a Christian all these sweet expressions aptly point out this in my Text to wit that strengthning and relieving power which carries along and finishes the first worke strengthened with all might c. Divine power as it workes towards a Christian works effectually The word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe 1 Thess 2.13 An effectuall power subjected to worke for man works and works again and never leaves working till it hath effected its worke which is preservation unto salvation grace unto life This power works creando corroborando creating and strengthening it maks the soule passe from strength to strength till it be above all opposing strength and expired safe and compleat into that breast from whence it was first breathed This expression effectuall power is an expression of dreadfull importance it notes that divine power works sometimes by halves not effectually Something towards birth and towards a man-child some pangs and throwes but makes but an abortive at last some things towards reliefe but sinkes and dies and le ts that which seemed to be come to nothing but when it works effectually it makes grace and carries on that grace to glory it makes a Christian and then it strengthens him to abide so to death against deadly opposition Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse Finally Divine power as it works about a Christian works perpetually 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the utmost as you have it expressed which is very lively Heb. 7.25 it layes out it selfe to the furthest all vires Divinoe potentiae are stretcht and made to beare and carry to eternity to carry unto death thorough death beyond death above death as that mighty expression is Ps 48.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Supra mortem To resolve it selfe into everlasting Armes that is a power subjected to use a Divine power subjected to humane use everlastingly so as to leave no place no possibility of miscarrying to a Christian let what will be or can be on this side death in death or beyond death so long as the soule is Divine power is so subjected to worke about a Christian as not to lose its worke no whit of its worke what ever losse he made otherwise upon the man as a man troubles may make losse upon a man as a farmer as a Gentleman as a Noble-man but not upon man as a Christian power is subjected so to worke as to carry up carry on carry out all its own works about the soule in perpetuum To all eternity Argumen ∣ tum Power subjected to worke about a Christian works from speciall love power which workes from such a love can never leave working till it has its end because love workes to the end and it works by power and all other attributes for the good of the beloved Upon this ground the Apostle Paul was confident of the Phillippians perseverance in the truth being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good worke in you will performe or finish it unto the day of Iesus Christ Phil. 1.6 Divine power as it workes strentheningly and relievingly Media explicandi is peculiar to Christians it s the same power which began a good worke continued working to finish it Where Divine power works not creatingly it works not relievingly hence 't is that one which is not a Christian indeed holds not out alwayes to be a Christian in shew hence 't is likewise that Christ saith I have lost none but a lost Creature one that was never found a child of perdition lost from the beginning a child of wrath unto wrath had he ever had grace in truth I would have strengthened it and kept it those which thou gavest me I have kept c. Ioh. 17.12 Keeping power waites about those that the Father hath given to the Son and none else all others are lost and to goe for lost Strengthening power works towards all Christians successively that is from Generation to Generation by act of solemne intercession Christ made it a solemne businesse to make free way in Heaven for a relieving and securing power to worke here on Earth as long as any Saints should be in it And now am I no more in the World but those are in the World and I come to thee Holy Father keepe through thine owne Name those whom thou hast given unto me that they may be one as we are c. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word Ioh 11. 20. The state of a Christian is botom'd in bloud founded in Christs death made out by life by Prayer and intercession all is merited by Christs bloud particulars are drawne out and conferred upon solemne intercession Christs intercession ceased not when he was on Earth the requests above mentioned I conceive to be a continuation of solemne intercession which must last till all the Saints be above all wants Heb. 7.25 He ever lives to make intercession for them he that lived on Earth was an intercessor he that dyed lives againe and goes on with that worke which he began from the wombe of the morning from the beginning of love breathing upon fallen Adam he that lives prayes he has done so from the first Saints and will doe so to the last on Earth hee makes all Prayers of Christians Gods rest and mans relief pleasing to God and strengthening to man Strenegthned with all might c. Finally all powers which worke in man worke to an eternall end powers of darkenesse all powers judiciarie which worke in sinners are to finish sin and bring sinners to their place To a condition miserable as neere the Devill as may be So all the powers which work in Christians subduing power strengthening power leading keeping carrying bosoming power are to perfect grace and bring them to glory Holy Father keepe through thine own Name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are the end of keeping power Ioh. 17.11 you see is a compleate state that they may be one as we are Divine powers worke shapingly to the highest and happiest similitude as their end and never leave working and shaping this way till they have made the felicity of the elect together the nearest and the liveliest emblem of the felicity of the Trinity which each person hath in and with each other Vse 1 Christians walke humbly this is the first thing that I would commend to you from this point your state needs reliefe your best state your graces need supporting and strengthening You had your being by grace so you have your standing by grace as strengthening and relieving mercy and compassion work towards you so will yee doe well as this declines so will yee faint and doe ill 2 Cor. 4.1 As we have received mercy we faint not saith our Apostle Our strength and supply
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
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
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
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
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
separated from life zeale from integrity an honest heart but something cold and heavy does not run well I confesse in Christian propriety of speaking but we will suppose this case and speake on let there be what integrity and honesty in the heart there will be if there be not fervent love and life warmth and heat thankesgiving will bee poore Thankfulnesse comes the deadliest off of any duty in a dead heart Some birds have longer wings then others they usually flee highest which have longest he had neede have a large strong wing'd soule that is good at thanksgiving the duty is so meerly and so highly heavenly A cold heart can doe but little at prayer but just nothing at thanksgiving you were as good goe to string a stone and play upon it as to make divine melody upon a stony cold heart Defect in natural heat maks benūmednes to action if you be benumm'd to duty certainly there is a defect in spirituall heat you are not warme enough at heart a man is in thankfulnesse as he is in strength of love strong love will fall a limming out of Christ from head to foote acutely his eyes are like his haire like that c. Thirdly as the soule is in Prayer so t is in thanksgiving as a man is in conscience to the meanes so he is in assistance to the end as a man is at one duty so he is in likelyhood and capacity to be at another Dutys they are introductive one leades into another we goe from strength to strength from the strength of one duty wee are made strong to another the blessing of one duty leaves supply behind it to bring on another higher God steps in on a sudden and lifts up the soule when the man is upon his knees A man does beyond expectation when hee humbly casts himselfe upon the means when a Christian cannot doe a divine duty let him come as neere it as he can and God steps in and makes it out When a Christian cannot give thankes let him pray and God will turne a spirit of Prayer into a spirit of praise Some are discourag'd from Prayer they can give thankes no better I come still as a Raven meerely craving why doe so still t is not impossible to God to teach a Raven to sing Finally a man is at thanksgiving according to an inward secret assistance and concurrence which no man can expresse as the spirit helps in Prayer with sighes and groans which cannot be expressed so in thanksgivings with heart-liftings and heart-raysing and ravishing which cannot be expressed Saylers to Heaven finde some times a current as Saylers here below doe in some voyages when the soule lights of this it sayles a pace whether it will or no with no paine there are secret whispers from above bunches of the holy Land tastes of the powers of the World to come these are above all to raise the soule and to set all a praysing God as the soule is brought nearer Heaven this duty becomes naturall I see some very thankefull and yet very poore scarce any thing without to make Musick on surely they have a mighty advantage within there is one winds up blowes and breakes within the instrument could never goe without any thing else so as it seemes to doe FINIS USEFULL INSTRVCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.12 Giving thanks to the Father who hath made us meete to be partakers of that inheritance of the Saints in light OUr way is mountainous every word is wonderfull high we need wonderfull aide to doe well I againe beg your Prayers I prize them above all parts to facilitate and felicitate my way make me and your selves happy in them make wings for me to ascend to Heaven my Text and worke lies all there Giving thankes to the Father who hath made us meete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Who hath made us meete 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who hath made us fit or sufficient Idoneum facere Who hath made c. Vox creationis terminus creandi * Creating and making idem sonant see Gen. 5.1 Doct. est 'T is a terme of Creation Grace is another Creation t is much out of nothing much made from nothing by nothing but by him that is all Giving thankes to the Father who hath made us meete c. The Image of God in Adam was a piece of the Creation a peculiar prime piece t is noted so In the Image of God made hee him c. Gen 5.1 The image of God was the result the ultimate the glosse the glory of the whole piece the furthest reach the designe proposed the top of creating art lay in this * Creating and making idem sonant see Gen. 5.1 Doct. in the likenesse of God made hee man c. This prime piece was lost deeply lost generation will not reach it regeneration onely can the result of generation is but mans image nakedly and no more Gods image is a piece that beares still upon Creation Who hath made us meete One miserable Creature brings forth another no Creature makes another good Men of gifts have not this gift men of grace cannot make gracious The skilfullest man cannot set another in Christ he must be created in We are created in Christ Jesus unto good workes c. Saith the Apostle Men whose art and trading lies onely this way to make gracious yet these cannot we are but instruments by whom men believe but pipes thorough which grace is conveyed the fountaine open is Christ He is the fountaine of life life and the fountaine thereof spirits bubble and spring out of his bosome and blood Fountaine 't is a terme that notes no reception because none knowen is used by the holy Ghost as Melchisedeck to set forth a transcendent thing a worke immediatly and onely from God as Creation was so would the Apostle have this word sound in our eare which is used in my Text who hath made us meet who alone i hath done this as he did things at first Cunctis patientibus every thing laying meerely passiue as the Chaos before him The naturall spirit is still created you give Semen sanguinis semen carnis but not Semen spiritus the seed of flesh and bloud but not the seed of your soules you bring nothing to this glorious worke not a stone not a dust to our inmost roome God breathes the soule still if the naturall spirit much more the divine the holy spirit Gives the holy spirit to them that aske it Grace is another inbreathing another in spiration upon expiration solemne request as dead an immediate Act from Gods owne Mouth as the first breathing of the soule was not leaning to or admitting of any subordination or co-ordination No Father hath grace but God Giving thankes to the Father who hath made mee c. The way of grace is via creationis the way of Creation The spirit moves freely absolutely first as it did when it