confession of sin with grief and desire of the grace of Christ with a serious purpose of newness of life this is the doctrine of the Scripture They think that to the essence of true Repentance there is required Auricular confession penal satisfactions and the absolvence of the Priest without which true faith profiteth nothing to salvation Again the Scripture teacheth this doctrine That the Ordinances confer grace by virtue only of God's promises and the Sacraments are signs and seals of the Covenant of Grace to them that believe And they would teach us that they deserve and confer grace from the work wrought The Scripture teacheth that good works are such as are done in obedience to God and conformity to his Law and are compleated in love to God and our neighbour They teach us that there are works of supererogation which neither the Law nor the Gospel requireth of us and that the chief of these are Monastical Vows several Orders and Rules of Monks and Friers The Scripture teacheth us That God the Father Son and Holy Ghost is only to be worshipped both with natural and instituted worship in spirit and in truth and they teach both the making and worshipping of an Image and that the Images of Saints are to be worshipped The Scripture teacheth That there is but one holy Apostolical Catholick Church joined together in one faith and one spirit whose Head Husband and Foundation is the Lord Jesus Christ out of which Church there is no salvation And they teach us the Church of Rome is the center the right Mother of all Churches under one head the Pope infallible and supreme Judg of all truth and out of communion of this Church there is nothing but Heresie Schism and everlasting condemnation Instead of that lively Faith by which we are justified by Christ they cry up a dead assent Instead of sound knowledg they cry up an implicite faith believing as the Church believes Instead of Affiance they cry up wavering conjectural uncertainty Thirdly Come to their worship Their adoration of the Host their invocation of Saints and Angels their giving to the Virgin Mary and other Saints departed the titles of Mediator Redeemer and Saviour in their publick Liturgies and Hymns their bowing to and before Images their Communion in one kind and that decreed by their Councils with a non obstante Christi instituto notwithstanding Christs express Institution to the contrary their service in an unknown Tongue and the like are just causes of our separation from them But it is tedious to rake in these things So that unless we would be treacherous to Christ and not only deny the faith but forfeit sense and reason and give up all to the lusts and wills of those that have corrupted the truth of Christianity we ought to withdraw and our Separation is justifiable notwithstanding this plea. The USE Here is Reproof to divers sorts 1. To those that think they may be of any Sect among Christians as if all the differences in the Christian world were about trifles and matters of small concernment and so change their Religion as they do their clothes and are turned about with every puff of new doctrine If it were to turn to Heathenism Turcism or Judaism they would rather suffer banishment or death than yield to such a change but to be this day of this Sect and to morrow of another they think it is no great matter as the wind of Interest bloweth so are they carried and do not think it a matter of such moment to venture any thing upon that account You do not know the deceitfulness of your hearts he that can digest a lesser error will digest a greater God trieth you in the present truth He that is not faithful in a little will not be faithful in much As he that giveth entertainment to a small temptation will also to a greater if put upon it Where there is not a sincere purpose to obey God in all things God is not obeyed in any thing Every Truth is precious The dust of Gold and Pearls is esteemed Every truth is to be owned in its season with full consent To do any thing against conscience is damnable You are to chuse the way of truth impartially to search and find out the paths thereof 2. It reproves those that will be of no Religion till all differences among the learned and godly are reconciled and therefore willingly remain unsetled in Religion and live out of the communion of any Church upon this pretence that there is so much difference such shew of reason on each side and such faults in all that they doubt of all and therefore will not trouble themselves to know which side hath the truth You are to chuse the way of truth And this is such a fond conceit as if a man desperately sick should resolve to take no physick till all Doctors were of one opinion or as if a traveller when he seeth many ways before him should lye down and refuse to go any farther You may know the truth if you will search after it with humble minds Joh. 7. 17. If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of my self The meek he will teach the way If you be diligent you may come to a certainty notwithstanding this difference 3. It reproves those that take up what comes next to hand are loth to be at the pains of study and searching and prayer that they may resolve upon evidence that commonly set themselves to advance that faction into which they are entred Alas you should mind Religion seriously though not lightly leave the Religion you are bred in yet not hold it upon unsound grounds As Antiquity Joh. 4. 20. Our father 's worshipped in this mountain Or custom of the times and places where you live Eph. 2. 2. According to the course of the world the general and corrupt custom or example of those where we live nor be led by affection to oâ—… admiration of some persons Gal. 2. 12. Holy men may lead you into error Nor by multitude to do as the most do follow not a multitude to do evil but get a true and sound conscience of things for by all these things opinions are rather imposed upon us than chosen by us 4. It reproves those that abstain from fixing out of a fear of troubles as the King of Navarre would so far put forth to sea as that he might soon get to shore again You must make God a good allowance when you imbark with him though called not only to dispute but to dye for Religion you must willingly submit If any man come to me and hate not his own life he cannot be my disciple Luke 14. 26. How soon the fire may be kindled we cannot tell times tend to Popery though there be few left to stick by us the favour of the times run another way we ought to resolve for God
thing observable from hence is the necessity of directing grace Oh that my ways were directed I shall first premise some Distinctions 1. There is a general direction and a particular direction 1 The general direction is in the word there God hath declared his mind in his statutes He hath shewed thee O man what is good Micah 6. 8. 2 A particular direction by his Spirit who doth order and direct us how to apply the rule to all our ways Isa. 58. 11. The Lord shall guide thee continually Now this particular direction is either to our general choice Psal. 16. 7. I will bless the Lord who hath given me counsel It is the work of God only to teach us how to apply the rule so as to chuse him for our portion Or secondly as to acts and orderly exercise of any particular grace so 2 Thes. 3. 5. The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patient waiting for Christ. Or thirdly as to the management of our Civil actions as the pillar of the Cloud went before the Israelites in their Journeys so doth God still guide his people in all their affairs both as to duty and success As to Duty Prov. 3. 6. In all thy ways acknowledg him and he shall direct thy paths Ask his counsel leave and blessing in doubtful things ask his counsel in clear cases ask his leave Shall I go up or not and then ask his blessing As to Success Prov. 16. 9. A mans heart deviseth his way but the Lord directeth his steps Events cross expectation we cannot foresee the event of things in the course of a mans life what is expedient and what not Prov. 20. 24. Mans goings are of the Lord how can a man then understand his own way We purpose and determine many things rightly and according to rule but God disposeth of all events Rom. 1. 10. Making request if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you God brought Paul to Rome by a way he little thought of Therefore we need to call God to counsel and to enquire of the Oracle in all matters that concern Family Commonwealth or Church We need a guide Ier. 10. 23. O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himself neither is it in man that walketh to direct his steps Affairs do not depend on our policy or integrity but on the Divine Providence who ordereth every step to give such success as he pleaseth II. Distinction There is a Literal direction and an effectual direction 1. The Literal direction is by that speculative knowledg that we get by the Word Psal. 119. 105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path Sufficient not only for general courses but particular actions 2. The effectual direction is by the Holy Ghost applying the Word and bending the hearts to the obedience of it Isa. 61. 8. I will direct their work in truth and I will make an everlasting Covenant with them That is I will so shew them their way as to work their hearts to the sincere obedience of it Now to give you the Reason for the necessity of this Direction Three things prove it 1. The blindness of our minds We are wise in generals but know not how to apply the rule to particular cases The Heathens were vain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in their imaginations Rom. 1. 21. And the same is true of us Christians though we have a clearer knowledg of God and the way how he will be served and glorified yet to suit it to particular cases how dark are we A Dial may be well set yet if the Sun shine not upon it we cannot tell the time of the day The Scriptures are sufficient to make us wise but without the light of the Spirit how do we grope at noon-day 2. The forgetfulness of our Memories We need a Monitor to stir up in us diligence watchfulness and earnest endeavours Isa. 30. 21. And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying This is the way walk ye in it When ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left The cares and businesses of the world do often drive the sense of our duty out of our minds One great end of Gods Spirit is to put us in remembrance to revive truths upon us in their season A Ship though never so well rigged needs a Pilot we need a good guide to put us in mind of our duty 3. The obstinacy of our hearts so that we need every moment to enforce the Authority of God upon us and to perswade us to what is right and good The Spirits light is so directive that it is also perswasive there needs not only counsel but efficacy and power We have boisterous lusts and wandring hearts we need not only to be conducted but governed We have hearts that love to wander Jer. 14. 10. We are sheep that need a shepherd for no creature is more apt to stray Psal. 95. 10. It is a people that do err in their hearts not only ignorant but perverse not in mind only apt to err but love to err Thus you see the necessity of this direction Oh that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes The USES Well then give the Lord this honour of being your continual guide Psal. 48. 14. For this God is our God for ever and ever he will be our guide even unto death You do not own him as a God unless you make him your guide Psal. 73. 24. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterwards receive me to glory In vain do you hope for eternal life else Therefore 1. Commit your selves to the tuition of his Grace a man is to chuse God for a guide as well as to take him for a Lord to ask his counsel as well as submit to his Commandments Ier. 3. 4. Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me My father thou art the guide of my youth 2. Depend upon him in every action The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord all his particular actions Rom. 8. 26. For we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered 3. Seek his Counsel out of a desire to follow it Ioh. 7. 17. If any man will do his will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of my self Still walk according to light received and it will increase upon you Such as make conscience of known truth shall know more He that cometh with a subjected mind and fixed resolution to receive and obey shall have a discerning spirit God answereth men according to the fidelity of their own hearts SERMON VII PSAL. CXIX 6. Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy Commandments THE Psalmist had prayed for direction to keep Gods Commandments here
it is done away this David might intend But rather in a way of sanctification when the fault or blot is done away This is mainly intended as appears by the Antithesis or opposite request and grant me thy Law graciously that is let it be imprest upon my heart that such a temptation may be prevented for the future Let me observe Doct. That lying especially a way or course of lying should be far from Gods people David begs the removal of it as most inconsistent with the temper and sincerity of a Child of God Examine 1. What is lying 2. Upon what grounds this should be far from a Child of God First What is lying Answ. Lying is when men wittingly and willingly and with purpose to deceive signifie that which is false by gestures actions but especially by words The matter of a lye is a falsehood but the formality of it is with an intention to deceive therefore a falsehood is one thing a lye another then we lye when we not only do or speak falsely but knowingly and with purpose to deceive Now this may be done by gestures as when a scorner counterfeiteth the posture of one that is praying or as when David feigned himself to be distracted scrabling upon the doors of the gate spitting upon his beard 1 Kings 21. 1. and in the Pagan story Iunius Brutus was taxed for reigning himself a fool to save himself from Tarquin Aquinas saith Gestures are a sign by which we discover our minds But because these are but imperfect signs and speech is the usual instrument of Commerce therefore in words do we usually vent this sin Now in our words we are said to lye two ways Assertorily or Promissorily 1. Assertorily in a matter past or present when one speaketh that as false which he knoweth to be true and that as true which he knoweth to be false which is called speaking with a double heart in Scripture Psal. 12. 2. with a heart and a heart that is when we have one heart to furnish the tongue with what is false and another heart to conceive of the matter as it is An instance of this falsehood in our assertions or untrue relating of things done is Ananias and Saphira who brought part of the money for which he sold his posâ—…ion instead of the whole therefore Acts 5. 3. Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lye unto the Holy Ghost in keeping back part of the price It was a lye because there was a false assertion in saying that it was the whole and it was a lye to the Holy Ghost partly as being pretended to be done by his motion when they were acted by Satan counterfeiting spiritual actions or a lye against the Holy Ghost because the Holy Ghost being last in order of the persons is fitly represented as conscious to our ways and the workings of our hearts it is in condescension to us because it is most conceivable to us to reflect upon him as knowing our hearts and all the workings of our souls Rom. 9. 1. I say the truth in Christ I lye not my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost and when the Psalmist speaks of hiding himself from God he saith Whither shall I flee from thy spirit Psal. 139. 7. Or else a lye to the Holy Ghost because of his presidency and superintendency over Church-affairs Acts 13. 2. The Holy Ghost said Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them and Acts 20. 28. Take heed to the flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you overseers Now because this was an Ecclesiastical or Church-case therefore they are said to lye to the Holy Ghost as one that is to supply Christs place It was not the sin against the Holy Ghost but a lye against the Holy Ghost 2. Promissorily we lye when we promise things we mean not to perform This is a great sin Paul spent the great part of a Chapter to excuse himself because he was necessitated by Providence to break promise of coming to Corinth 1 Cor. 5. 16 17 18. It was grievous to him that he should seem to use lightness and not make good his word though he were hindred by the Providence of God vain and empty promises wherein we make a great shew of kindness to others without any intent to perform is a great sin Prov. 19. 22. The desire of a man is his kindness and a poor man is better than a lyar What 's the meaning some read it that which is desired of a man is kindness you come to a man in power and great place and beg his favour in such a business and request and they are too apt to promise you I but a poor man is better than a lyar you shall find among these great men very little faith The desire of a man is his kindness or that which a man should do in a great and high condition is to shew you kindness But now many that covet the praise and reputation of it are very forward in promises but fail in performance therefore a poor man that loves you and is an honest neighbour and will do his best is a surer friend and a thousand times better than such lying great men that only give you good words and sprinkle you with Court holy Water Now there 's a lying to men and a lying to God First A lying to God which is the worst sort because it argues Unbelief and Atheism low thoughts of God as if he were not Omniscient did not know the heart and try the reins How do we lye to God Partly when we put him off with a false appearance and make a shew of what is not in the heart as if he would be deceived with outsides and vain pretences So Hosea 11. 12. it is said Ephraim compasseth me about with lies and the house of Iudah with deceit God can see through and through all fair shews and will not be mocked We are said to lie to God when we perform not those professions and promises which we made in a time of trouble O when chastnings are upon us then the vows of God are upon us Men think they mean as they speak they are not conscious of the secresie of their hearts Psal. 78. 36. They flattered me with their mouth and they lied unto me with their tongues Their hearts were not sincerely set against sin whatever professions of repentance they made When there 's a restraint upon our corruptions then we think our selves hearty and serious because moved a little towards God Moral integrity is when we intend not to deceive but there was no supernatural sincerity to perform as the event shewed They were only the fruit of the present pang therefore it was said they lyed unto him with their tongue So Ezek. 24. 12. She hath wearied her self with lyes and her scum went not forth out of her speaking of her promises when the pot was over the fire there seemed to be offers
and Silver but he that wants the Benefits which the Word of God offereth and conveyeth to us Gold and Silver are but one sort of Riches and but the lowest and meanest sort You do not count a man poor if he have Lands though he hath not ready Money much less is a man poor if he hath Gold though he hath not Silver so a Christian is not poor if he hath God and Christ and the Spirit though he say with the Apostle Peter Silver and gold have I none Acts 3. 16. Angels are not poor though they have not Flocks and Herds and yearly Revenews they have an excellency suitable to their Natures So a Christian is not poor while he possesseth him who possesseth all things But that I may not seem onely to say that the Treasures of Grace are the true Riches I shall prove it by two Arguments 1. That 's the true Riches which can buy and purchase all other things but all other things cannot buy and purchase it now all the Riches in the World cannot buy and purchase those Benefits which the Word offereth to us They cannot purchase the Favour of God For what hope hath the Hypocrite if he hath gained when God comes to take away his Soul Job 27. 8. Many a carnal Wretch doth not make a saving Bargain of it but be it so he looketh for Worldly gain and hath it what will this stead him when God puts the Bond of the Old Covenant in suit and demandeth his Soul from him he is loth to resign it but God will have it What can he give in exchange for his Soul Money cannot purchase the Grace of the Redeemer 1 Pet. 1. 18. Ye are not redeemed with Corruptible things and Psalm 44. 6 7 8. The Redemption of the Soul is precious Men would if they could give a thousand Worlds for the pardon of their Sin when they come to receive the fruit of it but all will not doe the Wrath of God must be appeased and the Justice of God satisfied by another kind of Ransome They cannot purchase the Grace of the Spirit Simon Magus would give money for the Gifts of the Holy Ghost but Peter said to him Thy money perish with thee because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money Acts 8. 20. His Request was base and carnal yet thus far it yieldeth a testimony to the truth in hand that he thought the Gift of the Holy Ghost better than Money or else he would not have offered his Money for it yea the lowest and far less necessary Gift than his sanctifying guiding and comforting Work well then all other things cannot purchase these Benefits But on the other side these Benefits procure all other things Grace giveth us an advantage in worldly things above others for certainly man doth not live by bread onely Matth. 4. and his Life doth not lie in worldly abundance the natural much more the sanctified and comfortable use of the Creatures dependeth on the Favour of God and his Fatherly Care and Providence which is assured to the Heirs of Promise Matth. 6. 33. First seek the Kingdome of God and his Righteousness and these things shall be added 1 Tim. 4. 8. Godliness hath the promise of this life and that which is to come Prov. 3. 15 16. Wealth is not to be compared with Wisdome Because in her right hand is length of days and in her left hand riches and honour A Child of God that is obedient to the Word hath more advantage for the World than a wicked Man hath he hath a Promise which the other hath not a warrant to cast his Care upon God he gets more by the want of worldly Things than a wicked Man by the possession of them for his want is sanctified and worketh for good 2. The World cannot recompence and supply the want of that Grace we get by the Word but this can easily supply the want of the World The Worth and Value of things is known by this what we can least want Now there is no earthly Thing but may be so supplied as that its want should be better to us than its injoyment Sickness may be better to us than Health because of experiences of Grace 2 Cor. 12. 10. Poverty may be better than Wealth because we may be rich in Grace Iames 19. so Iames 2. 5. so 1 Tim. 6. 6. Godliness with Contentment is great gain Slender Provisions with a contented Heart is much better than a great deal more Wealth Godliness can supply the room of Wealth but Wealth cannot supply the room of Godliness If the want of Wealth helps us to an increase of Grace and Communion with God it helpeth us to that which is of higher and greater value than the injoyment of Wealth could afford But now on the other side the World will not give us a recompence for the want of Godliness Matth. 16. 26. What is a man profited if he shall gain the World and lose his Soul What shall be given to the Party for that loss his Soul is lost not in a natural Sense but in a legal Sense forfeited to God's Justice We may please our selves in our carnal Choice for a while but Death bloweth away all our vain Conceits Ier. 17. 11. At his latter end he shall be a Fool. He was a Fool before all his life time but now in the Judgment and Conviction of his own Conscience His Conscience shall rave at him Oh Fool Madman to hazard the Love of Christ for worldly Things These things cannot be recompensed by any other What poor Rewards can the World yield you for the loss of Christ and Heaven Alas then you lose your Treasure and have nothing to comfort you but Rattles and Bables which will no more comfort us than fine Flowers will a man going to Execution thus in the Nature of Riches 2. Let us come to the Use and End of these things the Use of the Law of God's Mouth and the Use of Wealth the Use of Wealth is to support and maintain the present Life and the bodily State during our Pilgrimage and passage through the World but the Use of the Word is to guide and direct us in the way to the Blessedness of the World to come The World supplieth our bodily Necessities But the Law of God is perfect converting the Soul Psalm 19. 7. It discovereth a man's Soul-misery and remedy as it directeth to Christ and enforceth our obedience to God and prescribeth an universal adherence to him and dependance on him Our Souls are faln off from God by Sin into a most dolefull state and have no other way of recovery than is prescribed in this blessed Word of God There are three Uses of the Word of God and they do all commend and endear it to our respects 1. 'T is the great means to sanctify and convey a divine Principle and Nature in us 't is not onely the Rule but the seed of the New
it appear this is Gods Testimony for that word that is propounded to be believed as such cannot be perceived by ease neither is it known of itself to the Understanding neither is it demonstrable by evident Reasons as to make infallible Conclusions The Word 's giving Testimony of itself doth not solve it indeed one part may give Testimony to another and one Revelation be confirmed by another as the New Testament giveth witness to the Old and confirmeth its Authority but how shall we know that to be Gods Testimony I Answer we have it 1. Partly from the self-evidencing light of the Scriptures themselves they have passed Gods hand and have his Signature upon them as all his Works make out their Author There are Characters of his Wisdom Power Goodness and Holiness impressed upon them 2 Cor. 4. 2 3 4. By manifestation of the Truth commending our selves to every mans Conscience in the sight of God But if our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not left the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them The Gospel being the result of Gods Wisdom and suited to the heart of man for whose use it was calculated it hath something in itself to commend it to our Consciences It cannot be imagined that the hand of God should pass upon any thing and there should be nothing of his Character left on it to shew it came from God Look upon any fly or gnat any flower of the field or pile of grass And you may see some impressions to discover the Author of them So certainly if God shall set himself to write a book or set forth a frame of Doctrine to do man good surely he hath discovered his Wisdom and Holiness and Grace therein and that in plain and legible Characters that if man were not prepossessed and leavened with Prejudice and Corrupt Affections he could not choose but see it That there is such an objective evidence or aptitude in the Doctrine it self to beget faith in those that consider it is plain from that of the Apostle 2 Cor. 4. 2 3 4. By the manifestation of the truth we commend our selves to every mans Conscience in the sight of God without Miracle or other Confirmation if they had a clear eye 't is light which discovereth itself and all things else The reason why it is not seen is not in the Object because of any defect there but the faculty the visive faculty their eyes are blinded with Worldly Lusts. Well then when things are spoken so becoming the Nature of God and so agreeable to the necessities of Man and with such an evidence of Reason not to the Law only but also to the Gospel as to establishing of a way of Commerce between God and us and exempting us from the grand scruples that haunt us though these things could not be found out by humane Wit yet now they are revealed they carry a great suitableness thereunto 2. And Partly by the Testimony of the Spirit this is one way of confirming the Truth of the Gospel Acts 5. 32. We are his witnesses of these things and so is the holy Ghost whom God hath given to them that obey him Where the Apostles are mentioned as one sort of witnesses and the Holy Ghost as another the great office of the Spirit is to testifie of Christ Jesus Ioh. 15. 26. Even the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father he shall testifie of me The Doctrine of the Gospel concerning Christs Coming and Power is so great a Mystery that 't is not believed and received in the World without the Spirit Upon the beginning of Christs Ministry in his Baptisme the Spirit appeared in the form of a Dove now the Holy Ghost doth two wayes bear witness of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Artificially and Inartificially Artificially per modum argumenti and Inartificially per modum testis Partly as he doth afford sufficient matter of Confirmation and Conviction in those miraculous operations in the primitive times And also as he doth perswade the heart and convince us of the Truth of the Gospel 3. There is Experience of the Truth of the Word in Gods hearing Prayers Psal. 65. 2. O! thou that hearest Prayer unto thee shall all flesh come Fulfilling Promises Psal. 18. 30. Thy word is a tryed word he is a buckler to all that trust in him Punishing the Wicked Hosea 7. 12. I will chastise them as their Congregation hath heard Rewarding according to the Rules set down in the Word Rom. 1. 18. and Heb. 2. 3. but of this by and by Thirdly Why we must understand consider and believe Answ. Both in order to our Comfort and Duty 1. Comfort If the Certainty of the Scriptures were more understood believed and thought of we should be more fortified against fears and sorrows and Cares and Discouragements whencesoever they do arise for as fire well kindled doth easily break forth into a flame so assent freely laid doth fortifie the heart against trouble 'T is very notable when the Apostles would raise the joy of Faith they plead the certainty of the Doctrine they delivered for it was comfortable in it self suitable to the Necessities of man all that needed was to assure others of the truth of it See 1 Ioh. 1. 1 2 3 4. That their joy might be compleat and full upon this certainty of evidence and compleat demonstration we could not be so comfortless and dejected if we were perswaded of the reality of these things So 2 Pet. 1. 8. believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and glorious We should love Christ and rejoyce in the believing confident expectation of enjoying of him and where this is firmly believed afflictions cannot damp or hinder this joy A firm trust in the Promises of the Word will fill a man with Comfort and strengthen him against all difficulties Psal. 56. 4 10. 2. Our Obedience would be better promoted 't would be a remedy against boldness in sinning and coldness in Duty Heb. 3. 12. Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of Unbelief in departing from the living God You cannot drive a dull ass into the Fire Prov. 1. 17. Surely in vain is the net laid in the sight of any bird Men do not believe the everlasting verity of the Scriptures and therefore are so bold and venterous they think they shall do well enough after all Gods Threatnings Zeph. 1. 12. And it shall come to pass that I will search Ierusalem with candles and will punish the men that are settled upon their lees that say in their hearts the Lord will not do good neither will he do evil Secondly Coldness in Duty how do the Scriptures reason against Neglect Heb. 2. 1 2 3. Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard lest at any time
highly obliged for this discovery 't is the work of God to give us Counsel and should be matter of perpetual Thanksgiving to us III. The Use for which this knowledge serveth 1. To entertain Communion with God for the present for by knowing him we come to enjoy him Psal. 17. 15. As for me I will behold thy face in rightcousness I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness that 's more than to have a portion in this World And 1 Ioh. 1. 3. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us and truely our fellowship is with the father and his son Iesus Christ. By Communion or Fellowship is not meant a society of Equals but the dutiful yet chearful attendance of an Inferiour on his Superiour the Creature on his Creator but yet so as that there is an holy intimacy and familiarity in it because we both love and are beloved of God in every Ordinance they draw nearer to God than others do for 1 Ioh. 1. 7. If we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another All our Duties are the Converse of a sanctified Creature with an holy God and an humble Creature dealing with the blessed God for a supply of all their wants They pour out their Souls to him and he openeth his Ear and Bosom unto them he teacheth them his way and they walk in his paths Isa. 2. 3. They walk in the Fear of his Name and the Comforts of his Spirit Acts 9. 31. they seek his Glory as their great End and live in the sense of his dearest love 2. To enjoy him for ever this is life eternal that they may know thee the only true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent Ioh. 17. 3. Alas what is the knowing how to get Riches and Pleasures and the Vain-glory of the World to this Surely you that are taught of God your business is above other Mens while they drive on no greater Trade than providing for the Flesh or feathering a Nest that will quickly be pulled down they are providing for Everlasting Glory and Happiness They aim at nothing beyond this Life all their Cares are confined within the narrow bounds of Time and the compass of this World but these look higher and begin a life which shall be perfected in Heaven they are laying up treasure in Heaven IV. The manner of knowing things when taught of God they see things with greater Clearness and Certainty and Efficacy and Power 1. With greater Clearness Others know Words but they know Things and therefore know as they ought to know them They know the Grace of God in Truth Col. 1. 6. They have the spiritual discerning and that is a quite different thing from a literal discerning 1 Cor. 2. 14. He hath an experimental and sweeter knowledge than learned men that are ungodly He hath tasted that the Lord is Gracious the sweetness of his Love and the riches of his Grace in Christ. The Theory of Divine Knowledge though never so exact giveth us not this they have more of the Words and Notions but less of the thing itself they have the sign the other the thing signified they break the shell and the other eats the kernel they dress the meat but the others feed upon and digest it dig in the Mines of knowledge as Negroes but others have the Gold A rotten post may support a living Tree 2. With more Certainty There is a great deal of difference between taking up Religion out of Inspiration and out of Opinion or Tradition Faith is the gift of God but Credulity is received by the Report of Men. Men may guess at the truth by their own Wit they may talk of it by rote and according to what they read and hear from others but Divine Knowledge is the fruit of the Spirit Matth. 16. 17. Flesh and bloud hath not revealed these things unto thee but my Father which is in heaven Ioh. 4. 42. Now we believe not because of thy saying but we have heard him our selves and know indeed that this is the Christ the Saviour of the World And 1 Thes. 1. 5. For our Gospel came to you not in word only but in power and the Holy Ghost and in much assurance We never apprehend the Truth with any certainty nor can we discern Gods Impress on the Word but in the light of the Spirit Gods Illumination maketh our knowledge of things certain and infallible Know 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 assuredly Acts 2. 36. Ioh. 17. 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 'T is not a may be a bare possibility or likely to be a probability but it is sure to be and will be so a certainty that belongeth to Faith 3. For Efficacy and Power 1 Thes. 1. 5. For our Gospel came to you not in word only but in power and in the Holy Ghost Stephen a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost Acts 6. 5. We are affected with the Truths we know yea transformed and changed by them 2 Cor. 3. 18. Changed into a Divine Nature 1 Pet. 1. 4. Our hearts are moulded and fitted for God and for every good work So that this is a benefit should be much acknowledged Use. I. Is to Inform us how the Saints do and should esteem this benefit of Divine Illumination In this Psalm they esteem it more than if God should bestow a great deal of wealth upon them See Psal. 119. 14. I rejoice in the way of thy Testimonies more than in all riches And 72 Verse More than thousands of gold and silver Once more they think themselves well a paid if they get it by sharp Afflictions though by loss of Health or Wealth Verse 71. It s good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes The reason is because they value it as a Mercy for which they can never enough be thankful Phil. 3. 8. Yea doubtless and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ The People of God have no reason to envy others that live in the Pomp of the World and the splendor of outward accommodations if he give them the saving knowledge of himself Prov. 3. 31 32. Envy not the oppressor and choose none of his wayes for the froward is an abomination to the Lord but his secret is with the righteous If God will teach us his Statutes though he keepeth us low 't is more to be one of Gods Disciples to be owned by him in an Ordinance than to live a Life of Pomp and Ease Secondly None are fit to praise God but those whom God hath taught Psal. 50. 16. What hast thou to do to declare my statutes or that thou shouldest take my covenant into thy mouth The new song and the old heart
have There is a difference between a dead sea and a calm sea A stupid Conscience they may have not a quiet conscience The virtue of that Opium will soon be spent Conscience will again be awakened Use. Oh then let us put in for a share in this Blessedness There are two encouragements in the Service of Christ our Vails and our Wages our Wages should be enough the Eternal enjoyment of himself But oh we cry out of the tediousness of the way We have our Vails also that are not contemptible If a man should offer a Lordship or Farm to another and he should say The way is dirty and dangerous the Weather very troublesome I will not look after it Would you not accuse this man of folly that loves his ease and pleasure But now if this man were assured of a pleasant path and good way if he would but take a little pains to go over and see it this were gross folly indeed to refuse it Our Lord hath made over a blessed Inheritance to us upon Gospel-terms but we are full of prejudices in that to keep close to the rule may bring trouble and deprive us of many advantages of gain and we think we shall never see good day more But we are assured there is a great blessing goeth along with Gods yoke and we having a promise of the enjoyment of Gods presence where there are pleasures for evermore this should make us rowse up our selves in the Work of the Lord. SERMON II. PSAL. CXIX 2. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies that seek him with the whole heart IN this Psalm the Man of God begins with a description of the way to true blessedness In the former verse a blessed man is described by the course of his actions Blessed are the undefiled in the way In this by the frame of his heart Blessed are they that keep his testimonies that seek him with the whole heart The internal principle of good actions is the verity and purity of the heart Here you may take notice of two marks of a blessed man 1. They keep his testimonies 2. They seek him with the whole heart Doct. 1. They that keep close to Gods testimonies are blessed By way of Explication two things take notice of 1. The notion that is given to Precepts and Counsels in the word they are called his testimonies 2. The respect of the blessed man to these testimonies to keep them First The notion by which the word of God is exprest is Testimonies whereby is intended the whole declaration of Gods will in Doctrines Commands Examples Threatnings Promises The whole word is the testimony which God hath deposed for the satisfaction of the world about the way of their salvation Now because the word of God brancheth it self into two parts the Law and the Gospel this notion may be applied to both First To the Law in regard whereof the Ark is called the Ark of the Testimony Exod. 25. 16. because the two Tables were laid up in it The Gospel is also called the testimony the testimony of God concerning his Son Isa. 8. 20. To the law and to the testimony where Testimony seems to be distinguished from the Law The Gospel is so called because there God hath testified how a man shall be pardoned reconciled to God and obtain a right to eternal life We need a testimony in this case because it is more unknown to us The Law was written upon the heart but the Gospel is a stranger Natural light will discern something of the Law and pry into matters which are of a moral strain and concernment but Evangelical truths are a mystery and depend by the meer testimony of God concerning his Son Now from this notion of Testimonies we have this advantage 1. That the word is a full declaration of the Lords mind God would not leave us in the dark in the matters which concern the service of God and mans salvation He hath given us his Testimony he hath told us his mind what he approves and what he disallows and upon what terms he will accept of sinners in Christ. It is a blessed thing that we are not left to the uncertainty of our own thoughts Mic. 6. 8. He hath shewed thee O man what is good The way of pleasing and enjoying God is clearly revealed in his word There we may know what we must do what we may expect and upon what terms We have his testimony 2. Another advantage we have by this notion is The certainty of the word it is Gods Testimony The Apostle saith 1 Joh. 5. 9. If we take the testimony of men the testimony of God is greater It is but reason we should allow God that value and esteem that we give to the testimony of men who are fallible and deceitful Among men in the mouth of two or three witnesses every thing is established Deut. 19. 15. Now there are three that bear witness in heaven and three that bear witness on earth 1 Joh. 5. 7 8. We are apt to doubt of the Gospel and have suspicious thoughts of such an excellent doctrine but now there are three witnesses from heaven the Father Word and Spirit the Father by a voice Mat. 3. 7. And lo a voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son c. And the Son also by a voice when he appeared to Paul from Heaven Saul Saul why persecutest thou me And the Holy Ghost gave his testimony descending upon him in the form of a Dove and upon the Apostles in cloven tongues of fire And there are three that bear record on earth for he saith v. 10. He that believeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he hath the testimony in himself what is that The Spirit Water and Blood in the heart of a believer these give testimony to the Gospel The Spirit bears witness to the Gospel when it illuminateth the heart enabling us to discern the Doctrine to be of God to discern those signatures and characters of Majesty Goodness Power Truth which God hath left upon the Gospel and Water and Blood testifie when we feel those constant and sensible effects of Gods power coming with the Gospel 1 Thes. 1. 5. both by pacifying the Conscience and bringing joy and satisfaction and by sanctifying and freeing a man from the bondage of sin Water signifies Sanctification Ioh. 17. 17. Sanctifie them by thy truth The Sanctifying power of God that goes along with the Gospel is a clear confirmation of the Divine testimony in it Ioh. 8. 32. The truth shall make you free By our disintanglement from lust we come to be setled in the truth Gods testimony is the ultimate resolution of our faith Why do we believe because it is Gods testimony How do we know it is Gods testimony it evidenceth it self by its own light to the consciences of men yet God for the greater satisfaction to the world hath given us witnesses three from heaven and three on earth Every manifestation of God
hath signatures and characters of God enough upon it to shew from whence it came The Creation is a manifestation of God now whoever looks upon it seriously and considerately may find God there may track him by his foot-prints By the things which are made his invisible being and power Rom. 1. 20. The Creation discovers it self to be of God and if the lower testimony hath plain evidences much more the Gospel why for he hath magnified his word above all his name Psal. 138. 2. The name of God is that by which he is made known Now there are more sensible Characters and impressions of God left upon the word that doth evidence it to be of God than upon any part of his name 3. This advantage we have by this notion a testimony is a ground of self-examination or a Rule whereby we may judg of our state and actions for it witnesseth not only de jure what we must do or de eventu what we may expect but de facto whether we do good or evil what we are and what we may look for from God upon our obedience or disobedience Mat. 24. 14. The Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a witness unto all Nations first to them next against them Mark 13. 9. The word is a testimony to them of Gods will in Christ if they receive it against them if they reject neglect or believe it not Hereby we may judg of our condition by our conformity or difformity and contrariety to the Word of God Christ saith at the day of Judgment Moses will accuse you Ioh. 5. 45. There is one that accuseth you even Moses in whom ye trust The Gospel will accuse What is now an offer will then be an accusation God will not be without a witness at the day of Judgment The Creatures which had an evident impression of God upon them they will witness against the Gentiles so that they are without excuse Rom. 1. 20. and the Iews that were under the Dispensation of Moses he will accuse them there was light sufficient to convince them So the Gospel which is Gods testimony concerning his Son will accuse you if it be not received Therefore it is good to see what the word doth witness or testifie doth it testifie good or evil for accordingly shall we be treated with in the day of Judgment It is sad when we can only say of the Scripture as that King of the Prophet of the Lord He witnesseth nothing but evil against me 1 King 22. 8. Let us see what Gods testimony speaks whether it will plead for us or against us at the great day of the Lord. 4. It upbraids our unbelief that when God hath not only given us a Law but a testimony still we are backward and careless If the Word of God were no more but a Law we were bound to obey it because we are his Creatures but when it is his testimony we should regard it the more for now God stands not only upon the honour of his authority but of his truth 1 Joh. 5. 10. He that believeth not hath made God a lyar because he believeth not the testimony which God hath given concerning his Son We may urge it thus upon our hearts What shall we make God a lyar after he hath so solemnly given his word that word which hath many signatures characters and stamps of God upon it Carelesness now is not only disobedience but unbelief it puts the highest affront upon God to question his veracity and truth and does not only unlord him but ungod him by making him a lyar So much for the first thing The testimony of the Lord. Secondly The respect of the blessed man to these testimonies they keep them What is it to keep the testimonies of God Keeping is a word which relates to a charge or trust committed to us Christ hath committed his Testimonies to us as a trust and charge that we must be careful of Look as on our part we commit to Christ the charge of our souls to save them in his own day 2 Tim. 1. 12. So Christ chargeth us with his Word 1 To lay it up in our hearts 2 To observe it in our practice this is to keep the Word 1 To lay it up in our hearts In the heart two things are considerable the Understanding and the Affections God undertakes in the Covenant for both Heb. 8. 10. I will put my Law in their mind and write it in their hearts The meaning is that he will enlighten our minds for the understanding of his will and frame our affections to the obedience of it Well then you must keep it in your minds and affections 1. In your minds We must understand the Word of God assent to it we must revolve it often in our thoughts and have it ready upon all occasions Understand it we must if we would be blessed He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me Joh. 14. 21. We cannot make conscience of obedience till we know our duty He that would keep a thing must first have it we have the law in possession when we get knowledg of it Matth. 13. 23. He that receiveth the word into good ground is he that heareth the word and understands it And Luk. 8. 13. They that hear the word and keep it and bring forth fruit with patience It is not enough to hear the word but we must understand it and yet that is not all an adversary may understand a truth or else he cannot rationally oppose it There is Assent required that we believe it as Gods Testimony and accordingly embrace it and give it place in the heart Faith is a receiving of the word Act. 2. 41. nay we must have it ready upon all occasions Rational memory belongs to the mind or understanding therefore we keep the word in our minds when it is ever ready with us either to check sin or warn us of our duty Psal. 119. 9. Forgetfulness is an ignorance for the time Prov. 3. 1. My son forget not my law and let thine heart keep my commandments We should be ready to every good word and work as occasion is offered to us 2. To keep it in our hearts is to have an affection to it Keeping the Word relates to our chariness and tenderness of it when we are as chary of the word as a man would be of a precious Jewel Prov. 6. 20 21. My son keep thy fathers commandments bind them continually upon thine heart and tye them about thy neck Sometimes it alludes to the apple of the eye Prov. 7. 1 2. Keep them as the apple of thine eye Such tender affections should we have to the Testimonies of the Lord as a man has for his eye The least offence to the eye is troublesome a man should be as chary of the Commandment as he would be of his eye Sometimes it implies the similitude of
to meet together and after they had read the Word of God every one did acquaint one another with his weaknesses with his temptations and mutually asked counsel and comforted one another out of the Word of God and after this they concluded all with prayer and so every man went to his home These examples did we observe them they would be most useful to us we might drive on a trade to Heaven and be of very great profit in the spiritual life if the gifts of private Christians were managed without pride vain glory and without despising of the weak it would be of exceeding honour to God use and comfort to the Saints SERMON XV. PSAL. CXIX 14. I have rejoyced in the way of thy Commandments as much as in all riches THESE words may respect the 12th Verse as another argument wherewith to back his request Teach me thy statutes for I have rejoyced in the way of thy commandments as much as in all riches Many are for worldly wealth but I have other desires Lord teach me how to understand and keep thy statutes and this will be a greater benefit than any worldly possession whatsoever Or you may refer them to the 13th verse as a reason of his practice every man will be speaking of that wherewith he is delighted Lord thy testimonies are my rejoycing therefore I have and will be speaking of them upon all occasions Or this may be the fruit of what was mentioned before Those that are exercised about the word the study and practice of it and conference about it have a sweet sense of the goodness of it in their own souls so as they delight and rejoyce in it above all things and if we have not felt this effect it is because we are strangers to the word In the words there is 1. A Delight asserted 2. The object of it in the way of thy testimonies 3. The degree of it as much as in all riches By way of Explication The testimonies of God are his word for it testifieth of his will Now the Prophet saith not only I have rejoyced in thy testimonies but in the way of thy testimonies Way is one of the words by which the Law is expressed Gods Laws are ways that lead us to God and so it may be taken here The way which thy testimonies point out and call me unto or else his own practice as a mans course is called his way his delight was not in speculation or talk but in obedience and practice In the way of thy testimonies The degree as much as in all riches as much not to shew the equality of these things as if we should have the same affection for the World as for the Word of God but as much because we have no higher comparison This is that Worldlings dote upon and delight in now as much as they rejoyce in worldly possessions so much do I rejoyce in the way of thy Testimonies For I suppose David doth not compare his own delight in the word with his own delight in wealth but his own choice and delight with the delight and choice of others If he had spoken of himself both in the one respect and in the other the expression was very high David that was called to a Crown and in a capacity of enjoying much in the world Gold Silver Lands Goods largeness of Territory and a compound of all that which all men joyntly and every man severally doth possess yet was more pleased in the holiness of Gods ways than in all the world For what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul Mat. 15. 26. Doct. A gracious heart finds more true joy in the way of Gods word than in all worldly things whatsoever To explain this consider 1. What this delight is 2. How a gracious heart finds more delight in the word of God than in all worldly things 3. The reasons why they do so I. What this delight is I shall give you several distinctions 1. There is a sweetness in the study of Gods word or when we give up our selves to attain the knowledg of it The very speculation and study produces a delightful tast for three Reason 1. Truth is the good of the understanding therefore when the faculty is suited with a fit object this correspondence causeth a rejoycing and delectation Prov. 24. 14. My son eat thou honey because it is good and the honey-comb because it is sweet to thy tast so shall the knowledg of wisdom be to thy soul when thou hast found it Every truth if it be but a Natural or Philosophical Verity when we come to consider and see it with our own eyes and have found it out by search and do not repeat it by rote only breedeth a delight Pleasure is applicatio convenientis convenienti so it is true in Theological truths we are the more affected with them the more they are represented with evidence to the soul. 2. Scriptural truths are more sublime than other truths and do ennoble Reason with the knowledg of them Deut. 4. 6. Surely this great Nation is a wise and an understanding people Such doctrines as we meet with in the word of God concerning Angels and the Souls of men the Creation and Government of all things the Redemption of men must needs affect the heart and breed a joy in the view and contemplation of them 3. Because these truths are suitable to our necessities To every man that hath a conscience it cannot but be very pleasing to hear of a way how he may come to the pardon of sins and sound peace of conscience solid perfection and eternal glory Man is naturally under fears of death Rom. 1. 32. and would be glad of a pardon weak and unable to find out or attain to moral perfection would be glad of an exact rule and groapeth and feeleth about for an everlasting happiness Acts 17. 27. So far as any thing is found to this purpose in the writings of men they have a marvellous force and influence upon us Any beam of this truth scattered in Plato or Socrates of mans Reconciliation with a holy and just God there is nothing in their writings the then World was under perplexity But yet of Moral Perfection and an Eternal state of Blessedness there were some glimmerings Now when these are represented to the understanding with such evidence and satisfaction as they are in the Scriptures where you have the only sufficient direction to true Happiness no wonder if they are greedily catched at Now this delight though good I speak not of because it may be in Temporaries who have a tast of the good word to invite them to seek for more Heb. 6. 4. and is a fruit of common illumination The stony ground received the word with joy Luke 8. 13. and though it may affect the heart yet if not above all riches it doth not prevail over carnal affections 2. There is a sweetness found in the way
ruine We have instances of a Council gathered against Christ Joh. 11. 47. Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a Council and said What do we for this man doth many miracles They meet together and plot the ruine of Christ and his Kingdom and they were those that were of chief Authority in the place Another instance Acts 4. 27 28. For of a truth against thy holy Child Iesus whom thou hast anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done There is their agreement to put Christ to death In the Old Testament Pharaoh and his Nobles Exod. 1. 10. Come on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let us deal wisely with them lest they multiply and it come to pass that when there falleth out any war they joyn also unto our enemies and fight against us and so get them up out of the land And against Daniel the Princes of the Persian Empire consult how to intrap him in the matter of his God Dan. 6. 4 5 6 c. 2. For abusing the Throne of Judgment and Civil Courts of Judicature to the molestation of the Saints I shall cite but two places Psal. 94. 12. Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee which frameth mischief by a Law It is no strange but yet no small temptation that the oppression of Gods people is marked with a pretence and colour of Law and publick Authority and the mischief should proceed from thence where it should be remedied namely from the Seat of Justice so Mat. 16. 17 18. Christ foretelleth they shall have enemies armed with Power and Publick Authority Beware of men for they will deliver you to the Councils and they shall scourge you in their synagogues and ye shall be brought before Governours and Kings for my sake Not only subordinate but supreme Governours may be drawn to condemn and oppress the godly In so plain a case more instances need not Reasons of it on Gods part and on the part of the Persecutors First On Gods part he permitteth it 1. To shew that he can carry on his work though Authority be against him and that his people do not subsist by outward force but the goodness of his Providence and so have the sole glory of their preservation When the Christian Religion came first abroad in the world not many noble nor many mighty were called the Powers of the world were against it and yet it held up the head and was dispersed far and near Falshoods need some outward interest to back them and the supports of a Secular arm but Gods Interest doth many times stand alone though God doth now and then make Kings nursing fathers and Queens nursing-mothers according to his promise Isa. 49. 23. Oftentimes the Church is destitute of all worldly props Mic. 5. 7. And the remnant of Iacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord as the showers upon the grass that tarrieth not for man nor waiteth for the sons of men Yea the power of the world is against it and yet it subsists Thus it was in the primitive times there were only an handful of contemptible people that professed the Gospel yet it got ground daily not by force of arms or the power of the long sword but by Gods secret blessing Ambrose giveth the reason why God suffered it to be so Ne videretur authoritate traxisse aliquos veritatis ratio non pompae gratiâ praevaleret lest this new Religion should seem to be planted with power rather than by its own evidence and the authority of men should sway more with the world than the Truth of God There is a wonderful encrease without any human concurrence as the Lord saith The remnant of his people shall be as a dew from the Lord that tarrieth not for man nor waiteth for the sons of men Without mans consent or concurrence So that God alone hath the glory of their preservation 2. That the patience of his people may be put to the utmost probation When they are exercised with all kind of trials not only the hatred of the vulgar but the opposition of the Magistrate carried on under a form of Legal procedure In the primitive times sometimes the Christians were exposed to the hatred and fury of the people Lapidibus nos invadit inimicum vulgus At other times exposed to the injuries of Laws and persecutions carried on by authority against them There was an uproar at Ephesus against the Christians Acts 19. and there seemed to be a formal Process at Ierusalem Acts 4. This latter temptation seemeth to be the more sore and grievous because Gods Ordinance which is Magistracy is wrested to give countenance to malicious designs and because it cuts off all means of human help and so patience hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 its perfect work James 1. 4. There are some glory in suffering the rage and evil word of the Vulgar for they are supposed not to make the wisest choice but when men of Wisdom and Power and such as are clothed with the Majesty of Gods Ordinance are set against us then is patience put to the utmost proof and whether we regard God or man most and who is the object of our fear those that have power of life and death temporal or him that hath power of life and death eternal 3. That his people may be weaned from fleshly dependencies and doting upon Civil Powers and so be driven to depend upon him alone Psal. 94. 20 21 22. Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee which establish mischief by a Law they gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous and condemn the innocent blood But the Lord is my defence and my God is the rock of my refuge There would not be such use of faith and dependance upon God if our danger were not great It is harder to trust in God with means than without means We are beaten out when outward helps fail otherwise we are apt to neglect God and then a world of mischief ensueth When the Emperor of the Romans began to favour the Christians poyson was said to be poured into the Church and in the sun-shine of worldly countenance like green timber they began to warp and cleave asunder and what Religion got in breadth it lost in strength and vigour Gods people never live up to the beauty and majesty of their Principles so much as when they are forced immediately to live upon God and depend upon him for their safety 4. That their testimony and witness-bearing to Gods truths may be the more publick and authentick in the view of the world This testimony is either to them for their conviction and conversion Mat. 24. 14. And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all Nations or against them Mark 10.
of Truth as may keep them savoury and sound in the faith To be able to prattle a little in Religion is not sound knowledg but we must be grounded and setled in the faith Col. 1. 23. That is have not only some floating opinion but well grounded perswasion of the Truth so as we know we are upon firm ground and dare venture our souls upon it and may build surely and safely upon such principles He calleth it elsewhere Col. 2. 2. the riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ. When men rest contented with obvious Truths or a slight knowledg of the common and easie principles of Christianity there is not such an awe upon their practice nor any establishment of their judgments but like light chaff they are soon carried with the blasts of temptation and the wind of errors And therefore we need to ask again and again Give me an understanding of the way of thy precepts 2. A sound saving knowledge is such as causeth the soul to lye under the dominion life and power of the Truth and aweth and commandeth the heart into obedience Joh. 8. 32. Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free When our knowledg freeth us from the slavery of sin In others that content themselves with a naked knowledg Truth is held captive and cannot break out with any soveraignty in their conversations Rom. 1. 18. Holding the truth in unrighteousness Lust beareth sway but Truth lyeth under fetters and restraint it may talk its fill like a man in bonds but it can do nothing 3. When it giveth us prudence how to practise This is that which David beggeth of God to understand the way of his precepts that is to be taught how to walk in each duty and point of conversation after what sort he may live and direct his life 'T is not sufficient to know the meaning of the Word in general to have a notional understanding of it but to reduce it to practice where and when and how we ought to perform each action Some have a naked module of Truth are wise in generals but fail in the application of the Rule and are to seek in the ordering of their steps and all particular cases 1 Pet. 3. 7. Husbands dwell with your wives as men of knowledg Then is a man a man of knowledg when he knoweth how to order the passages of his life in every relation according to the will of God The narrow way of obedience is hardly found hardly kept and easily mistaken especially where prejudices lusts and interests are apt to pervert us Therefore prudence to apply the Rule is necessary Psal. 119. 33. Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes that I may keep it to the end Not only in the general points of faith and godliness but that it may season all our actions that we may be made partakers of the sweet refreshments that flow from it such a knowledg as endeth in a tast 1 Pet. 3. 2 3. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby if so be ye have tasted c. So Psal. 19. 8. The statutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart when we do so approve and follow the Lords directions that we experiment the sweetness and are acquainted with the Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Such an understanding as begets judgment and feeling or maketh us to find power and comfort in the word 2. The Children of God think this can never be enough asked of God Why 1. Because of the excellency of Knowledg Light is comfortable and it is a pleasant thing to behold the Sun much more the light of the Gospel shining in upon our minds Oh what a pleasant thing is that when all Clouds vanish and the Truths of God are fully cleared up to the soul None knoweth the sweetness of it but he that hath experimented it Prov. 24. 13 14. My son eat thou honey because it is good and the honey-comb which is sweet to thy tast so shall the knowledg of wisdom be unto thy soul when thou hast found it The more perfect the operation of any faculty of the soul is the greater contentment the Conscience in the feeling of God's love the heart when it findeth liberty in the ways of God and the understanding upon the sight of the truth cause all doubts and scruples to vanish Therefore certainly they that know any thing of God will be pressing to know more of his Nature and Will one degree draweth on another Moses desireth God Tell me thy name Exod. 3. 13 14. Then shew me thy glory Exod. 33. 18. And he said I beseech thee shew me thy glory And Hosea 6. 3. Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord. They are not cloyed but desire more The more men know the things of God the more they admire them the more they admire them the more they love them and the more they love them the more they desire to know of them And therefore do they insist so much upon this request Make me to understand the way of thy precepts 2. Because of the vastness and latitude of it Knowledg is a growing thing Religion cannot be taken up all at once we receive a little now and a little anon as narrow-mouth'd Vessels take in things drop by drop We read of Jesus Christ that he grew in knowledg We do not read that he grew in grace Luke 2. 52. He encreased in wisdom and stature as his body encreased in stature so his soul in wisdom And still Christians are growing in knowledg and understand more of the mysteries of the Gospel Though speculative knowledg may be at a stand and a man may see round about the compass of revealed Truths yet practical knowledg is never at a stand Directive affective operative knowledg is never at a stand but encreaseth daily And therefore the Apostle saith He that thinketh he knoweth any thing knoweth nothing as he ought to know 1 Cor. 8. 2. Many think they know as much as can be taught them surely they have no experience 3. Natural Blindness is an obstinate disease and hardly cured therefore again and again we had need to pray Open mine eyes Teach me thy statutes Make me to understand the way of thy precepts Our ignorance is great when it is cured in part The clouds of temptation and carnal affection cause it to return upon us so that we know not what we know Therefore open my eyes cause me to understand Yea the more we know the more is our ignorance discovered to us Prov. 30. 2 3. Surely I am more brutish than any man and have not the understanding of a man I neither learned wisdom nor have the knowledg of the Holy Job 42. 5. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now mine eye seeth thee Alas
the children of God 2. It is a perversion of the Order of Nature The tongue is the Interpreter of the mind and therefore if the Interpreter of another man speak contrary to what he pronounceth there were a manifest wrong and disorder so when the tongue speaks otherwise than the man thinks there 's a great disturbance and deordination 3. We resemble Satan in nothing so much as in Lying and we resemble God in nothing so much as in Truth Falshood is the Devil's character Joh. 8. 44. He was a lyar from the beginning that is the first inventor of lyes as Iubal was the father of them that played upon the Harp the first Inventor and herein we most resemble Satan On the contrary there is nothing wherein a man resembleth God so much as in Truth Truth is no small part of the Image of God for he is called the God of Truth and it is said of him Tit. 1. 2. That he cannot lye It is contrary to the perfection of his Nature Nor command us to lye God hath commanded many other things which otherwise were sinful as to kill another man as Abraham to slay his Son to take away the Goods of others as Lord of all as when the Israelites spoiled the Egyptians of their Jewels but God cannot lye 't is against his nature Eph. 4. 24 25. Put off the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Then presently Wherefore put away lying speak every man truth with his neighbour Wherefore that is from your regeneration when the Image of God is planted in you So the same Col. 3. 9. Lye not one to another seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds There may be sin in the children of God but there should be no guile in them habituated guile is the old man that is deceitful the new man is framed to truth and according to the will of God 4. This is a consideration that God never dispenced with this Precept He hath upon special occasion dispenced with other Commands but never with the ninth With the seventh Commandment in the Polygamy of the Patriarchs and with the second in Hezekiah's Passover but a man must not lye for God Job 13. 7 8 9. because this Commandment hath more in it of the Justice and Immutable Perfection of God than others 5. By the light of Nature nothing is more odious We love a just and true man one that is without guile we acknowledg it as a Moral perfection but a Lye is counted the greatest disgrace we revenge the charge of it It is counted a base thing to lye why because it comes from fear and it tends to deceit both which argue baseness of spirit and are contrary to the gallantry of a man therefore it is shameful in the eyes of Nature and those that are most guilty of it cannot endure to be charged with it When the Prophet Micajah told Zedekiah of his lying spirit he smote him on the cheek 1 King 22. 23. So men take it ill to be charged with a lye We count it a shameful sin among men The old Persians had such a great respect to Truth that he that was three times taken with a lye was never more to speak in publick upon penalty of death 6. It is a sin that is most hateful to God therefore it should be far from the children of God We hate that most which is contrary to our nature so it is contrary to God's nature There are six things God hates and a lying tongue is one of them twice it is mentioned Prov. 6. 17. 19. and Prov. 12. 22. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord but they that deal truly are his delight Now certainly because God hates it therefore we should hate it To will and nill the same thing that 's true friendship God hates it therefore a righteous man hates it Prov. 13. 5. A righteous man hateth lying but a wicked man is loathsome and cometh to shame 7. It 's a sin which God hath expresly threatned to punish in this life and in the life to come In this life Psal. 5. 6. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing And Prov. 19. 5. He that speaketh lyes shall not escape God will cut them off as not being fit for human society The first remarkable instance we have in the New Testament of God's vengeance was for a lye Acts 5. 5. yea it is one of the sins that draws down publick and national Judgments and therefore it is said Hosea 4. 2. By swearing and lying therefore doth the Land mourn And when God gives advice to his people how they should prevent his Judgments Zech. 8. 16 17. These are the things that ye shall do speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour execute the judgment of truth love no false Oath for all these are the things that I hate saith the Lord. When men have no care of their speeches when a people bind themselves by Oaths to do that which they mind not to perform or wilfully do not perform they are ripe for a Judgment And so in the life to come Rev. 21. 27. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lye And Rev. 21. 8. All lyars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone and Rev. 22. 15. For without are dogs and sorcerers and whoremongers and Idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a lye USE O then let us beware of all lying and dissimulation with respect to God and men Let our words consent with our minds and our minds agree with the thing it self A lye is most odious to God a proud look and a lying tongue and therefore a Christian that loves God shall he do that which God so expresly hates will you rush upon the pikes kick against the pricks and run against the Judgments of God a lying tongue shall not escape Nay God reckons upon his Children Isa. 63. 8. Surely they are my people children that will not lye Disappointment that 's the worst vexation God reckons upon it surely you will make Conscience of truth not only in your Oaths certainly that 's a barbarous thing to break the most sacred engagements that are among mankind therefore you will be careful to perform what you have sworn to the Lord with your hands lift up to the most high God but also in your promises and ordinary speeches Good men have been foiled by it David begs Keep me from a way of lying and it is a sin more common than we imagine it 's very natural to us Isa. 58. 3. As soon as we are born we speak lies before we could go we went astray and before we were able to speak we spake lies the seed of it was in our nature It is a sin most natural for it was
The Law is an enemy to them that count it an enemy and a friend to them that count it a friend 'T is a rule of life to them that delight in it and count it a great mercy to know it and to be subdued to the practice of it But it is a Covenant of Works to them that withdraw the shoulder count it an heavy burden not to be born Well then which do you complain of the Law or your Corruptions What are you troubled with light or lusts A gracious heart groaneth not under the strictness of the Law but under the body of death not because God hath required so much but because they can do no more Doct. 3. That the Law is granted to us or written upon our hearts out of Gods meer grace Grant it graciously saith David I will do it saith God and God will do it upon his own reasons The Conditions of the Covenant are conditions in the Covenant and the Articles that bind us are also promises wherein God is bound to bestow so great a benefit upon poor creatures which doth encourage us to wait for this work with the more confidence We are sensible we have not the law so intimately so closely applied as we should have Lord grant it graciously It is his work to give us a greater sense and care of it SERMON XXXI PSAL. CXIX 30. I have chosen the way of truth thy judgments have I laid before me DAVID asserts his sincerity here in two things 1. In the rightness of his choice I have chosen the way of thy truth 2. In the accurateness of his prosecution Thy judgments have I laid before me First For his choice I have chosen the way of thy truth God having granted him his Law he did reject all false ways of Religion and continued in the profession of the truth of God and the strict observance thereof There are many controversies and doubtful thoughts among the sons of men about Religion all being varnisht with specious pretences so that a man knows not which way to chuse till by the Spirit he be enabled to take the direction of the Word that resolveth all his scruples and makes him sit down in the way which God hath pointed for him Thus David as an effect of Gods grace avoucheth his own chusing the way of truth By the way of truth is meant true Religion as 2 Pet. 2. 2. By whom the way of truth is evil spoken of It is elsewhere called the good way wherein we should walk 1 King 8. 36. and the way of God Psal. 27. 11. and the way of understanding Prov. 9. 6. and the way of holiness Isa. 55. 8. and the way of righteousness 2 Pet. 2. 21. Better they had not known the way of righteousness that is never to have known the Gospel which is called the way of righteousness It is called also the way of life Prov. 6. 23. And reproofs of instruction are the way of life and the way of salvation as Acts 16. 17. the Pythoness gave this testimony to the Apostles These are the servants of God which shew unto us the way of salvation Now all these expressions have their use and significancy for the way of truth or the true way to happiness is a good way shewed us by God who can only discover it and therefore called the way of the Lord or the way of God in the place before quoted And Act. 28. 25 26. it is manifested by God and leadeth us to God The Christian Doctrine was that way of Truth revealed by him who is prima Veritas the first Truth The ways wherein God cometh to us are his Mercy and Truth and the ways wherein we come to God is the way of True Religion prescribed by him it is the way of understanding because it maketh us wise as to the great affairs of our souls and unto the end of our lives and beings and the way of holiness and righteousness as directing us in all duties to God and man and the way of life and salvation because it brings us to everlasting happiness This way David chose by the direction of God's Word and Spirit Secondly There follows the evidence of his sincerity the accurate prosecution of his choice Thy judgments have I laid before me The Sept. read it I have not forgotten thy judgments By judgments is meant God's word according to the sentence of which every man shall receive his doom He that walketh in a way condemned by the word shall not prosper for God's word is Judgment and Execution shall surely follow and by this word David got his direction how to chuse this way of Truth and this he laid before him as his line his desire was to follow what was right and true not only as to his general course and way of profession but in all his actions and so it noteth his fixed purpose to live according to this blessed Rule which God hath given him To have a holy Rule and an unholy life is unconsonant inconsistent A Christian should be a lively transcript of that Religion he doth profess If the way be a way of Truth he must always set it before him and walk exactly The Points are two 1. That there being many crooked paths in the world it concerns us to chuse the way of truth 2. That when we have chosen the way of truth or taken up the profession of the true Religion the Rules and Institutions of it should ever be before us There are two great faults of men one in point of choice the other in point of pursuit Either they do not chuse right or they do not live up according to the Rules of their profession both are prevented by these points Doct. 1. That there being many crooked paths in the world it concerns us to chuse the way of Truth I shall give you the sense of it in these Eight Propositions or Considerations Prop. 1. The Lord in his holy Providence hath so permitted it that there ever have been and are and for ought we can see will be controversies about the way of truth and right worship There was such a disease introduced into the World by the full that most of the remedies which men chuse do but shew the strength and malignâ—… of the disease they chuse out false ways of coming to God and returning to him Micah 4. 5. All people will walk every one in the name of his God and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever Mark there is his God and our God and then all people noting their common agreement in error all people will every man noting their diversity as to the particular false way of Religion and worship which they take up to themselves when they turn their back upon the true God and the knowledge of him then they are endless in seeking out false Gods Jonah 1. 5. They cryed every man to his God Among Pagans even in one Ship there
6. 16. and all pretending to God Therefore what should we do but search pray resolve to be thus with God and take the way God will direct us As the King of Babylon stood at the parting of the way or at the head of the ways to make divination Ezek. 21. 21. So you meet with parting 's of ways that you need deliberate to make a wise choice therefore the Providence of God doth put you upon tryal Think there are false teachers I and the most holy and upright men are but in part enlightned and they may lead you into a crooked path and a by-way they may mis-lead us therefore we ought to see with our own eyes 2. Consider the sad consequence of erring There are damnable Errors and Heresies 2 Pet. 2. 1. Vice is not only destructive and damnable to the soul but Error now eternal damnation and salvation are no small matters A man cannot please God in a false belief how laudable soever his life be and they cannot put the fault upon others that they are misled by them for if the blind lead the blind both fall into the ditch not only the blind guide but the blind follower 3. If we light upon a good way without search and choice it is but a happy mistake when we have not sufficient evidence You may have the advantage ground by chance may light upon a better way and it is Gods Providence you are born there where it may be so A Turk hath the same ground for his respect to Mahomet that many have for their owning of Christ it is that Religion he was born and bred in this will not be counted faith but simple credulity The simple believeth every word It is almost as dangerous to love a truth ignorantly as to broach an error knowingly Temere creditur c. saith Tertullian That is believed in vain which is believed without the grounds whereupon it is propounded the faith of Christians should not be conjectural or traditional If a man should not have reasons to sway his choice he will never be able to check temptations even in practical things If men have not received Religion upon true grounds and as Cyprian saith when they do not look into the reason of these things and when the Christian Religion is represented to them without evidence and certainty they have but a probable faith that is always weak against temptation either against lusts within or errors and seductions without therefore we had need look to the grounds of these things 4. The profit is exceeding great for truth will have a greater force upon the heart when we see the grounds and reasons of it We are exposed here in this lower world to great difficulties and temptations Now when we do not lay up the Supreme Truths of Religion with certainty and assurance alas these temptations will prevail over us and carry us away Atheism lies at the root therefore are there such doubtings in the heart in point of Comfort such defects in the life and conversation because Truth was never soundly laid in the soul it was not chosen If we were soundly setled in the belief of the Unity of the divine Essence and the verity of Salvation by Christ and the divine Authority of the Scriptures and the certainty of the promises therein certainly we would be more firmly engaged to God Comfort would sooner follow us and we would have better success in the heavenly life If the fire were well kindled it would of it self break out into a flame If we did believe indeed that Jesus the Son of God hath done so much for us and had this firmly setled in our hearts this would be a real ground of comfort and constancy 2 Pet. 3. 11. Beware lest ye also being led away with the error of the wicked fall from your own stedfastness It is put in opposition to one that stands by the stedfastness of another he might be carried away by the error of the wicked no but he must have somewhat to say to ingage his own heart otherwise he is led thereby with every fond suggestion and simple credulity and easily abused But when men have chosen and are well fixed they are not easily shaken When men take up Religion upon trust without a satisfying argument they are like light chaff carried through the whole compass of the winds As Mariners dispose of several winds which blow in the corners of the world into a circle and compass the Apostles word alludes to that We are carried all round the points of the compass Eph. 4. 14. When the chain of consent is broken they are in continual danger to be seduced and the greatest adversaries of truth are able to use such reasons as have in them great probability to captivate the affections of a weak understanding by their sophistical arguments and insinuating perswasions Prop. 5. After this enquiry into the grounds and reasons of the way of truth then we must resolve and choose it I have chosen the way of truth as the way wherein we are to walk Jer. 6. 16. Ask where is the good way and walk therein and then ye shall find rest for your souls you must not only so understand and form your Opinions aright not only see what 's the good way but walk therein keep that way which you find to be the way of truth renouncing all others We should not lye under a floating uncertainty or sceptical irresolution as those that keep themselves in a wary reservation that are ever learning but never come to the knowledge of the truth 2 Tim. 3. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word is they do not come to the acknowledgment of the truth always examining but never resolve you are to prove all things but not in order to unsettlement but settlement 1 Thess. 5. 21. Consider enquire where is Gods presence most where is the Son like to be glorified and souls better to be satisfied and built up in the faith of Jesus Christ and resolve and stick there Prop. 6. That no Religion will be found fit to be chosen upon sound evidence but the Christian. How shall I be perswaded of this Why that Religion which God hath revealed that Religion which suits with the ends of a Religion that is with the inward necessities of mankind and most commodiously provides for man that 's the true Religion Surely the necessities of mankind are to be relieved thereby The great ends of a Religion are Gods glory and our happiness God is glorified by a return of the Obedience of the Creature and man is made happy by the enjoyment of God All these ends are advanced by this way of Truth First That 's the only Religion which is revealed by God for certainly so must a Religion be if it be true for that which pleaseth him must be according to his Will and who can know his will but by his own Revelation by some sign whereby God hath discovered it to us
of famine come unto thee in thy land or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies while they pursue thee or that there be three days pestilence in the land Iohn Baptist to Herod Mat. 14. 4. It is not lawful for thee to have her Iehu to Iehosaphat 2 Chron. 17. 2. Shouldest thou help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord. Many times they are impatient of Truth as Ahab could not endure Micajah 1 Kings 22. 8. And the King of Israel said unto Iehoshaphat There is yet one man Micajah the son of Imlah by whom we may inquire of the Lord but I hate him for he doth not prophesie good concerning me but evil c. Iosephus lib. 8 cap. 10. Theodoret lib. 4. cap. 30. 2. If convented before them in a judiciary way as the Three Children were before Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 3. 13. Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach Meshach and Abednego and they brought these men before the King And ver 16 17 18. They answered and said to the King Oh Nebuchadnezzar we are not careful to answer thee in this matter if it be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us out of thine hand O King but if not be it known unto thee O King that we will not serve thy gods nor worship the golden Image which thou hast set up Mat. 10. 18 19. Te shall be brought before Governours and Kings for my sake for a testimony against them There are some Kings that have not submitted their Crowns and Scepters to the King of Kings so Pagans and wicked Princes who can neither endure the Truth nor those which profess it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Children of God ought not to be daunted by any Power and Fear of Princes Their Power may be a Terror to us and in other cases ought to be reverenced by us but it should not be a snare to us to make us desert our Duty to God We must never forget the Honour put upon them by God they bear his Image and in all lawful cases we acknowledge God's Authority in them they are those by whom God will govern us but if any thing be decreed against God we onely urge our Obedience to the Lord Paramount Acts 21. 19. Peter and Iohn answered and said unto them Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than God judge ye Acts 5. 29. Then Peter and the Apostles answered and said We ought to obey God rather than men 2. The latter Branch needeth little explaining What shall we observe 1. If I should take the first Reference and urge the Duty of Kings and Princes that would be unseasonable for this Auditory It is a preposterous Soloecism to preach to the People the Duty of Kings and then to Kings the Duty of their People as foolish a course as to make Fires in Summer and adorn the Chimney with Herbs and Flowers in Winter 2. If I should speak of the second Reference the Clemency of the Government we live under maketh it unseasonable also For our King whom God preserve hath often avowed his Resolutions against Persecution for Conscience sake Therefore waving all other things I shall onely insist upon two Points which are necessary partly to shew the Excellency of our Religion which we profess partly to guide our Practice 1 Doct. That nothing is so necessary for Kings Princes and Magistrates to know as God's Testimonies 2 Doct. That God's Testimonies are so excellent that we should not be afraid or ashamed to own them before any sort of Men in the World Of the first briefly 1 Doct. That nothing is so necessary for the Potentates of the World to know as God's Testimonies The King of Israel was to write a Copy of the Law of God in a Book and to have it ever before him that he might read therein and learn to fear the Lord his God Deut. 17. 18 19. And therefore Iosiah one of the good Kings which God gave unto his People searched for the Book of the Law 1 Kings 23. 2. The Reasons concern them if considered both as Men and as Potentates 1. As Men. 1. They are upon the same level with others and are concerned to understand the way of pleasing glorifying and enjoying God as much as their meanest Subjects for it is said Iob 34. 19. He accepteth not the person of Princes nor regardeth the rich more than the poor for they are all the works of his hands God dealeth with them impartially respecting the Greatest no more than the meanest He hath an equal Interest in all and therefore doth command and dispose of all for all are his Creatures not exempted from being subject to his Dominion As the Potter is not more obliged to Vessels of Honour than of Dishonour As his Law bindeth all so all that continue in impenitency and the neglect of his Grace are obnoxious to the Curse of the Law It is general to all Transgressors Cursed is every one c. And if God should lay their Sins home to their Consciences and speak to them in his wrath they can stand before him no more than the meanest Rev. 6. 15 16. And the kings of the earth and the great men and the rich men and chief captains and the mighty men and every bondman and every freeman hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains and said to the mountains and rocks Fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. 2. The higher their Station the greater is their Obligation No sort of Men more obliged to God than those that are advanced by him to rule over his People therefore their Ingratitude would be greater if they should sin against God 2 Sam. 12. 7 8 9. I anointed thee king over Israel and I delivered thee out of the hands of Saul and I gave thee thy masters house and thy masters wives into thy bosom and gave thee the house of Israel and of Iudah and if that had been too little I would moreover have given thee such and such things Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord to do evil in his sight Their Sins do more hurt because of their Example and Authority Iob 34. 20. 2. As Rulers and Potentates they are concerned to be acquainted with God's Testimonies 1. That they may understand their Place and Duty They are first God's Subjects then his Officers They have their Power from God Rom. 13. 4. For he is the minister of God to thee for good They hold their Power in dependence on him both Natural their Strength and Force Thou couldest have no power unless it were given thee from above John 19. 10 11. Legal their Authority or Governing Power they hold it in dependence upon the Absolute and Heavenly Sovereign who is the Lord of lords and King
Fear is stirring before Shame as a Man sick of a loathsom painful Disease is more and first affected with the Pain than with the Nastiness and Filthiness and Putrefaction that accompanieth the Disease so here in Religion as the case is hopeful when ashamed of Sin so dangerous when ashamed of a strict holy course A Man may be willing to do that which he dares not do for Fear but Shame extinguisheth the willingness it self In short To be afraid respects our Interest to be ashamed respects the Cause the Gospel it self Secondly I shall speak of them distinctly and so 1. Shew why we should not be afraid to own the Testimonies and Ways of God before any sort of People in the World 1. Because Holy Boldness in Confession is an especial Gift of God David asketh it here Take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth and promiseth That if God would give him this Gift the Splendor of Worldly Greatness should not dazzle his Eyes and he would behave himself as one armed against all terrors of Men or gotten above the Hopes and Fears of the present World And indeed it argueth some good degree of profiting in the Word of God when it is so with us Fearlesness of Men in God's Cause is an excellent Grace which God hath promised to his choice Servants To Christ Isa. 50. 7. For the Lord God will help me therefore shall I not be confounded Therefore have I set my face like a flint and I know that I shall not be ashamed I shall not be confounded for God is at my right hand To Ieremiah whom God set up as a brazen wall against all oppositions Jer. 1. 18. and to Ezekiel chap. 3. 8. Behold I have made thy face strong against their faces and thy forehead strong against their foreheads So to the Disciples Mat. 10. 19 20. They shall bring you before rulers and governours but take no thought how or what ye shall speak for it shall be given you in the same hour what ye shall speak None have the gift of Boldness but those to whom God gives it If left to our selves we shall faulter as Peter did at the Damsels Question but God will assist the resolved Heart by his Spirit and assist him in that very hour when the Tryal cometh and then we need not be afraid before whomsoever we come we need not be anxious The Servants of God beg this Gift Acts 4. 29. Grant unto thy servants that with all boldness we may speak thy word when the World rageth against them 2. Though it be an especial Gift of God yet the Duty is contained in our first Dedication and Resignation of our selves to Christ when we professed our selves to be dead to every worldly Interest and promised to own him and his Ways whatever it cost us Luke 14. 26. If any man come to me and hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters yea and his own life also he cannot be my disciple Ver. 33. So likewise whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all he hath he cannot be my disciple Therefore this should not be retracted but verified in our whole course for that sheweth this Dedication was found Heb. 3. 6. Whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firm unto the end Ver. 14. For we are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end And therefore we should be ready to render a reason of the hope which is in us to every one that asketh us with meekness and fear 1 Pet. 3. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is an Account of our Religion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ready to confess Christ in Persecutions and Dangers it is the same with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 21. 13. I am ready not onely to be bound but to die at Ierusalem for the Name of the Lord Iesus the same with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the preparation of the gospel of peace Ephes. 6. 15. A prepared resolved Heart to encounter all difficulties for the Gospels sake so satisfied with the Truth and Hopes thereof 3. This Duty is confirmed in us by many Christian Graces as Faith Love to God Fear of God a deep sense of the World to come We are afraid to own God and his Ways because we have not such an high opinion of God as we should have but too great a love to our selves therefore Faith Fear and Love is necessary to confirm and strengthen this Resolution in us and also the lively Hope of Blessedness to come 1. Faith informeth us of the Truth Goodness Power and Excellency of God the worth of his Favour and the terror of his Wrath that the Displeasure of God is much worse than the Frowns of Men When we think of an higher Lord why should we be afraid of a Man that shall die and the Son of Man that is as Grass If a Great Man stand by we are not afraid of an Underling If the King of Kings be with us whom should we fear Heb. 11. 27. By faith Moses feared not the wrath of the king meaning Pharaoh Why For he endured as seeing him who is invisible An Heathen could say Regum timendorum in proprios greges reges in ipsos Imperium est Iovis A Believer should much more oppose God's Heavenly Majesty to their Earthly Dignity Their Power is great and to be reverenced next to God but God's is greater We serve a King whose power is everlasting and whose kingdom is to all generations 2. Love to God is necessary to confirm and strengthen this Resolution in us for that overcometh all Terrours Rom. 8. 37. Nay in all these things we are more than conquerours through him that loved us And Cant. 8. 6 7. Love is strong as death jealousie is cruel as the grave the coals thereof are coals of fire which hath a most vehement flame Many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drown it if a man would give all the substance of his house for love it would utterly be contemned There is an unconquerable force in Love it is a Fire cannot be quenched When Christ hath us by the Heart it is much more than when he hath us by the Head They that make a Religion of their Opinions and have a Faith that never went deeper than their Brains and Fancies are soon discouraged but when Christ dwelleth in the heart by faith Ephes. 3. 17. there he resideth as in his strong Citadel and Castle A Christian because he loveth Christ will own him and his Ways and Truth though they be never so much despised in the World A superficial bare Assent to the Gospel may let Christ go but a faith working by love will not 3. The Fear of God or a deep awe and reverence of him when we are more afraid to offend God than to suffer from Man The Apostle when he biddeth us to be
in a dark place 2 Pet. 1. 19. The love of the World will misleade us our own Reason will often leave us comfortless the Examples of the best are defective but the Word of God will give comfortable Direction to all that follow the direction of it under all their Crosses Confusions and Difficulties Psal. 119. 105. Thy word is a Light unto my feet and a Lanthorn to my paths Light is comfortable it is no small satisfaction that I am in God's way and have his Word for my Warrant 3. It propoundeth the Examples of their Country-men and sets forth their Heroical Acts and encourageth us to imitate their Fortitude and Self-denyal Heb. 6. 12. Be followers of them who through Faith and Patience inherit the Promises many things are to be done and suffered before we attain the end Now it is a great Comfort to trace the footsteps of the Saints all along in the Way in which we go Heb. 12. 1. Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of Witnesses let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us If God did call us to walk in an untrodden Path it might be cumbersome and solitary now it is very obliging and encouraging to consider in what way they have been brought to Heaven before us 4. It hath many seasonable Cordials against fainting by the way Alas when we are in deep pressures our hearts are apt to sink but the Word assureth us that we shall have all things necessary for us that our Heavenly Father seeth what is best for us and that if we faithfully wait upon him our Afflictions and Rubs in the way shall be a means to bring us to our Journeys end 2 Cor. 4. 17. Our light Affliction that is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory and that for the present our Tryals are not inconsistent with his Love 2. On the Believers part there are Reasons of this Comfort and Rejoycing 1. There needeth a spiritual Frame of heart for a carnal Man's Rejoycings and Relishes are suitable to the Constitution of his Mind Rom. 8. 5. They that are after the Flesh do mind the things of the Flesh and they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit It is an infallible Rule to the worlds End every one cannot say thy Statutes are my Songs no they must have other Solaces and a Man's temper is more discerned by his Solaces than by any thing else they that have not purged their Tast from the dreggs of Sense the trash of the Flesh-pots of Egypt will ever be pleasing to them in the heavenly Pilgrimage and being inveigled with the baits of the Flesh the Promises are like withered Flowers to them or as dry Chips it is the spiritual Heart that is refreshed with spiritual Songs 2. This Word must be received by Faith for it is Faith that enliveneth our Notions of things and maketh them work with us Heb. 11. 13. These all dyed in Faith not having received the Promises but having seen them afar off and were perswaded of them and embraced them and confessed that they were Strangers and Pilgrims upon the Earth our Affections follow Perswasion 1 Pet. 1. 8. Whom having not seen we love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with Ioy unspeakable and full of Glory Rom. 15. 13. Now the God of Hope fill ye with all Ioy and Peace in believing 3. This Word must be improved by Reading Hearing but especially by Meditation and Singing 1. Meditation when it is sweet and lively stirreth this Joy Delight begets Meditation and Meditation begets Delight There is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in moral as well as natural Things Psal. 1. 2. His delight is in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth he meditate day and night And Psal. 119. 97. Oh how love I thy Law it is my Meditation day and night And vers 15 16. I will meditate in thy Precepts and have respect unto thy ways I will delight my self in thy Statutes I will not forget thy words These follow one another Affections are not excited but by deep and pondering thoughts 2. By singing Psalms we draw forth this Delight Col. 3. 16. Let the word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdome teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Eph. 5. 18 19. Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess but be filled with the Spirit speaking to your selves in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Drunkards when filled with the spirit of Wine sing wanton Songs and those who are filled with the wine of the Spirit will praise God with spiritual Songs This is a Duty of importance a delightfully way of being instructed by our Refreshment God would give us strength but this is neglected or cursorily performed by Christians We will complain of the want of a Spirit in Prayer we should do so in singing coldness in this holy Exercise argueth a deadness of Faith and a coldness in true Religion We should express our Joy this way 4. Above all this Comfort is found in ready Practice and Obedience There is a Comfort I confess in Speculation but not so deep and intimate as in Practice The one is but a Tast inviting to the other which giveth us a fuller draught The bare Contemplation and view of any concerning and weighty Truth is very ravishing to those that bend their minds to Knowledge Prov. 24. 13 14. My Son eate thou honey because it is good and the honey-comb which is sweet to thy tast So shall the knowledge of Wisdome be to thy Soul Every Truth is Objectum Intellectus much more divine Truth but now in Practice the Impression is doubled We get Comfort and joy raised in our Consciences our Lives and Light do not jarre we are at full quiet in our Minds apprehending our selves to be in God's way Psal. 119. 14. I have rejoyced in the way of thy Testimonies as much as in all Riches Use 1. To shew you that the People of God need not envy the Wicked for their Delights and Pleasures they have chaster and sweeter Delights God's Statutes are their Songs Where the Heart is spiritual they can find Delight enough in the Word both as their Charter and their Rule and need not turn aside â—…o vain Mirth a portion in the Promises will yield Pleasure enough vers 111. Thy Testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever for they are the rejoycing of my heart 2. To reprove those that reckon these things a Burthen the holy talking of Heaven and Godliness maketh worldly Men ever heavy and out of humour it is not their Delight but it should not be so with the Children of God A Child of
the same Spirit As some Philosophers say there is an Anima Mundi which holdeth all the parts of it together so there is a spirit of Communion which uniteth all the Members of Christ's mystical Body and inclineth them one to another 3. Gratitude to Christ maketh us to prize all that belong to him and to own them and to be Companions with them in all conditions 1 Iohn 3. 16 17 18. Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the Brethren But whoso hath this worlds good and seeth his Brother have need and shutteth up his bowels of Compassion from him how dwelleth the love of God in him My little Children let us not love in word neither in tongue but in deed and in truth 1 John 4. 11. Beloved if God so loved us we ought also to love one another God loved us greatly sent his own Son to die for us now how shall we express our thankfulness but by a dear and tender love to those who are Christ's As David when Ionathan was dead inquired Is there none of Ionathan's Posterity to whom I may shew kindness for Ionathan's sake at length he found lame Mephibosheth So is there none upon Earth to whom we may shew kindness for Christ's sake who is now in Heaven yes there are the Saints Now these should be dear and precious to us and we should be Companions with them in all Conditions 4. Because of the Profit and Utility redounding A true Friend is valuâ—…e though in secular matters much more a spiritual Friend Prov. 27. 17. As Iron sharpeneth Iron so doth a man the countenance of his Friend When a man is dull his Friend puts an edge upon him he is a mighty support and stay to us Prov. 17. 17. A Friend loveth at all times and a Brother is born for adversity Prov. 27. 9. The perfume of an Ointment rejoyceth the Soul so doth the sweetness of a man's Friend by hearty Counsel and in some cases he telleth us a Friend is better than a Brother Now if an ordinary true Friend be so valuable what is a Christian Friend An holy heavenly faithfull Friend is one of the greatest Treasures upon Earth therefore we should seek out such and associate with them Use. Let us see then whom we make our Companions let us avoid evil Company lest we be defiled by them and frequent good Company that we may be mutually comforted and quickened I am a Companion of them that fear thee Interpreters suppose it was spoken in opposition to the Bands of the Wicked mentioned verse 61. if they unite so should we this then is our business the rejecting of evil Company and the choice of good Companions To enforce this take these Considerations 1. Friendship is necessary because man is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sociable Creature Man was not made to live alone but in company with others and for mutual society and fellowship and they that fly all Company and live to and by themselves are counted inhumane Eccles. 4. 9 10 11 12. there the benefit of society is set forth Two are better than one For if they fall the one will lift up his fellow but woe to him that is alone when he falleth he hath not another to lift him up again If two lie together they have heat but how can one be warm alone and if one prevaile against him two shall withstand him Thus far Solomon The Egyptians in their Hieroglyphicks expressed the unprofitableness of a solitary Man by a single Milstone which alone grindeth no Meal but with his fellow is very serviceable for that purpose The Lord appointed Mankind to live in society that they might be mutually helpfull to one another he never made them to live in Desarts as wild Beasts love to goe alone but the tame in Flocks and Herds The Lord hath given variety of gifts to the sons of Men to all some but to none all that one might stand in need of another and make use of one another and the subordination of one gift to another is the great Instrument of upholding the World Man is weak and needeth Society for every man is insufficient to himself and wants the help of others and man is inclined by the bent of his Nature we have a certain desire to dwell together and live in society 2. Though Man affects Society yet in our company we may use choice and the good must converse with the good for these Reasons 1. Because like will sort with like Friendship is very much founded in sutableness and maintained by it idem velle nolle est amicitia the godly will have special love to the godly and they that fear God will be a Companion of those that fear him they are more dear and precious to them than others as a wicked man easily smelleth out a fit Companion Psalm 50. 18. When thou sawest a thief then thou consentedst with him and hast been partaker with Adulterers Like will to like and therefore the godly should be dear and precious to one another Every man's Company wherein he delighteth sheweth what manner of man he is himself The Fowls of Heaven flock together according to their several kinds Ye shall not see Doves flocking with the Ravens nor divers kinds intermixed Every man is known by his Company They that delight in Drinking love swilling and drunken Companions in Gaming love such as make no conscience of their time in Hunting love such as are addicted to such Exercises in Armes love men of a souldierly and military spirit they that delight in Books love Scholars and persons of a Philosophical breeding That which every man is taken withall he loveth to doe it with his Friend so certainly they that love and fear God delight in those that love him and fear him and their Company is a refreshing to one another 2. If they be not like intimacy and converse will make them like every man is wrought upon by his Company We imitate those whom we love and with whom we often converse Prov. 13. 20. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise but a companion of fools shall be destroyed As a man that walketh in the Sunshine is tanned insensibly and as Moses's Face shined by conversing with God ere we are aware we adopt their manners and customs and get a Tincture from them So Prov. 22. 24 25. Make no friendship with an angry man and with a furious man thou shalt not goe Lest thou learn his ways and get a snare to thy Soul A man would think that of all Sins Wrath and Anger should not be propagated by Company the motions and furies of it are so uncomly to a beholder yet secretly a liking of the person breedeth a liking of his ways and a man getteth such a frame of spirit as those have whom he hath chosen for his Companions This should be the more regarded by us because
Gospel thus stated hath more stability than the foundations of Heaven and Earth Therefore expect nothing to be altered for thy sake the Gospel constitution it was setled long before thou wert born and it is an unalterable decree which cannot be reversed All this is spoken to confute them that look upon the Gospel as true and to be believed till they meet with something which crosses them and then they hope it is not so In short God is true when he promises true when he threatens true when he commandeth Or thus If the Gospel Covenant be false thou hast no ground of hope if true it doometh licentious sinners to eternal destruction SERMON XCV PSAL. CXIX VER 90. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations thou hast established the earth and it abideth THese words contain a Truth which is 1. Asserted 2. Represented by a fit and lively Emblem Thou hast established the earth and it abideth He had before said Thy word is setled in the heavens now he speaketh of it as manifested in the earth Here the constancy of God's Promises was set forth by the duration and equal motion of the heavenly bodies now by the firmness and unmoveableness of the earth God's powerful Word and Providence reacheth to the whole world this lower part here upon earth as well as the upper part in Heaven DOCT. That in all Ages God ever shewed himself a true God and faithful in all his Promises 'T is here confirmed by Experience and represented by an Emblem 1. God's Faithfulness relateth to some Promise wherein he hath engaged himself to his People Heb. 11. 11. She judged him faithful who had promised It is his Mercy to make Promises but it is his Faithfulness and Truth to fulfill them His Truth is pawned with the Creature till he discharge it Micah 7. 20. 2. His Truth dependeth upon his unchangeable nature but 't is confirmed to us by experience His unchangeable nature Heb. 6. 18. If a promise can be made out to be of God we have no more reason to doubt of it than of the nature and being of God yet quoad nos 't is confirmed by experience Psal. 18. 30. The word of the Lord is a tryed word We are led by sensible things and what hath been done doth assure us of what shall be done or may be expected from God 3. That therefore God hath been ever tender of his Truth that the event may answer the promise and we might know that God that hath been faithful and kept touch with the world hitherto will not fail at last The Heathens ascribed a double perfection to their gods 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So the true God is known by his Mercy and his Fidelity he never failed to perform his part of the Covenant with any Psal. 138. 2. I will praise thy Name for thy loving kindness and thy truth for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy Name As he hath made us admirable and great promises of giving his Son and with him all things so he will certainly perform all to the utmost importance of them The matter of his word is mercy and loving kindness and in the performance thereof there is great truth and fidelity as he hath made great and excellent promises so he performeth them most punctually So that in fulfilling his Word God will be known above all that is named or famed or believed or apprehended and spoken of them here is his great glory and excellency 4. That the Experience of all Generations doth confirm God's Faithfulness in his promises for 't is said in the Text His faithfulness is unto all generations in the Hebrew it is from generation to generation The Point may be amplified by two Considerations First That some Promises have been received by one Generation and fulfilled in another Secondly That the same common promises have been fulfilled to the Faithful in all Ages First That some promises have been received by one Generation and fulfilled in another when the matter so required as for instance Israel's going out of Egypt Gen. 15. 13 14. And he said unto Abram Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs and shall serve them and they shall afflict them four hundred years And also that Nation whom they shall serve will I judge and afterwards they shall come out with great substance Compare now Exod. 12. 41. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years even the self-same day it came to pass that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt Thirty years were added because of their Fathers dwelling in Canaan but God kept touch to a day So for the promise of the Messiah and calling the Gentiles that God fulfilled in due time and sent a Saviour into the world Gal. 4. 4. In the fulness of time God sent his Son When the Scepter was gone from Iudah Gen. 49. 10. when the Crown was possessed by Herod a Tributary and Foreigner during the Roman Monarchy which at length Christ should utterly destroy Dan. 2. 35. Nebuchad-nezzar had a Vision of an Image of four different Metals the head of gold arms and breasts silver belly and thighs brass and the feet part iron and clay while he beheld the Image and surveyed it from head to foot he saw a stone hewen out of the mountain without hands which stone smote the Image not upon the head breast or belly but upon the feet of iron and clay upon which it vanished away and the stone became a great mountain and filled the whole earth This Vision Daniel expounded of four Gentile Kingdoms which should succeed one another with great extent of dominion The first of the Babylonians which then was The second of the Medes and Persians The third of the Grecians The fourth of the Romans which subdued all the other and because possessed of the riches and glory of the former during this last Kingdom was the stone hewen out of the mountain and smote the iron feet this stone was the Kingdom of the God of Heaven which Christ set up but not to trouble you with mysteries and nice debates the Apostle telleth us Rom. 15. 8 9 10. That Iesus Christ was a Minister of the Circumcision for the truth of God to confirm the promises made to the Fathers And that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his mercy as it is written For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles and sing unto thy Name And again it is said Rejoice ye Gentiles The Event in all these cases afterwards did speak for its self so in all that is yet to come we should depend upon the Veracity of God as the calling of the Iews the destruction of Antichrist a more ample effusion of gifts on the Church together with a dilation of its borders as the Patriarchs all dyed in faith Heb. 11. 13. Having not received the promises but having seen
mind a sense of his misery Therefore Gods witnesses are said to torment them that dwell on the earth Rev. 11. 10 God's word is a torment to them To come to the word and study the word of God and consider his mind revealed therein this nothing but increaseth fears It 's a vexation to them when they would sleep securely to have their consciences rubbing up and reviving their fears Therefore they are not in a capacity to delight in the word of God 3. Direc 3dly If you would delight in the word of God you must get an esteem of spiritual enjoyments why are wicked men so greedily carried out after worldly comforts These are the only things which they value But until a man learns to value knowledge and spiritual comforts and subjection to God and conversion of his heart to God he will not love the word which is the instrument of all these benefits When he counts these as the greatest blessings then his heart will be carried on to them for the word only hath a subserviency to these things Poor low creatures value themselves by plentifulness of worldly accommodations they will not be so much longing after them But when they value instruction above silver and knowledge more than their gold as Prov. 8. 10. when the heart is set upon spiritual things then they love the word by which they might be made partakers of it 4. Direction Fourthly Let a man live in awe of the word and make it his business to maintain Communion with God for this will will shew him the necessity of his word for to comfort and for to strengthen him upon all occasions A lively Christian that in good earnest minds his work must have the word by him for his strength and support as he that labours must have his meals otherwise he will faint Painted fire needs no fuel and when we content our selves with a loose and careless profession then we will not so delight our selves in Gods book and in his statutes and run to those things for the support of our souls But when we make it our business then naturally we will be carried out in love to the word Use 3. For tryal Have we this love to Gods word Gods people love his word exceedingly There are many do not hate it do not oppose it or have some cold affections this way but have you that order of affection which the Children of God do express 1. If you have a true Love to the word of God you will much exercise your selves therein in reading hearing praying conferring and meditating these will be constant exercises of your souls You will be much in reading the word as the Eunuch returning from publique worship was reading a portion of Scripture Acts 8. 28. It is good to see with our own eyes and drink out of the fountain not barely to attend upon deductions from the word and discourses built thereupon but to read the book itself and if it seem dark God will send you an Interpreter Then you will be delighted in hearing the word Certainly the Saints will take all meet occasions for this If he hath begotten you by the word of truth you will be swift to hear Iames 1. 9. They which have experimented the power of it there needs not much adoe to press them to come and wait upon the dispensation of the word Psal 1. 22. 1. I was glad when they said unto me let us go up unto the house of the Lord. You should be glad of these occasions of hearing Gods word Look as in heaven all our comforts and all grace comes in there by vision by sight so now it comes in here in the Church by hearing hearing is the sense exercised in the Church and therefore Gods Children will be much in hearing the word Then much in conferring of it What a man delights in he will be talking of and so should you at home and abroad Deut. 6. 7. Thou shalt be talking of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest in the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up When you are at home you should be conferring of these holy things and abroad seasoning your journey and business with gracious conference 2. If you have this Love to the word of God you will delight to get it into your hearts There 's the great business of a Christian that it may not only be in the Bible but may be imprest on the heart and exprest by a sincere uniform impartial obedience when we study conformity thereto in heart and life Hypocrites may delight in the speculation but a Child of God is delighted in the obedience and in conformity to his word Psal. 119. 14. I have rejoyced in the way of thy Testimonies as much as in all riches Not only in the testimonies themselves in the naked contemplation of these blessed truths reconciliation with God and the way to true happiness but in the way and practice of these things He that loves his rule will study an exact conformity thereunto The Love a child of God hath to the word it differs from the Love of an hypocrite or a temporary believer thus by this similitude In a rare piece of painting an ordinary beholder takes a great deal of comfort when he seeth it or looks upon it but this is nothing to that contentment which an Artist takes in imitating and copying it out in expressing it when he can by his own pensil copy it out to the life So that which a child of God delights in is when he can copy out this word of God get it into his heart and hold it forth in his Conversation for the Scripture speaks of both Of the word got into the heart Iames 1. 21. Receive with meekness the ingrafted word When it is not only an external rule but an ingrafted word So Psal. 37. 31. The Law of God is in his heart and Psal. 40. 8. Thy Law is in my heart Here 's the great Testimony of our love to God's Law when we strive to have it imprest on the heart and exprest in the conversation Phil. 3. 16. Let us walk by the same Rule This is a double contentment when it comes to that not only to the view of truth but when the heart is a ready transcript of the word of God when these things are not only revealed to him but revealed in him Gal. 1. 16. It pleased God to reveal his Son in me There is a revealing things to us and a revealing things in us Now when this is our business that all this may be revealed in us and we may be cast into the mould of this Doctrine then indeed do we love the Law of God Rom. 6. 17. Ye have obeyed from the heart that form of Doctrine which was delivered unto you or whereto ye were delivered 3. They which love the word of God love the whole word even that which thwarts their natural desires and discovers their
it so it is hear it and know thou it for thy good 1 A sound belief for it is reality that will work upon us Affection is always according to the strength of the persuasion 2 There must be application All kind of operation is by the touch The nearer the touch the greater the vertue so the more close they are upon the heart and touch and concern us the more they work upon us 3 There must be consideration we must seriously revolve these things in our mind and debate with our selves as for instance what a strict and precise account we are to give at the day of Judgment the inexpressible pains of hell and ineffable joys of Heaven generally we do not believe these things If we were persuaded there were a Heaven and Hell if we did think of them with application and say soul thou must one day go either to Heaven or Hell thou must one day appear before God and be put under a sentence of everlasting death or receive a sentence of everlasting life If we did consider them with serious and with inculcative thoughts is it indeed so then let me consider what I must do This reasoning and debating and whetting these truths upon the heart would work upon us and we should sooner see the fruit As Elisha stretched himself often upon the Shunamite's Son and kept stretching himself till the child began to wax warm and sneezed and then he opened his eyes So we should spread truth upon the heart till affection begin to quicken it Use 1. Reproof and that of three sorts of Persons 1. Those that go musing of vanity all the day and never can find a thought for God for Christ for the Covenant or for the great truths of the Word They have thoughts and to spare for other things Do those love the word of God and never spend a thought about it Prov. 6. 21. If the Word were bound upon us as a Jewel and chain then when thou goest it would lead thee when thou sleepest it would keep thee and when thou awakest it would talk with thee The word would ever be running upon our minds if we had any hearty affections to it Christians think with your selves have you thoughts for other things and none for God Christ Heaven and everlasting glory would you count him to be a charitable man that should throw away his meat and drink into the kennel rather than give him it that needs and asks it So would you count him to be a godly man one that hath a sincere love to God that hath thoughts he knows not what to do with but casts them away upon every idle toy and base inconsiderable thing and not a thought for God to suffer his thoughts to run waste yea run riot in envious repinings or unclean glances or revengeful or proud imaginations that can have thoughts for such trifles and never a thought for God and forget him days without number Ier. 2. 32. Have these affections to the Word of God 2. It reproves those persons to whom good thoughts are looked upon as a burden and melancholy interruption and when they rush into their minds are thrown out again like unwelcome guests These seem to be described by those words Rom. 1. 28. They did not like to retain God in their knowledge When men like not to entertain thoughts of God if they fasten upon our hearts we soon grow weary of them Christians to a gratious heart one that loves God and his Word thoughts of God and holy things are very comfortable and sweet Psal. 104. 34. My meditation of him shall be sweet But when they are so unwelcom and seem so troublesom to your souls have you a love to them To be weary of the thoughts of God it is to degenerate into Devils for it is part of the Devils torment to think of God They believe and tremble The more explicite thoughts they have of God the more is their horror increased If it be so with you judge whether you have this affection 3. Those that read and hear but do not meditate in order to affection and practice This duty must have its turn too if you will ever manifest affection and increase affection you must take some time to meditate and season your thoughts Iames 1. 24. For he beholdeth himself and goeth his way and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was They lay aside thoughts of what they hear and read and so go into their old course again When you hear or read any thing of the Word of God the greatest part of the task is yet behind you are to meditate to exercise your thoughts therein When men hear and do not meditate it is like the seed which fell upon the path way Matth. 13. The fouls of the air came and picked it up When you do not labour to cover it to get it into your heart by deep and ponderous thoughts the Devil comes and takes it away again when you work it not into your souls Bare hearing leaves but little impression unless we debate and revolve it in our minds God spake once and I heard it twice saith Iob. He had it not only at the first delivery but at the rebound he went it over again in his thoughts Use 2. Information It informs us why we are so backward to meditate it is for want of love Oh how love I thy Law and then 't is my meditation all the day You think 't is want of time and want of parts and abilities I tell you 't is want of Love It is but a vain boasting and the greatest hypocrisie to say we love the Law of God and never exercise our minds therein For where there is love it will command our thoughts and if once you have found a heart you will find time abilities and thoughts to bestow upon holy things Love sets all the wheels of the Soul a work and therefore the great reason why meditation is so difficult is we have not such strength and such ardor of affections to the things of God The difficulty doth not lye in the duty it self but in the auckardness of our hearts to the duty you can muse upon other things why not muse upon that which is holy Use 3. To press you to shew love to the word of God this way by often meditating upon it Meditate upon the Doctrines Promises threatnings Man's misery Deliverance by Christ Necessity of Regeneration then of a Holy life the Day of Judgment Fill the mind with such kind of thoughts and continually dwell upon them A good man should do so and will do so He should do so Iosh. 1. 8. and he will do so Psal. 1. 2. O do not begrudge a little time spent this way for hereby we both evidence our love to the Word and increase it But to quicken you hereunto 1. The more the heart is replenisht with holy meditation the less will it be pestered with worldly and carnal thoughts The
honey There was somewhat of Prophetical Vision in these things but generally it is carried not an outward and literal eating but a spiritual taste relishing the sweetness of it Well then the Word must not only be read and heard but eaten What 's this spiritual eating of the Word Three things are in it and all make way for this taste 1 Sound Belief 2 Serious Consideration 3 Close Application He that would have a taste of spiritual things these three things are necessary 1. That there be a sound Belief of it Men have not taste because they have not faith we cannot be affected with what we do not believe Heb. 4. 2. The Word profited not not being mixed with faith in them that heard it What 's the reason Men have no taste in the doctrine of God and in the free offers of his grace It is not mingled with faith and then it wants one necessary Ingredient towards this taste So 1 Thes. 2. 13. Te received the Word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe If you would have spiritual sense Faith makes way for it we must take the Word as the Word of God When we read in feigned Stories of inchanted Castles and golden Mountains they affect us not because we know they are but witty Fictions pleasant Fables or idle Dreams and such Atheism and Unbelief lies in the hearts of men against the very Scriptures and therefore the Apostle seeks to obviate and take off this 2 Pet. 1. 16. We have not followed cunningly devised fables intimating there is such a thought in man's heart Certainly if men did believe the mystery that is without controversie great that God hath indeed sent his Son to redeem the world and would indeed bestow Heaven and eternal happiness upon them they would have a greater taste but they hear of these things as a Dream of Mountains of Gold or Rubies falling from the Clouds If they did believe these glorious things of Eternity their hearts would be ravish'd with them 2. As Faith is necessary so serious Consideration by which we concoct Truth and chew them and work them upon the heart that causeth this sweetness by knocking on the Flint the sparks flie out those ponderous and deep inculcative thoughts of divine and heavenly things makes us taste a sweetness in them When we look slightly and superficially into the Word no wonder we do not find this comfort and sweetness but when we dig deeply into the Mines of the Word and work out truths by serious thoughts and search for wisdom when we come to see truth with our own eyes in its full nature order and dependance this is that which gets this taste Prov. 24. 13 14. My son eat thou honey because it is good and the honey comb which is sweet to thy taste So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul when thou hast found it When men are serious look into the nature and see all truths in their order and dependance then they will be like honey and the honey comb this makes way for this sweet taste 3. There is necessary to this taste close Application For the nearer and closer things touch one another the greater their efficacy so the more close you set the Word home upon your own hearts the more it works Iob 5. 27. Know it for thy good break out thy portion of the bread of life look upon these promises and offers of grace as including thee these commands speaking to thee and these threatnings as concerning thee look upon it not only as God's Message in common but urge it upon thy soul. Ier. 15. 16. It was unto me the rejoicing of my heart There must be a particular application of these things These things are necessary to this taste with respect to the Object as there must be eating a taking into the mouth if we would taste so thâ—…e must be a digesting or working upon the Word by sound Belief serious Consideration close Application 2. As to this taste there is somewhat necessary as to the Soul or Faculty we must have a Palate qualifi'd for these delicates Now there 's a double qualification necessary to this taste an hungry Conscience and mortifi'd Affections 1. An hungry Conscience Without this a Man hath a secret loathing of this spiritual food his taste is benummed but to an hungry Conscience the Word is sweet when he is kept in a constant hungring after Christ and his Grace Prov. 27. 7. The full soul loatheth the honey comb but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet Cordials they are nauseous things to a full stomach O but how reviving comfortable and sweet are they to a poor broken heart The first time that we got this taste it was when we were under the stings of a guilty Conscience then God came and tender'd his grace to us in Christ he sent a Messenger one of a thousand to tell us he fiath found a ransom and that we shall be deliver'd from going down into the Pit that he will spare us and do us good in Christ Jesus then the man's flesh recovers again like a child's Iob 33. 23. When men have felt the stings of the second death and God comes with a sentence of life and peace by Christ how sweet is it then Now though we have not always a wounded Conscience yet we must always have a tender Conscience always sensible of the need of Gospel support we came to this first relish of the doctrine of eternal life and salvation by Christ when we lay under the sentence of eternal death 2. The heart must be purged from carnal affections for until we lose our fleshly savor we cannot have this spiritual taste Rom. 8. 5. They that are after the flesh do savor the things of the flesh the word may be translated so A carnal heart relishes nothing but carnal things worldly pleasures worldly delights now this doth exceedingly deaden your spiritual taste Spiritual taste is a delicate thing therefore the heart must be purged from fleshly lusts for when fleshly lusts bear sway and doth relish the garlick and onions and flesh pots of Egypt your affections will carry you elsewhere to the vanities of the world and contentments of the flesh Look as sick men have lost their taste and that which is sweet seems sowr and ungreateful to a distemper'd appetite so a carnal appetite hath not this taste from the Word of God to a carnal heart it 's no more savory than the white of an Egg yea it is as gall to them but now to others it is exceeding sweet it is their joy the life of their souls Well then you see what is this spiritual taste that relish which a renewed soul hath for spiritual comforts Use. To persuade you to get this taste and when once you have got it take heed you do not lose it 1 It concerns you very much to get this taste take these Arguments 1. It is a
higher than the highest regardeth and there be higher than they Who can break the power of the greatest The poor and indigent have none to owne them to resent the things done unto them but God who is the supream Lord will not fail to owne them 2. Consider The injustice of such dealing as being contrary to that rule of Reason Quod tibi non vis fieri alteri ne feceris Every man should do as he would have others do to him Put your self in their case Take this rule quite away and there is nothing so false bad cruel that you would not be drawn to think or say or do against your Brother Uncharitableness and want of sympathy with us in our troubles much more insulting over us in our miseries we look on it with detestation and shall we oppress and afflict others when we have power so to do Those that profess themselves Christians should be far from this sin Means 1. The fear of God should bear rule in our hearts Iob 31. 23. For destruction from God was a terrour to me and by reason of his highness I could not endure Levit. 25. 17. Ye shall not therefore oppress one another but thou shalt fear thy God for I am the Lord your God We should be afraid to do them injury as if a strong party able to repay injuries were ready to be avenged upon us for it 2. Take heed of envy covetousness pride revenge these are ill Councellors Ahab envies Naboth's Vineyard and covets it and that put him upon oppressing him So Hos. 12. 7. He is a merchant the ballances of deceit are in his hand he loveth to oppress So take heed of pride Psal. 10. 2. The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor So when persons are of a revengeful temper it will put them upon oppression and persecution for every fancied or supposed affront offered to them the enemy and avenger go together Psal. 8. 2. 3. Think of Changes that pride may not be without a Curb nor affliction without a Comfort 'T is the proud oppress who are drunk with their wealth and outward prosperity The Lords people are not troubled by humble Souls that are sensible of their mutableness and frailty but by those who little think of these things and how hard it fareth with them that fear God II. Here are the persons to inflict it The proud Doctr. The proud are they that especially persecute the Godly Who are the proud 1. Generally those that obstinately stand it out against God and the methods of his Grace Neh. 9. 16. But they and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their necks and hearkened not unto thy Commandments and Verse 29. Yet they dealt proudly and hearkened not to thy Commandments Jer. 13. 17. My soul shall weep in secret for your pride 2. More especially those that are too well conceited of themselves seem by their affecting to meddle with things too high for them Psal. 131. 1. Lord my heart is not haughty nor mine eyes lofty neither do I exercise my self in great matters nor in things too high for me murmure under crosses quarrel with Providences finding fault with all Gods sayings and doings trust in themselves that they are righteous Luke 18. 14. scoff at others for their godliness Psal. 119. 51. The proud had me greatly in derision Psal. 10. 2. The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor ready to brawl on all occasions Prov. 23. 10. Only by pride cometh contention would have all to stoop to them are stiff in their opinions boasters lessening the gifts of others impatient of admonition 3. The particular pride here mentioned when men are high minded and trust in uncertain riches drunk with their prosperity So oppressing in their Honour and Greatness as if they would trample all others under foot and crush them at pleasure These are merciless and pitiless disdain the poor whatsoever presence of God they have with them we are filled with the scorning of them that are at ease SERMON CXXXV PSAL. CXIX VER 123. Mine eyes fail for thy salvation and for the word of thy righteousness IN the former Verse David spake as one under oppression here he setteth forth his longing and waiting for deliverance In the Words we have I. The act of Faith together with the object of it His eyes were to the salvation of God II. The defect and weakness of his Faith and Gods delay implied in the occasion of it Mine eyes fail III. The ground and support of his soul in this exercise The word of thy righteousness By salvation is meant temporal deliverance His eyes were to this salvation that is he did with faith and patience wait for it But in waiting his eyes failed that noteth some deficiency and weakness but his support during all this was the word of Gods righteousness that word wherein God promised salvation and deliverance to them that are oppressed And he calleth it the word of his righteousness because he is one that kept it justly and faithfully as if he had said Surely God is righteous and is no more liberal in promises than faithful in performing therefore though mine eyes even fail yet I will keep looking and longing still for his salvation I begin with the ground of his faith and the support of his soul which is the word of promise Doctr. That Gods word wherein he hath promised deliverance to his suffering servants is a word of righteousness There are three things in the promise Veritas Fidelitas Iustitia Fidelity Faithfulness and Righteousness 1. Veritâ—… Sincerity or Truth in making the promise according to which God doth really intend and mean to bestow what he promiseth For God is not as man that he should lye neither the son of man that he should repent hath he said and shall he not do it or hath he spoken and shall he not make it good To lye is to speak a falshood with an intention to deceive this cannot be imagined of God What need hath he to court a Worm or to mock and â—…ater us into a vain hope what interest can accrue to him thereby Yea the purity of his Nature will not permit it Tit. 1. 2. According to the hope of eternal life which God that cannot lye promised before the world began He will as soon cease to be God â—…s cease to be true for his truth is his Nature he is truth it self Man that is mutable and hath an interest to promote by dissembling may put on a false appearance and speak what he never meaneth but God cannot do so for he is truth it self essentially so in the abstract can admit of no mixture though Creatures may Light it self admitteth not of any darkness but as it is in Subjects so it doth But God is truth and in him is no falshood at all Now of all lies a promissory lie is the worst it is greater than an aâ—…ertory lie An assertory lie is when we speak of a thing past or
present otherwise than it is A promissory lie is when we promise a thing for time to come which we never intend to perform And this is the worse because it doth not only pervert the end of Speech but defeateth another of that right which we seem to give him in the thing promised which is a farther degree of injustice Therefore we â—…st take â—…eed how either directly or interpretatively we ascribe such a lie to God The Apostle telleth us 1 Iohn 5. 10. He that believeth not maketh God a Liar which is the highest dishonour you can cast upon him which in manners and civility we would not offer to our equal and which even a mean man would scorn to put up at our hands God hath made many promises as that he will be with thee in six troubles and in seven he will not forsake thee Iob 5. 19. that he will dispose of all things for the best to them that love him Rom. 8. 28. that no good thing shall be wanting to them that fear him Psal. 34. 10. Doth not God mean as he saith and dare we trust him no more Your diffidence and drooping discouragements give him the lie and you carry it so as if these were but words of course without any intent to make them good 2. Fidelitas The next thing in the promise is faithfulness and that referreth to the keeping of the promise A man may be real in promising he did not intend to deceive but afterwards he changeth his mind there may be verity in making the promise but there is not fidelity in keeping the promise But God is faithful hath he said and shall he not do it All the promises are Yea and Amen in Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 1. 20. Gods Word is not Yea and Nay but Yea and Amen it doth not say yea to day and nay to morrow but always yea So it is Amen so it shall be and this in Jesus Christ on whose merit they are all founded and who was the great instance of Gods truth for the great promise wherein God stood bound to the Church was to send a Saviour to redeem the World and if God hath made good this promise surely this is a pledge that he will make good all the rest for if he spared not his Son he will not stick at other things 3. There is Iustitia Righteousness for this is righteousness Ius suum cuique tribuere to give every one his right and his due Now by promise another man cometh to have a right in the thing promised therefore Justice requireth that you should give him the right that accrueth to him by virtue of your promise So God promittendo se fecit Debitorem maketh himself a Debtor by promise 'T was his Mercy and Goodness to make the promise but his Justice bindeth him to make it good This is often spoken of in Scripture 1 Iohn 1. 9. Faithful and just to forgive us our sins 2 Tim. 4. 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall give me at that day By his promise he is become a Debtour to us he cannot go against his own Word his Justice will not suffer him to change 'T is a Debt of Grace indeed but a Debt it is which it is Justice for God to pay Thus you see how 't is a word of righteousness Reasons 1. Because God hath in his promises pawned his truth with the Creature and so given us an hold-fast upon him Chirographa tua injiciebat tibi Domine Promises as in a Contract are more than simple Declarations and bare assertions of what good he will do to us With man 't is one thing to say this I purpose to do another this I promise to do A promise addeth a new Bond and Obligation upon a man for fulfilling his word An intimation or signification of Gods will and purpose sheweth the event will follow but a promise doth not only do that but giveth us a right and claim to the things promised Scripture Prophecies will be fulfilled because of Gods veracity but Scripture Promises will be fulfilled not because of his veracity but his fidelity and justice And the heirs of promise may have strong consolation by Gods word and oath Two immutable things wherein 't is impossible for God to lie Heb. 6. 18. There is a greater Obligation upon God to make it good 2. Because none that ever depended upon Gods word were disappointed not one instance to the contrary Psal. 18. 30. The word of the Lord is tried he is a buckler to all that trust in him Search the Annals and Records of Time and all experience hath found the Word of God exactly true If any build not upon it it is because they are not acquainted with God and the course of his proceedings Psal. 9. 10. They that know thy name will trust in thee There is so little believing and trusting God upon his Word because they are men of no experience otherwise they would find God punctual to his promise Not one thing hath failed of all the good things the Lord your God spake concerning you Josh. 23. 14. He speaketh not only as his own Observation and the result of all his experiences and that in a time when there was no room for dissembling I go the way of all the Earth but also you know in all your hearts and all your souls and he repeateth it Not one thing hath failed Unless you be impudent you cannot deny it try him you have found support and relief hitherto 3. Because God standeth much on the credit of his word Heathens have acknowledged it to be the property of the gods 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 certainly the true God hath shewed himself to the World in nothing so much as doing good and keeping promise Psal. 138. 2. Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name above all that is famed or spoken or believed of God this is most conspicuous as being punctual in keeping Covenant and fulfilling Promises God hath ever stood upon that of being tender of the honour of his truth in the eye of the world Therefore we should build securely upon the word of his righteousness Use 1. To bless God that we are upon such sure terms All people that know there is a God wait for some good things from him but they are left to uncertain guesses it may be they may have them it may be not but we have it under hand and seal and have Gods Warrant for our hope and so deal with God upon sure terms Well may we take up David's Song In God I will praise his word in the Lord I will praise his word Psal. 56. 10. 'T is twice repeated in that Psalm that 's ground of rejoycing that God will assure us aforehand what he will do for us God might have dealt with man by way of Dominion and Command alone without any signification of his goodness and left us to
thy heart for entertaining the light and power of these truths and in due time God will shew thee other things In the mean time bless God that whatever is necessary is plain to them that are docile and heedful and willing to do the will of God As in the world the most necessary things are at hand the less necessary are hidden in the bowels of the Earth so in Scripture necessaries are facile and easie 2. Let us use this method in learning and teaching of others In learning our selves First Be sure to get a clear understanding of and firm assent unto the main plain truths of Scripture That there is one God Heb. 11. 6. He that cometh to God must believe that he is That Jesus Christ is the Son of God Iohn 17. 3. This is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent It is a corner truth that enliveneth all Religion Matth. 16. 16. Thou art Christ the Son of the living God then Upon this Rock will I build my Church John 6. 69. We believe and are sure that thou art Christ the Son of the living God This is the great enlivening truth that hath influence both on faith and obedience We must believe that he is able to bring us to God Iohn 14. 6. Heb. 7. 25. and must be obeyed Heb. 5. 9. that every man needeth this Christ to bring him to God Acts 4. 12. There is a necessity of his merit that God may be propitious of his Spirit as the foundation of a new life that we may be reconciled to God that we should live holily because there is a day of account when every one shall receive according to his works We should bestow more cost upon the main truths to get a clear distinct knowledge of them there must be a removing of Rubbish and digging to lay the foundation of the knowledge of the principles of the Doctrine of Christ before there can be any safe building or going on unto perfection Heb. 6. and firm assent to them For he is the best Christian that doth most clearly understand and firmly believe these things Not the Opinionist the Disputer he that best promotes the interest of his party or side which are the distempers now afoot in Christendome Those truths well accepted would so purifie the heart as we should sooner discern Gods interest in other things and be able to find out that So for teaching our Children God reckons on it from his people Gen. 18. 19. For I know Abraham that he will command his Children and his houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do Iustice and Iudgment Deut. 6. 6 7. And these words that I command thee this day shall â—…e in thy heart and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house and when thou walkest by the way when thou liest down and when thou risest up Train them up in wholesome truths in the nurture and admoniâ—…ion of the Lord Ephes. 6. 4. how to carry themselves towards God in matters of Religion how towards men in righteousness civility and good manners chiefly that they may be instructed in the knowledge of Christ and salvation by him 3. Let the entertainment we have upon our first entrance into the study of Religion encourage us to follow on to know the Lord that we may see more into his mind and counsel concerning us When we are first serious we have notable experience of light and comfort and power this is a bribe to draw us on further more light for it is a growing thing Prov. 4. 18. The path of the Iust is as the shining light that shineth more and more to the perfect day more taste 1 Pet. 2. 3 4. If so be that ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious to whom coming as to a living stone c. It should sharpen and put an edge upon our desires more power Iames 1. 18 19. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creation wherefore my beloved brethren let every man be swift to hear slow to speak slow to wrath You saw the entrance and your first acquaintance with the word succeeded well Doctr. II. By the word of God we get light or our understandings are enlightened Prov. 6. 23. For the Commandment is a lamp and the Law is light and reproofs of instruction are the way of life 1. Light is a great benefit This is the perfection of the rational Nature the benefit that we have above the Beasts He teacheth us more than the Beasts of the field They are guided by instinct ruled by a Rod of Iron we have Reason and in it more resemble God who is light and in him is no darkness at all 1 Iohn 1. 5. we come nearest to our happiness in heaven it is called The inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1. 12. Our knowledge is perfected and the vision of God is our happiness 1 Cor. 13. 12. For now we see through a glass darkly then face to face now I know in part then I shall know even as also I am known 2. This light hath excellent properties First It is lux manifestans it manifesteth it self and all things else How do I see the Sun but by the Sun by its own light how do I know the Scripture to be the Word of God but by the light that shineth in it commending it self to my Conscience So it manifests all things else By this light a man may see every thing in its own colours it layeth open all the frauds and impostures of Satan the vanity of worldly things the deceits of the heart the odiousness of sin Ephes. 5. 8. 13. All things that be reproved are made manifest by light for whatsoever doth make manifest is light It sets out the odiousness of sin as a breach of Gods most holy Law enmity against the Great God the procurer of his eternal wrath Nothing manifests things as this light doth Secondly It is lux dirigens a directing light that we may see our way and work As the Sun lighteth man to his labour so doth this direct us in all conditions Psal. 119. 105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my paths It directs us how to manage our selves in all conditions in prosperity adversity in all affairs paths steps in all the particular actions of our life it filleth us with spiritual prudence the wayfaring the fool a man of parts that is a stranger the man of mean parts all may meet with plain and clear directions hence to guide them in the way to Heaven Thirdly It is lux vivificans a quickening light Lux est vehiculum influentiarum Joh. 8. 12. I am the light of the world he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of
disobedience Surely there is no doubt in all this because they are revealed by God who is the supreme and original Truth and who neither is nor can be deceived for Gods understanding is the rule and measure of all other truths nothing is true but what is constant to his knowledge And he cannot deceive us that will not agree with the goodness of his Nature and love to Mankind therefore he is called God that cannot lie Tit. 1. 2. Secondly In making good God hath given us the most solemn assurance Heb. 6. 17 18. God willing more abundantly to shew unto the Heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel confirmed it by an Oath that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie we might have strong consolation He hath demitted himself to the terms of a Covenant given us a Seal Rom. 4. 11. And he received the sign of Circumcision a seal of the righteousness of faith Pledge 2 Cor. 1. 22. Who hath also sealed us and given the Earnest of his Spirit in our hearts He hath stood upon his truth above all things Psal. 138. 2. I will worship towards thy holy Temple and praise thy Name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth for thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name One part of the Word verifieth another in one part you have the promise in another the accomplishment the great promise of sending Christ Heb. 10. 5 6 7. Wherefore when he cometh into the world he saith Sacrifice and Offering thou wouldest not but a Body hast thou prepared me In burnt Offerings and Sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure then said I Lo I come to do thy will O God He would not go back being willing to keep the promise afoot It was on our part a hand Writing against us in testification of our guilt and need of expiation but on Gods part an Obligation of Debt to pay our ransome Still he accomplisheth promises in the return of prayers and though the great payment be in the other World yet here God remembreth us still accomplishing the intervening promises and giving proof of his truth So that they that are acquainted with his Name will never distrust him Psal. 9. 10. They that know thy name will put their trust in thee for thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seek thee They that have known his way and the course of his dealings will have a confidence in him Prop. 5. They that would receive the Word as the Word of God must be soundly convinced of and seriously consider this righteousness and faithfulness in the Testimonies which he hath commanded for till then the Word worketh not on them 1 Thess. 2. 13. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe And till then they are but customary Christians and can never rightly believe nor obey Iohn 4. 42. Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know That this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the world First their Faith depends on the common Tradition or the testimony of the Church afterwards on the sure ground of the Word it self in which they find such clearness and efficacy that they cannot but yield to God The authority of man is nothing to it when our Faith is bottomed on a surer ground the authority of God speaking in his Word 1. There must be sound conviction or belief of this This is called The acknowledgment of the truth Tit. 1. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And Col. 2. 2. The riches of the assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ. An assurance that God will keep touch with me that he will not delude me in the terms propounded in the Gospel This full perswasion of the truth of Gods Testimonies we must all aim at and seek after The assurance of my interest and my salvation is another thing and yet that I am not to neglect but with this I am to begin 2. There must be serious Consideration for that improveth all truths and maketh them active and effectual Gods Complaint of his people is That they will not consider Isai. 1. 3. The Oxe knoweth his Owner and the Ass his Masters Crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not consider They do not lay truths in the view of Conscience Food without mastication and chewing nourisheth not A thing not considered doth profit as little as if not believed as a forgetting God is a kind of denying of him Seriously then debate it with your selves You must consider the authority of God Authority is that right which a Superior hath to prescribe to such as are under him Doth God usurp upon you when he giveth you a Law or hath he left you in the dark that you do not know whether this be his Law yea or no Are there no strictures of his Majesty in the very oeconomy and frame of it Can any but a God speak at such a rate And for his Justice hath he commanded any thing to your hurt No it is all for thy good Deut. 6. 24. And the Lord commanded us to do all these Statutes to fear the Lord our God for our good always And for his Truth Men may deceive and be deceived and though they often speak truth they do not always so but God seeth by his own light not by discourse but vision Truth is his Nature from which he can no more swerve than from himself and what need he court a Worm and flatter us Thus should we urge our hearts Use 1. Let us owne and improve the Word as a righteous and faithful Word which God hath commanded for our good 1. Owne the authority of it It is not an arbitrary thing the Truths revealed imply a command to believe them the Duties required imply a command to obey them Mat. 17. 5. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him God hath commanded us to hear Christ to believe in his name to love one another 1 Iohn 3. 23. And this is his Commandment That we should believe in the name of his Son Iesus Christ and love one another as he gave us Commandment As we value his Word and would one day see his face with comfort we should bind his precepts upon our hearts Say to thy soul As thou wilt answer it to God another day take care of this 2. Owne and improve the righteousness of his Testimonies Man having a total and absolute dependance upon God God might govern us in what manner it pleased him for it is just That one may do with his own what he will Matth. 20. 15. But what hath the Lord required of thee but to love him