way weaker Christians can hardly get to Heaven for them not without stumbling wounding their Consciences and making their hearts to ake 2. Persons that do iniquity no good much mischief in the Church and that make it their employ Too many such there are in the visible Church because they whose concern it is take not that care of and inspection over them as they ought When both these shall be bundled up by the Angel and hurl'd into the fiery furnace as fewel for Hell yet not be consumed but Salamander-like live in the devouring fire and dwell with everlasting burnings Consider these four Particulars 1. The Subjects of future Glory the Righteous 2. What their Dignity preferment and eternal happiness will be viz. 1. They shall shine as they do in Grace and Holiness much more in glory 2. Shine forth i. e. be perfectly freed from every thing that eclipses their light or obscureth the splendor and brightness of their Grace and Holiness 3. Shine forth as the Sun i. e. gloriously incomparably not as the Moon that changeth as the Sun in its noon day glory with unchangeable everlasting light shall they be perfectly glorified 3. The Firmament or place where In the Kingdom of their Father God may as soon be pulled out of Heaven his Being and Glory be extinct as they plucked out of their Orbs and their light and glory be put out 4. The time when when Hypocrites the unrighteous shall be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone to be tormented with their Father the Devil and abide there for ever there to the torment of sinners their own unspeakable comfort especially to the glory of God shall the righteous in Heaven shine out Hence Note 1. They that shall be glorified are the righteous viz. through Regeneration Reputation by Sanctification and Acceptation 1. They that are righteous through Regeneration called v. 38. the children of the Kingdom by an usual Hebraism as in those terms children of death children of wrath c. 1. Because they are designed for and constituted by God heirs of the Kingdom And 2. are made capable of it being born of the Word of the Spirit of God himself 1. They are born again not of corruptible black rotting seed but of incorruptible the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever 1 â— et 1.23 24. i. e. Not of the Word of man flowers and flourishâ—s of humane wit and eloquence which soon fade corrupt and like rotten seed come to nothing but of the Word of God pure Gospel v. 25 whence they grow and as the corn sown and the corn in the ear are of the same nature by Regeneration turn as it were very word and spirit that incorruptible seed the Word of the Kingdom being turned into Grace in their hearts changes and transforms them inâ—o new Creatures and they grow from it in Grace and Holiness 2. They are born of the Spirit Joh. 3.5 6. and thereby not only Evangelized but spiritualized 2 Cor. 3 18. Changed into the image of Christ presented to them by the Gospel who received the Spirit without measure and transformed from glory to glory from grace to grace or from one degree of the glorious grace and graces of the Lord the blessed spirit to another made very like not only to their Lord Jesus but the Lord the Spirit Yea 3 ly They are born of God 1 Joh. 3.9 so implicitely termed his children in the Text which calls Heaven by the name of the Kingdom of their Father Though 't is true they grow after in their resemblance of him as they grow more holy as he is holy Eph. 4.23 24. in holiness of Truth wrought in them by the Word of Truth and by the Spirit of Truth whereas before Conversion there is none righteous not one Jew one Gentile one in all the World All are of their father the Devil and his works they will do All are corrupt and do iniquity yea abominable iniquity and do not do good Their best actions in holy Austin's Language are but glittering sins some in our days would say the good Father is out his bolt is soon shot what were the eminent vertues of the Heathens sins how differs Grace from Vertue and Morality therefore we 'l say the best actions of the unregenerate being not from a principle of Grace have nothing of holiness truth of grace and goodness in them So are sins of omission which was Austins meaning They do no good at all 2. Such as are righteous by Reputation i. e. to whom God imputeth not sin and guilt but reckoneth and reputeth righteous in his sight not for any thing wrought in them or done by them but for the merit righteousness perfect obedience and full satisfaction of their Lord Jesus received by faith alone This is the good seed the word of truth the Gospel of our Salvation which being scattered by Ministers and blown by the Blessed Spirit into the prepared hearts of Intelligent hearers takes root and grows there They which come up thereby to trust i. e. to hope in Christ and to be justified by faith thorough him they are the good seed the righteous that shall be glorified As the Sons of the first Adam were made sinners the Sons of the second are made righteous None after regeneration can make themselves righteous if they could keep the whole Law since by Adam's disobedience theirs in him they were made sinners All and only believers are constituted righteous by the obedience of Christ who was made of God the second Adam a common head and representative of all that were given to him by the Father This righteousness is not their own but Christs yet 't is theirs being made theirs 1. by Gods Donation 2. by their thankful acceptance apprehending laying hold upon and appropriating of it by faith So if I may borrow the Learned Mr. Richard Hooker his saying God accepts them in Jesus Christ as perfectly righteous as if they had fulfilled all that was commanded in the Law shall I say more perfectly righteous than if they had fulfilled the whole Law I must take heed what I say but the Apostle saith God made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him 3 ly They who are by Inchoation I mean by the Word and by the spirit of Holiness truly in part though not perfectly sanctified and made righteous and daily more and more when as 't was in an instant of their being turned to God that they were regenerate of their believing in Christ that they were justified Whom he justified them he also glorified Rom 8.30 i. e. say Divines he sanctified There being not a specifical but only a gradual difference betwixt them and such have love and do righteousness 1. They have righteousness inherent in them answering to what was in the first and in some measure to that which is in the second
light of the world 'T is but an hour The Church once said This is the day of Jacob's trouble She is still militant under the Cross eclipsed with a cloud 'T is but for a day then more gloriously will her light shine forth The Pageantry of sinners will soon be over They come on the stage dazzle spectators eyes the scene will alter such as acted the part of Nobles e're long will appear as they are meer Beggars nay in a worse condition when called to account for what they profusely spent on their lust and when thrown into Hell that most hideous prison from whence there is no redemption In this vale of tears I sit down and cry Few and evil have my days been The Church said Though I am comely look not upon me I am scorched Sun-burnt and much discoloured thereby Nay all my days have been one night In perils oft and too much in fears of them 'T will be day what 's this to eternal life What 's time to eternity What 's this moment to the five thousand years past since the Creation yet that and all the time that shall be which the Lord only knows till the end of the World is nothing to Eternity all that endless eternity shall I shine forth in glory 2. At the day of Judgment when scandals they that do iniquity some that created me much disquiet and discomfort in the world shall be cast into Hell shall all my sorrow be turned into joy and my disgrace into glory Let Antiochus be Epiphanes here was not he eaten up of lice or worms and will not that greedy worm of Conscience gripe gnaw and feed upon his soul to all eternity Let Herod for his gorgeous apparel be most illustrious had not he the same Exit Act. 12 22 23. But v. 24. The word of God grew and multiplied Let Bishops at Rome come forth in their Pontificalibus and their Olympia's in gold and silver in all their gallantry and too many of our professing Gentlewomen to their shame for Ladies generally are more modest in their apish French Modes and fashions they have little else to set themselves out with Was not Dives one day clothed in fine linnen in purple clad in scarletrobes which the sumptuary Laws of the Romans allowed only the chief Magistrates to wear the next in Hell and when out of curiosity he had looked for but found not Lazarus did he not lift up his eyes and espy Abraham in Heaven with Lazarus in his bosom in his lap on his knee leaning on his bosom cheering him Thou wast as thy Saviour some time in the world and receivedst didst patiently take from the â—ands of others since thou lawest the hand of God in it and didst not bring upon thy self thine evil things thou hadst hard measure scarce a rag to thy back a crust for thy belly yonder 's one lies that had enough to spare might and ought to have relieved thee but had no heart to do it he had more respect for his hounds than a child of God Look now he 's in torments thou art and shall be comforted for ever Thy Father hath called thee into this his Kingdom of Heaven with everlasting consolation to comfort thee here shalt thou shine in glory for ever So shall shine when many Diveses shall be cast into Hell to be tormented for ever weeping wailing and gnashing of their teeth 2. 'T is time for me to beseech the concern of your comfort at present and future happiness calls you to try whether ye be righteous and shall be glorified 1. Are you born of the Word of the Spirit of God himself 1. Of the Word was you ever by the Gospel read or preached brought out of the Kingdom of Satan the World into the Church militant Has the Word of God been the power of God to your conversion Were you by any Ministers preaching Christ brought over to Christ so as you gave up your selves and your heart souls and bodies to the Lords Anointed the Messiah the Christ the great Prophet the only King Head and Saviour of his Body the Church to be taught governed and saved by him How shall ye know this why 1. If you v. 23. received the seed the Gospel into good ground I would not give you my own much less other mens but the Lord Christs characters of the Regenerate i. e. you heard the Word and understood it it made such impression and took deep root in your hearts as made you leave the world and cleave to Christ with full purpose of heart at least to be as desirous and sollicitous to be Subjects of the Kingdom of Christ in grace as to have a lot and share with the righteous in the Kingdom of glory You have known and learnt from the Word and Spirit something of Christ of his Grace and Truth and of the life and immortality that he brought to light by the Gospel Whereas the first the worst sort of hearers are all ignorant careless willfully ignorant hearers such as hear the Word without attention affect on understanding do not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in their minds go along with the Word till they understand it and get grace spiritual light and wisdom by it they resisting the motions of the good Spirit God suffers the evil one to beguile them of it by casting vain at least unseasonable thoughts into their minds God gives encrease to the conscientious careful attentive hearer which he denies to the careless and negligent that will not attend and regard but thinks to give the Minister the hearing is enough to stop the mouth of Conscience to save his credit with professors yea to save his soul such a cheat he puts upon himself 2. Are you born of the Spirit how shall you clear that why if v. 23. you bear fruit as good corn doth in a fertile soil which grows and comes up in a hundred where many ears spring from the same root or sixty where fewer or thirty where the fewest corns for one as persons are wrought upon by the Word and Spirit some in and after hearing are made as much more spiritual in their thoughts meditations desires than others And yet there are some that herein very much exceed them yet all that are regenerate bear fruit Act. 20.32 of the same kind and nature with the seed sown fruits of Grace resembling the Spirit of Grace gracious thoughts desires purposes resolutions spiritual meditations holy affections gracious words and discourse the fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 Love joy peace long suffering gentleness goodness faith Conformity to Christ which are fruits unto holiness Rom. 6.22 Good works works of Piety Religious acts works of honesty righteous dealings works of mercy and charity In a word all the fruits of righteousness Phil. 1.11 The Word works a wonderful change 1. In their hearts 2. In their lives and conversations coming up like Isaac's seed Gen. 26.12 in some an hundred fold Whereas the
second sort of hearers by hearkening to the Word get only some notional knowledg and understanding of it and are much affected with it they receive it with joy yet taking no root in the heart brings forth no fruit though it makes impression on their memories stays long there and on their affections yet this is all the fruit which is as good as none They can only talk how well they liked such a Minister such sentences Expositions Expressions of his yet with the same breath they will speak as evil of other Ministers as well of them they receive it into their ears and memories not into their judgments into their affections not their hearrs The affections of many are much wrought upon when their wills are not else they would not run as some do from one to many seeking scratch for the Itch in their ears novelties to please their fancies but would stay most where they might profit The third sort go farther they receive the Word though not in the love of it and let it abide till it spring up in the blade in a fair profession such a liking they have of it yet there 's no corn in the ear no change in the judgment heart or conversation for the cares of the world distracting cares about worldly concerns in prosperity and the deceitfulness of deceitful riches lying vanities choak the Word when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the Word by and by are they offended and let the Word go rather than any part of their Estate especially if they espy any likelihood of gain that may accrew unto themselves thereby But new-born babes must not be forgotten 3. Are you born of God partakers of the Divine Nature then 1. Do you lay up casting up all prejudice i. e. by friendly communications acquaint your nursing Fathers how corrupt you were wherewith all carnal unregenerate persons are clogged and do abound viz. all malice guile hypocrisies envies evil speakings Do you desire the milk of the word that ye may grow thereby Where spiritual life is there will be spiritual longings for spiritual food for the preservation and nourishment of it for augmentation in each part not only in the head with notions as in children which have the Rickets such are weak in their hands and feet can't act or go one stroke heavenward Do you rellish most such particular subjects concerning Grace Christ God in Christ as your hearts were at first most wrought upon by you 'l think you can never hear enough of these Truths by which you had a taste how gracious the Lord is Sincere milk of the Word that is not adulterated with humane inventions pure Gospel is spiritual may not I say Angelical food they long bow down that with their eyes fixed upon the Propitiatory on Christ they may look into the Gospel which the Holy Ghost sends down from heaven See more of Christ and the grace of God and get a sip whereby they may be fed with light in their love admirations and praises of God blessed for ever The child of God can no more digest some mens quaint Orations others sublime Discourses than Austin could Tullies works where he found not the name of Jesus The end he proposes to himself in hearing is that he may grow in grace the knowledg of Christ conformity to him spiritual and heavenly-mindedness in likeness to God holiness in all manner of conversation 1 Pet. 1.14 15 16. in abstaining from fleshly lusts and having his conversation honest amongst others that God may be glorified Consider 1 Pet. 1.4 5 6 7. 2. Do you grow by the Word But your growth being gradual and discernable rather by others than your selves resolve this question 3. Can you clear your Regeneration to your own souls by your living a new life and conversation a new life in holiness which is called the life of God argues a new a Divine nature he is born of God that is a new man created after God after his Image and likeness in righteousness and holiness of truth compare your selves with Rom. 6.4 Eph. 4 th 5 th Chapters And Col. 3. newness of life and conversation is the best evidence of Regeneration Ye did live like men according to the course of the world in the age you live in according to the Devil in disobedience the lusts of the flesh and carnal mind the fulfilling your manifold wills and pleasures do ye now live and walk like the children of God i. e. in an holy awe of God serving him with filial reverence and out of love in ways well pleasing to him Is your fear more to displease God than man your care to please him rather than your selves or others you lived a careless secure carnal life do you live a strict a spiritual life now Ye were worldly are you heavenly-minded and your thoughts and affections set on the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things of everlasting concernments to your precious immortal souls Ye lived in the commission of such sins the omission or careless performance of such and such duties your hearts tell you what Ministers cannot therefore speak to you only in Generals do you find through grace now ye dare not do not at least will not do it Believe it a change in the heart is best discerned by a reformation in the life mens living another life than they did whilst in a state of sin nature and unregeneracy both as to their leaving known sins and living in the practise of known duties 2. Are ye righteous through reputation after ye were wrought off from a course in sin to a constant course in duty were ye brought off from resting on your own righteousness in careful abstaining from sin performance of duty to relye wholly on Christ and his righteousness for Justification All the children of God sooner or later are brought over not only from sin to duty but also from self and self-righteousness to Christ by faith united to and ingrafted into him They see their best services are impure imperfect they need Christ and his righteousness so desire Phil. 3.9 They are brought to this at last though it may be long first faith in Christ the seed of it may be wrought in regeneration long before the perceptible acting and exercise of that grace and if you will call it so the younger Twin Repentance towards God gets the start for when man has been throughly convinced he has by sin deserved hell poor creature 't is natural for him so to do he seeks by a righteousness of his own to climb up to heaven We should do duty as if we were to get to heaven by it but trust no more to it than if we were to go to hell for it for failings I mean in the performance of it Do ye know believe ye were made sinners guilty liable to eternal death upon the special verdict of the Blessed Trinity on that righteous sentence of the Law the Covenant of Works Gen. 2.15
by the disobedience of the first Adam and that ye can never be acquitted therefrom but through the obedience of Christ the second Adam by your believing on him and his righteousness have you had the sense of that sin that guilt lying up on you as much as the guilt of the want of original righteousness corruption of nature of actual sins of omission and commission have you had a sight of your need of Christ of his perfect righteousness so as to apprehend it as that wherewith alone God is and can be well pleased and satisfied and as that which is only sufficient to justifie you in his sight Have you by faith applied and appropriated this righteousness to your selves and so trusted i. e. hoped in Christ after ye heard this word of Truth Ephes 1.7 This Gospel of your Salvation Ephes 1.12 13. Do you lay the weight of all your confidence all your hopes for Salvation on this corner-stone Christ God-man on whom the Church is built The more after Regeneration ye abstain from sin perform duty the more will you see sin in your natures lives and the guilt of commissions and omissions carelesness in the performance if not neglects of duty you 'l have less sin but more light and so not have but see more sin in and by your selves and the more your sin unrighteousness and the impurity and imperfection of your own righteousness the righteousness of Christ the perfection of it are discovered to you the more will ye go on from faith to faith and live by it Rom 16.17 3. Are you righteous inchoatively i. e. in part some measure and degree purified and sanctified by the Word and through the Sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience 1. Have you righteousness inherent gracious dispositions and habitual grace the graces of the Spirit infused into and wrought in you By these is the new nature clearly evidenced The blessed God having created a new man will not leave off his work till he hath made him a real and conspicuous Saint do you find as a corrupt nature remainders of indwelling sin by evil dispositions inclining you to that which is evil so a sanctified nature by gracious dispositions inclining byassing you to that which is holy just and good Do those dispositions the blessed Spirit moving you to frequent exercise become habitual Rom. 4.5 6. 7.14 to the end In the unregenerate and unsanctified ones there are nothing but evil dispositions which the Devil helping on grow up into evil habits and strongly incline them to that which is evil to love it and to do it In the sanctified though there be corruption yet there is grace though there be remainders even of hypocrisie yet there is truth of grace and many gracious dispositions infused by the Spirit which by his mighty co-operation with the Word grow into habits strongly set them against all evil make them hate and abhor it and byass them unto that which is good making them to love it Rom. 7.19 they would do that good which they do not and would not do that evil which they do whereas a sinner a wicked man that good that he doth he would not do that evil which he doth he would do and he doth it in despight of God and man and his own conscience very freely very willingly indeed with all his heart Therefore 2. Doth grace in your heart frequently shew it self 1. By your hatred of sin of every false way that appears to you by the light of the Word and Spirit so to be And 2. by your love to holiness and righteousness and an universal respect to all Gods commands is the firm and full resolution of your souls and your daily endeavour to bring your hearts and lives into as near a conformity to the mind and will of God as possibly ye can Though ye too oft fail in the doing of it is it the desire of your hearts and your endeavour to be as good holy righteous as God would have you to be weaker Christians seeing many failings in their duties much sin in their hearts little good done in their lives conclude they are not regenerate they should discern and bewail that they are sanctified but in part and pray and strive that they may be wholly Had they not been regenerate they could not have seen that sin which they see nor have done duty and had they not been sanctified they could not have so hated sin which they see and so loved righteousness as to be much troubled that they do so much of the one so little of the other 3. That ye may know whether you have not only gracious dispositions but habits the graces of the Spirit in you Chiefly have an eye to your work business and employment in the world True Paul did not some good that he would did do some sin that he would not yet he did abstain from much evil do much good Who so much as he the weakest poorest Saint does some good that is not only his profession but his trade his calling Ye cannot but know what work you have been doing and done since you came into the world What good have ye done in your places and generations Joh. 5.28 29. they that should have minded things of concernment did many frivolous things or actions that should be done but not aright according to Gods appointment and many mischievous acts shall arise to condemnation and they which have done many and many a good act and deed good for their kind and the manner of their doing of them from good principles and for right ends shall arise to the Resurrection of life a life in glory remember as much as ye can of your good actions Try them by the Touchstone do you think they will abide the trial another day at the day of judgment Oh that there were a heart in all of you to do all that has been desired in the sight of God! then I am sure you will 4. Above all try whether you have in all been upright and sincere and righteous before God Do you give God his due and to men theirs and do both as under the eye in the sight of God The Formalist gives God part not his whole due his body not his soul his cap and knee but not his heart he regards not God and God regards not him The meer Moralist will give man his due he either respects or fears him but will not give God his he gives to God very little if any at all he cares but little for God and God as little for him The hypocrite pretends to give both God and man their due carries it so as if he would have others think he doth it but God sees him sees he doth all to be seen of men nothing as in the sight of God he hath his reward Only the truly righteous gives as well as he can both God and man their due and doth both as in the sight of God his
eye is upon God and to him God looks him God approves and will accept of notwithstanding all his failings One that is upright and sincere is righteous before God By these plain characters you may distinguish him from an hypocrite 1. In general he is one that walks with and before God Gen. 24.40 48.15 through his whole conversation which way soever he goes and every step he takes More particularly 1. He hath always an eye to Gods precepts as Psal 16.8 He sets the Lord always before him that he may not be moved so he sets Gods commands before him that he may not be mistaken or misled So he walks in the Law of God in his ways Psal 119.1 2 3 4 11 30.97 142. yea v. 6. He has respect to all Gods commands when he perceives a call to duty a command from God immediately in the fear of God and the strength of Christ he sets upon the performance of it Gal. 1.15 16. he stands not to confer and consult with flesh and blood any man living not the Apostles themselves they might wonder suspect him so disswade him from preaching v. 13. you have been a known notorious persecutor who dares hear trust you who will believe you or advise him in prudence to forbear a while till Christians were better satisfied concerning him Hypocrites are much ruled by they take for Doctrines and Canons the commands of men 'T is not the Will of God but of others or their own will that is the rule they walk by Have they at any time any respect to any of Gods Commands They 'l pick and chuse such as they can make to suit their humour and serve their interest and reputation 2. To the Lords Threatnings Gen. 49. How can I do this saith holy Joseph and sin against God If I should do it my Master may be angry my God much more Adulterers God that sees them though others should never know of it will judge One that is upright serves God with reverence and godly fear as knowing that even our God is a consuming fire Ps 119.120 Ex. 1.15 That wicked King spake to the Midwives his word was a Law vers 16. ye shall kill the male Children of the Hebrews or lose my favour your Office or dye your selves vers 17. but they feared God that commanded You shall not kill and threatned Gen. 9.6 if ye do ye shall dye and did not as the King commanded but as God They saved the Children Acts 4.17 18 19. Dan. 3.15 17. A real Saint fears God and the King an Hypocrite stands only in some awe of the Civil Magistrates and the Laws and his fear towards God is taught by the precepts and edicts of men Es 29.13 Whatever Country he lives in he will be of the same Religion the chief Magistrate and such as are in greatest power and authority are of and will change his Religion Opinions Practises as the times and the Laws in force change 3. To the Lords Promises Psal 119 166. on them his hopes for salvation hang That he hopes for and so doth Gods commands He walks with God because that God has promised to be his God who is Alsufficient to make him happy here and for ever Gen. 15.1 As Hypocrites fear men more than God so they look to get more by pleasing men than God they look to what the World promises to what their own hearts promise them If they do as others serve God they shall get acquaintance into credit and gain thereby Their care is not to serve God but to make God and Religion to serve them to serve themselves of them A Saints care is to please God he looks for all from him he looks on all creatures as broken Reeds empty Cisterns as creatures that can do him no good without God Through the Promise he looks on God as God as Almighty Alsufficient and verily believes since God cannot lye that he will lay out his Almighty Power and Alsufficiency not only for his protection but also his temporal spiritual and eternal good So he walks with as the Apostle renders the Word pleaseth God that 's all his care 4. To our Lords Presence to Gods Alseeing Eye Pharisaical hypocrites Matt. 6. do all to be seen of men Pray in Market-places blow Trumpets when they give Alms their charity that fills the Bellies of some shall fill the Ears of all Come and see my zeal saith Jehu Did ever Moses Phinehas or David or any of the Lords faithful zealous Servants say so No an upright Saint delights in secret holiness and takes infinitely more content in being and doing good than in being known to be and do so There 's many an Hypocrite that seems much better than he is and many a poor Saint that is really much better than he seems to be At all times he doth all to be seen of God and is much in private duty where he can be seen only of him that sees in secret He prepares his heart and then Psal 116.14 pays his Vows to our Lord before all his people yea as Jotham 2 Chron. 27.6 he prepares his ways before the Lord his God i. e. his counsels designs State-affairs and all his actions as under Gods Eye knowing God stood a spectatour overlooking him an eye-witness observing him a Judge that would call him to account Paul 2 Cor. 12.13 spake before God in Christ he was not as many that corrupt the Word of God but as of sincerity as of God in the sight of God spake he in Christ 2 Cor. 2.17 So he commended himself to every mans Conscience in the sight of God 2 Cor. 4.2 that his care of Souls in the sight of God might appear to them 2 Cor. 7.12 Sincere hearers present themselves before God Acts 10.33 He says not we are present before thee Some hearers like Simon Magus have hearts altogether corrupt rotten stark naught not in the least right with God When he saw the Word of God prevail'd more than his Sorceries got his Disciples from him and his Reputation was gone he turns hears for company believes also makes such a profession as he was Baptized his heart was set on the advantage he might have if he could Preach and also procure from the Apostles the faculty of giving the Holy Ghost Others have hearts like Amaziah not perfect 2 Chron. 25.2 not perfectly sound and sincere such will fall away as he did vers 14. The Apple you find under the Tree looks well look wishly and you 'l perceive some specks within and see 't is rotten at the Core How gallantly did Joash demean himself as a Religious Prince a zealous Reformer he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days i. e. all the days of Jehoiada all his days wherein he instructed him 2 Chron. 24.3 2 Kings 12.2 His Tutor a godly man had an eye to him and upon him and he an eye to his Tutor a respect for him and thence
did that which for the matter of it was right in the sight of the Lord in a good mood was more forward and zealous in repairing the House of God than his Tutor vers 4.5 6. chides him but vers 17.18 as soon as Jehoiada was dead out of sight and hearing he feâ—l to his own Course and Bias again his eye being only to the Lords people and the Lords Minister though he did what was right in the sight of God his heart was not right with God he took up the Religion of the fawning Princes of Judah That was more for his turn his interest now But would he not repent if any of the Lords Ministers would boldly tell him of his backslidings No many did vers 18.19 them he regarded not Jehoiada's own Son did and he gave express order they should Stone him So many are righteouâ— before men that godly Ministers good people may have a great opinion of them they carry it cunningly whilst godly Ministers Parents Friends Acquaintance live yet are Hypocrites and gross Dissemblers before God 5. But the occasion calls louder upon me than the time and constrains me to be thus abrupt to omit the remainder of this and the use of consolation which will take up another Sâ—â—eet and may come to your view Thereâ—ore stay Sirs Ye that have heard Mr. Charnock Preach yea if there be any such here that first gave your own selves unto the Lord then unto him by the will of God ye will hearken ye will be exhorted and prevailed with Is it Is it not I know it is your hearts desir to be received into the Kingdom of your Father and be perfectly glorified Let it be your constant care and endeavour to be found still amongst the righteous to shine in grace in holiness and righteousness in light and love faith and new obedience above all in uprightneâ— and sincerity Be ye righteous before God in his All-discerning eye not only in your own or other mens eyes which may soon easily be dazed blinded and so deluded by you At your leasurâ— weigh these Scriptures 1 Thes 4.1 to 10. Luke 1.75 and 1 Thes 3.12 13. Thus ye will Embalm the Deceased put him in the best Repository and preserve in your minds his Remains Ye are to eternize the name of that Reverend and Excellent Divine your faithful Pastor Mr. Stephen Charnock a name of precious and eternal memory ye are to follow his faith to walk in the way of righteousness you saw how he went before you My observation of his walking growth and perseverance in the way that is called Holy makes me conclude that he was 1. A sincere Convert born of the Word and Spirit the seed of Grace and Righteousness sprang up betimes in his heart The Deed of Gift or rather Copy of it which shewed his title to Heaven I believe perished with his Books in Londons flames and I have forgot the particular places of Scripture by which he was most wrought upon which were there inserted That it was pure Gospel is evident whatever any that heard him not may think or have heard of his Preaching but Morality or Metaphysicks in all his Sermons Prayers Conversation Gospel-light appeared to each that had any thing of the spirit of discerning and Love did abound more and more in knowledg in all judgment and experience How would he deeply search into and prove things that differ which many others at first view would well approve of and allow only what he found pure and excellent whereby he might make himself others sincere without offence and to be filled with the fruits of righteousness For this I had him in my heart at my first acquaintance with him in Cambridge Thirty six years since I found him one that Josiah-like had turned to the Lord with all his heart all his soul and all his might and none like him which did more endear him to me How had he hid the Word of God in a fertile soyl a good and honest heart which made him flee youthful lusts and Antidoted him against the infection of youthful vanities His Study was his Recreation the Law of God all his delights Had he it not think ye engraven on his heart He was as choice circumspect and prudent in his election of Society as of Books to converse with all his delight being in such as excelled in the Divine Art of directing furthering and quickening him in the way to Heaven the Love of Christ and Souls Most choice he was of the Ministers that he would hear what he learnt from Books Converse or Sermons that which affected and wrought most upon him he prayed over till he was delivered into the form of it and had Christ Grace and the Spirit formed in him True he had been darkness and then he said full of doubtings fears and grievously pestred with temptations 'T is in the night the ugly Serpent crawls forth alas he was to be trained up as he might counsel and comfort others but God vouchsafed to dart such raies into his heart as gave the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face the person of Jesus Christ So was he made light in the Lord and believing on Christ and God in him filled with inward peace and comfort 2 ly He was a sound Believer and oft said he esteemed his own righteousness as none at all nor would he be found in it 't was impure imperfect defiled stain'd like a menstruous cloth All his desire was to be found in Christ and arrayed with the fine linnen clean and shining the righteousness of the Saints One excellency of this excellent Divine lay in his knowledg belief of and the soundness of his judgment to clear unto the understanding of others fundamental Truths viz. concerning the first Covenant the apostacy and defection of our first Parents by which term the Fathers in the Primitive times judiciously delight to delineate the fall of Adam and ours in him The first promise that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 concerning Christ the seed of the Woman and that before the Judiciary sentence past The Covenant of Redemption the New Covenant of Grace which filled up the greatest room in his head heart meditations prayers and discourses the nature of Original sin want of original righteousness corruption of nature impossibility of being justified by the Law by Works Justification by Christ by faith in him the sufferings of Christ Regeneration c. and the love of God in all How oft have we found him as if he had lately been with Paul caught up into the third Heaven and heard unspeakable words magnifying and adoring the mercy love and goodness of God the freeness and the riches of his Grace in giving the promise before the sentence giving Christ righteousness and faith in him Oh! said he oft to this effect the grace of God! the freeness and exceeding riches of his grace who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he hath
his as it was of the Lords preaching in the land of Zebulon The people which sat in darkness saw great light and to them which sat in the region of the shadow of death light sprang up And lastly in this great City where his sphere being not spacious enough for so great a light was enlarged Here he intended to have given forth a compleat body of Divinity but alas after he had demonstrated the Being and Existence of God this Sun set before he had gone over half of his transcendent Excellencies and Perfâ—ctions The last subject he treated on and finished was the Patience of God He was looking what to say next of the Mercy Grace and Goodness of God which he is gone to see and to admire for he found that which he most looked and longed for The mercy of our Lord Jesus unto eternal life in heaven where he shines now Indeed all the while he was upon the Attributes of God he moved with that extraordinary strength and celerity 't was an argument of his near approach unto his center his everlosting Rest and if it be true as some say that the Soul doth prominere in Morte his words were too true Predictions and from his Soul when he said that concerning Divine patience would be his last Sermon which the Lord grant may prove Salvation to all that heard him Let me advise you dry your eyes he is translated to Heaven to shine forth Here your Timothy was something obscured by manifold infirmities a crazy Body weak Eyes one dark the other dim a Hand that would shake sometimes an infirm Stomack an aking Head a fugitive memory which after it had failed him sometimes he would never trust again but verbatim pen'd and read all his Notes whereas till of late years in Preaching he never look'd within them more by a little Passion or choler which through grace he turned into the right channel most of all by foul and false Aspersions cast upon him as if he was Melancholly Reserv'd Unsociable to which all his acquaintance will give a character of him diametrically opposite How cheerful free loving sweet-disposition'd was he in all Companies where he could take delight He was their Love their Delights Well your Stephen has seen the Glory of God and Jesus at his right hand in the Glory of the Father and now he shines forth as a Star as the Sun it self for ever and ever I know it the Word of God is Truth They that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever Dan. 12.3 As a Learned Rabbin comments upon the Words They that in their life-time followed the righteousness of God and were the adjuvant causes to make others to work and do righteousness shall attain to a more eminent degree of light and glory from the brightness of the Shechinah or the Divine Presence and their faces shall shine as the face of Moses did when he had been long fed with and lived upon the Divine-light and that for ever for they shall sin no more as here as oft as they sinned they lost degrees of the excellency of their dignity but shall with an absolute perfection be made perfect Then also whatever did let and oppress their shining forth viz. the Captivity we may say Temptations to sin or their being in part carnal and sold under sin Satan and the evil figment or remainders of corruption shall cease And you know that your Sun which is now set did follow after holiness and rejoyced as a strong man a Giant to run that race the light of his Doctrine was pure perfect sure right enlightning the eyes converting the soul making wise the simple and rejoycing the heart Your Teacher was though not a perfect man a perfect Minister thorowly accomplish'd by the Spirit and the Word of Truth the Old and New Testament I never in all my life knew any that had attained near unto that skill he he had in both their Originals except Mr. Thomas Cawton unto all those four good works of the Ministry 2 Tim. 3.16 1. Doctrine i. e. clearly to Expound 1. the Promise the Covenant of Grace the Gospel 2. The Law and so to Preach over the Apostles whole System of Divinity Faith and Love which is in Christ In this which is the only true Divinity he was a most judicious solid and sound Divine As for 2. Reproof he was an able and an Orthodox Divine a Professor in Divinity able to convince of every sin to refute every error to demonstrate the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of each Antichristian or other false opinion 3. For correction and restauration of any that through infirmity or temptation had fallen into sin to the wounding of his Conscience he was an excellent Casuist a most experimental Preacher a most discreet and experienced Divine 4. For instruction in righteousness he knew the way to Heaven and how to conduct and take his Hearers along with him He was a most Powerful and Practical Preacher He was so but now he is not He is not so to you All that I speak I see doth but renew your grief but moderate your sorrows Yea sorrow not Read what Dr. Bates in his Funeral-Sermon on Dr. Manton cites out of Chrysostom pag. 47. yea read the Text 1 Thes 3. from v. 13. to the end Mr. Charnock his soul is gone his body will be raised to be for ever with the Lord. You 'l say you weep for your selves truly well you may yet think not because he hath left you that you are left of God I own it your loss is so great that it cannot be repaired but by God himself Continue in Prayers that God would please to raise you up a Pastor by whose Ministry you may be called more and more effectually to the obtaining of the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Were I to speak to Mr. Charnock's people I should beg of them to be most circumspect and prudent in calling one to establish you if they could meet with to chuse such a one as he was a powerful Preacher a good Casuist a judicious Divine a Doctor yea Professor in Divinity I know not what more to advise pray I will since a Chariot of fire hath parted Mr. Charnock and you that a double portion of his Spirit may be and rest on him whom the Lord shall chuse and direct you to pitch upon to succeed him that whilst you are crying my Father my Father the Chariots of Israel and the Horsemen thereof the enemy may not pursue your Souls break in upon rout scatter and divide and so ruine you and your Congregation Amen! Amen! FINIS Pictores P. Ichram absolutámq faciem rarò nis in pejus effingunt Plin. sec lib. 5. c. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stumbling-blocks Traps 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not only as Justin and Gr. Nyssen cite it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 G Nazian Orat. 1â— Rom. 3.10 c. Splendida