Apple of gold and picture of siluer Christ chose the fittest time to teach the people and to do good and that in the Synagogue vpon the Sabbath Act 9.31 So the Church hauing peace did then edisie themselues And indeed the children of this world are wiser in their generation then the children of light Potiphars wise chose the sittest time to prouoke Ioseph to lust Gen. 39.11 Ioseph was alone in the house Esau chused the fittest time to be reuenged on his brother The dayes of mourning for my father will haue an end and then I will kill my brother In the affaires of this life men are wise to take the fittest opportunitie The Crabsish desiring to feede on the Oyster cannot perforce open the shell therefore watcheth opportunitie till the oyster openeth himselfe against the Sunne and then putteth in his claw This wisedome ought to bee in euerie Christian to take the fittest opportunitie to the doing of good But he is my superiour whom I heare sweare Obiect 2 and blaspheme the name of God or otherwise sinne what haue I to doe with such a one Indeed I grant there may be a preposterous zeale and boldnesse in man Resp that is rather to bee condemned then commended therefore inferiours must know that it is their part rather to aduise then reproue to aduertise See Mr. Lapthorne his spirituall Almes then to reprehend their superiours lest they passing the bonds of their calling do iustly exasperate them against them for as Magistrates Ministers parents and masters by Gods ordinance are to rebuke reprehend and punish So Subiects people children and seruants by the same rule are to aduise and aduertise And thus did the seruants of Iob deale with their master Iob 31. and Iob saith that he durst not contemne the aduise of his seruant or maid when they contended with him A reproofe to such must be vsed as a sowre pill couered ouer with sugar that it may the more easily be taken downe Brethren saith the Apostle if any man be ouertaken with a fault Gal. 6.1 ye which are spirituall restore such a one in the spirit of meeknesse considering thy selfe lest thou also be tempted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A metaphor as the originall signifieth borrowed from Surgeons which with a sleight of hand put a shattered bone into its place before the partie be almost ware of it This serues for the iust reproofe of those that can see men runne a licentious course Vse 1 and neuer seeke to reclaime them that can heare others sweare and blaspheme the name of God raile vpon Ministers and speake euill of the good way of righteousnesse without any zeale for God or compassion to the soules of their brethren Many there be that will neuer rebuke sinne in their brethren vntill God reuenge it from heauen whereas if they had met with due reprehension of their faults they might haply haue been brought to repentance and so haue preuented those plagues Or if men doe speake of the sinnes of others it is behind their backs in the most vildest and disgracefullest manner that may be These rather shew themselues to be of the generation of cursed Cham that vncouered the nakednesse of his father then of Gods people that mourne for the sinnes of others and in brotherly loue seeke by all meanes possible to recouer them into the state of grace No doubt it pierced this Penitent Thiefe to the heart to heare him blaspheme and raile on Christ he can by no meanes beare it But howsoeuer his owne griefe was great and paine grieuous he seemeth to neglect all and falleth to the rebuking of his fellow sinning against God this will a grations heart do And wo to that man that can with patience heare God dishonoured that is not affected with the sinnes of other men such are farre enough from the worke of grace and conuersion and from that Christian compassion that ought to be in vs towards others to saue a soule to couer a multitude of sinnes or to free themselues from the sinnes of other men Secondly this may serue to admonish euery one in the feare of God to make conscience of this duty that we admonish one another and seeke to conuert one another from going astray this is the truest testimonie of loue we can shew to others For indeed no man loueth naturally that doth not loue spiritually for by how much the more excellent the soule is aboue the body by so much the more excellent is the loue to it aboue that of the body And indeed this will be a sound witnesse vnto our hearts of our loue towards others in that wee haue admonished our brethren and sought by all meanes possible to recouer them from their sinfull waies It shall be a pretious balme that shall not breake their heads Neither may these thoughts hinder vs that we haue no hope to preuaile by our admonitions and reprehensions this we are not so much to looke after as the conscionable discharge of our owne duty And thus farre we are sure we shall glorifie God to be witnesses of his word and truth when the wicked in the last day shall be put to silence not being able to plead ignorance or that they had no warning And let vs know that the Spirit of God bloweth where it listeth and the Lord can euen of Lyons Tygers and Cockatrices make at his pleasure to become the sheepe of Christ of Abraham an Idolater he can make the Father of the faithfull of bloudie and barbarous Manasses he can make an humble Conuert and of a persecuting Saul he can make a painfull preaching Paul and of a lewd gracelesse Theefe an holy confessour Let none therefore be discouraged because of the lewdnesse of the person seeing the Lord is able and many times doth call home of the sinfullest of men And last of all this may serue to admonish euery man in the feare of God Heb. 13.22 To suffer the word of exhortation and to labour to keepe vnder all repining thought and euill disposition that is in their hearts which bewray themselues neuer more then when they are admonished or reproued for sinne and doubtlesse Sathan himselfe bloweth the coales knowing that it is an excellent meanes to recouer a sinner out of his power O how hardly is a reproofe digested by a naturall man that hath not the worke of grace in him It is found often true which Solomon saith Reproue a scorner and he will hate thee A sharp reproofe is more hardly digested then the bitterest pill men would not be disturbed in their sinfull courses But if the Lord loue thee he will send thee one faithfull friend or other to reproue thee And surely it is a fearefull thing and a signe that God hath cast off such a soul his care and that hee intends to glorifie himselfe in the destruction of such a one that is suffered to go on in sinne without controllment Let the righteous smite mee friendly
glory by his stripes that wee should bee healed Isa 53.5 and that the Gospell should bee the word of reconciliation that hath no estimation for wisedome or authority in the world O how hard a thing is this to bring our corrupt hearts to beleeue this Secondly there are many things in the doctrine of saluation that are scandalous to the wicked In which respect the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 1.23 That the preaching of Christ crucified was to the Iewes a stumbling blocke and to the Greekes foolishnesse yea 1 Pet. 2.8 Christ himselfe is to some a very Rocke of offence How then is it possible that such should euer attaine this sauing grace truely to beleeue And last of all this is that treasure that God hath reserued for his children for none but those that are heyres of life Phil. 1. To you it is giuen to beleeue And when the Apostles preached the Word the Text saith Acts 22. As many as were ordained to eternall life beleeued and is therefore called the faith of Gods elect As for wicked and vngodly men the Apostle concludeth of such 1 Thes 3.2 All men haue not faith Seing then it is so hard and difficult a matter Vse 1 truely to beleeue this shewes that the faith of the greatest part of the world is no better then presumption who albeit they neuer sought this grace at wisedomes house nor at the word of faith which is the Gospell Rom. 10 For how can they beleeue on him on whom they haue not heard yet perswade themselues that they haue faith as well as the best as if it were so easie a matter truely to beleeue which indeed no lesse power must effect in vs then the mighty power of God Eph. 1.19 Such men doe wonderfully deceiue themselues How many haue wee amongst vs that liue in grosse and palpable ignorance and turne their backes vpon the ordinance of God hauing no delight therin liuing in all manner of open prophanenesse these men must needs be strangers from the couenant of promise and howsoeuer they may brag of their hope of eternall life yet as the Apostle saith They are without hope Eph 2.2 without God in the world Yea but they beleeue say they all the Articles of the Christian faith and repeate them daily But this may be a dead and vaine faith when it doth not worke by loue of piety towards God and charitie towards men And notwithstanding all this the Lord will professe against such in the last day Mat. 7.22 Depart from me ye workers of iniquity Yea but they come to Church heare the Word receiue the Sacrament pray to God and meane well though they be not so precise and forward as others are O but consider that of the Apostle Without faith it is impossible to please God And againe The word which they heard Heb. 4. profited them not because it was not mixed with faith in them that heard it It is faith that is all in all that giues acceptation to all our seruice wee doe vnto God Heb. 11.6 and without faith it is impossible to please him But how may I know that my faith is true Quest and such a faith as is proper and peculiar onely to the elect and not that common faith which may be in a common Protestant First Answ by those proper fruits that follow a trueiustifying faith not onely a ciuill life iust dealing outward performance of holy duties and the like which may bee in a naturall man and an vnbeleeuer But by those proper fruits of faith which are peculiar onely to the elect Such as are an inward loue of God of his Word and Children a willing subiection of the heart and life to Gods will renealed a constant communion with his Maiestie in prayer c. which are the proper fruits of a true beleeuer and euermore flow from a iustifying faith Secondly by our daily increase in the worke of mortification to the old man and workes of viuification to the new wherein the faith of a true beleeuer is daily exercised purging the heart Acts 15.9 and purifying the conscience daily from dead workes and inclining the same daily to the performance of the duties of holinesse readily and chearefully Secondly Vse 2 this may serue to admonish euery one to labour for the truth of this grace as for saluation it selfe without all which all those excellent and pretious promises profit not at all faith is all in all in the matter of saluation yea saluation it selfe in attributed thereunto Beleeue and thou shalt be saued Acts 16. where that is attributed to the instrument which belongeth indeed to the principall efficient to shew the excellency of this grace in it selfe as also the necessity therof in those that look for life and saluation This is that will stid vs in the euill day this giues vs to participate of the new couenant and will assure our hearts of the full fruition of euerlasting life at last Ioh. 3.16 Verily verily I say vnto you hee that beleeueth on me hath euerlasting life where Christ bindes his promise of euerlasting saluation onely vnto the beleeuer with the like asseueration he doth vnto this Penitent here Verily this day thou shalt bee with me c. And last of all this may serue for ground of comfort vnto all Gods people that they bee not discouraged though they finde infidelity in them wee haue no grace in this life in perfection and they that haue had the greatest measure of faith as wee haue heard yet haue had the same mixed with doubtings and feares And therefore it is recorded of the people of Israel that when they were deliuered out of captiuity they were like men in a dreame Psal 126. Onely wee are to take heed that wee doe not please our selues or rest in any such doubtings for that will bee maruellous vncomfortable but to labour to come out thereof and to get assurance which is done by frequenting the publike ministery of the Word whereby faith is begotten and increased in vs by the reuerent vse of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Rom. 4.11 for that is the Seale of the righteousnesse of faith by renewing of our repentance daily and by keeping a more strict watch ouer our liues whereby wee shall come daily more and more to bee settled and stablished in our holy and pretious faith Verily I say vnto thee Text. c. The next thing wee are to obserue in Christs asseueration is the certainty of his promise the which to perswade this Penitent vnto Christ is pleased to binde with a kinde of oath verily q. d. Thou shalt not neede to doubt or any way call into question that I now promise vnto thee that thou shalt be this day with me in Paradice for I assure thee thou mayest rest vpon it that I will make good my word therein though thou seest mee now without forme or beauty forsaken of all
comfort of our owne conuersion and repentance doe but question thy owne heart how thou standest affected towards those thousands in Israel that yet are held in miserable bondage vnder Sathan power of darkenesse wallowing in the bloud of their owne soules Canst thou mourne for these as Samuel did for Saul dost thou pittie them in their spirituall miseries and doe thy bowels earne within thee towards such And dost thou labour to the vtmost of thy power and according to thy calling to bring home those that goe astray to the knowledge of the truth dost thou take all opportunities that are offered vnto thee by admonition instruction and reprehension to set forward the Lords worke herein Surely there cannot be a more certaine note of the truth of grace in thy heart and of thy owne conuersion then this When thou art conuerted saith our Sauiour to Peter Strengthen thy brethren No man can truely desire and indeuer the spirituall good of another that hath not tasted of the work first in himselfe But if on the contrary part vpon this examination thou findest that there is in thee no touch at all of griefe for the sins of other men thou layest not their miseries to heart the horrible sinnes of the times such as are whordome pride drunkennesse swearing prophanation of the Sabbath c. These things doe no whit affect thee nor trouble thee surely thou hast cause to mourne in secret and to be humbled for the hardnesse of thy owne heart for as yet the worke of grace is not wrought in thee for if it were it would manifest in this to labour the spirituall good of others Doâ— but consider the truth of this poynt in the example of this Penitent Theefe that had the least time that euer we read of or heard of to manifest the fruits of his repentance in and we shall see that howsoeuer his time was short and he was now to minde the euerlasting welfare of his soule yet hee is not vnmindfull of the spirituall misery of the soule of his Brother by rebuking him for his blasphemy by putting him in minde of his sinne and the equitie of that his deserued punishment that was now inflicted vpon him and all to this end if it were possible that his heart might bee touched with some remorse for sinne and hee be brought to repentance for the same There is no grace in that heart that doth not indeuer this in some measure of life Secondly if their case be miserable that doe not compassionate others in their spirituall miscries what shall wee say of those that with Simeon and Leui are brethren in iniquitie that prouoke one another come let vs cast in our lots together that are Sathans spokesmen and solicitors to draw men into sinne And those againe that are so farre from labouring the spirituall good of others as Ismael-like by reproches and disgraces lay stumbling blocks in the way of others to hinder them in their Christian courses like the Scribes and Pharisies against whom our Sauiour pronounceth a woe because they entred not into the kingdome of God themselues nor suffered those that would And last of all this may prouoke all vnto this duty and to labour to approue the truth of their owne conuersion by labouring to be instruments of the spirituall good of others And this duty rests vpon all Reu. 1.6 for we are all a kingdome of Priests and haue receiued a holy accomptment of the Father So especially the Ministers of the Word whose sacred calling cals for this duty they are in a speciall manner to looke vnto it they are to preach the Word in season and out of season 2 Tim. 4.2 Sow thy seede saith Salomon in the morning and let not thy hand rest in the euening for thou knowest not which shall prosper God calleth not all at the same houre but some at one time and some at another neither doth hee make the Word effectuall at all times at the first hearing for the strong man armed will not quickly leaue his Luke 11. possession But many liue long vnder the ministery of the same before they beleeue and imbrace it yet at the last God toucheth the hearts of many to attend and to be saued What though they doe not finde that comfortable returne of their labours are not some to lay the foundation and others to raise vp the building Is not the Word to be the sauour of death to some as it is to be the sweet sauour of life to other-some Is not their reward with the Lord Esa 49.4.5 and their recompence with their God And vnto this day must Parents and Masters be prouoked to set forward the Lords worke by the conscionable performance of Oeconomicall duties they must bee helpefull vnto the Minister this way it is not enough for them to bring their people to Church and to cast them off so vnto the Minister his burthen is too great if thou helpe not The Apostle cals Philemon Phil. 1. his fellow labourer no doubt it was in regard he so fitted and prepared his family for Pauls ministery And for this many of Gods worthy seruants are highly commended in the Word as Abraham Gen. 18. Iesh 24. Acts 10. Iosuah Cornelius The Parent and Master is as straightly charged with their families as the Minister with the congregation and if any vnder them doe dye for want of instruction the Lord will require the bloud of such a one at their hands VERSE 40. Doest thou not feare God seeing thou art in the same condemnation HItherto wee haue heard the Reprehension of the Penitent Thiefe in generall He rebuked him Now the Euangelist comes to set downe the particulars of his reprehension with those seuerall arguments and reasons to make the same the more effectuall for he that is to deale with rebellious and obstinate sinners had need to bring with him very mouing and effectuall arguments to disswade from sinne Now his arguments are 1. A persona From the nature of the person against whom he rayled God 2. A timore Dei From the feare of God the want whereof was the cause of his blasphemy 3. A praesente miseria From his present miserie Knowing thou art in the same condemnation 4. A iusto iudicio From the equitie of his punishment We are instly punished 5. Ab innocentia Christi From Christs innocencie This man hath done nothing amisse All which being duely consiclered are very powerfull motiues and arguments to set on his reprehension and to make the same the more effectuall And thus doth this Penitent manifest the truth of his conuersion by many blessed fruites and effects thereof The particulars whereof follow Fearest thou not God Text. q. d. O wretched man that now suffering the due reward of thy sinne shouldest thus blaspheme an Innocent euen the Lord Iesus Christ himselfe from whom saluation commeth Euen him before whom thou art shortly to appeare to giue an account of all thy euill deeds
him therein being first sent of God and therein became obedient vnto his Father in all things Yet this doth no whit derogate from Christs dignitie who still remained a Lord in himselfe and Lord ouer vs his redeemed ones The vses arising hence are these First Vse 1 if Christ be such a Lord in himselfe and such a Lord ouer vs we are taught to esteeme of him accordingly and to yeeld vp all holy obedience vnto him Doth not the Lord require it vpon this very ground Mal. 1.6 If I be a Lord where is my feare Luke 6.46 And againe Why call ye me Lord and doe not the things I command you And because an hypocrite may yeeld Christ this homage in words to cry Lord Lord Mat. 7.21 we must by our deeds yeeld vp our selues as seruants to obey him in all righteousnesse Secondly wee must labour to be acquainted with the will of our Lord for otherwise we can neuer performe any acceptable obedience vnto him Our good meanings will not goe for payment with him such seruice can neuer please him Pro. 19.2 for without knowledge the minde is not good Thirdly the consideration of this that Christ is our Lord should worke our hearts to contentation in all estates and conditions of life whatsoeuer whether weale or woe prosperity or aduersitie It was a godly resolution of old Eli when he heard of that strange iudgement the Lord would bring vpon his house 1 Sam. 2.18 It is the Lord let him doe as it pleaseth him He kisseth the rod like a good natured childe and submitteth himselfe to the Lords sharpest corrections without repining And this was Dauids case when the Lords hand lay heauy vpon him I became dumbe Psal â—9 and opened not my mouth because it was thy doing And so the Church in great affliction and distresse It is the Lords mercy that wee are not consumed Lam. 3.40 Iob 1. vlt. because his compassions faile not And last of all we are taught to depend vpon him for food rayment and all things necessary that is our Lord and hath vndertaken for vs Children can doe this hauing earthly fathers and seruants can doe this that haue earthly Masters and Lords ouer them Why then should not Gods people doe this with hope and boldnesse especially seeing he hath commanded vs to cast all our care vpon him Gen. 17.1 being God alsufficient Text. Thy Kingdome Secondly as he acknowledgeth Christ to be a Lord yea the Soueraigne Lord of all so doth he likewise acknowledge him to be a King yet so as that his kingdome is not of this world Lord remember me when c. This regall and Kingly office of Christ Christ is a King is clearely manifested throughout the whole Scripture I haue set my King vpon my holy mountaine Psal 2.6 Christ taketh this honour vnto himselfe Mat. 28.18 Esay 9 7. All power saith he is giuen me in heauen and earth And againe he hath vpon his garment and vpon his thigh a name written The King of Kings Reu. 19.16 Luk. 1.33 Dan. 2.44 Dan. 7 1â— 1 Cor. 15.24 and Lord of Lords Thus the Euangelist Saint Luke Hee shall raigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdome shall bee no end Againe that this kingdome of Christ is not of this world otherwise then in the hearts of men but it is a spirituall and celestiall kingdome so Christ Ioh. 18.36 Rom. 3. Ioh. 6.15 My kingdome is not of this world though he were Heyre apparent vnto the Crowne and kingdome of Israel being the seed of Dauid Luke 12.13 yet hee withdrew himselfe when the people sought to make him King and refused to determine cases of Inheritances betwixt brethren Now there are many things peculiar vnto Christ The things peculiar vnto Christ and his kingdome wherein hee excels all the Kings of the earth First in regard of the excellency of his person other Kings are the sonnes of mortall men Christ is the Sonne of the euerliuing God Secondly in respect of the extent of his Kingdome hee is that vniuersall Monarch King of Kings Reu. 19.16 Psal 2.8 from the ends of the earth Aske of mee and I will giue thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the vtmost parts of the earth for thy possession Alexander neuer saw many parts of the world much lesse subdued them but Christ is King ouer all Acts 10. Col. 2.9 yea hee raigneth and ruleth ouer Angels principalities and powers Thirdly in respect of those victorious conquests that are made by Christ he hath the preheminence of all Princes he hath conquered sinne death hell Col. 2.15 Sathan and hath spoyled Principalities and powers And last of all in regard of the perpetuitie of Christs Kingdome 1 Tim. 1.17 His Kingdome shall haue no end Other Kings and Kingdomes haue their periods and determination but thus is it not with this King and Kingdome for hee is The King eternall immortall inuisible and onely wise God Now the vses are First of all Vse 1 seeing Christ is our King we are taught with Iob to acquaint our selues with God and with the statute lawes of his kingdome Subiects must not be ignorant of the Princes lawes To plead ignorance will not purchase immunitie from punishment if men offend against the lawes of the kingdome All Gods people must be acquainted with Gods will reuealed in his Word Mat. 28.20 Heb. 12.25 Teaching them to obserue all things whatsoeuer I command you See that ye despise not him that speaketh for if they escaped not which refused him that spake on earth much more shall we not escape if wee turne away from him that speaketh from heauen Secondly seeing Christ is our King and we are his Subiects we we are taught to carry our selues accordingly Christs Subiects must differ in manners from all other Nations and people in the world they are a Royall generation a peculiar people vnto the Lord and therefore are to shew forth the power of him that hath thus called vs out of darkenesse into the maruellous light And herein to approue our selues for his Subiects and People by our holy conuersation in the world He hath chosen vs Eph. 1.4 that we should be holy and without blame before him in loue Thirdly The meanes to inlarge Christs kingdome we are to labour by all meanes possible for the comming of Christs Kingdome that is for the inlargement thereof in the world in the hearts and consciences of men Christs kingdome of power Christs kingdome of grace and his kingdome of glory Now the meanes are either Externall or Internall The Externall meanes for the inlarging of Christs kingdome Externall are 1 The Word 2 The Sacraments 3 Discipline The Word is the Scepter of Christs kingdome The Sacraments are the Churches magnacharta confirming the Couenants betwixt Christ and his people And Discipline is the due execution of Christs lawes for the incouragement
doe they else but rob God of his glory and depriue a Christian soule of his chiefest ioy Now I would not be mistaken as though I meant that the comfort and assurance of a Christians saluation were so firme and certaine as that the same were neuer intermixed and ouer-clouded There is no such assurance in this life to bee looked for nay rather Gods people haue felt much feare and doubtings in themselues Hezechias complaines Esa 39. that the Lord had bruised his bones like a Lyon And Dauid is full of complainings Psal 31.22 Psal 77.7 I am cast out of thy sight will the Lord shew no more fauour and hath hee shut vp his louing kindenesse in displeasure And againe Psal 69.3 My eyes faint for wayting so long vpon my God Nay I dare adde this further that hee which neuer doubted of his saluation had neuer true faith to beleeue aright the pardon of his sins and the assurance of his saluation for hadst thou faith thou mightest assure thy selfe that Sathan would winnow thee But what manner of assurance then is this you speake of Quest Not an assurance that is free from doubtings and feares Answ but such an assurance that labours after assurance Assurance that wrestles and combats with doubtings and feares It is the wisedome of God by this meanes to settle and stablish the hearts of his seruants A man that hath newly planted a tree will bee euer and anone shaking of it not purposing to ouerthrow it but to settle it the more and thus the Lord by suffering the faith of his chosen sometimes to be shaken will haue their hearts rooted and grounded in him whilest they learne to deny themselues and to rest in him their strength Secondly seeing it is the pleasure of our good God thus to cheere vp the hearts of his chosen in their Pilgrimage here to fill their hearts with such ioyes and to giue them such secret and sweet raptures in the sence of his fauour in his Sonne whereby with the Spouse they role themselues vpon the beds of roses Can. as she confesseth and that to cause them so much the more cheerefully to serue him This may serue for our instruction to try our hearts and to see whether the worke of grace and of faith be wrought in vs. It is the aduice of the Apostle 2 Cor. 13.5 Proue your selues whether ye be in the faith how shall we doe this but by making particular application vnto our selues of those things wee beleeue In the matters of this life it is cucry mans care to doale vpon certainties for tenures of lands for Conueyances Leases c. Councell is entertained and euery word therein is scanned men will not deale but vpon good grounds But alas for the matter of our chiefe inheritance how simply doe men deale therein they are content to rest vpon a bare hope and thinke that a Lord haue mercy vpon mee will serue the turne What meaneth the Apostle to say Giue all diligence to make your calling and election sure but to shew that a Christians chiefest care must be for this But how may a man come to Quest this assurance of his saluation Wee must get good euidence and assurance of our faith in Christ Answ for so saith the Apostle As many as beleeued in him Ioh. 1.12 to them gaue he this power to be made the sonnes of God euen to them that beleeue on his name And againe We are saued by faith No man can haue the spirit of adoption that wants faith to beleeue Now for the obtayning of this grace of sauing faith the ordinary meanes is the preaching of the Word Rom. 10.17 faith commeth by hearing and the Gospell is called the word of faith vpon that then wee are to attend with all care and diligence as we looke to get faith and so consequently the saluation of our owne soules Secondly the Apostle giues this note how to know our adoption and so consequently whether wee be in the state of saluation or not Rom. 8.16 His spirit beareth witnesse to our spirit that we are the sonnes of God Now concerning this testimony of Gods spirit I will not make my selfe so skilfull to define what it is it is better felt then exprest The Prophet cals it The hearing of a voyce behinde vs Esa 38.21 whereby the heart comes to be perswaded of it reconciliation with God But how shall I know that my perswasion is not presumption Quest There be two speciall markes whereby we may distinguish betwixt them Ans First that vndoubtedly is the voyce of Gods spirit when comfort and assurance is felt in the heart after such time as the heart hath first beene humbled and cast downe in the sight and sence of sinne Psal My heart saith Dauid is as waxe it is molten in the middest of my body for in the time of a mans securitie when hee hath little or no apprehension of sinne then for a man to hope well and to conclude of his owne saluation is no strange thing nothing is more vsuall in the world amongst meer naturall men that neuer felt the smart of sinne then to bragge and boast of this assurance of saluation but alas they raise vp this building but vpon a sandy foundation which will neuer stand in the time of try all for it is Gods manner of dealing vsually in this work of mans saluation to lay full low whom hee intendeth to aduance full high by sorrow to bring them vnto ioy by death to bring them vnto life and by their humiliation for sinne to bring them to glory so that when a man hath once truely felt the smart of sinne when a man hath once combated with Gods wrath and the terrors of hell haue possessed his soule here is a good foundation to build the hope of heauen vpon for humiliation is the ground of exaltation and after this to stay a mans selfe vpon the promise of God in Christ is vndoubtedly the voyce of Gods spirit a token of true comfort and a note of true ioy Secondly when comfort ariseth from the comfortable vse of the meanes God himselfe hath appointed such as are the preaching of the Word the reuerent vse of the Sacrament prayer reading of the Scripture meditation c. for the Lord is euer a maintainer of that course which hee himselfe hath sanctified and set apart to the same end so then try thy assurance thus hath it beene layd in godly sorrow for sinne hast thou attended the poasts of the Lords Sanctuary c. This is vndoubtedly the voyce of Gods spirit and not of presumption But if on the contrary part thou neuer yet feltest such griefe of heart for sinne thy conscience did neuer yet torment thee in the sight and sence of sinne neither hast thou euer had any delight in the Lords Sabbaoths nor the duties of holinesse c. O deceiue not thy own soule thy hope of heauen of eternall life and
come When wee shall labour to bee instruments to inlarge that kingdome of the Lord Iesus and bring others from sinne to God otherwise indeed wee doe but mocke God like as if a husbandman should pray Giue vs this day our daily bread and neuer set his hand to the plough nor cast his seede into the ground Againe what a blessed thing is it to helpe to couer sinne yea a multitude of sinnes which those shall doe that are any wayes a meanes to bring others to the sight of their sinnes and to repentance for the same for alas such is the policy of Sathan and such is the corruption of euery mans heart by nature that they seeke by all meanes possible to couer their sinnes But how euen as Adam his nakednesse with fig-leaues that can neuer shelter them from Gods wrath So euery man seeketh something or other to couer his sinnes but the best way to haue sinne couered is first to vncouer them Ier. 31.18 After I was conuerted I smote vpon my thigh saith Ephraim Psal 51.3 so Dauid My sins are euer before mee and what followed Against thee onely haue I sinned Happy man Nathan that did so vncouer sinne that GOD might couer them Thirdly euery Christian must make conscience of this duty to stop others in a course of sinne in regard of himselfe lest hee bring vpon his owne head the sinnes of other men Now euery man hath enough to answer for of his owne though hee become not guiltie of other mens sinnes But how may a man be charged with the sins of others Quest This is done three wayes in Heart Word Deede First in heart Answ How many wayes a man becomes guilty of the sins of other men and that three wayes First when though hee neither commit the euill himselfe nor approue of the same being committed by others yet if hee mourne not in his heart for the same sinne In heart to see how God is dishonoured and how greatly the soule of the offender is indangered hee becomes guiltie of this sinne This was the fault of the Corinthians for the which Paul reproues them who when they saw the incestuous person who had sinned so fouly they sorrowed not nor grieued as they ought for that sinne Psal 119.136 A contrary example we haue in Dauid My eyes gush out with water because men keepe not thy law and of righteous Lot whose righteous soule was grieued at the abhominations of the filthy Sodomites Secondly when though a man neither doth or saith any euill himselfe yet secretly in his heart approueth of the cuill of another This was Pauls sinne before his conuersion hee cast no stone at Stephen himselfe yet he consented vnto his death as himselfe confessed Acts 7.58 Acts 22.20 and held the cloathes of them that did stone him and in this regard was guiltie of his death Thirdly by conniuence silence or indulgence when a man shall suffer sinne and the sinner to passe without reproofe And thus was Eli faultie in not punishing his sonnes for which sinne the Lord punished him And thus offendeth the Minister in not reprouing the sinnes of those ouer whom the Lord hath set him and so likewise the Magistrate in not punishing offenders vnder him Yea Eze. 3.17 and this is the sinne of all such as can with patience heare the Lord dishonoured his Name blasphemed his Sabbaths prophaned and all manner of impiety committed Act. 18.15 16. without any reproofe at all like vnto Gallio will not trouble themselues about such things whereas the Lord doth require this at the hands of euery Christian that haue themselues obtained mercy by admonition exhortation reprehension and by all other helps and meanes to shew mercy to others to stoppe them in the course of sinne Secondly In word a man may be guiltie of the sinnes of other men in word and that three wayes First 2 Sam. 11.15 Mar. 6.29 by counselling another to euill and thus became Dauid a murtherer by the letter he sent vnto Ioab in the matter of Vrich and thus the mother of the Damsell became guiltie of the Baptists death by councelling her daughter to require his head Secondly by defending of sin or iustifying the euill of another and thus are many Lawyers partakers of the euill of their clients who for lucre sake Luk. 11.40 will speake good of euill and iustifie the wicked for a reward in which regard it were well with them they were as lame of their tongues as Mephibosheth of his legs Esay 5.20 Thirdly by applauding another in euill and soothing them vp in their sinnes against whom there is a curse gone out from God Eze. 13.18 Woe vnto them that sow pillowes vnder mens arme-holes And lastly a man becomes guilty of other mens sinnes In Deed. in Deed and that two wayes First when albeit they be not the immediate instrument in sin yet haue a part and share in the euill done and thus all receiuers of such goods as they know or suspect to be stolne are partakers with theeues in their sinne and so by the law are iudged Secondly Psal 50.21 when a man shall familiarly conuerse with such as are knowne to bee notoriously wicked such receiue no small incouragement to goe on in their sinfull course when notwithstanding all their abhominations they are not reiected of others But the Lord saith vnto the Prophet Obiect 1 Ezek. 3.17 Sonne of man I haue made thee a watchman and thou shalt warne the people from me It seemes there that it is peculiar vnto the office of the Minister to admonish and reproue others And we know it is the exhortation of the Apostle Let euery man abide in the same calling wherein he was called Heb. 13.17 And againe They watch for your soules as they that must giue account vnto God What then haue priuate men to do with reprouing others for sinne To teach and preach publikely in the Church is the peculiar office of the Minister Resp and those whom the Lord hath fitted for that worke but this doth no whit hinder priuate exhortation and admonition of priuate men as God shall offer occasion yea this libertie they haue to speake euen to their Minister himselfe in priuate as Paul speaketh vnto the Golossians Say ye to Archippus take heed to thy Ministery to fulfill it But is euery man to be rebuked at all times that deserueth rebuke Quest No Rebuke not a scorner Answ saith Solomon or a drunkard when the wine is in his head 1. Sam. 25. Abigal would not tell Nabal of his drunkennesse then euery time is not sit a man must obserue the fittest time and watch his opportunity Now this impenitent Thiefe was a dying this was a fit time for his fellow to reproue him and for him to receiue a rebuke or else neuer There is a time for all things Eccl. 2. saith Solomon and a word spoken in due time is like an
and accountest thy selfe vnworthy of such a mercy Verily I say vnto thee this day c. That wee may obserue in the next place is that There is an vnchangeable certaintie in all Gods promises Doct. 2 There is an vnchangeable certainty in al Gods promises Mat. 24. his Word shall surely bee accomplished Heauen and earth shall passe away but my Word shall not passe away He is not as man that hee should lye or the sonne of man that he should change Hath hee said it and shall hee not doe it who hath resisted his will Hee is most iust in all his promises hee maketh with his seruants and will in his due time accomplish all his iudgements threatned against the wicked hee is yea and Amen Reu. 2. The faithfull and true witnesse I will not falsisie my truth saith the Lord My couenant will I not breake Psal 89.33 nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips Wee may see this in the Lords manner of dealing with his seruants as to Abraham Dauid and the rest Thou wilt saith the Prophet performe thy truth to Iacob Mic. 7.20 and mercy to Abraham as thou hast sworne to our forefathers in old time Mal. 3.6 I am the Lord change not and therefore he is called Iehouah one that as hee hath his being of himselfe and from himselfe so giueth he the being to all creatures that haue their being so likewise giueth he being to all his promises This is that Iosuah obserueth concerning the Lords promises made vnto the people of Israel Ios 21.44 There fayled nothing of all the good things which the Lord had sayd vnto the house of Israel but all came to passe We may see this in that first couenant and promise God made with Adam hauing sinned Gen. 3.15 The seede of the woman shall bruise the Serpents head what though the same promise seemes to be forgotten it being almost 4000. yeeres after Gal. 4.4 wherein God made the same good Yet when the fulnesse of time was come God sent his Sonne Wee must not tye the Lord to any time when to helpe hee knoweth the fittest and the best time to relieue his distressed seruants Neither are we to be discouraged though we be not by and by deliuered out of miserie The people of Israel were promised deliuerance out of captiuitie yet it was a long time first Dauid was delayed so long before deliuerance came as that hee crieth out Psal 13. How long wilt thou forget me God dealeth with men herein as a Physitian dealeth with his Patient when he requireth wine in the fit of a burning Feauer I will not giue it saith hee not because he will neuer giue him wine but because hee knoweth when it is best to giue it thus dealeth hee with his seruant making choice of the most seasonable time to send comfort And as the Lord will in his due time make good his promises vnto his children so will he also make good those his denuntiations of iudgements against the wicked What became of his denuntiation against the old world in the dayes of Noah Gen. 7. As God had a time to threaten hee had a time also to punish What became of that iudgement the Lord threatned against Iericho Ios 6.26 that the man should bee accursed of God that should go about to reedisie that cursed Citie That he should lay the foundation in the bloud of his eldest sonne and reare vp the gates thereof in the bloud of his youngest sonne What though this Iudgement seemed to be forgotten many hundred yeares did not the Lord make the same good afterwards in Hiel 1. King 16.34 And so likewise concerning the Prince of Samariah that would not beleeue the Prophet touching that plentie the Lord would giue in that City 2. King 7. the iudgement threatned for his incredulitie was afterwards inflicted vpon him Though the Lord bee full of lenitie to keepe off his hand a long time from the wicked yet all his iudgements shall bee accomplished in their season and in the end the Lord will pay them home For whatsoeuer hee hath said in his Word shall surely come to passe Though it go well with the wicked a while and they flourish like a greene Palme-tree though their Cow calue in due season though they haue riches and leaue Inheritances to their babes yet there is a day of reckoning when all things that God hath threatened shall be accomplished And the reason hereof may be drawne from the vnchangeablenesse of Gods nature Reas 1 Mal. 3.6 I am the Lord and change not Cursed Balaam can acknowledge this truth perceiuing in himselfe how hee was led by an ouer-ruling hand to blesse Gods people when hee faine would haue cursed them God is not saith he as man that he should lye Num. 23.19 neither as the sonne of man that he should repent Hath he said and shall he not do it hath he spoken and shall he not accomplish it Iob 23.13 Hee is saith Iob of one minde and who can turne him He doth what his minde desireth Secondly God is a God of power able of himselfe to performe and bring to passe whatsoeuer the purpose of his will is for which cause he is called the God of might able to do whatsoeuer hee will in heauen and earth So saith God of himselfe to Abraham I am God all sufficient Gen. 17.1 Gen. 35.11 The same esaith he to Iacob I am God all-sufficient grow and multiply Our Sauiour Christ saith Mat. 19.26 With God all things are possible Most plentifull be the places that commend vnto vs the power of God and all to shew that nothing can hinder him from executing the purpose of his owne will Seeing then that there is such an vndoubted certaintie in Gods Word Vse 1 both in respect of his promises made vnto the godly as also in respect of his threatnings denounced against the wicked This may serue for ground of singular comfort vnto the godly For hereupon may they stay themselues in a comfortable expectation of all those promises he hath made vnto them in his Word How many prophecies and promises hath the Lord already fulfilled for his Church and people which were neither in the power of Sathan nor in the craftie deuices of wicked men to make frustrate Such as are the manifestation of Christ in the flesh the calling of the Gentiles c. So shal it be touching all those promises that are not yet accomplished Such as are The calling of the Iewes what though now they be cut off for a time through their vnbeleefe Rom. 11. God hath promised to graft them in againe and he will make good his promise The ouerthrow of Antichrist That hath made all Nations drunke with the wine of her fornication What though now she sit as a Queene and saith I shall see no more sorrow God will bring her plagues vpon her in