thereby doth it not vsually peruert and spoile them of what they seemed to haue had breaking all bonds of ciuill honesty and so makes them worse then bruit beasts without vnderstanding Doe not the poore receiue the Gospell when the rich and mighty are sent empty away because either they cannot come or come with their outward man their hearts runne after their couetousnes Is the word entertained with such otherwise thē for state or cōplement or else to make them merry To condemn the rashnesse and folly of such as will reproue or to deride their flattery that will call light darknesse must it not dance after our pipe and serue our lusts to harden vs in sinne and ripen vs to vengeance Is not thus the prosperity of the wicked their destruction Prou. 1. Psal 55. Ier. 48.11 and not their conuersion Doth not the old sent remaine in Moab because he was not changed from vessell to vessell but enioyed constant prosperity thereby was setled on his lees and rooted more obstinately in natures dregges thereby exercised more greedily and desperately the lusts thereof Ose 4.7 Psalm 78. Ose 5. Can the change of the outward estate change the inward man from worse to better As they were increased so did not Gods people rebel against him who in their afflictions sought vnto him deceitfully Is not here a change from better to worse we fawne on God till we haue our desires and when our turne is serued then depart from vs Lord we will not the knowledge of thy waies what profit shall we haue if we serue the Almighty Iob. 21.15.16 We haue now no need of God and therefore it is in vaine to serue him As for walking in a ciuill calling Ciuill honesty no euidence of conuersion howsoeuer this being sanctified by the spirituall may be a meanes to lay vp a good foundation against the day of Christ 1. Tim. 6.19.20 yet to the naturall man there is not a more dangerous outward meanes to exclude grace then the greatest measure of honesty that is seene therein For is it not the grace of this calling to rest in it selfe for good successe without inuocation of Gods assistance or reference to his blessing Is not our pursuit hereof a priuiledge to exempt from holy duties We must liue and therefore we cannot be bookish We haue no leasure to the Church Or is it not enough to come when we may haue leisure Is it not sufficient that we are not Papists in profession though we are Papists in ignorance and prophanation to yea grosse Idolaters in making our belly our God the world our confidence Is it not meritorious that we giue almes and receiue our maker once a yeere Psal 15.4 that we are no whores nor theeues we doe no body any wrong we liue of our own doth not this vtterly exclude religion in the family doth it not banish all loue to the power of religion doth it not extinguish all sense of inward corruption Is it not to sticke in the forme of Religion and so to renounce the power thereof Is not this to say in our hearts there is no God seeing he is onely in our lippes and not in our raynes do we not deny him in our liues and carnall worship who is a spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and truth howsoeuer we boast that we know him enough And doe our mouthes otherwise acknowledge him then at best by prophaning his great name and blaspheming it ordinarily in our daily communication Nay is it not a price proposed to incourage diligence in these worldly businesses euen licence to prophane the Sabbaths to despise the word c. And what if men keepe touch and day in paiments and contracts What if a little eie seruice be vsed in the outside of their wares Is it for conscience to God to whom they desire to approue the truth of their hearts or onely a care for the maintenance of trading and mutuall commerce which without this outward seeming equity must needs be abolished Who will trust or shall be trusted if word be not kept But is it kept any further then may cleere from touch of mans law Is promise kept here to our hinderance so we may winde out by the arme of flesh Is the substance of our wares any thing lesse then answerable to the shew Is not God robbed of his glory while we sacrifice to our labour and wit Is not this great Babel which I haue built for the honor of my name c. Eccl. 9.1 Surely as these outward things are common to all so no man knoweth loue or hatred either by prosperity or aduersity Well may a good man by right vsage make these good vnto him but these of themselues may well make him worse otherwise they haue no power inwardly to better him Onely it belongeth vnto God through the ministery of his word to conuert the soule as tendring to this end vnto vs Psal 19. 1. Per. 1.18 not corruptible things as siluer and gold which make outwardly happy in this life but the precious blood of Christ 1. Ioh. 1.8 as a Lambe vndefiled without spot whreby we are cleansed from all our sinnes and redeemed from our vaine conuersation receiued by the tradition of the fathers 8. Profession Practise Math. 7. Luke 8 Mark 6.25 But harken I pray you vnto a further plea of the hypocrite Haue we not heard thee teaching in our streets Nay Haue we not taught in thy name Haue we not receiued the word with ioy and done many things accordingly Can the best doe more Doe not we in many things offend all Is not this a sufficient euidence of an effectuall conuersion Surely where the grace of God which bringeth saluation to all men Tit. 2.11 hath appeared effectually there it teacheth vs not onely to eschew all euill in thought Math. 5. Act. 15.19 warde and deed but on the contrary to prosecute all good both 1. inwardly in heart and minde as being purified by faith whereby with constant purpose we cleane vnto God and also 2. outwardly in the life and conuersation Iam. 3.1 Act. 11.23 Ephes 1. Rom. 12.1 1. Cor. 6. yea generally and vniuersally hauing respect to all Gods commandements Psal 119.7.8 and constantly also continuing and abounding yea increasing in grace and finishing our course that no man take away our Crowne Reuel 3. 1. Cor. 15. Profession and some practise of religion no euidence of true conuersion 2. Cor. 2.14 Ioh 15. Psal 119. Ezech. 33 3◠31. Heb. 4.2 58. Ephes 3. Collos 1.2 Pet. 1.8.9 2. Tim. 4.3 Phil. 13. And therefore seeing the word of God must be a sauour of death vnto death vnto some who are to bee renounced and made inexcusable thereby hence is it that though they receiue it 1. with ioy as being rauished with the sweetnesse thereof yet being not mixed with faith it becomes vnprofitable yea a witnesse aegainst them and so the ioy of the hypocrite
sunne when it shineth 6. At the best iudge wee wisely of our best measure of grace is it either any other then what the Saints haue gone before vs in who yet notwithstanding through pride Math. 26. and the effects thereof haue taken many a foul fall Remember we Peters vaine boasting and what a plunge it put him to Consider Dauids pride in numbring of his people did he not smart deeply for the same was not his humilitie the best meanes to make his peace againe 2. Sam. 24.15 16. Or is it such but that still wee are not perfect and therefore must wee not forget what is behinde that wee may hasten to what is before Philip. 3.12.13 7. And alas what is all wee haue in comparison of our Lord and Master Iesus Christ hath hee not commanded vs to bee lowly and meeke hath hee not done all for vs that wee may boast of nothing did hee not walke before vs in great patience and humility euen humbling himselfe to the death for our sakes is not all our holinesse a drop of that Ocean lesse then a drop in comparison thereof and shall seruants ride on horsebacke when their master went on foote Eccl. 10 shall wee bee proud of his graces when hee was so abased in the greatest measure of his owne And therefore practise wee thus 1. View we our selues often in the glasse of the Law to abase vs throughly 2. And see wee a farre off into the glorious inheritance How to preuent this pride so farre exceeding any worth of our weldoing are the afflictions of this life worthy of the glory that shall bee reuealed Rom. 8.24 who are wee that God should thus aduance vs 3. In steed of iudging others let vs dayly examine our selues so shall wee bee more compassionare of our brethren considering our selues Galat. 6.1 so shall we still thinke vilelyer of our selues that so we may be fitter for mercy from our God 4. And labour wee dayly to renue our life in Christ that wee may haue still to reioyce in him and not in our selues that his glory may swallow vp all pride of flesh and his loue may still preuaile in vs to the further denyall of our selues that so still wee may be found in Christ not hauing our own righteousnes that being dayly perfited by his grace we may bee found of him in peace at his glorious appearance 5. To this end bee wee willing to endure afflictions and maintaine we tendernesse of conscience in all our wayes 6. And obserue we wisely our inward corruptions labour we to discerne the deceitfulnesse of our hearts and shall we not abhorre our selues because we know not our hearts shall wee not much more bee abased knowing them to be so abominable so froward so rebellious so touchie and full of horrible wickednesse such blasphemous thoughts such filthy motions if we do not tremble hereat is it not because yet the feare of God hath not seized vpon vs because yet we do not endeauour to worship God in Spirit and truth Ioh. 4.24.25 7. And so dayly prepare we our selues to death and iudgement Is here any time to be puffed vp seeing we must passe through horrors is it not wisedome to fight loe that we may enter in at the straight gate shall the righteous very hardly bee saued and shall wee not then work out our saluation with feare and trembling Phil. 2.12 Math. 7.11.12 8. And seeing many seeke to enter in and shall not bee able Luke 13.21 ought wee not dayly to suspect our selues shall not he that standeth take heed lest he fall shall we be high minded or not rather euer feare our selues least we also bee deceiued in our standing and so depryued of our hope Lastly That we be not deceiued in the judgement of spitituall pride and so be justly chalenged therewith 1. To stand vpon assurance of saluation no pride Know we that it is not pride and presumption to be assured of our saluation as the Papists chalenge seeing God hath commanded vs to make sure our election and hath giuen vs his word and Spirit to seale it vp vnto vs but rather pryde to question Gods truth not to beleeue his word not to accept so pretious a jewell 2. Neither to labour to perfection 2. It is not spirituall pride to labour to perfection though we exceed our selues and goe before others not shuting our religion to the will and ability of man but extending it wisely to the rule of the word and example of Christ seeing God hath commanded it and Christ hath begun it and hee will perfect it and all things worke together for the best vnto his Elect rather it is pride to dreame of perfectiō when we wil vse no meanes thereto nay grosse presumption and impudency in such as seeme to condemne vs of pride for labouring after perfection seeing they all perswade themselues that they haue already attayned it is it not the common voyce that all is well wee need no meanes of building we hate to be reprooued we haue bene alwayes of the same beleefe we feare we may be too holy are not these the ordinary dreames of generall perfection and therefore if they haue attayned this perfection with such ease will they fault vs that take such paynes for it should they not rather pity vs and further that we may attayne it more easily or if they condemne for labouring to perfection doe they not condemne themselues 3. No not to confesse Christ in the time of triall that they neuer had it seeing it cannot be had without great labour 3. Neither is it spirituall pride to make a good profession of the truth to confesse the Lord before men to sticke to the truth in time of trial is not this a denying of our selues to confesse the Lord Is it not an abasing of our selues that God may haue the glory Will it not be a pride in the flesh to humble vs Is it not a triall of our soundnesse that we will endure for Christ Is it not a spurre to perfection Rather it is pride to deny our Master as if we were ashamed of him It is horrible Pride of life and loue of the world that causeth this deniall we dare not confesse him because we loue the praise of men more then the praise of God If we were truely humbled we would in all things glorifie God If we set not by our flesh we would not quitch at any troubles Remember what caused Peter to deny his Master and the Lord giues vs vnderstanding in all things 4. And is it not an imputation of pride when we are vniustly challenged to maintaine our Innocency We iustifie our selues we will be found in no fault we will condemne our Iudges of wrongfull measure Is it not the practise of the world to iustifie the wicked and condemne the righteous And yet it thinketh to doe God good seruice in censuring the children of God because they are contrary to
of the ordinarie Ministerie that esteeme places of Charge rather rewards of former paines and studie then any necessarie bonds to tie vs to further paines Either being painefull only in the Vniuersities Seminaries to gather their seed but neglecting to scatter it so grow idle when they are called into the Vineyard or if for credit and profit they will take paines at their first entrance into a Charge that they may gaine an opinion of learning and so settle them for their further aduantage yet are after willing to frame to the present state of their people nouzeling them in ignorance that so they may rule them better and encouraging them in any grosse prophaning of the Sabaoth vnder pretence of Christian libertie and good neighbourhood that so they may bee more easily and fully fed by them Thirdly Also here is met withall that damnable and Atheisticall Position That we may haue too much knowledge too much Teaching That it puffes vp the people and makes them new fangled Seeing the truth is that though the people were better be without then with that which is mixed with poyson and trod vnder our feet for indeed there is too much of that This generally excuseth for or excludeth that which should bee wholesome so wee haue rather iust cause to complaine of the want of the other we ought rather to wish that all Gods people could prophecie we should pray that the Lord would still thrust out Labourers into his Vineyard and thrust out those loyterers and deceiuers of their soules we haue iust cause to feare that the Lord hath a controuersie with the Land because the people perish for want of knowledge we cannot haue too much of the grace of God and therefore ought still to haue the Word dwel plentifully with vs to conuay the same Secondly Here is matter of instruction to try our estates by That if we are not wearie of the Word if wee desire to haue it dwell with vs not onely in the Church but in our Families too to be a constant Guide of our waies and Iudge of our corruptions to bring vs to daily repentance this is a sound euidence that we were conuerted by it this is a gratious pledge that wee are growing to perfection Are wee not hereby taught to cleaue vnto the Word that so by it we may be led along to the full measure of the age of Christ Thirdly we may hence also haue some coniecture of the prouidence of God to his Churches that if he continue vnto them the power of the word howsoeuer they may be tainted with many grosse corruptions and fallen away fearefully from their former standing yet there is hope that they shall recouer againe if they submit in any measure to the power thereof But if once they shal begin to put the word from them Act. 13.46 so the iust Lord remoues their Candlestick though happily they haue indured the word with much affliction and esteemed indeed the same as their greatest crosse and trouble as still speaking no good but euill vnto them yet now they shall finde what they falsely fathered on the presence of the word shall iustly ouertake them by the absence thereof they shall be first exposed to the delusions of false Prophets that being hardned in their sinne they may make vp the measure thereof and when the measure is made vp the sickle shall be put in the wrath of God shall lay them desolate and roote them out from the face of the earth And shall we not then mourne when the Bridegroom is departed and the Candlesticke remoouing may we not herein see the plague and hide our selues that so wee be not swallowed vp with the common desolation Vses Of comfort 1. For certaintie of our estate to come Lastly hence is matter of exceeding comfort vnto the Saints not only concerning the certaintie of their estate seeing the Lord will neuer leaue them destitute of his word or else in steed thereof will giue them the Annoynting to abide with them for euer and to keepe them to the end 2. For securitie of our estate present and future in this life But if in such times of renouncing the power of the word they shall yet make it the delight and ioy of their hearts cleauing faster vnto it the more the world seekes libertie and louing the feete of them that bring these glad tydings howsoeuer in the world they are esteemed monstrous persons pestilent fellowes not worthy to liue c. howsoeuer happily they may endure reproch and vndergoe many worse afflictions yet shall the word which they obey minister sound comfort vnto them and also preuent more grieuous iudgements that when the Lord shall bring the consumption decreed vpon the mockers and despisers then shall hee set a marke vpon these mourners to saue them out of the common wracke and so reserue them to more glorious and peaceable times Psal 119. Esay 28.19 Ezech. 9.6.7 Thus doth the Lord mercifully sticke to his Church in the needfull time And is there not great reason so to doe Yea certainely Behold this glorious Church of Ephesus now decayed in her zeale and if shee be once downe shee is like to runne amaine Though shee was planted in perfection yet she walked not according to that rule but grew remisse in her zeale and loue to the Brethren and so left her first loue vnto her God and so is here chalenged thereof by her best beloued Iesus Christ Whence we may learne secondly this lesson 2. Doctrine The best haue their infirmities and are subiect to grieuous sins That as the best Church so the best Christian hath and may haue some infirmities and corruptions as appeareth by those places 1. Ioh. 1.9 Iames 3. 2. Chron. 8.36 and by the examples of the best Dauid 2. Sam. 12. commits murder and adulterie Peter denies his master Matth. 27. Moses did not giue glory to God in beleeuing his word Noah was drunken Manasseth an horrible Apostata and bloody persecutor Salomon idolatrous c. Numb 20. Gen. 38. Gen. 9. Thus haue the Saints of God been subiect to infirmities and that not before their conuersion only but euen after also as the Apostle Paul in the name of all the rest acknowledgeth for himselfe in the seuenth to the Romans 19.20.21.22 And surely Ephes 2. Col. 2. Rom. 5. 1. Iohn 1.8 Ephes 5.23 seeing the Lord Iesus hath satisfied the wrath of his Father for vs in fulfilling the Law and vndergoing the penaltie thereof and so continues daily our Intercessor and suretie to answer vnto the iustice of God for our offences and to obtaine pardon for them so that there is no necessitie that we should be freed quite from sinne and so perfit as to fulfill the law of God seeing the Lord Iesus hath performed this already and therefore for vs to vndertake the same were to intrude into Christs office and so to rob him of his glorie Rom. 6.12 Rom. 8.1
so vsing all meanes to giue him hope of recouery 6. Powerfully To humble him for his sinne by denouncing the wrath of God against the same I haue somewhat against thee that is I haue a controuersie with thee I am angrie I will be auenged of thee for it adding to our reproofe denunciation of vengeance 7. Constantly and seasonably not letting him lye in it taking the fit time c. as Abigail did 1. Sam. 25. meeting with the beginnings of euill and not giuing ouer till either wee haue reclaymed or made inexcusable 8. Impartially and sincerely not sparing the greatest nor dearest vnto vs no nor the house of Iudah Amos 7.8 1. Sam. 12. Esay 58.1 no not the most excellent Church not Dauid though a King not our children not any Eli 1. Sam. 2. Lastly heere is great comfort 3. Vse of comfort that being reprooued for sinne we are iudged in this life and so by the grace of God being brought to repentance we shall not be iudged in the life to come 1. Cor. 11.31 32. Thirdly in that the holy Ghost testifieth heere Doctrine 4. The least sin in the Saints is sufficient to make the that Christ doth come against his Church for this sin here we learne That though God loueth alwayes the person of his children yet he is displease with their sin he will come agaīst them for it and chastise them for the same Psal 89. 2. Sam. 8. c. Ezech. 18. And that because he is 1. Righteous and hateth iniquitie Psal 5.4 and therefore will not endure it in his owne 2. He is mercifull and therefore will not suffer sinne to dwell in his children but by his corrections will clense them Esay 1.25 Esay 27. Iere. 19. Psal 89. 3. The sinnes of his children doe more grieue him and indeed are more grieuous in themselues First because They haue more grace to resist Secondly doe giue more offence to the weake Thirdly open the mouth of the wicked more to blaspheme God and his truth 2. Sam. 12. 4. That the wicked may haue their vengeance hereby sealed vp in that the Lord spareth not his owne children Prou. 11.32 6 That his children might not be condemned finally 7 That he might weane them from the world and prouoke them to draw neere vnto him in prayer and so haue in our selues further experience of his loue in the issues thereof 8. Their sinne is not theirs but proceeds from Satan and the old man which he therefore remoueth by his chastisements that so he might manifest and confirme his loue more and more to their persons in fitting them to glorie But how stande it with Gods iustice to punish sinne in the Elect which he hath punished in his Sonne Answere He doth not punish sinne in vs as he did in his Sonne according to the exactnesse of his iustice and defect of our sinne for then we shall neuer be able to abide it 2. He doth not intend to punish sinne but to amend the sinner and so qualifies his corrections accordingly As accompanying them with the word giuing vs strength to beare them or framing them to our weaknesse ministring abundant consolations to conteruaile them and giuing a gratious issue out of them either taking away the rod or geuing patience to endure it And this serueth 1. Vses 1. Of conuiction to those that by reason of prosperity flatter themselues in integritie 2. Those that are impatient vnder the rod deseruing the same To condemne the wicked that flatter themselues in their righteousnesse because they prosper and are not plagued like others nor afflicted as the sinners seeing they are fatted vp hereby to the day of slaughter and the elect by afflictions prepared to happinesse Ierem. 12.3 Act. 14.23 24. Iob. 21. Psal 17.14 2. To reprooue the sinners that prouoke the Lord by their sinne to become their enemie and then being afflicted complaine of wrong and condemne the loue and faithfulnesse of God as if in chastising them he hated them seeing of very loue and faithfulnesse he doth correct them Psal 119. Psal 73. Iob 6.9 3. 3. Those that iudge peremptorily the estates of men by outward things Vse 2. Instruction how to keepe God our friend 2. To be patient vnder the rod. 3. To try our estate by the vse of the crosse To reprooue the world that iudge of men by these outward things seeing all things are alike vnto all men Eccl. 9.1 Secondly here is instruction 1. To teach vs how to keepe God to be our friend namely by keeping our selues from sinne or else by renued repentance dayly renouncing and reforming the same 2. To beare patiently the hand of God seeing we haue deserued hell and this affliction which is but for a moment will procure vnto vs an inestimable weight of glory 2. Cor. 5.16 3. To trie our estate vnder the rod namely 1. if we feele the Lords displeasure and so feare and depart from euill Prou. 14. 2. If wee can finde comfort in the word 3. And wait patiently on our God in our greatest afflictions 4. Not seeking so much the remoueall as to haue the corrections sanctified vnto vs. 5. Either by bringing some sinne past to light and iudging for it or else preuenting sinne to come 6. Making vs more tender in conscience 7. More compassionate to our brethren 8. More out of loue with the world 9. More to long after heauen 10. More zealous in holy duties more iealous of our selues more confident on God more readie for death And thus doth the holy Ghost amplifie the sinne of this Church by signifying that the Lord is angrie with her for the same 1. But let vs consider what this sinne is namely That she hath left her first loue a sinne of omission she hath failed in that zeale c. How the saints though leauing their first loue yet may be iustified that they faint not Quest But how may she be sayd to haue left her first loue seeing she hath formerly the testimonie that she endured patiently and did not faint Answ She might faile in the measure of her loue though not in the substance and trueth thereof 2. She might faile in the outward action though not in the inward purpose 3. She might haue been formerly zealous but now she was decayed and her present decay might not being preuented breed a further relapse and so threaten either some grieuous scourge to pluck her out of this pit or else might occasion finall Apostasie 4. She might maintaine the doctrine of the Gospell though to the enduring of manifold afflictions for the same and yet neglect the holie discipline and so grow remisse and carelesse in the practice of godlines 5. She might not be so zealous as she was and yet haue so much zeale as not to giue ouer finally for a time she might be cooled but not quenched in her zeale c. And yet wee see the Lord is not satisfied herewith but she must recouer what
it in excusing and approuing the wicked because they sort with it waies Are the best without faults and may they not therefore be condemned Is not the best done in hypocrisie And therefore are they not worthy to be cast out of the Synagogues Thus doth the world stumble at the infirmities of the Saints and because they are faulty in some things doth therefore conclude that nothing is sound And ought we then to giue way vnto these their slanders Is not the cause the Lords that is herein challenged shall we not harden them in their suit hereby and so preuent them from sound repentance shall we not betray the peace of our consciences and cause the Lord to take that from vs which we dare not iustifie Indeed though man compared with God cannot be righteous though we must daily deny our own righteousnes before God that we may be found in Christ to be cloathed with his righteousnes yet seeing the Lord hath done great things for vs shall we not in thankfulnesse acknowledge Gods graces in vs shal we not propose our selues heere by examples to our brethren Nay saith holy Iob God forbid that I should iustifie you I will neuer take away mine innocency from my selfe Iob. 27.6 And is it not humility in vs to acknowledge what we haue receiued had we not need of lowly spirits to incounter the malice of the world because we will not forsake our Innocency and vndergoe such afflictions which hence will be raised against vs Is it not an argument of sound deniall of our selues that hereby we seeke rather the glory of God then our owne that hereby we labour the confirmation of the weake And seeing the gifts of grace are such wonders to the world such eye-sores and in so base account therewith is it not a gracious abasing of our selues to reioyce in that which is so offensiue to the world to triumph and boast of such gracious gifts which are so debased by it surely if we shall take our ayme aright it is rather pride in the world to condemne another mans seruant do they know our hearts will they generally censure vs hypocrytes because some are such and because the best are not without their failing they condemn our profession as if it taught no better Blessed be God we esteeme not to be iudged of them nor of mans iudgement 1 Cor. 44. he which iudgeth vs is the Lord to him we stand to him we fall as for the world well may it discouer it malice and pride in condemning the generation of the iust but they must know that the Saints shall iudge the earth if they condemne vs because we faile then do we much more condemne them that are so far behind vs. And is it not a wonderfull condemnation of the world that they which with one blast condemn vs to be too short that so they may iustifie themselues do also euen with the same breath condemne vs that we are too forward to zealous that so their deceitfull measure may passe more currantly do they not herein condemne themselues wherein they censure vs If wee haue our faults why do they not helpe vs forward and if we haue got some ground why doe they then condemne vs for increase seeing they condemne vs for failings shall we happily diue into the mystery thereof do they not condemne vs for failing because they would discourage vs to go forward do they not condemne vs for going forward because we condemne them for being behind vs do they not condemne our faâ—â—ings because they would hereby take occasion to condemne the word as if it occasioned and iustified such 〈◊〉 that so they might harden their hearts in the base account of the word and pu suit of their worldly courses and thereby also put vs from the most liuely meanes which should raise vs vp againe and so enable vs to perfection And do they not condemne on the other side our proceedings in grace is counterfeitings madnes c. because the wisedome of God is foolishnesse vnto them they neuer yet tasted of the loue of Christ else would they thinke they could neuer do him too much seruice And therfore seeing that which is highly esteemed of men is abhomination in the sight of God as we might haue cause to distrst our condition if it were approued of the world so haue we a found euidence of the truth of grace that the world hates vs not for our euils as they pretend for they could let vs alone if our wayes did not shame and confound them but for the Image of our God renewed in vs. And shall not the haters of God be found lyars shall they not wish to die the death of the righteous do they not imitate our waies though they deny the power of them they dare not set foot to foot by vs. Who so is wise let him vnderstand these things 5. To conclude it is the common censure of the world that whatsoeuer iumpes not with it stoopes not to it lure it is pride vaine-glory and whereas though it may be a marke of an abiect and degenerate spirit to be swayed thereby yet to be contrary to the fashion thereof must needs argue great humility so to leaue our greatest earthly content so to expose our selues to a world of troubles Thus the world calles light darknesse and darknesse light esteeming that pride which indeed is true humility Shall we now take a further scantling what this spirituall pride may be surely I take it it consists in these things First in presuming aboue that is meet in matter of knowledge And that when we prie into those hidden mysteries which either are fit to be knowne of or are apparant only to the diuine Nature Secondly when we vanish in idle and curious speculation tending only to sense and singularity and not to edification 1 Tim. 4. Thirdly when we affect knowledge for complement or ornament and not for reformation of life Secondly spirituall pride is seene in matter of action and that either in respect of our selues or others In regard of our selues we may be ouertaken with spirituall pride 1. If we stand more vpon publike deuotions then priuate humiliation 2. If we rest more in the forme then in the power of Religion 3. If we rest in our selues for well doing and not on the power of Christ 4. If we challenge merit for our workes and not rely on the mercy of God 5. If we arrogate more vnto our selues then either is truth or conuenient 6. If imagine that we may be present in this life and haue an ouerplus of righteousnesse for others And will not follow our Master through the fire In regard of others we may be tainted with spirituall pride 1. If we forsake the fellowship and are not equall with those of the lower sort leauing the Church for corruptions therein 2. If we iudge peremptorily of any before the time 3. If we giue not vnto each his due howsoeuer we are
either of doubting in faith or corruption in life 1. Cor. 8. Rom. 14. 4. That herein also wee not onely auoyde what may hurt but in all spiritual wisedome doe that which may further to the best good euen the saluation of the soule 1. Cor. 9. 5. And all this to the onely praise of our glorious God through Iesus Christ 1. Cor. 10.31 Thus may wee bee falsly charged to haue left our first loue and thus may we be established against these false imputations But say what others fasten vpon me 8. Whether want of feeling of former comforts may be a iust imputation that we haue left our first loue that I feare in my selfe I feele not that joy and inward comfort I sometimes had these ouerflowings and extraordinary sweetnesse though I faint after them and refresh my soule with the meditation thereof yet I finde them not so abound and runne ouer as in former times may I not hereby conjecture that I haue lost my first loue nay may I not feare that all is lost Nay now I finde it contrary with me insteed of ioy I am ouerwhelmed with sorrowes insteed of Gods gratious presence I feare hee hath forsaken mee I haue no answere in prayer no comfort in any duety the sorrowes of the deepe doe seaze vpon me and the jawes of hell doe gape vpon me Surely the Lord giue thee wisedome heerein that thou doest not wrong thine owne heart and prejudice the wisedome and mercy of thy God Remember that thou liuest by faith not by sense 2. Cor. 3.7 though thou seest no outward meanes yet thy saith will assure thee that God is able will prouide him a sacrifice Gods prouidence discouered herein Iob. 13 15. Gen. 22. Yea though thou hast no inward feeling of comfort yet shalt thou trust in God euen though he kill thee And this is the victory of thy faith euen to beleeue aboue feeling thus is thy faith perfited euen laying holde on things not seene when it is depriued of the sense of things past Heb. 11.1 present And may not thy God withdraw these comforts from thee for the further tryal of thy faith and loue vnto his Maiestie that thogh thou want that comfort which heretofore thou hast had yet stil thou canst giue glory vnto thy God in beleeuing his word and enlarge thy loue vnto his Maiesty Rom. 4.20 euen when he seemes to haue forsaken thee And canst thou haue a better tryall of the power purenes of thy faith then aboue hope to beleeue vnder hope in the promises of thy God subiecting thy chiefest good vnto the glory of thy God and through want of present sense being guided to forget what thou hast enioyed lest through spirituall pride thou mightest rest therin rob God of his glory thou doest the rather make haste to that which is before by the power of thy faith seeing a farre off yea laying fast hold on eternall life by renuing thy strength in Iesus Christ And seeing wee are now assured of the trueth of our conuersion by this seale of Gods loue shed abroad in our hearts working in vs a feare of his Maiesty and refreshing our hearts with vnspeakeable cōforts haue we now such need of the continuance of them as if all were lost because we still feele them not or we could not goe forward without the daily sence thereof will we still be children that haue neede of dandling and entticing with such toies or rather are we not growing to be men and so to be hardned with trials and strange abasings And is it not best to be abased within that so we may be fitter for any outward emptying Is it not fit to be a while disused of these spirituall ioyes that so we may most hunger after euerlasting ioy that we more earnestly labour and hasten thereafter And may we not giue our God iust cause to withdraw his countenance from vs by falling into grosse sinne doting on the fading ioyes of the world c. and so we may be so wisely scanted of perfect ioy as that still we shal be recompenced with what is fitter for vs for the present with what may further vs to eternall comforts Is not the Lord herein wonderfull that by withdrawing sense of present ioy he both purgeth vs of such euils as may corrupt the same namely spirituall pride and security and also causeth vs hereby to lay faster hold on Iesus Christ who only must perfect the worke that is begun in vs And canst thou expresse thy loue in greater measure vnto thy God then to loue him then when he seemes to haue forsaken thee then to follow after him when he seemes to run from thee doth not this aduance the sincerity of thy loue doth not this exceedingly approue thy conformity to thy Sauiour that as he was contented to be abased in himselfe yea to become of no reputation that thou maist be accepted so thou art contented to be emptied that God may be glorified thou canst willingly want present comfort that thy God may haue vnfained worship when now not so much for thine owne sake as for his glory thou dost beleeue in him when though he kill thee yet thou wilt trust in him And canst thou be a looser where the Lord is such a gainer by thee canst thou leaue thy loue when the Lord doth purpose to trie the soundnesse of it when the Lord prouoketh thee to liue by faith when by the power of faith he will thus enable thee to lay hold of eternall life Note Surely as this is the life of faith to exceed present sense so this want of present comfort thus conceiued and applied shall be both a meanes to enable thee to make better vse of such ioy when the Lord shall againe turne his countenance vpon thee and in the meane time minister exceding comfort vnto thy soule that thou dost constantly beleeue in Resolution herein and vnfainedly loue the Lord thy God And therfore doubt not herein of any decay of thy loue vnto thy God because the Lord in his wisedome for thy triall withdrawes the present pledges of his loue from thee For neither couldst thou endure at all in thy sense of this want of present comfort if thy God did not secretly vphold thee with inward and vnspeakable consolations And in that thou discernest want of ioy may it not be so much because thou wantest that which thou hast had Note as that by faith thou apprehendest that vnspeakeable ioy which thou hast not which that it doth euacuate and empty thee of sense of present comfort it is no more maruell then that the glorious light of the Sun should obscure the light of a candle or that a drop shold not be discerned being cast into the main ocean Only for thy full satisfaction herein examine thy heart in this case by these rules Triall hereof First that thou hast not giuen thy God iust occasion to withdraw these