Christ ver 16. 2 That no man should dare to think as if there were any contradiction in these and such like Scriptures as Faustus the Manichee did who did deny this Gospel to be penned by Matthew and denied this Sentence to be any of Christ's words because it is false that Christ did not destroy the Ceremonies seeing Christians do not observe them Consider the Law having no place in justification and nothing contrary to the Law of the New Testament in point of meats days or ceremonies we ought with Paul to think it holy just and good Ob. But if the law be thus fulfilled what shall we think of the ten Commandements Answ The Decalogue or ten Commandements is part of the Law of nature Rom. 2.15 Which shew the works of the Law written in their hearts Yea every command of them was observed before the giving of the Law upon Mount Sinai even the command of the Sabbath Exod. 16.29 now they being the Law of nature are to be observed for example it s writ in every mans heart that there is a God and that this God is one and that he is the immediate object of worship and that his name is to be sanctified c. All the question is about the Sabbath or seventh day from the creation which is put to an end Col. 2.16 yet is it written in every mans heart that if God be to be worshipped there must be a time for his worship and if it be left to the scantling of every carnal mans heart it will be little enough yea in time it will come to nothing among such it remains then that godly men as they have it writ in their hearts to give God a time so that they give him that time which the Churches at Corinth and Galatia and Troas gave unto him and as they so doubtless all the Apostolical Churches This was the day which the Spirit calls the Lords day as like phrases call the Lords table the Lords body the Lords supper whereto that speech of Psal 118.24 hath respect This is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad herein For all the rest of the Commands as the obedience of inferiours to superiours and that every man shall enjoy his own wife life state and good name c. is writ in every mans heart Moreover for that of the Sabbath the distinction of divers of the Rabbins is to be observed viz. one thing is commanded in these words Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath the cause of which holy worship is a thankful remembrance of the creation of the world another thing is commanded in these words The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt do not manner of work this rest respecting their servitude in Aegypt belongs to the Hebrews onely Exod. 31.13 remembring their own servitude in Aegypt they should handle their own servants gently which also was the opinion of Irenaeus l. 4. c. 30. and Eusebius l. 1. c 4. so that to distinguish rightly we must distinguish the commands of worship and the commands of rest as by their causes so by their times The Christians observed the Sabbath and had their assemblies thereon in which assemblies the Law was read Acts 15.21 which continued to the Council of Laodicea to whom it seemed better that that day the Gospels should be read and therefore from the ancient fathers Balsamon observs that almost in all things the Sabbaths were equal'd to the Lords days which two days Nyssen calls brethren Also Justin Martyr against Tripho before Abraham there was no need of circumcision nor before Moses of the celebration of the Sabbath feasts and offerings p. 186. Asterius cals them a beautiful couple also Clement Const l. 7. c. 24. saith Keep holy the Sabbath day and the Lords day because this is dedicated to the memory of the creation the other to the memory of the resurrection also cap. 8. he saith let servants labour five days but on the Sabbath day and Lords day let them wait on the doctrine that makes to Godliness in the Church In the ancient Church they had a custome not to fast on the Sabbath because it was a day of gladness except on the Sabbath that was before the burial of Christ Ignat ad Philip Tertul. de jejun and therefore Eusebius mentions that Constantine forbade Christians to be summoned to law on the Sabbath no less then on the Lords day because those days were dedicated to holy assemblies and therefore whereas some think from that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one of the Sabbaths the Lords day is placed into the room of the Sabbath they are deceived seeing there is no mention hereof by Christ or the Apostles Now when the Christians observed these two days viz. the Sabbath and Lords day they did not do it of any command of God or of the Apostles but by voluntary consent by the power of liberty given to them unless I should add by divine example which is not of little force see Jer. 26.18 Unless we add that the spirit calls the day of worship the Lords day Rev. 1.10 on this day there was a meeting of all that dwelt in the City and Country though he call it Sunday Justin Apol. 2. Q. Whether to these ten commandements as the law of nature may not other commands of the Gospel be refer'd A. Yes to the first we may refer all those commands which forbid the least shew of worship to be given to false Gods 1 John 5.21 and that the true God alone be worshipped John 17.3 1 Cor. 8.6 To the second command we may refer all commands forbidding resemblances of God and the worshipping of God through any mean which himself hath not instituted Matth. 6.24 Ephes 5.5 Phil. 3.19 To the third command we may refer the due sanctification of the name of God Matth. 6.9 and to keep our words in the bounds of yea and nay Matth. 5. â—4 Jam. 5.12 To that of the Sabbath we may refer that certain hope concerning the rest in heaven the taste whereof we have in peace of conscience Heb. 4.9 10 11. To the fifth we may refer all honour due to Princes Rom. 13.1 2 3 6 7. to Masters Col. 3.22 to Husbands Eph. 5.22 to Pastors 1 Tim. 5.17 Heb. 13.17 To the sixth command all wrath and hatred which are the seeds of murthers Matth. 5.22 1 Joh. 3.15 To the seventh command are reckoned all impurities and all divorces without the cause of adultery Matth. 19.9 To the command against theft are refer'd not only those commands which forbid us to hurt the goods of others but that we should profit them Col. 3.25 1 Cor. 12.7 To the ninth is refer'd those commands which caution us against lying and enjoyn us a continual care of truth Eph. 4.24 25. To the tenth are refer'd the commands of quenching inordinate motions Gal. 5.24 Eph. 5.22 23. the baits of which concupiscence are wealth honour
〈◊〉 a rower because under Christ the chief Pilot they row the ship of the Church towards heaven Now rowing is a very painful work Vide Beza They do not onely labour in the word but in prayer also Col. 4.12 Hence have they a due right to their maintenance Pharaoh reserved the Priests living Jezebel maintained four hundred false Prophets Micha maintained a Levite the Levites had not near the service we have yet was his maintenance greater then any of the Tribes They are Souldiers therefore to be maintained of them for whom they fight 1 Cor. 9.7 To say preachers must have but for bare necessity is to no purpose for how can they then be hospitable Are few Here 's the cause of the sending out the Apostles of which cap. 10.1 for onely John the Baptist and Christ laboured the Scribes and Pharisees being given to their pleasures and profits Causes why so few labourers 1 Love of ease whereas much study is a weariness to the flesh Eccles 12.12 Offer not that to God which costs thee nothing 2 Inability of hearers to difference betwixt doctrine and doctrine hence superficial raw indigested notions are as well or better liked then solid and substantial truths 3 The discouragement that Preachers in many places finde every man else is incouraged but they discouraged partly from the censures that pass upon their doctrine and partly from strait-handedness Every calling as Physician Lawyer is rewarded onely what preachers have in many places is counted as alms hence there are but few labourers and were it not for conscience towards God there would be much fewer 4 The strictness of the account that they must answer for the souls committed to them Ezek. 5.17 Heb. 13.17 Act. 20.26 27. 5 The multitude of business that lyes upon a faithful labourer What a business is it to make one soul lye level upon Christ sometimes full of fears and doubts for want of comfort sometimes falling into spiritual pride in the enjoyment of it sometimes wrastling with an angry God sometimes conflicting with a scrupulous conscience sometimes a soul thinks all he hath done is in vain and that he is cast out of Gods sight Psal 31.22 One wants knowledge another comfort another reproof one is a babe another a grown man Now the work being so weighty few that know the weight of it are forward to venture on it it being a burden too heavy for the shoulders of Angels Cyprian complained in his time that persons would not take the over sight of flocks but persons betook themselves to be Merchants History of Trent c. rather then to be thus employed After his time the ministers by reason of persecution were so few that necessity compel'd to commend two or three congregations to one pastor whence came the corrupt custome of Commendums Preaching is counted the easiest business and as many use it so it is but to preach that our words may be as goads to the dull Ox and as nails to the fastening of instructions Eccl. 12.11 to be like a good housholder that brings forth new and old Matth. 13.52 to search into the deep things of God and to follow a mans work there where he left it till a spiritual building be erected who is sufficient for these things V. 38. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth or in the Greek cast forth labourers into his harvest Christ here propounds a remedy for the want above mentioned viz. to pray to the Lord of the harvest c. Christ hereby not onely informes us of the backwardness of men herein but also pricks on the Apostles and others to accept of such a call Moreover here is signified not onely a disposing providence to send teachers to this or that place but also a bestowing of special power with peculiar commands and gifts which well agrees with the call of the Apostles in the next chapter As the Embassadors of Princes are directed to their residence and their continuance determined by the Prince how long they shall remain so are teachers disposed of God in like manner He carries them from one place to another Jonah from Israel to Nineveh Pray ye the Lord of the harvest It 's the Lords work to send forth labourers Act. 1.24 Shew whether of these two thou hast taken The holy Ghost bad separate Paul and Barnabas to the work Act. 13.2 Yet prayer hath been a means to obtain such teachers to get them out of prison Act. 12.12 13. to get them from one place to another Philem. 22. I trust that through your prayers I shall be given to you Strive we then to be fervent with God in prayer herein as a faithful teacher is one of the greatest blessings so the contrary is a great curse We are earnest with God for many other things O strive to be earnest for this But because wants set an edge upon prayer lay open before the Lord thy six or seven children and three or four servants who are yet in the state of nature nay there are thousands in their conditions and therefore for their sakes come and help Grounds of thus praying 1 Gods command every command of God is to be obeyed therefore pray God commanding persons thus to pray doth not mean to send them away empty handed when they do pray 2 The mischief that comes where such planters and waterers are absent all runs to ruine mostly in the want of such Some places famous for religion when such lights have been removed what darkness hath been 3 The multitudes of business that God hath for labourers to do Paul would have gone to the lesser Asia and Bythinia but the spirit suffered him not but when a man of Macedonia prayed Come over and help us they obtained Paul Act. 16.6 7 9. When there is plenty of work and scarcity of labourers you must besides paying be fain to pray so it is in this case 4 Prayer is a mean to get such teachers it s a mean to obtain every blessing from God Matth. 7.7 therefore this blessing also 5 It 's a singular blessing unto a people to have their eyes behold their teachers and not to have them removed into a corner Esa 30.19 20. The contrary is a curse Amos 8.11 12. To go from sea to sea to seek the word of the Lord because of the famine of the word God onely gives such teachers Jer. 3.15 I will give you pastors after my own heart which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding For this end Christ ascended into heaven Eph. 4.10 11 12 13. In the 68 Psalm 18. It s said Christ received gifts in this place its said he gave gifts the meaning is Christ hath received gifts from his Father and given them to men The benefits of faithfull Teachers as 1 Conversion How shall they believe without a Preacher Rom. 10.14 Acts 2.37 38. Acts 26.18 2 Edification to wit building up souls converted Paul perfected what was lacking in
is needful let us avoid wicked suspicions of others concerning us and our received opinion of them is to be tried envy not any man who is dearly loved before others Just Mart. ad Zenam Serenum p. 390. Let no worldly conference flow from us but that which fits us for virtue Our neighbour speaking let us not laugh at him nor hinder him until by our silence he be ashamed and be silent Ibid. p. 391 392. 2 Exhortation to Christians to be like unto salt 1 As salt draws out putrifying humors out of meat and makes it rellishable for the palate so Christians by their doctrine and examples and in particular Preachers draw out the rottenness in the hearts and tongues of men and makes them fit for society of Christians hence they are called the salt of the earth to show that they should not season one or two or a few but even the whole earth and to press it the more upon them he used this similitude not once but often as Mark 9. ult John 14. ult 2 For profitableness Sale sole nihil utilius salt is most profitable called by some the balsome of nature it is mingled with all mixt bodies and preserves them from corruption So Christians are very profitable Philemon 11. Formerly unprofitable now profitable to thee and me 3 Christians are like salt for wisdom salt was an embleme of wisdome as salt seasons meat so wisdom seasons the mindes of good men Hence Sapientia is derived à sapore from savor because wisedome is the savor of the minde that which the soul is in the body that are Christians in the world 4 Salt is of a hot and fiery nature because cast it into the fire it kindles and of a watry nature because if you pour water upon it it turns into water So the Disciples of Christ should be hot and zealous for God yet should this heat be mingled with knowledg and discretion lest we fly out as those Luke 9.53 who called for fire from Heaven to consume the Samaritans or those who out of zeal to God persecuted Christ and his Righteousness Rom 10.2 5 As Salt stirs up Thirst so Christians should stir up others to thirst after Christ and heavenly things John 7.37 Revel 22.17 We should not so much look for Examples from others as give Examples to others Lyvy called Greece the Salt of the Nations it is more truly said of Christians 6 As by Salt Meat is made fit for our Taste so by the Salt of an holy Conversation the Word is made fit for the Rellish of others 1 Peter 3.1 Hence Christians are called the Salt of the earth that is of earthly minded men 7 As for preservation of Meat and other things from putrifaction there must be a just measure of Salt neither too much nor too little so Christians in general nor Teachers in special ought by an unseasonable application of the Law to swallow up afflicted Consciences Psalm 69.26 They persecute him whom thou hast smitten and talk to the grief of him whom thou hast wounded nor by an unseasonable application of the grace of God to encourage impenitent persons Rom 2.4 5 8 As Salt brings Desolation and a Curse to that which is not seasoned by it Gen 13.3 Zeph 2.9 so the Word in the Mouths and Lives of Christians to whom it is not a savour of life is a savour to death 2 Cor 2.16 2 Exhort to live savoury Lives our selves else how can we season others If the Salt have lost its savour what is it good for Take heed therefore of all scandalous sins for 1 By these the Name of God is blasphemed Ezek 36.20 The Babylonians seeing the loose lives of the Jews cried out These are the people of the Lord these are come out of the Lords land Rom 2 24 The Name of God is blasphemed by you Loose Christians are called Spots Jude 12 Deut 32.19 When David committed folly with Bathsheba by that thing he made the Enemies of the Lord to blaspheme 2 Sam 12.14 When the strong despised the weak and the weak judged the strong they caused their good to be evil spoken of Rom 14.16 How carefull are we to preserve the name of a Friend how carefull should we be to preserve the Name of God 2 An holy savoury walking free from scandalous sins is a mans glory 1 Sam 12.3 4 Whose Ox have I taken or whose Ass or of whose hand have I received a Bribe and they said Thou hast not defrauded us nor taken any thing of any mans hand 1 Cor 9.15 It were better for me for to dy than that any man should make my glorying void See 2 Cor 1.12 1 Thess 2.10 Contrarily it 's a dishonour to a Christian to be guilty of a spot of uncleanness c. Demetrius had a good report of all men yea and of the truth it self 3 Epist of John v. 12 3 Scandalous sins are worse to keep men off from embracing the truth than persecutions for by scandals men are hardened from embracing the truth Rom 14.13 Let no man lay a stumbling block or a scandal to another for sometimes persons were made by the contentions among strong and weak to stumble and so not to joyn to Gods people sometimes they were made to fall yea to fall off from Christian Assemblies Holy example is a duty we ow to the whole world and as by holy examples persons are built up towards Heaven so by wicked words and works yea by indifferent things done unseasonably persons are made worse and built up towards destruction Lev 19.14 Thou shalt not lay a stumbling block before the blinde Scandals are as Pits and Snares to catch living creatures wherein the unwary and blinde are taken 4 A savoury Life free from Scandals is a special means to stop the mouths of wicked men Dan 6.4 they found nought against Daniel but for the Law of his God 1 Peter 2.12 Have your conversation honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speak against you as evil doers they may glorifie God in the day of visitation 1 Peter 3.16 having a good Conscience whereunto an holy Life is joyned that whereas they speak evil of you as of evil doers they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ Titus 2.8 They that are of the contrary part will be ashamed having no evil thing to say of you contrarily when persons that profess shall fall into scandals wicked men draw these Conclusions as 1 Because some professing persons are bad therefore their Religion is bad 2 Because one is bad thus they are all 5 By an unsavoury scandalous Life thou hast a hand in other mens damnation A mans own personal guilt is heavy enough he need not add the weight of other mens sins Matth 18.6 Wo to the World because of offences there is not onely a Wo to the person that gives the offence but to the World This is a Rock on which thousands dash their souls Therefore as
sight of men by these rules of qualification are abominable Esai 1.13.66.3 Luke 16.15 2 Cor. 10.18 Moreover the good works done by regenerate men are not the causes of justification but the effects and consequents thereof Non praecedunt justificandum sed sequuntur justificatum They do not go before the person to be justified but follow him that is justified 2 Exhort To perform good works looking to all these circumstances therefore let us have these ends 1 To be profitable to men Titus 3.8 He that believes in God must be carefull to maintain good works these things are good and profitable to men he means honest Trades and Imployments to minister to their own and others needs 2 To testifie the truth of our faith James 2.14 15. Shew me thy faith by thy works also v. 16 17. As Abraham's sacrificing his onely son testified his faith and Rahabs receiving the Spies with the hazard of her life 3 To shew forth our thankfulness to God Rom. 12.1 q. d. Shew forth your thankfulness to God by yielding the members of your body as well as the faculties of your soul to his service 4 To be paterns and examples of holy life to others 1 Tim. 4.12 Be thou an example of the believers Titus 2.7 In all things shew thy self a patern of good works 1 Peter 3.1 they that at present did not obey the Word may without the Word be won by the good conversation of their Wives 5 To add fruits that may be acknowledged in the day of account Matth. 10.41 42. Heb. 6.10 Gal. 6.9 1 Cor. 15.58 2 Peter 1.10 11. Phil. 4.17 Paul did not desire a Gift from the Philippians but Fruit that might abound to their account Glorifie your Father in Heaven This is the second end of Christians shining light that the beholders may glorifie God that is 1 By declaring him to be glorious who hath such servants and worshippers I mean declaring him glorious among men 2 Thess 1.12 2 By ascribing all glory to his Name for working his servants hearts from their natural defilement to such an holy estate Rom. 11.36 Of him and from him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever 1 Peter 2.12 The converted Gentiles seeing the holy Lives of Christians glorifie God in the day of visitation Psalm 86.9 10. When Paul was converted from persecuting Truth to preaching it they glorified God that saw and heard it Gal. 1.22 23. In Heaven God is set forth from the place he is in viz. Heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Heavens that is not onely in the Heaven of the Blessed which is called that Heaven of Heavens that most blessed Countrey which is looked for by Saints Heb. 11.10 But in all other Heavens where he is by his omnipresence as he is in the Heaven of the Blessed by his special presence Yet is he not included in any place before there was any Creation he sufficed to himself without any place V. 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfill The third part of the Chapter In which 1 A correction of an erroneous conception as if Christ came to destroy the Law or the Prophets I came not to destroy them 2 A right information wherefore he came viz. To fulfill the Law and Prophets not to destroy it 3 Here is the unchangeableness of the Law set down v. 18 19. 4 Here is an explanation of some Commandments depraved by the false Glosses of the Pharisees v. 21 22. to the end of the Chapter Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets Some thought that because Christ preached Repentance after a new manner of way and Faith also and did not press the Sacrifices and Ceremonies of the Temple-worship that he came to destroy the Law to this Christ saith The Doctrine of the Gospel doth not oppose the Law or the Prophets Think not that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets In the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to oppose the Law John 10.35 The Scripture cannot 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be broken or opposed John 5.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not onely because he opposed the Sabbath John 7.23 If a man receive Circumcision on the Sabbath that the Law of Moses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may not be broken or destroyed For which the Apostle uses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 3. ult 2 That the word destroy is taken for oppose appears by v. 19. where doing and teaching is opposed to breaking or rather to opposing And therefore whereas the Jews cry out against the Apostles as going against the Profession of their Master know the Apostles would have never mentioned these words of Christ if their Doctrine had differed from his we cannot think that those grave men that were so constant in the defence of their Doctrine not onely not to have written things contrary one to another but things contrary to themselves therefore we must inquire how their sayings may agree Hence know there 's a twofold Law 1 Natural which is everlasting and common to all this is right reason This makes men good out of love of virtue 2 Civil this looks onely to outward innocency and doth not look to the minde as the Law of Nature doth This is peculiar to every Nation and changeable this restrains men from evil for fear of punishment Because of transgressions the Law was added Gal. 3.19 that is the Law written in Tables was added to that Law writ in the heart so that 1 Tim. 1.9 The Law is not made for a righteous man So then the Law of Moses had certain things brought from the Law of Nature and certain things proper to that People and applied to those Times Justin against Triph. saith some things are universally and by nature everlasting goods which they that performed had common praise with Christians But some things were added because of the Peoples hardness of heart and by reason of occasions of Times and places may be added therefore as before the Law of Moses was given true Faith working by Love was that which God lookt after so in the Law of Moses God would have himself loved with all the heart would have the heart circumcised c. but all this was properly translated from the Law of Nature and was not properly a part of the Civil Law but the scope and mark at which the Civil Law aimed But to fulfill the Law So that the scope of the Law was to make men good as by the fear of God and love of God and love of one another Matth. 22.38 39 40. these are called the greatest Commands on which depends the Law and the Prophets So loving of our Neighbour is the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 13.8 Gal. 5.14 and James says If ye fulfill the royal Law according to the Scriptures Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self ye shall do well this fulfilling of the Law
if there be any long absence of these accustomed meltings 8 Earnest longings after the Lord are wont to accompany saving meltings Mine eye mine eye runneth down with water because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me Lam. 1.16 9 Saving meltings flow from love to God How came Mary to weep in such abundance that she washed Christ's feet why at the same time she loved much Luke 7.38 compared with v. 47. 10 When saving meltings come there is an holy chearfulness wrought in the heart and sadness removed from the countenance as in Hanna her countenance was no more sad why she prayed and wept sore v. 10. compared with v. 18. As God did sometimes accept sacrifices without sending fire from Heaven to burn them up so sometimes he shewed his acceptation by sending fire to consume them 1 Kings 18.38 2 Chron. 7.1 Fire came from Heaven and consumed Solomon's burnt offering and so David's Prayer for the ceasing the Pestilence 1 Chron. 21.26 was answered by fire So though God do sometimes answer his people without meltings yet in holy persons these meltings usually are crowning answers and tokens of acceptation 11 We may know our meltings flow from a saving principle by comparing the meltings we had when we forsook some great enjoyment for God and got victory over some strong lust with those meltings at present when we forsook some great enjoyment as country liberty estate friends and relations how did God come in at those times so that we found an hundred fold with persecutions Mar. 10.29 30. mightily softning the heart and filling the soul with joy and with the holy Ghost Act. 13.51 as Paul was when persecuted so when we overcome some strong lust God gave us hidden Manna white stone new name Rev. 2.17 which were the incomes of God into the soul by softning of it and powring in joy in prayer after the conquest now we finding the meltings and softnings of our hearts at other times sutable to those we found then know them to come from the Spirit or from a saving principle and not from natural passion and softness 12 The meltings that come from God may be something discerned by the time when given as 1 When afflictions are sanctified then the soul powres out it self amain Esther 4.3 when the kings decree came to put the Jews to death there were great weepings and wailings ordinarily wicked men cry not when God binds them their spirits are bound up Job 36.13 2 Upon the remove of some sad desertion and after some foregoing straitnings or some very close walking with God or the bringing home of some word of promise to the heart these meltings use to be given Psal 51.8 12. Make me to hear the voice of joy and gladness restore unto me the joy of thy salvation 3 By the putting forth the strength of the soul in duty Hos 12.3 Jacob wept and made supplication and found the Lord in Bethel how came that why by his strength he prevailed with God that is he put forth all his strength in the duty 4 Fom the time it s oft given even after an holy preparation of heart by meditation Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear Psal 10.17 8 Pray with perseverance not to give over Eph. 6.18 Many use prayer as a medicine which after two or three usings finding no success they leave off God puts off his children with delayes 1 Because souls are not fit for such a mercy as the Physician puts off the patient from such a thing as he desires The ten tribes Judg. â—0 26 cryed for victory against Benjamin but God saw them not fit for it they yet trusted in their multitude being four hundred thousand and their enemies about seven and twenty thousand also they were not humbled enough 2 For trial of our faith whether we will yet depend on God so Christ put off the Woman of Cana Matth. 15.28 and Paul 2 Cor. 12.8 3 That his mercies may be more sweet when we get them things hardly got are prized 4 That we may see our sin in delaying God he called and thou wouldest not hear therefore it 's just that thou shouldest call and he delay thee 5 To inflame our desires the more God purposed not to destroy Israel Exod. 32. yet when Moses prayed he seemed not to regard his Prayers but this was onely to make Moses more earnest for the people 6 For the trial of our Patience David was in an horrible pit in great danger and God let him lye for the tryal of his patience and in the end brought him out Ps 40.1 2. Many are like that king 2 King 6.33 who said Saul 1 Sam. â— 28.15 because he had not present help why should I wait on the Lord any longer Yea Saints have been impatient because their prayers have not been answered at first Lam. 3.8 44. We must not onely have a dependance on God for his promise but for the time when he will fulfill it As the husbandman waâ—s long after seed time for a harvest the corn hath many a sharp blast and nipping frost before he reaps so ought we to wait for our prayers though things seem worse afrer then before Long did the Church wait for Peter before they got him out of prison Act. 12.5 in the end he was given to them neither must we limit God to such means Psal 78.41 7 That we may seek him more importunately so did Christ with-hold himself from the Church for this end Song 3.1 4. As a Beggar when a passenger comes by begs of him the passenger goes on as if he took no notice but the Beggar goes on and followes him till at last he gets his desire 8 For to humble the soul suppose thy servant wrong thee thou sayest thou wilt pardon him but first thou wilt make him humble himself to thee he shall and must know that he hath wrong'd a good master so God is willing to pardon thee and to heal thee but he will make thee know thou hast sin'd against a good God Obj. But God calls me to other duties of my calling how am I then to continue in prayer till God hear me Ans We may give over the words of prayer but we may not give over the suit of prayer A poor Beggar comes to a house-keepers door but none hears him he falls to other employments as mending his clothes c. then anon he begs again though he do not always continue begging yet he always continues his sute Oh that some within would give me an alms so should the soul at the throne of grace Persevering prayer is the building of the soul towards heaven Holy men should pray as builders build first they lay the foundation next day make the walls the next day he sets up timber-timber-work and so goes on till the house be finished so a godly soul reaches higher and higher till at
are many men are onely formal professours such were the foolish Virgins Matth. 25.1 Such was he Eccles 8.10 So I saw the wicked buried who had come and gone to the place of the Holy Tit. 1.15 Profess they know God but in works deny him A name to live but are dead Rev. 3.1 Ezek. 33.31 Rom. 2.17 18 19. Such was Judas Magus Saul The consciences of these men would not have been quiet had they not given some outward service to God Formal professors do with their consciences as men do with children men give them some small matter as a pear or plum to keep them from wrangling and crying out Use 1 Believe not every one that hath onely a profession Joh. 2.23 How forward was the stony ground that it received the Word with joy Matth. 12.21 and yet for want of root as soon as tribulation came it withered 2 Caution against formality rest not in professional faith because thou hast the name of professor because of duties of religion in family or because in Church Communion They that are found not to live as Christ taught let them know they are not Christians although they profess the doctrine of Christ with their tongue for not the professors onely but the confirmers of their works shall be saved Just Mart. Apol. 1.49 This formality how ever it be plausible with the world yet is it loathed with God Rev. 3.15 16. God will spue out such Laodiceans 3 Trial whether thou art a formal man or not 1 When thou hast not grace to overcome every lust but Satan holds thee under some insnaring lust so Herod Eccles 8.10 So I saw the wicked buried that had come and gone to the place of the Holy 2 When thou hast not faith to suffer for God or a good conscience Matth. 13.21 3 When thou art onely careful to cleanse the outward man but careless of the inner man so the Pharisees Luk. 11.39 40. The Pharisees made clean the outside of the cup and platter but their inward part was full of rapine and excess Contrarily powerful Christians are most troubled with the inward man 4 When though thou performes duties of Religion yet 1 Thy soul is not nourished by them nor built up 2 Tim. 3.8 Ever learning but never able to come to a practical knowledge 2 Or else thou seest not Gods face in duty Job 13.16 He onely is my salvation but a Hypocrite shall not come before him 3 Or else thou dost not groan under thy dead-heartedness Contrarily powerful Christians groan under their fits of deadness and pray earnestly for quickening Psal 119.25 37 88 107 143 154 156 159. 5 When men turn in their Religion as states turne so did all Nations and Tongues Dan. 3.7 except the three children It s a plain note of a formalist to profess a Religion before God work it in the heart 6 When thou performes duties of Religion from art and not from life as thou prayes perhaps from wit and memory but not from the Spirit thou hears the word but it s either for victory of wit quiet of resolution ability to discourse but not with an intent to practice thou receives the supper not because of any sweetness of Christ thou hast tasted there but because persons would note thee shouldest thou absent thy self So thou gives alms not out of any chearfulness or because thou Sympathizes with Christ or his members but because natural conscience calls thee to do something 2 Obs Men that are meer formal professors must expect to be excluded out of heaven as well as other gross sinners 2 Things to be considered 1 What formality is Answ It 's a shew Image or similitude of godliness without life or power as a woodden Image hath the likeness of a thing as of a man or beast but is no such thing a shadow hath likeness of a body but is a shadow 2 There is even too much formality and overliness in good men in the services they perform to God but they mourn under them Use Reprehension of those who rest in an outward forme of Religion without the power Ananias and Sapphira Demas Nay they deny the power of Religion 2 Tim. 3.5 When the power of Religion would pull a Carnal man from his lust he denyes it when the question is put whether Christ left or lusts he denies Christ for to enjoy his lusts as the young man Matth. 19.22 when preachers exhort to reconciliation these deny for this power formal men have Joh. 5.40 I would and ye would not Matth. 23.37 Quest But why do formal men deny the power of Religion Answ 1 Because of the difficulty whereto the power of godliness calls men as 1 To part with every lust Matth. 5.29 A right hand and right eye and every enjoyment for Christ Luk. 14.33 without which we cannot be Christians 2 Because of the painfulness that must be used in the power 1 Tim. 4.8 9. Whereas any slothful performance will serve in a form 3 Because of the reproachfulness of it the power of Godliness exposes persons to reproach when they will balk no duty nor commit no known sin for this was Moses reproached Heb. 11.26 4 Because the power of godliness seems folly in the eyes of Carnal men 1 Cor. 2.14 5 Because they are bound with the cords of present sinful pleasures Job 20.12 13. compared with Prov. 5.22 2 Exhortation 1 Press towards the power of Religigion 2 Show forth the power of it 1 Press towards the power of Religion Means hereto 1 Draw near to God with thy Spirit as well as body Isa 29.13 Remember that thy heart is open before him Heb. 4.13 2 Receive not any thing in Religion upon any temporal ends either of credit profit relations of friends command of Princes c. but meerly because the force of truth prevailes upon thy understanding Some such ends prevailing with Judas and Demas they became meer formalists 3 Go not away from the duties of Religion as prayer c. till your hearts be nourished therein so Jacob Gen. 32.26 Hos 12.3 4. 4 Strengthen your selves in the power of Gods might 2 Tim. 2.1 5 Get a gracious frame of heart as there is a natural force that puts forth it self in Drugs Plants Precious stones so there is a supernatural power that puts forth it self in a principle of grace to the resistance of and victory over corruption 2 Shew forth the power of Religion 1 In the duties of thy particular relation as Master Husband Father Pastor It s to the reproach of Religion to see professing children disobedient professing servants contemptuous of their Masters 1 Tim. 6 1. Negligent ey-servants like stage players acting onely to please men 2 In being vvilling to do or suffer any thing for God Act. 9.6.21.13 3 In having our conversation sutable to our profession Phil. 1.27 Onely let your conversation be as becometh the Gospel 4 In resistance of sinfull temptations so Joseph Gen. 39.10 and those Saints Heb. 11.35 5
be damned will be great 2 Outward Privileges as prophesying and doing miracles will not stand us in stead at the Day of Judgment to move the Judg to have mercy upon us O then get something else to stand thee in stead at that Day even Christ his Righteousness where with Paul then desired to be covered Phil. 3.9 2 Cor. 5.3 2 Peter 3.11 3 There are many persons whom Christ knows with a general knowledg whom he never knew nor will know with a special knowledg of love and affection 4 That man that lives in a purpose of sin is in Gods account onely a worker of iniquity 5 That man that lives in any sin and dies therein must look at the Day of Judgment for ever to be severed from the presence of Christ V. 24. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doth them I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon the Rock Christ coming to conclude his Sermon tells his Auditory that there are two sorts of professing hearers 1 Bare hearers 2 Doers as well as hearers to the bare formal hearing Christ threatens destruction but to the doer he promises life and salvation This he sets down 1 Plainly v. 24. 2. By way of similitude comparing these two hearers to two builders one of which built upon the Sand and the other built upon a Rock the one when assaulted by temptations fell the other in the midst of greatest storms stood Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine By hearing he means the whole profession of Christianity Rom. 2.13 in general and hearing properly taken in particular Denoting that there may be and are abundance of hearers that are no more but hearers as the stony ground thorny ground and high-way side hearers Seeing themselves in the glass of the Law of God they go away and forget their shape as men do that take a glance of the glass and are gone James 1.23 but good hearers are like some Women that look long in the glass that they may form themselves by it And doth them As if he should say I have hitherto taught you how you may lead your lives holily and have shewed you the way to the Kingdom of Heaven therefore if ye do these things I have taught you ye will be like unto a wise man that built his house upon the Rock or upon a sure foundation knowing that else all his cost and labour will be in vain now the foundation of a Christian is faith and a godly practise 1 Tim. 6.19 Laying up in store a good foundation for time to come Obs Hearing and doing in godly hearers go together Such persons are blessed John 13.17 Luke 11.28 James 1.25 By doing Christ means a purpose of doing Learn we to joyn doing with hearing 1 Hereby we shall be able to stand against all storms and tempests 2 This will be the testimony of the honesty and integrity of our hearts Luke 8.15 The good ground with an honest and good heart having heard the Word kept it and brought forth fruit with patience 3 Such persons are blessed James 1.25 If you know these things blessed are ye if you do them No other knowledg save the knowledg of Christian doctrine though we had all knowledg of Histories Laws will stand in stead nor this neither without practise not the bearing of Christ in the womb nor giving him suck with the breast is comparable to this See Luke 11.27 28. Yet in opposition to carnal men who upon pretence of crying up practise cry down knowledg Christ tells that first there must be a knowledg before a practise And in this practise Christ intends the command of believing on his Son as the first and chiefest command without which we can never appear to comfort in the sight of the Judg. 4 By joyning doing with hearing God is honoured and glorified Matth. 5.16 John 15.8 And by the contrary God is dishonoured See Rom. 2.17 to v. 25. The Jews resting in the knowledg of Gods will and approving things that were excellent and in being guides of the blinde and not practising what they knew they caused the Name of God to be blasphemed v. 24. 1 Tim. 6.1 5 At the Day of Judgment we shall receive not according to what we have known but according to what we have done 2 Cor. 5.10 Revel 22.12 Matth. 25.34 Ephes 6.8 Matth. 16.27 6 Our knowledg will onely serve to justifie Gods damning us with the heavier condemnation if we do not practise what we know Luke 12.47 1 Peter 4.17 What shall become of them that obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ Rom. 2.7 8 9. 2 Peter 2.20 21. 7 Our comfort and crown will abound at the Day of Christ according to our care and conscience in the discharge of our duties and our misery if we do the contrary Matth. 25.20 21. Well done good and faithfull servant enter into the joy of the Lord but to the slothfull and unprofitable servant Christ saith Binde him hand and foot and cast him into utter darkness v. 26 27 28 30. 8 Practise joyned with hearing wins upon others 1 Pet. 2.12 The Heathens beholding the good works of Christians glorified God in the day of visitation 1 Pet. 3.1 The Heathen husbands were won to look after the truth by the conversation of their wives whiles they beheld their chaste conversation coupled with a fear of sinning against God A holy conversation steals into the hearts of them that behold it insensibly to build them up many times to salvation as a scandalous carriage doth into the hearts of others to build them up to damnation 9 An holy practise mightily blunts the rage of Persecutors 1 Pet. 3.13 Who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good Tit. 2.7 In all things shewing thy self a patern of good works why what then When your lives and speeches are well ordered they that are of the contrary part will be ashamed having no evil thing to say of you 10 All thy hearing knowledge and parts and common gifts will come to nothing and thou wilt be deprived of them unless thou joyn an holy practise to them Matth. 25.29 Take the talent from him From him that hath not to wit a fruitfull practise shall be taken away even that which he hath It is with Religion as with other trades that bring no gain unless diligently followed 11 Thou hast no interest in the mercy of God unless thou remember his Commandements to do them Psal 103.19 Many remember Gods commands to speak of them but few remember them to do them It was wittily spoken of one If God had given us his commandements onely to preserve he might have committed them to iron Coffers if onely to talk of them better to Geese and Parrots if onely for contemplation to Owles in Ivy-bushes or to Monks in Cloisters Gods scope was not to make trial of the wits of men who could sharpliest conceive nor of their memories who
not with other but with these eys Job 19.26 3 Sight is the most affective sense No sense runs quicker into the spirits of men Hence Jacob though he heard Joseph was alive yet would go and see him before he dies Gen. 45.28 Matth. 13.17 4 Sight is the most satisfactory sense See how greatly the Queen of Sheba was satisfied with what she saw 1 Kings 10.4 7. she had heard of Solomons glory but she did not believe it till her eys had seen it then she breaks out v. 8. The sight of the eys is better than the wandring of the desire Eccles 6.9 The affliction of these blinde men was the greater in that they were deprived of this sense yet even such sometimes have the want of seeing eys made up with sight of minde as Didymus St. Hieroms Master who was comforted by a Friend that came to visit him that though he wanted the eys which Mice and Flies had yet he had an intuitive mental sight which Angels had by which God was seen About these blinde men consider 1 Their Importunity They followed Christ and spake and cried unto him Sense of misery should make us importunate so the Woman of Cana Matth. 15.22 and the Widow with the unjust Judg. Luke 18.7 Acts 12.5 2 Their faith Thou Son of David have mercy on me It was the ordinary style of the Messias for the Promises made to David 2 Sam. 7.12 13 16. I will set up thy seed after thee and will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever Psalm 89.3 4. I have sworn unto David my servant thy seed will I establish for ever and build up thy throne to all generations Psalm 132.11 Hence the children cried Hosanna to the Son of David Matth. 21.16 Now the People judged by the great Miracles Christ did that he was this Son of David John 7.31 The People believed on him and said When Christ cometh will he do more Miracles than those which this man hath done As these blinde men saw the God-head of Christ shine forth in his Miracles so saw they the humane nature of Christ in that he was Davids Son and so they rested on him as the Messias both God and Man V. 28. And when he was come into the house the blinde men came unto him and Jesus saith unto them Believe ye that I am able to do this they say unto him Yea Lord. Christ defers the answering of them to try their faith and patience hence he answered them not in the way till they came to the house where he was which was at Capernaum c. 4.13 Believe ye that I am able to do this Quest Whether belief of Gods power without the mercy of God be the object of our faith Answ Christ saw their belief of Gods mercy because they desired mercy and because they acknowledged him to be the Messiah the doubt lay onely about Christs power They say unto him Yea Lord Where there is a belief of Gods power there is a knowledg in some measure that we do believe it Faith is like a Bucket every faith draws something from God the greater the Bucket is the more is drawn at a time Yet doth a weak faith receive Christ and his benefits as a weak Palsey shaking hand is able to receive a pardon V. 29. Then touched he their eys saying According to your faith be it unto you That Christ may stir them up to examine their faith he tells them that they shall receive according to it withall puts a difference betwixt the meritorious cause of their healing which was himself and the Instrument apprehending and receiving this benefit which was their faith 2 And withall shews that faith doth not go empty handed from God John 6.37 He that comes to me I will in no wise cast off V. 30. And their eys were opened and Jesus straitly charged them saying See that no man know it Their eys were opened Not their ey-lids but their eys some skin growing over Christ with his touch healed and gave them a perfect power of sight And Jesus straitly charged them saying See that no man know it That is till I give you leave to divulge it The Reasons were 1 Lest the Pharisees should being moved with envy cause him presently to depart as shortly they did 2 That after his Doctrine had been further preached this and divers other Miracles might come out together and the matter be so much more stupendous as it was in Elizabeth who hid her self five moneths Luke 1.24 3 To teach us sobriety that we should be ready to do good in secret though no present praise should accompany our so doing V. 31. But they when they were departed spread abroad his fame in all that Countrey Quest Whether did the blinde men well herein Answ In no wise Whatsoever good meanings they might have of promoting the glory of Christ or of satisfying those who questioned them how they came to their sight yet ought they to keep close to the command of Christ Prov. 4.24 25. No sacrifice is like obedience they were not called to spread the Name of Christ to others hence they sinned Every soul that spreads the Name of Christ had need to look to his and their call Some persons have no call at all Wicked persons have no call to take Gods name in their mouth nor godly men neither in these cases wherein they are expresly forbid Let not any pretence in the world exempt us from a plain command of God not the saving of our liberties lives estates no not the promoting the glory of Christ Not to ly for God Job 13.6 7. It was a good speech of a late Prince in this Nation Sin not against Conscience no not for the sake of the holy Trinity The works of Christ are to be published abroad but not against an express command of Christ And so much more cautelous should we be when we are straitly charged not to violate this or that command as the blinde men were here straitly charged or threatened as Expositors render the word though all the commands of Christ are grounded upon reason yet are we not too curiously to pry into the reason of the commands as probably these blinde men might do as to look to the command it self If it be interpreted to be sawciness to dispute the commands of men who are over us what sawciness is it then to dispute the commands of the Lord Neither can the blinde mens good intention excuse them for Uzzah had the same and Paul in persecuting the Saints Acts 26.11 nor yet their zeal for the Jews in stablishing their own righteousness had the zeal of God herein Rom. 10.2 3. V. 32. As they went out behold they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a Devil In this History we have these things 1 A dumb man possessed with a Devil brought to Christ v. 32. 2 The casting out the Devil by Christ v. 33. 3 The effects hereof 1 The multitudes marvelled saying It was
never so seen in Israel v. 34. 2 The Pharisees blasphemed saying He casteth out devils through the Prince of the devils A dumb man That is deaf and dumb for they that are deaf from their birth are wont to be dumb for they that cannot hear cannot learn words to express themselves There were many persons would not believe there were any devils as Sadduces and others for the conviction of these when they shall see ignorant men possessed to speak strange languages they never learned as Greek and Latine they may see there are devils This cure amongst the rest hath a Behold put upon it It 's probable that this man was not dumb from his birth but made dumb by the devil because when the devil was cast out the dumb spake Now if you ask why God would suffer the devil to possess men It is to let us see the power that the devil hath in possessed men for look as when he possesses the body he makes one blinde another deaf and dumb and bindes a third that they cannot move themselves as he did that daughter of Abraham Luke 13.16 for eighteen years together so Satan when he reigns in the hearts of natural men he makes them blinde dumb deaf and senseless to all spiritual things V. 33. And when the devil was cast out the dumb spake and the multitudes marvelled saying It was never so seen in Israel God hath given us our tongues to sound forth his praises and means whereby we may edifie one another hence those Satan cannot draw to blasphemy railing filthy speaking he lays snares for to make them dumb as it 's like he did this poor man Christ doth not require faith of this possessed man as he did of the blinde men because he was dumb and deaf and being deaf he could neither hear nor answer but Christ upon the intreaty of those who brought him healed him Christ requires of us onely acording to the means he gives Devil was cast out For the manner of the casting out of the devil the Text is silent it 's like Christ commanded the devil to come out of him Multitudes marvelled saying It was never so seen in Israel Hyperbole for Christ had done greater miracles from which the multitude did not derogate 1 But the scope of the present wonderment was to stir up one another to look on him as the Messiah Wonder was the beginning of Philosophy Propter admirari coeperunt homines Philosophari here wonder was the beginning of salvation 2 To extol Christ above any of the old Prophets as Elias Isaias Jeremy c. none of whom had done so many and so great miracles Christ spent a whole day in doing miracles Christ did not lay staff upon the sick nor cover them with his garment but cured them with his Word V. 34. But the Pharisees said He casteth out devils through the Prince of the devils Look as the Sun Moon and Stars according to the variety of the subject have variety of influences the Sun softens wax hardens clay they beget one thing and corrupt another so the Sermons and Miracles of Christ which stir'd up admiration and reverence in the multitude in the Pharisees stir up opposition and blasphemy One cause brings forth diversity of effect as the Word 2 Cor. 2.15 and also the Supper 1 Cor. 11.29 The Pharisees said He casteth out devils Here was their blasphemy not far from the sin against the holy Ghost if not the very same out of malice to ascribe that to the devil which was done by the finger of God Men that are maliciously affected will calumniate the most glorious works of God yea and speak against Preachers and their Sermons and expositions how godly soever Through the Prince of the devils The Prince of the devils is the same that is called the Prince of this world John 12.31 As there is an order among the good Angels so is there among the devils Eph. 6.12 Thus did the Pharisees blaspheme Matth. 12.24 Luke 11.15 against whom Christ sufficiently disputes That if Satan cast out Satan how can then his Kingdome stand Now this Prince of the devils is the same that elsewhere is called Beelzebub the god of Flies an idol of the Ekronites V. 35. And Jesus went about all the Cities and Villages teaching in the Synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdome and healing every sickness and every disease among the people We have four things considerable to the end of this Chapter 1 The mercifull and charitable affection of Christ in that he went about all the Cities and Villages preaching the Gospel and healing their diseases therein showing mercy to their souls and bodies v. 35. 2 The motive that moved him thereto which was his compassion or his yerning bowels v. 36. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the word Compassion is the feeling of another mans passion 3 The object of this compassion it was forlorn souls who were as sheep without a Shepherd For though they had Annas and Caiphas and many others Priests Scribes and Pharisees who boasted themselves to be Pastors yet Christ did not acknowledge them so to be 4 The remedy Christ propounds for relieving these famished souls which was that Christ speaks unto his Disciples and in them to all other Christians who were potent with God to pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send forth labourers Two grounds Christ gives for our so praying 1 The greatness of the harvest multitudes of hearers not yet converted and many converted persons who stand need of building up 2 The fewness of labourers that is of such who were able and willing to work in Gods Vineyard Jesus went about all the Cities Here 's Christ his unweariedness in doing the Lords work It appears they had Synagogues both in Cities and Villages John 18.20 Jesus said I spoke openly to the world I ever taught in the Synagogue and in the Temple whither the Jews always resort and in secret have I said nothing Now Christ went up and down to preach among them Where people have any desire after means of grace some help should be afforded to them Acts 16. When Paul in a Vision saw a man of Macedonia saying Come over and help us Paul gathered that he had a call to go thither Moreover because the Apostles and Christ could not go every where they vvent onely to the Cities and Villages that from thence the Gospel might be scattered up and down in the Country And Villages For even the souls of persons in Villages ought to be precious such was Cenchrea a Village and Haven near to Corinth Many Preachers thrust together in Cities for outward accommodations yea even there vvhere their Ministry is loathed vvhiles many poor breathing souls in the Villages are hunger starved There may be a temptation upon Teachers herein who are heartless in preaching unless they have a numerous auditory to hear vve may desire to preach to many because vvhere there are many in likelihood some vvil be
escape the danger of death for the profession of Christ so Peter to save his life denied that he knew Christ Shall lose it that is unless with Peter he repent of his treachery upon a sincere repentant purpose to dye in truth for the confession and profession of the name of Christ our former treacheries we believing pardon in Christ and bewailing them shall not be charged upon us Whatsoever men talk of faith we see none are saved but Martyrs those that either actually or habitually in the preparation of their hearts do dye for Christ Hence sprange those noble resolutions of sundry of the Saints Acts 20.24.21.13 Gal. 6.14 2 Cor. 4.11 12. Rev. 2.13.12.11 Tertul. in Scorpiaco cap. 11. saith he hath found his life that hath denied Christ by gaining life but he shall destroy it in hell he that thinks in denying to gain his life shall lose it at present qui confessus occiditur he that confesses is kill'd but he shall finde his life into an everlasting life How can we better expend our life then to lay it out for Christ which in a short time will dye of it self how many lay down their lives for the Princes of the world and shall not we dye for Christ And he that loseth his life for my sake shall finde it that is had rather dye then deny the profession of my truth and Gospel they shall finde it in the day of the resurrection this is not easie as men think Thy letters pleased me not because I smelt in them I know not what spiritual presumption do not boast that thou wilt do and suffer many things for the word of God he that stands let him take heed that he fall not Thou hast not yet fought with death It s not so easie a thing as it is easily spoken of it c. Therefore walk in the fear of God and contempt of thy self and pray God that he would do all thy works and thou do nothing but be a sabbath to Christ Luth. Tom. 2 epist fol. 62. ad Gabrielem Didimum Pastorem Aldinburgensem Learn we then to contemn our life for the witness of Christs truth Rev. 12.11 They loved not their lives unto the death and so overcame by the word of their Testimony If life be to be contemned much more are estates friends and liberties for the cause of Christ seeing nothing is more dear unto us then life Happy is that day happy is that death with joy and chiefest thankfulness if at any time it fall out that I be apprehended and be destroyed in that cause Tom. 2.302 When one Christian is slain ten are begotten Luth. V. 40. He that receiveth you receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me Here is the last suffering which the Disciples might fear viz. That no man would receive them being so miserable to this Christ saith Look as there will be those who will receive me and my Father so will there be those who will receive you to their houses and that kindness they do to you I will take it as done to my self Matth. 25.40 What good man would shut out Jesus Christ no more will they shut out you Look as in the receiving of an Ambassadour the King is received in receiving him Preachers are Ambassadours for Christ 2 Cor. 5.20 Therefore in receiving them Christ is received All believers are members of his body in the happiness of whom the head is wont to sympathize Thus was Paul at first received by the Galatians as an Angel of God even as Christ Jesus Gal. 4.14 15. They being willing to have given their eyes unto him Preachers and other godly men might in the midst of so much hatred of the world be ready to think how shall we do to live therefore Christ opens the doors of all godly men to them to excite them whereto Christ proposes a great reward so that as the Princes of the world reward the kindnesses that are done to their Ambassadours and friends so and much more will Jesus Christ Receiveth him that sent me as if he should say he that receiveth my Apostles receiveth me and not onely me but also him that sent me Now he that receiveth God receiveth everlasting blessedness much whereof is seated in the beholding of God We may see wherein the Law of hospitality consisteth not in keeping open house for tag and rag but in the receiving the Messengers and Saints of Christ Luke 14.12 They cannot recompense thee but thou shalt be recompensed at the Resurrection of the just Heb. 13.2 Be not forgetfull to entertain strangers for some thereby as Lot and Abram have entertained Angels unawares Take heed your hearts grudge not at the charge of receiving such 1 Pet. 4.9 Remember Gaius who was not onely Pauls host but also the host of the whole Church Rom. 16.23 In receiving such we are fellow helpers to the truth 3 Epist of John v. 8. It was the wickedness of Diotrephes v. 9. That he would not receive the apostle nor yet the poor Saints but cast those out of the Church that did receive them When at the day of Christ Christ shall acknowledge himself to have been relieved in his Saints many hard hearted men will wish they had received him V. 41. He that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet shall receive a Prophets reward and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous mans reward Here 's a second consolation against fear of not receiving taken from the Reward that will redound to such as shall receive good men Quest What is meant by Prophet Answ One that is enabled to expound the prophetical places of Scriptures There are three sorts of Disciples here mentioned 1 Apostles v. 40. The second sort are Prophets 3 Righteous men In general by Prophets he means Teachers of the Gospel these are in several places put next to the Apostles Ephes 2.20 Ye are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Ephes 3.5 Which in other ages was not made known as it is now revealed to his holy Apostles and Prophets Ephes 4.11 He gave some to be Apostles and some Prophets 1 Cor. 12.28 First Apostles secondarily Prophets These Prophets are distinguished from righteous men as a sort of men abounding in spiritual wisdom 1 Cor. 12.29 Are all Apostles are all Prophets 1 Cor. 14.37 If any man think himself to be a Prophet or spiritual man So here in the Text they are distinguished from ordinary righteous men by the name and by the reward Now for Prophets we finde them in several of the Churches as at Rome Rom. 12.6 He that prophesieth let him prophesie according to the proportion of faith At Antioch also Acts 13.1 there was in the Church that was at Antioch certain Prophets and Teachers as Barnabas Simeon Lucius Manaen Saul In the Church at Jerusalem there was Judas and Silas Acts 15.32 who being Prophets exhorted Acts 11.27 the
them Matth. 10.33 they know else we cannot be Christ his Disciples Luke 14.26 33. Till such times as we have a purpose of heart and an habitual intention to leave all that we have for Christ and to suffer whatsoever the rage of men shall inflict upon us we are not sincere with God Matth. 19.17 Luke 14.27 12 Whom dost thou make thy end A sincere man makes God his end Rom. 14.7 8. None of us that is of us sincere Christians that lives unto himself but whether we live we live unto the Lord he doth all to Gods glory 1 Cor. 10.31 2 Cor. 5.15 Christ died that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves There 's a twofold end 1 Absolute and ultimate 2 Subordinate and conditional Hypocrites make God their subordinate and conditional end Isai 66.5 Your Brethren that hated you that cast you out for my names sake said Let the Lord be glorified They lookt at Gods glory in casting out his Saints So Jehu he had a zeal for the Lord of hosts 2 Kings 10.16 but the Lord was not his last end but his last end was to get a Kingdom to which all other ends were subservient Contrarily a sincere man makes God his last end as he studies prays preaches labours but why surely in order to God and his glory God is the end of his ends his last end whereto all his subordinate ends refer that is an absolute end which if all other ends were laid aside moves a man to do a thing The end a godly man aims at is to be acquainted with his duty and to discharge it in faithfulness all his projects and endeavours are running heaven-ward Slothfulness carelesness and remisness in the things of God and vehemence eagerness and intentness in our own affairs argues that the World is our absolute and last end and that God is onely the subordinate and inferiour end 3 Caution If the principal thing that Christ looks at in the actions of Christians be the sincerity of their actings then let us take heed of hypocrisie in all our services This is twofold 1 Gross hypocrisie which is when a man knows he dissembles with God or man Absalom pretended a vow at Hebron but intended the Murder of Amnon Such was Jezebel in her pretended Fast for Naboth and the Elders of Jezreel Jezebel knew that she proclaimed the Fast onely to get Naboths Vineyard and the Elders did it for fear they should provoke Jezebel Such was Judas in his pretending the poor when he would have had the Ointment sold John 12.6 and in his saying Hail Master and kissing Christ So the Scribes and Pharisees in their praying in the corners of the streets so the Pharisees Mat. 23.15 in their making long prayers and devouring Widows houses they were like whited Sepulchres appearing outwardly beautifull but within full of hypocrisie and iniquity v. 27 28. these are like those who at Stage Plays wear a Vizard they have Eliahs Mantle but not his Spirit They know they dissemble with God and the World and if they had the ends they aim at then farewell God and Religion These persons who for length of time go on thus are seldom converted 2 Close hypocrisie which is when a man thinks his actions are good and words and actions sincere mean time the rot tenness of his heart is known to God Prov. 16.2 Prov. 30.12 There is a generation pure in their own eys and yet is not washed from their filthiness Such was Cain Gen. 4.3 the Pharisee Luke 18.12 Paul in his Judaism Phil. 3.6 the Jews that went about to stablish their own righteousness yea many Papists and formal Protestants and Professors The mischief of this close hypocrisie is that it makes way for gross hypocrisie as in Saul who first formalized Gods worship after grosly dissembled Judas first clave to Christ for gain after betrayed him with a kiss Such close hypocrites were the Laodiceans Rev. 3.17 Concerning this I shall lay down four things 1 What it is 2 Cautions 3 What signes of it 4 What remedies against it 1 What it is There are many descriptions given of it some thus It 's when a man will do something in Gods worship but will not do it thorowly for example a man is not willing to let the duty go altogether for then were he prophane nor will perform it zealously for then were he holy but when he goes betwixt both does something but will not do it thorowly Others thus Hypocrisie is when a man doth works like unto good works but are not either because not commanded of God or because not done as he commands being done without faith and love for to deceive others for praise or profit sake Polanus l. 8. c. 10. p. 643. Others It 's a corruption of the will Wheatly Gods Husb. p. 14. whereby it inclines it self to seem good by doing some good and leaving some evil for ones own sake For the word Hypocrite some derive it of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies under and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies judgement because an Hypocite hides his judgement whiles his outward man goes one way his minde another his tongue speaks one thing his heart another Budaeus derives it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from counterfeiting so it signifies one that takes on him the person of another as Players do who on the stage appear sometimes as Beggars sometimes as Kings Translators and Interpreters fearing the name Stage-players would not be acceptable to godly ears retained the Greek word Hypocrite Mat. 6.5 When ye give alms pray be not like these Stage-players At the second hand it signifies all others which carry themselves with other faces then their own as Stage players do feigning honesty and godliness in shew when they are indeed wicked Herod is an image of the great men of the world who seem to favour the word but privily laugh at it and destroy it yet so that they would not seem to have destroyed it yea they praise John and love Christ Luth. Tom. 4.345 Hypocrisie is an outward shew of goodness not in the soul What Hypocrisie is which a person knowingly or overweeningly takes upon himself for some base and sinister end that he may seem good to others or to himself mean time harbouring some darling sin that he will not forsake and shunning some duty he will not close with 1 This takes in both gross and close hypocrisie gross hypocrisie whiles a man shall make 1 an outward shew of goodness not in the soul as Jehu 2 King 10.16 Come see my zeal for God his zeal was primarily to secure a Kingdome at the second hand or by accident for God 2 When a person shall knowingly take up such a profession contrary to what he knows is in his intent as Ishmael Jer. 41.6 Judas 3 To do this for base and sinister ends as the Scribes and Pharisees Matth. 23.29 they builded Prophets tombs to cover malice 4 He harbours some