man We see ambitious men study accommodation of themselves to the humours of those by whom they hope to raise themselves and shall not wee study application of our selves to CHRIST by whom wee hope to be advanced nay are already sitting with him in heavenly places After wee are gained to CHRIST our selves wee should labour to gaine others to CHRIST Holy ambition and covetousnesse will move us to put upon our selves the disposition of CHRIST but we must put off our selves first Wee should not thirdly racke their wits with curious or doubtfull disputes for so wee shall distract and tire them and give occasion to make them cast off the care of all That age of the church which was most fertile in nice questions was most barren in Religion For it makes people thinke Religion to be onely a matter of wit in tying and untying of knots the braines of men given that wayes are hotter usually than their hearts Yet not withstanding when we are cast into times and places wherein doubts are raised about maine points here people ought to labour to be established God suffer questions oftentimes to arise for tryall of our love and exercise of our parts Nothing is so certaine as that which is certaine after doubts Shaking settles and roots In a contentious age it is a witty thing to be a Christian and to know what to pitch their soules upon It is an office of love here to take away the stones and to smooth the way to heaven Therefore wee must take heed that under pretence of avoydance of disputes wee doe not suffer an adverse party to get ground upon the truth For thus may we easily betray both the truth of God and soules of men And likewise those are failing that by over much austerity drive backe troubled soules from having comfort by them for by this cariage many smother their temptations and burne inwardly because they have none into whose bosome they may vent their griefe and ease their soules We must neither binde where GOD loseth nor lose where GOD bindeth nor open where GOD shutteth nor shut where God openeth the right use of the Keyes is alwayes successfull In personall application there must be great heed taken for a man may bee a false Prophet and yet speake the truth if it bee not a truth to the person to whom he speaketh if hee grieve those whom God hath not grieved by unseasonable truths or by comforts in an ill way the hearts of the wicked may bee strengthned One mans meat may bee anothers bane If we looke to the generall temper of these times rouzing and waking Scriptures are fittest yet there be many broken spirits need soft and oily words Even in the worst time the Prophets mingled sweet comfort for the hidden remnant of faithfull people GOD hath comfort comfort ye my people as well as lift up thy voyce as a Trumpet And here likewise there needs a caveat Mercy doth not rob us of our right judgement as that we should take smoaking firebrands for smoaking flax none will claime mercy more of others than those whose portion is due severity This example doth not countenance lukewarmnesse nor too much indulgence to those that need quickning Cold diseases must have hot remedies It made for the just commendatiōs of the Church of Ephesus that it could not beare them which are evill We should so beare with others as wee discover withall a dislike of evill Our Saviour CHRIST would not forbeare sharp reproofe where hee saw dangerous infirmities in his most beloved Disciples It bringeth under a curse to doe the worke of the Lord negligently Even where it is a worke of just severity As when it is sheathing the sword in the bowels of the enemy And those whom we suffer to be betraid by their worst enemies their sinnes wil have just cause to curse us another day It is hard to preserve just bounds of mercy and severity without a spirit above our owne which we ought to desire to bee led withall in all things That wisedome which dwelleth with prudence will guide us in these particulars without which virtue is not virtue truth not truth the rule and the case must bee laid together for if there be not a narrow insight seeming likenesse in conditions wil be the breeder of errours in our opinions of them Those fiery tempestuous and dist◅ctive spirits in Popery that seeke to promote their Religion by cruelty shew that they are strangers to that wisedome which is from above which maketh men gentle peaceable and ready to shew that mercy they have felt before thēselves It is a way of prevailing as agreeable to CHRIST so likewise to mans nature to prevaile by some forbearance and moderation And yet oft wee see a false spirit in those that call for moderation it is but to carry their owne projects with the greater strength and if they prove of the prevailing hand they will hardly shew that moderation to others they now call for from others And there is a proud kind of moderation likewise when men will take upon thē to censure either party as if they were wiser than both though if the spirit be right a looker on may see more than those that are in conflict So in the censures of the Church it is more sutable to the Spirit of CHRIST to incline to the milder part and not to kill a flye on the forehead with a beetle nor shut men out of heaven for a trifle The very snuffers of the Tabernacle were made of pure gold to shew the purity of those censures whereby the light of the Church is kept bright That power that is given to the Church is given for edification not destruction How carefull was Saint Paul that the incestuous Corinthian repenting should not bee swallowed up with too much griefe As for civill Magistrates they for civill exigences and reasons of State must let the Law have its course yet thus farre they should imitate this milde King as not to mingle bitternesse and passion with authority derived from GOD. Authority is a beam of Gods Majesty and prevaileth most where there is least mixture of that which is mans It requireth more than ordinary wisedome to manage it aright This string must not bee too much strained up nor too much let loose Iustice is an harmonicall thing Herbs hot or cold beyond a certaine degree kill We see even contrary Elements preserved in one body by a wise contemperation Iustice in rigour is oft extreame injustice where some considerable circumstances should incline to moderation and the reckoning wil be easier for bending rather to moderation than rigor Insolent cariage toward miserable persons if humbled is unseemly in any who look for mercy themselves Misery should bee a Loadstone of mercy not a footstoole for Pride to trample on Sometimes it falleth out that those that are under the government of others are most injurious by
whatsoever the judgement shall say to the contrary there is no connaturall proportion betwixt an unsanctified hart and a sanctified judgment For the heart unaltered will not give leave to the judgement coldly and so berly to conclude what is best as the sick man whilst his aguish distemper corrupteth his taste he is rather desirous to please that then to hearken what the Physitian shall speake judgment hath not power over it selfe where the wil is unsubdued for the will and affections bribe it to give sentence for them when any profit or pleasure shall come in competition with that which the judgement in generall only shall thinke to be good and therefore it is for the most part in the power of the heart what the understanding shall judge and determine in particular things Where grace hath brought the heart under there unruly passions doe not cast such a mist before the understanding but that in particular it seeth that which is best and base respects springing from selfe-love doe not alter the case and byas the judgment into a contrary way but that which is good in it selfe shall be good unto us although it crosse our particular worldly interests The right conceiving of this hath an influence into practice which hath drawne me to a more full explanation this will teach us the right method of godlinesse to begin with judgement and then to begge of GOD together with illumination holy inclinations of our will and affections that so a perfect government may be set up in our hearts and that our knowledge may bee with al judgment that is w th experience and feeling when the judgement of CHRIST is set up in our judgements and thence by the Spirit of CHRIST brought into our hearts then it is in its proper place and throne and untill then truth doth us no good but helpeth to condemne us The life of a◅ Christiā is a regular life he that walketh by the rule of the new creature peace shall be upon him he that despiseth his way loveth to live at large seeking all liberty to the flesh shall dye And it is made good by Saint Paul If we live after the flesh we shall dye VVe learne likewise that men of an ill governed life have no true judgement no wicked man can bee a wise man And that without CHRISTS Spirit the soule is in confusion without beauty and form as all things were in the Chaos before the creatiō The whole soule is out of joynt till it be set in againe by him whose office is to restore all things The baser part of the soule which should bee subject ruleth all and keepeth under that little truth that is in the understanding holding it captive to base affections and Sathan by corruption getteth al the holds of the soule till CHRIST stronger then he commeth and driveth him out and taketh possession of all the powers and parts of soule and body to be weapons of righteousnes to serve him and then new Lords new Lawes CHRIST as a new Conquerour changeth the fundamentall lawes of old Adam and establisheth a government of his owne The second Conclusion is that this government is victorious The reasons are 1 Because CHRIST hath conquered all in his owne person first and hee is GOD over all blessed for evermore and therefore over Sinne Death Hell Sathan the world c. And as he hath overcome them in himselfe so he overcomes them in our hearts and consciences Wee use to say Conscience maketh a man a King or a caitife because it is planted in us to judge for GOD either with us or against us Now if naturall conscience bee so forcible what will it be when besides it owne light it hath the light of divine truth put into it It will undoubtedly prevaile either to make us hold up our heads with boldnesse or abase us beneath our selves If it subject it selfe by grace to CHRISTS truth then it boldly overlookes Death Hell Iudgement and all spirituall enemies because then Christ sets up his Kingdome in the conscience and makes it a kind of Paradise The sharpest conflict which the soule hath is betweene the conscience and GODS Iustice now if the conscience sprinkled with the blood of Christ hath prevailed over assaults fetcht from the justice of GOD as now satisfied by CHRIST it will prevaile over al other opposition whatsoever 2 We are to encounter with accursed and damned enemies therefore if they begin to fall before the spirit in us they shall fall if they rise up againe it is to have the greater fall 3 The spirit of truth to whose tuition CHRIST hath cōmitted his Church and the truth of the spirit which is the Scepter of CHRIST abide for ever therefore the soule begotten by the immortal feed of this spirit and this truth must not onely live for ever but likewise prevaile over all that oppose it for both the word and spirit are mighty in operation and if the ill spirit be never idle in those whom GOD delivereth up to him we cannot thinke that the Holy Spirit will bee idle in those whose leading and government is committed to him No as he dwelleth in them so he will drive out all that rise up against him untill hee be all in all What is spirituall is eternall truth is a beame of CHRISTS Spirit both in it selfe and as it is ingrafted into the soule there fore it and the grace though little wrought by it will prevaile a little thing in the hand of a Gyant will do great matters A little faith strengthned by CHRIST will worke wonders 4 To him that hath shall be given the victory over any corruption or temptation is a pledge of finall victory As Ioshua said when he set his foot upon the five Kings which hee conquered Thus God shall doe with all our enemies heaven is ours already onely we strive till we have full possession 5 CHRIST as King brings in a commanding light into the soule and bowes the necke and softens the Iron sinew of the inner man and where he begins to rule he rules for ever his Kingdome hath no end 6 The end of CHRISTS comming was to destroy the workes of the Devill both for us and in us And the end of the resurrection was as to seale unto us the assurance of his victorie So I to quicken our soules from death in sinne 2 to free our soules from such snares and sorrowes of spirituall death as accompany the guilt of sin 3 to raise them up more comfortable as the Sunne breakes forth more gloriously out of a thick cloud 4 to raise us out of particular slippes and failings stronger 5 to raise us out of all troublesome and darke conditions of this life And 6 at length to raise our bodies out of the dust For the same power that the Spirit shewed in raising CHRIST our Head from the sorrowes of
alwayes according to present feeling for in temptations wee shall see nothing but smoake of distrustfull thoughts Fire may be raked up in the ashes though not seene life in the winter is hid in the root 3 Take heede of false reasoning As because our fire doth not blaze out as others therefore we have no fire at all and by false conclusions come to sinne against the Commandement in bearing false witnesse against our selves The Prodigall would not say hee was no sonne but that hee was not worthy to be called a sonne Wee must neither trust to false evidence nor deny true for so wee should dishonour the worke of Gods Spirit in us and lose the help of that evidence which would cherish our love to Christ and arme us against Sathans discouragements Some are so faulty this way as if they had beene hyred by Sathan the Accuser of the Brethren to plead for him in accusing themselves 4 Know for a ground of this that in the Covenant of Grace GOD requires the truth of Grace not any certaine measure and a sparke of fire is fire as well as the whole Element Therefore wee must look to Grace in the spark as well as in the flame All have not the like strong yet the like pretious Faith whereby they lay hold put on the perfect righteousnesse of Christ. A weak hand may receive a rich Iewell a few grapes will shew that the Plant is a Vine and not a Thorne It is one thing to be wanting in Grace and another thing to want Grace altogether GOD knoweth wee have nothing of our selves therfore in the Covenant of Grace he requireth no more then hee giveth and giveth what hee requireth and accepteth what hee giveth Hee that hath not a Lambe may bring a paire of Turtle Doves What is the Gospell it selfe but a mercifull moderation in which Christs obedience is esteemed ours and our sinnes laid upon him and wherein GOD of a Iudge becommeth a Father pardoning our sinnes and accepting our obedieÌ„ce though feeble and blemished Wee are now brought to heaven under the Covenant of Grace by a way of love and mercy It will prove a speciall help to know distinctly the difference betweene the Covenant of workes and the Covenant of Grace betweene Moses and Christ Moses without all mercy breaketh all bruised Reedes and quencheth all smoaking Flax. For the Law requireth 1 personal 2 perpetuall 3 perfect obedience 4 and from a perfect heart and that under a most terrible curse and giveth no strength a severe Taske-master like Pharaohs requireth the whole tale and yet giveth no straw CHRIST commeth with blessing after blessing even upoÌ„ those whom Moses had cursed and with healing Balme for those wounds which Moses had made The same duties are required in both CovenaÌ„ts as to love the Lord with all our harts with all our soules c. In this Covenant of workes this must bee taken in the rigour but under the CovenaÌ„t of Grace as it is a syncere endevour proportionable to grace received and so it must be understood of Iosias and others wheÌ„ it is said they loved GOD with all their hearts c. It must have an Euangelicall mitigation The Law is sweetned by the Gospel and becommeth delightful to the inner man Vnder this gratious Covenant synceritie is perfection This is the Death in the pot in the Romane Religion that they confound two CovenaÌ„ts and it deads the comfort of drooping ones that they cannot distinguish them And thus they suffer themselves to be held under bondage when Christ hath set them free and stay themselves in the prison when Christ hath set open the doores before them 5 Grace sometimes is so little as is undiscernable to us the Spirit sometimes hath secret operations in us which we know not for the present but Christ knoweth Sometimes in bitternes of temptation when the Spirit struggles with sense of Gods anger wee are apt to thinke GOD an enemy and a troubled soule is like troubled waters wee can see nothing in it and so farre as it is not cleansed it will cast up mire and dirt It is full of objections against it selfe yet for the most part we may discern something of this hidden life and of these smothered sparkes In a gloomy day there is so much light whereby wee may know it to bee day and not night so there is something in a Christian under a cloud whereby hee may be discerned to be a true Beleever and not an Hypocrite There is no meere darknesse in the state of Grace but some beame of light whereby the kingdome of darknesse wholy prevaileth not These things premised let us know for a Tryall First if there bee any holy fire in us it is kindled from heaven by the Father of lights who commanded light to shine out of darknesse As it is kindled in the use of meanes so it is fed The light in us and the light in the word spring one froÌ„ the other and both from one Holy Spirit and therfore those that regard not the word it is because there is no light in them Heavenly truths must have a heavenly light to discerne them Naturall men see heavenly things but not in their own proper light but by an inferiour light GOD in every converted man putteth a light into the eye of his soule proportionable to the light of truths revealed unto theÌ„ A carnall eye will never see spirituall things Secondly the least divine light hath heate with it in some measure Light in the understanding breedeth heate of love in the affections In what measure the sanctified understanding seeth a thing to be true or good in that measure the will imbraces it Weake light breedes weake inclinations a stroÌ„g light strong inclinations A little spirituall light is of strength enough to answer strong objections of flesh and blood and to looke thorow all earthly allurements and all opposing hinderances presenting them as farr inferiour to those heavenly objects it eyeth All light that is not spirituall because it wanteth the strength of sanctifying grace it yeeldeth to every little temptation especially when it is fitted and suted to personall inclinations This is the reason why Christians that have light little for quantitie but yet heavenly for qualitie hold out when men of larger apprehensions sinke This prevailing of light in the soule is because together with the spirit of Illumination there goeth in the godly a spirit of â—…ower to subdue the heart â—…o truth revealed and to â—…ut a taste and relish into â—…he will sutable to the sweetnes of the truths else 〈◊〉 meere naturall Will will rise against supernaturall truths as having an antipathy and enmitie against them In the godly â—…oly truths are conveyed by way of a taste gratious men have a spiritual pallat as well as a spirituall eye Grace altereth the relish Thirdly where this heavenly light is kindled it directeth in the right way For it is
owne beames things shall bee what they are nothing is hidden but shall be laid open Iniquity shall not be caried in a mystery any longer Deepe dissemblers that thinke to hide their counsells from the Lord shall walke no longer invisible as in the clouds If this were beleeved men would make more account of sincerity which will onely give us boldnesse and not seeke for covershames the confidence whereof as it maketh men now more presumptuous so it wil expose them hereafter to the greater shame If judgement shall bee brought forth to victory then those that have been ruled by their own deceitfull hearts and a spirit of errour shall bee brought forth to disgrace That GOD that hath joyned grace and truth with honour hath joyned sin and shame together at the last all the wit and power of man can never bee able to sever what God hath coupled Truth and piety may bee trampled upon for a time but as the two witnesses after they were slaine rose againe and stood upon their feet so whatsoever is of GOD shall at length stand upon its owne bottome There shall bee a resurrection not onely of bodies but of credits Can wee thinke that hee that throw the Angells out of heaven will suffer dust and wormes meat to runne a contrary course and to cary it alwayes so No as verily as CHRIST is King of Kings and Lord of Lords so will hee dash all those peeces of earth which rise up against him as a p◅tters vessell Was there ever any fierce against God and prospered No doubtlesse the rage of man shall turne to CHRISTS praise What was said of Pharaoh shall bee said of all headdy enemies who had rather lose their soules then their wills that they are but raised up for CHRIST to get himselfe glory in their confusion Let us then take heed that wee follow not the wayes of those men whose ends we shall tremble at There is not a more fearefull judgement can befall the nature of man then to bee given up to a reprobate judgement of persons and things because it commeth under a w◅e to call ill good and good ill How will they be laden with curses another day that abuse the judgement of others by sophistry and flattery deceivers and being deceived Then the complaint of our first mother Eve will be taken up but fruitlesly The serpent hath deceived me Sathan in such and such hath deceived me Sinne hath deceived me a foolish heart hath deceived mee It is one of the highest points of wisedome to consider upon what grounds wee venture our soules Happy men will they bee who have by CHRISTS light a right judgement of things and suffer that judgement to prevaile over their hearts The soule of most men is drowned in their senses and caried away with weake opinions raysed from vulgar mistakes and shadowes of things And Satan is ready to inlarge the imagination of outward good and outward ill and make it greater then it is and spirituall things lesse presenting them through false glasses And so men trusting in vanity vanish themselves in their owne apprehensions A wofull condition when both wee and that which wee highly esteeme shall vanish together which will be as truly as Christs judgement shall come to victory and in what measure the vaine heart of man hath beene inlarged to conceive a greater good in things of this world then there is by so much the soule shall be inlarged or be more sensible of misery when it sees its error This is the difference betwixt a godly wise man and a deluded worldling that which the one doth more judge to be vain the other shal hereafter feel to be so when it is too late But this is the vanity of our natures that though we shun above all things to be deceived and mistakē in present things yet in the greatest matters of all we are willingly ignorant and mis-led The fourth conclusion is That this government is set up and advanced by Christ alone He bringeth judgement to victory We both fight prevail in the power of his might we overcome by the Spirit obtained by the blood of the Lambe It is he alone that teacheth our hands to warre and fingers to fight Nature as corrupted favors its owne being and will maintaine it selfe against CHRISTS government Nature simply considered cannot raise it selfe above it selfe to actions spirituall of a higher order and nature therfore the divine power of CHRIST is necessary to cary us above all our own strength especially in duties wherin we meet with greater opposition for there not onely nature will faile us but ordinarie grace unlesse there bee a stronger and a new supply In taking up a burthen that is waightier then ordinary if there bee not a greater proportion of strength then weight the undertaker will lye under it So to every strong encounter there must bee a new supply of strength as in Peter when he was assaulted with a stronger temptation being not upheld and shored up with a mightier hand notwithstanding former strength foully fell And being falne in our raisings up againe it is CHRIST that must doe the worke 1 by removing or 2 weakning or 3 suspending opposite hindrances 4 by advancing the power of his grace in us to a further degree then wee had before wee fell therefore when we are fallen and by falls have gotten a bruise let us goe to Christ presently to binde us up againe Let us know therefore that it is dangerous to look for that from our selves which we must have ◅om CHRIST Since the fall all our strength lyes in him as Sampsons in his haire we are but subordinate agents moving as we are moved and working as we are first wrought upon free so far forth as wee are freed no wiser nor stronger then he makes us to be for the present in any thing wee undertake It is his Spirit that actuates and inliveneth and applyeth that knowledge and strength we have or else it saileth and lyeth as uselesse in us we worke when we worke upon a present strength therefore dependant spirits are the wisest and the ablest Nothing is stronger then humility that goeth out of it selfe or weaker then pride that resteth upon its owne bottome and this should the rather bee observed because naturally we affect a kinde of Divinity in setting upon actions in the strength of our owne parts whereas CHRIST saith without me you can doe nothing he doth not say you can doe a little but nothing therefore in all especially difficult encounters let us lift up our hearts to CHRIST who hath spirit enough for us all in all our exigences and say with good Iehosaphat Lord wee know not what to doe but our eyes are towards thee The battell we fight is thine and the strength whereby wee fight must be thine If thou goest not out with us wee are sure to be foiled Sathan knowes nothing can
for want of incouragement See how that faithfull fisher of men S. Paul labours to catch his Iudge I know thou beleevest the Prophets and then wisheth all saving good but not bonds hee might have added them too but he would not discourage one that made but an offer hee would therefore wish Agrippa only that which was good in Religion How carefull was our blessed Saviour of little ones that they might not bee offended How doth he defend his Disciples from malitious imputations of the Pharises How carefull not to put new wine into old vessels not to alienate new beginners with the austerities of Religion as some indiscreetly O saith hee they shal have time to fast when I am gone and strength to fast when the Holy Ghost is come upon them It is not the best way to fall foule presently with young beginners for some lesser vanities but shew them a more excellent way and breed them up in positive grounds and other things wil be quickly out of credit with them It is not amisse to conceale their wants to excuse some failings to commend their performances to cherish their towardnesse to remove all rubs out of their way to helpe them every way to beare the yoake of Religion with greater ease to bring them in love with God and his service lest they distaste it before they know it For the most part we see CHRIST planteth in young beginners a love which we call the first love to cary them through their profession with more delight and doth not expose them to crosses before they have gathered strength as wee breed up young plants and fence them from the weather untill they bee well rooted Mercy to others should move us to deny our selves in our lawfull liberties oftentimes in case of offence of weake ones it is the little ones that are offended The weakest are aptest to think themselves despised therfore wee should bee most carefull to give them content It were a good strife amongst Christians one to labour to give no offence and the other to labour to take none The best men are severe to themselves tender over others Yet people should not tyre and weare out the patience of others Nor should the weaker so farre exact moderation from others as to beare out themselves upon their indulgence and so to rest in their owne infirmities with danger to their own soules and scandall to the Church The Church suffereth much from weake ones therefore wee may challenge liberty to deale with them as mildly so oftentimes directly The scope of true love is to make the party better which by concealment oftentimes is hindred with some a spirit of meeknesse prevaileth most but with some a rod. Some must be pulled out of the fire with violence and they will blesse God for us in the day of their visitation Wee see our Saviour multiplyes woe upon woe when hee was to deale with hard-hearted Hypocrites For Hypocrites doe neede stronger conviction than grosse sinners because their will is naught and thereupon usually their conversion is violent An hard knot must have an answerable wedge else in a cruell pity wee betray their soules A sharpe reproofe sometimes is a precious pearle and a sweet balme The wounds of secure sinners will not bee healed with sweet words The Holy Ghost came as well in fiery tongues as in the likenesse of a Dove and the same holy Spirit will vouchsafe a spirit of prudence and discretion which is the salt to season all our words and actions And such wisedome will teach us to speake a word in season both to the weary and likewise to the secure soule And indeed he had need have the tongue of the learned that shall either raise up or cast downe But in this place I speake of mildness towards those that are weake and are sensible of it These wee must bring on gently and drive softly as Iacob did his Cattell according to the pace and as his children were able to endure Weake Christians are like glasses which are hurt with the least violent usage otherwise if gently handled will continue a long time This honour of gentle use we are to give to the weaker vessells by which we shall both preserve them and likewise make them usefull to the Church and our selves In uncleane bodies if all ill humours be purged out you shall purge life and all away Therefore though GOD saith Zach. 13. 9. that he will fine them as silver is fined Yet Esay 48. 10. he saith He hath fined them but not as silver that is so exactly as that no drosse remaineth for hee hath respect to our weaknesse Perfect refining is for another world for the world of the soules of perfect men Divines had need to take heed therefore how they deale with these in divers particulars as first let them be carefull they straine not things too hie making those generall and necessary evidences of grace which agree not to the experience of many a good Christian and lay salvation and damnation upon those things that are not fit to beare so great a waight whereupon men are groundlesly cast down lower by them than they can hastily be raised up againe by themselves or others The Ambassadors of so gentle a Saviour should not bee over masterly setting up themselves in the hearts of people where CHRIST alone should sit as in his owne Temple How carefull was Saint Paul in cases of conscience not to lay a snare upon any weak conscience They should take heed likewise that they hide not their meaning in darke speeches speaking in the clouds Truth feareth nothing so much as concealement and desireth nothing so much as cleerely to bee laid open to the view of all When it is most naked it is most lovely and powerfull Our blessed Saviour as he tooke our nature upon him so he took upon him our familiar manner of speech which was part of his voluntary abasement Saint Paul was a profound man yet became as a nurse to the weaker sort That spirit of mercy that was in CHRIST should move his servants to bee content to abase themselves for the good of the meanest What made the Kingdome of heaven suffer violence after Iohn the Baptists time but that comfortable truths were with that plainnesse and evidence layd open that the people were so affected with them as they offered a holy violence to them CHRIST chose those to preach mercy which had felt most meroy as S. Peter and S. Paul that they might bee examples of what they taught Saint Paul became all things to all men stooping unto them for their good CHRIST came downe from heaven and emptied himselfe of majesty in tender love to soules shall not we come downe from our high conceits to doe any poore soule good shall man be proud after GOD hath beene humble Wee see the ministers of Satan turn themselves into all shapes to make proselytes A Iesuite will be every
wee can beare the greatest the Spirit wil joyne his shoulders to help us to beare our infirmities The Lord will put his hand to heave us up You have heard of the patience of Iob saith ◅ames wee have heard likewise of his impatiency too But it pleased God mercifully to over-looke that It yeelds us comfort also in desolate conditions as contagious sicknesses and the like wherein wee are more immediately under Gods hand Then Christ hath a throne of Mercy at our beds side and numbers our teares and our groanes And to come to the matter we are now about The Sacrament it was ordained not for Angels but for Men and not for perfect men but for weake men and not for Christ who is truth it self to binde him but because we are ready by reason of our guilty unbeleeving hearts to call truth it selfe into questions Therefore it was not enough for his goodnesse to leave us many pretious promises but he giveth us seales to strengthen us and what though we are not so prepared as we should yet let us pray as Hezekias did The Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seeke the Lord God of his fathers if hee be not cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary Then wee come comfortably to this holy Sacrament with much fruit This should cary us through all duties with much chearefulnesse That if we hate our corruptions and strive against them they shall not be counted ours It is not I saith Saint Paul but sinne that dwelleth in me for what displeaseth us shall never hurt us and we shall bee esteemed of GOD to be that we love and desire and labour to be What wee desire to be we shall be and what wee desire truely to conquer wee shall conquer for God will fulfill the desire of them that feare him The desire is an earnest of the thing How little incouragement will cary us to the affaires of this life and yet all the helps GOD offers will hardly prevaile with our backward natures Whence are then discouragements not from the Father for hee hath bound himselfe in Covenant to pitty us as a father pittieth his children and to accept as a father our weake indeavors and what is wanting in the strength of duty he giveth us leave to take up in his gratious indulgēce wherby wee shall honour that grace wherein hee delighteth as much as in more perfect performances 2. Not from Christ for he by office will not quēch the smoaking flaxe 3. Not from the Spirit he helpes our infirmities and by office is a Comforter Discouragements then must come from our selues and Satan who labours to fasten on us a loathing of duty and among other causes of discouragement some are much vexed with scruples even against the best duties partly by distemper of body helped by Satans malice casting dust in their eyes in their way to heaven and partly from some remainder of ignorance which like darkness breedeth feares and as ignorance of other things so especially of this mercifull disposition in Christ. The perswasion of which would easily banish false fears they cōceive of him as one sitting at a catch for all advantages against thē wherein they may see how they wrong not onely thēselves but his goodness This scrupulosity for the most part is a signe of a godly soule as some weedes are of a good soile therefore are they the more to be pitied for it is a heavy affliction and the ground of it in most is not so much from trouble of cōscience as frō sicknes of fātasy the end of Christs comming was to free us from all such groundlesse seares 2. There is still in some such ignorance of that comfortable condition wee are in under the Covenant of Grace as by it they are much discouraged Therefore we must know that weaknesses do not breake covenant with GOD they doe not betweene husband and wife and shall wee make our selves more pitifull then Christ who maketh himselfe a patterne of love to all other husbands 2. Weaknesses do not debarre us from mercie nay they incline GOD the more Psal. 78. 39. Mercy is a part of the Churches joynture CHRIST marrics her in mercie The husbands be bound to beare with the wife as being the weaker vessell and shall wee thinke hee will exempt himselfe from his owne rule and not beare with his weake Spouse 3. If CHRIST should not bee mercifull to our infirmities hee should not haue a people to serve him Put case therefore wee bee very weake yet so long as wee are not found amongst malicious opposers and underminers of GODS truth let us not give way to despairing thoughts wee have a mercifull Saviour But lest we flatter our selves without groūd we must know that weaknesses are accounted either 1. imperfections cleaving to our best actions or 2. such actions as proceed from want of age in CHRIST whilest we are Babes or 3. from wāt of strength where there hath beene little meanes or 4. they are sudden indeliberate breakings out contrary to our generall bent and purpose whilest our judgement is overcast with the cloud of a sudden temptation After which 1 we are sensible of our infirmity 2 we grieve or it 3 and from griefe complaine and with complaining strive and labour to reforme and in labouring get some ground of our corruption There be some almost invincible infirmities as forgetfulnesse heavinesse of spirit sudden passiōs feares c. which though naturall yet are for the most part tainted with sinne of these we are weary and would faine shake them off as a Sickman his Ague otherwise it is not to bee esteemed weaknesse so much as wilfulnesse and the more will the more sinne and little sins when God shall awake the conscience and set them in order before us will prove great burthens and not onely bruise a Reed but shake a Cedar Yet GODS children never sinne with full will because there is a contrary Law of the minde whereby the Dominion of sinne is broken which alwaies hath some secret working against the Law of sinne Yet there may bee so much will in a sinfull action as may wonderfully waste our comfort afterward and keepe us long upon the racke of a disquieted Conscience GOD in his fatherly dispensation suspending the sense of his love So much as we give way to our wils in sinning in such a measure of distance we set our selves from comfort Sin against conscience is as a theefe in the Candle which wasteth our joy and thereby weakneth our strength We must know therefore that wilfull breaches in Sanctificatiō wil much hinder the sense of our Iustification What course shall such take to recover their peace Such must give a sharp sentence against them selves and yet cast themselves upon GODS mercy in CHRIST as at their first conversion And now they had need to claspe
to the meeke of the earth hope to looke so gracious a Saviour in the face they that are so boysterous towards his Spouse shall know one day they had to deale with himselfe in his Church So it cannot but cut the heart of those that have felt this love of CHRIST to heare him wounded who is the life of their lives and the foule of their soules this maketh those that have selt mercy weepe over CHRIST whom they have pierced with their finnes there cannot but be a mutuall and quicke sympathie betweene the Head and the Members When wee are tempted to any sinne if we will not pitie our selves yet we should spare CHRIST in not putting him to new torments The Apostle could not finde out a more heart-breaking argument to ensorce a sacrificing our selves to GOD than to conjure us by the mercies of GOD in CHRIST This mercy of CHRIST likewise should moove us to commiserate the estate of the poore Church torne by enemies without and renting it selfe by divisions at home It cānot but work upon any soule that ever felt cōfort frō Christ to consider what an affectionate intreaty the Apostle useth to mutuall agreement in judgement affection If any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit any bowells and mercies fulfill my joy be like minded As if he should say unlesse you will disclaime all consolation in Christ c. labour to maintaine the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace What a joyfull spectacle is this to Satan and his faction to see those that are separated from the world fall in pieces among themselves Our discord is our enemies melody The more to blame those that for private aims affect differences from others and will not suffer the wounds of the Church to close and meet together Which must not be understood as if men should dissemble their judgement in any truth where there is just cause of expressing themselves for the least truth is Christs and not ours and therefore we are not to take liberty to affirme or deny at our pleasures there is a due in a peny as well as in a pound therefore wee must bee faithfull in the least truth when season calleth for it then our words are like Apples of gold with pictures of silver One word spoken in season will doe more good than a thousand out of season In some cases peace by keeping our faith to our selves is of more consequence than the open discovery of some things we take to be true considering the weaknesse of mans nature is such that there can hardly be a discovery of any difference in opinion without some estrangement of affection So farre as men are not of one minde they will hardly be of one heart except where grace and the peace of God beare great rule in the heart therefore open shew of difference is never good but when it is necessary howsoever some from a desire to bee some body turne into by-waies and yeeld to a spirit of cōtradiction in themselves yet if Saint Paul may bee Iudge Are they not carnall if it bee wisedome it is wisedome from beneath for the wisedome from above as it is pure so it is peaceable Our blessed Saviour when hee was to leave the world what doth hee presse upon his Disciples more than peace and love And in his last prayer with what earnestnesse did he beg of his Father that They might be one as he and the Father were one But what hee prayed for on earth we shall onely enjoy perfectly in heaven Let this make the meditation of that time the more sweet unto us And further to lay open offenders in this kinde what spirit shall we think them to be of that take advantages of the bruisednesse and infirmities of mens spirits to relieve them with false peace for their owne worldly ends A wounded spirit will part with any thing Most of the gainfull points of Popery as confession sasatisfaction merit Purgatory c. spring from hence but they are Physitians of no value or rather tormentors than Physitians at all It is a greater blessing to bee delivered from the sting of these Scorpions then wee are thankfull for Spirituall tyranny is the greatest tyranny and then especially when it is where most mercy should be shewed yet even there some like cruell surgeons delight in making long cures to serve themselves upon the misery of others It bringeth men under a terrible curse When they will not remember to shew mercy but persecute the poore and needy man that they might even slay the broken in heart Likewise to such as raise temporall advantage to thēselves out of the spirituall misery of others join such as raise estates by betraying the Church and are unfaithfull in the trust committed unto them when the children shall cry for the bread of life and there is none to give them bringing thus upon the people of GOD that heavie judgement of a spirituall famine starving CHRIST in his members Shall we so requite so good a Savior who counteth the love and mercie shewed in feeding his Lambs as shewed to himselfe Last of all they carie themselves very unkindly towards CHRIST who ◅umble at this his low stooping unto us in his government and ordinances that are ashamed of the simplicity of the Gospell that count Preaching foolishness They out of the pride of their heart thinke they may do well enough without the helpe of the Word and Sacraments and think CHRIST tooke not state enough upon him and therefore they will mend the matter with their own devises whereby they may give the better content to flesh and blood as in Popery What greater unthankfulnesse can there bee then to dispise any helpe that CHRIST in mercy hath provided for us In the dayes of his flesh the proud Pharisees tooke offence at his familiar conversing with sinfull men who onely did so as a Physitian to heale their soules What defences was Saint Paul driven to make for himselfe for his plainnesse in unfolding the Gospell The more CHRIST in himselfe and in his servants shall descēd to exalt us the more we should with all humility and readinesse entertaine that love and magnifie the goodnesse of GOD that hath put the great worke of our salvation and laid the government upon so gentle a Saviour that will carry himselfe so mildely in all things wherein hee is to deale betwixt GOD and us and us and GOD The lower CHRIST comes downe to us the higher let us lift him up in our harts so will all those doe that have ever found the experience of CHRISTS work in their heart We come to the third part the constant progress of CHRISTS gracious power untill hee hath set up such an absolute government in us which shal prevaile over all corruption It is said here he will cherish his Beginnings of Grace in us untill he bring forth
is eyther from false principles or ignorance or mindlesnesse or unbeleefe of true By inconsideration and weaknesse of assent Eve lost her hold at first It is good therefore to store up true principles in our harts and to refresh them often that in vertue of them our affections and actions may be more vigorous When Iudgement is fortified evill findes no entrance but good things have a side within us to entertaine them Whilest true convincing light continueth wee will not doe the least ill of sinne for the greatest ill of punishment In vaine is the â—…et spread in the eyes of that which hath wings Whilest the soule is kept aloft there is little danger of snares below we lose our high estimation of things before wee can be drawne to any sinne And because knowledge and affection mutually helpe one another it is good to keepe up our affections of love and delight by all sweet inducements divine incouragements for what the heart liketh best the minde studyeth most Those that can bring their hearts to delight in Christ know most of his wayes Wisedome loveth them that love her Love is the best entertainer of truth and when it is not entertained in the love of it being so lovely as it is it leaveth the heart and will stay no longer It hath beene a prevailing way to beginne by with-drawing the love to corrupt the Iudgement because as we love so wee use to judge and therefore it is hard to be affectionate and wise in earthly things but in heavenly things where there hath been a right information of the judgement before the more our affections grow the better and clearer our judgement s will be because our affections though strong can never rise high enough to the excellencie of the things Wee see in the Martyrs when the sweet doctrine of Christ had once gotten their hearts it could not be gotten out againe by all the torments the wit of crueltie could devise If Christ hath once possessed the affections there is no dispossessing of him again A fire in the heart overcommeth all fires without 3 Wisedome likewise teacheth us wherein our weaknesse lyeth and our enemies strength wherby a jealous feare is stirred up in us whereby we are preserved For out of this godly jealousie wee keepe those provocations which are active and working from that which is passive catching in us as we keep fire from powder They that will hinder the generation of noysome creatures will hinder the conception first by keeping male and female asunder This jealousie wil be much furthered by observing strictly what hath helped or hindered a gratious teÌ„per in us and it will make us take heed that wee consult not with flesh and blood in our selves or others How else can wee thinke that Christ will lead us out to victorie when we take counsell of his and our enemies 4 Christ maketh us likewise carefull to attend all meanes whereby fresh thoughts and affections may be stirred up and preserved in us Christ so honoureth the use of meanes and the care he putteth into us that hee ascribeth both preservation and victory unto our care of keeping our selves Hee that is begotten of God keepeth himselfe but not by himselfe but by the Lord in dependance on him in the use of meanes We are no longer safe then wife to present our selves to all good advantages of acquaintance c. By going out of Gods walkes we goe out of his government and so lose our frame and finde our selves over-spread quickly with a coÌ„tráry disposition When wee draw neere to Christ in his ordinances he drawes neere to us 5 Keepe grace in exercise it is not sleepy habits but Gracein exercise that preserveth us Whilest the soule is in some civill or sacred imployment corruptions within us are much suppressed and Sathans passages stopped and the spirit hath a way open to inlargeâ—… it selfe in us and likewise the guard of Angells then most neerly attend us which course often prevailes more against our spirituall enemies then direct oppo sition It stands upon Christs honor to maintaine those that are in his worke Sixthly in all directioÌ„s we must look up to Christ the quickning spirit and resolve in his strength though wee are exhorted to cleave to the Lord with full purpose of heart yet we must pray with David Lord for ever keepe it in the thoughts of our hearts and prepare our hearts unto thee our hearts are of themselves very loose and unsetled Lord unite our hearts unto thee to feare thy name or else without him our best purposes will fall to the ground It is a pleasing request out of love to GOD to beg such a frame of soule from him wherein hee may take delight and therefore in the use of all the meanes wee must send up our desires and complaints to heaven to him for strength and help and then we may bee sure that he will bring forth judgment into victory Lastly it furthers the state of the soule to know what frame it should bee in that so wee may order our soules accordingly we should alwayes bee fit for communion with GOD and bee heavenly minded in earthly busines and be willing to be taken off from them to redeem time for better things we should bee ready at all times to depart hence and to live in such a condition as we would be content to dye in wee should have hearts prepared for every good duty open to all good occasions and shut to al temptations keeping our watch and being alwayes ready armed so farre as we come short of these things so farre wee have just cause to be humbled and yet presse forward that wee may gaine more upon our selves and make these things more familiar and lovely unto us and when wee finde our soules any wayes falling downewards it is best to raise them up presently by some waking meditatioÌ„s as of the presence of God of the strict reckoning we are to make of the infinite love of GOD in CHRIST and the fruits of it of the excellency of a Christians calling of the short and uncertaine time of this life how little good all those things that steale away our hearts will doe us ere long and how it shall bee for ever with us thereafter as we spend this little time well or ill c. the more we give way for such consideratioÌ„s to sink into our hearts the more we shall rise neerer to that state of soule which wee shall enjoy in Heaven When wee grow regardlesse of keeping our soules then GOD recovers our taste of good things again by sharpe crosses thus David Salomon Sampson c. were recovered it is much easier kept then recovered But notwithstanding my striving I seeme to stand at a stay Grace as the seed in the Parable growes we know not how yet at length when GOD seeth fittest wee shall see that all our indeavour hath not
beene in vaine the tree falleth upon the last stroke yet all the former strokes help it forward Sometimes victory is suspended because some Achan is not found out or because wee are not humble enough as Israel had the worst against the Benjamites till they fasted and prayed or because wee betray our helps stand not upon our guard and yeeld not presently to the motions of the Spirit which mindeth us alwayes of the best things if wee would regard it Our owne consciences will tell us if wee give them leave to speake that some sinfull favouring of our selves is the cause The way in this case to prevaile is I to get the victory over the pride of our owne nature by taking shame to our selves in humble confession 〈◊〉 GOD and then â—…23 to overcome the unbeliefe of our hearts by yeelding to the promise of pardon and then 3 in confidence of CHRISTS assistance to set our selves against those sins which have prevailed over us and then prevailing over our selves we shall easily prevhile over all other enemies and conquer all conditions we shall be brought into If Christ will have the victory then it is the best way for Nations States to kisse the Sonne and to imbrace Christ his religioÌ„ to side with Christ and to own his cause in the world his side wil prove the stroÌ„gest side at last happy are we if Christ honour us so much as to use our helpe to fight his battell against the mighty True religion in a State is as the maine piller of a house staffe of a teÌ„t that upholds all 2 so for families let CHRIST be the chiefe Governor of the family 3 let cuery one be as a house for CHRIST to dwell familiarly in and to rule where CHRIST is all happinesse must follow If Christ goeth all will goe where Christs governmeÌ„t in his ordinances and his spirit is there all subordinate government wil prosper ReligioÌ„ inspireth life grace into al other things all other vertues without it are but as a faire picture without a head Where Christs lawes are writteÌ„ in the heart there all other good lawes are best obeyed none despise maÌ„s law but those that despise Christs first Of all persons a man guided by Christ is the best and of all creatures in the world a man guided by will affection next the devil is the worst The happiness of weaker things stands in being ruled by stronger it is best for a blind man to bee guided by him that hath sight it it best for sheepe and such like shiftlesse creatures to bee guided by maÌ„ it is happiest for man to be guided by CHRIST because his government is so victorious that it frees us from the feare and danger of our greatest enemies and tends to bring us to the greatest happinesse that our nature is capable of This should make us to joy when CHRIST reigneth in us When Salomon was crowned the people shouted so that the earth rang much more should we rejoyce in CHRIST our King And likewise for those whose soules are deere unto us that Christ may raigne in them also that they may bee baptized by CHRIST with this fire that these sparkes may be kindled in them Men labour to cherish the spirit and metall as they terme it of those they traine up because they thinke they wil have use of it in the manifold affaires and troubles of this life Oh but let us cherish the sparkes of Grace in them sor a naturall spirit in great troubles will faile but these sparkes will make them conquerors over the greatest evills If CHRISTS judgement sall bee victorious then Popery being an opposite frame set up by the wit of manâ—… maintaine stately â—…enesse must fall And it is falne already in the hearts of those upon whom CHRIST hath shined It is a lye and founded upon a lye upon the infallible judgement of a man subject to sin and error When that whiâ—…h is taken for a principle of truth becomes a principle of error the more relying upon it the more danger It is not only said judgment shall bee victorious but that CHRIST will bring it openly forth to victorie Whence we observe that Grace shall bee glory and runne into the eyes of all Now CHRIST doth conquer and hath his owne ends but it is in some sort invisibly his enemies within and without us seeme to have the better But he will bring forth judgement into victory to the view of all The wicked that now shut their eyes shall see it to their torment It shall not be in the power of subtile men to see or not see what they would CHRIST will have power over their hearts and as his wrath shall immediately seize upon their soules against their wills so will he have power over the eyes of their soules to see and know what will increase their misery Griefe shall be fastned to all their senses and their senses to griefe Then all the false glosses which they put upon things shall bee wiped away Men are desirous to have the reputation of good and yet the sweetnesse of ill nothing so cordially opposed by them as that truth which layeth them open to themselves and to the eyes of others their chiefe care being how to daube with the world and their owne consciences But the time will come when they shall be driven out of this fooles paradise and the more subtile their conveyance of things hath beene the more shall be their shame CHRIST whom GOD hath chosen to set forth the chiefe glory of his excellencies is now veyled in regard of his body the Church but will come ere long to bee glorious in his Saints and not lose the cleere manifestation of any ofhis attributes and will declare to all the world what he is When there shall be no glory but that of CHRIST and his Spouse Those that are as smoaking flaxe now shall then shine as the Sun in the firmament and their righteousnesse breake forth as the noone day Thâ—… Image of GOD in Adam had a commanding majestie in it so that all creatures râ—…vereneed him much moâ—…e shall the Image of GOD in the perfection of it command respectin all Even now there is a 〈◊〉 awe put into the hoasts of the greatest towards those in whoÌ„ they see any grace to shine from whence it was that Herod â—…eared â—…ohn Baptist but what will this bee in their day of bringing forth which is called the day of the revelation of the sonâ—…es of God There will bee more glorious times when the Kingdomes of the earth shall be the Lord Iesus Christs and hee shall raigne for ever then shall judgment and truth have its victory Then CHRIST will plead his owne cause truth shall no longer bee called heresie and schisme nor heresie catholike doctrine wickednesse shall no longer goe masqued and disguised goodnesse shall appeare in its owne lustre and shine in its
prevaile against CHRIST or those that relye upon his power therefore his study is how to keepe us in our selves and in the creature but we must cary alwayes in our minds that that which is begun in self-confidence will end in shame The manner of Christs bringing forth judgement to victory is by letting us see a necessity of dependance upon him hence proceed those spirituall desertions wherein he often leaveth us to our selves both in regard of grace and comfort that we may know the Spring-head of these to be out of our selves Hence it is that in the Mount that is in extremities God is most seen Hence it is that we are saved by the grace of faith that carieth us out of our selves to relye upon another and that faith worketh best alone when it hath least outward support Hence it is that wee often faile in lesser conflicts and stand out in greater because in lesse we rest more in our selves in greater wee fly to the rock of our salvation which is higher then we Hence likewise it is that wee are stronger after foyles because hidden corruption undiscerned before is now discovered and thence wee are brought to make use of mercy pardoning and power supporting One maine ground of this dispensation is that wee should know it is Christ that giveth both the will and the deed and that as a voluntary worker according to his owne good pleasure And therefore we should workout our salvation in a jealous feare and trembling lost by unreverent and presumptuous walking wee give him cause to suspend his gracious influence and to leave us to the darknesse of our owne heart Those that are under CHRISTS governmēt have the spirit of Revelation whereby they see and feel a divine power sweetly strongly inabling thē for to preserve faith when they feele the contrary hope in a state hopelesse and love to GOD under signes of his displeasure and heavenly mindedness in the midst of worldly affaires alluremets drawing a contrary way they feel a power preserving patience nay joy in the midst of causes of mourning inward peace in the midst of assaults To make so little grace so victorious over so great a masse of corruption this requireth a spirit more then humane this is as to preserve fire in the sea and a part of heaven even as it were in hell Here wee know where to have this power and to whom to returne the praise of it And it is our happinesse that it is so safely hid in CHRIST for us in one so neere unto GOD and us Since the fall GOD will not trust us with our owne salvation but it is both purchased and kept by CHRIST for us we for it through faith wrought by the power of GOD and laying hold of the same which power is gloriously set forth by Saint Paul I to be a great power 2 an exceeding power 3 a working and a mighty power 4 such a power as was wrought in raising Christ from the dead That grace which is but a perswasive offer and in our pleasure to receive or refuse is not that grace which brings us to heaven but Gods people feel a powerfull work of the Spirit not onely revealing unto us our misery and deliverance through Christ but emptying us of our selves as being redeemed from our selves and infusing new life into us and after strengthning us and quickning of us when we droop and hang the wing and never leaving us till perfect conquest The fift conclusion is that this prevailing Government shall not bee without fighting there can be no victory where there is no combate in Esay it is said hee shall bring judgment in truth here it is said he shall send forth judgment into victory The word send forth hath a stronger sense in the originall to send forth with force to shew that where his government is in truth it will be opposed untill he getteth the upper hand Nothing is so opposed as CHRIST and his government both with in us and without us And within us most in our first conversion though corruptiō prevailes not so farre as to make voyd the powerfull worke of grace yet there is not onely a possibility of opposing but a proannesse to oppose and not onely a proanness but an actuall withstanding the working of CHRISTS Spirit and that in every action but yet no prevailing resistance so far as to make void the worke of grace but corruption in the issue yeelds to grace There is much adoc to bring CHRIST into the heart and to settle a Tribunall for him to judge there there is an army of lusts mutiny against him The utmost strength of most mens indeavours and parts is to keepe CHRIST from ruling in the soule the flesh still laboureth to maintaine its owne regency and therefore it cryes downe the credit of whatsoever crosseth it as Gods blessed ordinances c. and highly prizeth any thing though never so dead and empty if it give way to the liberty of the flesh And no marvaile if the spirituall government of CHRIST be so opposed 1 because it is governmēt that limits the course of the will and casteth a bridle upon its wanderings every thing naturally resists what opposeth it so corrupt will labours to beare downe all Lawes and counteth it a generous thing not to be awed and an argument of a low spirit to feare any even GOD himselfe untill unavoydable danger seizeth on men and then those that feared least out of danger feare most in danger as we see in Balthazar 2 It is spiritual government and therefore the lesse will flesh indure it Christs government bringeth the very thoughts desires which are the most immediate and free issue of the soule into obedience though a man were of so composed a cariage that his whole life were free from outward offensive breaches yet with Christ to bee carnally or worldly mindeded is death he looketh on a worldly mind with greater detestation then any one particular offence But Christs Spirit is in those who are in some degree earthly minded True it is but not as an allower and maintainer but as an opposer subduer and in the end as a Conquerour Carnall men would faine bring Christ and the flesh together and could bee content with some reservation to submit to Christ but Christ will be no underling to any base affection and therfore where there is allowance of our selves in any sinsull lust it is a signe the Keyes were never given up to Christ to rule us 3 Because it is judgement and men love not to be judged and censured Now Christ in his truth arraigneth them giveth sentence against them and bindeth them over to the latter judgement of the great day And therefore they take upon them to judge that truth that must judge them but truth will bee too good for them Man hath a day now which Saint Paul calls mans day