may so do but yet that is not all nor the most we must confute them quietly by a good life and by all contrary good conversation Which they shall behold Though the wicked will do no good works yet they look we which profess Religion more zealously should and herein we are beholden to them If any be forward in profession the world looks they should be very innocent in life and it ought so to be and seeing not onely God Angels and good men look for good life but even the very wicked let 's look to it they may have that they look for and see what will come of it Good works Here 's occasion offered to speak of good works but I cannot at large consider we onely briefly 1. What good works are namely Things commanded of God done by a Regenerate man in faith to the glory of God in our Neighbors good 1. They must be things commanded Gods Word being our rule and that which makes things good what is forbidden then is vile and what 's of our own heads what shew soever it hath Popish Religion stands most in such 2. Done of a Regenerate man For who can bring a clean thing out of that which is unclean we had need look whether we be Regenerate else we did never good in our lives whether in thought word or deed 3. In faith not onely of a man that hath faith but in a particular faith that that action is lawful and warrantable by the Word of God let 's look to our selves I doubt many run to those Games and to Usury which they have no warrant and Faith for 4. The end whereat we must aym must not be our selves nor our own merit credit profit but Gods glory in our neighbors good and thus done not onely the duties of Gods Worship which indeed are principal and duties done to our neighbors bodies and Souls be good works but even our eating and drinking and following our calling are good works though Papists make no good works but such as maintain their Religion by gifts and such as fill the belly 2. How necessary they are They are of absolute necessity to Salvation the path to Heaven yet not as causes of our Salvation and Justification before God as the Papists hold but effects of our Justification to declare the soundness of our Faith and that we are persons justified Papists cry out of us That we renounce good works profess liberty and set open a flood-gate to sin because we teach that works merit not but we establish works better then they even true good works We dare not yet say they merit for 1. They are not done by our own power 2. They are but our bounden duty 3. They are imperfect 4. We are perfectly justified before we can do any good work for we are justified by the Righteousness of Christ which is absolute and perfect then follow good works to declare we be persons justified by true Faith apprehending the Righteousness of Christ to declare our Election our Faith to be living our selves justified persons and in the way to Heaven And are they so necessary to Salvation le ts examine our lives they that can witness to themselves before God that they unfeignedly hate all evil and love God and his Commandments endeavoring in all things to be obedient thereunto let them be of good comfort it s a sign of Election a mark of true Faith and one in Christ and of one in the high-way to Heaven Therefore rejoyce what pains soever you have taken to come to this state and proceed chearfully This way will bring you to Heaven may comfort you in assurance of Faith Glorifie God That is may change their mindes to think well of you and of the Truth be prepared to their Conversion and when God shall work withal break forth into his praise Hence note That If we continue in innocency of life we shall be the means that God shall be glorified not onely in our selves by well-doing but also that others shall so do and so we shall prepare them to Conversion and make them like the better of the Truth and think they will be hearers too and doers of Gods will whereas on the contrary if we do contrary to our profession we shall dishonor God doubly both in our selves and move others so to do and so set them further off from the Truth which be too far already and make them speak evil thereof O this ought to be the greatest spur to godliness that may be we shal hereby win our neighbors soul as it were and provide well for Gods glory the two greatest things that can be next our own Soul the latter far above it O who would not look to himself when the Soul of our neighbor and the glory of God lyeth upon it and the credit of the Gospel so that the life of Christians is not a little to be regarded but great things depend upon it and what joy may we have of our selves to live to win our Neighbors and bring glory to God O this rebukes the wonderful fault and negligence of many Christians that partly falling into foul things partly yielding unto their own affections are carryed by their lusts living as others as froward as proud as hard and worldly some loose of promise some idle some living in every bodies debt c. do dishonor God and beat others back from Religion O if there were no more but the single dishonor to God it were too much considering what God hath done for us but Oh! when so many lyes are upon us that shall take hurt or good what a fault is this to be careless What a fearful thing is it to live to set men further off from Religion or open their mouths against Religion for they will not think ill or speak ill of you onely but they will fly upon the Gospel and the name of God which is innocent O therefore awaken your selves welfare Abraham that knew well the Canaanites and Perizzites dwelt then in the Land therefore walk the more watchfully O beloved if ever we took good it was by the Gospel and shall we thus require it and do we profess Gods holy name and yet cause others to reproach it O grievous In the day of visitation That is when God shall in mercy look upon them and work the grace of Conversion in their hearts visitting here is taken in good part as Luke 1. 68. Isa. 24. 21 22. as elswhere in an ill part as Exod. 20. 5. when God shall in his goodness turn his eye toward him that is in the snare of the Devil and by his Word and Spirit work Conversion in his heart Whence note 1. That Conversion is the work of God All men and Angels cannot change the heart of a man it s a work surpassing all Christs miracles and as great or greater then
pains to get faith being so rewarded The world wondreth at them that take pains to hear the word yet this is the means of faith which is the instrument of Salvation yet wonder they not at themselves and others that travel weekly as much and more for worldly trash who for faith would scarce stir their foot over the threshold But do not we rest our selves either upon our gifts of Knowledge Utterance Profession shew of Zeal outward Civility and the like for nothing will save us but faith and Salvation is the end hereof If a man had lived in the days of Christ and both heard him conversed with him and seen his miracles yet without faith he might be damned as Judas Were one the kinsman of Christ should he handle him in his arms nay were one his mother what would the same avail without faith Therefore refuse no pain to get faith for though its beginning be bitter yet its end is happy If the Apostle had said End or reward of your works the Papists would have had their mouthes made up and run away with a full cry Lo here whether our Works merit not Heaven and Salvation or no Alas there 's no such matter Can they not distinguish between Merit and a Reward freely given True the Scripture calleth Heaven a Reward and promiseth the same to them that hold out in well-doing but doth it not also call in an Inheritance and who knows not that that is free There are two kindes of debt one of desert and another of promise Herod made conscience to keep his rash Oath to the daughter of Herodias she deserved it not but he promised it And when God promiseth Eternal life to constancy in well-doing is it to puff us up as if we did deserve it no such matter its onely to help our weakness He calls us to deny our selves to wean our selves from the pleasures of this world to suffer Reproach Persecution and the like now these be harsh to our nature therefore to encourage us God makes these Promises and accordingly at the end of our work we shall have the thing promised not because we have earned it but because Christ hath purchased it and God hath promised it to us That we cannot merit heaven may thus appear 1. Because our best works be stained with many imperfections and what 's good in them is Gods gift not our goodness 2. Because there must be some proportion between the thing merited and that wherewith but here there 's none as a man cannot buy a great Manor for a trifle so the things we can do or suffer here are not worthy the glory to be revealed 3. Because that whereby we must merit must be free and that which we are not bound to do but we are bound to do all that we can and having so done we have done but our duty and consequently not merited As if we had a lame servant and assoon as he did a little service he would think he merited of us when if he could do much more by the state of a servant he owes us more David said Seemeth it a small thing to you to be son in Law of a King yet hereby should not he have had the Kingdom howsoever by his Victories he deserved well what then should we in respect of God But as the whole Scripture labors to beat down our Pride Arrogancy and any Conceit that we might have of any thing in our selves so this place saith The Salvation of our Souls is the end and reward of Faith not of Works and yet not the reward of Faith as if it merited any such thing as it is a Grace in us no but onely it apprehends it an instrument that whereby we are justified and saved and that which meriteth our Salvation The Salvation of your souls Not but that the servants of God shall have Salvation of their bodies also as being made by God redeâ—râ—ed by Christ and shall be glorified after the Resurrection and therefore Christ took not onely a soul but an humane body also but he speaketh of the soul as of the principal part which first entreth into Glory and for the bodies of Gods servants wherewith they endeavor to praise and glorifie God they shall be glorified as well as their souls Be we therefore encouraged even in our bodies to take pains in Gods service never a member that honors him but shall be filled with honor at the last day and for ever But what 's that we have and our Faith findes in Christ Jesus not Ease Health Worldly Honor and Preferment but Salvation CHRIST was not made these unto us but Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption We have by him also right unto outward things and possession of as much as shall be meet but so as we may have and must expect to drink of the same cup that our Master did even to meet with Reproaches Afflictions and Trouble Whe must therefore when we follow Christ or embrace him and his ways not expect all Prosperity here and Ease and Contentment outwardly but rather think of the contrary that it may appear that we follow him not for any by-respect but Salvation we shall have and he that thinks not that sufficient though it be joyned with troubles knoweth not its worth The favor of God the Kingdom of Heaven is great riches though not accompanied with outward either pleasure or profit Many profess Religion for advantage and many will profess so long as no hurt comes of it but if any trouble arise then they give over Verse 10. Of which Salvation the Prophets have enquired and searched diligently who prophesied of the Grace that should come unto you HAving spoken of Salvation by Christ laid hold upon by Faith which they had obtained He now commends and sets forth this Salvation and the means thereof to be the onely true way and the Gospel revealing it to be the most blessed and excellent Doctrine that ever was for 1. It s no new device of any or first preached by the Apostles but that which the holy Prophets that have lived in all ages men endued with the Spirit of God have studied and enquired into and found and have in their writings prophesied of the same enquiring also to know the time when our Savior Christ should be exhibited into the world who understanding by the Spirit that he was not to be born in their days but in the last ages of the world yet seeing him afar off were glad and took it thankfully and so believing in him were saved by him 2. That the Gospel and Salvation by Christ was preached by the holy Apostles men set apart by God for that business endued with his Spirit that came on them from Heaven and so it s the same that was known to our Forefathers and Patriarks and Prophets not varied but the same Doctrine and constant way of Salvation 3. That
of man is taken 1. For those outward qualities that be common to good and bad that yet set out a man as Birth Wit Learning Strength Beauty Wealth c. Now God is no respecter of these things though amongst men they are much lookt after by reason of which not a few scape their deserved punishment and yet the same is prohibited of God He forbids it in others therefore will not himself have respect of persons Therefore let no man think he shall escape better by his Wealth Birth Learning Authority c. and because of them embolden himself to do that which a poor ignorant mean man may not Gods laws be not Spiders-webs Nay for these a man shall scape the worse for the greater the wages are which God gives he requires the more work the higher place he sets men in he looks for the better carriage where there 's more knowledge there must be more obedience else there must be more stripes 2. For the outward appearance of a work the shew of Holiness Costliness Painfulness Multitude c. and so it s here God respecteth not the out-side of a work and the shew that it hath to the eye of the world but looketh to the inside and respecteth with what heart it s done and from what affection it comes The Jews did abound in their outward works and service yet their hands being full of blood and abomination his own Ordinances were irksome to him and accordingly he did reject their Humiliation though it was extraordinary So he respected not the sacrifice of Cain though he were the first-born nor made choyce of Eliab for all his outward appearance God is a Spirit and will be served with a spiritual service My son saith he give me thy heart God seeth into the heatrs and reins whom therefore we are to serve with a perfect heart and willing minde To the being of a good work these things are required 1. That the person be justified in Christ and so pleasing to God 2. That it be done in Faith or a particular perswasion of the lawfulness of the thing done 3. It must proceed from a sanctified heart else the fountain being impure makes the sacrifice or work abominable to God 4. It must be done to a good and right end our own discharge and the good of our brethren as inferior ends but the main end the glory of God 1. Here are rejected all the works of natural and unregenerated men all the civil vertues in the Heathen Philosophers their Justice Temperance Liberality Fortitude contempt of the World Patience and the like which great works of theirs were but shining sins So the actions of such as are meerly civil though never so fair conditioned to the world-ward these are in no account with God nay their hearing praying Alms-giving are abominable till their persons please God and be sanctified and all such though haply of great age did never in thoughtword or deed please God trust nor then to these things Oh many will brag with the Pharisee of their just dealing but resting thereon they shall have the Pharisees reward Many a poor man will say I thank God I have lived honestly followed my work earned my living truly no man can say Thus and thus hast thou done amiss but even this not done to a right end and in a right maner is sin O but Christ loved the rich yong man though not yet converted He loved that seed or good that was in his own work but not the person 2. Here are rejected all works of Hereticks though never so costly devour painful as their early rising to Mass their painful travel on Pilgrimage their costly gifts to Religious houses So of other nations that coming into the Temples of their gods throw themselves down on the ground smite themselves on the breasts c. of all these being done without Faith God will say Who required these things at your hands The faster one runs in a wrong way the further he is out and the longer ere he come in 3. Here are rejected the works of hypocrites and carnal Gospellers which make a profession hear receive the Lords Supper joyn in outward performance of duty but look not to themselves their hearts remaining tainted with their lusts Such as yet live in some sins may go to Hell with Water of Baptism on their faces and the Bread of the Lord in their mouthes They care not how works be performed but slubber them over so they be out of their hands they care not how these will be paid according to their work They make sale ware for the Lord slight and of no substance but this the Lord cannot abide he will have it substantial If it come not inwardly from a good heart let the outside be what it will it s but like a painted Tomb or gilded Idol hollow within that cannot speak We are here met to day to hear Gods Word a good work an excellent work if all came with an upright heart God requiring it and that we should know his will and in all things be ruled thereby but few be such but when they have heard all they can yet do as they list at least in part It s true Ahabs hypocritical repentance was rewarded with a temporal benefit but not for love of the work but for example to others how well God would reward things done in truth 4. Let this teach all Gods servants not onely to have a care to do duties so can hypocrites but to do them in a right maner Herein lies the difficulty to bring our vile hearts to do them aright else the doing of the duty is an easie thing and no straight way if that were all but we have a wretched heart full of inwindings and privy corruptions that cannot be seen to others when we do our duties for even sundry of them are unknown to our selves pride hypocrisie dulness earthliness unbelief and the like look therefore when we Hear Pray give Alms follow our Callings or whatsoever that we do it well and substantially using all skill and diligence for we have a God with whom we deal that looks to the inside and hates all slightings and he will pay well cares not what he gives so the work be done well Commonly men that be good husbands will look to have their work well done so doth the Lord and he pays presently in hand Peace of Conscience Joy in the Holy Ghost with divers outward Blessings besides the inheritance reserved for us hereafter Verse 18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your Fathers Verse 19. But with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot HEre 's another main Reason of the foregoing Exhortation drawn from a wonderful benefit
must settle 3. It teacheth us to search the Scripture laboring by all means that the Word of Christ may dwell in us plentifully that so we may be grounded If we hear God speaking in his Word we must sit down by it all mouthes must be stopt if not we must not be carried without it Again He alleageth the Old Testament as Christ and the other Apostles did for the Old was the same in substance with the New and of the same Authority Further In that he nameth not the place nor the Prophet it sheweth their skill and rebuketh our ignorance that have not the book of God clasped against us as in Popery but open if we can take our time for the place it self it s alleaged with some alteration of the words though not of the sence 1. He leaves out a word or two and takes that which fitteth his purpose 2. He turneth these words of the Prophet He that believeth shall not make haste into these He that believeth on him shall not be confounded The Prophet sets down the effect the Apostle the cause for unbelievers being ashamed it makes them run up and down in their misery for some other help seeing themselves disappointed and deceived The occasion of that promise there was to comfort the good in respect of the great threatnings against the bad and contemners namely that they should not be destroyed and cast off among the rest and that the wicked might not scorn them and think all Gods promises made to them fallen to the ground Behold This being a word to stir up attention implieth that What the Lord saith he doth He is true of his word the Almighty and who cannot be hindred He saith not Such a stone shall be laid but Behold I lay it whereby he confirms the good and puts them out of doubt who by reason of the threatnings were grown weak fearful and in doubt Here see our infidelity in Spiritual things especially if we see any things against us such was Zacharias So was not Abraham he looked not to carnal lets but rested on Gods Word had enough that God spake it so should we If we have any promise of Gods mouth we should be of good comfort and believe and not be dismaid at our sins and unworthiness Come unto me saith our Savior all ye that are weary and laden and I will refresh you c. What promise more comfortable and yet many seeing their sins and danger cannot be comforted and perswaded But we must give God the glory to believe him on his word and know that nothing can make him break promise or change his minde either any hinder him from performing what he hath promised I lay It s God that layes the Foundation of his Churches Salvation All the Men and Angels in the world cannot lay one stone in this building unto this Foundation Though God use the Ministery of his servants Men to this purpose yet its God that by his Spirit makes them fit and couples them hereto therefore much less could they lay this corner stone Paul saith he laid this Foundation By Preaching the same to the people not otherwise That Foundation which God had laid before the world and appointed to be Preached that he taught to the people and that was all he did If God gave Christ generally for his Church then for every humble soul that seeth his need of Christ and cometh with an heavy heart to him and desires him above all the world assuredly he will give him to such In Sion That hill in Jerusalem is put for the Church whereof it was a type and because the Gospel was first preached there Christ there revealed and from thence conveyed into all nations far and wide so that now by Gods mercy we have him no less preached unto us then the Jews had and have also our part in him as largely O unspeakable mercy A chief corner stone A chief stone a foundation stone This is the principal point in this first part of the Verse but of this on the fourth Verse where was shewed That he is not a stone as others be in the building but the foundation on which they are all built which sustains and holds them together there being no other foundation but he This the Papists overturn and that both in respect of his Kingly Prophetical and Priestly Office For his Kingly Office which is to rule over the consciences of his subjects by his Spirit and to have power to make Laws to binde their consciences they take it from him for with them the Pope may also make Laws of his to binde the conscience as much as any of Christs and doth and may repeal some of his at his pleasure For his Prophetical Office which is to be the onely Teacher of his Church and to reveal all his Fathers minde in the Books of the Prophets and Apostles this they take away by adding as if the Word were altogether imperfect unwritten Verities and mens Traditions which say they are of absolute necessity to be obeyed to Salvation For his Priestly they abolish both parts of it 1. His Sacrifice All sufficient and once offered on the Cross for all by their blasphemous Mass wherein they offer Christ daily as they say as a Propitiatory Sacrifice for the sins of the quick and the dead 2. His Intercession wherein they joyn many Saints with him What Salvation can there be for such le ts pray for and keep our selves far from them Elect Christ is chosen of God to the work of our Redemption and furnished for it therefore make we choyce of him for our portion wo to them that refuse him He that believeth on him shall not be confounded Hereby is meant a true particular justifying Faith Such as have this shall not be ashamed or seek at any time as confounded or deceived of sufficient help and Salvation therefore he shall never be put to make haste to seek any other The true Believer shall never be confounded but finde enough in Christ to satisfie him to the full to deliver him from all evil and make him partaker of all Happiness Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption and enough to make his minde peaceable and quiet and to stablish him against all that his own conscience or any yea the Devil himself can lay to his charge but he findes enough to answer all at large As Thou art a sinner and hast deserved Damnation and God is just R. I grant all but I have a surety able enough who hath born all Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It s God that justifieth c. His heart is fixed he believeth in the Lord In his life he hath that wherein he may quiet himself and never be to seek but may draw new life and grace from Christ to enable him to
of this we shall have occasion to speak in the end of the Verse We allow a man to kill a Worm or Flie at his pleasure Why may not the Lord do so by man who is much less to him then a Worm to a man God ordained to pass by some men but condemns none but for his willing sin 6. Again that we are the children of wrath wholly sold under sin slaves of Satan having no good thing but altogether filled with all evil have no right to a bit of bread that the childe in the cradle is the enemy of God and hath deserved Hell this mans proud nature cannot brook but it s too true the whose Scripture tells it and we shall finde it And we are worthy to be in this case that were so happy in our Creation and could not hold it and now we may willingly acknowledge we be thus vile which will be the better for us seeing all that is wanting in us is to be had in Christ We must swallow this pill that we may have such a piece of Sugar follow it 7. Again that we must renounce all our sins and be crucified to the World and take so strait a course this carnal people count bondage which is indeed true liberty and that which they are in as sweet as it is is most slavish bondage to Satan They think they may not so much as laugh and that this course tyes them so short that they may do nothing but it tyes us from nothing but evil and gives us liberty enough in that use of Gods benefits so it be without sin 8. Again that they that will be Religious and Christs Disciples must suffer persecution this they cannot away with even because they are wholly carnal and savor of the flesh and are so given to their ease profit pleasures and honors of the world If they knew what the end of suffering for well doing were they would not be so addicted to the world for our Savior himself affirmeth that such shall have a great reward in Heaven hereat Moses aymed when he entred into this course This must we undergo by troubles we must go to Heaven for they humble us make us pray more exercise our Faith and Patience weary us hence and make us shine brighter drive us to God and that end will be happy 9. Some again take occasion from the Scriptures to be licentious as from the falls of Gods servants and that promise in Ezekiel When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness c. and the example of the Thief upon the Cross thereupon delaying their repentance and living in sin boldly through ignorance partly and prophaneness especially they abuse the Scriptures not a letter therein countenancing sin and wresting them to their own condemnation These Examples and Reasons among others are onely set down to comfort and uphold them that being oppressed with their sins are ready to sink under the burthen thereof If thou beest not in this case wo unto thee if thou thus medlest with the Scriptures Here I will adde also some of the scandals of the Papists against the Word for though they will lay it upon our interpreting and preaching the same yet seeing we know we preach it according to the true meaning thereof therefore they indeed blame the Scripture it self They cry out of our Doctrine that its a Doctrine of Liberty and that under the colour of Christian Liberty we establish carnal Liberty and let every man do what he list This is as if the most infamous Strumpet should charge a modest grave Matron with unchastity for to be sure theirs is a Doctrine of all ease and liberty to the flesh yea those very things wherein they seem most harsh feed the flesh and give liberty to sin It enjoyns outward duties which an Hypocrite may perform as well as the best It appoints bodily punishments and penances as satisfaction for sin and that by such and such works which an Hypocrite may do they merit Heaven and for their Service what can be said of it but that it pleaseth well the eye and the ear yet we cannot be rid of their fooleries But why and wherein is our Doctrine to be charged 1. Because we teach free Justification by Faith onely without works of our own But is this a foolish slander we establish works as well as they teach the necessity of them as inseperable companions and necessary fruits of Faith and that there is no Salvation without them onely their blasphemous assertion That we are justified by them we dare not affirm do not believe 2. That we take away Auricular Confession that notable mean to kill sin and to keep the people in awe and Fasting days and give liberty to all sorts to marry To answer them severally For Auricular Confession We know no such thing out of Scripture it s but a carnal device and it s so far from killing sin that it gives life to it for having once discharged themselves of all their sins into the Priests care and he enjoyned them what pennance he lists thereupon having received Absolution for them they are ready to sin afresh and so do As a drunken man goes out and vomits not that he may be sober but that he may go to drinking again even so do they in their confessing For fasting days and difference of meat for Conscience sake We know no such thing in the New Testament The Apostle calls them a Doctrine of Devils They fast indeed from the Butchers Shambles not the Apothecaries Shop For Marriage It s the Ordinance of God that he hath appointed for all that they may keep themselves undefiled members of Christs body and since God hath appointed to give the gift of continency but to few therefore he hath appointed the remedy to be enjoyed of all And for the Papists which do herein fight against God and against Nature yet they do most filthily defile all their places with most abominable Whoredoms Therefore they are wicked slanderers Our Religion is too strict for such Libertines as they be All theirs is meerly in shew and bodily exercises which the veriest Hypocrite may do not in mortifying the lusts of the heart They meddle not so far True it is we have too many licentious persons of our Religion but so doth not our Religion teach them which theirs doth And that Original sin is done away in Baptism that some sins be Venial that man hath some good in himself and that he can take away by penance the temporal punishment of sins and can merit c. It s impossible therefore for their Religion to humble a man aright and make him fit to receive Christ. At preaching the Word There be that either cast it off or at least hear negligently and for fashion without any serious care to be guided thereby 1. Some say they did well enough before there was such preaching and if there be such
light and be a peculiar people to him zealous of good works walking worthy of the Lord which is by pleasing him in all things we must be ravished with zeal towards him as he hath been for our good The zeal of the Lord of Hostes hath done it Oh how this rebuketh the scant duty that God hath from us again We receive abundant mercy but return poor sparing obedience what slender zeal in Prayer or works of mercy How quickly are we weary of well-doing What small things will we stick at to God that stuck at nothing to us If he should call us to part with our Goods Country Liberty it were no more then Christ did for us yea if to dye did not he even dye for us It teacheth us also to shew mercy one to another in giving forgiving and the like herein the Lord himself going before us as a patern of imitation It sheweth also the miserableness of our estate that without abundant mercy we can never be saved therefore must we seek for it earnestly and betimes as becometh those that need such an infinite thing which condemns the notable carelesness and desperate boldness and presumption of the World that put off seeking for mercy till the latter end as if they had it at command But do they think abundant mercy is so easily gotten Many have not found it so nay they shall with Esau howl for the blessing and go without it because they despised it when it was so often offered The foolish Virgins sought to enter in when it was too late By the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead The means whereby we are begotten to this hope namely the Spirits assuring that Christ Jesus is risen for us and giving us power through his resurrection to rise to newness of life The benefits that come to us by Christs resurrection are many 1. We are hereby assured that he hath fully paid our debt and discharged all for if one sin had remained unsatisfied for the justice of God could not have suffered him to have risen again 2. Hereby we receive power to rise to newness of life 3. Hereby we are assured of the resurrection of our bodies at the last day The same power that did the one shall be able to do the other The head being risen will draw all the members after it We should therefore often meditate on our Saviour Christs resurrection and the benefits thereof especially on the Lords-day the day whereon he rose again by which very day we are put in minde thereof and among other things we must labor by Faith to draw vertue from his resurrection whereby we may be more and more enabled to walk in newness of life for as our Regeneration hath two parts a dying unto sin and rising to newness of life so have these two springs Christs death and his resurrection Verse 4. To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that faâ—eth not away reserved in Heaven for you HEre he explains what we are called to namely the lively hope of the Kingdom of Heaven which as it is here termed an Inheritance so is it in the next verse Salvation This is called an inheritance to shew us the nature of it being also described by sundry properties under divers-phrases as if no words could sufficiently express the same Those shew the perpetuity and purity thereof as also how we shall come by it it s reserved for us but where in Heaven where it s out of danger but how shall we come to it being here on earth among many dangers We are kept for it and that by a mighty hand even the power of God by the mean of Faith kept I say unto this Salvation prepared long ago and which shall be shewed us in the fulness of it even at Christs second coming An inheritance Therefore no purchase no wages of a servant but an inheritance given by a Father to his son not such as many heirs have entailed or as any natural son which hath it by a kinde of right after his father but an inheritance of Adopted children taken in as the childe of a Traytor nay a Traytor himself and so made heirs then which what can be freer This is said to be given and what 's freer then gift This serves to confute not onely the gross Opinion of Papists that we God setting us forward and helping us can do such things as whereby we can merit Heaven and Salvation but that which is more nice is of those which say that we have no good of our selves but that it s wrought in us by God alone yet now look for Salvation by their Holiness and Sanctification No God forbid for our Sanctification being imperfect God might justly condemn us for it and count our works a polluting of his grace therefore David saith No flesh before nor after grace can be justified in thy sight not onely by nothing of our own but by nothing that God worketh in us What differ these men from the proud Pharisee he attributed his holiness not to himself but to God and thankt him for it but he thought this would merit that he was not so and so as others and challenge something at the hand of God and therefore was rejected True it is God not onely disproveth not but liketh and accepteth of our works though unperfect yea crowns and rewards his own grace in us yet not for the worthiness of the work but for the persons sake that is in his favor by Jesus Christ whose perfect righteousness is imputed to make a supply of our imperfections and wants Seeing therefore it is an inheritance every way free bestowed upon us onely by right of Adoption in Jesus Christ which by his grace he hath called us unto let us so acknowledge it to the glory of God and like Adopted children love our Father fear him be zealous for his glory and take his part Incorruptible c. Now he describes it rather setting down what it is not then what it is which no tongue can express it is without end perpetual called therefore everlasting life Life for the excellency Everlasting for the continuance God endures for ever and ever so the happiness of his servants no death there to deprive us of it or take us from it no sin there to provoke God to take it from us it abides firm for ever it cannot be moved All earthly inheritances are subject to decay liable to a thousand perils alterations and troubles they may be taken from us and we from them by death How were the Canaanites put out and the Israelites succeeded in their places How did the Chaldeans displace them as themselves were by the Medes and Persians These things below are the meat that perisheth uncertain riches a treasure which moth and canker corrupt and whereto theeves may break in and steal whereof
travellers that have loytered in their way when they see Night approach ride hard so let us be as earnest and go as far to draw men to God as we were wont to call them to vanity let old men that came in so late call upon yong men and give them counsel by their own miserable experience and if any call us let us go as readily and gladly as ever we did to any pastime and the worse we have been before be now as the Apostle Paul so much the more zealous What shall we say to those that came not in till the tenth or eleventh hour had they not need to work night and day as also set forward the work in others all that ever they can calling on others and on their Families to this end and spending all thier affections about this They cannot but vex to think how they have spent their youth and middle age thereupon wishing with all thier soul that they had spent the same in Gods service 5. But for those that have long continued in this Christian course they must not now leave off but continue therein to the end There 's no time wherein we must cast off our care or lay away our Armor or be off our watch What! must ancient Christians walk in awe and fear of offending still Alas yea Have they not still an evil and false heart Will the Devil ever be at peace Nay he laboreth with old Christians most that he may foil them in the end to make them call their estate and all they have done into question and to shame their profession and open their enemies mouthes The righteous are but scarcely saved all our diligence watchfulness care is little enough to carry us through this evil world wherein so many enemies lye in wait for our souls Besides we see such famous Examples as Moses and Aaron those famous servants of God who yet in their old age at the waters of Meribah doubted and did not glorifie God but said Hear ye rebels c. So Noah that had seen the old world drowned himself miraculously preserved and been a Preacher of Righteousnes so long in his old age was caught with Wine and uncovered in his Tent So Solomon to whom God appeared twice and was the mirror of Wisdom yet how fell he in his latter time so Asa and Joash The Devil will say of an ancient Christian This man hath done me much hurt hath been constant many years and many have followed him now if I can foil him in his old age it will be worth the while so shall I make him call all the time past into question shake weak ones make my company cry out Look on this old professor they are all Hypocrites Be we therefore in the fear of the Lord all the day long for happy is the man that feareth alway O let ancient Christians look to themselves now a while and anon they shall be at their journeys end so look to thy self that as thou hast begun and proceeded well so you mayest shut up all well as Abraham Isaac and Jacob who dyed in the faith and had good report in the Church of God Of your sojourning We are here but for a little while not Dwellers but sojourners and must away to our Countrey and Home in Heaven Therefore we must pass this little time so as we may honor God and so provide for our end as that dying we may live for ever our life is so frail as that it cannot as I may so speak be set out by things frail enough It s compared to a Tent set up in the Morning pulled down at Night some booths stand two or three days some a weak but easily overthrown quickly removed so to a Vapour a Bubble a Ship under Sail having Wind and Tide with it an Eagle in the Aira Post a Weavers Shuttle a Tale that is told a Thought yea to nothing whether we be eating drinking sleeping waking playing c. it continually runs on and never stands at a stay The swiftest things have staid even the Sun it self at Joshua's prayer but not Joshua's life nor any mans Many dye the same day they are born some the same year some in their youth and even they that live longest yet dye We are as a Traveller that lodgeth in an Inn for a Night as a Player comes on the Stage to play his part longer or shorter and comes away when it s done or as one that goes to the Market to buy one thing and to sell another and then home again Therefore we have great reason to spend the time of our sojourning here in fear we should spend that little time in well-doing to glorifie God do good in our places and work out our own Savation not havocking away our precious time or spending it about needless things as God hath given us this time so to do the work that he hath sent us hither for This the Apostle requireth of the Galarians As we have therefore opportunity let us do good unto all men where 's implyed that having but a little while to tarry we are to bestir our selves Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with thy might saith the Preacher even whatsoever our duty doth any way require of us I must work the works of him that hath sent me saith our Savior while it is a day so must we This is the effect of that prayer Teach us so to number our days as being few flitting and hasting away that we may apply our hearts to wisdom even do a wise mans part to know the work we came hither for see we do it and not spend our few days in other business and lewdness that we must after be ashamed of such work as we shall never have thanks for Seeing we are but on this Stage to play a part and down again it were meet we should play an honest Mans part the Christians part the good Magistrates the good Ministers part the good Husbands the good Parents part not a Thieves part nor a Cousener nor the part of an idle Person 1. This condemns them that make the clean contrary use let us eat and drink for to morrow we shall dye as if they had said the Prophets say we shall be cut off and dye let 's be merry while we may Such Epicures that think there is neither pleasure nor pain when they be gone hence shall finde though no pleasure because they have had it already yet that pain and that eternal will lay hold on them Sowre sawce to their sweet meat 2. This condemns the common sort which will not consider of the shortness of their life though both the Scriptures and Experience preach it continually and therefore thinking the time long care not how they squander it away and thereupon follow their pleasure as drinking riotous living c. even selling themselves hereto and
great ones for gifts revolt and come to nothing They fell being ordained thereunto thou shalt stand though weak by vertue of Election This also comforts when we consider our own frailty Satans subtilty malice and diligence and his great conquests in the World though there be matter from hence to make us humble and fear and stand on our watch yet no cause of despair that we shall fall finally True if we were in Adams case and our Salvation were in our own hand to lose we might so fall but we are kept of God the Father he Elected us and committed us and gave us to the Son to be Redeemed and the Son having so done commits us back again to the Father to be kept by his power Therefore we are in a strong hand and none can pluck us out of it This heartens in the service of God to go on chearfully in duty 5. That a man may come to know and to be assured of his Election Hereof see Downhams Spiritual warfare page 186. where the point is handled This bewrays the wicked cruelty of the Papists who for their own gain keep back this comfort from the people making them believe it were presumption to be assured but they must be of good hope say they and for the effecting of it they must go on Pilgrimage to such and such Saints do such Works make Vows to build such a Monastrey repair such a Church and give thus much to the Priest for Trentals Masses and Dirges that if they come into Purgatory hereby they may be speedily holpen out O what thanks owe we to God that we are delivered from such Tormentors And if any of our Consciences be wounded we we are led to the Free-grace and all-sufficient Merits of Christ and so are bound up and soundly comforted finding that whereon firmly to rest whereas they leave any in as bad or worse case then they found them who having done as they were by them enjoyned are at as great uncertainty as they were before So that we under the Gospel save the extream toil of our Bodies the robbing of our Purses and that which is worst of all the discomfort of our Souls which they under Popery and Popish Teachers undergo and are faithfully dealt with by the mercy of God and Merits of Christ God hath not appointed his Servants to wrestle with Flesh World and Devil and all opposites and left them onely a blank and uncertain hope but an assurance of their Election past and Salvation to come which carries them through all and is the foundation of a good life The Notes of Election are 1. Faith 2. Sanctification 3. Obedience to the Word 4. Love to the Saints as may appear in these Scriptures following Acts 13. 48. Romans 8. 1. Psalm 15. 2. 2 Peter 1. 5. John 10. 27. with John 3. 14. Epistle the first These though some imagine they have but have not as one may dream of great Wealth yet waking is Poor yet as a Rich man may know he is Rich they that have them may and do certainly know they have them Every of which is required to Salvation 1. Seeing the Lord hath left this to be obtained by the Sons of men here on Earth how should this provoke every man with more carefulness then can be expressed to finde out this Pearl If we upon tryal of our selves can prove by these and the like infallible arguments that we have found it then may we rejoyce above all rejoycing yea more then if we were Crowned Kings to day for the priviledges of the Elect are most sweet and admirable 2. O be thankful to God highly stand and wonder at the greatness and freeness of this favor all thy days that he passing by so many thousands as good as thy self should yet choose thee 3. Yea Covenant to give thy Body Soul Life and all to glorifie him in a most zealous and faithful maner As a man choosing carefully an Arrow out of his Quiver looks it should go right and flie far over another O let us do so in the service of God and all good works O what shame is it that such persons as have this assurance should be dull and slow If upon tryal we cannot finde these notes of Election What then Why what hast thou upon tryal O saith some poor soul if there be no notes of Election but these I am in a woful case and yet I have been laboring hard about this matter to make my state good if it might be possible Well you say well that is a good sign Are you utterly lost in your selves Blessed are the poor in spirit Dost thou mourn under the heavy burthen of thy sins Blessed are they that mourn Hearing of Christ dost thou highly prize him earnestly long after him Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness And dost thou desire to take up Christs yoke though yet thou findest little power Why these be good signs and marks of Election as well as the other every thing must have a beginning Never leave till thou come to such a pass that thou canst prove thine effectual calling and shew it by good fruits But if thou hast none of these at all no sight of misery no burthen of sin no purpose to come out thereof but hopest to do well though thou livest after thine old lusts O hang down thy head go mourning all the day as one that hath lost his only Son Thou hast no mark of Election but of the contrary we pity them that have Tokens of the Plague upon them but these are infinitely in a worse case these have Gods Tokens upon them even of Gods Enemies and Reprobates whether these have cause to be jolly or no judge you Q. Whether can we be certain of anothers Election or not A. Certainly we cannot by the same certainty that we may be of our own but probably we may and very strongly of some as we may be sure in every true visible Church there be some Elect also we may know particular persons as John the Elect Lady and Paul Clement with others But for certainty we cannot as we know our own by the witness of Gods Spirit to ours and by the assurance of Faith therefore they are proudly conceited that think they have so much discerning as if they be in a mans company a few hours they can judge whether he be the childe of God or not fie upon this arrogancy The Disciples could not do so by living with Judas a good while together but askt Is it I There have been some have gone so far and carried it so smoothly as for sundry years they have deceived many not onely of the people but of wise and faithful Ministersts God knoweth the heart certainly we may guess and the more godly wise any is the better he can discern but very probably and by the judgement of charity we may judge more
unquiet man with thy wife for a proud person rash censorious idle and one that followest not thy calling especially being a Professor and hereof causest the people of God to speak with grief thou hast cause to grieve and shame for giving them such cause who would gladly they had not the cause to speak thus of thee Yea but the wicked speak ill of me wilt thou say But why If it be justly and deservedly whosoever they be that 's no matter more shame that thou hast discovered thy nakedness to the Chams of this world to scoff at and at the Gospel withal fie upon it It s too usual in these days Christians give too much cause of offence howsoever the wicked speak not thus out of any hatred of the fault but of ill will to the Gospel O therefore take heed let us not suffer as evil doers look we so warily and narrowly to our conversation that if they should watch us as narrowly as the Nobles did Daniel yet they might finde nothing against us but in the cause of our God yea might be enforced with Saul of David to acknowledge our innocency If they will needs speak ill of us let it be falsly and for well-doing If any should be smitten by Sea or Land travelling on the Sabbath or any lose their lives at a Play no cause to rejoyce no comfort in it Note further That If there be no patience in suffering but when it s deserved its counterfeit patience and hath no reward of God it s in comparison nothing it s that which reason teacheth but to bear patiently for well-doing is a lesson for an high scholler Howsoever being simply considered its good and commendable as for any being justly afflicted or punished by God or man meekly to submit themselves to confess their faults and be desirous to amend thereby Aaron held his peace Eli and Hezekiah were submissive in theirs the Thief at the right hand acknowledged that he suffered deservedly Thus when Delinquents are punished by the Magistrate people be rebuked of their Ministers for their sin servants and children are of their Masters and Parents corrected for their faults they must take it patiently and learn to amend But if it be no great matter having done a fault and then being punished justly to bear it patiently are not those to be condemned which be impatient under deserved corrections Some being afflicted of God fret rage and boyl curse blaspheme run to Witches or use other unlawful means to get out What a beast art thou hast thou not deserved the same and yet wilt not thou be patient Is not this in effect to say What hath the Lord to do to punish me I have not deserved the same if I can get out of his fingers any way I will not abide to be thus used thus take they the rod by the end and pull it out of Gods hand What do those but desire there were no God to see them or that hated sin or that would punish sin Belike they would have God like but he will be like himself who at the beginning joyned punishment and sin together and so will do to the worlds end you will not get any thing by resisting by humble confession hearty Prayer and promise of amending you may Again there are others who being punished of the Magistrates for their faults do as well curse and rage against those their Rulers as those that informed against them Thus when honest men tending the glory of God and good of the places where they live knowing that Alehouses for the most part are Pest-houses Devils houses Breeders of all mischief Receptacles of the scum of the earth and means to encrease the number of sinners complain of such ryotous persons as would there keep Revel-rout and endeavor to suppress the same O how do drunkards and such others the friends of sin rage and fume would not such wish that there were no Law nor Magistrate to punish but that all might do as the list but this would bring all to confusion Are there not some also who being reproved by their Ministers fret and rail at them fall out with them and with Ahab account them for their Enemies nay sometimes will sue them at Law to their utter undoing And are there not also such servants and children which being corrected by their Governors will murmure or resist or run away a sign of a proud minde of a lewd heart and far from grace Such resist God and shall receive to themselves condemnation they provoke the Lord to take the rod nay scourge in his own hand or give them over into the hands of the Magistrates whence it cometh often to pass that not a few despising the rod and correction which giveth life and wisdom have been whipt burnt in the hand imprisoned yea hang'd up and that justly Thus daily too many seek their own ruine But if when ye do well c. Here 's the praise of patient suffering for well-doing There 's a suffering wrongfully and without cause which yet differeth from that which is here laid down namely suffering for well-doing Suffering wrongfully is when men are accused of that they are not guilty of or are punished without a fault whether it be onely in words or proceed to deeds David was unjustly censured of his brother when he came to the camp Hanna unjustly censured of Eli and John the Baptist of the Scribes and Pharisees so Mephibosheth Naboth and Stephen were wrongfully both slandered and punished Thus in these days days monstrous lyes and slanders are raised especially against Christians and godly Ministers It s an unrighteous world calling the best of Gods servants Proud Hypocrites and laying vile things to their charge which they never deserved as that they are enemies to the State would put down Kings c. Hence sometimes men are punished by Magistrates without cause as also Children and Servants of their rash and inconsiderate Parents and Masters In this kinde Papists are exceeding expert what lyes have they spread of Luther Calvin Beza Junius and such others And had their horrible villany in the Gunpowder Treason taken effect the blame would have been by them laid on the Puritans But as God hath at no time done wrong but judgeth the world with righteousness giving every man according to his works so will he be revenged of them that wrong others For them that sharply censure others let them know that what measure they mete to others it shall be measured to them again For Magistrates that punish any wrongfully if it be wittingly they prophane the sacred seat of Justice and what in them lies make God a wrong doer for nothing should be there done but as God would and lest they should fail of ignorance or through negligence with Job they must search out the matter diligently For slanderers that devise lyes of men they are fools they are