the proper place of such sinfull rebels as he was 2 Secondly when mens hearts are well fitted for a blessing it becomes a double blessing vnto them For it doth not alone helpe them for their present state but also for their eternall state not onely for this life but for euerlasting life not for the present alone but for euer after they being assured that God is alwaies the same in grace and fauour towards his children Vse 1. Therefore if at any time we desire any blessing or deliuerance for our selues or our friends out of dangers or debts or the like let vs intreate the Lord first of all to applie his medicine to the due place We see it ordinarie with skilfull physitians in the curing of many diseases that though the sicknesse be in the head or in any other part yet they conueigh their physicke into the stomach So let vs beseech the Lord that he will deale with vs or with such as are neere vnto vs that he will beginne his cure in our heart which is the stomacke of the soule which being soundly healed we shall finde not onely the fit staied for the present but the sicknes preuented for afterwards 2 Secondly let the wisedome of Christ in his dealing with this man serue for our imitation Are we minded to doe our neighbours a good turne in outward respects for their bodie or for their estate or for his children let vs in the first place labour as farre as God hath inabled vs to helpe their hearts to increase their repentance to strengthen their faith in Gods promises and prouidence and to minister vnto them spirituall refreshing as well as corporall And thus taking the same course with our friends in their sicknesses and in their distresse as our Sauiour did we may the more comfortably expect a full recompence of our worke from the righteous Iudge of heauen and earth and withall we shall haue this testimonie vnto our soules that we doe not good things in a carnall manner nor for fleshly respects but with an vpright heart and to a right end desiring principally that God may be glorified in the saluation of the parties to whom our beautie and kindnesse is extended 3 Thirdly seeing that the Lord vseth to begin his worke in the hart where he purposeth to vouchsafe any outward blessing in mercie Let this teach vs not to be impatient nor to thinke it too long ere God bestow any benefit vpon vs but let vs rather looke into our selues and suspect our owne preparation and fitnesse to be partakers of any speciall fauour from the Lord. Will not our aduersaries be pacified toward vs nor reconciled vnto vs Let vs examine whether we haue made peace with the Lord and procured his louing countenance to shine vpon vs otherwise we may certainely conclude that all our enemies heate is but a sparke of his displeasure against vs. Are our outward wants necessities many great and of long continuance let vs make triall whether they doe not proceed from want of religion from want of sinceritie before the Lord of a godly and honest conuersation before men haue we great imbecilitie in our bodies and doe we finde a sensible decay of our health let vs search whether the weakenesse of our faith haue not beene the cause of it in that we haue not conscionably vsed the meanes that God hath appointed for the confirming therof and whether we haue not declined in the course of our obedience and beene too well content to feele an inward decay of Gods graces for which Gods hand hath lighted vpon our outward man And if we deale thus we shall be driuen to accuse our selues rather than to murmur against God and so fitting our selues for mercie we shall finde it at his hands in due season and that to our greater comfort then if wee had obtained it sooner If thou canst belieue In that our Sauiour makes a doubt hereof that not without cause the doctrine is that Doct. 2. No man hath faith at commaund It is not in any mans owne power to beleeue when hee will and what hee will and as much as he will Faith is not at mens commaund for if it had beene our Sauiour would neuer haue propounded this question neither would the Disciples haue left the child vncured which now was brought vnto our Sauiour for they were desirous to doe what they could for the honour of their maister for their owne credite and comfort and for the stopping of the mouthes of their bitter aduersaries Now the cause why they could not cast out this diuell was as their Maister tolde them their vnbeliefe not that they were vnwilling to beleeue but that they were vnable to beleeue vnlesse they should haue vsed fasting and prayer for the obtaining of faith which they could not doe And if anie desire a proofe of this point let him read the 17. chapt of Luke where the Apostles hearing our Sauiour deliuer this lesson that if our brother sinne against vs seuen times in a day and seuen times in a day turne againe vnto vs saying it repenteth mee wee must forgiue him they take occasion thereby to pray in this sort Luk. 17. 5. Lord increase our faith Which is in effect as if they had said Lord this is a dutie which is beyond our reach our faith will not extend so farre and therefore Lord sithence thou requirest this at our hands adde vnto that measure of faith which thou hast giuen vs that so wee may be able to performe it Now if they could haue beleeued as much as they would what need had they thus earnestly to desire an increase of their faith Let this then be concluded for a certaine truth that no man is able to attaine to what measure of faith it pleaseth him Neither is this so only at mens first conuersion but afterwards also For their first conuersion there is no doubt but it proceedeth wholie from God and is his meere gift according to that of our Sauiour Iohn 6. None can come vnto mee except the father draw him And that of the Apostle Phil. 1. 19. Vnto you it is giuen for Christ that not onely yee should beleeue in him but also suffer for his sake And as for the state of a Christian after his conuersion it is as plaine that none can exercise his faith in any particular without Gods speciall assistance as may be seene in the example of Abraham who though he had a very excellent faith yet when he came into a forren countrie among a barbarous people it much failed him in that particular that he could not rest vpon Gods power and prouidence for the preseruation of his life but chose rather to expose his wife to danger by saying that she was his sister Otherwise he thought that though they were not so monstrously wicked as many now a daies are as to abuse his wife he being aliue yet they would kill
did the Lorde can quickly cause a great King to be in farre worse case then the basest beggar as indeed hee was being stript of his kingdome of his wittes and of all earthly comforts euen on a sudden when hee litle feared any such matter Sithence therefore the case stands thus that no worldlie preheminence or excellencie can yeelde men that contentment which faith will doe what remaineth but that wee set the highest price vpon that which is of the greatest worth and aboue all things seeke for that which will make vs most happie when wee haue found it 2 Secondly if we desire friends that are able and willing and euery way sufficient to stand vs in steed let vs endeuour to bee in league with such as haue the greatest measure of faith and to make them our chiefest friends who are most godly most faithful people Peter found the benefite hereof Acts 12. he had many mortall aduersaries as Herode and the whole power of the Romanes and the state of the Iewes and what friends had he to stand for him a poore companie of men and women that durst not shewe their heads for feare of their enemies who yet by the force of their prayers preuailed more for him then all the aduerse power could against him for when they spake vnto God in his behalfe neither the prison nor his chaines nor the souldiers nor any power whatsoeuer could keepe him any longer in hold but the Lord sent his Angell and freed him out of the hands of such as hated him and purposed the next day to haue taken his life from him And as the faith of Gods seruants is very mightie for their frieÌ„ds deliueraÌ„ce so is it as effectuall for the ouerthrow of their enemies as may be seene in Haman who soared so high aboue the reach of the Iewes that in all likelyhood none of them could come neere him But wheÌ„ Hester Mordecai and the rest of the faithfull ioyned together in fasting and prayer their faith pulled him downe vnto the ground and layd all his honour in the very dust Whence it is euident and cleere to those that haue any vnderstanding how needfull and beneficiall a thing it is to haue godly men on our side and and therefore if wee would be esteemed trulie wise let vs ioyne our selues in most inward friendship and familiaritie with them Vse 3. Thirdly if nothing be impossible to beleeuers then is it not impossible for them to maister subdue their strongest corruptions and therefore let not the faithfull bee discouraged though they find themselues as yet very worldly minded very angrie and passionate very vaine-glorious and ambitious c If they will set their faith a worke they shall get victorie ouer these and the like corrupt affections and albeit they haue prayed often against them and yet finde small strength to ouercome them let them not giue ouer the combatte for faith will haue the better in the ende And the like may be said for all manner of crosses it will either make an vtter riddance of them or at least furnish vs with patience and abilitie to vndergoe them Vers 24. And straight-way the father of the childe crying with teares sayd c Hence this doctrine might be noted that Doct. 4. See in Cleauers Sermon on Lament 3. Doct. 1. Faith and godlie sorrow may well goe together for both of these are apparant in this faithfull man and Gods children haue oftentimes and almost continually occasion of this holie griefe in respect of themselues and in respect of Gods Church in respect of corruptions and of afflictions either priuate or publike or both But I will not now insist vpon this point Lord I beleeue Whence ariseth this Doctrine that Doct. 5. ChristiaÌ„s must see acknowledge their graces It is not vnlawfull nor vncomely for a Christian to make profession of his owne graces though imperfect if it be done in due time and manner He may speake of them vnto God or vnto men as occasion is offered So did this man here Lord I beleeue So did Dauid Psal 86. 2. Preserue thou my soule for I am mercifull So did Ezekiah also Isai 38. 3. I beseech thee ô Lord remember now how I haue walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and haue done that which is good in thy sight The scripture aboundes with examples of this kinde Reasons But let vs consider of some reasons as namely that 1 First this must be done because it tendes to the magnifying of Gods name whereas the deniall of his graces makes for his dishonour and argues a base account thereof in the parties that haue them 2 Secondly the acknowledgement of the vertues of Christ which we haue is an effectuall meanes to strengthen our faith to comfort our harts to inable vs with feruencie to call vpon the Lord whereas vpon the omission of this dutie all the contrarie effects do follow Vse 1. Here then are Gods deere children to be put in minde of an ordinarie and daungerous fault that is in them which is that in the time of temptation they so farre giue place vnto Sathan as to yeeld that they are hypocrites and that they haue no sauing grace of God in them Indeed they cannot denie but they haue heretofore done many good things but all say they was in vaine-glorie or for some carnall respect or other they must needs confesse that they haue had many comfortable feelings but now they feare al of them were meere illusions What a follie is this what indignitie do we herein offer vnto the holy spirit of grace whereby we are sealed vnto the day of redemption why should we not rather be of Iobs resolution viz neuer to part with our innocencie vprightnes while we liue but though men accuse vs and Sathan assault vs and our owne consciences charge many heauie things vpon vs yet to stand to it vnto the death that our hearts are sincere and faithfull with the Lord our God when by sound proofes and arguments taken from the word wee can confirme so much vnto our owne soules For in truth wee haue farre better reason to stand vpon our spirituall right theÌ„ earthly men haue to defend their ciuill right Now if some craftie and subtill aduersarie should come vnto a worldly wise man tell him that all his writings euidences are meere counterfeites and of no worth at alâ—… and that therefore he is but an Intruder into that which hee possesseth would not hee if hee be able maintaine the goodnes of his euidences and prooue that the seales are authentical that his witnesses are sufficient that all things else doe concurre which may make for the proouing of his title and right in the things which he holdeth Much more then should we stand to make good the Deedes that we haue for our soules and for our assurance of the heauenly inheritance which hath
knowledge enough faith enough and repentance enough and therefore they professe that they care not for preaching and that they had rather be without it then be troubled with it Of such the wise man speaketh thus Prou. 30. 12. There is a generation that is pure in their owne conceit and yet are not washed from their filthinesse the world doth euen swarme with such vngracious persons vpon whom the Sonne of righteousnes did neuer yet shine and therefore they are vtterly blinde that they cannot see or wilfull that they will not reforme their euill and corrupt waies and workes which is a sure and certaine note of grosse infidelitie and of an vtter want of all grace and goodnes in them Vse 3. Thirdly from this point doth arise an vse of singular consolation vnto Gods seruants that are troubled with the sight and sense of their corruptions that doe finde pride working in them and vnbeliefe stirring in their hearts and many vncharitable thoughts and motions still remaining in their soules all the while they apprehend the vilenesse and hurtfulnesse of them and withall mourne for them and confesse them and seeke vnto the Lord for pardon of them and power against them they neede not be discouraged nay they haue iust cause to be comforted herein as knowing that it is a certaine marke and vndoubted note of grace to be thus affected They may be assured that so long as they feele their sicknesse they are not dead especially if withall they be hungrie thirstie after spirituall things and finde an appetite vnto the foode of life and with much paines and diligence seeke for the same there is then no reason in the world that they should make question of the goodnesse of their estate as hauing in them the speciall signes of true conuersion and sanctification The third Sermon VERSE 25. When IESVS saw that the people came together hee rebuked the vncleane spirit saying vnto him Thou dumbe and deafe spirit I charge thee come out of him and enter no more into him 26. Then the spirit cryed and rent him sore and came out and hee was as one dead in so much that many said hee is dead IN the former part of this storie is set downe the earnest suite of the man whose childe was possessed for the easing and relieuing of his distressed sonne In these words is declared how our Sauior performed that which he required viz. that he cast the diuell out of his childe Wherein we may note two things to wit the occasion of it the manner of it First for the occasion thereof it was two-fold viz. 1. the good and holie and gracious profession of the man spoken of before Lord I beleeue helpe mine vnbeleefe Christ had tolde him that if he could beleeue all things were possible to the beleeuer and for that hee truely auoucheth that hee did in part beleeue and wheâ—… his faith was weake hee desires to haue it strengthened and giues Christ Iesus that honour as to pray vnto hiâ—… to strengthen it This our Sauiour approueth of and â—…is was one occasion of the miracle 2. An other was the concourse of the people vers 25. When Iesus saw that the people came running together hee rebuked the vncleane spirit c. The Disciples as we haue heard before were not able to cast out this diuell Herevpon the multitude seeing the man to deale with Christ himselfe about the same matter they flocked together to see what would come of it Some of them no doubt with a good minde that if a miracle were wrought in their sight they might reioyce at it and haue their faith confirmed by it Other some to the ende that they might insult ouer our Sauiour Christ if the miracle had beene either not wrought at all or but onely protracted for a time He therefore to preuent discouragment in the better sort and insultation in the rest presentlie setteth vpon the worke Thus much for the occasion The manner followeth where wee may obserue 1. what Christ spake vnto the diuell 2. what the diuell did vnto the childe For the former it is said that hee 1. rebuked the vncleane spirit and 2. discharged him of the place where he was commaunding him to come forth and to returne no more vers 25. Concerning the diuels dealing with the childe it is saide 1. that hee did rent and teare him grieuouslie being vexed and tormented because he must leaue his former hold in so much that manie thought the child had beene dead 2. hee came out of him euen as Christ had charged him And thus much for the order and meaning of the Text. Vers 25. When Iesus saw that the people came running together hee rebuked the vncleane spirit Now hee saw there was a fitte opportunitie because there would bee most vse of it if hee had done it sooner the people would not so well haue perceiued and marked it with all the circumstances thereof if he had deferred it longer some of them would haue departed it may bee others would haue beene dismayed and a third sort would haue gloried and triumphed as if now he that had done so many miracles had bene at a stand and mette with an vncleane spirite that was too strong for him and would not go out at his bidding Now in that Christ doth take this occasion of doing this miraculous worke the Doctrine is Doct. 1. Christ doth all seasonablie that Christ doeth all his workes in the fittest season This Doctrine is euident in sundry places of the Gospel after Iohn as chapt 2. when the Mother of Christ would haue him to turne water into wine at her appointment hee answereth Iohn 2. 4. mine houre is not yet come though in all probabilitie hee wrought that miracle within the space of an houre after yet hee saith mine houre is not yet come meaning the very instant wherein that worke was to bee done Which giueth vs to vnderstand that hee will not faile an haires breadth of the very moment wherein euery good thing should be done Againe Iohn 7. when his brethren would haue had him hasten to the feast of Tabernacle at Ierusalem hee saith Iohn 7. 8. I will not goe vp yet for my time is not yet fulfilled And likewise in the 11. chapt of that Gospel after that hee knew Lazarus was dead hee made no great hast vnto him but stayed till hee had beene dead foure daies telling his Disciples Iohn 71. 15. that hee was glad that he was not there no sooner whereas Lazarus sisters Marie and Martha were euen discouraged at his long stay But hee in his wisedome chose that time aboue anie other because if hee had raised Lazarus being newly departed it had not beene so admirable it being now a common case and a thing that Christ had done for others but when he had beene dead foure daies and was laide in his graue so that Martha was vnwilling that Christ should meddle with him now to restore
bene of olde purchased for vs. Vse 2. Let this therefore in the second place serue for an instruction vnto vs that we neuer shew our selues to be of such a cowardly heart as when wee haue spoken well or done well to depraue the same by saying that we are no better then hypocrites or by confessing in word or writing that wee are faultie Nay let vs neuer forgoe our righteousnesse but iustifie our selues in our righteous wayes and workes and acknowledge with thankfulnes and humilitie whatsoeuer good things the Lord hath wrought in vs or by vs that so hee may haue his due praise and wee such found comfort as belongeth vnto well-doers Helpe mine vnbeleefe The last Doctrine which shall be collected from this verse is this that Doct. 6. Faith shewes men their corruptions and moues thē to seeke helpe against them It is the propertie of grace to shew men their corruptions to stir them vp to seeke helpe against the same As in this man it doth euidentlie appeare who as hee had infidelitie in him so hauing faith withall had his infidelitie discouered and his heart moued to seeke vnto Christ Iesus for strength against it The like may bee obserued in the Prophet Dauid who finding his heart to be vexed and turmoyled within him first of all falleth to reason the matter with his owne soule saying Psal 42. 5. 6. Why art thou cast downe my soule and why doest thou make a tumult within me for so much the word implyeth he hauing grace in his heart perceiued that vnbeliefe did as it were mutinie within him and raise vp rebellion against the Lord and therefore finding his owne disabilitie euery way to encounter the same hee in the next verse of that Psalme puts vp his complaint vnto the Lord against it My God saith hee my soule is cast downe within mee c. As if he should haue said Lord I finde my selfe too weake to preuaile against this corruption and therefore graunt mee strength to get the better of it Againe in another Psalme to wit the 77. Psal 77. 10. he beginneth very lamentably as one vtterly out of heart almost concluding that the Lord had quite forsaken him and cast him out of his seruice but afterward he recouereth himselfe and concludeth that it was his infirmitie so to imagine and thereupon laboureth to confirme his faith by considering of the times of olde and of the wonderfull workes of God which he wrought for the good of his people in former ages So also in the 73. Psalme Psal 73. we may note how the Prophet taketh notice of his great infirmitie in enuying at wicked mens prosperitie and in the end goeth into the Sanctuarie to get helpe against it Likewise in the prophecie of Isaiah Isaiah 63. we may obserue the like effect of grace in the people of God viz that they doe discerne of the hardnesse of their owne hearts and complaine vnto the Lord against it Reasons Now the reasons of this point are these 1 First because grace maketh men iudicious and filleth them full of knowledge and of heauenly vnderstanding whereby they are inabled to descrie what is amisse within them Gods gracious spirit wheresoeuer it comes brings a light in his hand whereby all things that are noysome or vnhandsome in the house are plainely seene and discouered so that thereby men are made able to iudge betwixt truth and falshood and betwixt good and euill 2 Secondly as grace doth inlighten the minde so doth it also sanctifie the affections of the parties in whom it is So that seeing what is good they shall long for it and earnestly desire it discerning what is euill they shall hate it and flie from it As it brings light with it so it makes men to bee of a neate disposition that they cannot endure any thing that is fulsome and loathsome in their soules 5 Thirdly grace maketh men industrious and readie to put themselues into the battle against their corruptions Wheresoeuer faith is it is working and effectuall 1. Thess 1. 3. 4 Fourthly and lastly it maketh men full of courage and fortitude so that they will neuer endure to haue sinne raigne in their mortall bodies but will maintaine perpetuall warre against the same for if they should suffer the fire of grace to bee quenched by the impure streames of sinne and iniquitie Gods spirit should be put to the worst which is no lesse then blasphemie for any one to imagine that it should euer come to passe for it doth work faith in mens harts which is indefatigable and inuincible which in time of temptation will sue vnto heauen and search the word and vse all lawfull meanes helpes for the procuring of strength against sinne so that though there be many enemies against it yet will it not be set downe by any of them though it doe now and then receiue a wound yet will it recouer againe and carrie away the victorie in the end Vse 1. Hereby then to drawe to some vse of this doctrine we may make some triall of the strength or weakenesse of our faith according as we are more or lesse able to see the sinfulnes of our nature and to striue against it so are we to iudge of the measure of Gods grace in vs to be more or lesse and if we do not particularly discerne of the corruptions of the flesh or do not loathe them and labour to be cured of them but rather excuse and extenuate them and hide and cherish them this is an infallible signe that we haue in vs no sauing grace at all Let all such therefore as would haue the testimonie of Gods children vse their best endeuour to haue their eyes opened that they may perceiue the seuerall euils that lurke within their hearts and let them withall get such an indignation against them that they may as this man did come vnto Christ Iesus to be cured of them which if they can doe their very approaching vnto him by prayer and in the vse of this ordinances will cause them euery day to become more sharpe-sighted than other so that they shall with the holy prophet Isaiah Chap. 6. cry out against their pollutions and so get pardon of them and power ouer them 2 Secondly this makes for the confutation of such as being vrged to reforme themselues are readie to say that all things are so well with them that they neede no amendment they know not where to beginne their reformatiō because they see nothing amisse These kinde of men are most busie against others that complaine of their owne wants and seeke to haue them supplied from heauen and such they account and call Puritans who indeed do most see and acknowledge and bewaile their owne puritie but in truth they thēselues do sarre better deserue that name for that they imagine they haue attained such a measure of puritie as that nothing can be added thereunto they haue