but of all believers to labour to enlarge the kingdome of Iesus Christ and to be faithfull diligent laborers in the Lords Vineyard This is the Lords great designe and the very worke of this generation in a particular respect who so hinders or neglects it even of Gods owne people shall suffer for it who so faithfully acts in it shall meete with speciall manifestations of the Love of God towards them The ninetie fourth Observation in Nature THe husbandman does not much stand upon the outward forme of his Orchards and Gardens to have them all just of one fashon and shape either round or long or square or otherwise He having divers Orchards and gardens they are some of one forme and some of another as some are larger than others so some are of one cut or shape and some of another he accompts it not necessary that they be all Vniforme but so the inward forme be good so the trees have good Natures and properties bringing forth good fruits that 's it he values it s all in all This shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Externall Vniformity in the Churches of Christ Proposition shadowed is of small accompt with him in respect of Vnity and spirituall worship Severall congregations or Churches of Christ having the spirit of Christ faith love unity of doctrine and ordinances may have divers formes and waies of outward administrations and every Church is to be left to its owne liberty therein and not to be in joyned such or such Formes Methods and waies of proceedings in the worship of God or in the discipline and goverment of the particular Churches For now in the time of the New Testament the worship of God consisteth not in Externals neither are they commanded as heretofore under the old administrations of the law But our Saviour tels us John 4.23 The houre commeth and now is when the true worshipers shall worship the father in spirit and in truth Many in the Apostles time had vaine and needlesse disputations about meat and drink and observation of daies and such like Rom. 14.1 3 5 10 13. c. he tels them vers 17. The Kingdome of God is not meat and drinke it consisteth not in any externall thing but it is righteousnesse peace and joy in the holy Ghost So that he leaves them to the using or not using of such outward things to their owne pleasures being of an indifferent Nature vers 5. let every man be fully perswaded in his owne mind Now so it is in respect of External Vniformity in Churches the worship of God being Now spirituall he leaves the externall part of it unto the choice and pleasure of his people to concurre in one way or Externall forme or to vary as they judg meete and convenient every particular Church among themselves in respect of time b As for one day in seven to be dedicated to God in worship that is the morall part of the fourth commandment and was changed from the seventh to the first day of the weeke by Christ himselfe and observed by his Apostles and Disciples place manner and forme and would not have his people to fall out and differ about tything Mynt Anise Cummin petty and indifferent things while they neglect the weighty and great matters of the Law unity and spirituall worship The Apostle Paul sharply reproves the Corinthians for standing so much upon Men Names Titles 1 Cor. 1.12 One saies I am of Paul another I am of Apollo another of Cephas another of Christ even as many in our daies they stick in the outside in Names and Formes Lutherans Calvinists some are for the Episcopall way some for the Presbiterian some for the Independent some for the Rebaptized way some reject all these as the b These people proceede further in censuring others then ever any did for they judge and condemne not only the Fortunes outward administrations of all Churches but also the whole sirituall state conditiō of all persons that are not of their way and that suddenly and rashly without knowledg of the persons contrary both to Scripture and Reason crying up a dimme Naturall light within and neglecting the true light of the word and spirit of Gods who not trying the spirits whether they be of God or not they in many things put darknesse for light and light for darknesse Quakers say their's is the way So that may we not say as the Apostle said 1 Cor. 3.3 Are ye not carnall for whereas there is among you envying and strife and divisions are ye not carnall and walke as men In as much as they differ about Names and Formes and neglect and breake love and unity they are herein carnall though there may be truth of grace in and among them yet in this thing they are weake they are carnall this is knowing and approving of men after the flesh which the Apostle Paul allowes not 2 Cor. 5.16 I suppose it may be said of this or that Forme of worship as Paul saies of Circumcision 1 Cor. 7.19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but keeping the Commandments of God and Gal. 6.15 In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but a New creature neither this or that forme or externall way of worship availeth any thing but faith love spirituall worship righteousnesse peace and joy in the holy Ghost an interest in Christ regeneration or becoming a new Creature unity and love with and towards one another walking with God in fellowship with the father and with his sonne Jesus Christ in spirituall worship these are the things that God requires of his people Not but that God cals for the service and worship of the outward man and some Externall formes and waies in his spirituall worship as well as inward worship but he ties not his people to one way or forme as men would do and stand for and make divisions amoung the Churches about it which God no where requires in his word and as for Examples in the Apostles times they vary in every Church as occasions required ther 's no one forme only established As for that Command 1 Cor 14.40 Let all things be done decently and in Order the meaning is not that the worship of God in his Ordinances or practises in all Churches should be all in one manner way or forme but that they should observe Order among themselves in every particular Church or congregation As in Cities and Townes Corporate though their Customes differ one from another yet there is Order in and among themselves in each particular place The Apostle tels us Acts 10.34 35. That in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousnesse is accepted with him Now in many or severall Nations there are many and severall waies and formes in and about the worship of God in the administrations of the Ordinances of Christ yet all are accepted of God when the worsh p is in spirit and in
body and one spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling one Lord one faith one baptisme one God and father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Here we see 1. All believers though multitudes of Members yet are but one body 2. That one body hath but one spirit As one soule animates and sets on worke all the Members of the Naturall body so does this one spirit in the mysticall body 3. There is also one hope All believeâ—s have an expectation of the enjoyment of God in glory for ever 4. They have all one Lord are fellow servants under one Lord Iesus Christ 5. So also have they but one faith believers in all ages of the world have but one faith in the same God and Saviour 6. They have but one Baptisme not baptisme of the signe but of the substance all believers are baptized with the baptisme of the spirit Iewes and Gentiles in all ages 1 Cor. 12.13 By one spirit we are all baptised into one body whether we be Jewes or Greeks 7. Believers have but one God and Father they are all borne of God are brethren in the Lord sonnes and daughters alike to the Lord Almighty Heires together of one Inheritance and Kingdome So then Here are strong bonds of Vnity and love among the Saints though Vniformity in outward things be wanting here 's no mention at all of Vniformity though they differ in their opinions in waies and formes of worship and Government yet being all one body having all one spirit one hope one Lord one faith one baptisme one God and Father these are sufficient grounds of their Vnion and love one with and to another These are the things that God stands upon having Vnity here in these things whereby they worship him in spirit and truth though they vary in many externall parts of worship and outward administrations they are dispensed withall as we see Rom. 14.18 he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men and vers 3. God hath received him or approved of him Let not men therefore disowne their brethren for differing from them in the forme in outward administrations of worship or Government when yet they worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth which if they doe it is from the carnall part and to be mortified The ninetie fifth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman often makes a hedg or fence about his Orchard and Garden with wild plants unfruitful trees or such as beare naughty unpleasant fruits as Crabtrees Thornes Bryers Okes Ashes Elmes or any such like which serve well for a mound or fence about his fruitfull Trees and preserve them from anoyances and hurts that else they are subject unto by Cattle and otherwise in many respects This shadowes out unto us That God many times makes use of wicked Proposition shadowed and unregenerate persons for the preservation and good of his owne Children Many Kings and Magistrates though wicked and carnall have beene set up for the defence of the Godly very many carnall persons though they have but only generall convictions a forme of Godlinesse common Gifts and graces yet they owne the true Religion and the professors of it notwithstanding they have no true nor cordiall love to either God makes such as an outward common fence against the breakings in of Tyrannicall and savage persons who might otherwise anoy the Church of God Yea many Morall persons are not only a meanes of defence to the Godly but they are also helpers many waies by their Gifts and Talents and outward good things which God hath given them The spirit of God doth convince the world of unregenerate persons upon this Accompt even for the good of his owne people giving to them some common light and graces and apprehensions of the things of God that so he may take off their fiercenesse and bitternesse that otherwise would naturally break out against the Godly and not only so but that also they may be helpfull and profitable to his owne people Pharaoh was convinced that God was with Ioseph and so became his freind yea and to all his brethren and his fathers house and preserved them and nourished them with the best things of the Land of Egypt Gen. 40. Laban entertained and preserved Iacob above 20 yeares together Gen. 29. c. Pharaohs daughter nourished Moses the whole Court was his freind many yeares King Nebuchadnezzar was convinced that God was with Daniel preserved and promoted Daniel so did Belshazzar And King Darius afterwards Dan. 6.3 Shadrach Meshach and Abednego were not only preserved but advanced in the Province of Babylon by King Nabuchadnezzer a heathen king There is abundant Experience of this truth in all ages especially in these times of the Gospell multitudes having common convictions of the things of God and entertaining the forme of Godlinesse though they want the power They generally if they have power preserve the people of God and Religion from overthrowes and destructions which otherwise Tyrants and barbarous enemies would bring upon them Yea and God makes them many waies usefull and helpfull to his people by their Gifts and Common graces in Naturall and Morall things Vse This discovers the speciall care and love of God the power wisdome goodnesse of God towards his owne people who maketh even their enemies to become freinds to them Enemies indeed in their Principles Natures but freinds through the overruling power of God The world all the creatures in it are ruled ordered for the good of the people of God All things are yours saith the Apostle 1 Co. 3.21.22 the world life death things present things to come all are yours God useth overruleth and ordereth all things for the advantage of them that feare him The ninetie sixth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman in Ordering of his fruit-trees observes the seasons some works are to be done at such a time of the yeare The spring is the season for Grafting the sommer for Inoculating Autumne and winter for Transplanting pruning and other workes he carefully observes the seasons for particular works This shadowes out unto us this Proposition Proposition shadowed That God in his infinite wisdome and goodnesse observes the fittest times in all his dispensations towards his people The great husbandman of his Vineyard and Garden enclosed as he gives discretion to men to order their works of husbandry Esay 28.26 doth with infinite more wisdome order his owne husbandry in respect of the matter manner and seasons of his worke Ier. 30.11 When he correcteth his people as he does it in measure so also in season when it is most likely to prevaile and take effect and when his spirit reproves the soule it is alwaies in season When he speakes to comfort and refresh the soule it is in season Esay 50.4 That I should know how to speake a word in season to him that is weary he gives his
Hypocrite alwaies call upon God Every plant which my heavenly father hath not planted shall be rooted up Mat. 15.13 This being so it should make every one give all diligence to be Use 2 fully assured whether they be but as Boughes stuck in the ground without roots or branches of the true Vine Joh. 15.5 Such as are really ingrafted into the true Vine the hottest sun of persecution can never hurt them the gates of Hell shall not prevaile against them Such shall be as a Tree planted by the waters that spreadeth out her roots by the river and shall not see when heat commeth but her leafe shall be greene and shall not be carefull in the yeare of drought neither shall cease from yeelding fruit Jer. 17.8 The Tenth Observation in Nature WEe seek for the best kinds of fruits to engraft in our Orchards we are carefull and diligent with much labour cost and time to obtaine the most usefull and most profitable fruits though we take some paines for ordinay kinds yet we especially desire the best fruits From this Observation we are taught That VVe should bend all our desires and endeavours that the best gifts Proposition shadowed graces and Fruits may especially increase The Apostle saies 1 Cor. 12. There are diversities of gifts wrought by the same spirit all of them desirable and profitable but some are more profitable than others which he exhorts us to look after and desire especially Vers 31. Covet earnestly the best Gifts There is a precellency and greater worth in some Fruits than in some others 1 Cor. 13. I will shew you a more excellent way And Phil. 1.10 That ye may approve things that are excellent or as some read it things that differ Follow after charity and desire spirituall gifts but rather that ye may prophecy 1 Cor. 14.1 And vers 12. For as much as ye are zealous of spirituall gifts seek that ye may excell to the edifying of the Church He preferres one grace before another And now abideth faith hope and love these three but the greatest of these is love 1 Cor. 13.13 This reproves those who content themselves with the lowest Vse 1 and meanest gifts graces and fruits and strive not after the best and chiefest Many having gotten some competent abilities they goe on in a formall way running in a round or Circle making little or no progression at all no increase or growth Yea sometimes for want of exercise and improvement of their Gifts they loose what they had and become very Drones and Dunces Vse 2 We should consider and examine which are the best gifts graces and spirituall fruits that so we may apply our selves to gaine and increase them especially First then Such are best as are most usefull and profitable to our selves and others Profit and edification is the great end why the spirit of God gives gifts 1 Cor 12.7 The Apostle valued those gifts most which were most for Edification 1 Cor. 14.19 I had rather speake five words with my understanding that by my voice I might teach others than 10000 words in an unknowne Tongue Knowledge Tongues humane Learning and Parts are little worth unlesse they be used to edification What then shall we thinke of those men who use them for ostentation and to gaine admiration Secondly If we find any gift grace or spirituall fruit commended to us in speciall and particular in the word such hath the highest commendation that possible can be as the gift of Prophesie above other gifts 1 Cor. 14.1 Desire spirituall gifts but rather that ye may prophesie Which is a gift to be able publiquely to expound the word of God Diod. Annot. and to apply it to the edification of the Church And of Graces Love is the chiefest 1 Cor. 13.1 Now abideth Faith Hope and Love these three but the greatest of these is Love And 1 Pet. 4.8 Above all things have fervent love among your selves So for Meeknesse of Spirit God himselfe commends it to us in particular for a most speciall fruit 1 Pet. 3.4 The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit is a thing with God of a great price Thirdly those graces wherein wee most resemble God the father and Christ such are most excellent as Love Mercy Humility we are cald upon as might be shew'd at large to imitate the father and the sonne in these things especially VVhat is more sweet and amiable in the Conversations of men than Love Mercy Humility these are Graces and fruits of highest esteeme both with God and men Such as hold forth Truths in publique should bring forth the best Fruits in expounding and applying the word they ought to lay open those truths that are most suitable to Persons times and occasions and decline other things of lesser moment and in particular subjects to bring forth those things that doe most naturally arise from the word according to the genuine sense of it without straining or wresting there being such infinite variety of matter that it may be as the first and purest Liquor of Grapes or as life hony that runnes without strayning which is by far the best Men should stand most upon the Essentialls of Religion and Christianity How to get an interest in Christ and then how to improve it to grow in grace to subdue Corruptions how we may get and maintaine a constant habituall Communion with God And for our Meditations Speeches and Actions we must still looke at the best if there lye many and various duties before us and all cannot possibly be donne we ought to set our selves to consider and find out which are most convenient most necessary most profitable and best And accordingly apply our selves thereto and not to goe hand over head to any of them upon this ground for that it is a good worke it is our duty for so perhaps we shall neglect a more excellent and more profitable worke and misse of the best and choicest fruits The Eleventh Observation in Nature WE finde by experience that after a plant is engrafted both the Graft and the stock will shoote forth and if the Graft grow vigorously and strongly then the shootes of the stock are but weake but if the shoots of the stock break out strongly then the Graft growes but weakly therefore the husbandman takes paines often to cut off the shoots that grow upon the stock that so the graft may grow the better This is another Similitude of the state of Mysticall Fruit-trees and shadowes forth unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed While the Spirituall part in us acts and growes strongly the fleshly part acts but weakely So also if the flesh be strong the spirit is weake In all persons Regenerate there are two Natures the one contrary to the other the Spirit and the flesh the new man and the old man the Divine Nature and Corrupt Nature these two Natures abide in us and act in us so long as we live in this earthly Tabernacle and they
no man went through thee I will make thee an eternall excellency a joy of many Generations Vers 15.20 The Lord shall be thine everlasting light and the daies of thy mourning shall be ended The twentieth Observation in Nature THe graft and stock of the fruit-tree are so joyned together as that they are the one within the other and so made one intire body The Graft is within the Stock in respect of its substance the stock incloseth some part of it And the Stock is within the Graft by its sap and moisture giving nourishment to it whereby it thrives and brings forth good fruits So they being joyned and one within the other are made one body or substance This Similitude shadowes out unto us Proposition shadowed That Believers by ingrafting into Christ doe live in him and he in them and are thereby made one with him This truth is clearely held forth unto us in Scripture It is a great Mystery not understood or comprehended by any naturall man and better understood in our own spirits by experience than expressed to others The Apostle saies 2 Cor. 4.16 Ye are the Temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walke in them And 1 Joh. 4.16 He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him Believers dwell in God the father and in Christ and in the spirit and God and Christ and the spirit dwell in them As the spirit is in Beleivers so they are in the spirit Gal. 5.25 If we live in the spirit let us also walke in the spirit Gal. 2.20 I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me And now 2 Cor. 13.5 by this spirituall or mysticall union between God and his people they are made one with God Not to be understood as some have said That every believer hereby is God and so advance themselves above what is meet It is true believers are made one with Christ 1 Cor. 6.17 He that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit and Ephes 4.4 There is one body and one spirit And it is the prayer of our Lord Christ which is certainly heard that his people with his father and himselfe may be one Joh. 17.21 That they all may be one as thou father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us v. 22. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one even as we are one 23. I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one What a wonderfull mystery is this that Believers should be united to and made one with God as the Father and the Sonne are one Not in respect of partaking of his essentiall and incommunicable properties which Creatures are uncapable of but in respect of reality and truth Believers are as truly and really joyned and united to Christ as the Branches of a Tree are unto the root As the Stock and the Graft are really joyned together and are one within the other and made one body so are Believers really united to God God dwelling in them and they in God and are made one spirit with him through Christ 1 Cor. 6.17 He that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit And againe 1 Cor. 12.13 By one spirit we are united c. Vse 1 Seeing Believers live in God and God in them and that they are made one with him This shewes us their safe Condition notwithstanding the malice and power of all their enemies They shall never be able to prevaile against Gods people or to hurt them As the hils are about Jerusalem so is the Lord round about his people Psal 125 2. The Mercy he wisdome power love and faithfulnesse of God compasseth them about for they live in God This is the Hedge that was about Job Chap. 1.10 Thou hast made an hedg about him and about all that he hath so that Sathan could not touch him without leave 2. From hence we may gather That believers shall be sure to Vse 2 presevere in grace unto the end for they live in God and from him they receive all supplies of grace Seeing Christ is risen up and dies no more believers that are in him as really as the graft in the stock they shall be fed and nourished by him continually as the stock feeds and nourishes the Graft the Roote is never dry but still gives sap to the branches both in winter and sommer so Christ is the true and living Vine the Roote and stock filled with all the fulnesse of God out of which we all receive grace for grace and are nourished with this living Sap unto Eternall life Joh. 4.14 Springing up unto Eternall life This Vnion and Onenesse between us and God the father and Vse 3 Christ should make us live a holy and a Gospell Conversation such as becomes our Relation Seeing these things are so what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy Conversation Let us therefore strive to be holy as God is holy and perfect as our heavenly father is perfect Seeing that we are so neere to God and live in God we may by eying and beholding of him be more and more changed into his Image and likenesse from one degree of glory to another 1 Cor. 3.18 and so be more and more partakers of his divine Nature and thereby dayly have more Communion and fellowship with him as two friends bring for the most part together are intimately acquainted and familiar with each other This is the top Priviledg of beleivers on this side heaven we should therefore bring forth fruit answerable to the spirit and sap that we receive from Christ our stock and Roote whereon we grow into which we are implanted The twenty first Observation in Nature FRuit-trees of the same species or kind are all like one another They resemble one another in their Natures and in their shape Colour Leaves Buds Blossomes and fruits So that they are clearely differenced hereby from other kinds men know them to be such or such kinds of trees and of one kind by their likenesse one to another Hence we learne That All Believers have a likenesse Proposition shadowed and resemblance of one another in the Image of God upon their soules The Image of God is the same upon all believers and differs not but only in the degrees of it upon some it is more beautifull and glorious then upon others yet the same in respect of the qualities and Nature of it All have a love and liking of all the objects of love as they are discoverd and made manifest And also there is in the soules of all believers an hatred or dislike of what is contrary to God and to that spirituall or divine Nature in them as the spirit of God discovers such objects to their understandings And the Cause of all Controversies and difference in Judgment amongst Gods people is not from any difference in their spirituall nature for that is