me in whose presence is fulnesse of joy * Psal 16.11.3 Thirdly After this sentence follows the Execution Mat. 13.30 Binde the tares in bundles to burn them Christ will say Bundle up these sinner here a bundle of hypocrites there a bundle of Apostates there a bundle of prophane bundle them up and throw them in the fire And now no cryes or entreaties will prevail with the Judge the sinner and the fire must keep one another company he who would not weep for his sins must burne for them and it is everlasting fire The three children were thrown into the fire but they did not stay in long The King came near to the mouth of the burning fiery surnace and said Come forth Dan. 3.26 but the fire of the damned is everlasting this word ever breaks the heart length of time cannot terminate it a Sea of-tears cannot quench it The wrath of God is the fire and the breath of God is the Bellows to blow it up to all eternity O how dreadfully tormenting will this fire be to endure it will be intolerable to avoid it will be impossible Use 1 Use 1. Let me perswade all Christians to believe this Truth that there shall be a day of judgement Eccles 11.9 Rejoyce O young man in thy youth and let thy heart chear thee in the dayes of thy youth and walk in the wayes of thy heart but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement This is a great Article of our faith that Christ shall come to judge the quick and the dead yet how many live as if this Article were blotted out of their Creed we have too many Epicures and Atheists who drown themselves in sensual delights and live as if they did not believe either God or day of judgement the Luâ—ianists and Platonises deny the immortality of the soul the Photinians hold there is no Hell I have read of the Duke of Silecia he was so infatuated that he did not believe either God or Devil * Usque adco insâ—nus ut neque inseros neque superos esse dicat I wish there be not too many of this Dukes opinion Durst men swear be unchast live in malice if they did believe a day of judgement Oh mingle this Text with faith the Lord hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world There must be such a day not only Scripture but reason confirms it There is no Kingdom or Nation in the world but have their Sessions and Courts of Judicature and God who sets up all other Courts shall not he be allowed his that there shall be a day of judgement is engraffed by nature in the consciences of men Peter Martyr tells us that some of the Heathen Poets have written that there are certain Judges appointed Minos Radamanthus and others to examine and punish offenders after this life Use 2 Vse 2. See here the sad and deplorable estate of wicked men this Text is as the hand-writing on the wall which may make their knees to smite one against another Dan. 5.6 The wicked shall come to judgement but they shall not stand in judgement Psa 1.5 in the Hebrew it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they shall not rise up When God shall be deck'd with glory and Majesty his face as the appearance of lightening his eyes as Lamps of fire and a sword of justice in his hand and shall call the sinner by name and say Stand forth answer to the charge that is brought against thee what canst thou say for thy pride oaths drunkennesse c. these sins thou hast been told of by my Ministers whom I sent rising up early and going to bed late * Jer. 7.25 but thou didst persist in thy wickedness with a neck of iron * Isa 48.4 a brow of brass * Ezek. 36.26 an heart of stone all the tools I wrought with were broken and worn out upon thy rocky spirit what canst thou say for thy self that the sentence should not passe O how amazed and confounded will the sinner be he will be found speechless he will not be able to look his Judge in the face * Job 31.14 Job 31.14 What then shall I do when God râ—seth up and when he visiteth what shall I answer him O wretch thou that canst now out-face thy Minister and thy godly Parents when they tell thee of sin thou shalt not be able to out-face thy Judge when God riseth up the sinners countenance will be faln * Gen. 4 6. and when he visiteth what shall I answer him Not many years since the Bishops did use to visit in their Diocesse and call several persons before them as criminal all the world is Gods Diocesse and shortly he is coming his visitation and will call men to account Now when God shall visit how shall the impure soul be able to answer him 1 Pet. 4.18 Where shall the ungodly and the sinner appeare Thou that dyest in thy sin art sure to be cast at the Barre John 3.18 He that believeth not is condemned already that is he is as sure to be condemned as if he were condemned already and if once the sentence of damnation be passed miserable man what wilt thou do whither wilt thou go * A dextris erunt peccata accusantia à sinistris infinita daemonia subtus horrendum chaos inferni desupor judex iratus soris mundus ardens intus conscientiaurens heu miser peccator quo fugies Ansel wilt thou seek help from God he is a consuming fire wilt thou seek help from the world it will be all on fire about thee from the Saints those thou didst deride upon earth from the good Angels they defie thee as Gods enemy from the bad Angels they are thine Executioners from thy conscience there is the worme that gnaws from mercy the Lease is run out O the horror and hellish despaire which will seize upon sinners at that day oh the sad convulsions their heads shall hang down their cheeks blush their lips quiver their hands shake their conscience roar their heart tremble What stupifying Physick hath the Devil given to men that they are insensible of the danger they are in the cares of the world have so filled their head and the profits of it hath so bewitched their heart that they minde neither death nor judgement Vse 3 Vse 3. Exhortation 1. Branch Possesse your selves with the thoughts of the day of judgement think of the solemnity and impartiality of this Court. Feathers swim upon the water Exhortat 1. Branch gold sinks into it light feathery spirits floate in vanity but serious Christians sink deep in the thoughts of judgement many people are like quick-silver they cannot be made to fix If the Ship be not well ballasted it will soon overturn the reason why so many are overturned with the vanities of the world is because they are not well ballasted with the thoughts of the day of judgement Were a man
their defect in the foundation the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the first principles of the Oracles of God Heb. 5.12 unskillfulnesse in the word of righteousnesse made them that they were but babes in grace ver 13. Vse Use Vse 1. In the first place it serves to justifie the practice of the Churches of Jesus Christ which have their Publick Forms and Tables of the fundamental Articles of the Christian faith drawn up by the joynt labour and travel of their learned and godly Divines after much and solemn seeking of God by fasting and prayer in the solemn profession whereof they all consent and agree Such were those antient publick Creeds The Athanasian Creed The Nycene Creed and that which is commonly called the Apostles Creed which justly merits that title if not because compiled by the twelve Apostles every one casting in their Symbole or Article as tradition goes yet because collected out of the Apostles writings and is as it were a brief form or abridgement of the Doctrine taught by Christ and his Apostles An Epitomy of the Christian faith And such are the Confessions which most of the Reformed Churches have drawn up for their own use comprehending the most necessary and fundamental Articles of the Christian faith to be generally owned and asserted by all within their Associations and Jurisdictions whither Ministers or people That Confession of faith which was compiled by the Reverend and Learned Divines of the late Assembly at Westminster and presented to the two Houses of Parliament as their Advice in matters of Religion was of this nature and obtains the primacy amongst all the Confessions of the Reformed Churches in the judgement of many Learned Orthodox Divines Such Formes and Modules are of excellent use in the Churches Partly to be a bank or bulwark to keep error and heresie from breaking into the Church of God Partly to prevent dissents and dissentions which are very apt to rise amongst the Pastours and Teachers as well as amongst the private members of such Congregations where every one is left at liberty to preach and practice to hold and hold forth what is right in their own eyes Partly to preserve the truth in its integrity and beauty and the professors of it in unity and uniformity Isa 4.5 the glory of the Churches and the defence upon that glory Use 2. It serves to shew us the benefit and advantage of publick Chatechismes whither larger containing a more general collection of Gospel truths for the use of such as are of larger understandings young or old or lesser containing only some few of the most necessary principles of Religion in the most facile and familiar way for the help of meaner capacities amongst which although there be some hundred several forms extant in the Reformed Churches yet those two forms or Modules drawn up by the late Reverend Assembly their larger and shorter Catechism obtain the general vote both abroad and at home for their excellency and usefulnesse And it is the wish of very learned and judicious men that there were yet some shorter and more easie form drawn up that might be reduced to a few heads of the first and most necessary points of Christian faith for the institution of babes The great advantage of such forms of Chatechistical doctrine is that thereby a Minister of the Gospel may acquaint his people with more of the necessary and saving truths of the Gospel in a few months than he can well preach over in many years and by the brief and frequent running over the principles of Religion people of all sorts and ages would be incomparably prepared for the Word preached and profit more by one Sermon than unprincipled hearers commonly do by twenty Use 3. Hence also I might commend to young Students in Divinity the reading of systems and compendious Abstracts and Abridgements as an excellent entrance and manuduction unto their Theological studies before they lanch into the larger tracts and treatises in that vast and immense ocean of Divine knowledge of which we may say almost to desparation Ars longa vita brevis The Shipwright that is to build a large and stately Vessel doth first shape his work in a very small Module And he that is to travel into the remote parts of the world shall render his labour much more fruitful by reading Maps and Globes at home for by that means he shall know where he is when he comes abroad his eye and his understanding will mutually interpret one to the other thus your curious workwomen do first make their borders and trails and then fill them Use 4. It serves to commend Methodical preaching that Minister that is wise and judicious to observe method in his Sermon and method between Sermon and Sermon a Scriptural connexion as much as may be between subject and subject doctrine and doctrine omne tulit punctum he is a Preacher indeed he shall not only profit but delight his hearers and make them not only knowing Christians but distinct and judicious Use 5. It commends not least constant and fixed hearing especially when people sit under a judicious and methodical Ministry Varia lectio delectat animum certa prodest Sen. loose hearing may please but the fixed will profit skipping hearing for the most part makes but sceptical Christians when people hear at randome have a snatch here and a snatch there here a truth perhaps and there an errour here a notion and there a novelty c. such mixt hearing makes up the garment of knowledge but just like a beggars Cloak full of patches they are never able to bring their knowledge into any form or method ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth their knowledge is like an heap of pebbles upon which a man can never raise a superstructure whereas they that sit under a fixed Ministry one that is Master of his Art they are acquainted with the way and course and project of his preaching as the Apostle tells Timothy 2 Epist 3.10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine purpose c. i. e. the designe and method of my Ministry Such hearers if judicious can follow their Teacher through the series and deduction of his Ministery from Subject to Subject and from Text to Text and from Head to Head till at length they have before they take notice of it an hypotyposis or collection of Gospel-truths formed in their understanding Such an hearer begins where he left the last time and so from time to time is still going on shining and growing and enlightning unto the prepared day Prov. 4.18 from faith to faith from knowledge to knowledge and from truth to truth till he comes in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ Ephes 4.13 Various hearing makes variable Christians St. James his professors for the most part double-minded men unstable
Parents be leprous or infected with some other disease not to be named they entail their malady as well as their nature upon their unhappy off-spring Nothing can exceed the vertue of its cause which is the ground of our Saviours assertion John 3.6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh It is very remarkable that the like phrase is not used when Scripture speaks of Adams begetting Cain or Abel though both these were begotten in Adams likenesse too because Abel being to dye without issue and all Cains progeny to be drowned by the flood it is noted the rather of Seth by whom all mankind hath hitherto been continued in the world that he from whom as well as from Adam we all came was begat in Adams own image that into which by sin he had transformed himself and not in that likenesse which was Gods in which God at first made him Nay though the Parents be regenerated yet their children by nature are altogether defiled because they beget children as they are men not as they are holy men though the Parent be circumcised the childe brings into the world an uncircumcised foreskin with it as the purest wheat that is cast into the Field comes up with husks and stalks I might adde that the holiest men upon earth are but holy in part they have a dark side as well as a light side and proles as conclusio sequitur deteriorem partem their children are like to what they were by nature and cannot without the same Almighty mercy be like what they are through grace witnesse Josiah's and Hezekiah's children but there are too many sad Evidences of this amongst us daily Arg. 2. From the Redemption of man by Christ Our second Argument for to prove our corruption by nature the Apostle furnishes us with 2 Cor. 5.14 If Christ dyed for all then were all dead And the stresse we lay upon it it will very well bear for what need all that are saved to be saved by Christ if in themselves they are not ruined Destruction is first asserted to be from our selves and then it follows but from me is your health is not Christ made to all those that shall come to heaven and happinesse wisdome 1 Cor. 1.30 righteousnesse sanctification and redemption Does not his death satisfie for their debts his Spirit sanctifie their hearts Thus none go unto the Father but by him and whosâ—ever would but see the Kingdome of God must be borne again John 3.3 This very reason St. Austin urges concerning children I shall give this Arg. de verbis Domini serm 8. and some larger passages in English that I might not overmuch entangle the thred of my discourse Whosoever sayes that infancy hath nothing from which Jesus should save us he denies Christ to be a Jesus to infants baptized in his Name for what is a Jesus Jesus is by intâ—rpretation a Saviour a Saviour is a Jesus those which he does not save be ause they have nothing that he should save them from or cure in them he is not to them a Jesus Now if your hearts can endure that Christ should not be a Jesus to such I know not whither your faith can be sound c. Thirdly Scripture Ordinances prove this corruption to be in us for else what need their institution to take it from us Third argument is taken from Ordinances Sacraments c. If there be no pollution in the foreskin why was Circumcision appointed to do it away if we have no filth what needs baptismal washing and if we may borrow light from any shadows of the Ceremonial Law why should women be so long unclean and need solemne purification after their child-birth if the fruit of their womb had been so immaculate and pure as some would make us believe 'T is true the Virgin Mary offer'd though she brought forth a holy Childe Isa 53.11 but he was by imputation sinne for we know he bare in Gods account our iniquities Saint Austin upon the bringing of Children unto Christ August serm 36. In Evangel secund Lucam observes this also Children sayes he are brought to be touched to whom are they brought to be touched but to the Physitian if they come to a Saviour they come to be cured and presently after he addes video reatum I see there is guilt in them Another passage of his I shall the willinglier quote because many that oppose this truth pretend much to reverence antiquity De verbis Apostoli serm 8. Wherefore dost thou say this childe or this person is sound and hath no disease why then dost thou runne to the Physitian with him art not afraid lest he should say unto thee Take him away that is sound The Sonne of man came not but to seek and to save that which was lost why didst thou bring him unto me if he were not lost Lib. 1. And in his tract against Julian the Pelagian the same father quotes several that were his predecessors in the maintaining of this very truth as Irenaeus Cyprian Hilary Ambrose c. but I proceed because we have heard a greater than all these God himself so abundantly attesting of it This corruption shews it self by its effects if we be so spiritually foolish Fourth argument The sad effects prove it as not to believe there is such impurity in us from any other Arguments produc'd for the proof of it experience may be our Mistresse to teach it 1. The miserable effects 1. Experiences of multitude of miseries that flow from it This is that Pandora's box which the Heathens so much talk of out of which all manner of mischiefs flow abroad in the world Why do we come into the world crying rather than laughing but as a sad Omen of the world of evils we are ever after here to meet with De Civitate Dei lib. 21. cap. 14. But if there were no sin there would be no suffering in those tender yeares And what have these sheep done When I see a childe lying bound hand and foot in its swadling clouts skreaming and crying out I cann't believe but God and nature would never have dealt so hardly with it so noble a creature especially if guilt had not procur'd these bonds and miseries nay methinks they speak its desert to be bound hand and foot for ever to be speechlesse for ever and to be cast too unlesse infinite mercy prevent where there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth for ever And all these things Scripture makes only the products of sin that only is the fruitful Parent of all evils Wherefore does a living man so much as complaine 't is for the punishment of his sinne Lam. 3.39 Death which raigned over all Rom. 5.14 is the wages of sinne Rom. 6.23 Nay of that sin too which is communicated to man-kinde by Adams fall 1 Cor. 15.21 22. By man came death death is not of Gods making but of mans of our sinnes
John 15.4 5. Oh! let 's then labour to see and be truly sorrowful for all our sins and pray Lord Turn thou us Jer. 31.18 and we shall be turned from all our sins and accept of a whole Christ for our only Lord and Saviour oh sith we cannot wash our hands in innocency le ts be washing them daily in the tears of true penitency let 's go to the Fountain open'd to wash in for sin Zâ—ch 13.1 Isa 30. ult Rev. 20.10.14 15.21.8 and for uncleanness that we may not be cast into the River and Lake of fire and brimstone Oh! let 's now bathe our souls in the blood of Christ that everlasting burnings may not hereafter seize upon us Hence Learn 3. Not to blame Gospel-Ministers for preaching of terrors hereby they would stave us off from running head-long into Hell and bring us to repentance that we may not be cast into that prison where there is no place for repentance 2 Cor. 5.11 Knowing the terrors of the Lord we perswade men in love to their precious souls we are bound being assured we must give an account to awake our hearers Hebr. 13.17 lest they forget God and be turned into hell we dare not betray your pretious souls to gratifie you at present Psal 9.17 and indulge you in your sins as the Apostle says We must not for meat destroy the work of God Rom. 14.15.20 for preferment favour or respect from you at present we dare not suffer your immortal souls to perish without warning oh friends be not angry with us the Embassadours of Jesus Christ when we see any of you hastning down the broad way which leads to Hell as sure as we are here now if we then cry fire fire to bring you back You have no more reason to think us your enemies for this warning of you and telling you the truth in love Gal. 4.16 than any of your children have to think the most dear and tender Parents amongst you were their enemies when seeing them through carelessnesse ready to fall into fire or water they should cry out oh take heed Children or you are irrecoverably lost Learn 4. Not to grudge sinners their portion in this World Davids advice should be our practice enforced from this very Doctrine viz. Not to fret our selves at evil doers nor to be envious against the workers of iniquity Psal 37.1 2. 9.17 Prov. 24.20 for they shall soon be cut down as the grasse they shall be turned into Hell their foolish prosperity will destroy them their candle shall be put out and that in a snuff which will never cease stinking why then should we be offended at their prosperity here who are reserved to an extremity and eternity of torment hereafter Mal. 3.15 it is a grosse mistake to call the proud happy or to think the godly most miserable 1 Cor. 15.13.19 because they are here sometimes a little under a cloud The Psalmist was tempted to it but the knowledge of this Doctrine in the Sanctuary Ps 73.3.18 19 did soon rectifie his judgement and made him conclude that God had set them in slippery places to be cast down into destruction Job 20.6 7. and utterly consumed with terrors and perish for ever we had more need to pity than repine at our wicked Neighbours Mat. 19.24 with Luke 16.25 having their good things here when we consider how hard a matter 't is to have good things here with Dives and with Lazarus too hereafter in Abrahams bosome Learn 5. Lastly To admire and be greatly affected with the superlative love of Christ in undergoing that punishment in our stead if we will receive him for our Lord and Saviour which will be extream and eternal torment to all that do refuse him And if he be Judge Mat. 10.14.15 39 40. they who receive not his Embassadors in his Name are of that number Oh! who would not then kiss the Son that believe the wrath of God will inflict these eternal torments Oh! Christians such I wish we may a l be in deed and truth let 's bless and kisse this blessed Son of God that bare for us this insupportable wrath Psal 2.12 1 Thes 1.10 Colos 2.15 Hosea 13.14 1 Cor. 15.54 55. Mat. 23.14 Hebr. 2.3 Gal. 3.13 Hebr. 2.9 even Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come and triumphed over principalities and over tho Grave and Hell the greatnesse of the damnation we are exposed to by nature doth greaten the salvation purchased by grace Oh! blessed Jesus thou wast cursed here and tasted'st the death that was accursed even this in thy sentence Isa 53.5 7 8. Rom. 8.1 Mark 3.29 with Heb. 6.2 5.9 Acts 2.24 Psal 116 3. John 8.51 thou wast bruised afflicted and broken of God for us but thou was taken from Prison and from judgement and everlasting condemnation for it was not possiâ—le that Thou shouldst be holden of any pains so that though every Believer shall see a Temporal yet shall he never see Eternal Death but inherit Eternal Life OF HEAVEN MATTH 25.34 Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world THE Description of Heaven is a work fitter for an Aaron the High Priest of the Most High when upon Mount Hor he is stripping himself of the vile body of sin or for a Moses when on the top of Nebo after a Pisgah prospect * Deut. 34.5 as the Jews comment he died at the * Cant. 1.2 kiss of God refunding that * Gen. 2.7 breath of life and expiring his soul into the bosome of God Nay more fit to be described by a pen taken from the Wing of a Cherubim than the stammering tongue of any mortal man For whoever attempts to speak of an heavenly state while himself is on earth his discourses of that must needs be like the dark dreams and imaginations of a child concerning the affaires of this world while it self is yet swadled and cradled in the womb Yet discourses of Heaven were never more seasonable upon earth When * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dio. Laer. Anaxagoras was accused as not studying Politicks for his Countryes good he replied I have a very great care of my Country pointing up to heaven if ever Christians had cause to make all honest haste to heaven 't is in a sinful and a perverse generation when the waters cover the earth whether should a Dove-like soul fly but to the Ark of God when Gods judgements and his Avengers of blood threaten us on every hand what City of refuge can we run to but the Sanctuary of God when we know not how soon the members of Christs body in conformity to their Head may be called to sweat drops of blood 't is wisdom for us with our bitter hearbs to keep the Passover and to think on that * Luke 22.12 large upper Roome wherein we may be Feasted
mistakes how they suit one with another Two faults are Christians usually guilty of Either they content themselves with warm affections without knowledge and then are like a blind horse full of mettle To rest in affection without judgement but ever and anon stumbling their wild affections misguide them not being directed and governed by an answerable light Or secondly they content themselves with loose Notions without seeing the truths of God in their frame and so are never stable and roâ—ted in the Faith In loose Notions without method therefore this should Christians first look after * Col. 2.2 the riches of the full assurance of understanding in the Mysteries of godliness Secondly Christians must keep such Models of truth in their memory the memory is like the Ark wherein the holy things of God are to be kept The Spirit of Christ Jesus is given not only to teach us all things but to BRING ALL things to our REMEMBRANCE 2. In their memories Joh. 14.26 and Scripture is written upon this occasion not to lay in new truths but to keep the old in remembrance 2 Pet. 3.1 This second Epistle I write unto you by way of Remembrance His first Epistle was like the Sermon the second as the Repetition the first to inform the judgement the second to help their memories so must Ministers pegge in one Sermon with another never leave repeating the same truths till they are fastened upon their Auditors Phil. 3.1 To write the same things to you to me it is not grievous but to you it is safe Mens understandings are dull to conceive hard to believe and their memories apt to forget therefore we should presse if not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 alwayes the same things which Hippius liked not yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 much about the same matters as Socrates advised The memory is a leaking vessel therefore as the Apostle exhorts it concerns us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more abundantly to attend to give the more diligent heed lest we let them slip and thereby we lose the * 2 John 8. To live truth Ministers and our own labour Thirdly Hold fast the Models of Divine Truth in your pratice a practical mem ry is the best memory to live the truths which we know is the best way to hold them fast There are Heretical manners as well as Heretical Doctrines Infidelis disputat contra fidem improbus Christianus vivit contra fidem Aug. Prophane Christians live against the Faith whilest Heterodox Christians dispute against the Faith There be not a few that live Antimonianisme and Libertinisme and Atheisme and Popery whil'st others Preach it Apostates are practical Arminians a prophane man a practical Atheist Whil'st others therefore live Error do you live the truth whil'st others deny the Gospel do you live the Gospel As you have received the truth as it is in Jesus so walk in it to all well-pleasing without this a man forsakes the truth while he doth professe it They profess to know God Tit. 1.16 but in theiâ— works they deny him being abominable and disobedient and unto every good work disobedient Yea to live the Truths we hear is the way not to hold them only but to hold them forth to others as the Apostle speaks To hold forth truth to others holding forth the Word of Life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is a Metaphor taken either from Fire-lights upon the Sea-coasts burning all night Phil. 12.6 the use whereof is to give notice to Seamen of some neighbouring Rocks and Quicksands that may endanger their Vessel or else from Torch-bearers in the night-time who hold out their lights that passengers may see their way in the dark according to which Metaphor our Saviour calls true reall Christians the Lights of the world a City set on a hill Matth. 5.14 to enlighten the dark world with their beams of holiness It is a blessed thing when the Conversations of Christians are practical Models of Gospel-truths walking Bibles holding forth the graces or excellencies of him who hath called them out of darknesse into his marvellous light 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 2.9 Fourthly To contend for the truth Christians are to hold fast Models of truth by contending for the Truth against all the opposition of the reprobate world in contending and publickly owning the truth whatever it cost them God ordereth the love which the people show to the truth not seldom to be a restraint to carnal Magistrates when they would introduce mischiefs into the Church by force and power Matth. 14.5 He feared the multitude Matth. 21.46 They feared the multitude because they took him for a Prophet Acts 4.21 They let them go because of the people Thus doth God make use of the people though contemptible for their quality yet considerabe for their number as a bank of sand to keep back the waves of furious and opposite greatness Yea when the flood of Persecutions is already broken in upon the Church their zealous owning of the Truth keeps it alive and is a means to propagate it to after ages We owe our present truths not only to the disputations of the Doctors but the death of the Martyrs who were willing to resist unto blood striving against sinne Heb. 12.4 By whose flames after ages see the truths of the Gospel more clearly VSE The first Use may serve for Lamentation We live in a frozen and dull age wherein men have learned to hold fast every thing but the Truth Rich men will hold fast their Estates though Christ his Church and Cause have never so much need of them Ignorant People will hold fast their Ignorance ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth Superstitious people will hold fast their Superstitious Customes and Idolatries Vain people will hold fast their Fashions and Modes Seduced wrerches will hold fast their Errors Non persuadebis etiamsi persuaseris yea they are bold and impudent in justifying and propagating their false Doctrines they bend their tongue like their bow for lies but they are not valiant for the Truth upon the Earth Jer. 9.3 while multitudes are outragious against the Truth few very few are couragious for it We may take up that complaint Isa 1.21 22. How is the faithful City become an Harlot how is our gold become drosse and our Wine mixt with water who would have thought England could have so quckly forgotten Jesus Christ and changed the truth of God into a lye have the Nations been guilty of such a thing Jer. 2.9 The World once wondered to see itself turnd Arrian England may wonder and be astonished to see itself turned Arminian Antinomian Socinian Anabaptist Quaker Papist Atheist any thing but a Christian This is a lamentation and shall be for a lamentation Oh that mine head were waters and mine eys rivers of tears c. And now my Brethren to make some brief Application of what what hath
delivered unto you so you may be delivered into it Rom. 6.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Form of doctrine into which ye were delivered Efficacius vitae quam lnguae testimonium Ber. Confession Bernard What a sore judgement will abide such as suffer all these morning influences to passe away as water over a swans back that come the same from these morning visions they came to them How shall we escapt if we neglect so great salvation Hold it forth I say Christians in your lives the Conversation is a better testimony to the truth then the confession I have met with a general vote in the Auditory that attended this morning Ordinance that these Sermons might be Printed that so what hath once past upon your ears might be exposed to your eye whereby you might stay and fix upon it with the more deliberation Whether I may prevail with the Brethren or no for their second travel in this Service I know not There is one way left you wherein you may gratifie your own desires and Print these Sermons without their leave though I am confident not without their consent and that is PRINT THEM IN YOVR LIVES AND CONVERSATIONS Live this morning Exercise in the sight of the world that men may take notice you have been with Jesus You have been called up with Moses into the Mount to talk with God Now you come down oh that your faces might shine that you would commend this morning Exercise by an holy life that you may be manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ ministred by VS 2 Cor. 3.3 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heaven Matth. 5.16 To that end Take along with you these two great helps in the Text FAITH LOVE Hold fast the form of sound words in FAITH and LOVE I know some Expositors interpret these as the two great COMPREHENSIVE HEADS of sound words or Gospel-Doctrine in this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Faith and Love Faith towards God and Love towards men Faith the summe of the first Table and Love of the second or Faith in Christ and Love to Christ or Faith as comprehending the Credenda things to be believed Love as comprehending the Facienda things to be done But I am sure it is not against the Analoge of Faith or the Context to improve these two as Mediums to serve this command of holding fast sound Doctrine And so in the entrance it was propounded as the fourth Doctrine scil Faith and Love are as it were the two hands whereby we hold-fast the Form of sound words 1. Faith First then Christians look to your Faith that is an hold-fast grace which will secure your standing in Christ As unbelief is the root of Apostacy and falling back from the Doctrine of the Gospel Heb. 3.12 So Faith is the spring of Perseverance 1 Pet. 1.5 Kept by the power of God through faith to salvation Faith keeps the Believer and God keeps his faith Now faith keeps the believer close to his Principles upon a two-fold accompt Faith realizeth Gospel-truth 1. Because faith is the grace which doth REALIZE all the Truths of the Gospel unto the soul Evangelical Truths to a man that hath not faith are but so many prettie Notions which are pleasing to the fancy but have no influence upon the Conscience they may serve a man for discourse but he cannot live upon them suffering Truths in particular are pleasing in the Speculation in times of prosperity but when the hour of temptation cometh they afford the soul no strength to carry it through sufferings and to make a man go forth unto Christ without the Camp bearing his reproach Heb. 13.13 But of Faith saith the Aposte it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen faith makes all Divine Objects although very Spiritual and subtile in their own nature faith makes them I say so many realities so many solid and substantial verities it gives them a being not in themselves but unto the believer and of invisible it makes them visible as it is said of Moses he saw him that was invisible How by faith verse 23.24 that which was invisible to the eye of nature was visible to the eye of faith Faith brings the object and the faculty together Heb. 11.27 Hence now men yet in their unregeneracy though haply illuminated to a high degree of Gospel-Notion in time of tribulation will fall away and walk no more with Jesus because through the want of Faith Divine Truth had no rooting in their hearts all their knowledge is but a powerlesse notion floating in the brain and can give no reality or subsistence to Gospel-verities Knowledge gives lustre but Faith gives being knowledg doth irradiate but Faith doth realize knowledge holds ou◠light but faith adds life and power It is Faith my Brethren whereby you stand 2 Tim. 1.12 Faith is that whereby a man can live upon the truth and die for the truth I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day Look to your Faith Christians For again Faith fetcheth strength from Christ Secondly Faith will help you to fetch strength from Jesus Christ to do to suffer to live to die for Jesus Christ and the truths which he hath purchased and ratified by his own blood Phil. 4 13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me Faith invests the soul into a kind of Omnipotency I can do all things Other mens impossibilities are faiths triumph Faith is an omnipotent grace because it sets a work an Omnipotent God In the Lord I have righteousness and strength is the boast of faith Isa 45.24 Righteousnesse for Justification and strength for Sanctification and for carrying on all the duties of the holy life this is insinuated in my Text Hold fast c. in FAITH which is in CHRIST JESVS So that if it were demanded How shall we hold fast the answ is by Faith how doth faith hold fast in Christ Jesus scil as it is acted by and as it acts upon Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is a Fountain of strength Psal 71.16 and that strength is drawn out by faith hence Davids Resolve I will go in the strength of the Lord God I will make mention of thy Righteousnesse even of thine onely 2. Love The second grace which you must look to is LOVE Love is another hold-fast grace I held him and would not let him go said the Spouse of her Beloved Cant. 4.3 I tell you sirs Love will hold fast the truth when Learning will let it go the reason is because Learning lieth but in the head but Love resteth in the heart and causeth the heart to rest in the thing or person beloved I cannot dispute for