to make him know him that speakes to be God and him that is spoken to but man God speakes so as to make man admire tremble stoop Man is a creature conceited and yet of no reach his conceptions and expressions lessen the dimensions of God his wisdome his power and the like and in this way man growes upon God by sinfull boldnesse and therefore God is faine to put titles and epithites upon his things himselfe to name things according to their nature himselfe which fallen man could have done once but now cannot to call love Love passing knowledge and wisdome infinite his wisdome is infinite saith the Psalmist and power glorious * To call an Angel an Angell and gold gold he is faine to cloath every attribute himselfe with royall apparell with titles suitable that so man may know and keepe his distance heare and feare heare and admire heare and stoop to him that is so glorious and so far above him in every Limb that hath such a glorious Arme glorious power Finally God shapes expression so to man as to hint him of and move him to his highest state He fetches expression from Heaven and from glory to minde man what should take him up and whither hee should drive in all hee sayes and does he goes before man in glory to draw man after him he speakes gloriously to man that man may eccho to him and call divine power as hee does and be taken with divine power as he is that man may looke about and turne away his eye from things that are vaine-glorious to that which is indeed glorious and will indeed make man so being strengthened with it Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power Vse God speakes as one in Heaven how doe you heare He makes his sword two-edged one terrible t'other glorious how does it cut He uses his rod and his scepter sharpe words and glorious words what doe they worke His scepter hee in layes and gilds and makes a glorious Scepter and so holds it forth to your senses to your eyes to your eares what impression doth it make upon your hearts Can yee heare God speake gloriously and yet not be stird'd Can yee heare God speake from Mount Sina and yet not shake Can yee heare him speake from Mount Zion as one in Heaven and yet not admire him adore him and be taken with him To unstir'd soules I must first speake from this point certainly you are dead This is the first principle that springs from this point Unstir'd soules are dead soules he that speakes speakes so gloriously so movingly that all men unlesse they be dead must needs be stirr'd Were your soules alive the words of Christ are so sweete so full of glory and divine force that they must needs stir and take you were you but asleepe the words of Christ are so glorious and so shining in your eyes that they would awake you T is a remarkeable place to this purpose Cant. 7.9 and the roofe of thy mouth like the best Wine that goes down sweetely causing those that are asleepe to speake Christs glorious words are very taking they goe down sweetely if there be any principle of life in the soule t will stir it If the heart be asleepe in the lap of any lower sweete in the lap of any low delights if onely asleepe and not dead in the nest this higher sweete and glory will awaken it and make it speake to the praise of him that so exceeds all in sweetnesse and love Solomon was asleepe for a while in the lap of low delights but when once Christ began to speake in a glorious stile to his sleepy soule hee awoke presently and made songes of that glory that transcendent glory which he saw Surely therefore I conclude that they are dead men whom words of glory words full of Heaven cannot stir How glorious the expression of Christ is here yee heare how gloriously Christ hath spoken upon it out of the mouth of a babe out of the mouth of a Worme and no man yee have likewise heard of what force and power all hath been upon your hearts yee know how much more in love with Heaven and with the Word of Christ and how much lesse in love with the World and with your lusts then you were you know yee that yet are as yee were not a jot better surely yee are dead yee that are yet dead ah Lord when when will yee bee alive Let every heart attend I will ring the Funerall of the dead Hearts dead and unstir'd when Christ speakes lively and gloriously have certainly stopt their eares against the charmer this soule is a prisoner to perverse will there is no damnable prison but this hee is resolved that nothing shall sway that is holy that his heart shall rule truth and not truth his heart which will damne a man if he had a thousand soules This man hath the plague in his heart and hath shut up himselfe that none may come at him no not the King of glory not words of glory write Lord have mercy upon this mans doore upon his forehead for he will die in his sinne all the World cannot save him Whom truth cannot stir nothing can whom glorious words of truth cannot stir nothing shall the man is stretcht out for dead I am now ringing his knell does any dead soule heare me A Scepter of gold a glorious power held out gloriously the God of glory speaking in glory and yet the heart of man not taken nor stir'd ah Lord this heart is taken already this heart is certainly catcht with some fading glory Were there any soule at home when the King of glory and the King in glory knocks certainly 't would open What answer can be made who can open when no body is at home Dinah is gon abroad and ravish't by the Shechemites the heart is gadded abroad taken and lost in a lie in a fading vexing glory that will be the death of it An unstird soule is a dead soule a dead soule is a lost soule a lost soule in sinne will be found in judgement seldome any where else I have not yet done ringing the Funerall of the dead one peale more and I have done Yee dead soules Christ is making your grave doe yee not see it he is comming to take the length of your corps with a sword he will bleed you first and then burie you afterward Yee have bled your soules dead and Christ will bleed your bodies dead and then will yee be twice dead and pluckt up by the rootes When yee are gasping for life will yee be taken and stird with that mortall power which wounds you when yee are descended to your long home will yee be taken and affected with that power that sends you to Hell Surely glorious power gloriously expressed will take your soules or destroy them In what stile God speakes according to it will he make operation in every man upward or downward GODS Words shall
have their force and make issue according to their majesty and glory in the hearts of you all words of majesty and glory resplendent words which are so shaped above as to make strong reflections of the Sunne upon soules here below will make very saving or very killing influence God speakes gloriously to take affect and save the most obdurate heart let him have his designe this is the last thing that I would presse upon you and this concernes us all God makes his words glorious his workes glorious that the heart may be melted and moulded to a glorious forme by them doe not frustrate divine art Words which goe forth with much of God from Heaven let them leave much of God in your hearts When vision is glorious the soule should be in a transe when the speaker is in Heaven the hearer should be there too The Lord spake in glory in shining light to Saul he cast the beauty which he uses above upon his words and these wrought indeed and made Saul cry out Lord what wilt thou have me to doe Methinks this expression in the Text is as if there were such another Heaven opening and such another shining word to some Saul here to some bloudy malicious sinner Sinner sinner why doest thou shut thine eyes and thine eares against glorious words of Christ Some glorious Meteors they render the Heavens to us as if they did gloriously open Heaven me-thinks opens in this expression glorious power how can any heart keepe out of Heaven when Heaven opens to it How can any heart but be taken with that which is full of nothing but taking lustre what man can passe over such an expression without laying his hand on his heart with such a quaere what is that power which the Holy Ghost admires Surely there is glory indeed in that which he calles glorious O that my soule could see this glory Where Christ sets a hand in the margent pointing to the observation of any thing of his that surely is very remarkeable there the soule should stand still sit down and dwell The very accents and aspirations of truth must have their place in the heart of man the heart is to hold all not a tittle of truth must fall to the ground our hearts must catch it and keepe it from falling and dying Power and Love and Wisdome they are accented and aspirated glorious power infinite wisdome love passing knowledge c. These titles and aspirations this dust of gold must not be throwen away but adde to the impression of truth for 't is God setting all his strength to thrust things into the heart 't is God using his best soule-saving art to get into Sanctum sanctorum As the heart behaves it selfe so Divine truth lives or dies in it as Divine words die or live in the heart so God dies or lives in the World Much of God dies when glorious expressions make not glorious impressions much God-dying makes much man dying that God is so much dead in England makes so many men dead Man is lesse then a tittle of truth yea the World is lesse then a tittle of truth Spretis punctâ—s expiraâ— Anglia tittles of truth kill'd by the Christian World kille the Christian World so generally at this day As truth hath apparel'd it selfe so let it goe in the World and live in our hearts let us not take the least spangle from Her attyre Truth and Wisdome and Love will otherwise lose their dimensions and God will lose the glory of his heights and depths of divine dispensations The goodnesse of the heart is as the words of God make totall impression upon it T is the best heart in which God can best read all that hee hath said to a tittle and finde glorious impressions suitable to the glorious words in which he deliver'd himselfe How you judge of your hearts I know not God judges of them as your breath turnes into his as your spirits admire adore rise and ascend into Heaven with his That heart which can reade and heare glorious words of Christ and not be answerably affected will never be a glorious Christian Christ makes the place of his feet glorious as he treades in the heart so hee makes it glorious as his Word makes impression so is sanctification and no otherwise they that heare and let goe divine words of the the movingst forme and force will certainly die loose Soules Men goe to reading and hearing the word with a carelesse spirit 't is most mens sinne all that such get is judgement they eate and drinke judgement saith the Apostle respecting another Ordinance So these heare and reade judgement to their soules that is heart hardning and not heart raising The handling of such a glorious expression as this though by a weake servant of Christ must needs have set your hearts something more Heaven-ward had yee heard with such preparation as becomes you A man finds God in his Word as hee seekes him in Prayer and no otherwise Wax receives impression as 't is prepar'd Esther must fast and pray and come with her life in her hand to the King to have a glorious Scepter stretched out unto her So must we come into the presence of the King of Kings with much seeking of God and selfe-judging with our lives temporall and eternall in our hands to finde glorious words worke gloriously to have a glorious Scepter stretched out from Heaven to us a glorious power working in us in the hearring of glorious things Hee that minds little about what he is going finds little but the fruit of his sinne he goes away from divine ordinances worse then hee came to them he goes away with a sop with a heart more poysoned in malice more hard dead and cold condemned and executed to wit tortur'd I conclude this point with a note of admiration That God will put glosse upon necessary commodities such as we cannot be without and doe well to make them off is wonderfull Yee doe not use to put varnish upon Bread that 's such a generall necessary dish that its double and maine use to the state of man sets it off well enough without any by-things about the dish Such is the Word of God 't is as bread to our soules of supreme use this one would think should be enough to set it off with us and yet because this is not God paints bread guilds Loves and sets them upon the Table to us * Puts glosse upon the words of eternall life That GOD will put himselfe into a passion to put us put Heaven into his words to put Heaven into our hearts le ts wonder That Christ will let fall his mantle when hee ascends that we may ascend too make his raised spirit breake forth into glorious raised words to raise our spirits too let his love and humility be ever before you 'T is our great worke Christians 't is our great worke to admire God in his words and workes in his
keepe us alive The Revelation of great love made us a little warme for a time and lifted up our hearts a while high and now they fall deadly fast 't is deadly presaging If nothing will keepe up the heart all wil downe all must necessarily downe If Ely cannot keepe up his spirit hee will not keepe up his person if the heart be broke and downe the necke will be broke too ere long and all downe a sinking spirit presages a sinking state Every mans heart ere while was at his mouth leaping now 't is at their heeles running love unto miracle will not keepe us alive nor keepe up our hearts and hands to magnifie God what desolating ingratitude is this Every one lookes heavy speakes heavy sighes heavy scarce one magnifying God What shall I doe sayes one What shall I doe sayes another Why what does God doe eye him doe your duty follow after him with praise or you will murther your selves and many more A second thing that speakes broadly and sadly Englands ingratitude is Concuring and assisting providence checkt A willing God to doe great things for his people sleighted Love workes richly wee worke poorely wee let love die in travell at our doore we are likely then to make a goodly returne of love are we not we are lazily making our selves ready when love calles and puts in her finger at Key holes and crannies gloriously to us which is grosse ingratitude and for which the Church was heavily judged with a departure We take not Christ by the hand when he stretcheth it out to us we doe not welcome Christ as hee comes smiling and with a countenance like Lebanon towards us wee doe not blesse kisse and embrace him when hee shewes his Face as an Angel greater unkindnesse and ingratitude can there be Wee let mercies great mercies melt away in their owne grease and make nothing of them for Gods glory or our owne good as if great favours cost GOD nothing Gods people nothing or were worth nothing Heaven opens and our Eyes are shut Heaven opens againe and our Eyes are still shut God makes his glory passe by us and we let it passe Greene mercies raw mercies halfe mercies bastard blessings will content us when full favours mature favours admirably proffer'd We check a bountifull God a willing Father Is not this base ingratitude we sleight full love when fully proffer'd a plant of renowne when proffer'd in a way of renowne Is this to returne full love fully to kill it in travaile to strangle it in the wombe Because the man-Childe makes Panges and Throwes therefore weary of travaile and any peace so but an end of this War Any reformation so this corporall desolation were but ended O base England A third thing that broadly speakes Englands ingratitude is this gentle corrections unobserved Who observes how tenderly the bloudy swords is manag'd in England How in the middest of Justice God remembers mercy who is taken with this how many hearts doth this raise to follow God with praises What an Earth-quake Justice makes in the joints of the wicked What a brest worke in Bataile mercy makes to save the innocent Few to resist many few to kill many how sparing of good bloud is our good God! how carelesse of bad How hee doth droppe in reliefe like Aquavitae when wee are ready to swoune things goe so ill How many hearts are taken rais'd up kept up blessing God for this Mercy Exalts her selfe against Justice shee leads and guides our bloudy Armies Justice is but as a common man wounds and killes here and there where mercy bids it At most justice brings up but the reare in our Warre shee comes behinde and Treades a little upon our heele and bruises that whiles shee breakes the heads and neckes of the wicked O what Heavenly pillage every battaile in England hath hitherto afforded how much of God how much Divine power how much Divine wisdome Divine love to be gathered up but who hath inricht himselfe with this Noble treasure thy greatest mercies O England are but short liv'd thy tenderest mercies quickly dye I like it not shalt thou live O England God admirably saves us we wickedly kill his kindnesse 't will kill us all if not well look't to God is full of bowells wee are brawny 't will not last so alwayes God killes malice wee kill love what dealings are gentle we groane under as tedious too long and too broad too spoiling too killing who blesses God that Englands miseries are mild that England is dealt with far better then shee doth deserve I have spoken more generally to the Land I will speake more particularly to you Christians You have a great stock of love in your hand what returne doe you make I am commanded by this point in hand to looke after my masters income his great revenue of this lower world rent day is come and I am come to demand it You were Lepers are yee cleansed How many returne and give thankes you were cast out to loathing are yee taken into embracing what acknowledgment doe you make Infinite love is out upon you Christians how does it returne into the bosome from whence it came out Ingratitude makes great guilt and great breach that heart will grow too heavy for the man that cannot be taught to praise God to sing new songes as God renewes his favour Three incomparable things are spoiled by ingratitude Gods glory mans peace and increase of grace hee growes backward as you have such a phrase that is ungratefull it turnes all mans welfare into a consumption t is the thiefe that robs God and man t is base basenesse Gods love and mans knit up in a Sack and the mouth cannot be opened all divine stirrings chok't cripl'd kill'd and deaded which makes merrily and sweetly heaven-ward 'T were endlesse to tell you the evils of ingratitude I will give you a word of remedy and so conclude this point The heart is in thankefulnesse as t is in truth Thankfullnesse is the vitall breathing of integrity A sound heart arrogates nothing but ascribes all to God hypocrisy is the worst giver of all to another that can be truth is best at giving every one their owne 't is her greatest paine that shee can doe it least to him that is best to her Integrity hath no other felicity but to paint out love and carry it to Heaven to see if God will owne any art of hers to make him glorious All the complaint of integrity is that favours are lost upon her that love dies in her bosome and many made-prisoners by her so chain'd and fettered with an evill heart that they cannot returne to God that gave them Integrity is still sighing and panting to get up hill with all Gods blessings on her back Oh that I could carry all sweetely home againe that God lends me Secondly as the soule is in life so t is in thankefulnesse heat is best at making up ward Truth is sometimes much
upon affection p. 61. Apprehension is plac'd sentinell p. 62. The daÌ„ger of soule-powers mis-working p. 63 How apprehension comes to worke Divinely upon affection p. 67. 68. c. We are to call divine power as it works p. 73 Sinners will not doe so when power workes against them p. 76. How divine power hath wrought in the hearts and hands of Christians in England to be admired p. 80. 81. Divine things so mentioned as to make best impression upon the soule p 84. God speaks as one in Heaven to make us heare so p. 90. Soules not stirr'd by the word dead p. 91. The funerall of the dead rung p. 93. 94. Accents Aspirations of truth must have their place in the heart p. 97. The goodnesse of the heart is as the word makes full impression p. 98. Christ hath a glorious dominion in dying man p. 103. Things which give being give beauty and being ibid. Power workes in order to majesty p. 106. In order to its own absolute nature p. 108. Much communicable many have nothing this pitifull p. 109. Glorious power how miserable t will make a sinner when set against him p. 113. 114. What hinders power from working gloriously in the soule p. 117. Love admired that makes two Heavens p. 122. 123. Patience defined p. 126. What patience does presuppose p. 132. 133. How much patience is now needed in England p. 136 137. Principles of Patience suited to Englands state p. 139 140. c. What all Patience is p. 150. 151 c. Persons exhorted to examine their patience to know how eminent in it p. 158. Many grow very wicked for want of much Patience p. 161. The evills of impatience p. 162. 163. c. How all impatience is overcome p. 168. 169. Gospel-sufferings sometimes of great duration p. 171. What men should expect in the way to heaven p. 178. Three sorts of hearts which cannot suffer long p. 179. 180. c. Severall things shewing Englands sufferferings likely to be long p. 183. 184. c. Suffering though long should be mannaged with a spirit of joy p. 196. Such spoken to who can make no joy out of suffering in a good cause the causes of it laid open p. 203. 204. c. God would have a Christian never without joy p. 209. Encouragements to suffer long in the cause of Christ now in England p. 211. 212. c. A Christian covets all Christ p. 21 T is a lost man which observes not which way the strength of his soule workes p. 220. 221. A soule in extremity cannot last long p. 223. Joy makes an ascending frame of heart p. 225. Christmas joy jostl'd against by Christ p. 231. 232. c. The property of bad joy p. 234. 235. c. Thankesgiving defined p. 2â—8 What thankesgiving doth presuppose p. 245. Whose worke t is properly whose naturally p. 247. 248. Three things broadly speake Englands ingratitude p. 250. 251. c. The remedy of ingratitude p. 257. 258. c. Grace a Creation p. 263. Sinners utter undoing-time come p. 273. Principles demonstrative of soule ruined p. 274. And ruinous p. 277. The hinderances of creating and making power p. 281. Love singles out her objects p. 285. Man cannot argue Gods love to him from outward things p. 294. The properties of an electing love p. 295. 296 What persons Christ chuses to worke upon he makes through worke in p. 304. The properties of a man fitted for wrath p. 314. 415. Fitting grace for Heaven hath its meanes season p. 320. A double fitnesse for Heaven p. 325. The highest mercies are Communicable p. 329. How mans highest felicity is communicable p. 339. 340. Multitudes demonstrated to have no heart to goe to Heaven p. 347. 348. c. Jnterest in Heaven should comfort against all losses p. 351. The greatest favours come most immediate p. 356. Hope should not fall respecting great things when externall meanes fall p. 364. Heaven the inheritance of Saints p. 375. Demonstrations of profane holinesse p. 379. 380. c. The birth of Sanctity p. 386. 387. Heaven resembled by light p. 392. 393. God doth lively shadow out to man here what will be his condition hereafter p. 414. FINIS USEFULL INSTRVCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.11 Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse PRayer in this Verse is still continued and still suited to present and imminent distresse The state of these Christians was a suffering state and like to be more as our state now is and therfore Prayer is made for answerable reliefe for divine strengthening forbearing and suffering grace for shoulders suitable to every burden Strenthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse The termes of this Text are very weighty I shall therefore deale with them one after another their difficulty lies Et in materia in voce both in matter and word yet one hand on which we leane will carry us thorough both to Gods glory and mans edification I begin with the first word Strengthened 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Kóbur animi innuit c. It points principally at the spirit of man which is the bearer up of all a man is what he is from the fortitude of his inward man according to this scope and sense the Apostle explains himselfe using the same word to the Ephesians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. And applying it to the inner man That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man Doct. God exerciseth a relieving power in a Christian As he doth exercise a creating power whereby he doth make a Christian so he doth a strengthening and relieving power whereby he doth maintaine a Christian who are kept by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the power of God 1 Pet. 1.5 'T is the same word with this in my Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strengthned with all might c. Divine power makes and then it upholds it makes Esse and then it makes porrò esse it brings forth and breed's up it travells in birth once and againe My little children of whom I travell in birth againe This travaling in birth againe Gal. 4.19 is strengthening and relieving power to maintaine and finish the first birth the same that is here spoken of in my Text. Strengthened c. Divine power as it works towards a Christian hath its peculiar properties Proprietates potentiae Divinae as it workes towards a Christian it works tenderly such a power working about the soule works and works againe it makes lambes and then it makes armes to carry lambes to preserve them to be sheepe for the fold of Christ He shall gather the Lambes with his Armes and carry them in his Bosome and gently leading those that are with young Isa 40.11 As there is a carring and a leading power exercised about
Such language in humility is good but where 't is so indeed there 't is sad Why how have you used your precious time you have had many yeeres to fit for this one many dayes of peace to fit for this day of War many unbloudy dayes to fit for this bloudy day You have had a growing time a time of full growth for full service for any service this will be pleaded against you by Christ and conscience better then I can doe how will yee bee able to beare it The time is come that many will rue their losse of time that sloth will fall to slaying the very womb that hath long travel'd with her hard worke deadly hard worke will every day now fall to him that never dream't on 't and many I feare will eternally die in manging a good cause Ah Lord this is sad indeed when a man shall lose his life and his soule too in a good cause when a man shall make the greatest losse in the greatest and bravest worke of gaine that can come into a mans hand I like courage well but dislike a desperate man as much such is every one that goes about deadly worke and yet altogether unfit to die under the command of the Devill when he puts himselfe under the command of man for God The Divell is Almghty in some men I would speake a word to this That which doth rule all in you is your Almighty by this you may know what power workes in you What power is supreme in you the power of light and truth or the power of darkenesse and sin There is a strong man and there is a stronger man the stronger man is the Almighty Three things will cleare what power 't is that is Almighty in you What are you in 1. choise What in 2 pursuite What in 3. rest What a man chooses what a man prosecutes what a man rests in that has all is all that 's Almighty You that choose sin prosecute sin rest in sin sinne Satan is your almighty your God you are strengthned with all might from Hell The God of this World rules mightily in the children of disobedience saith the Apostle When sinners are to sin as children to a Father doing what they doe very naturally freely constantly contentedly ah lay this to heart sin is almighty Enlarge these things as you will in your selves I can say onely this you are lost men if any thing be Almighty in you but Christ As you love your soules consider what power works in you and by what strength you are rul'd You that have nothing but the strength of sinne and Satan in you what will yee doe when deliberately put to it for Christ you will deny him and blaspheme him to his face a man is and necessarily must be as the power that workes and rules in him you may think this and promise that the weakest Creatures are aptest this way but what ovâ—r-beares you now wil quite undoe you in the day of tryall These things Christians I have spoken our of feare of some but I hope well of the most of you that an Almighty arme of God is under you and an almighty spirit and power of God working in you I would it were so with all All of you may bee what any of you are Covet things that excell and CHRIST will give you excellent things an excelling strength All might The most of Christ is best the most of his power the most of his truth the most of his love and the like few hearts strongly hang after this therfore are miserable in their little of him that is all al-might and all joy and joyes so to be to that soule that pants after it All might comes in as all sinne goes out the Holy Ghost is our power and hee dwells and workes as hee can get roome Let Christ have all your affection and you shall have all his power to make you able to doe all that he shall call you to A man is made to duty as he strongly loves strong desires take and make Christ and then Christ takes and makes the man strong as strong as his worke to which hee hath such a desire God dispenseth himselfe according to his owne will and yet according to ours too 'T is the plague of most men that they desire but little of God they are heart-enemies to all power that opposes their corrupt affections The strength of God to mortify what man loves and God hates will man seeke or will God give without it All might to overcome all that overcomes the soule what men desire or thirst after this is talkt of therefore they very deservedly die under the power of their sin and in the weakenesse of their soules Grace in its measure though not according to its being is dispens'd according to desire in its measure for 't is but a prevenient capacity made by God to hold so much or so much of himselfe Christians enlarge your desires as Heaven as the wicked are said to enlarge their desires as Hell If you would have great things you must have great desires According to your affections will bee your fruitions if you desire flagons of power and love to stay you you shall be so supported if you pant after power all power to beare you up you shall be so borne up Almightinesse to action springs out of almightinesse in affection According to affection and according to faith doth the power of God worke in man Therefore is Steven said to be a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost and else-where full of faith and power Acts 6.8 According to our faith is our incorporation with that strength power which is indeed almighty and according to a Christians incorporation with this is his derived almightinesse By faith the walles of Jerico fell t was faith that made those worthies such almighty ones As the soule rests upon the almighty so is it almighty I would yee would study nothing else but faith all you have is in it Every age calls to peculiar service this age calls for almighty Christians yee see the way to it blessed are yee if yee finde it This blessednesse I will speake of in a word or two and close up this point An Almighty Christian 't is a Mordecai one set upon the Kings Horse cloathed with royall apparell and a Haman holding his bridle 'T is a man over all in God 'T is one cloathed with the Sun having the Moone under his feete 'T is a Christian with one foot on the Earth and another on the Sea trampling under foote corrupt doctrines corrupt advantages all that is unworthy of Christ and will not goe along with the soule to his everlasting home An Almighty Christian 't is one that moves in the highest Sphere in caelo chrystallino in the christall Heavens as neare the Heaven of Heavens as may be 'T is one that waites for Christ from Heaven more then for Heaven from Christ 'T is an Eagle
the King of Birds for sight and strength hee can looke to the end of what God sayes and does and stand it out expecting that end he can looke to a Canaan under a frown behold life in death An Almighty Christian can venture all upon an invisible God bind up all in one visible word hee can give an Isaac to the dead expect an Isaac from the dead believe that truth shall never die who ever die or live An Almighty Christian can live and die with an Almighty Saviour Christ alone is enough Christ alone is all Christ in poverty is riches Christ in death is life hee is in spirit still according to him that he loves and not according to what befalls him that he loves Hee is in affection according to the person of Christ the imployment of Christ and not according to accidentalia that attend him My beloved is thus and thus and therefore beloved What Christ is in himselfe takes what may fall out nothing This Christian is Christs liveli'st Emblem Looke on mee saith Gideon and doe likewise So doth hee looke on Christ and what Christ sayes hee sayes what Christ does hee does let all the World say and doe what they will He can be baptized with the baptisme wherewith Christ was baptized though a bloudy baptisme And Almighty soule on Earth what will this soule bee in Heaven One strengthened with All might is one prepared for all glory Who can number the dust of Jacob or tell the fourth part of Israel Who can number the Jewells of this Christians Crowne Or tell the fourth part of them Thine is the Kingdome Power and Glory c. Power and Glory goe in a chaine with mutuall respect as the one is so the other Looke how much of Christ here so much of glory with him hereafter As CHRIST is in any soule so hee will bee glorious in that soule So farre as hee reveales himselfe in any soule so farre hee abides and will for ever abide and challenge honour fit for such a vast being when hee comes home Hee now lives obscurely but hee will live in state according to his revenue and Seate Here is All power here must bee all Glory here are wide spacious roomes they must have hangings suitable I am all in this all I must have state answerable CHRIST glorifyes himselfe in us as hee reveales himselfe in us 'T is often hinted when much is enjoyed what it will end in at the appearing of Christ 't will best speake it selfe then I can speake no more of it now FINIS USEFULL INSTRVCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.11 Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse Doct. ALL Might Divine power workes gradually in a Christian Some have little some much some All might There was it may bee but little strength in these Christians it may be much but Surely not All might What ever there was the Apostle saw roome enough within for more occasion enough without in the World for more for much more for all that might be had and therefore so prayed Strengthened with All might c. There be heavenly places in Christ some lower some higher some highest of all and yet all heavenly and holy And hath raised us together and hath made us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus Ephes 2.6 The expression notes a graduall working of Divine power according to which wee are raised and wrought to a similitude with Christ in holinesse lesse or more The highest extension of power from Christ makes the highest Heavenly place in him that is the greatest similitude to him in purity and felicitie Our Heaven here is a growing Heaven our Kingdome a growing Kingdome we goe from glory to glory from strength to strength from a little graine to a great Tree from babes to strong men from smoking to flaming and so ascend up in that flame to a fixed glory an abiding mansion to a glory that shall admit of no ebbing nor flowing of no intension or remission of no graduality respecting the same subject Divine power workes according to order Christ comes in state into the little World line upon line precept upon precept power upon power untill all be over-power'd and the little World wholly his The Sun comes in state into the great World it is not up at the Meridian assoone as it appeares in our Horrizon it rises and rises higher and higher and so filles the great World with glory by degrees So does the Sunne of righteousnesse the little World to wit man hee is not at a Meridian height in any mans heart presently but gradually by greater and greater Revelations of power and strength hee rises to the Revelation of all power that the soule is capable of He dwells and then walkes I will dwell in you and walke in you saith the Lord. Hee takes up a dwelling and then makes long and stately walkes He makes knowne power and then great power and raises it revelando till it rises to exceeding great power that yee might know what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us ward who beleeve Ephes 1.19 Divine power workes in grace as it works in nature 't is Christs own comparison Divine power works in nature gradually by steps and degrees to perfect naturall things The Earth brings forth fruits of her selfe saith Christ first the blade then the eare after that the full Corne in the eare and then immediatly the Sickle is put in because the Harvest is ripe Mar. 4.28 So does Divine power worke in grace for this is the scope of the similitude by degrees not all at once and answerably a Christian rises to bud to blade to eare and to full Corne. When all might is reveal'd the Corne is full the state of a Christian is come to his maturity he will not be long now ere he be gather'd and hous'd in Heaven Divine power workes in man according to what God intends by man As men are design'd to Gods Service so God designes his power to their service to worke in and about them Divine power is Gods immediate agent man a mediate power is in the hand of God man in the hand of power and held up by it lower or higher as his worke is Whereunto I also labour saith the Apostle speaking of his ministeriall worke striving according to his working which worketh in me mightily Coloss 1.29 God had a mighty deale of worke to doe for the Apostle and his power wrought in him mightily He wrought without as God wrought within hee stir'd as stir'd striving according to his working c. Power is necesitated to worke gradually office and condition doth so change and vary in this World With an eye to this the Apostle prayed hee apprehended these Christians set out for great hardship and service and so hee sets upon God to raise power and force answerably for their aid Strengthened with all might c. One or two
things note for the right understanding of this point Divine power where it workes lowest in any Christian workes above the ruining power of sinne Greater is he that is in you then he that is in the World saith Christ greater when least and where least then that power which opposes him in a Christian heart Christ according to ordinary and daily residence carries the soule above the ruining power of sinne greater is hee that is in you c. They might suppose their condition the lowest of any as it is common and comely for Christians to doe and Christ condescends in speaking and takes it so and speakes of it under such a consideration and yet sayes he feare not the power that is in you is greater then the power that is against you The lowest degree of power that workes in a Christian will hold the soule that it shall not eternally miscarry what strength soever be raised to this end so that the devill shal lose his grand designe to wit the destruction of the soule The lowest degree of Divine strength is supreme strength to all power resisting as the lowest good Angel * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fortes robore Angels of his which are mighty i transcending in strength T is an Hebraisme notes a superlative Ps 103.20 Excelleth in strength all bad 2. A second note is this The state of Christians in generall under the Gospel is a very capable state of the highest revelations of power Verily verily I say unto you he that believeth on me the workes that I doe shall hee doe also and greater workes then these shall hee doe because J goe unto my Father Ioh. 14.12 Accession is now very free intercession very potent blessings are answerably necessary The expression of Christ forementioned notes that there is a peculiar intercession suited to this bright Gospell-age where in wee live our grace-capacity now is answerably necessary What intercession workes in Heaven such power and love workes forth upon Earth We live under the richest climate under the richest Heavenly influence all might and all excellence may with all ease bee obtained now in comparison of former times Vse 1 A double use I would make of this point to try you and then to stir you to acknowledge mercy as you finde it That Divine power workes gradually should make much inward observation to see how God workes in our hearts whether little or much Should be the sickenesse of your soules to finde little of God stirring in them t' will be the death of your soules not to finde power of God â—nough stirring in them to salvation Our great worke is to eye how Divine power workes without in the World but our greatest worke is to eye and observe how it workes within in our hearts I wonder at some mens temper which least of all minde this The soule of man is the noblest thing in the World t is above the world and doest thou think that hee which made it so above all for himselfe to work in is least to be heeded what he works here All paines spring from one that we have so little of God all paines and cares therefore should be turned into one what have I of God how might I have more more of his love more of his power working in my soule God gives all might to many and yet remains all might for any Man has his Heaven as hee will Hee that will have it in the full and all enjoyment of the Creature hee has it in this God filles men's bellies with this treasure Those that will have their heart in nothing but in the full and all enjoyment of God have it so hee satisfyes mens thirst let it bee what it will or how great it will Hee satisfyes the hungry belly and the hungry soule Affection is a graduall working thing and a various working thing as the power of God is Cautio est men had neede looke how it rises in thirst after any thing but God they may have their longing else in wrath and have enough of every thing in their hands to fill their bellies but not enough of the power of God in their hearts to save their soules and this will be sad indeed The power of God workes gradually say I in the hearts of men in some much so much that one may say they have all might in others little so little that one may truly say there is not power of God enough unto salvation I am not ashamed of the Gospell saith the Apostle for 't is the Power of God unto salvation Is there power of God enough working in you to rise to so much as this to salvation to soule-salvation eternall salvation Power enough to make you the sons of God T is a great unhappinesse to fall short of any power of God communicable that any blessing power of God which workes in any man should not worke in me but to fall short of so much as will make the soule fall short of its eternall rest ah Lord what misery shall I call this ScrutinuÌ„ What faith what love what joy what passion doth that power make which workes in you by this you may know whether t will prove a power Divine enough and strong enough to save your soules Yee believe in Christ wee must believe this well yet this is but one thing that power which workes this workes more and further if it worke effectually unto life Yee believe in Christ t is well doe yee love Christ too his word his people his wayes How strong is this love as strong as death to the death of sinne and selfe I meane the deniall of both Remember this one thing for all power where it works unto salvation strong enough to save a sinner it makes strong passion lasting passion and all towards Christ and truth Christ is faire fairest the fairest of ten thousand that is the fairest of all so to day so to morrow so every day to the last day to the end as that love which set power at work in the heart is Divine power when and where it workes unto life takes the heart first there it begins A man loves assoone as he lives Christ truth whatsoever is holy There is a desire of milke yea sincere milke in new borne babes in babes assoone as berne there is love love to truth love to pure and sincere truth to the pure and Holy word and wayes of God there is even in babes desire Divine affection panting after that light which came downe from Heaven O what is truth what is Christ would I know him would I could enjoy him First faith is most indiscernable first love which workes from it is most discernable t is so strong and pure and therefore I most mention this passion in this case to discover the power that workes in you Divine power makes a divine nature where it workes to salvation a man is another Creature in desire then what he was
speaking and doing how hee does shape all to a gaining and saving end of lost man Glorious power how big-bellied with Heaven are these words what a transcendent shape have they to save In what a little can God wrap up much in what a little all in a word Heaven in a word the Heaven of Heavens in a word he wraps up glory infinite glory According to his glorious power How smilingly doth Heaven look upon us in this expression God breakes out glory in your very faces here can yee see so much of the World to come and in this World and not admire FINIS USEFULL INSTRVCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.11 According to his Glorious power c. ALL Starres are glorious but some are very neere the Sun and double in magnitude and glory and as a sun in comparison of other stars All dispensations of grace are glorious but some exceede in glory so full of Christ and glory that they give a great resemblance in the heart of his triumphant state in glory and set the soule as in the borders of Heaven when the body is in the belly of Hell this is here called glorious power as appeares by the expressions following unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulnesse He speaks of such an assisting power as is superior to all opposing power and makes up of it selfe to the soule whatsoever the Creature could and much more According to his glorious power Doct. WE are come now to the sight of the holy-Land there be glimpses of Heaven upon Earth power workes glitteringly and gloriously here Christ hath a glorious Dominion in dying man Strengthened with all might according to his loving glorious power c. Things which give being give beauty and being glory and being Esse tale esse esse et radiatum esse Splendidum esse Nature hath a power to put forth and a power to shape unto beauty and glory the earth gives vertue and glory life and beauty which makes the earth such a glorious foote-stoole under us So doe the Heavens give influence and glory the Sun derives not onely influence but its very glory to the Sars which makes the Heavens such a fruitfull and such a glorious Canope over us So doth the Sun of righteousnesse give glory and vertue We are called to glory and vertue According as his Divine power hath given us all things that pertaine unto life and godlinesse through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and vertue 2 Pet. 1.3 Divine power makes vertue glory and vertue that is grate unto a glorious and very Heavenly height grace unto tranquillity and tryumph let disadvantages in the World be what they will Hee spake this to sufferers they might thinke their calling to be to nothing but misery or at least to nothing but naked godlinesse and Gospell-profession which exposes to much hardship no saith he yee are called to more then naked vertue then meere conscience according to such Gospell-prnciples yee are called to glory and vertue to the participation of such vertue as will worke gloriously and never leave working so let what opposition soever be made till it rise above all opposition unto all glory Divine power workes in order to truth The promise to us Gentiles is which stand not in the first and prime relation not in the highest sphere of love rest yea glorious rest dispensations so rich as to rise unto glory joy and tryumph as their rest above is And in that day there shall be a roote of Jesse stand for an ensigne of the people to it shall the Gentiles seeke and his rest shall be glorious glory saith the Originall i a rest so glorious as shall be very neere that glory which is above He shall quiet guilty conscience and crown it sprinckle it and adorne it hee shall give a spirit of Peace and a spirit of tryumph a glorious rest a rest next to that above where there is no restlessenesse nor any thing wanting that may make the soule fully happy The promise is a Lord and a glorious Lord streames yea Rivers broad Rivers But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad Rivers and streames c. The expressions note Divine Power working gloriously Isa 33.21 in the Kingdome of grace raising grace here under the Gospell to a glorious height a power setting the soule in Heaven the body being in Earth the soule in glory though the body in shame These are the words of promise now the worke of power is to make words of promise words of truth to accomplish truth to give full being to all that God hath said that not a tittle fall to the ground Power workes gloriously necessarily as engaged by promise Divine power workes in order to dignity and majesty as well as in order to truth Christ hath a Kingdome and a throne here as well as above and Kingdomes and thrones must not onely have power simplicitèr but power ornatè not onely a power which is absolutely necessary to uphold the being of such a thing but power also to adorne dignify and felicitate such a being upheld Kings and Kingdomes have a power unto glory as well as a power unto life and lively-hood I will fasten him as a naile in a sure place and hee shall be for a glorious throne unto his Fathers house Isa 22.23 Power workes in order to state as well as in order to truth he shall be for a glorious throne We are Kings and therefore must necessarily have power ornatè power gloriously working in us grace and grace unto glory being and triumphing There is being in Christ and triumping in Christ triumphing is glorious power and this necessarily belongs to a crown a Kingdom Power workes in Order to expresse words and to types and shadowes it doth in the new house as it did in the Old and more They had presence filling presence glorious filling presence The glory of the Lord filled that house so doth this power workes thus still presence filling presence and glorious filling presence There is grace riches of grace and exceeding riches an inheritance riches of inheritance and riches of glory and all in the Saints That you may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints Eph. 1. They had aide and glorious aide under the old Covenant power and glorious power so have wee and much more our Ministration doth exceed in glory saith the Apostle by how much nearer all glory then they Power workes and will worke still more and more glorious within and without as the Christian world drawes nearer and nearer full glory as all things worke stronge stnearest their spring and rise Power workes gloriously now but it will worke far more gloriously every day then other the Moone will become a Sun and the Sun seven fold more glorious then now it is Power workes in order to its own absolute nature Nothing is too
t is a spirit of the right breed for the devil t will fight and fight till death t will worke to the utmost vires as long as nerves and sinewes bind bones together 't is everlasting burning which nothing will quench but its owne bloud Saints have had the triall on 't long long suffering A Christians condition is qualifyed Tristitia laetis he hath sweet things and bitter in every dish downe along to the lower end of his Table al-long his life he shall know that he is not at home He hath enough sometimes to say 't is good being here but never enough to say 't is best being here His rapture hath a rupture a sad breaking off his glory a shadow his statue a curtain drawen before it his heavenly vision is let down and drawen up his sunshines and clap's in suitable to this clowdy and impure region thus it doth through out the day Few and evill many and evill all evil doth good Iacob call his dayes so were all his sweets imbitter'd and qualifyed by God If one mercy be come another must be gon if corne be come Benajmin must be gon some thing for life is come and he that had the fathers soule must be gone If some children come home well some evil is befallen the rest Joseph is without doubte rent in pieces Gen. 37.33 So 't was with the blessed seed afterward which inherited the promise Milke and Hony and prickes in the sides whilst eating on 't and so it must be all a long as long as in Canaan the best people long sufferers in the best place that earth will afford A Christians condition is improved Christians are Gods Vineyard into this Vineyard God sends labourers to worke hard and to worke so long to the sixth ninth and last houre to make much fruit Afflictons are Gods day-labourers they work and worke thoroughout mans day to plow and breake up his fallow heart to grub up rootes bitter rootes and to prepare the way of the Lord for good fruit As God hath day-labourers to belabour the eare the heart the inward man and these kept at worke till the ninth and last houre of mans life so hee hath day-labourers to be labour the back the belly the outward man and these kept at worke as long as the other as long as man lives the one to prepare the way for the other one to plow and breake up and the other to sow The heart of man hath an unexpressible hardnesse the hardnesse of an Adamant many blowes will not break this stone it must be soakt in teares and in bloud long Afflictions are bitters to weane To moderate in lawfull things from sweets that are not necessary There is but one necessary the soule makes many t is whipt and whipt long ere 't will leave this Some children are not easiy to weane bitters must be laid upon the breast and lie long there ere the dug be cast off 't was long ere David could say Lord my heart is not haughty surely I have behaved and quieted my selfe as a child that is wean'd of his mother To take away unlawfull things Afflictions are to take away sinne By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sinne c. Isa 27.9 Afflictions and sufferings were onely to torture sin this might quickly be done but they are to take away sinne this is long work The furnace is to purify it must be heate and heate long to melt and segregate to discover disperse and take away drosse Afflictions are to worke truth in the inward parts t is long ere man be good at heart they are to heighten integrity t is longer ere the heart become so upright as to be a heart after Gods owne heart t is long ere a foule stomake will be made vomit up all t is long ere man will be brought to observe all Gods will this makes great plagues and of long continuance If thou will not observe to doe all the words of this Law that are written in this booke that thou maist feare this glorious and fearefull name THE LORD THY GOD. Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderfull and the plagues of thy seed even great plagues and of long continuance and sore sickenesses and of long continuance Deutrenomy 28.58 59. God puts weight To serve in truth great weight upon truth to make it enter and make thorough impression truth is managed with great art to put back every spring and to make the bolt goe forth as far as it should and as fast and facile as it should Let these sayings sinke downe into your eares for the Sun of man shall be delivered into the hands of men Luke 9.44 Christ made a weight of himselfe and ties this to his words to make them sinke down into mens hearts he makes a weight now of us speakes and then strikes strikes and strikes often and long and then sayes secretly to the soule let these and these words now sinke down into their eares Christ is faine to bore way for truth to bore a long hole from the eare to the heart and this many times is a long while a doing six yeeres ten yeers twenty yeers A Christians condition is conform'd 't is made to speake Christ within and without in spirit in flesh the booke is written within and without in our soules in our bodies we are made to beare the markes of the Lord Jesus markes broad and long just like his in every circumstance The plowers made long furrowes on his back as long as his life he was acquainted with griefe griefe and hee were long acquaintance his whole voiage about this lower world was in stormes A man of sorrowes his life made up of sighs groans teares words bloud thus breath'd thus expir'd a mourning life a bleeding death The servant is as his Lord sufferers both as long as livers in this World the Apostle apprehended these Christians would finde it so therefore so prayd Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulnesse Vse I have given you a survey of the way to Heaven expect dirty lanes and very long The way is narrow t is so all along scratching and tearing thornes and briers on both sides touching one another that 't is hard to make one step skin-whole Can yee beare these sayings Can yee beare such doings Can yee beare till your backes ake Can yee beare till your backes breake Can yee beare till you sinke and die under your burden Can yee suffer long as long as yee live Can yee leave all and follow Christ all your state all your limbes all your comforts al your dayes Can yee spend and end your dayes in misery to be blessed in another world you may think yee can doe so and be deceived Peter did so I will speake to this point a little There be three sorts of hearts which
moved upon the Chaos It workes not in reference to any preceding worke or signe of enducement much lesse ingagement All are under sinne dead a Chaos and he quickens whom he will all inducement is onely from GOD and will An out roome here below hee would have and he sayd let there be this and let there be that and it was so and this was the manner of raising it so now a roome he will have here below more inward from the noise of the World and hee sayd Ephata let this window be opened and let there be light and 't is so Vessels hee will have for this low roome and he makes them al himselfe according to absolute will hee makes one to honour c. Terminus creandi est 't is a terme of Creation Synonimicall with this in my Text who hath made us meete i by his word and of his one free wil. Media gratiae ordinem creationis subeunt The meanes of grace have the order of Creation stamp'd upon them Christ the great wheele that turnes all other wheeles of our salvation is made unto us what he is and made of God Who of God is made unto us wisdome righteousnesse c. 1 Cor. 1.30 Christ is a full Sea indeed but not a drop to us but as made of God So we are made able Ministers of the new Testament not of the letter but of the spirit Could such a poore man as I by speaking a while to the eare turne the heart from sinne to Christ did not a creating blessing sit on my lips Divine institutions have the formality of a Creation in them because they have what they have and doe what they doe from supreame power onely above all cause and reason Other meanes have their reason in them as a cause Therefore are institutions and meanes of grace here not so much as mentioned onely the Father meanes are so beside likelyhood and reason to so noble an end as to make and fit soules for Heaven Giving thankes to the Father who hath made c. None else worthy to be so much as mention'd in this noble worke Grace is a Creation Creatio talis creatio ' and 't is such a Creation there is Creatio transiens continuans Grace is a continued Creation The Father workes hitherto and I worke hee speakes of Gods working grace under the motion of Creation and in that very phrase that wee should call the working of grace a Creation The Creation of the World ceased in so many dayes Transiens and God rested from that labour and doth still but the the Creation of grace lasts hithertoo 't is the worke of the Trinity to this day without resting and how long yet further 't will be whether to the end of the externall Creation I cannot say The Word of God is a lively word it hath a spirit in it this is the worke of the Trinity still to put spirit into the Word to make living words and so living soules So the workes of God are lively workes what God does ' has a voice the staffe a voice all that God sayes and does all his words and works they are made lively that is breathing and forming eternall life in man by a transcendent concurrence of Father Son and holy Ghost the first is here mention'd to wit the Father the rest are to be understood to wit the Sun the holy ghost the workes of the Trinity ad extra are not to be divided Giving thankes to the Father i to Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Who hath made us meete c. Under this terme made the Word of God and workes of God are meant as meanes for he speakes in the foregoing Verse of sufferings which attend truth which are al conducing to this noble end to fit man for God Grace 't is a new Creation Nova a Creation that makes old things passe away things as old as the old Creation and then things to become new 'Tas destruction in it and then erection and edification it takes away and then sets up it destroyes sinnes which are old things as old as the Devill and then sets up grace takes away the stone and then builds with flesh this is the fashion and manner of building within kils the old man and then makes a new new light new love this makes a new heart a new Creature a new man Who hath made us c. i who hath made us againe who hath made us anew Grace is a hid Creation Abscondita 't is formatio secreta our life is hid Know'st thou the way of the spirit in man 't is as the way of a Bird in the Aire 't is as the way of the wind in the Earth very unknowne Invisibles stellae A new name which none knowes but he that hath it 't is meate to eat which the World knows not of no which Christians know not of One Christian doth not know what meate another Christian hath at his Table nor how sweete not what guests nor how merry together J have meate to eate which yee know not of A Christian is bound in the spirit and cannot see the girdle raised high and cannot see the hand taught wisdome secretly and like Samuel cannot tell the voice warmed and cannot describe the fire the soule as in Heaven and yet in the body and then whether in the body or out of the body cannot tell As there is killing without hand so there is making alive without hand without any seene or to be discerned Trees have their sap and seed in them their sap and life is hid it creepes up under the barke and puts out gloriously but very secretly and unexspressibly beyond all demonstration so is the way of grace and the working of the spirit of God in man Interna Grace is an internall Creation it makes a new heart and a new spirit 't is glory within t is bones broken not flesh and set againe and made glad 't is a heart prickt wounded and heal'd not a head Grace 't is the foreskin of the heart taken away a Jew inwardly 't is great hammering yet no noyse heard 't is so inwardly a cry but none heard in the streetes t is in such inroomes 't is not onely the hand without put forward but the watch-wheeles within set right to the sun Grace 't is Anima indivisibilis the soule broken all to pieces by supreame power and curiously by the same power set together againe Grace is glory within a roome of royall repose private 't is Christ in the heart of the Earth the Kingdome of God is within us The words which Christ speakes they are spirit and life so are all his workes which now he workes they are spirit and life i of life upon the spirit hee hath done all his workes without doore all his worke now is within spirit upon spirit not a worke more should be wrought now were it not to make
at such a place for echo Some things are done so and so to suite and joynt to others The holy Land was divided by Lot immediate providence caryed it there Friendship made no revenue in Canaan Gods own hand cast every man his fortune so big and so good in such a place in the Mountaines or in the vallies with springs or without Divine dispensations are harmonious Heaven comes in no new way to us God gives as he did give Hee did give Canaan with his owne hand so hee gives Heaven Power wrought very immediate to plant our fathers in the holy Land Ioshuah did cast lots and so divided the Land power did worke very immediate to plant persons there so it doth to plant Persons above I goe before to provide a place Iosh 18.10 c. Our Ioshuah assignes our mansion situation building conveyance all done with Christs own hand I goe c. Though power worke without hand yet not without rule not a word spoke nor a worke done by Christ but with scope and look to some rule though sometimes that rule be a great way off as far as Heaven Truth fulfils Types dispensations under each covenant one eccho to another Canaan went by Lot so does Heaven the lot of Saints Dispensations of grace and glory suite Gory is suited to grace in dispensation as grace is suited to glory in fruition as really the same Heaven and Christ come both one way to a Christian by immedate providence grace and glory are wrought both with Gods own hand 'T is the finger of God that turnes the heart towards Heaven and that turnes the heart into Heaven Grace is an inspiration glory is so too there is no remoter agent of either then Gods own spirit A soule and such a soule so happy and so glorious was breathed altogether into Adams nostrils The breath of Gods own mouth makes alive stil and the breath of his owne mouth cast varnish and glory upon that being to maturation 'T is Christ al in al here 't is no otherwise above Christ al in al no lesse makes grace and no more is glory Grace is such an immediation according to such a location glory is such an immediatioÌ„ according to such a translocation Christ is next to and onely with the soule in both Vse If this point were rightly applied to the heart hope would not fall respecting great favours depending providence hath more wayes then one to bring great things to us it can worke with hands and without hands divine power can bring a Heaven to you on its owne shoulders cast a Heaven upon you as a Lot into your lap in a very immediate way beyond all provision or expectation God does most and best for man alone when hee has no toole or no toole considerable in his hand Wee have a Heaven depending but yet a hell betweene us and it and no man can see but one way to it if that way do not hit which we propose we are all undone this is almost every ones vote This point should relieve us in this desperate case respecting our great feares our great hops which are so opposed There are great mountaines before Zerubbabell great hindrances in the way of our great mercies so that we see no likelyhood in an ordinary way how or when our great Heaven desired should arriue with us Let the point in hand support the greatest favours come in the most immediate way of providence heavenly favors come to us as if they did drop out of Heaven The more heavenly and divine the mercies are which wee expect in the more divine and immediate way they 'l descend The stone shall be cut out without hands that shall smite the image of various mixtures and breake it to pieces new Ierusalem comes downe out of Heaven Power will worke in a very immediate way to bring in that new Heaven into the Christian World which now the Christian World is labouring for Yet once more I shake not the earth only Heb. 12.26 but also Heaven God himselfe will after a speciall manner set his own shoulders to shake that rotten heaven of mens inventions and those which set their shoulders to keepe it up and make battery with such Cannon as we are not aware of Not by might nor by power but by my spirit saith the Lord respecting the building of that house which typifyed this Not by might nor power i not by humane strength so much as by his owne power shall the old Heaven be destroyed and the new erected We expect our Heaven too low from men but 't will come from God when it comes As 't is a great favour so ' â—will come in state in the way of sublime favors very sublimely Magicians great heads and divellish wits shall be non-plust by God owne finger and art not by mens wisdome and art Egiptians shall be drownned on a sudden by a stratageme made in Heaven and managed from heaven Iericho shall fall by Faith by making no more or the power of men of Swords and Guns then of Rammes-hornes but magnifying the power of Christ and trusting in that Surely wee are yet too many and too strong to be delivered Christians I would yee were skilled in the way of GOD. GOD keeps his Old way in bestowing great things and yet yee wonder and murmur your folly is your owne affliction and many's more Things of great worth Christ will trust no Messenger with them but bring them himselfe Christ will trust none to bring your Heaven to you neither your Heaven here nor hereafter Men are false they would marre your heaven and bring you an old one in stead of a new one or an old one new patcht up Blessed be he that will bring a new heaven to us all new divine favours in their maturity though every man be trampled under foote and none seene in the worke but God though he trample all men in the dirt and he onely be left alive with the cause in his hand If men would allow God his way they would never be at a losse of Faith so fearefully as they are Yee open one doore and there comes in nothing but your shame yee set open another doore of your owne for Christ to come in at and there also comes in nothing but your folly and shame Ah Lord When will yee looke up and expect Christ from Heaven Do not great things come in a very immediate way to man Hath God tyed himselfe to do every great worke with such and such great meanes as your eye is fixed upon to cast out a Legion of bad spirits with a Legion of good Is not one enough to do it Christ brings an eternall weight of glory upon his owne Shoulders to your doores can he not bring a temporall weight of of glory which is far easier alone Thou art great and dost great things thou art God alone sayth the Psalmist We thinke God is not God nor able to do like a
thy word is truth saith Christ Sanctity is made by truth Gods truth Gods truth is his word his words are truth Thy word is truth not Bishops words nor any mans word to square holynesse by Holinesse is motion from Christ to Christ A soule taking rise from truth and so going to God making Gods Word Gods way to himselfe Profane holinesse is faithlesse meere action rested on The person takes his goodnesse from his workes when hee hath to doe with me yea when he hath to doe with God for life God I thanke thee I am not as other men Why I doe this and that His owne menstruous ragges his robes in which he glories When the talke is about Heaven the eye is upon workes have I not done this and that c Doing must make saving or else no doing What shall I doe to be saved And because 't would not doe that way hee gets gone Justice of action makes not Justice of person did so but does not now few men are practically cleere in this point which makes great measures of holinesse sinking and damning wickednesse Motion by rule does not reach rule men come short in Justice of action and yet this must be their holinesse Much holinesse in mans eye is none in Gods You call saints which God calles divells A man in his own righteousnesse is as black as hell in Gods Eye Christ is our sanctification Sanctity is Christ advanced to rule and save soule and all given up to him to be ordered and blessed life ordered to his approbation here person and life left wholly to him for commendation above Holinesse t is love become divine and making with all her might to please Christ that in him shee may be well pleasing to the father Holinesse goes through two hands but the last gives it its formality denomination In us t is duty in Christ t is sanctity properly wee give every good thought word and worke a rough shape Christ a full form We mar things Christ makes both them and us If these things have made any discovery let every one call himselfe as he is There are but two sorts of men with God holy and prophane Saints and wicked 'T is hard to bring men to rank themselves right The worst will not owne their condition nor their place no Officer of Christ can make them keep rankes with evill doers and expect their inheritance wherefore these are the two things that I would a little presse upon sinners Sinners honour truth and confesse your state Lay hands on a bad heart and bring it forth to the great searcher of secrets and charge it with its owne My heart is wicked my person abominable my state damnable Sinners can yee thus judge your selves No. Why Then you will be judged of the Lord. What a man will not lay hands on and bring forth to God God will judge it where it lies the sinne you keepe close shall burne in your bones David found it so shall not a wicked man much more Hee that hideth his sinne hardens his soule and hardens GOD to cut it off hee can never prosper Hypocrisie discovered by truth and the man not owne it Ah Lord Grace is frustrated Justice onely must goe to worke upon this soule T is dreadfull to mee to thinke what shuffling some make to beare up before the light that condemnes them you make a halter for your owne neckes in this to be dispatch't quickly You fight with light because yee love darkenesse what doe yee thinke will be the end of this You make fuell for consuming fire to flame forth against you Owne your state call evill evill Expect your inheritance As a man is so hee has Dignity goes according to quality still with God The wicked inherit wrath An hypocrites fortune lies all in a lake and that Lake hath no fish in it but Serpents no water in it but fire no fire for use but fire to choke fire and brimstone In the lap of Delilah fancy workes goldenly men devoted to please themselves fancy befooles them they expect nothing but brave things but believe the holy ghost an hypocrites hope will perish Yee unholy soules What doe yee looke for now Doe yee not frame your expectation sui table to your fortune Doe yee looke for any thing now but a sword for your bodies and a hell for your soules This is very considerable There is not any reliefe allowed an ungodly man Expectation is to be torture to the wicked as well as present dealing Hee may not comfort himselfe in hope when in present distresse Tell him his hope saith the holy Ghost shall be as the giving up of the Ghost as his state is so let his thoughts worke let not one thought bring in reliefe to him no not those which goe furthest off and take in longest time to doe it let not any thoughts no let not one thought goe forth in hope to relieve this man Expectation is the proper reliefe of Saints therefore are they called so often to hope in God Other mens hearts must breake when their Estate breakes their thoughts for the future must be more burdensome then their state for the present is miserable to thinke what is behinde yet t is bad 't will be worse I am in hell I shall be in another bigger Conscience burnes already 't will burne worse I shall goe from burning to burning Can yee thus make expectation suitable to fortune Sinners can yee expect hell Can yee please your selves with the expectation of such an inheritance None else may yee lawfully looke for If yee like not this mend your manners Look after a sanctifyed condition Sanctity is a supreme birth Now are yee cleane through the Word which J have spoken unto you John 15.3 Cleansing words fall onely from CHRISTS Mouth His breath is emollient opening and loosening of filth about the breast and heart Onely supreme Majesty can over-master a loose soule Man cannot make you holy Ordinances cannot Christ onely cleanseth Lepers I will bee thou cleane The Plague of the heart hath but one Physitian hee unused and 't is irrecoverably mortall Of what price is Christ with you yee prophane soules Doe yee hang about him as an onely Physitian As he alone that hath soule cleansing niterâ— Or doe yee lie in your filth and study one sinne to drive out the sense of another and say you are cleane when more filthy Ah Lord Will dirt fetch out dirt Will addition make no number Will adding to sinne make no sinne This filthy wretch is sentenced he has his secret doome Let him be filthy still Sanctity 't is a free birth The Sunne filles the world with riches smilingly 'T is meate and drinke to Christ to make bad soules good the worst best to forgive much that they may love much Grace falles from Heaven as freely as dew thou hast the dew of thy youth The laver of Regeneration cost Christ deare and yet hee washes sinfull soules with it for