not any thing like it the same measures of grace within the same without the same Robes of State that Christ weares they doe the mantle of Elijah is put upon Elisha Our perfection now is per proximum by a proxey as another weares such a compleat habit within and without for us And thy renowne went out among the Heathen for thy beauty for it was perfect through my comelinesse which I have put upon thee Ezek. 16.14 Whereas beauty and perfection is here imputative t is there inhesive every one in his owne person and in his owne state inside outside renowned and perfect for beauty in their owne comlinesse they are joynt with Christ we are joynt heires with Christ here we are joynt partakers with Christ there we have joynt crownes joynt thrones joynt perfections Christ doth not weare a crowne above for this Saint and for that Saint he doth not personate any Saints condition in glory but every Starre there hath its owne glory every Saint weares his owne Crowne himselfe no ones condition there for blessednesse and happinesse is onely personated in Christ as all our conditions are here in order to that State above but all joynt partakers with him and every seed it s owne body which is a glorious State indeed and makes a glorious Church as the Apostle speakes Ephes 5.27 T is a perfect society and in in perfect rest That glorious Church above keepes a perpetuall Sabbath you know the Law of the Sabbath both in precept and president enjoyned a totall complacentiall and perfect rest i. a cessation from all labour and application with all delight to sublime and supreame things Whilst this law was in president onely and yet unwritten it held out this compleat rest God did not nakedly cease from his worke but refreshed himselfe in the things which he had wrought On the seventh day he rested and was refreshed Exod. 31.17 Now what this refreshing was see Exod. 20.11 The Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it This was his refreshing after his worke he had a totall and complacentiall rest According to this president did the precept afterwards strictly runne as you may read Exodus the 20. The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord in it thou shalt not doe any worke How farre this extended you know they were not to doe any ordinary worke of their calling no not necessary workes for life they were not to gather Manna on the Lords day though Manna was all the food they then had and had it but from day to day The godly which lived under this Law and knew the strictnesse of it would not performe funerall rites for our Lord Jesus on this day as you may see Luke 23. last They viewed the body of Jesus upon the day of preparation and prepared Spices and Ointment but rested upon the Sabbath day according to the Commandement This totall and strict cessation from all labour was upon paine of death Ye shall keepe the Sabbath for t is holy to you every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death whosoever doth any worke therein shall surely be cut off from amongst his people Evod. 31.14 This was for aversion and turning away from things forbidden on the other hand application to Divine things and to holy imployment was as strict every thought was to be consecrated to God and this with divine intention with delight the strings were to be set very high and to hold it and to make delightfull Musicke If thou turne thy foot from thine owne pleasure and call the Sabbath a delight Esay 58.13 All these things doe but shadow the condition of that glorious Church above they rest from their labours and this rest is a perfect rest they doe not any worke as the expression before is they doe not so much as dresse their owne meat no nor gather in any thing for meat all is drest to their hand and set before them Manna is potted up and stands alwaies before every one not any sinew not any thought painfully stirres about livelihood all are intensly but very delightfully applied to the vision of God to the contemplation of the Lord of this Sabbath the grace of redemption that brought them from hence thither to so transcendent a state Their rest above t is as totall as complacentiall as Gods was looke how he rested from his worke so doth these from theirs For if Jesus had given them rest i. Joshua then would he not have spoken of another day there remaines therefore a rest to the people of God for he that is entered into his rest he also hath ceased frrom his owne worke as God did from his Hebrews 4.8 9 10. Now God totally rested and then was totally filled and refreshed with the contemplation and sanctification of what he had done he rested and was refreshed so doe they above they doe rest and are refreshed cease from all labours from all that speakes the least paine and then they refresh themselves with the contemplation of God and what they finde laid up in him for them and so are these times called by the Scripture times of resting they do rest from their own workes and are refreshed with with Gods i with the vision and contemplation of him therefore is it added there when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord i from the beholding and contemplating him and his person in whose presence they stand who is the Lord of that great rest Triumphing together with Christ That glorious society above of which we now speake is a Church triumphant all displaying their banners all Heaven over as they that have fully conquered all enemies Sinne is quite dead death and him that hath the power of death dead O death where is thy sting O Hell where is thy victory this is the triumphant language in every ones mouth above Here we are in continuall combate in perpetuall war detesting legue truce but not able to conquer but there all are conquerers and weare their Crown Lawrells and make a shew of their conquest openly as Christ David hath slaine his thousand c. Many such triumphant expressions are above for every little one there is as David and sing his songs There is a petty transient triumph here in the Church militant but 't is only as it now and then reaches their state above in any degree of conquering enemies And I saw as it were a Sea of glasse mingled with fire and them that had gotten victory over the Beast and over his Image stand on the Sea of Glasse and having the Harpes of God and they sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lambe saying Great and mighty are thy workes Lord God Almighty just and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints Revel 15.3 this hints to us the manner of their triumph above for Saints do the will of God on earth as they do in Heaven The Lambe sings too they
Christ we may conclude full successe that is in the thing and in the circumstance of time Christ doth so much as God intends and in such a time in so many dayes he was to make the world and he did it to a punctum of time and rested with his Father and in so many years he is to make a new world First and second resurrection are timed in word so shall be in work the two beloved cities wil be built one after another in their predicted time and he will do it exact to a punctum of time and then give it up all to his Father and rest with him and his Church for ever Time is in Christs hand as well as the work of time the Father hath put all into his hand my times are in thy hand The great world may say to Christ My times was in thy hand in so many dayes didst thou bring me forth and so many years wilt thou uphold me And the new world may say My time is in thy hand in so many years thou wilt bring me forth You murmure that things go no faster on the time of the new world is in Christs hand and it should be rest enough to a saint in all troubles to look up and consider in whose hands worlds are transacted God moveth in one that answers his will exact that observeth his work and his time Lo I come as it is written in the volume of thy book Search how it is written concerning Christs creating this new world and you shall see that he will come and do it exactly Lo I come as it is written saith Christ but not as impatient spirits expect instruments must be blamed when they take not their time I mean instruments which we imploy for our good in this time of distresse but the heart must be quieted in this that Gods agent exactly keeps his time This is not all your consolation you may argue for the choisest mercies upon this ground that God is your Creatour in Christ Thy hands have made me and fashioned me give me understanding that I may live Psal 119.73 from such power you may argue to such love from great power you may argue for great love Thou didst create me in Christ according to such a noble being do thou new create me in Christ for the restauration of this being as if the Psalmist had so said this I think may be his meaning and the strength of his argument Many of you are weary of your being you do so sinne but you might have more comfort in your being if you did look up and consider who gave it and what obligement lies upon him by it he gave your being in Christ and he will restore this being in Christ if you plead it to him as David Thine hands have made me and fashioned me give me understanding that I may live Thus do thou say to God A child of God may argue love and compassion from any thing that Gods hand doth to him upon this very ground because he doth all that he doth to him in Christ To ungodly persons Sinners the Scripture pressetn obedience to Christ upon you from this point upon pain of death that all things are made in and by him how able is he to take away being from all which gave it to all Reade Proverbs 8.31.32 After that Christ is there mentioned in state as the Creatour of all this he inferreth upon it viz. Now therefore hearken unto me O ye children that is children by creation for blessed are they that keep my wayes Heare instruction and be wise and refuse it not He that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul So he concludeth as Christ is complete to attract love the same will be his sufficiency and advantage to aggravate our sliding off him for thus Christ will say to sinners at the great day I am a first-born I am the Image of the Father I am a Redeemer I am a Creatour and yet though all these thou regardest me not all excellencies sleighted shall be turned into so many rods to lash your dead souls The sins you love will destroy your being and your being being destroyed you will fall into your Creatours hand again and what being do you think he will give you then God dealeth with you as you are you are naturall and he fetcheth argument against you from nature as what is more naturall to you then your being the lower God stoupes to stirre you and you yet unmoved the more obstinate you are you are no new creatures therefore God argueth with you simply as creatures and then you shew your selves blocks you use no art about a block but to burn it and so doth God when sinners become sots and blocks and understand not so much as the principall of their naturall being though opened and urged upon them by a God blockish souls think on this you will have a very hot sermon to warm you when you come to your place Coloss 1.16 And that are in earth BEing and disposition of being are from Christ he createth all and disposeth all You make creatures and then you place your creatures and preferre them as you think good and so doth Christ and he telleth you where some in Heaven and some in earth he suiteth place to person pure persons are placed in Heaven and impure in earth where we are placed is that which I am now come to tell you in earth for by him all things were created that are in Heaven and that are in earth c. What kind of room we live in here these words command me to set out unto you and then to ask you how you like it 1. Low 'T is a low room we are in here the earth is the lowest element lower then the aire lower then the water and yet as earth comprehendeth both these 't is but Gods footstool Swear not by the earth for 't is his footstool a footstool speaketh the lowest service such is the earth and all things in it of the lowest use to God 't is a kitchin below stairs to scour vessels in and 't is a conveyance for the filth that cometh off there is a gutter out of earth into hell to carry away all things that offend hell is the sink which belongeth to the earth God hath more noble service done in one moment in Heaven then in all the earth in all the age of it though it be now many thousand years old In this lower room wherein we are here is nothing done but kitchin work washing and scouring killing stripping and fleaing that which is fat Earth is the slaughter house that belongeth to hell hearts that are made fat are killed on earth and rosted in hell We dwell in Gods kitchin and the devils slaughter-house in earth this is low and this is the first thing earth speaketh a lower room 'T is common Lions and Bears Wolves and Men are all in one room in earth Frogs and
to it or how much you are below it Pauls triall is at the doore God hath armed your enemies they have instruments of death in their hands t is your goods your houses your Cities yea this is not all t is your blood too that they thirst after Can you proffer your breast to the Speare to save truth alive therein sad things at a distance are made nothing of this is the strength of our misery death may goe up and down in the West but it cannot come this way Why should any one dreame so Sinne and justice will meet any where in a City walled with Brasse up among the Starres if sinners can seat themselves there Hath all the provocation been among poore blinde soules which never had the knowledge of God nor scarce any meanes to attaine it And is there no provocation to be found among you children of light There be strange lightnings before death people will sit up in their beds and call heartily and talke cheerfully as if there were no death neere and it may be at the same time death in their extreame parts in their feet and in their nose Thou art in thy sicke bed London and art thou sure it shall not be a death-bed to thee death is upon thy extreame parts upon this County upon that County upon this towne and that City is there no danger of the heart The evill day is not farre from men because they doe put it farre from them Death is in all our soules can it be farre from our bodies so farre as never to come at them What man among us hath life for Christ as he should is not death seized upon our extreame parts those persons that should be as our nose to smell for us in things of weight dead those persons that should be as hands and feet for us in matters of weight dead spirited examine your selves all in this point and from hence prophecie if you will needs peace or warre to your selves and from nothing else though this way of prophesie be not infallible yet it is as likely to foretell what is to come as to prophecie from such and such events past 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vicissim 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word signifies vicissim implere to doe a thing in ones turne Christ hath taken his turne and suffered his part in the will of God and now my turne as if the Apostle had said is come to doe that which belongs to me The cup is very big it will hold Christs blood and the blood of many more to fill it up Christ hath poured in his share and now I am to come next and powre in mine and who is to come next after me Christ knowes The word so read the order of divine triall is hinted unto us Gods people are not all in prison at once some are in at one time some at another some are in for so many daies and then let out againe and then comes in others The devill shall cast some of you into prison and ye shall be there for ten daies The cup of affliction goes round the Table every one drinkes of the water of affliction in his course Christ is not every day about sad worke Job 7.1 but takes set daies Is there not an appointed time unto man saith Job Tsaba Militia a warfare to every man a bloody season for every man so it is read by some Misery hereafter comes like a deluge drownes a world together at once in a moment in the twinkling of an eye but evils here goe forth in forme of a visit visits are at set times and to set persons now to some now to others we doe not use to visite all our acquaintance at one time Neverthelesse in the day when I visite I will visit their sinne upon them Exod. 32.34 Here is time and person singled out every day is not a blacke bloody day to every one we doe not all roare together here as they doe below but severall daies are divided among severall persons and severall yeares among severall Kingdomes now t is a day of evill to one man to morrow to another so many yeares bloody to one Kingdome so many to another Bitters are as sweets dished out by course Mercy is in this Christ will have some to pity when others need it some out of bonds to remember them that are in if all the Saints had beene in prison when Peter was who should have set daies apart to wrestle for him If all were an eye then where would be hearing so may I say in this case if all Christians were wounded at once and killed at once where would be Linen to binde up their wounds where would be shrouds and coffins and who would make graves and carry them thither The wicked will not they know not to compassionate the righteous they can wound the righteous but they have no heart to binde them up they have hearts to make them mourne but none to wipe teares from their eyes their very kindnesse is cruelty Tender goodnesse orders the great hardships of Saints when their cup is mingled by hard hearts Christ hath one tender heart or other standing under the devils elbow which he sees not to drop in some sweet to make the bitter goe downe one Ebedmelech stands under the tyrants elbow to moderate the miserie of Jeremy The over-ruling hand of God is in this of which there can be no reason given but his tender goodnesse for every righteous man is abominable to the wicked and when they fall upon one they would fall upon all and there is enough of them to dispatch all but that the Lord of his mercy hinders Justice is in this point that hard hearts may be without excuse Every degree of unkindnesse notes not a man without bowels neither doth Christ write downe men as mercilesse after this rate A neighbour in good condition asketh such a kindnesse of such a man which might be done and no prejudice to himselfe and yet t is denied I cannot write downe this man as mercilesse yet saith Christ Another day a poore man comes to desire such a favour of this man as tends much to his maine support and t is denied yet I cannot write this man mercilesse saith Christ But lay a Lazarus at his doore a creature that hath his skinne full of holes and an hundred hundred monthes crying all at once for mercy in one man lay a Souldier at his doore which hath so many wounds in his head so many in his backe all gaping crying and mourning with teares of blood for compassion bring a prisoner to his doore let him cry and gingle his chaines Sir I lie upon stones and I must live upon stones too if you give me no bread my food is sighing my drinke my teares my bed iron chaines shew mercy Sir shew mercy or I perish let this man be in a Kingdome where there are many of these Golgothaes and Aceldamaes a field
kinde must be without delay or else all is eternally lost the Basilisk blastes and burnes every greene thing it comes upon and makes death to every creature in a moment his poyson is so fiery strong Satan is such a Serpent not a Dart hee throwes but it is so fiery that it 's mortall presently In the day that thou eatest thou shalt die eatest what any of the Serpents poyson Thou shalt die the long-livest creature in the World In the day thou eatest i in the hower in the present moment although the long-livest creature the Serpents poyson will dispatch thee Our patients who are spirituall Physitians are all poisoned strongly poisoned their intrailes are afire our worke is the giving of Antidotes they must be speedy death is marching so speedily and so directly to the heart All this World is afire it lies so neere that below it every house in a blaze there are such lightnings and blastings from that region of darknesse that not a soule upon earth but is black burnt and in danger to be consumed they had neede bestir them that worke about quenching internall flames which take hold here this is our worke to quench Hell fire Two things are incomparably swift in bringing forth corrupt affection and Divine wrath The time is so little betweene conception and birth in order to sinne that it 's not mentioned Lust when it hath conceived brings forth sinne The Apostle doth not say that it brings forth in so many Moneths or in so many yeares two yeares or the like as Historians say the Elephant goes but when 'tas conceived it fals in travaile presently and the soule cannot sleepe till it bee delivered The wrath of God is just such another wombe conceives and brings forth presently internally or externally upon soule or body or both a sparke of fire no sooner takes but it burns presently within the house though you do not see all the out-parts of the house in a blaze presently a house is a fire a great while before all the Towne cry Fire fire Wrath kindled but a little as the Psalmist speakes in Gods breast against any man it burnes presently against him though not visible presently it sulters and takes more and more hold secretly and breakes forth all in a blaze in a shorter or longer space as tempests and windes arise and as wisdome will Spirituall Offices are shaped and injoyn'd in order to these nimble bearing wombes Goe quickly make an atonement wrath is begun said Moses to Aaron If wrath be begun as if he had said I know the nature of it 't will quickly make a dispatch of all therefore bestir thee be a Diaconos a diligent speedy Officer take a Censer and fire from off the Altar and put out one fire with another The nature of our Office hintes the nature of your condition 't is very dangerous of a sudden sinners you are undone it should be laid to heart Sinners are damnable venturous not knowing the wayes of God they make nothing of sinne and yet the wages of it is death and paid presently The soule froward and wilfull of a suddaine dispatched Say unto the children of Israel Yee are a stif-neeked people J will come up into the midst of thee in a moment and consume thee c. Exod. 33.5 Christ is our Breath and Life when resisted our Breath and Life departs and leaves the dead corps to be stretched out coffined and buried when justice will Christ and the soule parted this is death other things as laying the man in his Grave and such like these are but businesses about the Funerall Sinner Christ woes thee dost thou regard him He tels thee of the Harlot thou hast in thy bosome doth thy soule rise against him Why turn thy face to the wall draw up thy Legges in thy bed thou wilt have a death-pull presently conscience will sting thee ere thou art aware and now Christ is setting foot in stirrup to be gone he is now throwing off the dust of his feete as a preparative to departure Christ hath put the Knife now to thy throate yea more he hath stabbed thee to the heart and thou bleedest inwardly what wilt thou do to stop and heale this wound Didst thou dreame of a dart in thy heart ere thou hadst done thy sport to be shot from Heaven in the act of sinne in the bosome of Delilah But 't is not so with mee though I eate forbidden fruit now and then yet it agrees well enough with me it doth not make tumblings and ruptures in my bowels Death seiseth not upon all alike some goe away in a swone Insensibility is the deadliest condition of all Christ disregarded the soule is disregarded in the hower that one is the other is whether it now roare or bee still all is one Christ is departed there is no divine Life in the man you see but a corps not a Christian which will be buried out of Gods sight quickly The winde blowes where it lists how it lists of a night of an instant it turnes and blowes against one that was with one and drives the Vessell upon Rockes and splits all A sinner is nobly and sweetly intreated for a season this despised the old one leaves the nest hee cannot hatch what hee sits upon and therefore that stranger which hath blowne upon the egges and chilled them with handling let him suck them too now or teare them or do what hee will with them I beseech you sinners know your day your hower if the Sunne would kisse you kisse him He wooes hartily yet not in ordinately as some Lovers doe that will never give over that die when they cannot obtaine Christ kils others that will not love him but never kills himselfe with love he can of a wooer become a slayer of you and all in one day yea in one hower Wherefore receive that holy word Luke 12.36 Let your Loyns be girded about saith hee and your lights burning and yee your selves like unto men that waite for their Lord when he will returne from the wedding and when he commeth and knocketh they may open to him immediatly If you thinke out of pride and stoutnesse to make Christ waite your leasure till you have taken your fill of forbidden things and gone on as far as ever Nature and Life could let you goe you will be deceived Christ will in this case leave knocking and only marke the doore and be gone Some are hard to vomit there is such a concinnity betweene the stomack and what filth is burnt to the coates of it t will goe hard with such Some cast up presently as soone as nature is offended So do you saith Christ open immediately what I knock for to be delivered up deliver it up imediately I will not waite Christ makes short quick worke in the Earth when he hath to do with meer earth that will be no more COLOS. 1.25 According to the dispensation of God DIspensation the word meanes domesticke distribution
Eyes of a Sampson darken the greatest lights and confound the greatest parts that is speake ridles and parables at every word things unexplicable to the most learned men he can carry a darke Lantherne betweene the Egyptians and the Israelites make a cloud to go betweene both and to be darke of one side and light of to'ther Christ was in the midst of that project 't is often said in the Booke of Moses that hee was in the midst of the cloud that is he was the onely author of that great mystery 't was no art of Moses nor Aron nor any man else but Christ Christ hath a Kingdome but t is not of this world t is of that little World within he hath the Keyes of every roome within you he and he only opens and shuts these everlasting doores and at what houre he will every wheele in that curious artifice within hath its motion or check from him the spirit wee speake is of his â—nction t is in fulnesse given to him to make every knee bow or breake every eye blind or seeing of things in Heaven of things in Earth and under the Earth This thing is better exprest by the Prophet then eye can The Key of the house of David will I lay open his shouldiers so hee shall open and none shall shut Isai 22.22 Revel 3.7 The donations of Christ are absolute not such as ours which may and often are overborne the Eyes hee closes none can ever open the Trees he curseth barren none can ever make fruitfull dung as long as they will the things hee hides from mens eyes they can never see more his spirituall occlusive power is as his power apertive absolute and above controule Hee is the onely absolute at opening or closing the Eyes of the dead Vse 'T were well if the right state of eternall actions and things were seriously considered what is in the power of Christ and what he can do and doth to a perverse Generation Suffering in the outward man is the least that Christ doth to testifie dislike of any mans course and yet this as poore sensuall creatures we onely Eye How doth God carry himselfe to the soule how neer to it or how far off from it is he how plainly and cleerly or how darkly and misteriously doth he move within thee Is not thy soule in darknesse Shut up under unbeliefe in the valie of a shadow of death fearing evill the destruction of all Darknesse makes feares the Oracle within speakes doubtfully and the best Life hangs in doubt the Malefactor hath his book and cannot reade for his best Life the caracters are so old and so mysterious this is a great wound in the spirit and it is a wonder to me that any one can beare this and beare up yet so remisse are men till things grow ragingly desperate and remedilesse nothing is considered Terrified sinners Christ hath tyed a handkercher about your Eyes you are upon the Ladder ready for execution can you read your neck verse or not Legit ut clericus vel non A Gospel sence of misery is the first step to remedy Light is made to shine out of darkenesse God closeth the Eyes and then opens them I am at the doore of Heaven neere the Kingdome of God my night will have a day according to the course of of the Sun it will be so Let faith thus work and thou wilt be blessed speedily God makes light to shine out of darknesse when he would make a shining State hee usually makes it very darke first very darke and very sad and then reveales light very cleere and makes a very shining bright Heaven The order of the Sun what course it goes what long nights it makes in some parts of the World and then what long and glorious dayes should be remembred and expected this way comes in our blessednesse here In a darke condition when one cannot do as wee would we must doe as we can make advantages of little things Sampson being darke and starke blind made advantage of a little boy do thou said he lead mee to this place or that to the pillar where the house beares so must you poore darke soules which are starke blind in the best things makes use of such little things as before mentioned to be led by till you come to finde Pillars great Pillars whereon the house beares to doe great exploits T is sweet to consider that sacred concealements are but for a time and this time set by wisdome Vision is but for an appointed time That is a secret and a mystery to us which to Christ is vision the vision is but c. and shall be so to us in his light wee see light and in cases of danger and extremity he doth hasten When we are in a chariot of our owne conceits a fiery Chariot and Satan running away with us Christ saith to his spirit go joyne thy selfe to that chariot and interpret and now behold a nation is borne in a day a World borne of a day a World of light a Heaven borne of a day of an hower 'T is yet more sweete yea most sweete to consider when we can do nothing at all for our reliefe neither the greater nor the lesser not make use of a Lad to lead when we cannot make the least motion toward the light it makes motion toward us the Sun findes out us it findes lost persons and lost comforts it bares it selfe about unto every one who doth draw the Sun to this place or that Christ is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 1.19 you reade it a day Star the Latines rightly render it Lucifer because it doth lucem ferre Christ doth beare about light over the World to every one that sits in darknesse and needs it COLOS. 1.26 Which hath beene hid from Ages and from Generations THis expression meanes not totum but tantum not altogether hid but very much hid over what it is since the revelation of Christ in the flesh A full comment upon these words are those of the Apostles to the Ephesians cap. 3. v. 4 5. Whereby when you reade you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ which in other ages was not made knowne to the sonnes of men as it is now revealed to his holy Apostles and Prophets by the spirit Ceremonies were but a shaddow of good things to come as great a distance between their condition and ours as betweene shaddow and substance their fruit had much shell and little kirnells we have no shell yet the kirnell bigger and sweeter to The sensuall helps they had spake for the most part no farther then sence What all those carnall Ordinances did spiritually meane we have in expresse words and these words explained and applyed with greater power and glory then ever from the spirit of Christ Mercies have their demensions they differ in grouths The drops that fall from Heaven are of severall quantities Christ hath in his hand blessings of severall
sizes some bigger some lesser two talents five talents ten talents concerning the glory above t is disputed whether it be graduall but concerning the glory of a Christian here it is a resolved thing that it is graduall there is migration in our glory here going from glory to glory from strength to strength Milke and strong meate babes and full age crums and Flagons love and abounding in love Our Kingdome comes our Kingdome here is a comming Kingdome Mercies are all shaped by Love it is the property of Divine Love to higthen dispensation still till shee hath lifted the soule beloved fully into her bosome Grace t is in the beginning little a graiâ—â— of Mustardseed in progresse great in the end all to wit Heaven which is all now doth Love fully possesse her beloved and now she rests and not till now beyond Heaven there is no gradation no step higher Love hath got her full end which is the full possession of what shee makes out to and now rests Love shapes Mercy so as fully to bring about her end and that is to bring the soule shee loves into her bosome to the full fruition of her selfe of whatsoever shee is you may see this demonstrated in Christ the Father loves him and he gives him mercies greater and greater and never leaves till hee hath lifted him fully into his bosome to his right hand i the fruition of all John 5.20 The Father loveth the Sonne and showeth him all things that himselfe doth and hee will show him greater workes then these that yee may marveile My Father hath given me great things already but hee will give me greater for he loves mee and this will drop and drop till it hath dropped out all it will never rest till it hath brought mee into his bosome The love of God carries the same property and proportion to a Christian and this makes the grouth of a Christian necessarily as the grouth of a Crocadile of which it is written that hee groweth alwayes so doth a Christian till hee bee transplanted into Heaven Vse T is trying this point what truth is in you Your graces are not so great but you may have greater if this be not regarded as you taste not grace what tang it has so you understand not grace what order t 'as Spirituall fulnesse speakes a deluded heart hee that hath goods enough enough for many yeares enough to make his felicity for ever and therefore rests is a foole hee knowes not his state what hee has nor what he wants Blinde men 't is observed do not dreame so much as men that see because fancy in the day hath not so much nor so lively impressive imployment to set it at worke in the night but blinde soules dreame more a great deale then they that see This is one of their dreames among many I have enough grace to bring me to Heaven I hope and I care for no more I love not to be pragmaticall Some make a great deale of stir and run mad t is extreame naught this I like it not Answ this is one extreame but there are two extreames and vertue in the midst of them dost thou eye t'other extreame Some die with heate others die with cold Thou seest others too hot may'st not thou be too cold grace in the true knowledge of it is inviting 't is like some Liquids drinking makes thirstinesse and longing for more drinke every degree of grace possessed makes discovery of greater degrees not possessed One Chamber of Christ hath a window looking into another far bigger and more glorious Thou art entered into one thou sayest dost thou looke into another more glorious and long to enter into it if thou be a stranger to these things thou art a foolish Virgin that possibly hast knocked at the doore of Christs house a little but art yet indeed entered into no roome when Christ had opened the nature of spirituall bread unto his followers that they did indeed understand it they fell a longing presently for more what they had discovered much more behind which they wanted and therefore cryed Lord evermore give us of this Bread Vse This point is upbraiding the light which shines upon us is more glorious then that which shined upon our Fathers that which hath beene hid from Ages and from Generations we have made manifest to us wee have mercies according to externall communication of the biggest what have you according to internall communication this will be looked after This is a day of great things a time wherein Christ brings about great things to our doores our fathers day was a day of small things yet if they were judged for despising their day of small things how much more shall you be judged that despise the day of great things t is the Apostles argument to the Hebrewes and must be mine to you Despite is a spiritull act deliberate disaffection to the loveliest things The posture of our spirits wee least looke at and this Christs Eye is most of all fixed upon Externall carriages are all measured and titled from the heart God rules in the inside of his enemies hee unbowells this Generation and Christens it in blood according to its spirit We offer despite to the spirit of grace we tread under foot the bloud of the Lord Jesus can wee tell whether this iniquity will be blotted out till this Generation die The heart fired against truth abides so t is part of that unquenchable fire below God allowes Satan to bee fueler in such a soule till they both come to burne together in hell Love lost Christ cares not for the person let him be what he will if hee be the greatest man in the World he will burne to death in that fire which burnes in his breast against Christ Our love now to be least when greatest love is tendered can you imagine that this iniquity will be quickly forgotten great heare makes great thunders t is so now the Sun of love shines mighty hot and now wickednesse thunders and so will Justice and righteousnesse too believe it COLOS. 1.26 But now is made manifest c. THe word notes two things appareo et splendeo vision and shining vision that is according to Gospel speech still in the letter and in the spirit the understanding of words which one reads by workes which one feeles a voyce behind one interpreting that before one circumcision outward in the flesh and this explained by circumcision inward in the spirit There is a narrative and an operative light that which makes one talke well and that which makes one walke well that which enables one to produce bookes for his authority in discourse and that which enables one to produce his soule and his life for authority here is my soule and my life reade if it be not so as I say let men and Angells all the World reade if they will The Manifestation which our Apostle speakes of here is the latter for he speakes of such
and joyfull to tell who are slaine and who saved our Travells are to all remote parts that are into Heaven into hell into the heart of man where these two meet to search the book of life and the book of death to finde whose names are written in the one and to informe the persons Paul could tell Clement and others that their names were written in the book of life Phil. 4.3 And whose names are written in the other to wit the book of death and to informe likewise the persons Jude could tell who were of old ordained to condemnation we are to seek creatures lost in hel which is hard work to finde to search out things hidden in God from ages and generations which is harder worke Vse The soule of man certainly is very precious to Christ he sits up with it late watches with it very long burnes out many watch-lights to save it if possibly from dying eternally Estimation is to be made of things according to cost about it provided that the layer out bee prudent When you let houses or lands this comes in as a consideration to heighten rent what you are out in purchase and repaire Christ cannot be taxt for imprudence or improvidence and yet he is at more cost and paines about the soule then about any thing not onely here and there a man is pickt out to minister to the soule but all the creatures in the world are severally gifted vertued decked and adorned to minister to and worke upon the soule the words and works of God have all a harmony in this they all therefore are and abide which otherwise should all passe away were it not to take and gaine the soule there is a juice and Verdure a spirit in every living creature to incline it to serve man and so to by as his soule to God The multitude of preachers to the soul of man is great some he had at the third hour some at the sixth some at the ninth God and the Creation were preaching to man from the beginning all creatures brought their full goodnesse to mans full view and use to keep him fully good but could not he fell asleep in the fore-noon in the morning when the primest and sweetest sermons were made that ever the eares of man heard and dyed in his sleep Wee that come in labourers at the latter part of the day we preach to the dead our worke is to fetch the dead to life againe to raise Lazars out of their grave that have lain there long and stink and yet how unsavory soever how impossible soever our worke is and seemes to be we must upon the perill of the bloud of our own soules discharge it our labour is spending and ending we like Rachel dye in travell to bring forth sonnes and daughters to Christ and yet woe to us we shall dye twice if wee hold not on this labour and this travell Certainly Christ hath put an high price on poore soules I am sadded to thinke how mis-judging some persons are of Christ and their soules Doth Christ milke out his breast to bastards such as are base borne and no sonnes Can he summe up nought nought many noughts to a great summe and to a great price A naughty tongue a naughty hand a naughty heart a naughty conscience all these naughty parts to a precious whole I answer Christ doth prize naked beings the soule according to its esse though it hath never a good quality in it What shall a man give in exchange for his soule high price is put here upon the soule simply as it is such a transcendent being beyond others then againe Christ sets a price upon things according to what he can work them too he can lay out cost and paines mans meate horse meat seed and grain of this kinde and that and plow in hope Persons of art and skill put a price upon this and that grasse which others tread under foote as weeds and nothing worth because by such and such decoctions they know what precious things to bring them to Nero put great price upon Thapsis a gigantine Fennell his great men about him wondred to see him send so farre for it and put such esteeme upon it but hee did so because he knew how to order it with Frankincense and other things to take away the bruises of his body God hath Frankincense by him to wit Christ and though wee be but as Fennell a weede little worth yet hee can tell how to order us and shape us so as to bring us to great maturity and price and according to this to wit what he can do with soules doth he put price upon them though at present of little worth and therefore let empty creatures judge righteously concerning Christ and their soules Would Christ be at paines and at cost to lay pipes to the cisterne if he did not meane to fill it Be just in opinion concerning Christ and mercifull in practice concerning us and this is the last thing I have to say upon the point Our calling is full of wasting labour very painefull easen it to us by your plyablenesse to Christ Sinners are full of sores putrified from head to foot and yet will not be lanced nor drest this is the killing paine of all our paynes that all we do is rejected Ministers would not be gray headed so soone nor die so fast notwithstanding their great labour if it were but successefull but this cuts to the heart and makes us bleed in secret that though we do much it comes to nothing I am placed in an Hospitall where there are so many score Diseased creatures that 't would pity any ones heart to looke upon them and yet when I come to dresse them they all curse mee in their heart and one hides his wounds from mee an other sees and sweares he is as well as I in as good a condition as his Minister and yet lookes as pale as Death as black in the mouth and in the eyes as if he were in Hell already an other tumbles in blood and filth and sayth this is his Scarlet-shute hee hath no other habit to go brave and gallant in if he should not do so and so he should die in the neast and wishes those hang'd that contradict and trouble him there is so many filthy breaths and dampes in the places where wee worke these are the things that kill us more then our meere paine there is so much conjuring in the spittle where we are placed and so many eyes stare and looke so fiery and gastly so many devils walking among the Tombes and Graves where we are labouring to rowle away stones that lie at the mouthes of them These are they that teare our Lungs consume our Spirits Our worke dies therefore we die not so much that we labour as that we labour in vaine wee can send none out of the Hospitall where wee are Phisitians upon two Legs but all upon foure none goe out well all
much for their sinne though they die in the place Parts being considerable such habits are made use of iniquity establisheth it selfe by a law in such a soule what one can make 't out to be de jure t is a case to be pleaded and the soule will plead in these cases with man and the man will plead with any man that his soule may hold its owne and sin keepe warme where t is parts and parties are therefore now drawn out and strong reasons brought forth produce your strong reasons saith the Prophet Esay 41.21 Productions of this kinde made abortives by truth truth in strength drawn out against that which is false enervating and silencing sinfull disputes and practices is good contention Thus did Nehemiah contend Then contended I with the Rulers and sayd why is the house of God forsaken what evill thing is this that ye doe did not our fathers thus and brought all this evill upon them Nehem. 13. Man must not move as a beast which knowes not the ground he goes upon action must have authority and the production of this authority is sometimes necessary if this or that be not valid by rule 't is to be condemnd by the rule and this is every ones priviledge that hath ability and opportunity by vertue of a generall or a particular call by vertue of a generall call as a Christian to resist sinne and errour which is a publique enemy and traytor to the State which any one may lay hands on and therefore t is that Jude exhorted the Christians to put hand to this worke as well as himselfe when hee wrote to them of a common salvation he wrote unto them also about a common enemy and told them that they ought to contribute strength against such as well as he t was needfull for me to write unto you and to exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith You may thinke as if he had said that it is my worke onely to contend for the faith and against that which opposeth it but it is so mine that it is also yours by a generall calling persons by the advantage of a particular calling draw a greater force into the field against the common enemy but others are bound to contribute what they have to this worke as well as they Wee are as men designed and advantaged peculiarly as Generals to lead in this sad worke to which the Prophet speakes Jeremy 15.10 Woe is me my mother that thou hast borne me a man of strife Jeremiah had a particular call from the wombe to live as a Solamander in the fire all his daies these as gifted and wealthy persons raise more force and bring a greater strength into the the field then others can but the worke beares upon all The Apostle intimates it in that hee speakes as putting into this worke onely as one whereunto I also labour and striving according to his working in me My purpose is to be precise in this point and to pursue onely the divine nature of contention which lies in two things a holy rise and a holy scope Many bad things boyle in an evill nature these now and then boyle over and scald standers by in something that is worthy bitter language may come from a sweet spirit but then the person is in a temptation and his contest against sinne sinfull and successesse in order to what might be simply meant at first setting out opposition externall which springs from any such bad principle internall staines the nature of the act quite through there is a warre from ones lust as the Apostle James saith the spirit within dissents some person without and therefore spits in his face when it speakes to him that every one may know him and have as low an esteeme of him as he hath Affection prejudiced in order to the person I deale with and so opposition the fruit of an ill disposition this is impure contention Fire of this nature is heavenly when it springs from love to the man and hatred to his sinne sinne is such an ugly thing that it becomes no body no not a friend t is a blacke spot but not a beauty spot in any ones face set it where you will cut it how you will when love moulds words to discover so much to the face of him that thinkes otherwise I would not have any one that I love live or die in any thing that Christ hates This is Divine contention precious balme Divine contention hath a divine rise a divine scope which is to convince and to convert truth is lovely in the eye as well as in the practice yet hath many gainsayers in both these must be replied to till they have nothing to say to any purpose objections of waight are a considerable spirituall army and ought to be encountered though fooles must not be answered in their folly There is gainsaying with tongue or conscience dispute must be so steeld with truth till one or both be silenced the Scriptures are sufficient this way they are given by inspiration and profitable for doctrine for reproofe for conviction 2 Tim. 3.16 Weapons drawne out of the word and so skilfully and reverently used till pride be stabd and conscience speechlesse and breathing out its last for the evill course it walkt in this is handling the Word of God and the soule of man not deceitfully but really and is holy strife deckes set a fire not to burne the ship but to blow up them at top that would take the whole vessell Contention is not onely to stop but to turne a sinner t is a travell and pangs cease not till satan be ruind and Christ formd Conviction and conversion are two things a man may feele the evill of his owne way and yet taste no sweet in Christs vomiting is painfull the stomacke takes great dislike and offence at what it opened its mouth greedily to take in one would thinke in this case t were impossible that what is so violently thrown out should ever be savoured and taken in againe yet not in this case therefore in no case with some creatures is there an abhorring for ever Dogs will returne to their vomit and sinners but shadowed in that metaphor spirituall strife is to make certaine the state of a Christian yea to give the ultimate or utmost of this state to make former vomitings old sinnes yea old graces i. graces in such and such a degree to be forgotten to put forward and to present every one perfect in parts perfect in degrees which is the emphasis and connexion of the frontice terme of the Text That wee may present every man perfect in Christ whereunto I labour and strive Holy strife tends to bring persons to perfection it is fighting a good fight the issue of which is the soule able to lay hold of eternall life able to let go hold of sin of any sin and to take hold of any grace of all grace of eternall life Running of this kind
them gave hee power to be called the Sonnes of God The reception of Christ makes the conception of a Christian as soone as the Babe stirres in the wombe as soone as love-thoughts begin to leape in the soule towards Christ and the things of Heaven that very quickning is from the power of Christ The Sonne hath power to quicken whom he will and none else The power of Christ doth make life and makes this life more abundant that is strong enough to shew it selfe in every action as such a life as such a noble-natured thing Not onely our efficiency but our sufficency is of Christ The being of grace and the lively actions of grace such a potent and vigorous being 'T is common to mistake speciall things a Christian man is a likely man to act Christianly therefore an able man 't will not follow for life and strength are two things a creature may have a specificall life proper enough to such a noble businesse and yet not be able to doe it As some workes and actions are proper to a rationall Life to a creature indowed with reason and yet such a creature not able to do such workes because not indowed with reason enough 'tas efficiency but not sufficiency 'tas not the maturity of its being the complement of its kind The Apostle speaking of himselfe as a Christian and in the person of Christians yea and speaking all this as under great advantages yet disclaimes a sufficiency as such a person to act like himselfe as a good man to thinke a good thought or as a good gifted man to preach a good Sermon not that wee are sufficient of our selves to thinke any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God which makes us able Ministers of the new Testament 2 Cor. 3.5 sufficiency hath its birth from God as well as efficiency one degree of grace doth not forme another but every degree form'd by Christ There is the grace of being and the grace of strengthning the sufficiency of a Christian to act as such a noble person beares upon the latter I can doe all things through Christ that strengthens mee hee doth not say through Christ that hath given mee life but through Christ that gives concurrence and sufficiency to this life in order to all that is to be performed by it The word strengthen which the Apostle useth in the place before mentioned is rendered by a very fit word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in-strengthning or corroberation as one would say an Oake and an Oake there must be an Oake and an Oake life and strengthning life and life more abundantly this is the ability of the soule to all things his making and his working and strengthning after made which is cal'd a workeing hitherto My Father and I worke hitherto we strive according to present working not according to first making striving according to his working which worketh in mee There is sufficiency and all-sufficiency a man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 able to all things A Christian is strong in one grace and weake in an other strong at one time and weake at another this is almost every ones case there is a state above all these ebbings and flowings possible a generall sufficiency a generall Christian an al-sufficiency an abounding not in one grace but in all not at one time onely but at all times in health sicknesse in plenty in poverty a full Sea that hath no ebbe at no houre in the day no at no season in the yeare of such an estate as this doth the Apostle speake 2 Cor. 9.8.9 God is able to make all grace abound towards us that wee alwayes having all sufficiency in all things may abound to every good worke Wealth is an ambiguous terme when we say such a one hath a great estate we aske wherein in Money or in Land or in Houses in Wares or in Jewells or the like few persons have a great estate in all these and yet its possible there may be a generall rich man rich in every thing that is riches rich in Money rich in Land rich in Jewells rich in Houses c. So there may be a generall rich man spiritually rich in Faith rich in Hope rich in Love abounding in this gift in that gift in every gift That speaks Christianity if there bee any such al-sufficient man 't is of Christ being inriched in every thing to all bountifulnesse which causeth through us thanksgiving to God 2 Cor. 9.11 if there be any generall rich man inriched to every thing as the Apostle speakes hee tells us to whom it must bee acknowledged to God All good is of Christ habit act nothing is of us in me dwells no good no mans state is hopefull till this principle be well setled in the soule Mortall Diseases makes sometimes but little symptome 't is so frequently concerning the soule Pride is a mortall malady a soule that complements with Christ about his eternall condition wants are so few in number and so small of consequence the symptome of this is a senslesse spirit at the Throne of grace God hath many a lie told to his face God I thanke thee I am not as such and such J am in a very hopefull state over many are for I doe this and that There is a stroaking of selfe in and after some performances sometimes God is told of it but often man 't is an implicite contradiction of the point in hand all is not of Christ something is of the man himselfe hee observes his crawlings in Divine things and they are very glorious in his eye but doth not observe the Toade in his belly that he crawles with to wit selfe Selfe-action hath this property a man is much taken with his own motion some Artists will pride themselves much in a peice they draw themselves and will plead for it much though there be little Art or Workemanship in it in comparison of that which some others draw Swallowes catch vermin as they flee when they flee high 't is after Flies when they flee low 't is after Flies they live upon the vermine of their motion and keepe their wings so long and so strong with the imperfect animall they flee after Christianity of this property is common but I like it not the mans Religion is sometimes of a higher and nobler sometimes of a meaner and lower straine as will best correspond observers but still in its scope one to catch Flies to live upon some imperfect thing that is met with in the motion and when no Flies can be catcht neither by flying high nor flying low no carnall incouragement then keepe the neast the house and do nothing Christians that live upon the vermin of their motion are up and downe high and low very uncertaine in sanctity and consolation and this may characterise every man to himselfe that is not practically cleare in this point that habit and act are both of Christ By-things lookt at cannot bring in nor beare up such
Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readinesse of minde there was not onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Willing but all readinesse to will all strength and life of affection to Christ and the Gospell which is the Nobility of a Christian These are the Noble operations that I would have you long and looke after COLOS. 1.29 Which worketh in me mightily Or in power IN-operation simply and in-operation extraordinary are both to be stood upon a little to open this expression unto you the one will open the first part of this expression which worketh in me the other will open the latter part of the expression which worketh in me mightily or in power In-operation simply considered is a supreme act making an eternall impresse upon the soule for life or death Things have their advantage by position so they may be put that every one cannot reach them nor finde them out the heart hath this advantage t is a hidden man an inward creature What you looke upon or touch when you have to doe with a creature of your owne making is flesh and bones but the manhood of this substance or that which makes this substance a man is hidden within so hid that none can reach but by supreme power of its owne or borrowed Among these Nations shalt thou have no ease but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart and sorrow of mind Deut. 28.56 The Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart a stone may be stirred and toumbled sometimes when it is not broken Consider the heart under this metaphor as the Scripture doth for some refractory properties of it and this stone that lies at the center of the little world cannot be stirred nor the foundation of this little world shaken in the least but by a supreme power The Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart Those internall operations which make a wicked mans heart shake and tremble sometimes they are from the Lord and when the Lord takes off his hand the stone lies still againe lift and pull whoso will as long and as much as hee will the sinner stirres not which is authority enough that internall operation is a supream act If this be not Job gives further authority and makes a higher instance Consider the stone that lies at the center of the earth the foundation stone of the little world I meane the heart as shaken or as broken and God doth it God maketh my heart soft and the Almighty troubleth me Job 23.16 When a Christians heart melts and is dissolved take it in a refreshing sense or take it in an afflicting sense supreame power doth it man cannot doe this himselfe a sinner a Saint cannot move the stone in his bosome one jot t is an Almighty act that reacheth the heart of any man the Almighty stirs me within Internall operation is as I have said a supreame act This act makes eternall impresse Internall operation is from a high hand and of high concernment t is of everlasting force the Spirit is called an eternall Spirit not so much in order to being as in order to operation the things that this Spirit worketh in us and for us are life eternall the workman the workhouse the worke wrought in this house are all eternall the Spirit eternall the soule eternall the workes wrought here the carvings or cuttings are eternall unalterable if Christ make but the least dint upon the heart I may challenge all powers in heaven and in earth to even it Operations externall are not eternall not a worke you looke upon without though never so great or glorious but fades and shall be turnd into its fitst nothing but operations internall are eternall what God doth in the soule is to last as the soule if he drop mercy into us this drop shall last for ever though all the mercies without us may be gone in a moment if he drop justice and wrath into us this drop abideth for ever God is called immutable not so much in order to being as in order to action and not in order to all action neither but in order to internall actions such as are done about the soule I am God immutable and change not Change not in what in esse that is granted of all and needs no affirmation no this is not the thing but in operari and about this many doubt I have droped mercy into the hearts of the sonnes of Jacob and it shall never out I have begun a good worke a good internall worke and it shall last to the day of Christ it shall last unto Heaven that is for ever therefore is the Spirit according to his presence and internall operation called the earnest of Heaven and the scale to the day of redemption it makes impresse upon the soule so deepe that abides for ever the worke the Spirit doth in us outstands the gates of hell the Temple that Christ now builds in us not a stone not the least pin of it moulders to all eternity t is so wrought t is so on the other hand what he doth internally in poynt of justice he doth it to purpose All the world on fire without you may sooner quench it then one sparkle of the fire of Gods wrath which he casts into a man this is an everlasting fire an alway punishment as the Scripture speaks Bow downe their backe alwaies pointing at Doeg and Judas and such like wretches that were internally punisht A man internally smitten by the justice of God his backe is broke for ever take Job but as hee personates a wicked mans case forbeare the application of it to himselfe as he doth being then in a temptation let his person alone but take the thing as his apprehension is opened fully in this poynt to his triall for a time and you shall have him speake notably of the property of internall operation in order to evill men God is in one mind when he is at worke in wicked soules one cannot turne him what his soule desireth that he doth Job 23.13 If after great provocation workings and strivings without by words and blowes hee goe to worke within to fit the vessell for wrath if this be now the will of God there is no turning of him nor no turning of the point nor edge of the tooles hee workes with no terminating the effect short of the Authors intention the Trinity in their action internall to expresse this property of it are called agents hitherto The Father worketh hitherto and I worke observe about what works Christ was when he spake thus he was about internall action to wit the curing of the cripple which had laine so long at the poole which was a cripled soule as well as a cripled body Internall operation is of eternall force this is generall and indetermined therefore it followes in the definition t is of eternall force to such an expresse end to life and death that which Christ doth within about