for many to speak at once It is observeable to whom the Apostle gave this injunction not to the wicked of the world but to the Thessalonians who were not weak Christians Babes in Christ as the Philippians were but strong Christians grown Christians who had attained to a great measure of saith patience and holiness as 1 Thes 1 Thes 1.7 1.7 Ye were examples to all that beleive in Macedonia and in Achaia They were Christians of the upper form famous for faith and godliness examplary to neighbor Churches yet the Apostle bids them not to de spise Prophesying not to despise the Preaching of the Word of God There are in our daies many vain and ignorant people who out of a phantastical conceit of their perfection in knowledg and high achievements of grace think themselves to bee above all Ordinances above Prayer hearing the Word or receiving the Sacrament they live altogether in excelâ—â—s you shall never see them below the third heaven their common discourse is of unexpressible ravishing communion with the Lord Jesus Christ and hereupon they contemn all the Ordinances of the Gospel as beggerly Rudiments as Childrens food But let such consider That if any Church or people in the world might have pleaded that they were above Ordinances the Thessalonians might have done it who were every way gracious even beyond comparison yet the Apostle presseth upon them the necessity of attending upon a Gospel Ministry Observa Hence observe That men that have attained unto the highest perfection of grace and knowledge that it is possible for men in this life to attain unto are not to despise or neglect the Ordinances of Iesus Christ Not only doth a Child need daily food but the strongest man in the world will faint and die without it I have wondred to think how the Devil could ever get this deceit into the hearts of men to make them to think that they are above Ordinances when as the Scripture speaks so expresly against this opinion 1 Cor. 14. 1 Cor. 14.22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign not â—o them that beleive but to them that beleive not but Prophesying serveth not for them that beleive not but for them which beleive Here you see the Apostle clearly asserts it that beleivers nay strong beleivers are not to despise Prophesying And David a great Prophet a man after God's own heart rich in guifts and grace yet longs after God's presence in the Tabernacle Psal 84.2 It was his earnest desire his cheifest comfort yea he accounted it the greatest happinesse that he could attain unto in this world to be near where the Ark of God was the place of his residence amongst men in those daies to behold the face of God in his Sanctuary to enjoy the publique Ordinances of God And saith the Apostle Heb. 5.14 Strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age even those who by reason of use have their sences exercised to discerne both good and evil Those who are of full age i.e. in comparison of those hee before compared to babes By reason of use i.e. by hearing reading and meditateing on the Word of God Have their sences i.e. their understanding judgment and memory To discern both good and evil i.e. to choose that which is good and refuse that which is evil Now the Apostle expresly saith Ephe. 4.11 12. 13. Ephes 4.11 12 13. That people are to abide under the Word preached until they come to heaven He gave some Apostles and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teathers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ untill we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledg of the son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ The use of the Ministery is perpetual it is to continue so long as the Sun and Moon endure untill all the Elect of God are brought in until we come to be perfect men which shall be in the World to come We must live under the means of grace until we come to glory And the Reasons hereof are these 1. Reason Our sanctification is not perfect 1. Because our sanctification in this life is not perfect the Scripture last quoated doth intimate thus much There is the old man and the new man flesh and spirit in the best Saints although sin hath received its deadly wound and shall never reign as a King in the soul yet it may tyrannize in us and we shall never be perfectly freed from the rebellion thereof untill we come to Heaven 2 Reason Sinne lies hidden in the secret corners of the heart The heart is exceeding deceitfull deceitfull above all things Jer. 17.9 The heart of man is the greatst cheater in the world there is not such a deceiver it is so wickedly wicked so unsearchably wicked beyond all expression who can know it Wickednesse lies hidden in the secret corners thereof There is no man no not the most knowing and the most innocent knoweth how often be offendeth Psal 19.12 Therefore Solomon saith Prov. 28.26 He that trusteth in his owne bea rt is a fool Now the preaching of the Word is an effectuall meanes for the unbowelling of corruption and discovering of the secret turnings and windings of the heart Heb. 4.12 The Word of God is quick and powerfull and sharper than any two-edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of Soul and Spirit and of the joynts and marrow and is a discerner of the intents and thoughts of the heart This I thought good to name to shew you in my passage to the Text that whilst you live in this World you are to wait upon the Ministery of the Word and not to despise Prophesying Now after the Apostles injunction my Text comes fitly in for many will despise the Ministers Doctrine before they trie it therefore the Apostle when he said Despise not prophesying subjoines Prove all things Trie trie and if there bee any error in what you heare then despise it Despise not Preaching only this is your work Trie all things and hold fast that which is good The words of the Text explained In the first place I shall give you the meaning of the words prove the word in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a word borrowed from Gold-smiths who when they would trie their mettall whether it bee currant or not bring it to the Touchstone so the word signifies to trie or to know by experience and thus you are to trie by the Touchstone of the Word all Doctrines you heare that is the Standard to trie them by Try or prove all things by all things here is meant all Doctrines preached all Prophesyings or Preachings you heare It is observable that when the Apostle Paul spake these words the Evangelists were not written nor commended to the publique care of the Church of God It is thought that this Epistle
spoken of and through covetousnesse shall they with fained words make marchandize of you whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not Now they are not blessed that hear men that bring in such damnable Heresies The Scripture doth not entaile blessing on all hearing but on hearing the Word of God and keeping of it Observation 6 Again It is not said blessed also but blessed rather Christ doth not say my mother is a blessed woman and they also are blessed that heare the Word of God and keep it But Christ comes in with a Rather as if he should have said I account those men and women Rather blessed then mine own Mother mearly for being instrumental in bringing mee into the World Oh how should the consideration hereof enflame your hearts and provoke you to a dilligent hearing of Gods Word and conscientious practifing of what you heare There is not the like phrase in all the Bible Observation 7 It is not said Rather Blessed are they that hear my words and my sayings it is so said in some other places but here it is said they that hear Gods Word For had Christ said rather blessed are they that hear my word then people might have thought that Christ did impute blessednesse only to his own preaching and to those that heard him personally preach Therefore Christ faith rather blessed are they that heare Gods Word be it preached by Peter Paul or Apollo by any Disciples now living or by any Minister of the Gospel that shall live afterwards to the Worlds end Whosoever shall heare the Word of God contained in the Scriptures of the old and new Testament and keep it they are rather blessed then my mother was if shee be considered only as instrumentall to the bringing of mee into the World And in this expression there is a secret Glory or Honour put upon the Ministers of the Gospel by Jesus Christ who would not limit the blessing to his own preaching but extends it to the Word of God in any Ministers mouth And that is the reason as many think of that saying in Scripture viz. Hee that beleiveth shall doe greater workes then Christ did It is not meant of the workes of Redemption but of the ministerial works that a faithfull Minister shall convert more souls then Christ by his Ministry did convert Christ indeed could have converted all that heard him but hee did it not lest men should have thought that they must have heard none but Christ We do not read of many that were converted by Christs preaching there were more converted by Peter and other Apostles then by Christ himself this Christ did that people might not dispise any of his ordinary Ministers If Christ had converted more then all the Disciples people then would have slighted the Disciples and followed only Christ This distemper began to grow in the Apostles daies 1 Cor. 1 Cor. 1.12 1.12 Now this I say That every one of you saith I am of paul I am of Apollo I am of Cephas and I am of Christ The Apostle blames them that they should say I am of Christ The meaning is not as though men were blame-wothy for following and loving of Christ God forbid it is our highest duty so to doe But there were some in the Church of Corinth who were ready to say I care not for hearing of Paul or Apollo but I am only for hearing of Jesus Christ This was a vain and sinfull crying up of Christ Thus for men to cry up Christ to preach Christ and in the mean time to cry down the Ministery this is sinfull and Christ will never own this to bee a preaching of him For Christ faith Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it Let it bee preached by any faithfull Minister whatsoever Observation 8 Again It is not said Blessed are they for hearing and for keeping but Blessed are they that heare and that keep Blessedness doth never come with a for but with an if or a that The Lord doth not bless thee for thy hearing although thou hear as many Sermons as there are dayes in the yeare but he blesseth them that hear in obedience to his Command and practise what they here Thus you have eight Notes from the form of speech which Christ here used What is meant by keeping the Word of God Now I shall come to shew what is meant by Keeping of the Word of God which we hear And there is a double keeping of the Word of God 1 A keeping it in our memory Luke 2.19 First There is a keeping of it in your memory Luke 2.19 Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart She kept them in memory Out memories should be as the Arke wherein the pot of Manna was kept The pot of Manna is Divine Truths these should bee kept safe in our memories But this is not the keeping here spoken of for there are many men that have good memories to keep what they heare and yet have neither good hearts nor good lives and therefore not blessed by their keeping Secondly 2 A keeping of the Word in our practis There is a keeping of the Word in your practice and that is done when there is a conscionable eare to square your lives and conversations answerable to what you hear or know Now Blessed are you that hear the Word of God thus keep it And thus I have opened all the difficulties that may appear in the words Doctrin The Observation is this viz. That they are rather blessed that heare the Word of God and practise what they heare then the Mother of Iesus Christ was for bringing him into the World It is a point I confesse which doth well deserve a scanning and if it had not been in the Bible it would have been incredible that Christ should put a rather on thee O man or woman in every age of the VVorld that shalt hear the VVord of God and keep it It is worthy your notice what a different Dialect is used by the woman in the Text and Elizabeth that was kinswoman to the Virgin Mary The woman in the Text faith Blessed is the womb that bare thee and the paps that thou hast sucked Luke 1.45 But Elizabeth cryed out Luke 1.45 Blessed is shee that Beleiveth Upon which words a Learned Author hath a very good note faith he If the Virgin Mary had not born Christ in her heart by faith as well as in her womb she had not been blessed for Elizabeth here declareth wherein the blessedness of the Virgin Mary and of all the Elect consisteth Now how may this confute the dotage of the Church of Rome Vse for Reprehension that doth so excessively cry up the Virgin Mary I have a little viewed over some Popish Authors and I finde that for one tract of the Dignity and Glory of Christ they have written many of the Dignity of the Virgin Mary And they relate strange stories
that Doctrine is unsound Rule 7 Seventhly whatsoever Doctrine doth necessarily tend to settle and compose a troubled Conscience by teaching us to bottom only upon the merits of Christ for salvation and not upon our own good works that Doctrine is sound But that Doctrine which leaves a distressed perplexed Conscience without any sound bottom to rest upon by teaching men to place the stresse of their salvation upon the mutable Will of man this is not only an uncomfortable but an unsound Doctrine Rule 8 Eightly that Doctrine that tends to the advancement of godlinesse in a mans Christian course which as the Apostle speakes Titus 1.1 acknowledgeth the truth which is after godlinesse which conduceth to the perfecting of holinesse that puts us on to diligent care to work out our salvation with feare and trembling that helps on the work of grace in the soul that tends to inform the judgement reform the heart and conform the life to the whol Will of God that Doctrine is true and good But on the contrary that Doctrine which tends to Licentiousnesse and Libertinism causing men to neglect the Ordinances of God and to grow weary of Congregationall Worship Family Worship and Closet Worship that turns the grace of God into Wantonnesse that magnifies the Death of Christ but destroyes the Life of Christ that sets up the Blood of Christ the Priestly Office of Christ but regards not the Commands of Christ the Kingly Office of Christ that makes men confident of Mercy but carelesse of Repentance that makes Christ mercifull but leaves them sinfull or at the best brings them but to a form of godlinesse without the power thereof that Doctrine is erronious and dangerous Truth ever advanceth godlinesse but erronious Doctrine is contrary thereunto 2 Tim. 2.16 2 Tim 2.16 Shun prophane and vayn bablings for they will encrease unto more ungodlinesse We finde in our dayes the fruit of vain bablings and Disputes to be the broaching of such damnable Opinions as these viz That a man must not mourn for sinne must not confesse sinne must not pray for pardon of sinne and thus three parts of Prayer are taken away So concerning the Decree of God that if they bee decreed to bee saved they shall bee saved let them live as they list and if they bee decreed to bee damned they shall bee damned let them doe what they can Whereas the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation should bee a spur to stir us up in pursuit after holinesse So concerning the Law of God that it is of no use to believers And many such like pernicious Doctrines are occasioned by vain Disputes all which tend to more ungodlinesse which is enough to prove them to be false for truth ever advanceth practical godlynesse in a mans Christian course Rule 9 Lastly Doctrines of truth will be true when they are tryed truth fears no tryal it is error that fears the light that creeps into houses and dares not appear in publique that seiseth upon silly women laden with corruption as the Apostle speaks 2 Tim. 3.6 but dares not encounter with a knowing Christian 2. Tim. 3.6 And therefore it is that the Turks doe forbid any man to dispute against their Alkoran And therfore it is that the Church of Rome will not suffer the common people to read the Bible but they must pin their Faith upon other mens sleeves and believe as the Church believes And thus they cause their Errors and Idolatries to bee swallowed down whereas were they brought into the light the weaknesse and sinfulnesse thereof would appear The sum of all is this When you heare any Doctrine delivered compare it with the VVord of God and if you finde that it doth crosse any part of the old or new Testament believe it not for it is not Truth but Error These Rules and Directions for the trying of such Doctrines as you hear may be of great advantage unto you in these loose and erronious times if the Lord give you hearts to make a right improvement thereof Nay Conscience doth not tell mee of any thing delivered unto you repugnant unto the Scripture But trust nothing that I preach untill you have tried it and if you finde any thing disagreeable to the written Word of God reject it Prove all things hold fast that that which is good FINIS A CHRISTIANS great Enquiry Text. Acts 16.30 31. And said sirs what must I doe to be saved And they said beleive on the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt bee saved THis Text is propounded by way of interrogation the manner of its composure intimates that it is the Ebulition of a perplexed mind the Quere of a distempered and distressed soul and that about a businesse of the greatest moment in the World There are many critical curious and controversial Questions that men enquire after in these daies But this Question that the poor Jaylor here asked is a Question of the greatest concernment that ever can bee made by any man It was no lesse then this what he might doe to be saved The Question seems to be the expression of a man in great anguish and consternation of mind and truly the matter the Question is about is such as might trouble all the World As a grave Divine answered one that came unto him saying Sir I am troubled about my Salvation saith hee freind it is a businesse that might trouble all the World So here this poor man cries out to Paul and Silas what must I doe to be saved I shall not spend time about the Explication but shall dispatch what I have to say in a practical prosecution of these words Before I come to the points of Doctrin I intend to handle There are 3 concurrent circumstances about the words from whence 3 Observations will arise 1 From the consideration of the condition of the man that propounds this serious Question a Iaylor a calling in those times especially full of infamy because the followers of Christ were most of all in bonds when Oppressors and men of violence escaped free yet behold a Iaylor the object of pardoning mercy Hence Observe 1 Observation From the condition of the man that propounds this Question That men of the most despicable condition in the World may become the objects of Gods pardoning mercy Salvation is not impailed within the rank of the rich and honourable of the World but sometimes men of the lowest rank become the objects of Gods mercy Pardoning grace reacheth sometimes to the vildest and most notorious sinners in the World Christ came not to call the righteous Mark 2.17 but sinners to repentance 2. From the consideration of the occasion or manner of this Jaylors conversion for it is said In the night there was a great Earth-quake in the prison and the Keeper awakened out of his sleep and when he arose he saw all the prison doores open and thinking that all the prisoners had been gone hee was in great perplexity of minde
Devil out of a man that was dumb caused the fame of Christ to have great renown through many parts of the World And though for all this his enemies would not acknowledge the Divinity of Christ yet a certain young woman as may be gathered from the history came and lifted up her voice and said unto him Blessed is the womb that bare thee and the paps that thou hast sucked Now Christ instead of giving her thanks for applauding of him doth rather give her a rebuke a check and said I will tell thee who are blessed Rather blessed are they that bear the Word of God and keep it Thus you have the coherence of the words This speech of the woman was a proverbial speech amongst the Jews when any person did an acheivement that was praise worthy they would cry out and say Blessed is the womb that bare thee And from this proverbial speech I would note thus much Observa ∣ tion viz. That good children are a great prayse and blessing to their parents This woman could blesse the mother of Christ who bare such a son as he was Solomon saith A wise sonne maketh a glad father Pro. 15.20 And in many other places you read what great blessing Pro 15.20 and honour doth accrue to parents whom the Lord hath blessed with wise and godly children And on the contrary the ScrÃpture marks those parents with a brand of reproach that bring forth wicked children into the World children to encrease the number of the damned to fill Hell and to pollute the Earth therefore it is that you so often read in Scripture Pro 10.1.5 That a wicked child is a shame to his parents Pro. 10.1.5 Vse The Use is to teach you whom God hath blessed with good children to to be exceeding thankful unto God for it is a greater blessing unto you then if God should fill your house with silver and gold And you whom God hath thus afflicted in suffering bad children to come out of your loyns oh mourn under the heavy hand of God that he hath made you instrumental to bring forth children into the World which shall encrease the number of the damned in Hell Thus much from the womans speech who said The words of the text opened Blessed is the womb that bare thee and the paps that gave thee suck But Christ said Rather blessed are they which bear the Word of God and keep it Christ said Rather blessed He doth not say that his mother was not blessed but that the woman might not too much dote on his mother to think that she was so greatly blessed onely for bearing him in her womb therefore he said I will tell thee who indeed is the blessed man and woman even they that bear the Word of God and keep it Christ would not give way to her applause but he gives her a milde and loving rebuke Hence observe Observation That you must take heed that you bee not tickled with pride when you heare your selves or yours commended Christ would give no way to the womans commendation She thought that the virgin Mary was the happiest woman in all the World yet Christ puts a Rather on them that make conscience of hearing the Word of God and keeping of it A beleiver hearing and obeying Jesus Christ is Rather blessed in so doing then the virgin Mary was mearly for bringing Christ into the World although it was the happiest birth that ever was brought forth Oh how should this bee a spur unto you to hear and to practise what you heare seeing that by so doing you are thus blessed Observation 1 Now I shall observe somthing from the manner or form of expression that Christ doth here use It is not said blessed are they which hear the Word of God for there are many sorts of hearers who come short of blessedness but blessed are they that hear the Word of God and Keep it that incorporate it into their souls and become transformed into the Image of it There are four forts of hearers spoken of Mat. 13. Mat. 13. and three of them fell short of blessednesse All hearers although it be the Word of God which they hear do not attain unto blessednesse It is not hearing but keeping and observing the Word of God which makes men blessed Observation 2 2. Observe again That it is not sayd Blessed are yee that believe although it be indeed a truth that all true beleivers are blessed yet it is not so said lest men should think that a naked beleiving is enough to make them blessed or lest they should think that they are above hearing praying or receiving which are the proud aspiring vanities of many in this age Observation 3 Neither is it said Blessed are ye that keep the Word of God in a disjunction from hearing but in a conjunction with hearing Blessed are yee that heare and keep Many men pretend to a great perfection of life and conversation in keeping what Christ commands but it is with a disjunction from hearing they leave off hearing the Word But those only are blessed in the esteem of Jesus Christ who hear and keep the Word of God Observation 4 Again it is not said Blessed shall ye be that hear and keep the Word of God but Blessed are yee To shew that ye shall not only be Blessed when ye come to Heaven but that yee are blessed in so doing whilst ye are here on earth Rom. 6.22 Rom. 6.22 But now being made free from sin and become servants unto God you have your fruit unto holinesse and the end everlasting life Thou hast thy fruit O man if thou art an holy man even before thou comest to everlasting Life Observation 5 Again it is not said only Blessed are ye if ye hear and keep But if ye hear the Word of God and keep it Thou maist heare men that preach damnable errors and keep them fast in thine heart but in this case thou art nearer a cursing then a blessing Men may bee followers of Sermons but if those Sermons which they hear and practice bee not agreeable to the Word of God be not grounded upon the Scriptures they are under a curse and not a blessing by what they beare Therefore the Holy-ghost here faith Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it This should teach men how they hear whom they hear and what they hear that they hear nothing but the Word of God and then keep what they hear We read of Teachers who shall bring in Damnable Heresies and that many shall follow their pernicious wayes â— Pet. 2.1 2 3. 2 Pet. 2.1 2 3. But there were false Prophets also amongst the people even as there shall be false Teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable Heresies even to deny the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction and many shall follow their pernicious wayes by reason of whom the way of Truth shall bee evil
fooleries concerning her The idola try of the Church of Rome detected such as were never heard of in former times idolatrously to advance her fame as that she was free from original sin whereas the Scripture saith expresly that all that descend from Adam are polluted with original corruption and therefore the Virgin Mary also being a daughter of Adam The Papists speak more honourably of the Virginity Dignity and Holinesse of the Virgin Mary the mother then they do of the Righteousness Grace and Merits of Christ the son And therefore they hold justification by works and not by faith in the righteousness of Christ Yea they so dote on the Virgin Mary that they make her the great Mediatoress to God the Father A man would think it unnecessary to treat against the popish Doctrin but Ministers never had more reason for it then now for there never was more likelihood of popery its spreading then in these dayes wherein under the notion of a cursed Toleration Preists and Jesuites do publish their blasphemous and idolatrous Tenents and drive on their Jesuitical Designes and God knows how soon you that will not lay your neck under Christs yoak may be brought under the popish yoak This I can say upon mine own experience That I never found so many to stagger towards popery as I have done of late They who have professed the Protestant Religion are staggering and apostatizing from their former profession and solemne Covenants and God knows how soon they will prefer the Virgin Mary before Jesus Christ But I hope better things of you Therefore I shall pass this and come to the Reasons of the point which are these First 1 Reason From the near relation they stand in to Christ They are rather blessed that hear and keep the Word of God then the Virgin Mary was for bringing Christ into the Word Because Christ doth account such to stand in more manifold near Relations unto him then his owne natural freinds were Luke 8.21 And he answered and said unto them my Mother Luke 8.21 and my Brethren are these which heare the Word of God and do it Loe here is the right way of being brought into a near Relation unto Christ of becoming akin to Jesus Christ to bee accounted the brother sister and mother of Jesus Christ and that is by hearing and obeying the will of Christ 2 Reason They only shall persevere 2 Your blessedness appears in this because if you hear and practise you shall presevere unto the end when others shall apostatize Math. 7.24.10 28. and sall back from the Faith Mat. 7.24 to 28. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doth them I will liken him to a wise man which built his house upon a rock and the rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon that house and it fell not for it was founded upon a rock And every one that hears these sayings of mine and doth them not shall bee likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand and the rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon that house and it fell and great was the fall thereof Those onely that hear the Word of God and keep it do presevere they only have their souls built upon a rock and stand unmovable in the time of persecution Indeed fall they may and fouly too as David Peter and many other precious Saints have done through the violence of Satans temptations and remainder of corruption that is in them but finally and irrecoverably they shall never fall because they are builded upon a rock which can never be removed and that rock is Christ who is both the author and finisher of their saith Heb. 12.2 And hee hath prayed that their faiths faile not utterly Luke 22.2 And this hee hath procured and therefore though the stormes and waves arise they can never fall irrecoverably Others fall off and fall away when winds and stormes arise 3 The Lord doth make glorious promises to such as hear the Word of God and keep it 3 Reason The Lord makes glorious promiles unto such Rev. 1.3 Blessed is hee that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophesy and keep those things which are written therein for the time is at hand Here you see those that hear the Word of God and keep it that is lay it up in their hearts and express the power of it in their lives they are blessed 4 Reson Ye may be instrumental to bring others unto blessedness 4 By practizing what you heare in the Word you may bring others unto blessedness And happy are ye that are instrumental to bring others to Heaven 1 Pet. 3.1 1 Pet. 3.1 Likewise yee wives bee in subjection to your owne husbands that if any obay not the Word they may also without the Word 1 Pet. 2.12 be won by the conversation of their wives so 1 Pet. 2.12 Having your conversations honest amongst the Gentiles that whereas they speak against you as evill doers they may by your good works-which they shall behold glorify God in the day of visitation Their godly conversation might be a means to bring others to Heaven 5. 5 Reason Yee shall surely obtain Salvation If ye make conscience to practise what you heare yee are blessed because although ye should not bring others unto Heaven you your selves shall surely come to Heaven shall surely come to blessedness Rev. 14.12 13. Rev. 14.12.13 Here is the patience of the Saints here are they that keep the Commandements of God and the faith of Iesus I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me write blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works follow them O you that make conscience to keep the Commandements of God and the faith of Jesus you shall surely goe to Heaven although you bring none with you but your selves It was a notable saying of one of the Fathers viz. That when a Gospel life doth go before an Angels life shall follow after O therefore make conscience to practise what you hear and know Now I come to the Applycation and the Use shall be two fold 1 For Lamentation If it be so Vse for Lamentation that they that heare and keep the Word of God are rather blessed then the Virgin Mary was mearly for bringing Christ into the World should not this then bee for a lamentation that men will not seek after blessedness when they may have it upon such easy termes Had God said I will blesse thee if thou removest Mountains if thou fulfillest my Law in every jot and tittle thereof These indeed had been works impossible to be done But saith God blessed art thou if thou hearest the Word of God and keep it therefore if thou wilt not practise what thou hearest thou dost refuse thine owne
take liberty to try all Preachers page 67 2 We must not be scepticks in Religion page 71 3 VVe must not bring the Scriptures to our Opinion but our Opinion to the Scriptures page 71 4 VVe must not be over confident of our opinions page 72 Four Reasons why we should try all Doctrines 1 Because erronious Teachers may carry a resemblance to them that preach the truth page 73 2 The Scripture foretells that there shall be many false Teachers in the latter dayes page 74 3 False Doctrines are published very craftily pag 76 4 There is an aptnesse in our nature to be turned aside unto error p. 79 Three general Directions about trying of Doctrines 1 The Scripture is to bee the standard by which we are to try all Doctrines p. 82 2 Cleare principles of truth must rather bee maintained then disputed page 84 3 VVe must not be consident in any opinion untill wee have tryed it throughly page 85 Nine Rules for trying of all Doctrins that wee heare 1 Whatsoever the Word of God doth expresly hold forth to be believed and received p. 85 2 Whatsoever Doctrine advanceth the grace of God in Christ p. 87 3 Whatsoever Doctrine doth advance the Will of God p. 87 4 Whatsoever Doctrine doth advance all the attributes of God ibid 5 Whatsoever Doctrine discovereth the sinfulnesse of vain thoughts p. 89 6 Whatsoever Doctrine advanceth all truth ibid 7 Whatsoever Doctrine tends to settle a troubled Conscience ibid 8 Whatsoever Doctrine tends to the advancement of Godlinesse 90 9 Whatsoever Doctrine will abide the tryal p. 91 All these Doctrines are sound and to be embraced On the Contrary 1 Whatsoever Doctrine is not to be found in Scripture p 86 2 Whatsoever Doctrine debaseth the grace of God in Christ p. 87 3 Whatsoever Doctrine makes the Will of God â—or obediance and the grace of God for Salvation to be contrary ibid 4 Whatsoever Doctrine doth rob God of his glory in any of his attributes 88 5 Whatsoever Doctrine requireth only outward reformation p. 89 6. Whatsoever Doctrin is pleasing to the corrupt nature of man p. 89. 7 Whatsoever Doctrine leaves a distressed Conscience without any bottome to rest upon p. 90 8 Whatsoever Doctrine tends to licentiousnesse p. 91 9 Whatsoever Doctrine will not endure the tryall p. 92 All these Doctrines are false and to be abhorred Text. Acts 16.30 1. And said sirs what must I doe to be saved And they said beleive on the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt be saved 1 Observation Men of the most despicable condition in the world may become the objects of Gods pardoning mercy page 97 2 Observation God by his providence doth many times so bring it about that afflictions shall bee a means to make men look after Salvation p. 99 3 Observation VVhen once men come to make a dilligent Enquiry after Heaven there will then appear great alteration in their passions and affections page 99 The words of the Text explained Six things observed from the form of speech the Iaylor used page 102 Doctrine Above all things in the world this is the most needfull thing for the sons of men to make Enquiry after namely what they must doe to bee saved page 103 Three Cautions for the right understanding of the Doctrine 1 VVee must not expect to bee saved by doeing page 104 2 No man can be saved without doeing page 105 3 Heavenly care doth not exclude lawfull worldly care page 106 Four Reasons why wee must enquire what we must doe to be saved 1 Because the soul is the most excellent thing in the world page 107 2 Heavenly care is the ready way to bodily welfare page 108 3 Because the Devil makes great enquiry how to damn the soul page 109 4 If thou loosest thy soul thou loosest all page 110 1 Use For rebuke of them that Enquire after notionall Questions page 112 That enquire onely after earthly things page 113 That enquire how to damn themselves page 114 2 Use For examination whether we are in an estate of Salvation Page 115 This may be known 1 By the Methods God takes with those whom he intends to save page 115.117 2 By the Impressions which hee works on their hearts page 118 The second part of the Text explained God promises to give what hee commands page 121 Faith and Repentance must bee joyned together pag 124 Doctrine It is the duty of all those that expect salvation to beleive in Iesus Christ page 126 Every assent unto the word is not beleiving page 128 A Description of saving faith page 129 The great benefit and priviledge wee have by living under a Covenant of grace page 131 The differences betwixt the Covenant of works and Covenant of Grace page 132 There is no possibillity of life by the Covenant of works page 133 In the Covenant of grace there is place for repentance and mercy for the penitent 136 Text. Luke 11.28 But hee said yea rather blessed are they which hear the Word of God and keep it Observation From the context viz. good Children are a great praise and blessing to their parents page 140 The words of the Text explained p. 141 Observation you must take heed that you bee not tickled with pride when you hear your selves or yours commended page 142 Eight Observations from the manner or form of expression that Christ doth here use page 143 to 151 What is meant by keeping the Word of God page 150 1 A keeping it in memory page 151 2 A keeping it in practice ibid Doctrin They are rather blessed that hear the Word of God and practise what they â—ear then the mother of Iesus Christ was for bringing him into the World page 152 The idolatry of the Church of Rome detected and confuted page 153 Five Reasons why such as hear the Word of God and keep it are blessed 1 Christ doth account such to stand in a nearer relation unto him then his naturall friends page 155 2 They shall persevere when others apostastatize page 156 3 The Lord makes glorious promises unto such page 157 4 They may be instrumentall to bring others unto blessednesse page ib 5 They themselves shall surely come to blessednesse although they should not bring others unto Heaven page 158 Vse For lamentation that people will not seek after blessednesse when they may have it upon such easie tearms 160 Five Considerations to set home this Vse 1 If thou dost not practise what thou hearest thou wilt but aggravate thy condemnation 160 2 Thou art voyd of love to God 163 3 Thy profession is nothing worth ib 4 Thou canst have no assurance of the love of God unto thee 165 5 Thou wilt provoke the Lord to take away the Gospell from thee 166 Foure Demonstrations that wee are guilty of barrennesse under the meanes of grace 1 It appears because the Lords own people complain of their unfruitfulnesse page 167 2 By the sad complaint of Christs Ministers who discerne but little
successe to attend their Ministry page 168 3 By comparing our times with the time in which the Gospell was first planted page 169 4 Because in these dayes more people are perverted from the truth of the Gospel then converted thereby page 171 Five Demonstrations that wee are in danger to have the Gospell removed from us It appears 1 By that implacable opposition that is in the professors of the Gospell against the Preachers thereof page 172 2 By the general wantonnesse and wearynesse of people in living under the Gospell page 174 3 By the tolleration of such opinions as are contrary to the Gospell p. 175 4 By the encrease of damnable errors and heresies p. 176 5 By that implacable opposition that is againâ—â— the settlement of Church government p. 177 When the Gospel goeth from a people all goeth 1 Peace goeth p. 178 2 Plenty goeth ibid 3 Safety goeth ibid 4 Civill liberty goeth p. 9 5 The Dignity and splendor of a Nation goeth ibid. Object No man can keep what be heareth p. 180 Answer The Covenant of Grace doth not require a perfect but a sincere obedience page 181 Finis Christ's Prayer The Saints Support Text. 17 Iohn 15. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the World But that thou shouldest keep them from the evil THis chapter contains in it the last and most solemn prayer which we finde on Record that ever Christ made in the world with and for his Disciples when he was to remove his person from them even then he would leave a prayer behinde him the greatest Legacy that he could bequeath unto them This whole 17 chapter from the begining to the end is made up only of Christ's Prayer unto his Father And in this so sollemn a Prayer and the last Prayer that Christ made with his Disciples There are four things observable 1. The time when he made this Prayer 2. The Gesture he used 3. The Manner how he prayed 4. The Matter for what he prayed The time when he made this Prayer is set down two wayes 1. CircumstaÌ„ce of the â—ime when 1 It was immediately after he had preached a publique Sermon v. 1. Hence observe That it is warrantable and commendable for Ministers to pray after their preaching 1 Observacion This I name the rather because in this age there are a generacion of men who judge otherwise But it is here set down to be the practise of Jesus Christ himself so to do after he had preached he lifted up his eyes to heaven and prayed And it is Luthers note That a good prayer ought for to follow a good Sermon Luther And here by the way take notice that ye that attend upon the ministry of the Gospel must like wise go to God in prayer after ye have heard his Word when we have done preaching then you must begin your praying It is a good observacion of holy Greenham I am perswaded that one great reason why there is so little good done by all our preaching is GreenhaÌ„ because though there is much preaching in the pulpit yet there is little or no praying in the Closet The other Circumstance of time when Christ made this sollemn 2 CircuÌ„ of the time when and affectionate prayer is this It was the day before he was to die for assoon as he had done this prayer Iudas came with a band of men to betray him chap. 18. v. 1 2. hence observe from Christ's example That Christians should then have most holy 2 Observacion and ardent affections in their brests when they are even leaving of this World Iesus Christ prayed well at all times but he prayed most affectionately a little before he was to die Luke 22 4â— That passage is observable 22 Luke 44. And being in an agony be prayed the more earnestly and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground Iesus Christ when he was in an agony and lay groveling up on the ground sweating drops of blood prayed yet the more earnestly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or he prayed the more vehemently drawing forth his affections to the utmost And the Apostle Paul speaking hereof sayth Heb. 5.7 5. Heb. 7. Who in the dayes of his flesh offered up prayers and supplications with strong cryings and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared Christ prayed with strong cries alluding to that earnest Prayer which Christ uttered in the Garden Luke 22.19 Luke 22.19 as appears by these words In that he feared viz. That bitter Cup those unspeakable pains which he endured in his agony when the whole power of darkness set upon him Here you see that lesus Christ prayed with most fervent zeale and holy affection just before he was to die for the Apostle is there treating of Christ's Priesthood and offering up himselfe a sacrifice for sin Now as it was with Iesus Christ Christs practice should be our paern so should it be with you before you come to die you should then have most holy most heavenly and ardent affections in your breasts Let heaven at that time especially posesse your souls when your souls are going to posess heaven O beloved in this regard you should be like the Swan which sings the sweetest songs before its death let your sweetest songs be like Simeons * Luke 2 29. when ye come to die then say Lord let thy servant depart in peace The second Circumstance considerable in this prayer of Christ 2 CircuÌ„ the gesture Christ used is the Gesture he used therein He Lifted up his eyes to heaven and sayd Father c. It is true Gestures are not simply necessary in any duty It is not simply necessary to kneel in prayer yet Gestures may be helpful to us in prayer Christ lifted up his eyes to signifie that his heart was where his eyes were Beloved when ye lift up your eyes towards heaven in prayer it should note that your heart is in heaven I am sure with Christ it was thus though with you it may be otherwise It may be thine eye is towards heaven in a prayer when at the same time thine heart is towards thy shop towards thine evil company towards thy whores or wicked companions Remember O Man to keep thine heart as well as thine eye toward heaven in prayer let your hearts and your eyes be both towards the same place Christ lift up his eyes to heaven in prayer and his heart was there also and so should it be with you The third Circumstance in this prayer of Christ 3 Circuâ— the Maner of Christs praying was the manner of praying and that is expressed three ways in this chapter 1 He did aime at Gods glory 1. Christ aimed at Gods glory as the cheif End of all things he prayed for and this should be a directory for your prayers Iohn 17.1 Glorify thy Son that thy Son
they are gone out into the whole World Therefore try the Spirits whether they be of God try before ye trust before ye beleive Thirdly 3 Reason False Doctrines are published very craftily trie all Doctrines that you hear preached because false Doctrines and Heresies come from the publishers of them very slily and craftily into the minds of men There is not more legerdemain shewed by a cunning juggler then by these false Teachers they are subtile cunning to pervert the minds of men As the Apostle shewes Ephes 4.14 Ephe. 4.14 That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carryed about with every wind of Doctrin by the stight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lie in wait to deceive The word in the Greek is very emphatical 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by mens cogging of a die It is a word borrowed from cheating gamesters that can throw with a die what way they please These Teachers can as easily convey errors into the minds of men as a cunning gamster can cheat with a die We have had many such sly and subtile convayances or else the truths of God could never have been perverted amongs us as they are It is Observable Rev. 9.8 That the locusts that came out of the East Rev. 9.8 had their faces like the faces of women Interpreters expound them to be Iesuites and factors for Rome they had womens faces insinuating and allureing countenances invea gleing enticeing and bewitching of men with their follies Of such the Apostle speaks Rom. 16.18 For they that are such Ro. 16.18 serve not our Lord Iesus Christ but their own bellies and by good words and fair speches deceive the hearts of the simple Even as a foul faced whore painteth her face so do they their damnable errors with eloquent insinuations sometimes they tickle itching ears with such eloquent Notions as may make them admired And sometimes they suggest high priveledges unspeakable advantages by what they deliver As the Devil did to our first parents ye shall be like unto Gods Error must have good words to varnish it over and fair speeches plausible eloquent and accute deliveries By good words they deceive the hearts of the simple And 2 Pet. 2.1 the Apostle sets forth their flynesse in bringing in damnable Heresies 2 Pet. 2.1 Had Peter lived in our age he would have been accounted a bitter man to call them Heresies yea and damnable Heresies but they were privily brought in and saith he many shall follow their pernicious waies and through covetousnesse shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you with feigned words this must be done under the specious pretence of Truth new Light they will mix some gold with their copper some truths with their falsehoods Sunt mala mista bonis sunt bona mista malis they will sweeten their baits that they may take the sooner For if Error was nakedly brought in there is scarce a man would embrace it it would appear in such an ugly shape and therefore it is that they cloath it with a semblance of truth and piety Fourthly 4. Reason There is an aptness in our nature to be turned aside unto error You should try all Doctrines that you heare before you beleive them because through the credulity that is in us men of the most sollidest judgments are apt to be led away with novelties and deceived with error we are by nature like the sand in the Sea Est natura hominum novitatis avida moved with every wave like reeds shaken with every puff of winde A notable text you have for this 2. Cor. 11.3 But I fear lest by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through her subtilty so your mindes should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ The Devil would not make use of a dotish soo lish creature but a subtil Serpent to beguile Eve in makeing her to eat of the forbidden fruit Now saith the Apostle I am affraid lest the Devil by his subtile temptation should pervert your minds from the truth of the Gospel This shewes that there was an aptnesse in their nature to be turned aside unto error And moreover even the most holy and most understanding in the mysteries of God are but in part enlightened wee see through a glasse 1 Cor. 13.12 darkly 1 Cor. 13.12 And though they would not willingly missend you yet through the remain der of ignorance and corruption that is in them it is possible that they may take error for truth therefore no mans piety or learning should so far blind us as to beleive whatsoever he speaks without bringing of it unto the Touchstone of the Word for we must not build our faith on humane but on divine authority we must imitate the noble Beraeans and daily search the Scriptures whether those Doctrines that we heare bee indeed the truth of God They were commended for this Acts 17 1â— Acts 17.11 O Beloved Take nothing upon trust upon the Authority of the preacher weigh all things in the Ballance of the Sanctuary You must do with the Doctrins you hear as you doe with gold a man wil not take gold without weighing of it O there is as much falsehood in opinions as in mettals therefore weigh all things It is not what this man sayes be he Cephas or Apollo be he never so emminent for Learning and Religion But what God saies in the Scripture for the Scriptures are the Rule of Faith Quod de Scripturis sacris authoritatem non habet eadam facilitate contemnitur quae probatur and whatsoever is not according to this Rule reject it as the drosse of mans corrupt brains and doe not receive it as the gold of Gods pure Word Now it may be said you have given divers Reasons why we should not beleive such Doctrins as we hear before we have tried them But what Rules and Directions can you give how such a weak ignorant Christian as I am should bee able to try and judge of such Doctrines as I hear bic labor hoc opus But I shall endeavour both in general and in perticular to give Answer to this great Quaerie And I hope it will bee of great use unto us in these erring times wherein false Teachers and false Doctrines doe so much abound First â— General Rule 〈◊〉 the â—â—â—ipture 〈◊〉 the â—â—andard 〈◊〉 which 〈…〉 all â—â—ctrines take this general rule Be sure you make the Word of God to bee the Scandard by which you try and prove all Doctrines that you heare and if there bee any thing preached although it should be by an Angell from Heaven that is not according to the Word of God beleive it not This is the Prophets direction Esay 8.20 To the Law 〈◊〉 8.20 and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no Light in them By the Law and Testimonie wee are to understand the
sinfull himselfe to be exceeding miserable and then he sees Jesus Christ to be exceedingly desirable Ye whose souls can bear you witnesse that God hath taken these very Methods with you know for your comfort that these are the very Methods that God doth take with that soule whom hee intends to save Secondly 2 by the impressions which Christ works upon the heart You may discerne whether God hath brought you into an estate of Salvation by those impressions which Jesus Christ will work upon the hearts of those whom hee intends to save Now these impressions are four-fold First 1 impression upon the heart God doth cause the Authoritie and Majestie of the Word at some time or other to fall on the Conscience of that man with great conviction 1 Cor. 1.18 whom he intends to save 1 Cor. 1.18 For the preaching of the Crosse is to them that perish foolishnesse but unto us that are saved it is the power of God The power of God in his Word shall be felt on the conscience of that man whom God brings into a saving estate Therefore the Apostle saith expresly 1 Thes 2.13 1 Thes 2.13 For this cause also thank wee God without ceasing because when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us yee received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the Word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe The Word of God hath an effectual Work and Majestick Authority on them that shall bee Saved It is mighty in operation in them that beleive transforming them into the very image of it selfe it workes what it prescribes it enables the soul to come up unto every duty be it never so difficult to flesh and blood to hate every sin be it never so pleasant or profitable It is Active Heb. 4.12 and Opperative as the Apostle speaks Heb. 4.12 Sharper then a two-edged sword it effectually bindes the Conscience rectifies the Judgment subdues the Will the sinner cannot stand out against it The second impression that God makes on the heart of that man who shall be saved 2 Impression upon the heart is this he is brought into an obediential frame to obey the Commands of God the Law of God is not burdensome but pleasing and delightful unto him he hath a universal respect unto all Gods Commands as David speaks Heb. 5.9 Psal 119. And saith the Apostle Heb. 5.9 Being made perfect he became the Author of Eternall Salvation unto all that obey him Thirdly If God brings thee into a saving condition 3 Impression upon the heart he makes this impression on thy heart that thou art become as industrious to have thy nature sanctified Titus 3.3 as thy soul to be saved Titus 3.3 Not by workes of righteousnesse which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holyghast And John 3.3 Vnlesse a man be born again he cannot see the kingdome of Heaven The last impression is this 4 Impression uponâ— the heart If God saves thy soul he will bring thee into a beleiveing estate he will cause thee to lay hold on Christ by faith And this leads me unto the second point Second part of the Text opened which is the Resolve that the Apostle gives to this poor man crying out what hee should doe to be saved viz. Beleive on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved At the first blush one would think that the Apostles Resolve should nothing at all quiet the heart of this distempered man Paul and Silas bid the man beleive Object A man can not beleive by his own power Might not hee have replied I can as well make a World I can as well work Miracles and overturn Mountaines as beleive by mine own power therefore why bid ye me to beleive To this I Answer Answer God promises to give what he commands Though it bee true that every command of God is alike difficult to flesh and blood A man can as well make a World as make a prayer aright A man can as well subdue an Army of men as subdue one lust Yet know for your comfort that this is the tenure of the Gospell that when the Lord doth call for any thing at the hand of his Elect Children he doth with that command convay a power into their souls to enable them to fullfill that command If God bids a man beleive and gives him power to beleive the work will soon be done Ezekel 36. In the 36 of Ezek. the Lord commands to make a new heart Now a man is no more able to make a new heart then to make a new World Therefore in the same place he promises to give a new heart And in another place it is said Col. 3.5 Mortifie your lusts Now this a man cannot do of himselfe but the same God that bids thee kill thy lusts will kill them for thee micha 7.18 19. As Micah 7.18 19. Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage hee retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy hee will turn again he will have compassion upon us he will subdue our iniquities and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depth of the Sea Again God bids thee repent but thou art no more able to repent or to shead one tear for sinne then a Rock is to give out water But God will give thee a repenting heart he hath promised to give Repentance and Remission of sin I beseech you observe this that commands in Scripture do not shew what the Creature can doe or what he should doe by his own natural power But such commands in Scripture are charged on the Creature to let him know what God will doe for his Elect. If we put forth the sanctifying abillities that God gives us God will adde assisting grace to enable us to doe what of our selves we cannot doe Therefore we should pray with St. Augustine Lord give what thou commandest Da quod ju bes jube quod vis and then command what thou pleasest In the next place observe the difference that is betwixt the Resolve that Paul and Silas gives to this Question and the Resolve that Peter gives to the same Question in Acts 2.38 Acts 2.38 Then Peter said unto him Repent and bee baptized every one of you in the name of Iesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy-ghost Paul and Silas give this Answer Beleive and be Saved Peter gives this Answer Repent and be Saved There is much of Gods minde in this that different answers are given by the Holy-ghost to one and the same Question Both their answers are true Peter saith Repent and be Saved to shew that that Faith which is not joyned with Repentance is but a
presumptuous confidence Paul saith Beleive and be Saved Faith and Repentane must bee joyned together to let you know that that Repentance which is not joined with Faith is but a legal sorrow Therefore one saith beleive the other saith repent to shew that ye must joyn both together Had only this answer bin given Beleive and be saved Men would then have said that it is but a short cut to Heaven it is but beleiving Peter saith Repent and bee Saved to shew that both must come into the Christians practise that Faith and Repentance must goe hand in hand together if ye do expect Salvation Now this I note the rather because there are some men that are all for beleiving on Jesus Christ and not at all for repentance and mourning for sin These make Peters answer to bee no answer at all Then there are others that are all for repentance they are troubled in spirit and distressed in mind they wish their heads were water and their eyes a fountain of tears they think by their sorrow for sin to make an attonement with God but they do not at all rest on Jesus Christ by faith Now these men make Pauls answer to be no answer at all But remember you must Repent and be Saved with Peter and you must Beleive and be Saved with Paul But I shall only breifly speak to the answer which Paul and Silas here give Doctrin And from thence observe That it is the duty of all those that expect Salvation to beleive in Iesus Christ But me thinks I hear some say If this be so surely then Salvation may be had on very easy terms for do not all beleive on Jesus Christ God forbid that any should be so wicked as not to beleive on their Saviour I answer Indeed there are many that have a kinde of beleife an historical notional common dead faith such a faith as Simon Magus had as the stony ground had as the Devils have who beleive and tremble This faith a man may have and goe to Hell But there are few in the World who have a lively precious unfained faith which the Scripture doth indeed account beleiving in Christ which whosoever hath shall never perish but have everlasting life Few there are that are willing to receive Christ as he is tendred in the Gospel to receive Christ as a King to rule them as well as a Jesus to save them Few that are willing to receive a naked Christ Christ with his Crosse as well as Christ with his Crown Few that are as ready to give up themselves to Christ for Sanctification as to take Christ for justification Most people love the Preistly office of Christ to purchase Salvation for them but they doe not love the Kingly office of Christ to conquer Corruption in them they would be willing to have Christ receive them into Heaven but they are not willing to receive Christ into their hearts In the day of their callamitie when they lie upon their sick beds and the terrours of death take hold upon them then none but Christ none but Christ But in the day of their prosperity when the World smiles upon them and Riches Health surrounds them then Christ is disesteemed by them they see no beauty in him why they should desire him For there is no wicked man in the World will take Christ upon Gospel tearms in the time of his health and outward prosperity And moreover most people think that it is the easiest matter in the World for to beleive that it is but Beleiving that it is in their power to beleive at any time when they will and that they can beleive time enough when they lie upon their Death-beds Not considering God puts forth the same almighty power when he workes faith in the soul as he did when hee raised up Jesus Christ from the dead as the Apostle shewes 1 Ephe. 19.20 Eph. 1.19.20 And what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us-ward who beleive according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead It is as impossible for a man by his own power to make himselfe to beleive as to create a world or give a being to himselfe And here consider that every assent unto the Word is not beleiving Bellarmine indeed saith that beleiving is only a bare assent to the Word but if saving faith did only consist in a bare assent to Scripture truth then there would bee multitudes of beleevers in the World but such beleivers God will never own 2 Consider that Faith is not a presumptuous confidence the nature of Faith doth consist in this It is a grace of God wrought in the heart of an humbled sinner What Saving â—aith â—â— who doth discern his sins to be enough to Damn him and all his own Righteousnesse to bee too little to Save him therefore he goeth out of himselfe and rests and relies wholly on the Righteousnesse of Iesus Christ expecting Salvation only by him Now should wee take a Survay of all the sons of men where should we finde them that do thus beleive on Jesus Christ How few are there in the World that feele their sins pressing fore upon them that see all their Righteousnesse and Religious performances to be things of no vallue in point of justification that finde in their souls longing desires after Jesus Christ that they may bee found in Christ not having their own righteousnesse that roul their burdened souls upon Jesus Christ resolving that if they perish there they will perish Certainly Beloved should men try their hearts by this description of Faith there would be found but few beleivers in the World Vse Now for a word of Application And first from the Enquirie that the poor man makes Sirs what must I doe to be Saved Inference 1 Hence learn to take heed that you doe not make Enquiry after toyes and trifles and in the mean time neglect the great matters of Eternal Life It was a sordid spirit in that King Sardanapalus who would bee Spining and Carding amongst the women when hee should have bin Ruling and Governing his Kingdome There are many men that are of this base and ignoble temper they spend their time their strength and labour in base and sordid imployments and in the mean time neglect the great and important affaires of an heavenly Kingdom Inference 2d A second Inference is this If so be there are but few in the World that make Enquirie how to be saved Then hence wee may conclude that there are but few in the World that shall bee saved There are many in the World that never came so far as with that morall yong man spoken of in Math. 19. to ask this Question Math. 19 what good thing shall I doe that I may inherit eternall Life that never with the Jaylor enquired What must I doe to be saved Oh beloved if the most of the World doe never make
that thou art under a Covenant of Grace which doth not require a perfect but a sincere obedience to the Law of God which accepts of the Will for the deed O remember that thou art not under a Covenant of works but a Covenant of Grace which accepts of what Christ hath done and suffered for thee if thou art a beleiver as if done in thine own person Though indeed that is true which Christ said to the young man Math. 19.17 If thou wilt enter in to Life keep the Commandements Yet you must know that Christ spake this unto him because he knew him to bee of a Pharisaicall temper and that he thought to bee saved by his good works But if Christ should say thus unto any of us thou shalt goe to Heaven if thou keepest every Command thou shalt never goe to Heaven if thou breakest any one Command The Lord have mercy on us we should then all perish to eternity But Christ saith Beleive and live Now promise not work is the object of Faith Vâ—nlâ—m tanquam ex fide non ex debito sperâ—mus Rom. 4.16 Therefore Ambrose was wont to say let us hope for pardon as of faith not of debt In a word make conscience to keep what thou hearest bewaile thine inabillity to fullfâ—ill the Law of God do what thou canst mourn that thou canst doe no better and then God will say though thou canst not keep the Law compleatly yet my Sonne hath kept it for thee I accept of his obedience as thy obedience and his righteousnesse as thy righteousnesse O what grace and mercy is here how may this chear up your hearts in the midst of all discouragments that lie upon you Again for thy comfort know that if in sincerity of heart thou endeavourest to keep what thou hearest in divine acceptation it is all one as if thou hadst perfectly kept all that thou hearest If it bee the desire and labour of thy soul to obay Gods Will and observe his Commands in divine acceptation it is looked upon as if it were actually done by thee It is worthy your notice what is said Heb. 11.17 By faith Abraham when he was tryed offered up Isaac and hee that had received the promise offered up his only begotten Son Abraham did not actually doe it But because Abraham did it in the purpose of his heart because the desire and resolution of his soule was to obay Gods Command therefore the Scripture accounts it as done O take this for thy comfort thou that art a son of Abraham that walkest in the steps and faith of Abraham the very desires and purposes of thine heart are looked upon as if they were really and actually done If thou wouldest pray better hear better and practise more then thou doest in divine account this is looked upon as if thou hadst already done it FINIS THE SAINTS REST OR Their happy Sleep in DEATH As it was delivered in A SERMON At Aldermanbury London Aug. 24. 1651 being the next Lords Day after Mr LOVE was put to death By EDMUND CALAMY B. D. Iohn 11.11 Our friend Lazarus sleepeth Psalm 116.15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the Death of his Saints LONDON Printed for E Brewster and G Sawbridge at the signe of the Bible on Ludgate-hill near Fleetbridge 1653 THE Saints Rest OR Their happy sleep in Death Text. Acts 7.60 the later part And when hee had said this hee fell asleep THese words contain in them the happy closure and upshot of Stephens life wherein we have three particulars 1. The Person that fell asleep 2. The Speech that he made when he fell asleep 3. What he did when he had finished his Speech First We have the Person that fell asleep and that was Stephen He was a man full of faith and full of the Holy-Ghost as you may see Acts 6.5 He was the first Martyr that ever suffered for the cause of Christ hence I might gather this Doctrine viz. That the best of men are subject to violent and unnatural deaths Stephen that was full of the Holy Ghost was stoned to death and Iohn the Baptist that was full of the Holy-Ghost from the very womb was beheaded Peter was crucified and so was Andrew Isaiah was sawed asunder Ieremiah was stoned and Zacharias was slain between the Temple and the Altar But I shall passe this The second part of the Text is the Speech that Stephen made when hee fell asleep Hoc dicto obdormivit that is when hee had finished his prayer He fell asleep Hence observe That it is an excellent way to close up our lips with prayer To die praying is a most Christian way of dying They stoned Stephen calling upon God After this manner Christ died hee prayed Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit and having thus said he gave up the ghost This he did that it might be a patern to all Christians Prayer is a necessary duty at all times but especially when we are adying and that for these three Reasons 1. Because when we are to die we have most need of Gods help for then the Devil is most busie and we most weak 2 Because when we are to die wee are to beg the greatest boon of God that is that he would receive us into his heavenly Kingdom Now prayer is the chiefe means to obtain this mercy for it is Porta Coeli Clavis Paradisi the Gate of Heaven a Key to let us into Paradise Therefore we have great reason to die praying 3. Because when a Saint of God is dying he is then to take his last fare well of prayer In Heaven there is no praying but all thanksgiving there is no need in Heaven therefore no prayer in Heaven Now a Saint of God being to take his leave of prayer when he is to die therefore it is fit he should die praying I beseech you remember this pattern in the Text St Stephen died caling upon the Lord. Let us die praying as that Emper or said Oportet Imperatorem stantem mori so may I say Oportet Christianum mort praecantem it behoves a Christian to die praying Quest But what was the substance of Stephens prayer Answ He prayed for himselfe and he prayed for his persecutors 1 He prayed for himselfe Lord Iesus receive my spirit verse 59. 2 Hee prayed for his persecutors Lord lay not this to their charge v. 60. I will not enter upon this part of the Text for it would swallow up all my time Therefore I shall wave it and come to the third part which is that which by Gods assistance I purpose to speak unto viz. What Stephen did when hee had finished his prayer When he had sayd this he fell asleep that is he died Behold here the magnanimity the piety and the Christian courage of Stephen The people were stoning of him and gnashing their teeth upon him and the good man dies with as much quietnesse of minde as if he had died in his bed he fell