but like the crackling of thorns under a pot soon extinct ending in smoak and ashes as Solomon describeth it Eccl. 7.6 I might proceed but that of the Apostle calleth me off with which I shall conclude my arguments for confirmation and come to application of this truth Eye hath not seen nor eare heard neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him 1 Cor. 2.9 which yet is * Cornel. à Lapide upon this place commenteth thus Nota Isaiam cap. 64.4 quem hic citat Paulus agere de incarnatione Christi vitâ praesenti Unde hunc versiculum de miraculis Christi deque sapientiâ virtutibus omnique gratiâ quam Christus nobis hic vivens communicavit accipiunt Chrysost Ambrosius Theophil Oecumenius quibus adjiciantur non nulli recentiores spoken of the present life what then will their glory be in the life to come Sect. 4 Use 1. This serveth for the information of all that are willing to be reformed and for the conviction of the refractary Would you then know whether you be true Israelites or no and if you be not so yet how you may become such I shall lay downe the chiefe marks wherewith the pencil of Gods Spirit hath delineated them Characters of a right Israelite 1. 1. They are acquainted with the mind of God revealed in his word Psal 147.19 20. The Lord sheweth his word unto Iacob His statutes and his judgments unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any nation and for his judgments they have not known them Augustin and Bernard derive the name Israel from seeing God * Aug. sup Psa 121. Bern. hom in luc 24. Israel videns Deum inter pretatur quamvis hane etymologiam Mercerus improbat And certain it is none but they have the saving knowledge of Iesus Christ which is life eternal we have the mind of Christ saith St. Paul 1 Co◠2.16 Others may have a superficial or speculative knowledge of him and the Gospel but these onely are taught by him as the truth is in Iesus Wherefore all such as know not God neither desire to be acquainted with his wayes exclude themselves out of this blessed catalogue Iob. 21.14 that refuse to come and heare his word duely taught that they may know in this their day the things which belong to their peace Luk. 19.42 Let them well peruse the Apostles direfull commination recorded in 2 Thess 2.7.8 The Lord Iesus shal be revealed from Heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of the Lord Iesus Christ O! here observe in time I pray the party coming is the Lord Iesus who if he set himself against you who can or dare appear for you 2. His attendants are the angels of his power 3. the manner how he will come in flaming fire 4. the end for which he cometh so attended and in so dreadfull sort to take vengeance 5. the subject parties on whom he wil take vengeance and they are of two sorts first such as know him not If there were no other sin but this wilfull ignorance where meanes of knowledge may be had and are neglected his eye shal not pity for he hath sworne in his wrath and therefore will not repent that the people who erre in their hearts and have not known his wayes shall never enter into his rest Psal 95.10 11. Psal 95.10.11 The second sort against whom this great Judg will come so armed are all that obey not the Gospel of God it is not sufficient for them to know it unlesse they obey it for * Basil Quomodo supplicia sempiterna dieuntur hic pauca Resp Non numerum poenarum sed differentiam indicat Dominus Potest enim aliquis esse dignus inextinguibili flammâ vel remissiori vel intensiori indeficiente verme vel mitiùs torquente vel fortius he that knoweth his masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes Luk. 12.57 but he that knoweth not and doth commit things worthy of stripes shall be beaten with few stripes v. 48. Secondly Every true Israelite is a true believer for we read of the faith of Abraham Heb. 11.17 of Isaac v. 20. and of Iacob v. 21. and every one whether he be Jew or gentile in circumsion or uncircumcision who is justified by faith and walketh in the steps of the faith of Abraham hath Abraham for his father Rom. 4.11 12. whereas the Jewes of whom Saint Paul speaketh Rom. 11.20 were broken off though lineally descended of Abraham because of unbelief Here let all unbelievers and misbelievers who content themselves with a dead faith Jam. 2. 20.22 Without attaning to the saving faith of Gods elect which worketh by love that their works may justifie their faith as true faith justifieth the persons in whom it is know that our Saviour hath spoken it and none can reverse it I dare not conceale it and though they will not yet believe it they shall find it so They shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on them Joh. 3.36 A 3. character of this Israelite indeed is true repentance Acts. 5.31 Character God exalted Iesus Christ by his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins whence it manifestly appeareth first that Repentance is an Evangelical grace because it is the gift of Iesus Christ 2. that none are able to repent of themselves for it is a supernatural work of Christ in the elect 3ly that it was one end of Christ's exaltation in glory to confer repentance 4ly that the subject parties in whom conversion is wrought are Gods Israelites 5ly that remission of sins doth accompany true repentance and that none ever had or shal have pardon of sin who repent not of it And this calleth upon five sorts to look to themselves 1. Such as have not yet repented 2 Such as will not repent 3. Such as repent but feignedly Jerem. 3 10. 4 They that do not renew their repentance after the reiteration and fresh commissions of sin 5ly but most of all They that decry and oppose the doctrine of Repentance as legal work or unnecessary for a Christian what high conceits soever any of these may have of their spiritual estate they shall never be found to be Israelites of Gods denomination Character 4. A true Israelite is one that hath a cleane heart as the Psalmist teacheth us Psal 73.1 Truely God is good to Israel to them that are of a cleane heart Obj. But who can say I have made my heart cleane I am pure from my sin Pro. 20.9 Ans It is confessed no man in this life can say so nay of all others the best complain most of hardness and pollution of heart Isa 63.17 why hast thou hardened our hearts from thy feare saith the Church we are all
Israel venit à 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 princeps now I shall present you with the sight of him as he is characterized in the holy Scriptures In my text we have 1. his name an Israelite because Jacob-like who was first called Israel he hath prevailed with God and obtained his blessing Genes 32.28 who else-where is called a righteous man a beleever or a Christian 2. We have his qualification annexed in the adverb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in deed or in truth hinting to us a distinction There is a threefold Isralite 1. nomine tenus in name only such a one was Saul before his conversion proceeding from the stock of Israel Phil. 3.5 secondly indeed and so is every true convert Isa 4.8.1 Rom. 2.17 though not descended lineally from Iacob Rom. 9.6.8 They are not all Israel which are of Israel but the children of the promise are accounted for the seed 3. There are Isralites both by nature and grace so was Paul after his conversion and were they all such who call themselves Jews at this day we should be glad to receive them into our hearts and houses and give them all respect but to be Jewes in name only and Judasses indeed that is enemies to the Gospel tendeth to their greatest ignominy for nomen inane crimen immane Doct. 2 From this distinction this maxime clearely ariseth That it is a great priviledge honour and happines to be an Isralite indeed Davids epiphonema attesteth the same Psal 24.5 6. This is the generation of them that seek him that seek thy face O Iacob or O God of Iacob Vatab in Psal Aut Subaudiendum in ac sidicat Talis est generatio eorum qui in Iacob quaerunt faciem Dei aut verbum substantivum hoc modo Iacob sunt veri Israelitae qui quaerunt faciem Dei or as Vatablus expounds it in Iacob As if he should say this is the generation of them who in Iacob seek the face of God or saith he the verb substantive is to be understood thus They are Iacob and true Isralites who seek the face of God And all such and onely they shall receive the blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of their salvation vers 5. The same doth the prophet Isaiah confirme Chap. 43.1.4 Thus saith the Lord that created thee O Iacob and formed thee O Israel Feare not since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable and I have loved thee therefore will I give men for thee and people for they life The former of these divine witnesses describeth their happiness the other their honour above all other persons and people and so both branches of the point are proved Sect. 2 Many Scripture-arguments may be urged for the fuller confirmation hereof which may serve for so many motives to you to work in you a speedy and sincere desire and constant endeavour to become true Isralites Argumen 1 1. God is their God Isa 43.3 I am the Lord thy God the holy one of Israel thy Saviour Mark well I pray you here the eternal God styleth himselfe the Lord God of Israel God is theirs by Covenant and blessed be the Lord God of Israel Luk. 1.67 sayd Zacharias in his prophecie whereof this was the first word yea the first that he uttered after he had beene long dumb and might well be our last word if we were never to speake more So else where he styleth his people the Israel of God Gal. 6.16 See here which of these is the better title Gods or ours Great men use to derive their titles from some eminent places or such as they love best So the great God deriveth his title sometimes from Heaven the God of Heaven Genes 24.3 but here from his chosen upon the earth And is not this a Marvellous honour to us poore dust and ashes As God is the God of Israel so are we that believe the Israel of God Behold here againe and you shall find our happiness running in an equipage with our honour in the other words I am the Lord thy God Israel hath God for his portion The Lord is my portion saith the church Lam. 3.24 God hath Israel for his portion for the Lords portion is his people Iacob is the lot of his inheritance Deut. 32.9 Judg here who hath the better portion God or wee The Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof saith David Psal 24.1 But the Lord is my God and my portion for ever can the true believer say Psal 73 26. But what saith God to this will he allow of it yea he saith so too I am his God Habet omnia qui habet habentem omnia and I will be his God and I will never be ashamed to be called His God Heb. 11.16 And in having God who hath all things the true Christian hath all things Yea moreover if this be not enough for him God hath not onely tyed himself by an everlasting covenant of grace to be His God but to be the God of his seed also Gen. 17.7 which consideration so transported David with admiration that it drove him to break out into these pathetical expressions 2 Sam. 7.18 19. who am I O Lord God and what is my house that thou hast brought him hitherto And this was yet a small thing in thy sight O Lord God but thou hast spoken of thy servants house for a great while to come And is this the manner of man O Lord God And what can David say more unto thee And for our fuller assurance and comfort he hath ratified this his holy covenant unto us Luk. 1.73 74 75. 1. by his oath which he sware to our father Abraham that he would give unto us that we being delivered out of the hands of all our enemies might serve him without feare in holinesse and righteousness before him all the dayes of our lives Every word of which Grant ought to be weighed more exactly then gold If wee meet with enemies to endanger us as indeed we have many and sore enemies visible and invisible he will deliver us out of all their hands If we complaine we cannot serve so holy a God as we would or ought to do as Ioshuah said to the people Ioshua 24.19 2 Cor. 3.5 Ye cannot serve the Lord for he is an holy and jealous God here we see God hath undertaken to enable us to do that which we who are not sufficient of our selves as of our selves to think a good thought cannot do for our sufficiency is of God If we fear our own inconstancy or that our hearts will prove false towards God like a deceitfull Bow as the Israelites did who are said in their extremity to flatter him with their mouth and to lie to him with their tongues For their hearts were not right with him neither were they stedfast in his covenant Psal 78.36.37.57 For remedy hereof set faith on work by reviewing this promise and press God with his
themselves the titles of God and Christ or have given out that they are so one with Christ that they can sin no more then Christ can sinne To whom Luther some others being too bold with those hyperbocall expressions of Nazianzen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have given too much occasion 7. They and they onely have Christan liberty 7 Liberty of grace in this life and of glory in the life to come called the glorious liberty of the sons of God Rom. 8.21 St. Paul was caught up into Paradise and admitted to see the glory thereof but not permitted to utter what he had heard and seen for it is as easie to containe the Sea in an Egge-shel as to relate heaven's happiness 2 Cor. 12.4 Hither is our Lord Jesus gone before to prepare many Mansions for believers and he will bring them all thither when he hath throughly prepared them for the same Iohn 14.2 Whereas all unbelievers the fearfull the lyers and workers of iniquity shall in no wise enter in thither but have their part in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Rev. 21.8.27 Lessius de justiciâ p. 600. Christiana libertas à quintuplici servitute nos solvit 1. peccati 2. diaboli 3. legis c. 2. The liberty of Grace is either privative or positive 1. They are freed 1. From evil 1. By meanes and their justification they have freedom 1. From the bondage of the devill Col. 1.13 Who were before taken captive by him at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 2 From sin Rom. 6.22 both in regard of the guilt of it Rom. 8.33 who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect since Christ dyed for their sins yea rather is risen againe who is even at the right hand of God to make intercession for them v. 34. and also in regard of the dominion of sin For to such the Apostle saith Sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under grace Rom. 6.14 As also in regard of the fruits of sin both in the world to come they are freed from eternal condemnation Rom. 8.1 There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit The reason followeth v 2. For the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made them free from the law of sin and death v 2. As also in this life they are delivered from the terrors of death under which others are in bondage all their life time Heb. 2.15 Secondly from the evil of afflictions not from the afflictions themselves for it is good for them to be afflicted Psalm 119.71 But to them the Lord turneth the evill of their troubles to good Genesis 50.20 3. They are freed from the law 1. from the intolerable yoke of the Ceremonial Law Acts. 15.10 and 2. in part from the Morall Law in four regards 1. of the curse which it denounceth again all that continue not in all that is written in that Law Gal. 3.10 11. which Christ hath freed us from by being made a curse for us 2. They are exempted from seeking justification by the works of the Law Rom. 3.20 21 22. who are justified freely by his grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ v 24.3 from the exact obedience which the Law requireth to be performed in their own persons for justification and the obtaining of eternall life for Christ is become the end of the Law for righteonsnesse to every one that believeth Rom. 10.4 5. and through him God accepteth the will for the deed 2 Cor. 8.12 4. From the irritation of the Law which by reason of the corruption that is in man by nature hath a provoking power in it so that when the law commands obedience and threatneth the disobedient he groweth more outragious in evil then before Spumeus et fervens et abobice fortior ibit as a river dammed-up swels and overflows the Banks according to that of the Apostle The Law entred that the offence might abound Rom. 5.20 But these persons of whom we discourse are of a more excellent spirit who delight in the law of God after the inward man Rom. 7.22 and the love of God rendreth his Commandements not grievous to them 1 John 5.3 Fourthly they are delivered from the evil of evils the immense and direfull wrath of God by Jesus Christ 1 Thess 1.10 which shall come inevitably and irrecoverably upon all the Children of disobedience Col. 3.6 and burn to the lower Hell Lastly they shall be delivered from death and the grave for Death is the last Enemy that shall be destroyed 1 Cor. 15.26 And though die they must yet the sting of death which is sin is pulled out and they shall be raised from their graves in the great day of the resurrection Hos 13.14 so that they may sing Hosea's Pauls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy victory thanks be to God who hath given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.55.57 2. The positive part of their liberty followeth As they are and shall be free from all evill so they are set free to good as 1. to righteousnesse to serve the Lord in newnesse of spirit and not in oldnesse of the letter Romans 7.6 2. To their use all things are sanctified by the word and prayer 1 Tim. 4 5. which to others are unclean Tit. 1.15 To the pure all things are pure but to them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their minds and consciences is defiled 3. They are free to the communion of Saints fellow heires and of the same body and partakers of the same promises in Christ by the Gospel Eph. 3.6 4ly By Christ they have bold access to the throne of grace to aske what they will if it be agreeable to Gods will with confidence in him of obtaining their suits at all times 1 Joh. 5.14 What is said of Luther may be affirmed of them also I sle potuit quod voluit for to them it is promised Aske and have 8 Peace 8. The peace of God which passeth all understanding doth keep their hearts and mindes through Iesus Christ Phil. 4.7 whereas there is no peace saith God to the wicked Isa 57.21 To this peace with God and their owne consciences we must add peace with the creatures even with the stones and beasts of the field Job 5.23 and both these spring from their reconciliation with God 9. Joy 9. From all these immunities ariseth joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1.8 which none can ever take from them Jo. 16.22 for it shall be everlasting Isa 51.11 whereas all others joyes besides are neither solid nor durable For though wicked men may glory in appearance yet that joy never proceedeth from the heart 2 Cor. 5.12 and it is
lusts Iude. 18. manifest themselves to be rather Pagans then Christians indeed as Peter was discovered to be a Galilean for his speech bewrayed him Mat. 26.73 And suppose a guilded Hypocrite may have his tongue tipt with Scripture expressions and holy discourses yet if he be well observed at other times he will be found to speak ordinarily the language of Aâ—hdod and to trip and faulter in his most affected and best discourses As many Ephramites were detected to be what they were by the men of Gilead in pronouncing Sibboleth for Shibboleth for they could not frame to pronounce it right Iudg. 12.6 2. What may they thinke of themselves if they had any spiritual judgement who think or say words are but wind little regarding what the Judge of quick and dead hath fore-warned us of that men shall give account of every idle word which they speak in the day of judgement Mal. 12.36 Thirdly where shall they appeare that reproach and laugh them to scorn and shun their company whose tongues use knowledge aright as Solomon saith every wise man doth Prov. 15.2 If any do but once make mention of the Lords righteousnesse reprove sin or exhort to reformation of life or use any savory passages tending to the souls good they have done with them as too precise for their societie and jeere at them as ridiculous persons or tremble as Felix trembled when Paul reasoned of righteousnesse temperance and judgement to come but would give no further audience Acts. 24 25. Fourthly wo unto them who never call themselves to an account for preventing frothy obscene or noysome language nor yet for the omission of seasonable and holy conferences being far unlike to the Prophet Isaiah who cryeth out to God Wo is me for I am undone because I am a man of uncleane lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips Chap. 6.5 Sect. 5 Chara ∣ cter 6 As the Carpenter or Mason is known by his Rule or Plummet so are they who are born in Sion distinguished from all the Sons and Daughters of Babel Gods holy word is the rule by which they square all their principles and practises as the Apostle sheweth us Gal. 6.16 As many as walk according to this rule peace be upon them and mercy and upon the Israel of God Now it is well known that a Rule is very usefull for builders for the discerning of that which is straight from that which is crooked that there may be a symmetry and just proportion between the severall parts of his edifice This rule of the word must 1. be known by us 2. we must have it ever in readinesse 3. It is to be applyed to every doctrine of faith embraced by us and to all your imaginations affections and works that we may all walke by the same Rule Phil 3.16 Application But alas how little do many think of any such rule from one end of the day to the other nay from one end of the week or year to another how few of us know it and how doe most persons cast it behind their backs Do you when you awake every morning consider what affairs you are to goe about the ensuing day doe you contrive as architects use to doe that your undertakings may all be good for the matter and right for manner and ends thereof that all your works may be wrought in God that they may be carried on in faith and obedience to the glory of God then you build upon the Rock and your labours shall be accepted of God and rewarded by him But if you reject the word of God what wisedome is in you Jer. 8.9 God will bring upon you the fruit of your thoughts and doings Jer. 6.19 and in fine reject you as he did Saul for this very cause from being King 1 Sam. 15.26 Chara ∣ cter 7 He is a Jew as the Apostle saith which is one inwardly in the spirit whose praise is not of men but God Rom. 2. 29. He will neither forbear doing good or be drawn to evil for the applause of men or for fear of reproach * 2 Cor. 6.8 he can pass through good report and bad report both willingly and cheerfully knowing well that they are happy who are reproached for the name of Christ Luke 6.22 Quest How doth God praise his people Answ in his word he preferreth them before all others giving them this suffrage The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour Prov. 12. 26 Secondly in advancing them by his all ruling providence above others even many times in this life as he avouched Israel to be his peculiar people according to his promise and made them high above all nations in praise in name in honour Deut. 26.18 19. Thirdly by the approbation and commendation of the godly whose judgement is to be preferred before thousands of other men's as Jonathan pleaded for David against his father Saul 1 Sam. 10.4 Fourthly In their owne consciences by his spirit bearing witnesse to them that they are such as God approveth of in which sense the spirit of glory is affirmed to rest upon them Pet. 4.14 Fifthly in the consciences and confessions of wicked men sometimes even their worst enemies as Saul justified David whose life he had long sought acknowledging to him Thou art more righteous then I 1 Samuel 24.17 Sixthly by clearing up their innocencie from obloquies and slanders in this life and bringing forth their righteousnesse as the light Psalm 37.6 Seventhly in reviving their credits and estimations in the world after their bodies have been long dead and rotten So the Prophets who had been slaine by the Fathers had Tombes built them and their sepulchers garnished by their children worse than their Ancestors who justified the Prophets and condemned their own Fathers saying If we had been in the dayes of our Eathers we would not have been partakers with them in the bloud of the Prophets Mat. 23.29 30. yet even these men afterwards put to death the prince of Prophets Jesus Christ Eighthly at the last day in proclaming their innocency before God Angels and men when that one word Euge well done faithfull and good servant will countervaile all the calumnies and aspersions that ever were cast upon them in this world Mat. 25.21.23 Ob. But great men speak evil of me Ans So did they of David Psalm 119.23 Princes also saith he did sit and speak against me but thy servant did meditate on thy Statutes Where the word also imports that others did the like as else where he complains to God in prayer Let the lying lips be put to silence which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous Psalm 31.18 In this case there is need of the Patience and faith of the Saints Rev. 10. But doe as David did goe to God by prayer and keep close to his testimonies and mark as James speaketh of Job the end which God made with David and certainly in due time he