fourth rank is of those things which are evil in themselves and good only by accident in order to some greater good which may be procured by them as War to make way for a lasting Quiet and Peace the cutting off an Arm or Leg to preserve the rest of the Body burning the Harvest to starve an Enemy In a Theological Consideration Afflictions have this use which are not things to be desired and chosen but endured and suffered when sent by the wise God for our good Well now a Christian should love all things according to their value and as they approach nearer to his last end and chief good He valueth all things as they more or less let out God to him the nearer means more than the remote subservient helps Thus he delighteth in the Ordinances more than the Creatures because the Ordinances discover more of God and exhibite more of God to him He valueth Graces more than Ordinances because by the Graces of the Spirit he is brought into more Conformity to God and Communion with him than by the bare formality of a Duty And he delighteth in Jesus Christ more than in Created Graces as being by him nearer to God and God nearer to us Here is the method and order of our value and esteem then First God next Christ as Mediatour next the Graces of the Spirit next the Ordinances next the Creatures and Comforts of this Life 3. A Godly mans Judgment is rectified about the difference between things spiritual and temporal Prov. 23.4 Labour not to be rich cease from thine own Wisdom 1 Cor 2.12 We have received not the Spirit of the World but the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God Psal. 16.7 I will bless the Lord who hath given me Counsel my Reins also instruct me in the night season He counteth that Condition beâ—â— wherein he may be most serviceable to God and best helped to Heaven The natural understanding valueth all things by the Interest of the Flesh for it looketh only to present things 't is the Spirit of the World But one to whom God hath given Counsel he is of another temper seeth things by another light and liveth to another end and scope His End enlightneth him and the Spirit of God enlightneth him The Spirit sheweth him the reality and worth of Heavenly things Eph. 1.17 18. That the God of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of Glory may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of him The Eyes of your Vnderstanding being enlightned that ye may know what is the Hope of his Calling and what the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints There is no Prospect of the other World by the light of a natural Spirit but by Faith 2 Pet. 1.9 He that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off A meer naturaâ— man acteth at little a higher rate than a Beast A Beast seeth things before him tasts what is comfortable to his Senses is guided by Fancy and Appetite But the Spirit of Faith maketh a Man live as in the sight of God and under a sense of another World His end enlightneth him for Mat. 6.22 The light of the Body is the Eye if thine Eye be single thy whole Body shall be full of Light When a man hath fixed his end he will the sooner understand his way Finis est mensura mediorum The End is the measure of the means A good end and scope inlightneth and governeth a man in his whole course As a Man's end is so he judgeth of Happiness and Misery If a Mans end be to live well in the World then Happy are the People that are in such a Case If his end be to enjoy God then Happy is the People whose God is the Lord Psal. 144.15 It is a blessed opportunity to be waiting upon him So he judgeth of Liberty and Bondage If his end be to please God then Corruption is his Yoak if to please the Flesh Duty is his Yoak So he judgeth of Wisdom and Folly A carnal man counteth himself wise when he has made a good Bargain then he applaudeth himself Psal 10.3 The wicked boasteth of his Hearts desire and blesseth the covetous whom the Lord abhorreth The Godly Man then counteth himself wise when he has redeemed time for spiritual uses Eph. 5.15 16. Not as Fools but as Wise redeeming the time because the days are evil And the Eunuch when he was instructed by Philip went on his way rejoicing Acts 8 39. Vse 1. If these things be so then it informeth us how chearfully we should pass through our Sabbath Duties Isa. 58.13 If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath from doing thy Pleasure on my Holy Day and call the Sabbath a delight the Holy of the Lord honourable and shalt Honour him not doing thine own work nor finding thine own Pleasure nor speaking thine own Words c. It followeth naturally from the Point in hand for if a day in Gods house be better than a thousand elsewhere then a Christian should be in his Element when he is wholly at leisure for God His Sabbath time should not hang upon his hands nor should he count this day as a melancholy Interruption Few are of this Spirit they are out of their course Amos 8.5 When will the Sabbath be gone that we may set forth Wheat They are weary of Sacred Meetings and long to have them over that they might follow their gain and satisfie their worldly Humour They make the World and their Gain their great Errand and look upon Attendance upon God as a matter by the by and therefore are soon weary of it Vse II. Let us reflect the Light of this Truth upon our own Hearts have we this love and affection to the means of Grace If we profess it the Truth of it is best known to God but in some measure it should be known to our selves also if we would take Comfort in it Therefore let us a little state it 1. This Affection and Respect to Ordinances is to them as pure to those meetings where God is sincerely and purely worshipped As new born Babes desire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sincere Milk of the Word 1 Pet. 2.2 The new Nature is suited to Gods Institutions As the puking Infant when he sucketh a Stranger doth in Effect say this is not my Mothers Milk Christ is there where he is worshipped in his own way Mat. 28.20 Teaching them all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the World The Church hath nothing to do about ordaining or instituting but only about ordering the natural circumstances of Worship 2. It is not the empty formality which the Saints prize but meeting with God Psal. 81.1 2. How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts my Soul longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord
the Creation and upon the Seventh Day he Rested So Christ will not come down till he had finished the Work of Redemption on the Sixth Day and on the Seventh he Rested in the Grave and Rose early in the Morning on the First Day of the Week to shew the Truth of his Satisfaction And the Holy-Ghost his Work is perfect all the time of his Life he continueth increasing our Graces but in the everlasting Sabbatism when Sin shall be no more his Work is brought to an end And then he shall present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy Iude 24. But what were the Reasons why Christ would not give over till all was perfected 1. Love to his Father Iohn 18.11 The Cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it Christ loved the Father with unspeakable Love and was in like manner beloved by him Therefore when this Cup was put into his hands by his Father he would drink it off to the very bottom 2. Love to the Church Eph. 5.25 26. Even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word c. And Rev. 1.5 6. To him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood The Church was given for a Spouse to Christ but we were polluted and defiled with Sin he would not only cleanse it but make it a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing Eph. 5.27 Christ loved the Church and therefore it was not grievous to him to wash it with his Blood Because Iacob loved Rachel he served seven Years for her in Heats and Frosts by Night and Day and they seemed to him but a few days for the love he had to her Gen. 29.20 So the Son of God loved the Church and therefore endured all these Indignities and grievous Passions 3. He had respect to that eminent Glory set before him Heb. 12.2 Looking to Iesus the author and finisher of our Faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame and is now sate down at the right hand of the throne of God Though the Way was rough the Prize was excellent and so he run through all the Pain and Shame and attained the eternal Crown of Glory He endured cruel Pains in his Body and bitter Sorrows in his Soul such as never any Man did suffer never any Angel could have born as he did so dear did it cost our Saviour to make a Propitiation for our Sins That which in all this did strengthen and encourage him was the Joy set before him namely that happy and glorious Estate which followed upon his Sufferings so that his Burden was made the lighter and his Sorrows much abated Oh let us think of this 'T is not a lessening his Love to us for he needed not to put himself into this condition Herein he was our Example to teach us how to sweeten the Cross and as our Mediator he is gone to Heaven to prepare a Place for us Iohn 14.2 3. I go to prepare a place for you And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and take you to my self that where I am there ye may be also 2. Let it raise in us a Confidence of the Benefits purchased For Christ expresseth himself as a Conqueror and in a kind of Triumph over the Devil and all the Enemies of our Salvation The Wrath of God is appeased Rom. 5.9 Much more then being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him The Law is satisfied Gal. 4.4 5. God sent forth his son made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law Satan is vanquished Iohn 12.31 Now is the judgment of this world now shall the Prince of this world be cast out Guilt is removed Eph. 1.7 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace Sin is subdued Rom. 6.6 Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin Death is unstinged 1 Cor. 15.55 56 57. Oh Death where is thy sting Oh Grave where is thy victory The sting of Death is sin and the strength of Sin is the Law But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Iesus Christ. The Curse is removed Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us Surely where Christ beginneth he will make an end We cannot have too high Thoughts of the Blood of Christ Heb. 9.13 14. For if the blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh How much more shall the â—lood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God cleanse your consciences from dead works to serve the living God Let us stand still now and behold the Salvation of God and Eccho to Christ's Cry It is finished it is finished What can the Law crave more than the Blood of the Son of God What will make us perfect as appertaining to the Conscience if this will not Being justified by his Blood we shall be saved from Wrath through him Christ hath so far obtained Pardon and Acceptance for us that he hath made an end of Sin for all that are willing to accept of his Grace upon God's Terms 3. Let it quicken us to Perseverance in our Duty notwithstanding Sufferings till all be ended that when we come to die we may be able to say Iohn 17.4 I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the work thou gavest me to do 2 Tim. 4.7 8. I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness If Christ out of Love to us would finish the Work of our Redemption What shall separate us from the love of Christ Rom. 8.39 4. It teacheth us how to comfort our selves in Death It finisheth all our Labours and Sorrows as Christ sheweth when he was about to give up the Ghost Isa. 57.2 He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds Believers have a Joy set before them as well as Christ. The Wicked cannot say It is finished their Evils are then begun 5. Let us believe Things to come The Event sheweth that all these Things were true which the Prophets had so long before foretold The Holy-Ghost cannot be deceived nor can God lie We are certain that Things yet to come shall be fulfilled as well as these which are past Those who lived before Christ's time had not such an Experiment of God's Truth as we have We have seen the Coming of Christ let us so fix our Minds on future Things as to draw them
of the Saints to shew that now they do but begin in the Work which they shall compleat hereafter 7. The Scriptures do plainly express that our Service is not ended with our Lives but as we still stand in the Relation of Creatures to God so we still glorify him and serve him Rev. 7.14 15 16. And he said unto me These are they which came out of great Tribulation and have washed their Râ—bes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb Therefore they are before the Throne of God and serve him Day and Night in the Temple And he that sitteth on the Throne shall dwell among them and they shall hunger no more nor thirst any more c. There is the Explanation of the Mystery of being washed in Christ's Blood and made Kings and Priests unto God This Office they chiefly perform when they come to enjoy their Happiness before the Throne of God and in the heavenly Temple And what is the Work there They serve him Day and Night They do not their Service then by Fits and Starts but constantly A Type whereof were the Priests under the Law who in their Courses were admitted Day and Night to be in the Temple Psal. 134.1 Bless ye the Lord all ye Servants of the Lord which by Night stand in the House of the Lord. But what was done by many in their turns is now done by the same Persons continually for they are never weary and there is no Intermission in their Service And God always dwelleth amongst them they shall not be at a distance from God nor he at a distance from them but they shall still enjoy his Company as dwelling in one House with him For there shall not be Sin nor Sorrow any more and then shall they praise God chearfully This will be our Work when we are admitted into the most holy Place 8. As Heaven hath the Notion of a Place a Temple so our Estate in Heaven hath the Notion of a Day or Time wherein our Priesthood is to be solemnly exercised For it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Sabbath or Rest Heb. 4.9 There remaineth therefore a Rest to the People of God A Sabbath is for holy Rest not a time of Idleness but to be religiously imployed So this glorious eternal Rest which is prepared for and promised to Believers is not passed over in Ease and Idleness but in Acts of Worship and Adoration It is a Rest from Toil and Labour but not from Work and Service On the sabbath-Sabbath-day the Sacrifices were doubled the Priest had more to do upon that Day than any other So in our everlasting Sabbatism we serve God after a more perfect manner than now we do On the Sabbath a special Delight and Rejoycing in God was to be raised Isai. 58.13 14. If thou turn away thy Foot from the Sabbath from doing thy Pleasure on my Holy-Day and call the Sabbath a Delight the Holy of the Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine own Ways nor finding thine own Pleasure nor speaking thine own Words Then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord and I will cause thee to ride upon the high Places of the Earth and feed thee with the Heritage of Jacob thy Father for the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it So in our eternal Rest shall we delight our selves in his Presence Vse 1. It informeth us 1. That our Service is an Honour and Worship a Privilege for it is not only a Way to Heaven but a Beginning of Heaven Our Work there is a part of our Reward The Priestly Ministration is so the Work of Heaven that it is also a Reward for our present Diligence Well then it is the most blessed Life we can live upon Earth to be serving God and ministring before the Lord and to be imployed in any Nearness about him his People desire no sweeter Work Alas what is the Work of all the World to this but a toilsom Drudgery or base Servility Go to the brutish World what is the Work of the Drunkard Glutton Gamester or Fornicator compared with that of the Spiritual Priest They are Priests to feed the Belly that base Dunghil-God Phil. 3.19 Whose God is their Belly Their Business is to provide for and please the Flesh. Nay go to the more refined part of the World The Covetous and Ambitious Worldlings they aim at nothing beyond this Life but the Spiritual Priest continueth for ever his Service is begun and will ever last his Work is his Wages 2. That it is no easy matter to be familiar with God and to draw nigh to him in Worship We are stupid and therefore not sensible of it You see what Distance God kept under the Law and what Distance he yet keepeth as to his immediate Presence Surely God is greatly to be feared in the Assembly of the Saints and to be had in Reverence of all that are about him Psal. 89.7 The Redeemed are honoured to have Access to God with Boldness yet they ought to be humbly sensible of the Privilege Every nearer Approach to God is an Enlargement of Honour We must keep an even hand between natural Bondage and Irreverence Natural Bondage We are sometimes afraid to come into God's Presence and doubt of Access being so unworthy to come before the Lord but we are privileged by our Calling Christ by his Death hath made us Kings and Priests The Priests were sanctified to draw nearer unto God than the common People and to be imployed in his most Holy Service So if we be cleansed by the Blood of Christ we are separated from the ungodly World and may acquaint him with all our Desires Griefs and Fears On the other side against Irreverence It is no easy matter to come before the Lord as we ought to do and we must be sure to bless and thank the Redeemer for this Favour that we are made Priests of God and Christ that we are freed from the Fears of the second Death Rev. 20.6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection on such the second Death hath no Power but they shall be Priests of God and of Christ and we may hope for a more solemn Service Vse 2. To exhort the Children of God First To long and hope for the time of their Ministration in the heavenly Temple When the time of our Consecration is finished then we shall be admitted into this blessed Estate O comfort your selves with the Fore-thought of it There are many Reasons to induce us 1. Because then we shall see him whom we worship and stand before his Throne This is often promised Psal. 17.15 As for me I shall behold thy Face in Righteousness I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy Likeness 1 John 3.2 When he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is So 1 Cor. 13.12 Now we see through a Glass darkly but then Face to Face John 17.24 Father I will that
to do than to make the World at first The Object of Creation was pure Nothing but then as there was no Help so no Hinderance But now in Redemption there was Sin to be taken away and that was worse than any thing We deserv'd Ill his Justice and Truth had a Quarrel against us and therefore this was the harder Work and needed more of his Wisdom which now is discovered fully to us in the Gospel When God was to make Man though he was to be his noblest Creature next the Angels it was nothing to the Divine Power to make him of the Dust of the Earth Now Sin makes us worse than Earth Job 30.8 They were Children of Fools Children of base Men they were viler than the Earth Our Condition was worse here God's Justice opposed but Grace found out the Contrivance and sent Christ in the Form of a Servant who was in the Form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God Phil. 2.6 7. 2. We discern the Freeness of Grace in the Gospel both in giving and accepting Whatever God doth is a Gift and what we do it is accepted of Grace In giving there 's a great deal of Grace made known there The Lord doth all freely Ioh. 1.16 And of his Fulness have all we received and Grace for Grace that is for Grace's sake He gives Christ gives Faith gives Pardon He gives the Condition as well as the Blessing Certainly now we have to do with a God of Grace who sits upon a Throne of Grace that he might bestow freely to all Comers Out of Christ and in the Law there God is discovered as sitting upon a Tribunal of Justice as he is described Psal. 97.2 Clouds and Darkness are round about him Righteousness and Iudgment are the Habitation of his Throne But now saith the Apostle Heb. 4.16 Let us come boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy and Grace to help in a time of need that we may have Mercy for Pardon and for acceptance of our Persons and Grace to help us against our Weaknesses This was figured out in the Law under the Law it was figured out by the Mercy-Seat between the Cherubims from whence God was giving out Answers but there the High-Priest could enter but once a Year and the way within the Veil was not fully made manifest Heb. 9.8 There was a Throne of Grace then but more of God's Tribunal of Justice there was Smoak and Thundering about his Throne But now let us draw near that we may obtain Grace take all freely out of God's Hand Then there is Grace manifested in accepting as well as giving God accepts of serious Repentance for compleat Innocence of Sincerity for Perfection of the Will for the Deed of a Person for Christ's sake and of the Works for the Person 's sake Thus God doth both give and accept freely That we do is not brought to the Ballance but Touch-stone Many times a good Work is not full Weight God doth not look to the Measure but to the Truth of Grace he requires Truth in the Reins 3. The Efficacy and Power of Grace is discovered in the Gospel Christ sendeth his Spirit to apply what he himself hath purchased One Person comes to merit and the other to accomplish the Fruit of his Merit Mark to stop the course of Grace Divine Justice did not only put in an Impediment but there was our Infidelity that hindred the Application of that which Christ was to merit and therefore as the second Person is to satisfy God so the third Person is to work upon us There was a double hinderance against the Business of our Salvation God's Justice for the Glory of God was to be repaired therefore Christ was to merit and there was our Unbelief therefore the Spirit must come and apply it First Christ suffered and when he was ascended then was the Spirit poured out Had it not been for the Gospel we should never have known the Efficacy and Power of Grace The Apostle puts the Question Gal. 3.2 This only would I learn of you Received ye the Spirit by the Works of the Law or by the Hearing of Faith How did you come to be acquainted with Grace This is the Seal which God would put upon the Excellency and Authority of the Gospel that he will associate and join in assistance with it the Operation of the Spirit to accompany it Look as it is with the Sun Light encreaseth with Heat the Morning-Beams are faint and gentle but at Noon the Sun shines out not only with Glory but with Strength So it is here the more the Light of the Gospel is encreased the more is the Efficacy and Power of it conveyed into the Sons of Men. The Dispensation of the Law is called the Oldness of the Letter and the Dispensation of the Gospel the Newness of the Spirit Rom. 7.6 But now ye are delivered from the Law that being dead wherein we were held that we should serve in Newness of Spirit and not in the Oldness of the Letter In the meer Law-Dispensation there was only a literal Direction but no strength and ability to perform what is suggested Lex jubet Gratia juvat The Law commands but all the Commands of Grace help There is a Spirit that goeth along with the Gospel to qualify us for the Duties of it 2 Cor. 3.6 Who also hath made us able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit for the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth Life With the Dispensation of the Gospel God joins the Virtue and Power of the Holy Ghost The Letter convinceth and so by consequence obligeth to Death for we cannot perform what it requireth of us but now there 's a Spirit goes along with the Gospel and so we are acquainted with the Efficacy of Grace 4. We are acquainted with the Largeness and Bounty of Grace The Benefits that come by Christ were not so clearly revealed in the Law there was no Type that I know of which figured Union with Christ. The Blood of Christ was figured by the Blood of Bulls and Goats Justification by the fleeing away of the Scape-Goat Sanctification by the Water of Purification But now Eternal Life is rarely mentioned in express Terms sometimes it is shadowed out in the Promise of inheriting the Land of Canaan as Hell is by going into Captivity but otherwise it is seldom mentioned 2 Tim. 1.10 But now it is made manifest speaking of the Grace of God by the appearing of our Saviour Christ who hath abolished Death and hath brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel The Gentiles had but glimmerings and gross Fancies about the future State Life and Immortality was never known to the purpose till Christ came in the Flesh and therefore Heaven is as sparingly mentioned in the Old Testament as Temporal Blessings are in the New In the New Testament we hear much of the Cross of Sufferings and Afflictions
Desires till he come again in person to convey us into his Father's Bosom It is a mysterious Instrument and Means God hath found out to convey Comfort and Grace to the Soul to work out a Union between him and the Creature We do not only draw nigh to God but are united to him It is the Beginning and Antipast of Glory so much Christ intimates Mat. 26.29 I will not henceforth drink of the fruit of the Vine until the day when I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom It is a Taste of the new Wine we shall drink with Christ those spiritual Consolations we shall receive from him in his Kingdom 7. Keeping the Sabbath-day holy It is a sure mark of an ungodly Person to be a Sabbath-breaker as a conscionableness to celebrate it to God's Glory is both a mark and a work of Godliness It is the description of the godly Eunuch Isa. 56.4 Thus saith the Lord to the Eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths and choose the things that please me and take hold of my Covenant Mark it is one of the chiefest things that is taken notice of there the observation of God's own Day If you would exercise your selves to Godliness this is a great means Prophaning the Lord's Day is the cause of Prophaneness all the week after and so a careless keeping the Lord's Day is the cause of the Carelesness and Formality you are guilty of in the business of Religion God hath appointed this Day for a repose for the Soul that by a long uninterrupted continuance in Worship it might be more seasoned and fit to converse with God all the week after Dost thou love Christ then observe his Day Ignatius calls it the Queen of Days The primitive Christians were very careful of the Sabbath they would run all hazards rather than not keep the Sabbath-day When they were accused as guilty of Sabbath-violation they would answer I am a Christian how can I choose but love the Lord's Day This is the Day wherein we do most solemnly and publickly profess the Worship of God therefore it is to be celebrated with all care Thus much for the Description of Godliness from the Disposition of the Heart and the Duties about which it is conversant II. I am to speak of the Exercise of Godliness 1 Tim. 4.7 Exercise thy self to Godliness It must be exercised both in Worship and Conversation 2 Pet. 3.11 What manner of Persons ought ye to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness First In Worship What is the part and office of Godliness in Worship 1. There must be a care that it be right God will not be at the Creature 's carving his Honour is best kept up by his own Institutions and therefore he will accept nothing but what he requires The Woman of Samaria as soon as she was converted enquired after the right Worship Christ had convinced her of Lewdness and living in Adultery Iohn 4.18 The Man thou now hast is not thy Husband The great thing that troubled her was her present standing and the Superstition she was nuzled and brought up in ver 20. Our Fathers worshipped in this Mountain and ye say that in Jerusalem is the Place where Men ought to worship Assoon as Men are awakened that is the question they can no longer be content with their ignorant sensless careless ceremonial worshipping of God and say Thus our Fathers did this will not serve the Conscience when it is a little stirred It is said of the People of God Ier. 50.5 They shall ask the way to Sion with their Faces thitherward Sion was the place of God's Residence and solemn Worship and it is the disposition of his People still to be inquisitive after the way to Sion how God is worshipped I speak not this to unsettle Men and to draw them to Scepticism and Irresolution but partly that they might settle upon better grounds than Tradition publick Consent and the Example of Men. Cyprian observes that this is the reason Men are so fickle so inconstant so soon off and on they do not practise those things upon good grounds None so unconstant as they that practise things right and good but not upon Principles And partly that Men may not content themselves with a cheap Worship such as costs them nothing as when they do not enquire about the grounds and reasons of what they do or when they do but even as others do We should be still searching and proving what is acceptable unto the Lord Eph. 5.10 and seek for Knowledg as for Silver and search for her as for hid Treasures Prov. 3.4 It is a thing of great care and exactness to be a Christian to be right in God's Worship Usually Men serve God at random and at peradventure and if they be right it is but a happy Mistake they do not enquire and search and so miss of a great deal of Comfort Settlement and Experience in the Way of God 2. There is required Constancy and Zeal in the Profession of God's Worship This is Religion to be zealous for God's Institutions to contend for the Faith of the Saints and hate what is contrary to right Worship and sound Doctrine Psal. 119.104 Through thy Precepts I get Vnderstanding therefore I hate every false Way And ver 128. Therefore I esteem all thy Precepts concerning all things to be right and I hate every false Way This is the effect of the knowledg of the Truth to hate all Falshood Idolatry and Superstition as much as they love God's Institutions that they may not be entangled and so either deceive others or be deceived themselves by the Craft of them that lie in wait for such an Enterprize Whenever they hear or read any such Doctrines the Heart nauseateth them there is a rising of Heart not only against Corruptions of Manners but Falshood of Doctrine But if Men be indifferent come what may come Christ or Antichrist they care not greatly their Religion is worth nothing If you do not hate Heresy and corruption in Worship there is no true Religion or Godliness in you Hereticks and Men in a false way seldom hate one another tho they differ in Principles Why because they have not a love to Truth but those that love the Truth prize the Institutions of God there 's a keen displeasure in their Hearts against any false Way 3. There must be frequency in the practice of it God and their Souls must not grow strangers Things that are not used contract Rust as a Key seldom turned in the Lock turns with difficulty so it will not stand with your spiritual Welfare to omit Duty long Much spiritual Exercise keeps the Soul in Health and sweet as the oftner they drain the Well the sweeter the Water is By running and breathing your selves every day you are the fitter to run in a Race so the oftner you come into God's Presence the greater Confidence and Freedom and Enlargement it will bring The way to be fervent
our fixed Scope that his Honour and Glory may be at the end of every Natural and Civil Action Look as in all the Works of Creation Providence and Redemption God made it his Aim to glorify Himself in all so we should make it our fixed Aim and Scope to bring Honour to God in all our Work all other things are nothing to this Vse 1. Examination Art thou godly Hast thou been a diligent Hearer and Reader of the Word a religious Observer of the Lord's Day an earnest Worshipper of God zealous for his Glory against those that prophane his Name corrupt his Doctrine make void his Institutions an Enemy to Idolatry and Superstition a Lover of God's Ordinances It is an evidence of Interest in Grace to live godly Only there is a Form of Godliness 2 Tim. 3.5 Having a Form of Godliness but denying the Power thereof which is discovered by a pretence of Worship and a neglect of Honesty as the Pharisees made long Prayers but devoured Widows Houses or else by a disproportionate Zeal against Idolatry but not against Heresy or such Falshoods as yield no Gain It is not Zeal for God's Institutions when you do not hate every false Way 2 Tim. 2.16 But shun profane and vain Bablings for they will increase to more Vngodliness The Apostle speaketh of some that suppose Godliness is Gain 1 Tim. 6.5 that make a Merchandize of their Zeal Rom. 2.22 Thou that abhorrest Idols dost thou commit Sacrilege He speaketh to the Jews that gloried in their Privileges he had said before Dost thou steal dost thou commit Adultery But here Dost thou commit Sacrilege That was their Glory that they did not serve Idols but they robbed the true God they would not endure a false God or an Idol to be set up but in the mean time they defrauded the Temple of its Maintenance and Things consecrated But the closest Rebuke is ver 23. Thou that makest thy boast of the Law through breaking the Law dishonourest thou God They were much in Worship but were not bettered by it they were not changed in Heart You do not feel the Power of it if the Heart be not new fashioned and put into a godly Frame Vse 2. To press you to exercise your self to Godliness 1. It is the Aim of the Gospel The Gospel is called 1 Tim. 6.3 the Doctrine which is according to Godliness invented on purpose to maintain and keep Godliness alive So Titus 1.1 The Truth which is after Godliness which preserveth the true Worship of the true God and right Thoughts of God Here in the Gospel the way to Eternal Life is discovered 2. It is the Aim of Providence All God's Dispensations seem to put us in mind of God and to draw us the nearer to him Afflictions to increase our Reverence and Watchfulness and Mercies to engage our Love and Trust. God complains of Israel that he had inflicted many Judgments on them and yet ye have not turned unto me saith the Lord Amos 4.8 9 10 11. So he complains of their abuse of Mercies Hosea 2.8 She did not know that I gave her Corn and Wine and Oil and multiplied her Silver and Gold which she prepared for Baal The Mercies of God should be Cords and Bands of Love to draw us to God 3. Consider how God hath deserved it We are God's You that have Servants expect they should work for you their Strength and Time is yours Rom. 14.8 For whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we die we die unto the Lord whether we live therefore or die we are the Lord 's A Christian is not Master of any thing his Affections his Interests his Time his Care his Strength all is the Lord's 4. Consider God hath given us sufficient Grace to live godly 2 Pet. 1.3 According as his Divine Wisdom hath given unto us all things that pertain unto Life and Godliness We cannot complain as the Israelites did of Pharaoh that he required Brick where he gave no Straw or as the Servant did of his Master that he expected to reap where he never sowed the Divine Power is engaged to help us How much do we walk beneath that Divine Power which he is ready to afford us Do not saâ— I shall never be godly if this be to be godly I am but Flesh and Blood what would you have me do 5. Consider the worth of Godliness it is our chief Duty First we must shew our Respects to the first Table because there are the great Commandments Matth. 22.37 38. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Mind This is the first and great Commandments De loco modum de ordine statum de confinio meritum cujusque praecepti cognosces says Teâ—tullian It is the first Table and therefore most worthy the Object is greater God is greater than Man by the breach hereof we do more immediately sin against God He that wrongeth his Neighbour sinneth against God 1 Cor. 8.12 But when ye sin against the Brethren and wound their weak Consciences ye sin against Christ but not so immediately Godliness directeth Honesty which is otherwise but a civil Action proceeding from Interest and Self-love This is the great Commandment without it all other Graces are worth nothing 2 Pet. 1.5 6. Add to your Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowledg and to Knowledg Temperance and to Temperance Patience and to Patience Godliness Civility is nothing Temperance is nothing Abstinence from Pleasures is nothing without Godliness Many Vertues are reckoned up as Patience Knowledg Temperance all these things the Lord requires not without Godliness therefore add Godliness God requires nothing but that which draweth the Creature to himself this bringeth us to the Well-head 6. Consider the Profit of Godliness I mention this to counterballance the Discouragements which you would meet with in the Ways of Godliness It will cost you trouble 2 Tim. 3.12 Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer Persecution Mark if they will live godly not civilly only if they are zealous for Christ's Institutions A Gallio will escape well enough but you have Encouragements 1 Tim. 4.8 Godliness is profitable unto all things having the Promise of the Life that now is and of that which is to come They have an Interest in both but the Promises of this Life are subservient to that which is to come If the Things of this Life hinder our progress to Heaven Grace should be content to be without them There is much Comfort with a little 1 Tim. 6.6 Godliness with Contentment is great Gain SERMON XI TITUS II. 12 In this present World HAving shewn you the Substance of the Lesson let me now speak of the Season of it when this is to be performed and that is in this present World Doct. That our Abode in the present World is the only time wherein we are to discharge the Duty of our Heavenly Calling
if Men under Grace could live under the Dominion of any one Sin they are shut up by the Curse we must look to Christ and give up our selves to him This Man in the Text had the Love of the World reigning in his Heart and Christ turns him away and afterwards it is said he went â—â—way sad III. VSE To instruct us if we would be prepared for Christ what we must do we must study the Law the Purity of it and the binding Force it hath on all under it 1. We must be able to understand it Christ saith to the Young man Thou knowest the Commandments he appealeth to him as to one that had some Knowledge of the Law Those that live in the Church should not be ignorant of the Commandments or Law of God but well acquained with them God complaineth Hosea 8.12 I have written to him the great things of my Law but they were counted as a strange thing To be Strangers to the Word of God little conversant in it and to make little use of it is a great Affront done to God We should acquaint our selves not with the Letter only as little Children learn it by rote but with the sence and purpose of it 2. Meditate often thereupon Psal. 1.2 His delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and Night Deep and ponderous Thoughts have most Efficacy without a Study of the Law Men are without the Law while they have it Rom. 7.9 I was alive without the law once Who more zealous for the Law than Paul Gal. 1.14 I profited in the Iews Religion above many my Equals in mine own Nation being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my Fathers but while he did not ponder of it he was without the Law 3. Judge your selves by it One great use for which the Moral Law serveth is to bring men to a sight and sense of their Sins and Imperfections and humble them before God Rom. 7.7 I had not known Sin but by the law for I had not known lust except the Law had said Thou shalt not covet and to undeceive them of Conceits of their own Goodness and Righteousness Look into thy Bill what owest thou 4. Beg the Light of the Spirit to shew thee thy Sin and Misery Rom. 7.9 Whâ—n the Commandment came in the Light and Evidence of the Holy Spirit Sin revived and I dyed Men that have the Letter of the Law may be without the Light and Power of it Without the Spirit we guess confusedly concerning things as the Man that saw men like Trees walking and have but general cursory confused Thoughts SERMON IV. ON MARK X. v. 20. And he answered and said unto him Master all these have I observed from my Youth YOU have heard of a necessary Question propounded by a Noble Young man to Christ What shall I do that I may inherit Eternal Life We have spoken to Christ's Answer Now in this Verse we have the Young man's Reply All these have I observed from my Youth wherein there is expressed or pretended at least 1. An Vniversality of Respect to the Will of God All these have I observed 2. An early Beginning to do so from my Youth He was still a Young man but by these words from my Youth he means ever since I had the use of Reason as soon as I begun to distinguish between Good and Evil strait and crooked Certainly this Answer were good if it were true Some goodness there is in it therefore we will observe something from it for it is said in the next Verse when he had answered thus Iesus beholding him loved him First It is good in the first Respect as an Vniversality of Obedience is pretended and I may drop this Note Doct. They that would keep the Commandments must observe not only one but all It is true of the Law of God as it belongeth to the Covenant of Works or to the Covenant of Grace 1. As it belongeth to the Covenant of Works Gal. 3.10 Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them Every Sin the least is damnable by that Covenant and deserveth a Curse if he should omit any thing required or commit any thing forbidden the Curse seizeth upon his Throat So Iames 2.10 Whosoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all As one Condition not observed forfeits the whole Lease therefore it concerns this Legalist to make good his Plea and Conceit of Perfection by the Law to say All these things have I done 2. But is not the Covenant of Grace more favourable No it gives not allowance to the least failings but binds us to make Conscience of all as well as of some 1. Because the Authority is the same Exod. 20.1 God spake not one or two but all these words they are all ratified by the Great God and Law-giver So that the same reason that moves us to one moves us to another also that we do it out of Conscience to God we must walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitful in every good work Col. 1.10 That we should obey Parents keep the Sabbath not Steal be careful of his Institutions not worship him by an Idol this is pleasing to God and so is that 2. The Heart can never be Sincere when we can dispense with any thing which God hath Commanded And you cannot have the Testimony of a good Conscience approving your Sincerity when you allow your selves in the least Failing Psal. 119.6 Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect to all thy Commandments I confess it is chiefly meant of our final Judgment But in all Conditions in the World if we would be found faithful with God and not lest to shame we must respect all his Commandments Luk. 1.6 Zachary and Elizabeth were both righteous before God walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless And saith David Psal. 66.18 If I regard Iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me If you would not break your Confidence and freedom of Heart when you come to God in Prayer but come with Assurance of Welcome and Audience not one Sin must be regarded When we set up a Toleration in our own Hearts and dispense with any one Duty it is either some Pleasure or Profit or Honour that maketh the Duty contrary to us but this will not stand with Sincerity that any petty Interest or Affection of ours should be preferred before the Will of God for these Men do not serve God but their own Lusts when they will only obey God so far as Pleasure Honour or Profit or some Lust will permit them to yield Obedience to him 3. God giveth Grace to keep all Wherever he Renews and Sanctifies it is throughout he fills the Soul with the Seeds of all Grace so as to dispose and encline us to every Duty
do not lose what you have wrought Isaac digged Wells and the Philistines dammed them up so when the Soul hath digged a Well of Salvation Satan will seek to damm it up therefore be watchful SERMON VI. GENESIS xxiv 63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the even-tide Secondly I Come now to the particular Objects of Meditation First I begin with that which is the Chief End of Man a necessary Work that you may come to your selves Luke 15.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when he came to himself he said how many hired servants of my Fathers have bread enough and to spare and I perish with hunger That is when he began to consider of his Condition it put better thoughts into him Therefore that we may come to our selves it is good to consider the End why we were Created and the Errand upon which God sent us into the World to reason thus with our selves Why was I sent into the World Why do I live here to get an Estate or to get into Christ To wallow in Pleasures or to Exercise my self in Communion with God To heap up perishing things together or to make my Everlasting State more sure When the End is rightly stated Men know their Work and so live up to the purposes of their Creation But alass Many know other things but are ignorant of themselves and so pass on carelesly to their own Ruine like him that gazed on the Stars and fell into a deep Pit their Eyes are upon the ends of the Earth but they do not consider their Souls Others for want of considering the end of their Lives are so far from living as Christians that they scarce live as Men but either as Beasts or as Devils Delight in the Pleasures of the World transformeth a Man into a Beast it is their happyness to enjoy Pleasures without remorse and to gratifie the Body and delight in Sin transformeth a Man into a Devil Worldly Pleasures are not Bread and Sinful Pleasures are Poyson You that are allured by the Pleasures of the World which are lawful in themselves you lay out your Money for that which is not Bread and you to whom it is Meat to do Evil you feed upon that which is Rank Poyson the World cannot satisfie and Sin will surely destroy Thus Men beguile themselves and do not consider of the end of their Lives till their Lives be ended and then they make their moan Usually when Men lye a dying then they cry out of this World how it hath deceived them And how little they have fulfilled the end of their Creation Partly because then Conscience is awake and puts off all Disguises and partly because present things are apt to work upon us and when the Everlasting Estate is at hand the Soul is troubled that it did no more think of it Oh consider It is better to be prepared than to be surprized Think not only of your Last End but of your Chief End what should be the great aim of your Lives even before Death comes All Religion lyes in this in fixing the aim of your Life all the difference between Men and Men is in their Chief Good and Utmost End In the managing of this Meditation I shall pursue it in this Method not that I prescribe to you but that I may set some bounds to my own Discourse however I shall use such a Method as is most facile and obvious not exceeding the Capacity and Reach of the meanest The Work of such a Meditation may be divided into three parts 1. The Considering Work 2. The Plotting and Contriving Work 3. The Arguing Work First In the Considering Work you may propound these or such like things to your thoughts 1. Man was made for some End All God's Works are referred to the Service and Use of his Glory Prov. 16.4 The Lord hath made all things for himself yea even the wicked for the day of wrath God being a wise Agent must have an End now God could have no other End but himself and his own Glory for the End must be more worthy than the Means something better and above all created things And if God made all things for himself then Man who was the visible Master-piece of the Creation the lesser World the Compendium and Summ of all Gods other Works So the Apostle Rom. 11.36 For of him and through him and to him are all things All things are of him as a Creator through him as a Preserver and to him or to his Glory from him as the first Cause to him as the last End Certainly God did not make such a glorious Creature as Man for any low use The whole Creation was for Mans Use and Man was for God's Glory Psalm 8.3 4. When I consider the heavens the works of thy fingers the moon and the stars that thou hast ordained what is man that thou art mindful of him and the Son of Man that thou visitest him He was God's Deputy and Vicegerent created to enjoy the Comfort of other Creatures and to exercise Dominion over them the whole World is his Palace arched with Heaven and floored with Earth But still that he might be faithful to his Maker and do his Homage to God and give him the Rent and Tribute of his Glory and Praise And therefore if the Heavens do declare the Glory of God and the creeping things and all Beasts in their Rank and Place much more should Man who was furnished with Higher Priviledges and with an Higher Capacity we have faculties that are especially suited to this purpose therefore it is said 1 Iohn 5.26 He hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true Certainly God never made such a Glorious Creature for Wealth or Pleasures but for an higher Use and Purpose even for himself If you do but look upon his Mind and Understanding you will find it to be a wrong and debasement to take it off from a Spiritual Use and put it to a Carnal 2. This End is the injoying and glorifying of God To enjoy God is Mans happyness and to glorifie God is Mans work by glorifying God he comes to enjoy him and he enjoyeth him that he may glorifie him Herein he differeth from other Creatures they were made only to glorifie him not to enjoy him but Man to glorifie him and enjoy him too 1. He was made to enjoy him for that is his happyness Domine Fecisti nos propter te irrequietum est cor nostrum donec perveniat ad te The Soul is made up of unlimited and restless desires there are such cranneys and chinks in the Soul that cannot be filled up but by the enjoyment of God we were made for him and we are not quiet till we do enjoy him Nature will teach us to groap after an Eternal good as the Sodomites did after Lots Wife in the Dark Acts 17.28 That they should seek the Lord if haply they might feel after him and find him
be wise in his Generation that is in the Course and Sphere of his Employments to manage the Holy Life by a wise foresight a Man that is a Child of God hath Wisdom if he would improve it Luke 16.8 For the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light Christ makes it to be the Application of the Parable of the unjust Steward he was plotting aforehand how he should maintain himself when he was turned out of his Service so Christ would hence commend to us Spiritual Wisdom how the Children of Light should plot and contrive how to manage their course according to the Will of God As the Prodigal contrives aforehand how he shall make his Address most acceptably to his Father Luke 15.18 I will arise and go to my Father and will say unto him Father I have sinned against heaven and before thee He is searching out meet words words of humbleness and submission by which he might work upon his Fathers Bowels So if this be my End to enjoy God and glorifie him how shall I order my Life so as to maintain most Communion with him and so as I may most promote his Glory Nehem. 1.11 Grant me mercy in the sight of this man for I was the kings cup-bearer He showeth the Reason why he did undertake the work he was a Courtier and had the liberty of Address to Artaxerxes Mnemon he was devising what he might do for God in that Station So you should be contriving this is my place and these are my Relations what shall I do for God as I am a Minister a Magistrate a Master of a Family How may I serve the great End of my Creation and promote the Glory of God Such foresights makes the Holy Life to be a Life of Care and Choice not meerly of Chance and Peradventure but managed and guided with Discretion for the Glory of God Thirdly For the Arguing Work In such a Meditation as this is you must Dispute and Argue with the Soul that you may gain it from base and inferiour Objects which would divert you from looking after the great end of your Conversation which is the glorifying and enjoying of God Follow the Method formerly prescribed by Pregnant Reasons Apt Similitudes Forcible Comparisons and by Holy Colloquies and Soliloquies 1. By Pregnant Reasons Debate thus with your selves Why should I look after other things when my end is to enjoy God Take these Reasons 1. Other things cannot satisfie and yield any solid contentment to the Spirit Isa. 55.2 Wherefore do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not Carnal Affections are most irrational why should I ravish away my choice respects upon those things that will do me no good The things of this World cloy rather than satisfie A Man is soon weary of Worldly Comforts therefore he must have shift and change when we have Wealth and Honour we want Peace and Contentment nay sometimes the particular Pleasure must be changed because of satiety and loathing which will grow upon us a Man may be weary of Life it self and it may be a burden to him but never of the Love of God you never heard any one complain of too much Communion with God Heavenly Comforts are more lovely when they are attained than when they are desired one tast ravisheth and Imagination is nothing to feeling Worldly things cannot satisfie the Affections Mans Heart is made up of vast and unlimited Desires because it was made for God and cannot be quiet till it enjoy God He that is All-sufficient can only fill up those crannyes and chinks that are in Mans Heart But alass if they could satisfie the Affections they cannot satisfie the Conscience they cannot calm and lull Conscience asleep There is no proportion between Conscience and Worldly Things these are a Covering too short for us there will be Trouble though we have abundance 2. They are not durable and lasting An Immortal Soul is for an Eternal good It is the greatest Misery that can be to out-live our Happyness we have a Soul that will never perish and why should we labour after things that perish When the things are gone our Affection will increase our Affliction we shall be the more troubled because we loved them so much All things under the Sun are therefore Vexation because Vanity Eccles. 1.14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun and behold all is vanity and vexation of spirit That which is vain and flashy will vex the Soul with disappointment we can enjoy nothing with contentment but what we enjoy with security Isa. 40.6 All flesh is grass and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field The Flower may be gone the blustring of the Wind and the scorching of the Sun may soon deface the Beauty and Glory of the Flower and then it remains a rotten and neglected Stalk Prov 23.5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not The Men of the World call them Substance they think they are the only things when of all these Solomon saies they are not How fading are Honours Haman was one day high in Honour and the next day high on the Gallowes Therefore these things being so fickle and of such uncertain enjoyment they cannot give the Soul any quiet 3. They are inferiour and below the Soul they do not perfect Nature but abase it they suit only with the outward and baser part of Man and serve only the Conveniences of the Body That which makes a Man happy must be something above a Man better than himself now this is beneath your Souls You would count it absurd to adorn Gold with Dirt or lay on Brass upon Silver it is a stain and disgrace not an Ornament to it One Soul is more worth than an whole World Matth. 16.26 What is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul God created the World only with a word but Christ redeemed the Soul with his Blood and Sufferings and why should you degrade your selves Heaven thought your Souls worthy of the Blood of Christ and you should think them too worthy to be prostituted to the World Men do not know the worth of a Soul till they come to dye and then what would a Man give in exchange for his Soul to redeem his Soul from the destruction of fears Iob 27.8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite though he hath gained when God taketh away his soul When God comes by a Fatal Stroak or a Mortal Disease to take away your Soul you will see that a Soul once lost can be redeemed by no price and how little doth the Hypocrite then think of all his gain that he hath heaped together Oh then do not debase your Souls It is dishonourable among Men to match beneath their birth and dignity oh
idolize every petty and vain thing in the World therefore in Christ the Lord would shew us the highest Self-denyal when he took the Humane Nature on him and endured the Wrath of the Father The whole World wondred after the Beast and the Disciples wondred at the goodly Stones of the Temple Matth. 24.1 Oh what will you do at the Son of God in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily This should beget a special Veneration and Reverence towards God 3. To overcome us by Love There is a great engagement laid upon a Sinner hereby When the King of Moab was pressed hard by Israel He took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead and offered him for a burnt-sacrifice upon the wall 2 Kings 3.27 according to their superstition who were wont in extream Dangers and desperate Cases to sacrifice their Children whereupon they raised the Siege and went home God hath took his own Son and sacrificed him that we might leave off fighting against Heaven God would overcome Sin by the highest Act of goodness and kindness imaginable hereby he would shame and overcome the heart of a poor Sinner 4. That we might have a High and Glorious Pattern of Obedience We are referred to Angels and to Christ himself who would leave us a more glorious Example 3. Magnifie this great contrivance of your Salvation by Comparisons Compare it with Creation with other Deliverances and with the Works of Nature 1. Compare it with Creation The Lord discovered much of his Glory in making the World out of nothing but he discovered more of his Glory when Jesus Christ was born of his own Creature a Vine out of the Berry or Grape This was his Master-piece and grand design in which he purposed to gain to himself most Honour and Glory The World was made with a Word but redeemed with a serious Plot and Contrivance The World was made for Man and Woman but Christ was made out of a Woman In the Creation God made us like himself but here the Lord made himself like us In the Creation all things were made out of nothing here Order came out of Confusion In the Creation Man was made out of the Earth but here God was made Man In the Creation God went the high way to do us good in Redemption he came the lower way Jesus Christ abased himself for our sakes 2. Compare it with other Deliverances It was a great thing to be delivered out of Egypt and Babylon but it is far greater to be delivered out of Hell and from Damnation and Wrath to come Read the Story of the Children of Israels Deliverances Psalm 107. They were delivered from the oppression of Pharaoh but we from Satan God gave them Food and satisfied the longing Soul and filled the hungry But Jesus Christ incarnate is made Bread and Food to the Soul They had Deliverance from Diseases but we from Sin the Sickness and Disease of the Soul and from the Vanity of our own Spirits Then he goes on to the Wonders in the deep but we may see the depth of Mercy swallowing up the depth of Sin and the glorious Love of God breaking out in such a wonderful Deliverance by Jesus Christ that we may well cry out with them verse 31. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men 3. Compare it with the Miracles of Nature There are strange things among the Creatures yet there may be some footsteps of Reason seen but it cannot enter into the heart of Man to conceive of this glorious Salvation brought about by the Son of God Therefore bless God for the Revelation and complain of thy self for not thinking of these things with serious admiration scarce vouchsafing to look into these things but art more pleased with every bawble and vain contrivance than the great and serious Plot of the Gospel SERMON X. GENESIS xxiv 63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the even-tide Fourthly THE Object which I shall now propose is Providence a large Field and full of useful matter It is a draught which God hath been plotting from all Eternity and accomplishing these thousands of years 1. Take it altogether and it is a continued contexture or concatenation of Decrees Actions and Events from the Creation to the day of Judgment It is our Duty to understand it for the present and it will be our happiness to understand it perfectly hereafter Psalm 107.43 Whoso is wise and will observe those things even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. It is an excellent piece of Wisdom to be able to link Events together that we may see the Wisdom and Love of God in the usual occurrences that happen out We being of short narrow thoughts fail most herein Power is such an Attribute as is visible and obvious to a common and careless Eye the Heathens knew it Rom. 1.20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal Power and Godhead But to find out the Beauty and Wisdom of Gods Work there needs the Light of Faith and some acquaintance with God himself therefore it is said Iob 11.5 6. Oh that God would speak c. and shew me the secrets of wisdom that they are double to that which is Power is obvious to Sense and Reason but Wisdom is scarce discernable to Faith There is an out-side and an in-side in all Divine Dispensations the out-side is full of Beauty but that is but dark to the in-side to the secrets of Wisdom Gods Works are full of Mysteries as well as his Word and we cannot understand them unless God himself be our Teacher we are blind and see not and then we murmur But the full knowledge of the Mysteries of Providence is reserved for our Portion in Heaven when we shall know as we are known 1 Cor. 13.12 Now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know in part but then I shall know even as also I am known We shall view all the passages of Providence by which we have been brought to Glory and see the beautiful Order and Links of them Now we have known God or rather are known of God Gal. 4.9 God knoweth what is the meaning of such a Providence what is in the Womb of such a Dispensation Here there is a hand-writing upon the Wall but we as Beltshazzar cannot read it As when we see a Woman with Child we cannot tell what it will prove but when we are on the top of the Mount we shall look back and see how many are the crooked Lanes we have passed the up-hill and down-hill we have trod and God knew us all along and did not only lead us in but lead us out Then we shall know the multitude of his thoughts and what the great number of them is I confess by narrow
doth the Gospel teach us To live soberly righteously and godly To injoy God to live with Man and the government of our selves We have enough if we have all this But we have all this in as ample manner as heart can wish for and therefore he that cometh from the dead must either preach the same Doctrine and then it is needless and superfluous or contrary things and then how shall we believe him who are forewarned Gal. 1.8 But though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed Christ enters a caution against them 2. Better Arguments cannot be urged nor more perswasively The Gospel is the wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1.24 And surely God knoweth all the Wards of the Lock and what kind of Keys will fit the Heart of Man He hath laid forth the riches of Wisdom and Grace upon this Blessed design and hence it is that we have such Mysterious Doctrines such Dreadful Threatnings such Sweet Promises such strong Obligations from the Death and Incarnation of the Son of God from the Example of Christ which doth secure our Direction and incourage our Practice Out of what Rock was Man hewen if all this will not work upon him What must God do Provide a better Heaven a hotter Hell another Son to dye for us or a more forcible and incouraging Example than that of Jesus Christ What 's the matter that the wicked Sinner will not be allured and made tame charme the charmer never so wisely What do we need more to move us Shall God pipe to you in a sweeter strain than that of Gospel-Grace or Gospel-Promises Is the giving himself and his Christ a price too cheap to purchase your hearts Or must he thunder to you in a more dreadful accent than the horrours of Everlasting Darkness Are these but poor and mean Scarecrows to tell you of a Pit without a bottom of a Worm that never dyeth of a Fire that shall never be quenched Or what is the matter that the Sinner stirreth not Is the Scripture a dead Letter And needeth it to be actuated and enforced by a living voice God hath provided us Apostles and Prophets to write Scriptures so Pastors and Teachers to explain and apply Scriptures Eph. 4.11 He gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers Men who are concerned as well as our selves the value of whose credit we know by their faithfulness in other things that have the same Temptations Affections and Necessities as we have Men with whom we may more familiarly converse and with less fright than with one from the dead Oh but one that cometh from the dead is supposed to testifie his own sight and knowledge and so to speak more feelingly And have not Gods Messengers some experience Cannot they say we declare to you the things which we have seen and heard and felt Have they not been scorched by the Spirit of Conviction tasted Comfort felt a change in their own hearts What can any Messenger from the dead say that hath not been told you over again and again a thousand times Would he say that all shall dye That you see with your Eyes that presently after Death cometh Judgment That you pretend to believe already that the Torments of Hell are terrible and insupportable This God hath told you over and over And if we receive the witness of men the witness of God is greater 1 Iohn 5.9 That you must repent and be converted This is that that is sounded in your Ears every day Therefore we are better provided already than to need the horrour of an Apparition or a warning from one among the dead 3. It is not because he could propound these Truths with more certainty for these things are already propounded to our Understandings and we have sensible confirmation 1. They are propounded to our understandings with a fair and full credibility The Holy Scriptures have in themselves a self-evidencing light by which they make it out to the Consciences of Men that they are of God Every thing that hath passed the hand of God discovereth its Author all Gods works have his Signature and Impression upon them which is legible and visible to every attentive beholder Rom. 1.20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal Power and Godhead so that they are without excuse Psal. 19.1 The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy work Not a pile of grass but sheweth its Maker Praesentem refert quaelibet herba Deum and surely his Word which he hath magnified above all his name Psal. 138.2 is not altogether without such an impress and stamp of God upon it therein being revealed things most worthy of the Truth Wisdom Goodness and Holyness of God and suitable to that Wisdom and Truth that is in us so far as there is any in us What shall I speak of the most satisfactory way of Reconciliation with God The fairest draught of Moral perfection far beyond all that which is of meer Humane Recommendation Here is no dead fly in this box of Ointment but all pure and holy without mixture nothing so accommodate to the necessities of Man and fit to bring us to the injoyment of that which the reasonable Nature aimeth at What shall I speak of the Majesty of the Stile the genuine simplicity of the Narrations the Harmony of the Parts the Sublimity of the Doctrines the Impartiality and Purity of the Precepts the overflow of God's Love in the Promises the glorious Rewards the certainty of the Prophesies All which are so many innate Characters and Evidences of the Divine Authority of these Writings by which they clearly insinuate themselves with wonderful force and power into the Consciences of Men 2 Cor. 4.2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty not walking in craftiness not handling the word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the truth commending our selves to every mans conscience in the sight of God There was an evidence in the Truth it self preached by the Apostles so there is in the word written by the Apostle for the voice could add nothing to it and the Writing take nothing from it A Man of Art and Judgment discovereth himself in every Book he writeth Aristotles Writings shew him a Person of great knowledge Can a Book have God for its Author and have nothing to discover its Author 'T is unreasonable Masters in Writing or Painting shew their hand the Scripture doth not stand or fall to the courtesies of Man Well then if these things be so as certainly they are so we have more certainty by the Word it self than possibly we can have by a Messenger from the dead yea or a voice from Heaven for it hath such a signature of God upon it that we need go no
The will of God signifieth two things either his Decree concerning them or else that Law which he hath given concerning our Duty This last is intended The Works of Man are the Actions and Operations of a reasonable Creature subject to the Laws of God if his Actions be conformable to his Law they are good if not they are evil Therefore a Man cannot be a good Christian without doing Gods Will. If it be the Will of God he should forbear such a Practice Custome or evil action he dareth not go forward Ier. 35.6 We will drink no wine for Ionadab the Son of Rechab our Father commanded us saying Ye shall drink no wine neither ye nor your sons for ever If it be the Will of God he should do such a thing he will do it He dareth not omit it how cross soever to his Inclinations and Interests Iam. 4.17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doth it not to him it is sin This is the Reason of all Reasons 1 Thess. 4.3 For this is the will of God even your sanctification 1 Thess. 5.18 In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Iesus concerning you 1 Pet. 2.15 For so is the will of God that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men Well then 't is not enough that we should well and thoroughly understand the VVill of God but we should do it And I will add this one Consideration the more we do it the more we will understand it Iohn 7.17 If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God It is doing that God looks at and we must most regard not who can Accutely Plead or Eloquently declaim about it but readily frame his Heart to do the VVill of God For the Precepts of God are given not to try our VVit or Memory but Practice 4. VVe must do it so as may be well-pleasing in his sight VVhere note 1. That all that we do is done in the sight of God He observeth who breake and who keep his Law and nothing can escape his view and knowledge Luke 1.75 In holiness and righteousness before him VVe are ever in his Eye and he is our VVitness Approver and Judge Will he force the Queen saith Ahasuerus before my face Esther 7.8 VVill ye God looking on be vain foolish and carnal 2. This must be our great aim and scope to please God It is a well tempered Religion that beginneth and endeth in God Man-pleasing is the Hypocrites Religion but God-pleasing is sincere and true Religion Col. 1.10 That ye may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing And the Apostle often inculcateth this as the right end of all our Duties Not as pleasing men but God 3. Our work must be so ordered as it may be pleasing and acceptable to God For every slight thing will not please him but when it is agreeable to his VVill. Therefore it is not enough to do what is for the Matter good but what is for the Manner pleasing to him That is to say 1. It must come from a right principle Love to God 2 Cor. 5.14 The love of Christ constraineth us And Faith in Christ Heb. 11.6 Without faith it is impossible to please God Not as forced nor as a meer Natural Act but as depending on the Redeemer for our Acceptance VVe are Sinners we are not exact 2. Then for the Manner it must be with seriousness Heb. 12.28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear So as will become so great a Majesty with that diligence which our aim at perfection calleth for 1 Thess 4.1 Furthermore then we beseech you Brethren and exhort you by the Lord Iesus Christ that as you have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God so ye would abound more and more II. The words which express the necessary concurrence of the Divine Power they are two 1. The first is Make you perfect He prayeth not now for framing the new Creature but for perfecting it God that maketh Man new maketh him and then he perfecteth him God is wonderful in the first Creation in raising such a beautiful piece out of the dust of the ground as the first Man was And in ordinary Generation David telleth us Psalm 139.14 I am fearfully and wonderfully made So God is wonderful in remaking or regenerating us Eph. 2.10 For we are his workmanship created in Christ Iesus unto good works Eph. 4.24 And that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holyness There is much of the VVisdom Goodness and Power of God seen in the new Creature to inable a Man to captivate those Lusts which the generality of the VVorld are mastered by and to live a Divine Life in Flesh. He is also wonderful in perfecting us till we grow up to our full Stature in Spiritual things As it is not in Mans power to make himself or regenerate himself so it is not in Mans power to perfect himself no but the Spirit of Regeneration abiding in us doth renew us more and more well then 't is not meant of Regeneration when we are created to good works but of the increase of his sanctifying Grace which is to Regeneration as Preservation and Providence is to Creation God that begun the work must continue it and strengthen it otherwise we shall be unfit for every good work or as a Member that is out of joint as the word importeth which is there used 2. Working God doth continually co-operate and work in us and with us without which we cannot fulfil his Will or do any thing that will please him So Will and Deed are joyned together Phil. 2.13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do God worketh in us a power to will and maketh us actually to will and a power and strength or ability to do it The new Creature dependeth absolutely on his influences from first to last 2 Pet. 1.3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that partain unto life and godliness He giveth us Spiritual Life and he giveth us Godliness He first giveth Supernatural Faculties and then the Use and Exercise of them in our Walk or Conversation The first Motions and then the flowing forth of these Motions into Acts suitable 1. VSE To establish our dependance In doing any good we must depend on God both for the Power given at first and continued unto us Will and Deed come from him and they come from him through Christ who purchased and conveyeth this Power to us by his constant intercession and the influence of his Spirit Of unwilling he maketh us willing and causeth us to do what he would have us to do He doth not only give us the Will that is the Desire and Purpose
I will give them an Everlasting Name that shall not be cut off 2. In Framing the Child in the Womb. It is not the Parents but God The Parents cannot tell whether it be Male or Female Beautiful or deformed they know not the number of the Veins and Arteries Bones and Muscles See Psal. 139.13 14 15 16. For thou hast possessed my Reins thou hast covered me in my Mothers Womb. I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made marvellous are thy works and that my Soul knoweth right well My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the Larth Thine Eyes did see my substance yet being unperfect and in thy Book all my members were written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them There is a great deal of Work-man ship in the Body of Man it is a curious piece of Embroidery Angels sang at Mans Creation Iob 38.7 When the Morning Stars sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for joy and they admire at his Resurrection What is God about to do 3. In giving Strength to bring forth The Heathens had a Goddess which presided over this work His Providence reacheth to the Beasts It is by the Lord that Hinds do calve Psal. 29.9 The Voice of the Lord maketh the Hinds to calve and there is a Promise to them that fear him 1 Tim. 2.15 She shall be saved in Child-bearing if they continue in Faith and Charity and Holiness with Sobriety It must be understood as all temporal Promises are with the exception of his Will but thus much we gather that it is a Blessing which falleth under the care of his Providence and that by Promise so far as God seeth fit to make it good Rachel died in this Case every godly Woman hath not this deliverance So did Phinehas his Wife 1 Sam. 4. latter end God might have taken this advantage against you to have cut you off If deliverance were not so ordinary it would be accounted miraculous The Sorrows and Pains of Travel are a Monument of Gods displeasure Gen. 3.16 Vnto the Woman he said I will greatly multiply thy Sorrow and thy Conception in Sorrow shalt thou bring forth Children Womens Pains are more grievous than the Females of any kind to preserve a weak Vessel in great danger and for the Child a Sentence of Death way-laid it as it was coming into the World 4 The Circumstances of Deliverance In every Birth there are some new Circumstances to awaken our Stupid Thoughts to consider the Work of God For God doth all his works with some variety lest we should be cloyed with the commonness of them 2. They are a great Blessing in themselves and the more of them the greater Blessing and therefore should they be acknowledged and improved as Blessings Certainly there is a more special favour shewed us in our Relations than in our Possessions Prov. 19.14 House and Riches are the Inheritance of Fathers â—ut a good Wife is from the Lord. So for Children By them the Parent is continued and multiplied They are a part of himself and in them he liveth when â—e is dead and gone It is a shadow of Eternity nodosa Eternitas therefore the outward appurtenances of Life are not so valuable as Children Besides they are capable of the Image of God By them the World is Replenished the Church multiplied a people continued to know love and serve God when we are dead and gone We read of Christ's rejoicing in the habitable parts of the Earth and his delights were with the Sons of Men. Prov. 8.31 In the habitable parts of the World there are great Whales but Men were Christs delight Especially to Gods Confederates or Parents in Covenant with God are Children a greater Mercy David was such an one these are Sons and Daughters born to him Ezek. 16.20 These are visibly the Children of God and in a most proper sense an heritage from the Lord. It is said Gen. 6.12 The Sons of God saw the Daughters of men that they were fair and they took them Wives of all which they chose Seth begat Sons and Daughters to God See Gen. 10.21 Vnto Shem also the Father of the Children of Eber the Brother of Japhet the Elder even to him were born Children The Persians Lydians Assyrians Syrians these who were possessed of the Empire of the World and all the rich Spices and Treasures of the East he hath not his denomination from them but from the Children of Eber a people a long time kept under before they could grow into a Nation but they were the People of God who retained his true Worship Their's were the Promises the Adoption and the Glory See that place 1 Cor. 7.14 For the unbelieving Husband is sanctified by the Wife and the unbelieving Wife is sanctified by the Husband else were your Children unholy but now are they holy Reasons are à notioribus from some things plainer than the things they are to prove The scope of it is to hold forth some priviledge to Believers not common to others who are Infidels for it is for the Believers sake that the other is sanctified If it were a common priviledge the unbelieving Husband had been as much sanctified in himself as in his Wife Well then it is some special priviledge not common to the Marriage of an unbelieving couple Agaâ—n whatever this priviledge be it is something of importance for therefore is it mentioned negatively and positively which the Holy Ghost useth not to do but in weighty cases negatively they are not as other Children unclean but positively they are holy Again mark the gradation The unbelieving Husband is sanctified by the Wife and the unbelieving Wife is sanctified by the Husband else were your Children unholy but now are they Holy To be sanctified is more than to be lawful and to be holy is more than to be sanctified All things as Meats Drink Marriage Estate are lawful to an Infidel but not sanctified for they are sanctified by the Word and Prayer and many things are sanctified which are not holy as Gold Silver Goats Hair when they were dedicated to God they were changed in use not in nature The unbelieving Husband to whom all things are impure he is sanctified that is set apart to serve God's providence to this holy end and use that the believing Wife may bring forth Children to God As a Nobleman Marrying a Begger conveyeth Nobility to the Children Now having laid this foundation let us see what is the meaning of not being unclean but holy The unclean under the Law were those that might not come into the Sanctuary or into the Temple Holiness qualified for worship and made capable of Ordinances What God hath cleansed call not thou common or unclean Act. 10.15 saith God to Peter speaking of the Gentiles as capable of Gospel Priviledges And so we have found out the sense the Children
the Elect Angels 1 Tim. 5.21 Now which of these are we to understand Not the Evil Angels to be sure for since the Fall they are called Devils not Angels singly without a note of Distinction This was an Holy Desire of an Holy Object of which those damned Spirits are not capable It is a burden to them to think of God and Christ they abhor their own Thoughts of God Iam. 9.19 The Devils also believe and tremble And Christs Presence was a torment to them Mat. 8.29 What have we to do with thee Iesus thou Son of God! art thou come to torment us before the time They cannot please themselves nor find such a delight and full satisfaction in the view of these Truths Therefore it is meant of those good Angels that behold the face of God and Minister in his presence they are beholding wondering and rejoycing at the mysteries of the Gospel There are two kinds of Creatures made after the Likeness of God Angels and Men and they are seated and placed in the two Extremities of the World the one in Heaven and the other on Earth in the Highest and Lowest Story of the Universe that at both ends of the Creation there might be some to glorifie him and acknowledge his Excellencies Alas here with us in the lower part of the World how few take notice of the glorious discoveries of God in any of his Works especially in the work of Redemption So that all Gods Preparations and Expences seem lost as to the Honour and Service which he might justly expect from us But there is another World where this mystery that is so little regarded here is more thought of and better studied even by the Blessed Angels Creatures more excellent and more numerous than Mankind who are always glorifying God and admiring his Excellencies upon this account As we behold the Sun that shineth to us from their part of the World so do they behold the Son of Righteousness from our part of the World even Jesus Christ the Lord in all the Acts of his Mediation 1 Tim. 3.16 Without Controversie great is the Mystery of Godliness God was manifested in the Flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels That is beheld with Wonder and Reverence God needeth not to Court us with such importunity he hath Creatures enough to glorifie him ten thousand times ten thousand Angels that stand before his Throne and know more of God than we do and are more ready to praise him II. What The Text telleth us which things that is those things spoken of in the Context 1. The Person of the Redeemer the most glorious Object that can be looked upon or taken into the Thoughts of any Creature The view of this is now our Comfort and will be our Happiness to all Eternity Iohn 17.24 Father I will that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me When we are in Heaven on t'other side of the World that will be our Work and our Happiness but it must not be wholly omitted here So the Angels delight in the Person of the Redeemer it is their rejoicing to look upon Christ in whom the Glory of God shineth forth more admirably than in any other of his Works Yea I shall go one Strain higher God himself delighteth in looking upon Christ Prov. 8.30 There was I by him as one brought up with him I was daily his delight in the Hebrew it is day day one day after another God never satisfieth himself enough in this yea God delighteth in Christ as Mediatour Mat. 3.17 This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased Isa. 42.1 Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteâ—â— It is the ground of his gracious aspect upon us As Holy he delighted in all his Works and was refreshed at the view of them Gen. 1.31 And God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good compared with Exo. 31.17 In six days the Lord made Heaven and Earth and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed Well then this is one thing which the Angels look upon the Person of Christ the most lovely Object to be thought of figur'd in the Mercy-Seat or cover of the Ark who interposed between the Law and God Christ is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Propitiation that is Christ Incarnate 2. The way of Redemption verse 11. The Sufferings of Christ and the Glory that should follow And therein the sweet Harmony and Concord between Infinite Mercy and Infinite Justice that both might have full satisfaction This is figured in the Mercy-Seat Gods reconciling himself to Man by Christ Rom. 3.24 25 26. Being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Iesus Christ whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through Faith in his Blood to declare his Righteousness for the Remission of Sins that are past through the forbearance of God To declare I say at this time his Righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Iesus 3 Another thing spoken of in the Context is the Grace that should come to us verse 10. Gods keeping familiar Correspondence and Communion with Poor Creatures in and through Christ 1 Iohn 1.3 And truely our Communion is with the Father and with his Son Iesus Christ. The dwelling of our Nature with God in a Personal Union a thing which Angels may wonder at since God abaseth himself to behold things in Heaven or things on Earth Psal. 113.6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in Heaven and in the Earth His Majesty and All sufficiency is so great that he might justly despise the Angels of whom he standeth in no need Now that he should stoop so low as to look after poor crawling Worms and admit them to such intimacy with himself this Commerce between God and the Inhabitants of the lower World is matter of wondrous delight to the Angels 4. The Mission of the Spirit here just before the Text the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven and then presently it followeth which things the Angels desire to look into viz. The Copious Effusion of Gospel Grace Before the price was paid when God gave out Grace upon Trust 't was more sparingly dispensed but now more plentifully since the price of Redemption is actually paid The Angels are ascending and descending present with the Churches in their Holy Worship When the Spirit was first poured out the Men that were Conscious to it were all surprized with wonder Acts 2.7 They were all amazed and marvelled saying one to another Behold are not all these that speak Galileans And surely the Angels see cause to glorifie God for his Gifts and Graces bestowed on the Church It was done in the sight of Angels Eph. 4.8 When he ascended on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men compared with Col. 2.15 And having
perish for his Impenitency and Unbelief but not meerly for the Greatness of his Sin for what Sin is so great that it is not or cannot be expiated by the Blood of Christ Christ's Satisfaction maketh the Salvation of the worst possible you may have Peace with God if you will 5. It bindeth our Duty the closer upon us No Man shall perish but for want of a willing Heart to accept of the Redeemer who hath paid our Ransom and of the Grace which he hath brought to us by which we may be interested and instated in the Benefits of this Ransom All things are ready if we are ready Luke 14.17 Come for all things are now ready God's Fatlings are killed his Wines are mingled if we will not come to the Feast we perish through our own default We need confer nothing all is but to receive the Benefits propounded and offered Victory over Death Hell Sin Satan is ready yea Heaven is ready and all Spiritual Blessings are ready if we are ready For the Merit and Satisfaction of Christ is the great cause of all that Blessedness which is offered to the Creature God hath opened the way to all if they will not enter into it they perish by their own default He hath sent Preachers into all the World Mark 16.15 16. And he said unto them Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be damned Tit. 2.11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men Let not us refuse our Cure though we must take a bitter Potion though we must enter in by the strait Gate of Faith and Repentance and walk in the narrow way of Self-denial and all holy Conversation and Godliness yet because it is to Life and the Legal Exclusion is taken off let us enter and walk in it Indeed if the Door were shut against us by the Sentence of thr Law and there was no way to remove the Bars and Bolts our Excuse were more just because then our Condition would be hopeless But now all is finished Salvation rendred possible now God hath taken away the Bars and Bolts by which his Law shut us out from all hope Let us not set up Bars and Bolts by our own Unbelief and by our own Cowardly Fears If Man were not Man but a Beast a Fool or a Mad-man it might more excusably be allowed to them to be led by Sense and Appetite and then it were an intolerable thing to Crucifie the Flesh with the Affections thereof But Man having Reason doth know or may know that this Command of God is equal that God doth not only require but help us to perform it and prevent us by his Grace 6. It doth not only bind our Duty upon us but it doth encourage us to Repent and Believe and Obey for Christ is able to save to the utmost all those that come to God by him Heb. 7.25 And he is the author and finisher of our faith Heb. 12.2 And doth give repentance as well as remission of sins Acts 5.31 For to you it is given on the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake Phil. 1.29 The first Grace is his Gift and his resolved Gift to the Elect but all are to take their Lot If it were said to us alone That we should strive to enter in at the streight Gate or that we alone should deny our selves and take up our Cross and follow him it were hard But when the same Terms are propounded to all and when many young and old rich and poor have received them and have tried God's Ways and it hath succeeded well with them upon Trial why should we fear it If no body had done it or could do it then we might stick at God's Terms This Argument Austin used to himself in his Conflicts of Conscience Lib. 8. Confess Cap. 11. When he had long withstood offers of Grace he would then propound to himself the Example of others Cur non poteris quod isti istae Isti istae non in se pouterunt sed in Domino Deo suo Why may not I as well as those holy Men and those good Women They did it not in themselves but in the strength of their God and the power â—f his Grace The Yoke of Christ will be more easie than we think of especially when it is lined with Grace 7. When we have once accepted the Condition cleared up our Title then we shall have cause to Glory in the Lord and be sensible indeed that all things are finished which are necessary to our Comfort and Peace and that this was a full Merit As Paul would Glory in the Cross of Christ Gal. 6.14 God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Iesus Christ. Rom. 8.1 There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ. Then we shall make the bold Challenge of Faith Rom. 8.33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect It is God that justifieth Who is he that condemneth It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us If Christ had not made a full Expiation of all our Sins we were under Condemnation still He doth not say there is nothing worthy of Condemnation in Believers for as long as Sin and the Flesh remaineth in us which doth as long as we live in the World there is a Potential Guilt of Damnation an intrinsick Merit in our Actions of Death and Condemnation yet the Actual Guilt or Obligation is taken away because Christ is made a Curse for us Well then our solid Rejoycing to the lasts is in this compleat Satisfaction Rom. 5.11 We rejoyce in God through our Lord Iesus Christ by whom we have received the atonement It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We Glory in God Vse Let this raise in us 1. An hearty Thankfulness and Admiration of the Love of Christ who would not give over Suffering till he could say It is Finished till he had done enough to Glorifie God and Save the Creature enough for the Destruction of Sin as well as the Abolition of the Curse Christ did not Compound but paid the utmost Farthing Oh! let us raise our Thoughts in the Consideration of this Love His Enemies interrupted him and tempted him to give over Save thy self if thou be the son of God come down from the cross Mat. 27.40 42. If he be the King of Israel let him now come down from the Cross and we will believe him But because he was the Son of God and the King of Israel he would not come down till he was taken down and all was done that was necessary All God's Works are perfect Deut. 32.4 The Father ceased not till upon the Sixth Day he had perfected the Work of
ever with the Lord and ministring in his Presence have more of the Divine Nature communicated unto us 5. There is the unanimous Conjunction of all the Saints in the Praises of God or a joining in Consort without jarring or difference The Apostle biddeth us Rom. 15.6 with one Mind and with one Mouth to glorify God even the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ. It is our Duty but never performed to the full but when we meet together in that great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Council of Souls or the General Assembly and Church of the First-born which the Apostle describeth Heb. 12.23 The Spirits of just Men made perfect or consecrated It is comfortable to join in Worship with the People of God now Moses preferred it with Afflictions before all the Riches and Honours and Pleasures he enjoyed in Egypt Heb. 4.24 Choosing rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a Season But then is the Communion of Saints compleated when all are admitted to the Vision and clearest Knowledg of God and have the most perfect Adherence and Love to him Now what an happy Time will that be when we and all the holy Ones of God shall with the same enlarged Affection set about the same Work As our Groans here made but one Sound and our conjoined Tears but one Stream and our united Desires but one Prayer so all our Praises then shall make but one Melody and Harmony If it be an Happiness to live with the Saints in their Imperfection when Sin doth often imbitter their Society surely it is an Happiness to live with them for ever when they are purged and freed from Sin and fully consecrated and fitted to minister before the Lord. 6. To think of God and to rejoice in his Glory and to love and praise him will be our great Imployment There we shall be intent upon our Choice and noble Work which is praising and lauding God Psal. 84.4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy House they are still praising thee Praises now are a part of our Sacrifices and must be mingled with our Prayers Phil. 4.6 In every thing by Prayer and Supplication with Thanksgiving let your Requests be known unto God So Rev. 5.8 The four Beasts and four and twenty Elders fell down before the Lamb having every one of them Harps and golden Vials full of Odours which are the Prayers of the Saints Harps signify their Praises and Thanksgivings Here it cometh in by way of Mixture but there it is our sole Imployment There is no need of Prayers for there are no Sins nor Wants nor Necessities there all is Praise David calleth upon the Angels to bless the Lord Psal. 103.20 to tell us what they do And when a Multitude of them descended at Christ's Birth Luke 2.13 14. they presently fell a lauding and praising God Glory be to God in the Highest It is the Opinion of the ancient Hebrews that every Day they sing Praises to God and that in the Morning this they gather from Gen. 32.6 Let me go for the Day breaketh Which Place the Targum of Ierusalem thus explaineth Let me go for the Pillar of the Morning ascends and behold the Hour approacheth that the Angels are to sing This was their Opinion Sure we are that the Angels bless God and that in an eminent manner as appeareth by frequent Passages of Scripture where they are called upon to bless the Lord for though the Speech be in the Imperative Mood as if it were hortatory yet it is to be expounded by the Indicative as Narrative of what the Angels do Particularly we read they blessed God for his own Excellence Isa. 6.1 2 3. In the Year that King Uzzia died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a Throne high and lifted up and his Train filled the Temple Above it stood the Seraphims each one had six Wings with twain he covered his Face and with twain he covered his Feet and with twain he did fly And one cried unto another and said Holy holy holy is the Lord of Hosts the whole Earth is full of his Glory For the Creation Iob 38.4 5 6 7. Where wast thou when I laid the Foundations of the Earth declare if thou hast Vnderstanding Who hath laid the Measures thereof if thou knowest or who hath stretched the Line upon it Whereupon are the Foundations thereof fastned or who laid the Corner-stone thereof When the Morning-Stars sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for Ioy. For the Nativity of Christ Luke 2.13 14. And suddenly there was with the Angel a Multitude of the heavenly Host praising God and saying Glory to God in the highest on Earth Peace good Will toward Men. So they blessed Christ Rev. 5.11 12. I beheld and I heard the Voice of many Angels round about the Throne and the Beasts and the Elders and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands saying with a loud Voice Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive Power and Riches and Wisdom and Strength and Honour and Glory and Blessing Though they cannot fully comprehend God yet they do it far more clearly than we They apprehend God's Excellency and Perfection in himself they know also the Excellency of his Works Creation and Providence and the Redemption of Mankind Then we shall know as we are known 1 Cor. 13.12 and understand the Faithfulness of God's Conduct in bringing us to Glory O blessed Time when we shall fall upon the Work of Angels when we shall have a sublime Understanding to know God an Heart to love him and a Mouth to praise him for evermore We shall not need any Excitement but be willing and ready to do it We have greater cause of blessing God than the Angels have It is a question whether an innocent or a penitent Person is more bound to thank God An innocent Man is bound to praise God in respect of the Greatness of the Benefit and the Continuance of it but a penitent Man in respect of the Freeness and Graciousness of it The Freeness and Graciousness is much more conspicuous towards Men. God was indeed good and bountiful to the Angels creating them out of nothing endowing them with many excellent Gifts But to Man sinful was God good indeed he loved us as Enemies when his Justice offended by Sin put a Bar to our Salvation he spared not his beloved Son but delivered him to a cursed Death in our Room and Stead Secondly To exhort us to prepare our selves for this Estate And let us labour that we may be such as may be counted meet to minister before the Lord in his Heavenly Temple To this End 1. Let us hasten the Acts which belong to our Consecration and attend upon them with more Seriousness which is the cleansing of the Soul from the Guilt and Stain of Sin From the Guilt of Sin Rom. 5.1 2. Therefore being justified by Faith we