be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own Pleasure but he for our Profit that we might be partakers of his Holiness The Apostle argueth à minori ad majus None can be such a Father as the Lord so wise as he so loving as he God putteth on all Relations He hath the Bowels of a Mother the Wisdom of a Father He is a Mother for tenderness of Love Isa. 49.15 Can a Woman forget her sucking Child that she should not have compassion on the Son of her Womb Yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee A Father for Wisdom and Care Mat. 6.31 32. Take no thought saying What shall we eat c. for your Heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all these things Earthly Parents sometimes chastise their Children out of meer Passion at least there is some mixture of Corruption but the Lord's Dispensations are managed with much Love and Judgment Therefore say as Christ John 18.11 The Cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink of it It is a bitter Cup but it cometh from the Hand of a Father our Father gave it us and our Elder Brother began it to us we should love the Cup the better ever since Christ's Lips touched it 2. With Hope When we are perplexed we should not be in despair but sustain our selves under our great Hopes 1 John 3.2 Now we are the Sons of God but it doth not yet appear what we shall be We have the Right of Children though afflicted our Estate and Patrimony is in the Heavens An Heir in his Nonage is under Tutors and Governors He is born to a great Possession but kept under a severe Discipline The Hour is come 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That Hour 1. That Hour which was defined in God's Decrees set down and appointed by the Council of the Trinity not by Fate or any Necessity of the Stars but by God's wise Providence and Ordination No Man could take Christ till his Hour was come John 7.30 Then they sought to take him but no Man laid hands on him because his Hour was not yet come But when this Hour was come the Son of God was brought under the power of Men and liable to the Assaults of Devils Therefore he saith Luke 22.53 This is your Hour and the Power of Darkness No Calamity can touch us without God's Will The Hour the Measure all the Circumstances of Sufferings fall under the Ordination of God It is not only a General Ordinance that we shall suffer Affliction the Apostle mentioneth that 1 Thess. 3.3 Let no Man be moved by this Affliction for your selves know that you were thereunto appointed It is the Ordinance of God that the Way to Heaven should lie through an howling Wilderness All the Saints in Heaven knew no other Road Afflictions seem one of the Way-marks But we speak now of another Appointment of determinating all the Circumstances of the Affliction the Time the Measure the Instruments It is the Comfort of a Christian that nothing can befal him but what his Father will A Sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without our Heavenly Father Mat. 10.29 The wise Lord hath brewed our Cup and moulded and shaped every Cross. All the ounces of Gall and Wormwood are weighed out by a wise Decree and our Cup is tempered by God's own Hand We storm many times because of such and such Accidents and Circumstances of the Cross as if we would have God ask our Vote and Advice and as if our Opinion were a better Ballance wherein to weigh things than Divine Providence Providence reacheth to every particular Accident Your Doom was long since written such a Vessel of Mercy shall be thus and thus broached and pierced every Wound and Sorrow is numbred 2. That Hour which was determined and foretold in the Prophecies God doth all things in fit Seasons he hath his Days and Hours Daniel understood by Books the number of the Years Dan. 9.2 Habak 2.3 The Vision is for an appointed time It easeth the Heart of much distraction when we consider there is a Period fixed There is a Clock with which Providence keepeth Time and Pace and God himself setteth it It is good for us to wait the Lord's Leisure God himself waiteth as well as we Isa. 30.18 He waiteth that he may be gracious He letteth the course of Causes run on till the fit Hour and Moment of Execution be come when he may discover himself with most advantage to his Glory and the Comfort of his Servants and God waiteth with as much earnestness as you do I speak after the manner of Men Isa. 16. 14. But now hath the Lord spoken saying Within three Years as the Years of an Hireling and the Glory of Moab shall be contemned c. as the Hireling waiteth for the Time of his Freedom and when he is to receive his Wages Moab was a bitter Enemy Therefore let us wait John 8.7 Your Times are always ready but my Time is not yet come We draw Draughts of Providence with the Pencil of Fancy and then confine God to the Circle of our own Thoughts as if he must be always ready at our Hours 3. The Hour is come the Sufferings of God's People are very short To our Sense and Feeling they seem long because Carnal Affections are soon tired but the Word doth not reckon by Centuries and Years but Moments Psal. 30.5 Weeping may endure for a Night but Joy cometh in the Morning All Temporal Accidents are nothing compared to Eternity The Sorrows of our whole Life are but one Nights Darkness This light Affliction that is but for a Moment saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 4.17 Set Time against Eternity and we shall want words to declare the shortness of it Our Hour will be soon ended Wait a while and we shall be beyond Fears The Martyrs in Heaven do not think of Flames and Wounds and Saws these were the Sufferings of a Moment John 16.21 A Woman when she is in Travail hath sorrow because her Hour is come but as soon as she is delivered of the Child she remembreth no more the Anguish for joy that a Man is born into the World John 16.16 A little while and ye shall not see me and again a little while and ye shall see me To Faith the time between Christ's departure and his second coming is but as the time between his Death and Resurrection for of that Christ also speaketh as is clear by the subsequent Context We measure all by sense and therefore cry How long how long as Men in pain will count Minutes but look to the endless Glory within the Vail and it is nothing We should especially take this Comfort to our selves in Sickness and Death it is but an Hour Wink and thou shalt be in Heaven said a Martyr 4. The Hour is come saith Christ and therefore prayeth When the sad Hour is come the
orasse est bene studuisse Every Minister findeth Prayer to be his best Comment So should you pray before and after reading the Scriptures as you do before and after you receive your bodily Food You do not know how Prayer will clear up the Eyes Psal. 119.18 Open thou mine Eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law There is some excellency in the Letter of the Scriptures but this is nothing to what we see by the Spirit it will make a Man wonder at the Excellency Efficacy Consonancy of these Truths a Man seeth far more than ever he saw before The Spirit is needful both to open the Heart and to open the Scriptures Luke 24.32 Did not our Hearts burn when he opened to us the Scriptures compared with Vers. 45. Then opened he their Vnderstanding that they might understand the Scriptures To understand the Truth and to give us an active and certain Perswasion of it to open the Heart Acts 16.14 inclining it to Obedience giving in Light that works a ready Assent and firm Perswasion bringing forward the Heart with Power to Obedience In dark Places and difficult Cases when you have no certainty you should cry for Knowledg and lift up your Voice for Vnderstanding as the blind Man that cried to Jesus Lord that I might receive my sight Mark 10.52 4. Study the Creatures God is known out of his Word but his Works give us a sensible demonstration of him You have David's Night and Day-Meditation His Night-Meditation Psal. 8.3 When I consider thy Heavens the Work of thy Hands the Moon and the Stars which thou hast ordained not a word of the Sun the most noble Creature Psal. 19.5 he speaks of the going forth of the Sun like a Bridegroom coming out of his Chamber and rejoicing as a strong Man to run a Race that is his Morning-Meditation When we walk out in the Night or Morning we may think of God view his stupendous Works The Heathens had no other Bible Consider that the huge weight of the Earth hangeth on nothing like a Ball in the Air. Job 26.7 He stretcheth out the North upon the empty Place and hangeth the Earth upon Nothing Consider the Beauty of the Heavens with their Ornaments the Bounding of the Sea the Artifice in the frame of the smallest Creatures the Excellent Ministries and Subordination of the Services of the Creatures one to another c. 5. Spiritualize every outward Advantage so as to raise your Hearts in the contemplation of God As when we observe the Wisdom of a Father or the Bowels of a Mother let us take occasion to exalt the Love and Care of God as from a Mother's Bowels Isa. 49.15 Can a Woman forget her sucking-Child that she should not have compassion on the Son of her Womb Yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee From the Wisdom of a Father Mat. 7.11 If ye then being Evil know how to give good Gifts unto your Children How much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask him Tam Pater nemo tam pius nemo So the Centurion mentions his own Command and Government when he desires Christ to put forth his Power Mat. 8.8 9. Speak the Word only and my Servant shall be healed For I am a Man under Authority having Souldiers under me and I say to this Man Go and he goeth and to another Come and he cometh and to my Servant Do this and he doth it As if he should say All Sicknesses are at thy beck as well as these Souldiers at mine In your Carriage to your Children and theirs to you you may sublimate your Thoughts to consider of that Commerce between you and God So in the Work of your Callings a little is useful for bringing great Matters to pass think of Providence I press this because it will be a double Advantage it will keep the Heart Heavenly and you will serve Faith out of common Experiences and so it will help us in our Notions of God For if limited Creatures go thus far how much more excellent is God! 6. Purge your Heart more and more from Carnal Affections these are the Clouds of the Mind As in Fenny Countries the Air is seldom clear Blessed are the pure in Heart for they shall see God Mat. 5.8 We usually look upon God through the Glass of our own Humours Carnal Men fancy the Eternal Essence as one of their Society and misfigure God in their Thoughts 7. The last is In the progress of Knowledg or search of Truth beware of Novellism 2 Tim. 3.14 Continue then in the things thou hast learnt and been assured of knowing from whom thou hast learned them There is as great care to keep what we have as to gain more Knowledg The Devil taketh the advantage of our Changes when we renounce old Errors he bringeth Men to question Truth as in publick Changes when Men shake off the Ordinances of Men he stirreth up others to question the Ordinances of God And I have observed that some out of a pretence of growing in Knowledg put themselves upon a flat Scepticism and wary Reservation holding nothing certain for the present but waiting for new Light such as these the Apostle intendeth 2 Tim. 3.7 Ever learning and never coming to the knowledg of the Truth they make profession of being studious in Sacred Things but never come to any settlement and are loth to hold to any Principles lest they should shut the Door upon new Light New Light is become a dangerous Word especially now in the latter Times now we have a Promise that Knowledg shall be increased Dan. 12.4 Aims at Knowledg is the dangerous Snare of these Times as the Gnosticks pretended to more Knowledg This is a great Snare Satan promised more Knowledg to our first Parents Gen. 3.5 God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof then your Eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as Gods knowing Good and Evil. Which Example the Apostle setteth before our Eyes 2. Cor. 11.3 But I fear lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your Minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. And he telleth us Satan turneth himself into an Angel of Light Vers. 13 14. Now for your Direction know 1. Progress in Knowledg is rather in Degrees than Parts not in new Truths but greater proportions of Light Light respecteth the Medium Truth the Object I say It is rather not altogether a Man may walk in present Practices which future Light may disprove and retract But usually the increase of a Christian is rather in the measure of Knowledg than difference of Objects Our old Principles are improved and perfected Prov. 4.18 The Path of the Just is as the shining Light that shineth more and more to the perfect Day To know God more and Christ more to be more practically skilful in the Word of Righteousness Heb. 5.14 Strong Meat
he loveth them more than a mother loveth her tender infant Isa. 49.15 Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea they may forget but I will not forget thee If the mother be so tenderly affected to the child whom she carried in her womb for some few months will not God much more He is as tender of them as the apple of his eye Zech. 2.8 He hath secured his Covenant-love by promise 1 Cor. 10.13 But God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able he will never leave you to insupportable difficulties Secondly To give a more general state of the case 1. This good is not to be determined by our fancies and conceits but by the wisdom of God for God knoweth what is better for us than we do for our selves we judg according to present appearance but he hath a sight or inspection of our hearts and a prospect or foresight of all future events And therefore his divine choices are to be preferred before our foolish fancies what he sendeth or permitteth to fall out is fitter for our turn than any thing else could we once be perswaded of this a Christian would be prepared for a cheerful entertainment of all that should come upon him Besides he is a God of bowels and loveth us more dearly than we do our selves Therefore we should be satisfied with his dispensations whatever they are Should the shepherd or the sheep chuse his pastures The child be governed by his own fancy or the Fathers discretion The sick man by his own appetite or the physitians skill 'T is necessary sometimes that God should displease his people for their advantage John 16.6 7. Because I have said these things to you sorrow hath filled your heart nevertheless I tell you the truth it is expedient for you that I go away We are too much addicted to our own conceits Christs dealing is expedient and useful yet very unsatisfactory to his people He is to be judge of what is good for us his going or tarrying not we our selves who are short-sighted distempered with passions whose requests many times are but ravings and ask of God we know not what Peter said Matth. 17.4 Master it is good for us to be here He was well pleased to be upon Mount Tabor but little thought what work God had to do by him elsewhere so Jer. 24.5 The basket of good figs were sent into the land of the Chaldeans for their good What good in a dispersion but God foresaw worse evil would befall the place where they then lived The selling of Joseph for a slave was to appearance evil but God meant it for good Gen. 50.20 God may keep us low and bare expose us to difficulties prejudices reproaches bitter sufferings yet all is for good 2. Good is to be determined by its respect to the chief good or true happiness Now what is our chief happiness but the vision and fruition of God it consists not in outward comforts riches liberty health honour or comfortable relations but our acceptance with God other things are but appendages to our felicity Matth. 6.33 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But first seek the kingdom of God and these things shall be added unto you Affliction taketh nothing from our solid and essential happiness rather helpeth us to the injoymenâ— of it as we increase in grace and holiness That 's evil that separateth us from God that 's good which bringeth us nearer to him Sin separateth us from God therefore always evil Isa. 59.2 But affliction are not always evil but make us more earnestly to seek after him Hosea 5.16 And so to be trained up under the cross in a constant course of obedience and subjection to God is good Lam. 3.27 It is good that a man bear the yoke from his youth because it keepeth him modest humble and sober 3. This good is not always the good of the body or of outward prosperity and therefore our condition is not to be determined by the interest of the flesh but the welfare of our soul. If we had the world at will we cannot be said to be in a good condition if the Lord should deny us spiritual blessings We are more concerned as a soul than a body Heb. 12.10 He verily for our profit that we may be partakers of his holiness He doth not call the good things of this world that pelf which all desire profit but the participiation of the divine nature Affliction is good if it be sanctified Holiness wrought by affliction should be more to us than all our outward comforts 4. 'T is not good presently injoyed and felt but waited for and therefore our condition must not be determined by sense but faith Heb. 12.11 Affliction for the present is not pleasing to natural sense nor is the fruit for the present evident to spiritual sense but 't is good because in the issue it turneth to spiritual good While under the affliction we feel the smart but do not presently find the benefit Physick must have time to work that which is not good may be good though it be not good in its nature 't is good in its use Faith should determine so though we feel it not Psal. 73.1 Yâ—t God is good to Israel 5. A particular good must give way to a general good and our personal benefit to the glory of God and the advancement of Christs Kingdom 'T was good yea much better for Paul to be in Heaven yet if it was needful for the Saints to continue in the flesh he submitteth Phil. 1.24 We must not so desire good to our selvâ—s as to hinder the good of others All Elements will act contrary to their particular nature for the conservation of the Universe That may be good for the glory of God which is not good for our personal contentment and ease John 12.27 28. The sense of our duty and the desire of glorifying God should overcome our natural inclination 6. In bringing about this good we must not be idle spectators but assisi under God When we are diligent to exercise our selves unto godliness then evil is turned into good and all crosses and afflictions into means of salvation besides the elective love of God at the bottom of all there is the actual power and influence of the Spirit and prayer on our part Phil. 1.19 Through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Christ Jesus and Heb. 12.11 Now no chastning for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous nevertheless afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby 'T is not the bare nature of the Cross doth it we must labour for that we look for the Saints are not only passive objects but active instruments of Providence there is an exercise on our parts we are to make use of all things then God will bless us 7. If it be true
which is forced is not sincere Many own Christ in their sickness and distress that never care for him when they are well at ease then they forget all live as they did before when their turn is served There is a difference between a Womans coming to a Physician for cure and her coming to a Husband to dwell with him True Conversion doth begin in fear but it doth not end there it endeth in a change of Heart and a settled love to God and Holiness and an hatred of Sin This is not only seen in men when the fear of Death affrights them but in their whole lives Others under some Conviction they would have Christ for their Consciences and the World for their Hearts Secondly It must be a full and unbounded Consent to all the terms and demands of the Gospel to be what he would have you to be and to do what he would have you to do Mat. 13.44 The man sold all to buy the Pearl of great price You must not stick at any thing Though you are unwilling to let the match go yet it is no full consent Christ will be taken for better for worse you must renounce your dearest Lusts devote and resign your choicest Interests or else you are unworthy of him The bargain is not made till all your Interests be laid at his feet Luk. 14.26.33 So for Lusts Mat. 5.29.30 Here men usually stick and had rather undergo any cost and pains than undergo the mortification of Sin as you may see in Mica 6.6 7. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord and bow my self before the most high God shall I come before him with Burnt Offerings and Calves of a year old Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of Rams or with ten thousands of Rivers of Oyl Shall I give my First-born for my Transgression and the Fruit of my Body for the Sin of my Soul Now before it comes to this man hath many debates of Soul They are convinced that Sin is evil contrary to God and hurtful to themselves and have some mind to let it go But in fine their Hearts are more for it than against it and so do not come up to a saving consent to take Christ for their Lord and Husband The pleasures of sin are so bewitching that they cannot come up roundly to Christs terms or to the whole business of Christianity Thirdly It must be a firm and habitual Consent and such as is not retracted in our after Conversation Weak and wavering purposes soon come to nothing but when this is your ordinary frame and the new Nature and the inclination of your Souls is this way when there is a new bent put upon your Spirits then it will hold out Psal. 119.112 I have inclined my heart to perform thy Statutes alwayes to the end The Second thing remarkable in the Text is the Entrance of those that were ready in to the Nuptial Feast And 1. Who are the Persons They that are inwardly renewed and endowed with the saving Graces of the Spirit 2. What 's their Priviledge They went in to the Marriage to the Festivities of the Marriage Chamber or place of Nuptial Entertainment Marriage Feasts are often spoken of in Scripture Judg. 14.10 And Sampson made a feast for so used the young men to do And Gen. 29.22 And Laban gathered all the young men of the place and made a feast This figureth the joys of Eternal Life and that full and sweet Communion we shall have with Christ in Heaven Doct. Those only who are ready and prepared for Christ shall enter into eternal joys when others are excluded Luk. 12.37 Blessed are those Servants whom when the Lord cometh he shall find watching So Mat. 24.44 Therefore be ye also ready 1. I shall enquire What it is to be ready 2. Shew you why they only shall have eternal and immediate Communion with Christ. 1. What it is to be ready There is a Twofold Readiness 1. An Habitual and Constant Readiness 2. An Actual Readiness when you specially compose your selves to meet with Christ. 1. Of the Habitual and Constant Readiness that concerneth the state of the Person the frame of the Heart and the course of our Conversations as represented by Oyl in the Vessel and the Lamps kept burning 1. The State of the Person He must be one reconciled and one at peace with God There are two Expressions in Scripture that speak of the state that we must be found in when Christ cometh 2 Pet. 3.14 That we may be found of him in peace The other is 2 Cor. 5.3 That we may not be found naked And both do principally relate to Justification Our Peace depends upon our Reconciliation with God Rom. 5.1 And till your Pardon be sued out in an humble and broken-hearted manner how will you be able to stand before the Lord till you be rectus in Curia and have a discharge of Sin and the Curse and be not found in a natural and unconverted Estate The other Expression is That we may not be found naked 'T is sad to appear before God with no other covering but our own Skins No there is no getting the Blessing but in the Garment of our Elder Brother Therefore we are so often bidden to put on the Lord Jesus Rom. 13.14 and Gal. 3.27 and that you buy of Him white Raiment to cover your nakedness Rev. 3.17 18. These places are principally to be interpreted of Justification though it will not exclude Sanctification For that is a Garment of Salvation to cover our loathsome nakedness from the sight of the Lord. 2. As to the frame of the Heart that it be renewed and Sanctified Habitual Grace is Oyl in the Vessel that there may be a Spring or Fountain of Grace in the Heart Joh. 7.38 but that I spake of before The Graces of the Spirit are the Brides Jewels and Ornaments are the things which the Bridegroom delights in Isa. 61.10 I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord my Soul shall be joyful in my God For he hath cloathed me with the Garments of Salvation he hath covered me with the Robes of his Righteousness As a Bridegroom decketh himself with Garments and as a Bride adorneth herself with Jewels c. The more these things are in us and abound in us the more lovely in Christs eyes 3. Something as to the course of our Conversation 'T is not enough to have Oyl in the Vessel but the Lamp must be kept burning our Graces in actual and continual exercise and we must alwayes make it our study to please the Lord. This is part of our Preparation For men are judged according to their works therefore what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and Godliness 2 Pet. 3.10 The life of Grace is seen in the fruits of it for that end was it given us not to lie idle in the Heart but to discover its influence and efficacy in every part of our Conversation 2 Pet. 1.8
upon them It is an horrible abuse Remember the Breach of Vzzah God is jealous even of a Circumstance in his Institution Christ himself had his Call to authorize him Thou hast sent me into the World therefore much more should you have a Call to authorize you If the Work doth not lie within the compass of your Office you do not glorify God and cannot please him and it will be ill for your account you cannot when you die say as Christ John 14.7 I have glorified thee upon the Earth I have finished the Work which thou hast given me to do You do not glorify God with any thing but that which he hath given you to do It is notable that Christ would not intermeddle out of his Calling When one came to intreat him to speak to his Brother to divide the Inheritance with him he said to him Luke 12.4 Man who made me a Judg or Divider over you Who was fitter to judg than Christ yet this was not the Work he came about If Troubles arise you cannot suffer them comfortably All the Disorders abroad will lie in a great measure upon your Score Invading of Callings hath been the source of those Mischiefs that abound among us Augustine saith Pax est tranquillitas Ordinis when all things keep their Place In natural Things Elements when out of their place breed Confusion the Sea out of its place makes an inundation and the Air out of its place imprisoned in the Bowels of the Earth causeth an Earthquake It is true in this Case also when Men are out of their place it begets Confusion and Disorder Never do I look for the Peace of the Church and Power of the Gospel till Men have learned to keep within the compass of their Callings You pretend Gifts and Abilities if you have a desire to the Work for the Work 's sake why do you not submit to the regular way of sending The Angel that appeared to Cornelius biddeth him send for Peter Acts 10.5 Why did not the Angel teach him himself His Commission was only to bring a Message from God not to preach the Gospel that was Peter's Work therefore he sent him to Peter Nay Christ himself sendeth Paul to Ananias Acts 9.6 If any should usurp the place of an Ambassador without the Prince's Leave and Command it would be accounted horrible Pride No Prince can endure a Servant whom he hath not chosen and how then can Christ take it well at your hands It is but an Itch of Pride if we search it to the bottom There are regular ways of exercising your Gifts in private Meditation and Family-Instruction and gracious Conferences by way of interchangeable Discourse with less Pride and Usurpation and more spiritual Profit and Comfort than in publick Sermons Vse 3. Advice to Ministers and People 1. To Ministers Strive to make out your Calling to your People to evidence it to the Consciences of your Auditory by your Sincerity and Success 1. By your Sincerity 2 Cor. 4.2 We have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty not walking in craftiness nor handling the Word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the Truth commending our selves to every Man's Conscience in the sight of God Success is not in our power but yet our Aim should be sincere Delight not in vain Applause let not this satisfy thee but that others may feel the Power of Truth Let it not satisfy thee when thy Hearers go away and say O how learnedly how eloquently with what subtilty and sublimity of Reason doth he preach what excellent Gifts of Memory Wit Elocution This did not satisfy Christ. Christ had made an excellent Sermon a Woman in the Company cries out Luke 11.22 28. Blessed is the Womb that bare thee and the Paps that thou hast sucked But he said Yea rather blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it It is far better when they go away from hearing to be more mindful of themselves than of us of what is spoken to their Consciences rather than what are our Gifts condemning themselves rather than commending us bewailing their own Hearts and Lives rather than applauding and admiring our Sermons smiting their own Breasts and saying not so much How well hath he preached but how ill have I lived how carnal am I subject to Sin 2. By Success This you should cover above all things this is the Seal of your Ministry in the Peoples Consciences Every Ambassador sent out from a Prince hath not only Instructions and Commands but his Commission sealed So a Minister must not only look to his Instructions to preach the Gospel but for a Seal of his Ministry as his Letters of Credence and Recommendation Now our Seal is Spiritual as all other the parts of our Administration are What is this Spiritual Seal God's owning and blessing our Endeavours 2 Cor. 3.1 2 3. Do we begin again to commend our selves or need we as some others Epistles of Commendation to you or Letters of Commendation from you Ye are our Epistle written in our Hearts known and read of all Men. Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ ministred by us written not with Ink but with the Spirit of the Living God not in Tables of Stone but in the fleshly Tables of the Heart Success in the Hearts of the People doth authorize our Commission So 2 Cor. 13.3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me which to you-ward is not weak but is mighty in you This is a proof that we come to you in Christ's stead and speak in his Name and Power It is not who can speak most finely and plausibly but most effectually to the Heart 1 Cor. 2.4 My Speech and my Preaching was not with inticing words of Man's Wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of Power That is the Evidence not luscious Gifts Carnal Men may have these for the good of the Body that have no inward Calling I remember Paul putteth the false Teachers upon this Experiment and proof of their Calling 1 Cor. 4.19 I will come to you shortly if the Lord will and will know not the Speech of them which are puffed up but the Power I will not examine them by their Speech but by the spiritual Efficacy of their Ministry which is the chiefest sign of God's Approbation and Blessing not their Pomp and Eloquence And therefore this is the Seal that you should look after 2. Here is Advice to the People to own them that are called and sent to you in the Name of Christ. Own their Persons by a cordial submission to them Heb. 13.17 Obey them that have the Rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your Souls as they that must give an account In the particular Places where you are disposed by the Care of Providence they are sent by God to you There is much in the Designation of God's Providence and Cohabitation is an excellent Friend to
as well sever the Leaven and the Dough when they are kneaded together as separate Christ and the Church when once united Impossible est Massam à Pastâ separare Christ will not suffer his Body to be mangled the cutting off of a Joint goeth to the Quick Vse 1. To press us to look after an Interest in this great Priviledg It is the main Work of your Lives To move you consider the Honour and the Happiness of them that they are thus one with God through Christ. 1. The Honour What am I to be Son-in-Law to the King What are you to be Members of Christ Christ counteth himself to be incompleat and maimed without us Eph. 1.23 The Church is his Body the Fulness of him that filleth all in all How are we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Fulness of him it relateth not to his Personal Perfection take Christ absolutely as God and he is a Person most perfect and glorious Before the Assumption of the Humane Nature before any Creature in the World was made there was enough in Christ to satisfy his Father's Heart Nay take him relatively as Mediator what doth Christ want Doth the Body give ought of Perfection to the Head No the Fulness of the Godhead dwells in him bodily and he filleth all Things But taken in his Mystical Person Christ Mystical as Head and Members are called Christ 1 Cor. 12.12 As the Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body so also is Christ. So he is not perfect without his Body as an Head without Members is not perfect Now what an Honour is this that he accounteth himself imperfect without us And till all his Members be gathered in we are not grown up to the State wherein Christ is full Eph. 4.13 Till we all come to the Vnity of the Faith and of the Knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ. Christ's Mystical Body hath not its compleat Stature till all the Saints be gathered This Honour is not put upon the Angels they are Servants but not Members He did not take their Seed to be an Head to them nor dy for them nor took them for his Members as he doth us Prov. 8.31 Rejoicing in the habitable Parts of the Earth and my Delights were with the Sons of Men. He left the Company of Angels to dwell with us his Heart was set upon our Good that next to the Title of Son of God he valueth this of being Head of the Church He purchased it with his Blood He loveth his Mystical Body above his Natural for he gave his natural Body to redeem the Church which is his Mystical Body as Husbands love their Wives as their own Body Oh Christians is not this a mighty Priviledg We are not only His but Him and Christ knoweth us and loveth us as Parts of his own Body and will glorify us not only as his Clients and Servants but Members all the Injuries and Wrongs done to the Church Christ taketh it as done to himself Wicked Men they are his Foot-stool Christ is over them but not as a Mystical Head As the Head of a King is lifted up above all his Subjects and governeth them and weareth the Garland of Honour but in a peculiar manner it governeth and guideth his own natural Body So Christ is Head over all Things to the Church Eph. 1.22 Certainly this is a great Honour put upon poor Worms What are the Fruits of it We are interessed in all Christ's communicable Priviledges we need not stretch it too far it is ample enough of it self Some Things are incommunicably proper to Christ neither given to Man nor Angel as the Name above all Names to be adored to be set at the Right Hand of God to be Head of the Church the Lord our Righteousness But other Things are communicated to us first to Christ and then to us Christ is one with the Father and a poor Christian though never so mean is one with Christ. Christ is called God's Fellow Zech. 13.7 and every Saint is Christ's Fellow Psal. 45.7 Thou hast anointed him with the Oil of Gladness above his Fellows The Father loveth him because he is the express Image of his Person and delights in the Saints because they are the Image of Christ. God is his God and our God his Father and our Father where Christ is they are because they are a Part of his Body Alas we should count it Blasphemy to speak so if the Word did not speak it before us 2. The Happiness In him the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily There is a sufficiency in Christ for all his Members We have all things in him which is as good as if we had it in our Hands and better for he is a better Steward and Keeper of the Treasuries of Wisdom Grace and Comfort than we are If he hath it it is for our use for Christ is full as an Officer to impart Life Sense and Motion to all the Body It is the Office of the Liver to impart the Blood to the Veins it were monstrous and unnatural to keep it As a Treasurer it is his Office to pay Mony out upon all just Demands Psal. 16.2 3. My Goodness extendeth not to thee but to the Saints that are in the Earth and to the Excellent in whom is all my delight Thou shalt not be forgotten for the care of Christ extendeth to every Member to neglect a Member is to neglect our selves If a Man could forget a Child yet certainly he could not forget his Members This is your Relation to Christ if he hath bid the Members to take care one of another 1 Cor. 12.25 What will the Head do These Grounds of Comfort and Faith you have Vse 2. How shall we know that we have a share in this Mystical Union I Answer By the Spirit of Christ. 1 John 4.13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit There is a Communication of the Spirit so Rom. 8.9 Now if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his his Creature but not his Member a Limb of Satan not a Member of Christ. Christ's Spirit is poured on all his Brethren it is shared among them it is given to every Member as soon as they are added to Christ's Body Now how shall we know whether we have the Spirit of Christ Answ. By Life and Conformity 1. Life and Stirring A Man may know whether the Spirit of Christ be dwelling in him as a Woman knoweth whether the Child in the Womb be quickned yea or no she knoweth it by the stirring So you may know whether the Spirit of Christ be in you by it's working They are no Members of Christ that are not quickned by the Life of Grace there is no withered Member in his Body If a Member of a
during his personal abode in the World Even then an outward ceremonious respect to his person was not so pleasing to him as a serious attention to his Doctrine and counsel and ever met with a correction and reproof from Christ rather than approbation and acceptance with him at least Christ aimed at some higher thing which was of more value and esteem with him Search all his life You read of some that desired to see him John 12.20 21 22 23. Some Greeks that had a curiosity to see his person and be more familiarly acquainted with him Now Christ teacheth that the true means to know him to Salvation was not to see with the eyes of the Body but by faith in the Spirit as lifted up to glory they impartially propound the matter to Philip and he consults with Andrew and both of them present their request to Christ but he diverts to the Doctrine of the cross and the glory that should ensue to teach them to lay aside doating on his bodily presence and to think of communion with him in his sufferings and the duty that belonged to his exaltation They came to see a man lately cryed up by popular applause and to gaze on him who was made so famous in the late triumph So when some depended upon their hearing of him and resort to his Doctrine he telleth them this would not do without other things Luke 13.26 Then shall ye begin to say We have Eaten and Drunk in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets Yet if there be no more but kind converse or an outward resort to his ministry as to an ordinary man I know you not This acquaintance is disclaimed Some that not only heard but commended him as that forward Woman Luke 11.27 28. And a certain Woman lift up her voice and said unto him blessed is the womb that bare thee and the paps which thou hast sucked but he said Yea rather Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it Yea rather 't is a reproof Oh no Woman that 's a blessed thing to hear the word of God and keep it That 's not the use to applaude the person but obey the Doctrine Still he calleth for a more spiritual respect When they told him that his kindred his Mother and Brethren stood without to speak with him Matth. 12.47 to the end Christ saith Whosoever doth the will of my Father which is in Heaven the same is my Brother Sister and Mother Believing in Christ and obeying Gods will rendereth us more acceptable than if we did touch him in blood and kindred Augustine saith of the Virgin Mary Beatior Maria percipiendo fidem Christi quà m concipiendo carnem Christi Materna propinquitas c. That she was more happy in carrying Christ in her heart then conceiving of him in her womb So Mark 5.18 19. When Christ had cured a man that was possessed of a whole Legion of Devils he prayed him that he might be with him Howbeit Jesus suffered him not but bid him go home to his friends and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee and hath had compassion on thee Our love to Christ is better shewn not in our humane and passionate affections to his bodily presence but in performance of those religious services he requireth of us he lingered after his bodily presence but Christ expected not the offices of humane conversation but duty and obedience to his commands from him So there is a famous Instance of Christs entertainment at Bethany Mark â—0 38 to the end There were two Sisters severally imployed Martha busied in the Ministries and Services of the outward entertainment but Mary sat at Christs feet the posture of disciples and heard his word The one careful to entertain Christ in her heart the other into her house Christ where ever he came was willing to improve the opportunity and to leave some spiritual blessing behind him He came not to be feasted but to refresh Souls Martha complaineth of Mary as if her devotion had been unseasonable to leave the burden of the houshold affairs to her alone but Christ sheweth Mary's respect was more pleasing to him than Martha's hearkening to his word rather than making provision for his person Many would seem to gratify Christ with an outward and carnal respect but do not hearken to his gracious words So in other things weeping for him when he went to suffer Luke 23.28 Weep not for me ye Daughters of Jerusalem but weep for your selves and Children That would not comport with the end of the death of Christ. Which was not to be looketh upon as a spectacle of humane calamity but as a mystery of higher consideration and God looked for more noble and spiritual motions than this passionate condoling So to fight for him Peter was in a rage when they came to attacque Christ and therefore draweth on an whole Troop John 18.11 Put up thy Sword in thy sheath Peter The cup which my Father hath put into my hand shall I not drink of it Peters act seemed to express much zeal and affection to Christs person but Christ sheweth that he was appointed for an higher purpose and checketh Peter for his rashness Nay the Disciples languishing for the comforts of his bodily presence Then Christ told them John 14.15 If ye love me keep my commandments When a man is ready at our command willing to do what we would have him to do 't is a sign of his love to be up and be doing is a sure manifestation of obedience So John 20.27 Touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my Father but go to my Brethren and say unto them I ascend Mary Magdalen was now faln at Christs feet and embraced them Matth. 28.9 They came and held him by the Feet and worshipped him In an humble and affectionate devotion she hangeth about our Saviour but Christ forbids this embracing touch me not it comes of humane affection out of a compliment but Christ rejects this Testimony of her love and directs her to a more acceptable service to carry tidings to his Brethren of his Resurrection And 't is more acceptable and pleasing to him to be about our Service and doing good in our station than to be performing these offices of humane love and kindness to his person entertaining him seeing hearing him weeping for him defending him Otherwhiles he bids them come to him Luke 24.39 Handle and see for a Spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have for a confirmation of their Faith 2. There is a knowing Christ after the flesh since his ascension into Heaven 1. By a naked profession of his name without conformity to his Laws There are Disciples in name and Disciples indeed John 8.31 If ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed Christ hath some Disciples who are so in reality and others who are so in shew only there is no true ground of