18. Learne to doe well seeke Juâgment relieve the oppressed judg the fatherlesse plâ—ad for the widdow come now and let us reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red as crimson they shall be as wool Prov. 29. 4. The King by judgment â—stablisheth the land but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it In these and sundry other places God promiseth a blessing upon the execution of justice I l'e single out particular instances that what 's asserted may be cleared more evidently When Israel committed both spirituall and corporall whoredome with the daughters of Moab for commonly they goe both together the greatest Idolaters the greatest whoremongers witnesse the Babylonish strumpet at this day Now nothing will appease Gods incensed wrath besides the execution of justice upon the Idolaters The Lord said unto Moses take all the heads of the people and hang them up before the Lord against the Sun that the fierce anger of the Lord may Num. 25. 4. 5 be turned away from Israel And when Moses and the congregation were consulting Phineas stands up and falls a doing Iustice When Phineas the sonne of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest saw it he rose up from among the congregation and tooke a javelin in his hand and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them thorough the man of Israel and the woman thorough her belly So the Plague was stayed from the Children of Israel Here 's a patterne of singular zeale a man of heroicall courage all steele to the back Compare this with Psal 106. 30. Then stood up Phineas and executed judgment and so the Plague was stayed And you may read the ample reward Numb 25. 10 11 12. The Lord spake unto Moses saying Phineas the sonne of Eleazar hath turned away my wrath from the Children of Israel while he was zealous for my sake among them that I consumed them not in my jelousie wherefore say behold I give unto him my covenant of peace Moses likewise was a man of the same stamp Though in his own cause the meekest yet a man of invincible courage in the cause of God When he was in the mount Aaron makes them a golden calfe the people commit Idolatrie with it the Lord is highly incensed Moses intercedes for them Exodus 3. 11. Moses besought the Lord his God and said why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people which thou hâ—st brought forth out of the Land of Aegipt with great power and with a mightie hand He brake the tables vers 19. as soâ—ne as he came nigh unto the Camp that he saw the calfe and the dancing his anger waxed hot and he cast the Tables out of his hands and brake thâ—m beneath the mount He burnes the calfe to powdâ—r strewes it upâ—n the water and makes the Children of Israel to drink of it vers 20. executes judgment vers 26 27 28. Who is on the Lords side let him come unto me And all the Sons of Levi gathered themselves unto him and he said unto them put every man his sword by his side and goe in and out from gate to gate thorowout the camp and slay every man his brother and every man his companion and every man his neighbour And the Children of Levi did accordingly Compare this with Psal 106. 23. Therefore he said that he would destroy them had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the brach c. Whilst the camp was pestered with an Achan Israel could not stand before their enemies But as soon as Achan was executed the valley of Achor became a doore of hope Hos 2. 14. As long as Jonah was in the ship the storme continued but as soone as he was cast over shipbord there was a great calme Jonah 1. 15. Agag was hewed in pieces by Samuel Baals prophets were slain by Elijah Thus David executed judgment upon the Gibâ—onites enemies retaliating their mischiefes upon their own pates 2 Sam. 21. 1 6 9. There was a famine in the dayes of David for three yeares and David enquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered it is for Saul and for his bloody house because he slew the Gibeonites vers 6. Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us and we will hang them up unto the Lord in Gibeah of Saul whom the Lord did chuse And the King said I will give them vers 9. And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites and they hanged them in the hill before the Lord. And see the good successe vers 14. And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his sonnâ— buried they in the countrey of Benjamin in Zelah in the Sepulchre of Kish his Father and they performed all that the King commanded and after that God was intreated for the Land You see how just David was in executing justice upon those that slew his enemies 2 Sam. 1. 15. David cald one of the young men and said go neer and fall upon him And he smote him that he died So 2 Sam. 4. 12. he commanded his young men and they slew them and cut off their hands and their feet and hanged them up in the poole of Hebron Amaziah slew those that slow his Father Ioash 2 Kings 14. 5 6. The people of the Land slew those that conspired against Amon 2 Kings 21. 24. I might produce for illustration many examples out of humane Authours as that of Zeleucus to his sonne in putting out his eye for Adulterie and such like But I will not light a candle to the sun I keep close to
in Prayer What sweetness in Hearing What activity in Meditation Are your affections on the wing soaring aloft to Heaven Doth this joy quicken your spirits to a chearful performance of duty and make the Chariot Wheels of your souls move swiftly Then this is a spiritual joy Whereas natural joy makes a mans heart dead in spiritual things When men are full of worldly joy if you interpose some savory discourse of God and his ways those men who had fluent tongues before can say nothing they are as it were dead men their hearts are as Nabals as a stone within them Sixthly and lastly Spiritual joy will support the spirit and bear up Qual 6 the heart in the want of all outward joy and pleasantness Hab. 3. 17 18. Although the fig-tree shall not blossom neither shall fruit be in the vines the labor of the olive shall fail and the fields shall yield no meat the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no herd in the stalls yet I will rejoyce in the Lord and joy in the God of my salvation A soul that hath onely natural pleasantness is all amort and quite cast down when any affliction befalls it But a soul that hath spiritual pleasantness amidst all sorrows findes comfort in God to swallow them all up When crosses and afflictions befall a childe of God then is the time for tryal of his joy Rom 5. 2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoye in hope of the glory of God He kisseth the rod Amidst outward sorrows he feels inward consolations an exchange of worldly for spiritual joys The fourth Use shall be for Direction you will ask How shall we Vse 4. For Direction carry on the work of God chearfully A. 1. Take heed of allowing thy self in any secret sin A secret sin allowed of will dash all thy mirth I told you before aâ— saying of Luther for its excellency I reminde you of it again Vnaguâ—tula malae conscientiae totum mare mundani gaudii absorbet No way in the world so conducible hereunto as the purging out thy corruptions the exterminating of sin out of thy soul The fewer sins the more will be thy joy as I may instance in David who complain'd of broken bones and Prayes Restore unto me the joys of thy salvation that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce 2. Study seriously and frequently all the ways of godliness The more knowledge thou hast of the ways of God the more delight wilt thou take in them The saying is Ignoti nulla cupido Principle thy heart therefore aright in the ways of godliness and labor for more knowledge of them Labor to know the beauty and excellency and incomparable riches of Christ The ignorant people ask What is thy beloved more then another beloved Labor to comprehend with all Saints the heighth depth length and breadth of the love of God Be not content with that measure of knowledge which thou hast already attained but get accessions and additions to it Psal 9. 10. And thâ—y that know thy name will put their trust in thee for thou O Lord hast not forsaken them that seek thee 3. Put in practice the Divine Art of Meditation This is the spiritual digesting of the Food of Heaven O what abundance of comfort do Christians feel by Meditation Meditation is Animae vehiculum it carrys up thy Devotions to Heaven To go to duties with a barren dull spirit there 's no delight but to go to them after spiritual Meditation this is sweet and pleasant indeed Thus Isaac meditated in the fields Mary pondred Christs words in her heart Sequester therefore your souls apart from all worldly intanglements and meditate of the riches of Christ of the excellency of his ways and by this means your spirits will be elevated and you 'l perform duties with more vigour and alacrity of spirit Fourthly and lastly Be sure to walk uprightly Get an upright heart and thou mayest take comfort in whatsoever thou doest Pro. 10. 9. He that walketh uprightly walketh surely but he that perverteth his way shall be known Many complain I cannot do as others do I want those joys they have I cannot perform duties as well as they I direct thee to be sure that thy heart be upright that what thou doest is in sincerity and God will accept sincerity in lieu of perfection Is then thy heart upright Is it the desire and endeavour of thy soul to close with God Dost thou not willingly allow thy self in any sin be of good comfort It becometh the upright to be joyful I have one Use more for consolation to the people of God who Vse 5. For Consolation by experience subscribe to the truth of the Doctrine That all the ways of wisdom are ways of pleasantness To these comfort appertains as their peculiar right and interest They find comfort coming in amidst all their religious services amidst their tears and sorrow for sin they feel joy coming in they have tasted and felt how sweet the Lord is And if there be now such comfort in via what will there be in patria Si adeo dulcis quaerenti saith a Father quid invenienti You therefore that are acquainted experimentally with these truths That the ways of godliness are ways of pleasantness I beseech you manifest the truth of these things Tell and discourse to one another speak what good God hath done for your souls Many are kept back from God hy reason of scandals and calumnies that Religion makes men of melancholy and dumpish spirits Confute therefore these mistakes both by your words and actions Tell others and strive to win them to God and allure them with the narration of the delights and soul-ravishing comforts that you have found in these ways O â—abor to comfort others with those comforts wherewith you your selves have been comforted in particular And so walk in the ways of God Let your actions be so carryed and the whole frame of your soul so ordered that it may appear to the whole world That all the ways of wisdom are ways of pleasantness Rejoyce therefore in the Lord. Delightfulness in the ways of godliness put a beauty upon them We have a sweet promise Isa 65. 18. But be ye glad and rejoyce for ever in that which I create for bâ—hold I create Jerusalem a rejoycing and her people a joy A joy in the abstract and it 's Gods work of creation You therefore to whom God hath darted the beams of his reconciled countenance I counsel in the language of our Saviour Sons and Daughters be of good comfort and go on chearfully Let your hearts as Jehoshaphats was be lifted up in the ways of God When the Spirit of God witnesseth to your spirits that ye are the children of God there must needs be abundance of joy in your souls And here 's your ground of rejoycing that your names are written in the Book of
c. No peace with lusts no peace in the ways of wickedness Isa 57. 20 21. But the wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest whose waters cast up mire and dirt Thâ—re is no peace saith my God to the wicked Whatever jollity and quietness wicked persons enjoy from without yet there 's war at home A tortur'd conscience will dash all thy sports But a childe of God though wars may be without yet he injoys peace at home with God and a good conscience I shewed formerly the causes of peace wicked men want all these God is their enemy Christ their enemy The Gospel thunders out Anathema's against them As for those mine enemies that would not have me to reign over them bring them out and slay them before me For Instruction 1. Be instructed in these particular Duties 1. Select the ways of godliness and walk close in them Turn neither to the right hand nor to the left Walk straight forward and square all your actions by the rule which is the Word of God When men relinquish their callings and walk out of Gods ways then troubles and calamities befall them and they can take no comfort in them But when thou walkest exactly and keepest close to God whatever crosses befall thee thou maist take comfort inward peace thou maist injoy in the midst of outward troubles 2. Get a spiritual acquaintance with God Job 22. 21. Acquaint thy self with him and be at peace thereby good shall come unto thee Job 34. 29. When he giveth quietness who can make trouble and when he hideth his face who then can behold him Get thy peace made in heaven 3. Prize at an invaluable rate the pearl of a good conscience and take heed of sinning against thy conscience Wouldst thou walk without trouble walk uprightly as was before mention'd for it 's undoubtedly true That he that walketh uprightly walketh truly but he that perverteth his ways shall be known 'T is true offences will come and many scandals and hardships we shall meet withal in our way to Heaven But if we can 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we shall be as bold as Lyons Uprightness onely hath boldness The upright is as bold as a Lyon 4. Choose any affliction rather then wound thy conscience by the least sin Job 36. 21. Take heed regard not iniquity for this hast thou chosen rather then affliction To procure peace with men O do not hazzard thy peace with God and the serenity of a good conscience No peace like to the peace of a good conscience Here 's comfort to Gods people Amidst all their troubles they injoy abundance of peace The serenity of a good conscience quiets their spirits so that the fiercest turbulent Euroclydons cannot shake them Object O but I have many perplexities of conscience I go mourning all the day long God shooteth his keen Shafts at me and vexeth me in his sore displeasure 1. For answer I demand Art thou weary of the burthen of thy sins and art thou sensible of thy insupportable burthen Art thou acquainted with thy miserable condition and apprehensive of thy wretchedness 2. Dost thou willingly allow thy self in no sin though never so secret though sin of delight or constitution 3. Dost thou desire grace for to sanctifie thee as well as mercy to pardon thee Wouldst thou rather be rid of thy sins then the punishments due to them Then thy condition is full of hope And I shall propose these counsels to thee 1. To lie in the way where Christ comes by at the Pool of Bethesda 2. Unbare thy Wounds unto him Look unto the Brazen Serpent 3. Stand not in thine own light but hearken to Gods voice in his Messengers Psal 85. 8. I will hear what God the Lord will say for he will speak peace unto his people and to his saints but let not them turn again unto folly 4. Continue thy duties Adde more Oyl to the flame Be more swift to hear more fervent in the spirit When God holds up thy spirit to continue chearfully in the performance of thy duty there 's mercy in store for thee 5. Remove all hinderances of thy peace all murmuring discontented expressions If peace comes not as soon as thou wouldst have it take heed of Rachels passionate language Give me children or else I die 6. Cherish those motions of the spirit and feelings that Christ puts into thy heart When Christ gives thee one good look O make much of it 'T is mercy thou hast one good look O set a high prize of it Christ sometimes comes and dines and sups with his Spouse and then she is overjoyed other while he absents himself from her then she 's sick for him Now whenever Christ inspires a good motion into thy heart be sure thou cherish it When ever he smiles upon thee O! observe it and make much of it And seventhly and lastly VVait and resolve not to be driven from thy Fathers dore Though he slay thee yet put thy trust in him Though he be angry with thee yet still praise him Wrestle with him as Jacob did and at last thy desires will be granted and thy joy shall be full The dignity of the Soul Mark 8. 36. For what shall it profit a man if he shall gaine the Serm. 10. St Maries Oxon. March 10. 1650. whole world and lose his own soule OUr Saviour Christ in the verses immediately foregoing exhorteth his disciples to deny themselves v. 34. Hee lays down a Reason verse the 35th wherein he prevents a tacit objection Is it not good methinks to look to our selves and to sleep in a whole skin No thou mistakest thy selfe whilest thou thinkest to save thy life thou will lose it For whosoever c. But further they might say wee must bid adieu to the world our losse will be wonderfull great But compare thy losse and gain together If thou gainest the world O miserable gaine oh dreadfull losse if in the interim thou hazardest thy pretious soule For what shall it profit us c. The words are a weighty reason evidently convincing us of this truth That the gaine of the world is a miserable unprofitable gaine purchased with the losse of the soule The words are propounded by way of question and containe virtually a vehement negation As if he should say The gaine of the world will not profit there 's no comparison the world is base and contemptible the soule excellent and invaluable Is there any compare between gold and drosse excellency and baseness the soule and the world Wherein observe Division 1. The things compared the soule and the world 2ly The purchaser A man 3ly The price pay'd and shall lose c. 4ly 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The purchase The whole world 5ly The miserable bad bargaine What shall it profit c. I 'le a little insist in the explication of the words and then draw forth the Doctrines contain'd in them Here 's a question propounded of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
a new pretended light or revelation from the old Prophet he forsook the true word and believed a lying word what a sad Catastrophe befell him v. 24. When he was gone a Lyon met him by the way and slew him and his carcase was cast in the way and the 1 King 13. 24. Ass stood by it and the Lyon stood also by the carcase Yet notwithstanding extraordinary Revelations Dreams Visions Extasies Enthusiasms though they have ceased long ago and we have no warrant to expect them because we are to keep close to the revealed will of God written in his holy word Yet I say we are to take notice of the sweet motions and spiritual illapses upon our souls Though Prophesies cease yet there are manifold discoveries of Christ unto the soul The secret and intimate acquaintance of the soul with Christ the souls ravishing consolations the breaking in and flashes of heavenly light upon the soul the heavings aspirings and harmony of the heart with Christ experience of mercies issues out of temptations protections of Angels all these are Heavenly constant revelations out of the Word of God manifested to the souls of the faithful by the Spirit according to the word Let us therefore embrace and cherish the gracious motions of the Spirit of God Where the spirit of Grace is in the heart it cannot be idle or lie dead but it 's exceeding operative The Spirit gives light to teach thee it gives heat to warm and comfort thee It is a spirit of burning and purging to burn up the stubble of corruption to purge out thy sins It is a spirit of refining and purifying Therefore when the spirit of God strives by its gracious motions inlightning purging inflaming comforting wooing thee to walk closely with God bidding thee beware of wounding thy conscience of resisting the light and going against known truth O beware of grieving this holy Spirit of God! Do not O do not force the spirit to depart sadded and grieved from thee This is one way whereby the spirit strives viz. by its motions and whispers A second way whereby the spirit strives is by the Ministry of 2. The Spirit strives by the Ministery of the Word the word It is said Rev. 3. 20. Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me The Spirit of God knocks at the doors of your hearts by the hammer of the word The spirit knocks louder and louder and the Ministers are to cry aloud and spare not Isa 58. 1. Cry aloud spare not lift up thy voice like a trumpet and shew thy people their transgressions and the House of Jacob their sins The Lord calls upon us by every Sermon we hear Why will ye die Why will ye bolt the door against the frequent knocking 's of the Spirit of God The Spirit of God hath strove with some of us ten years some twenty some foâ—ty some sixty years How many years have we lived under the sound of the Gospel having heard the voice of the Turtle crying in our Land How many powerful Preachers have spent their strength their breath wasted their spirits wooing intreating beseeching us to be reconciled unto God many of them are gone to their rest their works praise them in the Gate their memory is blessed and their name is like sweet Oyntment poured forth How many are yet alive to this day who Preach Jesus Christ faithfully and experimentally how do they pray and wrestle with God how zealously do they preach how many admonitions reproofs exhortations warnings do they give us And if we will not take warning the Ministers shall deliver their own souls and our blood will be upon our own heads and the time will come when it shall be known that we have had Prophets amongst us I shall make an allusion to that Scripture Deut. 20. 11 12 13. It shall be if it make thee answer of peace and open unto thee then it shall be that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee and they shall serve thee And if it will make no peace with thee but will make war against thee then thou shalt besiege it and when the Lord hath delivered it into thy hands thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword Just so God proclaims peace and the Ministers are Ambassadors of Peace and deliver their commission after this manner Into whatsoever house ye enter first say Peace be to Luke 10. 5 6. this house And if the son of peace be there your peace shall rest upon it if not it shall turn to you again The Lord now beseâ—â—eth your hearts by the Ministry of the word and offers you peace and reconciliation if you will submit unto his Scepter and cast down your rebellious weapons the Lord will have mercy on you but if you hold out the flag of defiance and will not come in to Jesus Christ what remains but utter ruine and destruction Every Sermon you hear is like the water of Jealousie when he hath made her to drink the water then it shall come to pass that if she be defiled and hath done trespass against her Husband that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her and become bitter Num. 27. 28. and her belly shall swell c. but if she be not defiled she shall be free When the word is received into an honest and good heart it doth it good and makes it fruitful when into a corrupt heart it rots it and makes it worse It s an observation of a Reverend Divine That it is an indignity beyond all apprehension to the spirit of Dr. Ed Reynolds grace when we suffer him to wait daily at our Bethesda's our houses of mercy and all in vain to spend his sacred breath in the Ministry of reconciliation in doubling and redoubling his requests unto our souls that we would be content to be saved Yet all this while we harden our hearts and stop our ears and set up the pride and stoutness of our own reasonings till we even weary the spirit of God chide him away and cause him to depart sadded and grieved from us O my Brethren despise not prophecying undervalue not the Ministry of â— Thess 5. 20. reconciliation An indignity or affront offered unto Christs Messengers Christ takes it as done unto himself Luke 10. 16. He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me Be then exhoâ—ted to set an high price of the Gospel and make much of the motions of Gods holy Spirit in the Ministry of the word Ursin relates in his Preface to his Catechism That those godly Vrsini Praf Catech. Protestants that fled beyond the Seas for their Religion in that Marian quinquenium of Persecution acknoâ—ledged That that great innundation of misery
to love Jesus Christ so the Martyr in the flames cried out None but Christ Thus highly did John Baptist testifie of Christ Joh. 3. 30. so Christ may be exalted hee cares not what becomes oâ— himself So every faithful Minister puts the highest value upon Jesus Christ so Christs honour may be advanced Christs cause and interest promoted he cares not what sufferings what persecutions he meeâ—s withall Though he encounter with Beasts at Ephesus Sons of Anak and frie at a stake none of these things move him so Christ may be glorified in him and by him It 's a signe of true grace to prize Christ highly and enhaunce his esteem and honour above all things besides 3. The heart is in love with holynesse for it self â—olynesse is Charact. 3. The heart is in love with holyness the image of God Ephes 4. 24. and there is beauty in Gods imâ—ge to enamour the soul What was said of Moral virtue may be much more said of Theological Si â—erreno oculo possit cerni admirabile sui desiderium excitaret Could we discern by a spiritual eye the lustre and excellency of Holynesse O how would our hearts bee in love with it Multitudes followed Christ for the Loaves and accounted gain their godlynesse Self-seeking interests covetousnesse is that Master-wheele that sets many on working but a true Beleever accounts Godlynesse his gain Christ his honour â—eligion his preferment His eye is single his heart sincere He 'l do his duty do his work faithfully and trust God for his wages Nay Jsa 49. 4. Psal 119. 7 the work is a reward O how I love thy law saith David It was his delight he loved the Commandements above sine gold And what was the Law it was holy just and good Holynesse was the object of his love To love God for himself Holynesse for it self is a good sign 4. There must an ingenuous sorrow for sinne I call it ingenuous Charact. 4. An ingenuous sorrow for sinne in opposition to all slavish howling under the rod. There is a vast difference between Ahab and Paul between that sorrow which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 7. 10. and you have there seven Apostolical characters of godly sorrow 2 Cor. 7. 11. There 's a vast difference between the howling of dogges and crying of children between the crying of wicked persons as Pharaoh Ahab Cain under a heavy judgement for the punishment and smart upon them and the crying of Paul Peter and Mary Magdalen Pharaoh said Take away this plague the plague of Locusts Caterpillars c. he never was affected with the plague of his heart which was the greatest plague of all But take away my sinnes cries David Wash me throughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sinnes here 's a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of godly sorrow it mourns for sinne more than the punishment it mourns for sin because it is sinne because it is a breach of Gods holy Law because thereby God is dishonoured this sorrow is kindly ingenuous when the heart is melted and mourns and is broken for displeasing so good and gracious a Lord God 5. There wil be a cordial mourning for others sinnes This affection Charact. 5. Thheres mourning for others sins Psal 119. 136 was singular in David Rivers of water run down mine eyes because men keep not thy Law A godly man layes to heart the sins of the times and the place where he lives It grieves him at the heart to see God dishonoured by any Bradford that rare spirited man grieved at the miscarriages of one of his Scholars and laid the fault upon himself for not looking better to him If he so charged himself surely our faces will gather blacknesse and a great deal of guilt will lye at our doâ—es for not discharging our trust as we ought to doe concerning so many Scholars as so many Depositums committed to our charge But let 's doe our duties and mourn over them that are refractory and keep them strict to discipline Le ts pray for them and mourn over them and questionlesse praiers and tears are prevalent weapons When thou hearest a man swear feest him drunk break Sabbaths takes no heed nor makes any conscience to walk in the way of the Lord O mourn for him and weep that God is dishonoured and reflect upon thy self thy nature is as bad as his Who art thou that differs from thy brother What difference there is it is not of thy making it 's Grace free Grace that makes all the difference 6. The heart approves it self to God so did David put himself Charact. 6. The hearts approving it self to God upon Gods Examination Such a one walks alwaies as in the presence of God knowing that God is all eye to see all ear to hear all hand to write down all He stands not to mans day and mans judgement he appeales to God the searcher of all hearts whose eyes are ten thousand times brighter than the Sun Hereupon Job raised a ground of comfort and confidence because his Redeemer was his Judge he that was his Saviour should acquit him his Witnesse was on high See his excellent protestation that his heart should not reproach him Job 27. 4 5 6. Now when a Christian is hardly censured and condemned by the world yet if he can approve his heart to God that hee hath walkt before God with an upright heart here 's ground of abundant comfort If God be for us who can bee against us If God speake peace who can speak trouble It 's God that justifieth who 's he then that condemneth Let 's all then labour to tread even paths to keep close to the rule of the Word alwaies Rom. 8. 31. to set the fear of God before our eyes that whatsoever evil entreaties we may meet withall from abroad wee may have comfort at home having approved our hearts to God who searcheth all hearts and tryeth the reins and rendereth unto every one according to the fruits of their doings 7. There wil be a pressing forward toward perfection A heart Charact. 7. There will be a pressing forward towards perfection that approves it self to God as it labours for truth of every grace so it labours for growth of them Joshuahs Sun stood stil Hezechiahs Sun went back Neither of these are for their imitation but they are like Davids Sun which like a Giant refresht with wine runnes its course I wel know that there are Lambs as wel as Sheep weak as well as strong Christians Christians of the Lower and of the Vpper Form and that Faith admits degrees yet every true Beleever contents not himself with that measure of grace whereunto he hath attained but labours after perfection as you may see Phil. 3. 12 13 14. Psal 48. 6 7. 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7 8. There are many things which a godly man finds lacking in his Faith Love Humility and therefore
ashamed to begge let these be the objects of your charity Florioes View of Tuscany Doe good to all but especially unto the houshold of Faith this is the speciall duty of such a day as this is to honour God with our substance to distribute our bread to the hungry Wherefore forget not this duty it 's a sacrifice where â—ith God is wel-pleased I commend this duty unto your practice and the Lord stirre up your hearts and cause you to draw forth your hearts to the reliefe of the distressed afflicted especially the poor members of Jesus Chriâ—â— that this may be a good day and a day of rejoycing to you and a good day and a day of rejoycing to them and let the memoriall of this day be Monumentum aere perennius Le ts imitate the Jeâ—s in the Text and use all the care we can that such dayes as these are may never faile nor the memoriall of them perish from our seed The Day of Iudgement Discovered from Rom. 2. 16. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Iesus Christ according to my Gospel A Serious discourse of the day of Judgement is both seasonable Serm. 7. at St. Maries Oxon. Decemb. 9. 1655. 1. This Doctrine is seasonable 2 Pet. 3. 3 4. and profitable seasonable because as the Apostle informed long agoe there shall come in the last dayes scoffers walking after their own lusts and saying where is the promise of his comming There have been of old multitudes of Hereticks who have decried and endeavoured to expunge this Article out of the Creed concerning the day of Judgement Such were the Sadduces Epicures Dositheans Samaritans Marâ—chees Prodâ—anitae Floriani Symmachiani and of all these Sects the vilest were the Borboritae against whom Augustine made an elaborate Confutation Aug. lib. de Haeresibus ad Quod vult Deum c. 6. V. Act. Mon. vol. 1. Near of kin to those filthy beasts were the Harlots against whom there was long since by King Hen. 2. a Proclamation sent into Northhamptonshire and the lewd Ranters their genuine abhominable off-spring in these last and worst of times Now adaies Hell it selfe is broke loose through the variety of Hereticks who though differing from one another yet all agree against the truth like Herod and Pilate who of enemies were made freinds and they both agreed together against Christ What shal we say when Scepticks Antiscripturists Atheists in print and practice in their works and deeds deny the day of Judgement Surely as at all times so now especially the Preaching of this Doctrine of the day of Judgement is exceeding seasonable 2. This Doctrine is as profitable as seasonable And this will 2. This Doctrine is profitable be evidenc'd by two Reasons which are of great weight and consequence 1. Because the Preaching of this Doctrine is an incentive and a 1. Because it is an Incentive to godlinesse speciall motive to excite unto the practice of godlynesse Why doth God command all men to repent there 's a strong reason used by the Apostle to perswade Because hee hath appointed a day it the which he will judge the world in righteousnesse And from the consideration of the day of Judgement the Apostle draws a strong engagement unto Holyness of life and conversation Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought wee to be in all holy conversation and godlynesse looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God 2 Pet. 3. 11 12. 2. Because this Doctrine of the day of Judgement is the foundation 2 This Doctrine is the foundation of comfort of comfort unto the godly Hence Paul triumphed I have saith he fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith Henceforth there is layd up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day c 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. Such as have been troubled who belong to Christ they shall have rest as the Apostle saith When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Aâ—gels and the righteousness of God is engaged for performance 2 Thes 2. 6 7 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you and to you who are troubled rest with us Now to come nearer the words Their connexion and dependance is upon ver 12. For as many as have sinned without Law shall also perish without Law And as many as have sinned in the Law shall be judged by the Law Although they had not the Moral Law promulgated to them by the Ministery of Moses yet they had the Law of Nature written in their hearts And the Law of Nature though unwritten in Tables of stone shall condemn them that sinned against the written Moral Law What else is the Moral Law but a Transcript more fairly wrote of that Law of Nature which was first wrote in Adams heart Those likewise that sinned against the written Law as the Jews did shall be judged by it For there is a dreadfull curse threatned Deut. 27. 26. Cursed is he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to doe them Now if the Question be propounded When shall this judgement bee executed upon Jews and Gentiles My Text gives in the Answer In the day c. Which words containe a plain assertion and an evident proof of a grand Article of our Faith concerning the day of Judgement Wherein wee may observe 1. A Fundamental Doctrine asserted That at the day of Judgement the secrets of all mens hearts shall be judged by Jesus Christ 2. Here 's a full proof of this assertion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to my Gospel Which is not to be understood as if Paul Secundum quod annuncio per Jesum Christum Hier. Suum appellat â—atione Ministerii Calvin was the Author of the Gospel but onely the Publisher thereof Jerome thus understands the Apostle According to that which I declare by Iesus Christ And this the Apostle calls his own as Calvin observes in respect of his Ministry So that I conceive Paul may be thus understood as if he should say This is the Gospel that Christ my self and all the Apostles have taught This and no other Gospel I preach unto you The words thus opened and divided contain three Doctrines 1. That there shall be a day of Judgement 2. At that day the secrets of all mens hearts shall be judged 3. Iesus Christ shall be the Iudge at that day I resume the first Doctrine in order according to this Method Doct. 1 1. To lay down evident proof for clearing of so great a truth Method 1. 2. 2. To make some usefull improvement of all by particular Application For proof hereof Scripture and Reason both contribute abundantly The Doctrine proved to the evincing and stablishing of us in this Article of ouâ— Faith I begin with Scripture Testimony which is
instar omnium And I shall select some principall in the Old and New Testament not mentioning so many places as might easily be produced lesâ— quotations onely fill up my Sermon 1. For the Old Testament read with deliberation Psal 9. 8 9. Eccles 11. 9. Eccl. 12. 14. Dan. 7. 22. 2. For the New Testament in the Text it is said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ver 5. And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It 's called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that day Luk. 21. 34. 2 Tim. 4. 8. It 's called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a day of Judgement 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the judgment of the great day 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a day of Redemption 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a day of refreshing and restitution Christ himselfe foretels of this day Luk. 13. 41. Mat. 26. 41. Mat. 26. 64. His Apostles foretell thereof Paul Rom. 14. 10. 2 Cor. 5. 10. Phil 3. 20. Peter 1 Pet. 4. 5. 2 Pet. 2. 9. The Apostle Jude quotes Enoch ver 14. St. Iohn Rev. 1. 7. chap. 20. 11. And he cites the testimony of Christ in the conclusion of his book c. 22. 7. and v. 20. Surely I come quickely To scripture testimonies I might adde Fathers Councils Confessions It were easy to call in heathens for witnesses as Hydaspes Hermes and such like mentioned by Eusebius de praeparatione Evangelica or I might quote the Sybils according to Lactantius his Relation But that I judge it superfluous to light a candle to the Sun To Scripture proofe I 'le adde some evidences of reason or Arguments a fortiori for confirmation of the Doctrine The first Argument shall be drawn from the decree of God Arg. 1. Drawn from Gods decree Heb. 9. 27. It 's the statute law â—nd decree of heaven which cannot be reversed God is immutable and changeth not Omnia alia futura quae praedixerat Spiritus Sanctus evenerunt c. saith Austin All other predictions are fulfilled concerning the coming of Christ concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and this also concerning Christs second coming shall come to passe God hath appointed a day to judge the world in Act. 17. 31. Gods decrees and purposes cannot be disappointed nor disâ—nulled Truth it selfe hath spoken the word is gone out of the mouth of God and therefore undoubtedly shall come to passe Balaam giveth a true testimony in this particular Numb 23. 19. Hath he said and shall he not doe it A second Argument shall be drawn from the justice of God Arg. 2. Drawn from the Justice of God Gods children have not their portion in this life it 's reserved for them in heaven The best of Gods children meet with many hardships they are afflicted persecuted tormented killed all the day long This question posed heathens as Seneca and others Car bonis male sit malis bene fit It put David to a stand to see the prosperity of the wicked Psa 73. 12. He never had his judgement rightly informed till he went into the Sanctuary Psal 73. v. 17. The day of judgement will set all things right and straight shall not the Judge of the world doe right read 2 Thes 1. 6 7 8. We read Isa â— 10 11. That it shall be well with the righteous and ill with the wicked In this world it goeth often very â—ill with the righteous they are made a prey unto wicked men and the wicked are advanced The rich man went in sumptuous apparrel and fared deliciously every day when Lazarus wanted the crumbs to sustain nature Pharaoh was in prosperity whilest the poor Israelites endured slavery at the brick-kiln Ioseph was in prison Daniel in the lyons den Jeremiah in the dungeon the city Shushan in great perplexity whilst the King and Haman were at a banquet But at the day of judgement the scene will be altered the righteous will be happy the wicked miserable The godly shall be at Christs right hand the goats at the left In die judicii cum Aug. in Psal 72. justi introducentur in regnum Dei injusti autem abjicientur foras tunc justitia Dei ostendetur saith Austin on Psa 72. The righteous are misjudged accused falsly and maliciously persecuted at that day they shall be cleared Luther used to say At the day of judgement John Hus and Jerom of Prague will appear to all to be faithful and holy martyrs When the Pope and his Cardinals will appear to be vile wicked wretches It is a good observation of Bernard in his Epistle Bern. in Epist ad Nepotianum ad Nepotianum Veniet veniet qui male judicata rejudic abit dies There will come a day there is a day comeing wherein all ill-judged cases and causes shall be reviewed and rectified when all perverse judgements shall have judgement against them A 3. Argument shall be drawn from the convictions of conscience Arg. 3. Drawne from the conviction of conscience Lipsius â— 2. de Constantia The bangs of conscience those ictus laniatus which Julian the Apostate had these which are assidua domesticae Furiae as the Orator speakes doe testify a judgement to come Haenc conscientiam Deus impiis imposuit in quá poenas luant priusquam luant so Lipsius But read the verse preceding my Text. Conscience gave Judas a bang and made him restore the thirty pieces The horrour of conscience made Cain to roar and changed Pasâ—ur's name to Magor Missabib a terrour round about a terrour to himself When the Doctrins of righteousnesse and temperance were preached by Paul to Felix he fell a trembling A strange change that the very Judge should tremble before a despised prisoner However men commit sin never so secretly and think that no man living knowes thereof yet conscience lasheth fore The consideration of a day of judgement makes the sinner afraid of himself Hereupon the wicked Arg. 4. Drawn from the connexion between the resurrection and the day of judgement â— Mat. 25. 33. Heb. 6. 2. Heb. 9. 27. flee when none pursue Conscience when it 's awakened slies into the face of the abhominable sinner It makes him afraid where-ever he goes His fansy is so troubled that he thinketh every bush to be a man every man an executioner to hale him before the judgement feat of God A 4. Argument shall be drawn from the near dependence and connexion between the resurrection and the day of judgement The resurrection goeth before the judgement must needs follow after The general judgement is a necessary consequent of the resurrection Christ will come to rayse up the dead and judge them Resurrection and judgement are coupled together and death and judgement joyned together And that place Joh. 5. 29. wherein we read of a resurrection of judgement Gerrard conceives that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be fully rendred per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A 5 Argument shall be drawn from the general expectation of the Saints Rom. 8. 19. It is an emphatical word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
†Gal. 4. 18. zealously affected in a good matter * Praedicare verbum Dei nihil aliud est quam derivare in se furorem totius inferni satanae Luth loc com †In aliis mansuetus ero in blasphemiis in Christum non ita Zuing in Epist ad Servet Luther used to say That to preach the Word of God zealously was a ready way to bring the rage of all the Devills in Hell about our ears But in Gods cause let 's go on couragiously and though we may be vilified by the vilest of men yet let 's resolve with David to be more vile A good God a good cause and a good conscience will carry us through the greatest dangers and difficulties And let us still remember to shew most meeknesse in our own cause and most zeal in the cause of God So * Zuinglius answered Servetus in other things I will be mild but not in blasphemies against God Now I have not yet done with the pressing of this Doctrin◠of union amongst Brethren I shall yet prosecute it farther heartily desiring that my words may leave deep impressions upon your Spirits and obtain some comfortable successe The breaches amongst the Ministers were as an Arrow stuck in the sides of that good man Philip Melancthon Whereupon on his death bed V. Vitam Phil. Melancth per Melct Adamum editam he profest I am very glad I am to leave this World because I shall be with Christ and then shall be freed from the contentions of some Divines which were very great at that time There 's a sad story of two eminent Martyrs for the truth viz. * Epiphan Haeres 68. Meletius and Peter Bishops of Alexandria who when they were put into Prison fell at variance amongst themselves about a petty difference whether the Lapsi were to be received into communion The Schisme was very great insomuch as they drew a partition between each other in Prison and would not hold communion with each other and yet afterward they joyntly suffered Martyrdome And it 's not easily to be imagined what a great Rent their dissention made in the Church of God and gave advantage to the common Enemy And what a dust was raised between two choyce and constant Martyrs Ridley and Hooper one prest conformity too strictly upon his Brother and contended with too much eagernesse for such kind of vaine uselesse Ceremonies which Calvin calls tolerabiles ineptias Yet notwithstanding these two Godly Bishops could not agree in Blacks and Whites they could both agree in Red for they resisted even unto bloud and sealed the truth of their Religion with the effusion of their bloud And now to speak my judgment more plainly as in the presence of God without partiality having no mans person in admiration for advantage I conceive it a word spoken in due season and that there is necessity of speaking of it even to exhort Ministers to study the things that make for peace and especially to agree in a sweet Harmony one with another And I am fully satisfied in my judgment that to effect this much desired union a speciall expedient will be in severall Counties as †London Lancashire Essex Warwick Worcester Norfolke c. some herein have given a good President already to associate into Presbyteries and exercise that Government which by experience is known to be Flagellum Haeresium and ordaine Ministers and to put Church censures into execution When Ministers meet together and sosolemnly seek God by prayer and fasting they strengthen one anothers hands and unite each others hearts The keeping up of Discipline is a speciall means to preserve union amongst Brethren to extirpate Heresies and sweep them away as dung and promote the power of Godlinesse It hath often lain sad upon my Spirit to consider the mischiefe that hath ensued upon want of execution of Church Discipline Hinc illae lachrymae Hence for want hereof a sluce hath been opened to let in an inundation of heresies and blasphemies But it 's much to be hoped that the execution of Discipline will shut up the sluce and stop the inundation Faxit Deus Now having spoken thus farre to Ministers the other part of 2. Part of this use to people my use I will direct to people And the substance of my exhortation is to perswade them with all alacrity of Spirit to embrace the Doctrine of Reconciliation tendred to them It 's the great Doctrine of concernement in an especiall manner to be Preacht and practised The Ambassadours of peace publish these good tidings They come in the name of Jesus Christ offering termes of Reconciliation With what joy with what ardency of love should you embrace such gracious offers O how sweet is the voyce of Christ unto his Church His lips drop as an honey combe If thou be the Spouse of Christ thou wilt delight to heare the voyce of the Bridegroom So the Evangelist tel's us * Joh. 3. 29. Discimus etiam hic quod etsi amicus sponsi i. e. Minister Evangelii non gaudeat gaudium sponsi neque fructum eum percipiat ex Ecclesia qui sponsi proprius est non tamen caret gaudio quodam suo vel ex eo quod stet audiat vocem illam sponsi longe suavissimam quam rursus bona fide tanquam internuncius referet sponsae Rollocus in locum That the Friend of the Bridegroome which stands and hears the Bridegrooms voyce rejoyceth greatly Now consider Christ's messengers are his voyce unto people They come on his errand and deliver what he puts into their mouth O how sweet then will Christs words be to a gracious heart And this is that sweet welcome word which Ministers deliver to pray men to be reconciled and make their peace with God My brethren I beseech you in the bowells of Jesus Christ to set the highest estimate upon this Doctrine of Reconciliation preferre it before your appointed food before thousands of Gold and Silver And have them in honour and account their feet beautifull who do the office of Evangelists and are dispensers of these truths and Trumpetters of Gospell peace Though they be men of like passions yet they are Persons of honour Commission officers authorized by Jesus Christ to Preach the Gospell Private Christians may discourse of these things Charitative but let them keep within the compasse of their own calling and exhort one another to embrace this Doctrine but Ministers exhort Authoritative as Ambassadors and commissioners of Jesus Christ Wherefore Brethren let me be your remembrancer of the great duty incumbent on you all to love and reverence the Persons of your Ministers and have them in honour for their works sake especially I shall put you in mind of a Scripture or two that so my exhortation may leave deeper impression upon your hearts one is * 1 Cor. 4. 1. 1 Cor. 4. 1. Let a man so account of us as Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the
to the Method propounded 1. For Scripture Testimony we have many parrellel places Let your conversation be aâ—â—ecometh the Gospell of Christ The grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should be soberly righteously and godly in this present world There are three choyce Adverbs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He that hath this hope in him purifieth himselfe as God is pure They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge amongst you Let him shew out of a good Conversation his workes with meekness of wisdome As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him Two things saith learned * Ambulare in Christo duo de notat perseverare progredi in doctrinâ fide Christi vitam agere juâ—ta hanc fidem Davenant in Col. 2. R. 1. A holy Conversation is an Evidence of election 2 Pet. 1. 10. Rom. 12. 9. Davenant are imployed in that Exhortation viz Perseverance in the doctrine of faith and a life regulated accordingly 2. In the second place for confirmation amongst many Reasons that might be mentioned I shall insist only on foure 1. A holy Conversation is an Evidence of election Wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure There 's great care and diligence required in the work We need not ascend into heaven and curiously enquire after the Decree of God but our duty is to descend and make strict Inquisition into our own hearts whether we be sanctified and renewed in the spirits of our minds whether we depart from iniquity whether as the Apostle exhorts We abhor that which is evill and cleave to that which is good We must be assured in this grand Truth That God who 2 Thes 2. 13. hath ordained to the end hath ordained unto the means We are bound saith the Apostle to give thanks alwaies to God for you because he hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through Sanctification of the spirit and beliefe of the truth 2. When the profession and practice of Christianity meet together R. 2. This sheweth the sincerity of our Profession 2 Cor. 1. 12. here 's an infallible evidence of the truth and sincerity of our profession For our rejoycing is this the testimony for our Conscience that in simplicity and godly â—incerity not with fleshly wisdome but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world Multitudes plead an interest in Christs redemption But here 's the Criticall note To be redeemed from their vaine conversation 1 Pet. 1. 18. To be new creatures 2 Cor. 5. 17. To be renewed in the spirit of their minds Eph. 4. 23. To be made partakers the of divine Nature 2 Pe. 1. 4. These are the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Markes and Characters of those that have interest in Christ And whoever make a profession and practiceth not what they profeffe they are strangers from the life of Christ and no otherwise to be accounted of then such who by Mapps and reading of Authors discourse of farre countreys where they have never beene themselves but only they receive things by an implicite faith upon others reports and not by an experimentall knowledge But hereby we have evidence of the truth of our profession when Words and Actions Profession and Conversation concurre together in a sweet harmony and mutuall equipage R. 3. Here the Gospell is adorned 3. When Profession and Conversation meet togeather there the Gospell is adorned The Gospell gives not a Writ to licentiousnesse it opens no gapp to carnall liberty It ought to be our study and endeavour to adorne a holy Profession by a holy Conversation Tit. 2. 10. Exhort servants saith the Apostle to be obedient c. not purloyning but shewing all fidelity that they may adorne the doctrine of our Saviour in all things The great designe of Christians ought to be to keep up the reputation of the Gospel It is adorned when people walk according to the Apostles charge See that yee Eph. 5. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. walk circumspectly not as fooles but as wise The Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Originall we should be likewise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without spot and blamelesse Holinesse only adornes our profession and they are most beautifull who are adorned with the graces of Gods spirit 2 Pet. 3. 14. The Kings daughter is all glorious within her cloathing is of wrought Psal 45. 13. Gold And we read of broidered workes badgers skins bracâ—lets chaines jewells gold ear-rings Ezek. 16. Hence it eminently appeares that only the graces of the spirit can adorne a soule Now when what we professe in our mouths we make good by our practice When we name the name of Christ and depart from iniquity When we professe holinesse and live accordingly then we adorne the Gospell For the Gospell requires holinesse righteousnesse circumspect walking and the more holy righteous and circumspect a man is the more he adornes the Gospell 4. And lastly Hereby we bring the greater glory to God For R. 4. Here we bring the greater glory to God Joh. 15. 8. God is gâ—orified by the fruitfulnesse of his servants Herein is my Father glorified that yee bring forth much fruit What is this fruit but such as is meet for Repentance Mat. 3. 8. Fruit unto holinesse Rom. 6. 22. Fruits of Righteousnesse Jam. 3. 18. And this is the fruit the Apostle prayeth might abound in the Philippians chap. 4. 17. That fruit might abound to their account Now put all these Reasons together I conceive there is strength of Argument to persuade us to the duty of the Text viz. To depart from iniquity i. e. to make our Profession and Practise meet in one as lines in their proper center considering that hereby we prove our election sure and our profession to be sincere and that we adorne our profession and bring greater glory to God To these foure Reasons I l'e adde only foure Uses which are to be handled in the particular application as I promised and so I shall put a Period to my discourse 1. Here 's matter of Information that a name or forme of a Profession Vse 1. For Information an outward title or claime to Christ are altogether insufficient to Salvation What 's the forme without the power of Godlinesse what 's the name without the thing No better then the body without the spirit or the carcasse without the soule to animate it Concerning Formalists we have a Caution Having a 2 Tim. 3 5. forme of Godlinesse but denying the power thereof from such turne aside I know thy workes saith Christ unto the Angells of the Rev. 3. 1. Church of Sardis that thou hast a name that thou livest yet art dead How many are there that rest contented with an externall
the families of the earth be blessed and that in Isaac his seed should be called and yet he forgetfull of the promise betook himselfe to a broken refuge of lying and equivocation It was likewise another peice of Infidelity which caused Rebeccah and Jacob to use such indirect meanes to get the blessing God was faithfull that hath promised and he needed not their lyes to bring his work to passe yet Rebeccah gave Jacob Counsell and he fained himselfe to be his brother Esau but Jacob smarted full sore by his Exile and through Labans rigorous dealing It was Infidâ—lity in David to say in his heart that he should one day perish by the hand of Saul 1 Sam. 27. 1. Wherefore he betook himself to Achish King of Gath and there he met with difficulties upon difficulties as one wave of the Sea following another and varieties of dangers verifying our common English proverb leaping out of the frying pan into the fire Infidelity was in Zechary and therefore Luk. 1. 20. he was smitten with dumbnesse Thomas he must see before he believe This sinne is incident to the generation of the just but for this sinne Gods dearest children scape not unpunished But what shall we say of all speculative Atheists such as in their Judgments and opinions deny God Christ the Holy Ghost providence and Gods government in the world And what shall we say of those practicall Atheists who live without God in the world running into all sinnes and all manner of wickednesse these believe not the truth of the Word of God against swearers Zech. 5. 3. Nor do they believe that a flying Roll is against them to cut them off nor against drunkards Isa 28. 1. Read what Judgments the Scriptures pronounceth against them that believe not Joh. 3. 18. 2 Thes 2. 12. Heb. 3. 18. Jud. 5. I proceed to a second Use which is for Caution O beware of Vse 2. For Caution unbeliefe it s a grievous grand-damning sin other sinnes damne as well as this yet this throwes away the remedy and bolts the dore barres accesse stops the current of mercy Now multitudes flatter themselves with a false faith and so cheate themselves unto all eternity therefore there is great need to lay downe some previous Cautions which are these following 1. Beware of a fond vaine perswasion and presumptuous confidence Caution 1. Beware of a fond vaine perswasion many say all 's well with them and they believe as their Ancestors did before them and thus they flatter themselves into a fooles Paradise these vaine confident men never want woe to be confident upon Gospell promises is a sure bottome to stay upon but multitudes are confiddent by reason of outward riches honours pleasures prosperity c. because they have abundance of outward blessings hence they conclude that all shall be well with them unto eternity But this is a false consequence a plaine Non sequitur I am happy in this world therefore I shall be happy unto all eternity For a man may be eternally miserable though he enjoy abundance of outward things and he may be eternally happy though he may want them all By outward things no man can passe a certaine Judgment you read how the Idolatrous Jewes blest themselves in their condition Jer. 44. 17. That they had plenty of victualls when they burnt incense unto the Qeen of heaven But see their doome Vers 23. Thus many think all 's well with them though they runne their owne courses and follow the devises of their own heart by reason of the affluence of outward things but they deceive themselves 2. Beware of a Temporary faith Temporary believers may be Caution 2. Beware of a Tomporary faith Mr Bolton compared to the seed sowne on stony ground Matth. 13. 5 6. Which for want of root withered It s an instance of a Reverend Divine suppose saith â—he there be a Serving man following two Gentlemen when they part it will be knowne to whom that Servant belongs and whose Master he serves So when it comes to parting and loosing lossesse afflictions persecutions it will soon be known whose servants we are whether we serve God or Mammon whether we serve our selves or our lusts A Temporary Believer will pretend much in Halcyon times of peace and tranquility but when it comes to triall of suffering bearing slaunder ignominies or losse of riches for Christ then he is scandalized he will relinquish his profession and will not embrace Christ to his worldly disadvantages 3. Beware of distrusting Gods Word though it may seem long 3. Beware of diâ—trusting Gods Word in fulfilling what it promiseth Hab. 2. 3 4. Though the vision tarry wait for it Believers must wait Gods leasure And he that believeth maketh not hast The Lord promised that in Abrahams seed all the earth should be blessed this promise was long in fulfilling and Sarah according to the course of nature was unlikely to beare a child yet God accomplished what he promised to a tittle Gods workes seemes to runne crosse to his word as you may see by comparing Gen. 17. 19. with Gen. 22. 1 2. But our duty is to stay upon Gods Word though his workes may seeme 4. Weake Chriâ—tians must beware of curious Questions strange and unlikely to bring his word to passe 4. Let weake Christians especially beware of too high or curious Questions nice and doubtfull disputationâ— some loose themselves and dispute themselves into Atheisme and infidelity As for instance concerning themisteries of the Trinity Christs incarnation the procession of the Holy Ghost these are matters of our faith and not of our reasoning and disputing we must believe where sense and reason failes and because God saith it we must believe and obey not dispute his words and his commands These foure Cautions premised now in the third place I shall Vse 3. For Exhortation proceed to an Use of Exhortation Is unbeliefe such a speciall damning sinne O labour for faith There is no pleasing God without faith O! do not sleepe in a state of unbeliefe The best of Gods servants have unbeliefe in them but they complaine against it Bradford a rare mortified man complained much of his unbeliefe so we must complaine of our Infidelity we must search narrowly make hue and cry after our unbeliefe and labour to finde it out and having found it arraigne condemne and crucify it Two Motives I shall urge First I 'le draw some from the benefit of Faith Secondly From the mischiefe of unbeliefe 1. Le ts consider the benefit of Faith First It gives title and interest Motive 1. From the benefit of Faith to the promises all the promises are made unto believers Joh. 3. 16 36. Temporall promises are the portion of believers their basket and store is blessed Deut. 28. Lev. 26. Spirituall promises are the portion of believers and those promises of giving a new heart circumcising the heart c. are their portion Eternall promises are their