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
18. We see it in Devils who believe and tremble Matth. 8.29 Contrarily filial fear hath quiet of heart joyned with it The heart is never in so good a temper as when it is most fearfull of sin Acts 9.31 The Churches walking in the fear of the Lord walked also in the comfort of the Holy Ghost Mal. 4.2 Unto you that fear my Name shall the Sun of Righteousness appear 4 Those that have slavish fear would fain be rid of it 1 Kings 22.26 Zedekiah goes from chamber to chamber to hide himself the wicked in fear of Gods judgment call to mountains and hills to hide themselves Revel 6.16 Contrarily Saints would still have the fear of God continue upon them nay if they finde it decaying they complain Isai 63.17 Lord why hast thou hardened my heart from thy fear 5 Slavish fear is from 1 The sting of a guilty conscience Deut. 28.65 66. The Lord shall give thee a trembling heart and thou shalt fear day and night Saul 1 Sam. 13.7 when he was near the battle all the people followed him trembling Hypocrites in Sion looking on God as devouring fire fearfulness surprized them Isai 33.15 Paul preaching to Faelix of righteousness temperance and judgement to come he living an unrighteous and an intemperate life trembled to think of the judgement to come and was so stung with it that he was driven to make Paul leave off his preaching 2 From the expectation of future wrath Heb. 10.27 they have a certain fearfull looking for of judgement and fiery indignation Contrarily filial fear 1 Ariseth from faith Heb. 11.7 By faith Noah was moved with fear Isai 50.10 Or 2 From godly sorrow 2 Cor. 7.11 Fear was one effect that godly sorrow wrought in the repenting Corinthians the soul having felt much inward sorrow for the evils it hath done is affraid to do the like evils again 3 From love to God we are affraid to offend those whom we love an husband fears to offend his wife a good childe fears to offend his father so the soul that loves God fears to offend him Motives to this Godly fear 1 Gods fear is a perpetual duty Some duties are but for a time and then at an end but this is perpetual Prov. 23.17 Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long Yea We are to pass the time of our sojourning here in fear 1 Pet 1.17 Psal 19.9 The fear of the Lord endureth for ever Hence this duty is practised by glorified Saints who in heaven know evil as well as good but by the fear of God in them their wills are eternally determined to the choice of good 2 It 's a principal duty lying upon Saints above all people in the world Psal 34 11. Fear the Lord ye his Saints for God is wont to punish them more sorely then other men in this world when they sin against him Exod. 23.21 Provoke him not for he will not pardon your iniquities Deut. 32.19 Amos 3.2 As men that have more to lose then others are affraid to offend Princes so the Saints that have more to lose then the rest of the world should be affraid to offend the King of heaven they may in case they sin lose Gods face Isai 50.10 the peace of their consciences and be smitten with temporal strokes 1 Cor. 11.32 3 It 's an honourable Character to be a man fearing God 1 Kings 18.12 It 's said of Obadiah That he feared the Lord from his youth Job 1.1 Job was a man fearing God and eschewing evil Hananiah Neh. 7.2 Cornelius feared God and all his house feared God Yea a woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised Prov. 31.30 4 The children of God have found much comfort in this grace Neh. 1.11 Let thine ear be attentive to thy servants that desire to fear thy Name Yea when they finde no other grace in their hearts but this grace yet are they commanded to stay their hearts herein Isai 50 10. Contrarily they have been much troubled if they have found either a want or a decay of this grace 5 Gods fear as at other times so especially in evil times is a principal treasure to good men Isai 33.6 The fear of the Lord is his treasure The meaning of the place is from Gods fear arises all prosperity to supply us as out of a treasure arises money to supply our needs 6 Gods fear is the most watchfull affection as being conversant about danger How often would temptations captivate us were it not for this in-dwelling grace in Saints Jer. 32.40 This grace doth as it were stand Centry for the soul Psal 119.11 7 The attributes wherein God stands related to us 1 His power and justice Job 37.23 24. He is excellent in power and judgement and plenty of justice men do therefore fear him 2 The pitifull affection or disposition God bears to them that fear him Psal 103.13 As a father pities his children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him Psal 147.11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him in what ever Nation such Saints be God being no respecter of persons they are accepted of God with a favourable respect Acts 10.35 8 The relations wherein we stand ingaged to the Lord 1 Of servants If earthly servants must have a fear of their masters according to the flesh Eph. 6.5 ought not we to the Lord Hence the Lord expostulates Mal. 1.6 If I be a master where is my fear 2 Of children What dutifull child stands not in fear of offending his father Heb. 12.9 We gave earthly parents reverence shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live 9 Gods fear sweetens a low condition Prov. 15.16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord then great revenues and trouble therewith that is then great revenues got with a wounded and troubled conscience Psal 37.16 10 Such men as fear God are blessed Prov. 28.14 Blessed is the man that feareth alwayes They are often blessed in this world especially when a delight in Gods law is joyned therewith Psal 112.1 Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord his seed shall be mighty upon earth wealth and riches shall be in his house c. Also in the world to come they are blessed Rev. 11.19 When the time comes that the dead shall be judged there is a reward to be given to all that fear Gods Name both small and great Come we to the second thing viz. The true fear of God where it is eats out the fear of men we see it in Moses parents Moses himself in the Mid-wives Exod. 1.19 in Shadrach Meshech and Abednego Psal 27.1 3 The third point is God is able to destroy soul and body in hell This is called the second death Rev. 20.6 called a double destruction Jer. 17.18 The bodies of all that are in the graves shall come forth John 5.28 They that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation death and grave gives them
love of sinfull correspondency make unhappy discoveries this way Mic. 7.5 Trust not in a friend put not confidence in a brother 4 Beware of purposing to turn back into the waies of errour because of the opposition we finde in Gods wayes If once we put our hand to Gods plow we are not to look back Luke 9.62 5 Beware of a cowardly giving way to the opposers of the truth Jeremy complained there were some were not valiant for the truth Jer. 9.3 Contrary Paul would not give place by subjection to the false Teachers no not for an hour Gal. 2.5 that the truth of the Gospel might continue If any man should intrench upon your names estates relations you would contend against them and not spare your purses in this case let us be like minded in matters of Religion so Nehemiah c. 6.9 11 15. To this the Apostles exhort Phil. 1.27 28. Jude 3. It was well said by Luther I will not fly God assisting nor leave the word of God in the front of the battel I had rather burn among the living coals then stink halfe alive if not altogether dead Reason thus either the cause is Gods or not if not why stir we a foot in it if it be why go we not thorow with it 6 Let all that are godly be united among themselves if not in a same opinion yet in a charitable affection and united conjunction to oppose wickedness and to stand for holiness Divide and overcome was the old maxime There 's a story of a Father that gave a quiver of arrows to his sons and bad them break them being united in the quiver but they could not he bad each of them after to take out a single arrow and then any one of them could break them he made the application that so long as his sons were united none could hurt them but when disjoyned and severed one from another they became a prey to all I may apply this fitly to all Saints who are the subjects of the worlds rage Psalm 133.1 3 Use Consolation to saints under much opposition They in this world have little peace but in heaven there remains a rest for them Heb. 4.10 11. Rev. 14.13 Yet as the weather-beaten mariner in sight of his Haven is comforted in the hopes of his arrival therein where he shall have an end of all storms so we being tossed under a continual storm should comfort our selves by faith and hope in the haven of our rest To these contentious persons that obey not the truth but oppose the professors of it there will be tribulation Rom. 2.7 8. but to thee who by a patient continuance in well-doing goes on there will be peace Christians are apt sometimes to grow passionate under the oppositions of the world Jer. 15.10 Woe is me saith Jeremy that thou hast born me a man of contention and strife to the whole earth but this is our comfort 2 Thes 1.6 7. It is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you and to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels V. 35. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her mother and the daughter in law against her mother in law Obj. But what seems more monstrous then this Text Christ seems to overturn all Laws which ordain honour and love of children to their parents Christ contrary comes to set them at variance Answ The nearest end of Christ his coming was by his doctrine to unite hearts but the separation mentioned here was an accidental end The world cannot indure the Gospel but hate all that receive it so that the argument is he that stirs up strife and variance is guilty of sin but Christ doth so therefore he is guilty of sin Answ The proposition is true by it self the assumtion is true onely by accident else it s false for what a blessed peace should we have would every man receive the Gospel Obj. It s said of John Baptist He shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just Answ This is the proper end of the Gospel if wicked men hindred it not but the contrary through wicked mens malice oft falls out Gods children may retort those words which Eliah did to Ahab to the wicked of the world 1 Kings 18.17 18. Art not thou he that troubles Israel Eliah answered I have not troubled Israel but thou and thy fathers house in that ye have forsaken the commandment of the Lord as Joshua said to Achan Jos 7.25 Why hast thou troubled us the Lord shall trouble thee this day The cause why the world troubles the Saints is because they witness against their evil John 7.7 The world cannot hate you but me it hateth because I testifie of it that the works thereof are evil There 's no bond so strait which the Gospel will not break in sunder through the corruption of wicked mens hearts See it Jer 12.6 For even thy brethren and the house of thy father even they have dealt treacherously with thee they have called a multitude after thee believe them not though they speak fair words unto thee One part of the trial of Christians is to be exercised with contentions when the Lord calls his people from the wicked of the world 2 Cor. 6.15 16 17. Come out from among them and touch not the unclean thing and I will be your God and ye shall be my sons The world thinks this an intolerable wrong to make a departure the mother is angry with her daughter for it and the daughter with the mother yea sometimes a Church with a member and casts him out for this because he will preserve his conscience pure Church-communion is an high priviledge but to sin against conscience is too high a price for it V. 36. And a mans foes shall be they of his own houshold Christ had in part set forth the variance the Gospel brings not of it self for Christ is the Prince of peace Esa 9.6 The Gospel of it self is the word of reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 Believers are the children of peace and follow after it 1 Pet. 3.11 but by accident in that wicked men will not suffer their superstitions and wickedness to be reproved he comes to close up all that a mans enemies shall be they of his own houshould The unconverted wife or servant will oppose the converted husband and master as Christ had prepared his Disciples in the former verse against the enmity of kindred and neighbours which words were in part taken out of Jer. 9.4 Take ye heed every one of his neighbour and trust ye not in any brother for every brother will utterly supplant and every neighbour will walk with slanders So now Christ prepares his Disciples against all enmity which shall be in their own houses Some times the childe is angry with
nor in that which is to come therefore some sins are forgiven in the world to come Answ Mark expounds it that such a one hath never forgiveness Mark 3.29 Matthew to aggravate the sin against the holy Ghost uses a Periphrasis as if we should speak of a sick man he can sleep neither day nor night that is never or as if we should say the grace of faith can never be bought with mony neither in this life nor in the life to come that is never For that place 1 Pet. 3.18 19 20. Being put to death in the flesh but quickned by the Spirit by which also he went to preach to the spirits in prison which sometimes were disobedient when once the long suffering of God waited in the dayes of Noah therefore say some the Gospel was preached in the world to come for forgiveness there is a misunderstanding of three things in this text 1 the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by which they understood the soul of Christ as by flesh his body the body they held to dye but the soul to remain alive in which soul say they he went and preached but by the flesh of Christ is meant his humanity according to this he is said to be put to death but by his spirit is meant his divinity Joh. 4.23 By the power of this spirit and divinity he was raised from the dead 2 Cor. 13.4 A second word misunderstood is this to the Spirits in prison Where the Word are is to be understood or the word being they understood were or had been which words are referred to those men that in the time of Noah were unbelievers and were then in the world now in Peters time their souls were in Hell for by the prison is meant Hell Rev. 20.7 There they are kept to the day of judgement The third word which almost deceived all was the word Going or went which they understood of his going out of the world into Hell when it was meant of his going out of Heaven into the world and speaking then by his spirit in the ministry of Noah to these rebells that were now in Hell in Saint Peters time Now that no sins are forgiven in the world to come appears 1 Because in this life onely are tenders of grace 2 Cor. 6.2 Behold now is the accepted time now is the day of salvation When the master of the house hath shut to the door of this life and ye stand without and knock and say Lord Lord Christ will say Depart from me I know you not Luk. 13.25 The gate of grace was wholly shut unto the foolish Virgins Matth. 25.11 2 The time betwixt this and death is the time for repentance patience and constancy and after death is the present receiving of the crown Rev. 2.10 Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life The godly lamented Stephen at his death but never prayed for him Col. 1.14 9 The grievousness of that prison whereinto unpardoned sins will cast us 1 We are afraid to be cast into a stinking prison for debt yet may there be hope one way or other to get out by satisfaction or compounding or the creditours pity but none of these can befall thee if thou dyest in thy sins and be cast into that prison thou canst not come out by satisfaction because that is of force onely by Christ his satisfaction in this life Act. 13.39 40. Col. 1.13 14. nor yet by composition for thou must lye there till thou hast paid the utmost farthing Luk. 12.59 nor by the creditours mercy because after death the wicked shall have judgement without mercy Jam. 2.13 2 There will be no running away from this prison because the prisoner is bound hand and foot Matth. 22.13 Bind him hand and foot and take him away and cast him into outer darkness Kept in everlasting chains Jude 6. Psal 49. Like sheep that are driven into the fold so are they driven into Hell ver 14. Luk. 16.26 3 In other prisons we have friends come to visit us but here not onely friends 2 Thess 1.9 but also all other comforts shall be removed yea the damned shall be deprived of the presence of God If the deprivement of the sight of God by faith be so grievous how grievous will the deprivation of the beatifical sight in glory be 4 The perpetuity of it to be condemn'd to perpetual imprisonment and that in some loathsom dungeon is terrible yet death may set us free thence but from the prison of Hell there 's no getting out The worm never dyes nor the fire never goes out Mark 9.44 45 46 47 48. It s five times set down the fire that never shall be quenched which are not idle repetitions but to ascertain us of the perpetuity of the torment If the damned had hope after some millions of years to have their torments ended it were something but the burnings are everlasting Isai 33.14 Isai 30.33 the Worm everlasting Isai 66.24 the Fire everlasting Revel 20.10 the contempt everlasting Dan. 12.2 Object But by what right will God punish temporary faults with eternal punishments Answ 1. Sin is committed against an infinite Majesty and so deserves infinite punishment now because man is a finite creature and cannot suffer for it at once therefore he must suffer for it successively to all eternity 2 Because in unpardoned sinners so dying there 's a wicked habit that should they live ever they would sin ever the sinner sins in his eternity and God punishes in his eternity 3 Punishment is to be measured not by length of time the offence is in committing but by the greatness of the offence Murder and Adultery are soon committed shall the Offender be no longer punished than the offence is committing 4 As we are to look upon the perpetuity of this Prison so upon the darkness of it Jude 6. the rebellious Angels are reserved under darkness chains of darkness 2 Peter 2.4 to the wicked the mist of darkness is reserved for ever 2 Peter 2.17 Light is most comfortable but in Hell there 's fire without light 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because the damned see not 10 Together with pardon come all other blessings Ezek. 36.25 26 27. I will sprinkle clean water what more the cleansing from filthiness a new heart the putting of the Spirit within us writing the Law in the heart Power over sin follows pardon of sin Rom. 7.15.8.2 yea all good things here Rom. 8.32 and glorification in Heaven hereafter Whom he justified them he gloried Rom. 8.30 11 True happiness consists in forgiveness of sins the World counts them happy that have great Estates that have the Princes ear but the Lord tells us those are happy that have sins pardoned Psalm 32.1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven and whose sin is covered I am covered under the shadow of the wings of Christ and live secure under the most broad heaven of
to diswade you 1 This inordinate love makes means of grace become fruitless When the King had made his feast farmes and Oxen kept the persons invited from coming Luk. 14.18 when Ezekiel preached unto miracle that his voice was as the sound of a Musical instrument Ezek. 33.31 yet his hearers profited not by it because their hearts ran after their covetousness the thorny ground hearers brought no fruit to perfection why the thorns of earthly cares sucking out the state of their hearts choked it as weeds let among corn suck out the state of the ground Matth. 13.22 Yea worldliness makes men scoff at the Word Luk. 16.14 The Pharisees who were covetous heard all these things and they derided him or blew their noses at him as the Word signifies Yea though they hear the Word and consent both to the truth and goodness of it yet worldliness keeps men from closing with it in the great duty of self-denial as in the young man Math. 19. who went away being sorry he could not keep Christ and his possessions together 2 It makes us dis-relish heaven and heavenly things and this is a wofull frame of heart Rom. 8.5 Contraries cannot subsist together in any eminent degree in one and the same subject 3 It pierces the soul thorow with many sorrows 1 Tim. 6.10 pinching the poor griping the widow and fatherless getting wealth unjustly or holding it unjustly these pierce the soul as if a dagger went to a mans heart How did Judas thirty pieces gall his conscience This especially in an evil day Eccles 5.17 he hath much sorrow with his sickness Such men in the day of death are like a carriers horse which having carried gold and silver all the day is disburthened of them at night and put into the stable with a galled back so shalt thou be in death disburthened of all thy gold and silver and cast into hell with a galled conscience 4 Love of the world inordinately will make us cast off religion in time of trial The Apostle saith 1 Tim. 6.10 That some having coveted after money they have erred from the faith the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have erred like wandring stars from the faith and so Jude calls them how difficult nay impossible is the command of self-denial to a worldly heart how would such turn to any religion to save their estates as one Ecebolius that in the reign of Constantine was a Christian under Julian an heathen under Jovinian a Christian God being a Christians end whatsoever intercepts communion betwixt God and the soul is to be cast off 5 Inordinate love of the world exposes a man to many lusts and tentations 1 Tim. 6.9 They that will be rich they fall into a snare and temptation that is the snare of tentation they will be rich it s their onely study hence they fall into many foolish and hurtful lusts as stealing witness Achan lying as Gehezi Ananias Saphira Prov. 21.6 hence called Mammon of unrighteousness deceitful riches Every creature naturally fears the snare and shall not we fear such a condition as will insnare the conscience Earthly things are compared to thick clay Hab. 2.6 As our feet are apt to stick in the clay so are our affections on earthly things 6 These things thou loves so inordinately cannot stand thee in stead in another world When thou comes at Christs Tribunal what will it profit thee that thou hast left so much for every child or that thy children ruffle up and down in silk and satten or that thy posterity have stately houses rich furniture fare deliciously and have a mighty train will this mitigate thy torments when thou art in Hell Perhaps they drink wine every day and thou canst not get a drop of water to cool thy tongue Mightest thou carry thy baggs thy lands thy all into another world it were something but as a certain Martyr in Queen Maryes time when some offered her money she refused it saying I am going to a country where money will bear no price 1 Tim. 6.18 19. Paul bids us to be ready to distribute willing to communicate laying up in store or as the word is They treasure up unto themselves a good foundation for time to come Works of mercy are called a foundation because as the one is hid so is the other and as from the foundation the house rises up on high so from these good works proceeding from faith the crown arises so much the higher 7 Thy life consists not in these earthly things thou doest so inordinately affect but in God Luk. 12.15 Take heed and beware of covetousness for a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of things he possesseth Thy temporal life consists not in them for thou shalt not live a day the longer because thou hast a vast estate nor thy spiritual life consists not in it for what duty is it but thou mayest do without them Thou sayest thou canst not shew mercy Largeness of affection rather then large gifts shows what the heart is as in the widow that cast in two mites into the treasury Thy eternal life consists not in them for all the treasures in the world will not bring a soul to heaven Nay by these earthly things many times life is shortened especially if gotten by indirect means Jer. 17.11 As the Partrich sitteth upon Eggs and hatcheth them not so he that getteth riches and not by right shall leave them in the midst of his days and in the end shall die a Fool. The abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep Eccles 5.12 Taking away sleep they take away life and thus are riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt v. 13. It is with worldly men as with the Bee◠that goes from flower to flower to gather Honey which when they have gotten they carry it to the Hive in fine the Husbandman comes to take the Hive and Honey and drowns all the Bees or some way destroys them So the sons of men are as busie as Bees in sucking earthly things in fine death comes and takes them and another enjoys the Honey To conclude thy life and happiness then is in God thy wealth is in and from God What is thy wealth without God but Rust and Canker Thy honour without God but an heavy burden which in the day of account will press thy soul Thy ease without God but a future destruction Ease slays the wicked Prov. 1.32 All the good and comfort that is in any worldly enjoyment is from God as the light of a candle is from the fire or as a cistern of water is from the fountain He that hath God wants not any good thing Psal 84.11 In having God we have all things because we have him that hath all things without whom the whole World if you had it is like the Air without the Sun a darksom comfortless body to enjoy good in any thing we must enjoy God for every creature is good to us onely
as God comes in with it not otherwise 8 Thou shalt never finde rest in affecting earthly things inordinately Rest is the centre at which all intellectual natures as well as natural bodies aims at but worldly men finde no rest Other sinners sometimes finde rest from their lusts the Drunkard is not always drunk nor the unclean person always commits uncleanness but the worldling is still in the World morn and night the desires of such are compared to Hell Hab. 2.5 It 's there spoken of the King of Babylon who though he had gathered to him all nations and people yea and their treasures Esa 10.13 as one gathereth eggs that are left yet was his desire enlarged as Hell and could not be satisfied a true character of the worldlings desire which is boundless and endless Quest But may we not lawfully desire earthly things Answ I 'le show how far we may desire them 2 How far not 1 We may desire them with a desire of reference so far as they may be furtherances of us in our journey to heaven as Mr. Tindall the Martyr said I desire these earthly things so far as they may be helps to the keeping of thy commandements As a passenger when he comes to a river he desires a boat not simply for it self but to passe over for could he pass over any other way he would not regard a boat As the travailer desires his Inne not in reference to his Inne but to his home and as the Patient desires Physick in reference to health so we may desire earthly things in reference to God and a good conscience and that we may have more freedom to Gods service and that we may bring up our children as hopeful plants and that we may do more good to the Church of God 2 With a desire of subordination Lord saith the gracious soul give me earthly things yet not my will but thine be done God as a wise Physician thinks it expedient to keep his patient with a short dyet in order to cure his disease so the Lord sometimes keeps his people low to cure their pride and try their faith 2 We may not desire earthly things 1 In reference to our lusts Jam. 4.3 Ye ask amiss that ye may consume it upon your lusts Some desire them in reference to the lust of pride to bear down others to have what they will and do what they list that they may have sumptuous buildings and magnificent titles or in reference to revenge to crush those that shall affront them or in reference to excess and delicacy that they may fare deliciously every day 2 We may not desire them with vehement desires Many are so a Gog for the world as Balaam was for Balaks gold and Ahab was for Naboths Vineyard such desires are often granted in fearful judgement as the Israelites had the quailes which they lusted after He gave them their hearts desire but sent leanness into their soul Psal 106.15 They were not estranged from their lusts but while their meat was yet in their mouths the wrath of God came upon them Psal 78.30 31. Such desires stand need of purging not of satisfying This is a woful frame of heart Of such the Apostle speaks 1 Tim. 6.9 that they will be rich The rich hath nothing of his riches but what the poor asks of him food and rayment but I eat dainties the poor eats base but are not both fill'd the poor with base meat as the rich with dainties But saith the rich mine rellishes better thou knows not how that savours which hunger inflames I say not this to compel rich and poor to eat alike rich men use choice meats because thou hast been accustomed thereto use thou superfluities give necessaries to the poor Aug. de verbis Dom. Ser. 6. 3 We must desire necessities to superfluities Pro. 30.8 9. Give me neither poverty nor riches feed me with food convenient for me 1 Tim. 6.8 Having food and rayment let us therewith be content but in this provision we may have respect to the condition wherein we are set as Magistrate Prince Gentleman c. yet if God shall adde superfluities as the Prophet saith the Lord did to him Psal 23.5 Thou anointest my head with Oyl and my cup runs over as liberal Hosts in Judea were wont to entertain their guests we may receive these superfluities with thankfulness and are bound to do the more good therewith and withall know that many a gracious heart that onely desired necessities from God God in just wayes hath given superfluities to him Quest But what remedies against this love of the world Answ Taste the sweetness 1 of God 2 and of the water of life 1 Of God all comfort is primarily causally and originally in him in the creature it s effectively secondarily and derivatively Hab. 3.16 Though the Figg-tree should not blossom c. Yet will I rejoyce in the Lord. The cause why men step out to every creature is because they see not a fulness in God they are eager to lay up treasure here because they see not treasure there The creatures if God come not along with them are but as a member cut off from the body 2 Taste the sweetness of the water of life Joh. 4.14 Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst He means not a natural thirst but a thirsting after the things of the world that is so greedily savorly and unboundedly as worldlings do A man that thinks he hath his sins pardoned and cannot be content therewith it 's a question whether ever he had it Mary having tasted the sweetness of grace grew remiss to the world Luk. 10.40 41. Was Solomon content with wisdom and we not content with grace and yet though God hath not promsed to make any individual man rich yet sometimes he casts in a portion of wealth to better the bargain You found your selves companions in the way he carries nothing thou art overburthened give him of that which thou hast and thou lessens the weight Aug. ibid. 2 Look upon the uncertainty of worldly things Solomon left Rehoboam a flourishing Kingdom in a matter of three or four dayes time he lost about two parts of three or more Eli was a rich man a Priest and a Magistrate his Posterity was driven to crouch for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread 1 Sam. 2.36 Men come to the world as to a lottery there 's many blanks for one prize for one man that gets the things of the world ten miss 3 Beware of Satans temptations who is wont to let us see the glory of the world but conceals the cares and troubles that attend outward things so he did to Christ Matth. 4.8 All the glory of the world as building furniture retinue brave apparrel Princes Courts are but as the flower of the grass or like the transfigured glory upon the mount which the disciples beginning to affect were overshadowed with a cloud How many
promises in which God promiseth that nothing good for us shall be wanting unto us Psalm 34.10.37.3.84.11 Matth. 6.32 1 Tim 6.8 Heb. 13.5 God knows what a charge of children you have how hard the times are how dear commodities are Either earthly things are good for thee or not if they be good God hath promised them if they be not good why dost thou cark for them nay why dost thou not pray against them that every thing that hinders the perfecting of thy inward man may be removed Besides is not Gods faithfulness as fully engaged for things of this life as for things of a better If we believe his faithfulness for eternal things we tell an apparent Lye if we believe him not also for temporal things wherein his faithfulness is no less engaged 4 Use Triall whether our hearts go out inordinately after the World onely I will lay down some cautions 1 That there 's too much worldliness in the best of us hence John writes to young men old men that they should not love the World 1 John 2.16 2 It is a very difficult thing to distinguish worldliness in the reliques from wordliness in the reign because of the necessary cares and provision for us and ours required and because of divers virtues that intrench upon it as frugality thrift 3 That tender consciences may not be scrupled know that though there may be too much worldliness in thee yet when thou mournest under it and groanest to God against it and prayest earnestly for and hungers after a liberal and an heavenly minde this wordliness in thee is onely in the reliques not in the reign Trials hereof 1 A constant and usual savouring of earthly things with a constant and usual disgusting and disrelishing of heavenly things Rom. 8.5 They that are after the flesh do savour the things of the flesh and they that are after the Spirit do savour the things of the Spirit Such men are presently jaded in thinking of heavenly things 2 A disposition to hold the things of the World notwithstanding duty and a good conscience call us to leave them such was the young man Matth. 19.22 the stony ground Matth. 13.21 The stony ground though they had not a purpose to leave Christ when tribulation came yet they had not a purpose to stick to Christ if tribulation should come We often upon false grounds count men worldly as because we see them laborious in their callings when our selves are idle when we see them have much business when our selves have little or when they use moderation and frugality in their apparrel and house keeping when perhaps our selves are too profuse or because they will not bestow upon such objects as we would have them or because they have a diligent hand to provide for them and theirs but these are not signes of a worldly heart but contrarily when a man clasps his heart about his estate and saith I will not leave thee I will not go from an high condition to a low this argues a worldly heart for as he is an heavenly Christian who hath a disposition to hold Christ though he lose all Phil. 3.8 So he is an earthly man who resolves to hold what he hath though he lose Christ 3 By the hearts running habitually upon the world Phil. 3.19 Whose end is destruction who minde earthly things Some men so minde earthly things that their end will be destruction No speech but of the world no delight but in the world Amos 8.5 Even on the day of worship they cryed when will the Sabboth be gone that we may sell wheat Their hearts run upon bargains upon purchases high places c. Ahabs heart still ran on Naboths Vineyard Hamans heart ran upon honour he thought he should be the man whom the King would honour Hest 6. 1 Joh. 4.5 They are of the world therefore speak they of the world Thus the glutton Luk. 12.19 his soul ran upon his goods thinking he had much goods laid up for many years A poor condemned man should not be thinking so much of meat and drink as how to escape the sword of the executioner Thou comes into the world a condemned man though thy thoughts may be of thy particular calling how thou increases or decreases yet specially should thy heart run upon heavenly things and how thou mayest escape the wrath to come 4 When the heart is exercised in covetous practices 2 Pet. 2.14 Cursed children and an heart exercised with covetous practices are joyned together as if he should say such men how ever magnified of men yet are cursed children Thou thoughtest perhaps God would never have given thee riches had he not loved thee oh but if ye be covetous you are cursed children and God abhors you Now the covetous practices of these men are many as 1 haling and tearing away from others by any indirect means as Ahab and Jezebel Achan Judas and those Jam. 5.2 Who defrauded those of their wages who reapt their fields Hab. 2.6 Wo to him that increaseth that which is not his 2 By ordinary saving when God calls them to spend they will give good words be warme be filled but give not those things which are needfull to the body Jam. 2.15 16. as their hands are shut up so are their bowels 1 John 3.17 It was a speech of Chrysostom Hom. 34. to the people of Antioch Whatsoever thou hast above necessary relief for thy self and family and Godly moderate not unsuitable and endless care of providing honestly for our families which who so doth not is worse then an Infidel is not ours now but the goods of the poor and who so depriveth them of it is a thief and a murtherer I will not deny nor maintain this assertion but leave it as I found it but this I say It s a signe of a covetous heart when thou hast superfluities and thou shuts up thy heart to him which is in necessities yea which is worse to him that is in extremities Another covetous practice is making bargains so that still they will have an hole to creep out at Another is in their entertainment of others Eat and drink say they but their heart is not with thee Prov. 23.7 8. Another is witty carnal excuses to save their purses as that they cannot get in money owing to them they have such poor relations lying upon them they have had such losses such a charge a hard farme they have done as much as others the parish or Church must look to them thousands of excuses people have So that as the liberal heart deviseth liberal things and by liberal things shall he stand Esa 32.7 8. So these covetous churles devise covetous devices and by his covetous devices shall he fall in the day of account 5 When the heart is full of carkings how to live here but few or no cares how to live eternally What shall I do in old age when my limbs are gone when a dear year comes many souls are so haunted with
the light of Moses by the light of the Prophets the light of the Prophets by the light of the New Testament and the light of the New Testament by the light of the Spirit The Scriptures they acknowledg were Gods Word and the Pen-men inspired by God but it was to endure for a time hence they allege 2 Peter 1.19 We do well to take heed to the Scriptures as to a light shining in a dark place till the day dawn and the day-star arise in their hearts Be astonished O ye Heavens at these be ye horribly afraid The horridness of this Delusion wants tears of bloud sufficiently to bewail it that apostate Professours the authours of these Delusions should labour as it were to kill God and his Word with his own Weapons I might wave all Scripture-reason with these that deny the Scripture and reason with them onely as Philosophers also I might let the Reader see that this damnable errour is an epitome of all errour But to answer that place 2 Peter 1.19 Peter shews that if these dispersed Jews attended to the Scriptures of the Prophets they would have a light to guide them in their darkness till the day at last appear and the morning-star the sign thereof scatter their darkness that is till the light of the Gospel clearly manifest unto you this mystery of godliness which ye have begun to receive Some interpret thus that Prophesie is the Night or Darkness the Gospel is the Light or Morning Star the sight of God in Heaven is clear Day so the sense is Attend unto the reading and study of the Prophets that ye may be strengthened by them in the faith of Christ untill the Day Star that is a more clear knowledg of the faith of the Gospel shine unto you that ye being confirmed therein may thereby be brought to the blessedness of Heaven The sight of faith in comparison of the sight in Heaven is but as the Dawning of the Morning to the Light of the Sun at Noon And as the Morning Star is a Middle betwixt Night and Day so is the Doctrine of the Gospel a Middle betwixt the dark Doctrine of the Prophets and the clear sight in Heaven So that by Day Star is not meant Christ whom these believing Jews had already received but their going on and increase in the faith whiles by little and little their knowledg became more certain concerning the Mysteries of Christ that no doubts or scruples concerning the Christian Faith or any point of it might be any longer in their mindes Some by Day dawning and Day Star understand the sight of God in Heaven our Life of Misery in this World being like Night the Life to come will be like Day when all shadows of mortality errour and ignorance shall vanish away See Song 2.17 This word Untill favours this Interpretation because we need Prophesie and the Scriptures all our Life long till we come in Heaven But both Intepretations are to be taken in and then the sense will be Take heed to the Scriptures of the Prophets and Gospel as to the means for your going on in the Faith and building up untill you come to the beatifical vision of the glory in Heaven But never did the Apostle or Spirit mean that the written Word should have its period and time set to last beyond which it is useless and improper to attend unto it The second place is 1 John 2.20 21 27. But ye have an Unction from the Holy One and ye shall know all things but the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you all things From this Scripture they argue thus they that have the Teachings of the Spirit have no need of the teaching of the Letter but they have the Unction of the Spirit that teacheth them all things therefore they need neither the teaching of the Letter nor the teachings of men Answ Three things to be opened 1 What is meant by Unction Answ By Unction is meant Christianity for as a Christian in Greek is the same that Anointed is so Christianity is the same that Anointing is now Christianity is the Doctrine grace and wisdom of Christ which from the inspiration of the Spirit is given whereby we are instructed in all the believables and duties of a true Christian which pertain to Christian faith and life and to fly heretical and Antichristian tenents Now this heavenly Light is compared to Oyl because the principal use of Oyl is to maintain Light it hath other virtues as to cool to chear to heal but this is the principal so that by Unction he means the Oyl of holy Doctrine or Truth 2 Quest What is meant by this anointing teaching us all things Answ By all things are not meant every individual truth for the Apostles themselves knew onely in part 1 Cor. 13.9 therefore we must understand it restrictively to the matter in hand Ye know all things that is concerning the shunning of Antichrist and holding the Faith 2 Or by all things he means all things he had formerly taught them so that he rather remembers them and admonishes them of things that he writ than delivers any Principles which were new unto them therefore v. 24. he bids that that might remain with them which they had heard from the beginning 3 Quest What is meant by this Phrase Ye need not that any man teach you Answ The Apostle doth not cry down ministerial teaching for then should he have cried down his own teaching and nullified many other Precepts wherein Preachers are commanded to preach the Word in season and out of season 2 Tim. 4.1 and the Ministry is given for the perfecting of the Saints Ephes 4.11 12. but onely warns them against false Teachers who taught them contrary Doctrines to those wherein by the Doctrine of Truth they had been informed these errours the Apostle calls Lyes v. 22. as being most abominable Lyes to deny Jesus to be Christ So that the sense is Ye have the Light of the Word wherein you have been instructed to teach you all things needfull for your salvation so that you are not to listen to any Impostours that teach you the contrary but from hence to deduce that because you have the Teachings of the Spirit that we need not the Teachings of men is a grand Delusion A third Argument is The Elect shall be all taught of God John 6.45 So that they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying Know the Lord for all shall know me from the least to the greatest Heb. 8.11 A. There is a twofold Teaching 1 Notional 2 Affectionate Of the later of these the Scripture speaks The Lord teaches the Elect or Children of the new Covenant as no man can teach with the like he gives them a rellish of good things but because the Lord teaches after this way that no man can teach it follows
my self before others unless that a heavier burthen of government lies on me and therefore a greater account of my Office is to be given Luth. in 41. cap. Gen. Here was one effect of his faith that whereas souldiers are naturally so lifted up he was so humble so we finde sundry of the Saints the more gracious the more humble Abraham Gen. 18.27 Jacob Gen. 32.10 Agur Prov. 30.2 Isaiah c. 6.5 John Baptist Matth. 3.11 Peter Luk. 5.8 Hence the Centurion saith neither thought I my self worthy to come unto thee Luke 7.7 It 's like partly because his conscience told him he had been a worshipper of false Gods partly because the Jews refused communion and company with him but especially because he saw the vileness of his own corrupt nature and the exceeding glorious holiness in Christ hence he saith I am not worthy Where there is most grace commonly there is most sense of unworthiness and true humility the show of that this man had in truth more deceives the world then any thing else But speak the word onely The Centurion having heard of the fame of Christ Matth. 4.23 when he healed many and also of the cleansing of the Leper who published abroad the cure he saith speak the word onely My word is the word of a man thy word is the Word of the Son of God my word hath power over men under me thy Word hath power over all sorts of diseases yea such as are incurable yea over death I am under the power of another thou art subject to no power being thou art God therefore speak the word onely As his wisdome was seen in that he saw the Godhead lying under the veil of flesh his humility that he judg'd himself unworthy that Christ should come under his roof so here is his faith that he saith speak the word onely learn that our faith go upon a word of God Psal 119.49 Heb. 13.5 6. thou being absent canst cure him by a word of thy mouth therefore there is no need of thy bodily presence but speak the word onely and my servant shall be whole God speaks impossible things lying things foolish things weak things things to be abominated and devillish if thou consult with reason meaning carnal reason but faith sacrifices reason and kills that beast which the whole world and every creature cannot kill Luth. Tom. 4.74.758 Now the Word upon which faith looks is either the Word of command Gen. 1. Let there be light Psal 105.31 148.8 Isaiah 55.11 The word that goeth out of my mouth shall not return unto me void but shall accomplish that whereto I send it Look as in the governments of Commonwealths Armies and Families many things are done by a word of command much more canst thou bring about the healing my servant by the word of thy command Examples fetch'd from nature are usefull for illustration when they agree with what the rule speaks so similitudes are taken from the compassions of mothers Esai 49.15 and fathers Psal 103.13 to set forth Gods pity so from a servant Rom. 6.18 from a mans testament Gal. 3.15 2 Faith goes upon the word of promise Rom. 4.18 John 2.22 I say to this man Go and he goeth and to another Come and he cometh and to my Servant Do this and he doth it See the duty both of Souldiers to their superiour Officers unless they know their Commander shall put them upon some things directly contrary to Gods command also the duty of Servants to do what their Masters and Mistresses bid them Ephes 6.5 Col. 3.22 Obey in all things your Masters V. 10. When Jesus heard it he marvelled and said to them that followed Verily I say unto you I have not found so great faith no not in Israel Here we have the commendation of the Centurions faith He marvelled Christ did not marvel as God for no new unexpected thing can befall him but it may befall Christ in his humane nature having like affections with us There were some things the humane nature of Christ was ignorant of as of the Day of Judgment the time of Figs c. Marvel is when our expectation is exceeded Christ marvelled at all his graces as his Humility Devotion in building a Synagogue his Faith Christ doth not admire the buildings of the Temple Matth. 24.1 nor the Princes of the World but the graces of the Spirit in one that had so little means Though some think Christ being the Authour of these graces did seem to admire them not as being ignorant of them but to teach us to admire them I have not found so great faith no not in Israel The greatness of his faith is seen 1 That he believed so easily upon so small means 2 That he believed Christs Word 1 His Word of Command 2 His Word of Promise 3 That he believed without a Miracle John 4.48 Miracles have been sometimes done to give testimony to the Word Acts 4.29 30 31. 4 In a man of that calling and a stranger from Israel 5 In that we reade of no doubtings with his faith in this particular Jairus doth not say Speak the word but Come quickly ere my Childe die John 4.49 Nicodemus he reasons How can these things be Martha saith Hadst thou been here my Brother had not died as doubting whether the power of Christ could reach every where but the Centurion saith Speak the word onely 6 In the difficulty of the things to be believed for to believe that a man near to death could be recovered by a word of Christs mouth I mean not by syllables and pronunciation but that Christ will be present to his own Ministry 7 Comparatively with the common Jews and particularly those which were ordinary Hearers to Christ Now when he saith I have not found so great faith in Israel he means not all Israel for Abraham Moses David had greater faith but he means it from the time of his beginning to preach V. 11. And I say unto you that many shall come from the East and West and shall sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven V. 12. But the Children of the Kingdom shall be cast out into utter Darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth From the occasion of the Centurions coming in to believe who was a Gentile Christ foretells the calling of the Gentiles and rejection of the Jews Many shall come Not all Aug. in loc From the East and West That is whereas the Jews thought the Lord was onely bound to the Kindred of Abraham Christ saith They shall come from East and West which is put for all remote places without the bounds of the Kingdom of Judah not onely near adjoyning Heathen as Syrians Egyptians c. but remote Gentiles Isai 43.5 6. I will bring thy Sons from the East and gather them from the West I will say to the North Give up and to the South Keep not back bring my Sons from far and my Daughters from the ends
draw out some words that shall be against the Governours or the Laws of the place where you live Matth. 22.15 16 17. 2 Take heed of feigned and treacherous men who shall bring you to Councils Psal 55.12 13 14. 3 Of enticing men who shall perswade you by flatteries to deny the faith Dan. 11.32 34. 4 Take heed of all natural men indefinitely It behoves Christians to stand upon their guard seeing all men naturally have an hatred unto them therefore must we beware of them though they be civil and courteous For they will deliver you up to the Councils Not onely unto the Council of three and twenty but also to the great Synedrium or the Council of 70. of which mention was made cap. 5.23 so was Peter and John Acts 4.7.5.27 and Stephen Acts 6.12 And they will scourge you in their Synagogues Acts 5.40 Peter and John were so scourged Heb. 11.36 For even by Synagogues civil Courts were meant 1 Machab. 7.12 Of this mention is made Acts 5.21 The high Priest came and they that were with him and called the Council together and all the Senate of the children of Israel The word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the Eldership of the children of Israel Because the things they acted against the Apostles seemed to be dangerous to the Commonwealth they took the voices and advices of the chief men herein they joyned the Senate of the City with the Senate of the people This was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the great Synagogue So that Christ his speech ascends higher then before so that his meaning is You shall not only be brought before ordinary Consistories but extraordinary Conventions and Assemblies shall be called together to try you Before this extraordinary Convention the Apostles were beaten with rods V. 18. And ye shall be brought before Governours and Kings for my sake for a testimony against them and the Gentiles And ye shall be brought before Governours and Kings Christ still ascends higher in his speech to wit that for the witness of his truth they should be brought before Governours and Kings By Governors he means Vice roys and Governors of Nations Provinces and also before Kings that depute such Governours For the distinction of Governours from Kings see 1 Pet. 2.13 Submit your selves to every Ordinance of man whether unto the King as excelling the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or unto Governours as to those that are sent of him Besides when Christians have been condemned by Councils the execution of them hath been by secular powers as in Queen Maries raign and now under the Spanish inquisition Yea many times Princes have themselves sate in judgment against Christians as the Emperour Sigismond c. When Christians shall thus be brought before Kings and Governours Christ would have his Disciples not to be dazled with the glister of earthly Majesty but to be of undanted spirits when they come before them as Paul was before Nero 2 Tim. 4.17 Thus Paul was brought prisoner to Faelix and Festus Acts 23.24 Peter and James to King Herod Agrippa Under pretence of Law civil judicatories condemn and execute Christians For my sake Because ye preach me to be the Messias and that through faith in me all that believe shall obtain remission of sins We should look to the cause why we suffer even that we suffer for Christ Hence Peter and John rejoyced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name 1 Pet. 4.14 15 16. If any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed Rom 8.36 For thy sake we are killed all the day long Meaning in one place or other either actually or by way of sympathy Indeed the Princes and Councils of the world have other pretences for their malice against Christians but the true cause is for the sake of Christ But if we be brought before Kings and Governours let it be onely for the sake of Christ Let none of you suffer as thieves and murtherers and busie-bodies c. 1 Pet. 4 15. For a testimony against them and the Gentiles That is to witness against the Council and the great Convention of the Jews and to witness for me against the Rulers and Kings of the earth Your imprisonment whipping and death shall witness both to Jew and Gentile Qu. But how or wherein Answ 1 That you have witnessed the truth before them and therefore that you are free from their blood 2 They shall witness your ingratitude in the day of Christ and their faithfulness 3 They shall be inexcusable in the day of judgement when they shall alledge they knew not Christ Moses went to Pharaoh Exod. 7.3 and Isai to a stubborn people c. 6.9 so Ezekiel c. 2.2 to v. 8. That they might be without excuse 4 They shall be witness against you for not believing their Message The Lord will call out Peter and say Didst not thou warn the Jews and to Paul Didst not thou warn the Gentiles the Romans and Faelix and Agrippa he will say Yes Lord but they would not believe but instead of receiving our Message they whipt and imprisoned us Was it so will the Lord say and the unbeliever will then be speechless What follows Christ will say Depart thou cursed into everlasting fire 5 As wounds and scars testifie the constancy valour and faithfulness of Souldiers to their Prince or General so Prisons whippings torments shall testifie the faithfulness of Christians to Christ Luke 21.13 V. 19. But when they deliver you up take no thought how or what ye shall speak for it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall speak Here is a consolation when they should be brought to answer before Kings and Governours that the Spirit should pour into their mindes what they should speak Take no thought how or what ye shall speak Not as if we were in this case to be careless stupid or negligent but Christ means we should not be carkingly carefull or over fearfull The word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 21.14 Settle it in your hearts before hand not to meditate what you shall answer in which Christ doth not forbid all foregoing meditation but that which hath a distrust of the providence and help of Christ And all laborious preparation such as is used in speeches and oratory and therefore Mark hath it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the like sense Christ forbad carefulness for the morrow Matth. 6.25 that is perplexing and distracting carking Therefore those who are daily in expectation of suffering in their questions and torments should be much in prayer that God would give them wisdom to answer and courage to suffer For it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall speak That is if any thing be wanting in you the Spirit shall supply it and suggest it to you Acts 6.10 The Libertines were not able to resist the Spirit by which Stephen spake Luke 21.15 I will give you a
must be just ruling in the fear of God 2 Sam. 23.3 3 God is wont to deal well with such as fear him Exod. 1 20 21. God dealt well with the mid-wives because they feared God Deut. 5.29 Oh that there were such an heart in them to fear me that it might be well with them Neh. 1.11 Eccles 8.12 I know it shall be well with them that fear God which fear before him but it shall not be well with the wicked Why because he feareth not before God Mal. 2.5 My covenant was with Levi of life and peace and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me and was affraid before my name Luke 1.50 His mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation Deut. 6.18 He that feareth God shall come forth out of all trouble Eccles 7.18 4 The fear of God is a special mean to lengthen our days in this world Deut. 6.2 That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God to keep all his statutes that thy dayes may be prolonged now the reason why Gods fear lengthens our daies is because it makes a man take heed of such sins as would cut off life Prov. 10.27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life to depart from the snares of death see the contrary threatning to wicked men Eccles 8.13 It shall not be well with the wicked neither shall he prolong his daies which are as a shadow why because he feareth not before God 5 Gods fear is one of the first graces that showes it self in the soul hence called the beginning of wisdom Job 28.28 and they that have it are said to have a good understanding Psalm 111.10 Deut. 10.12 What doth the Lord require of thee but to fear the Lord thy God c. 6 God hath excellent loving kindness laid up for those that fear him See this 1 in spiritual mercies as 1 understanding Gods secrets Psalm 25.14 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him 2 Pittifull affection as in a father towards his childe Psalm 103.11 so the Lord pittieth them that fear him 3 Healing and comfort Mal. 4.2 Unto you that fear my name shall the son of righteousness arise with healing under his wings 2 See it in temporal mercies as 1 strong confidence in evil times Prov. 14.26 in the fear of the Lord is strong confidence which is grounded upon promise of deliverance Psalm 85.9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him 2 A special eye of providence for the providing outward things for such Psalm 31 18 19. Behold the eye of the Lord is on them that fear him to deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine Psalm 34.9 O fear the Lord ye his Saints for there is no want to them that fear him Psalm 111.5 He hath given meat to them that fear him he will ever be mindfull of his Covenant q.d. Its part of Gods Covenant to give meat to them that fear him meat is put for all other provisions 3 There 's much contentedness of minde comes along with this grace of Gods fear in them that have it Prov. 15.16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord then great revenues and trouble therewith Pro. 19.23 The fear of the Lord tendeth to life and he that hath it shall abide satisfied Psalm 7.16 4 It 's a mean to obtain riches honour and life every man wishes for these three things oh then get Gods fear Pro. 22.4 By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honour and life 2 Use Trial whether we have Gods fear in us 1 when we think nothing too good for God but will let it go rather then sin Gen. 22.12 Lay not thine hand upon the lad for now I know thou fearest God seeing thou hast not withheld thine onely son 2 When we fear to do any thing that is of bad report 1 Cor. 6.1 Dare any of you meaning Christians go to law before the unjust and not before the Saints Neh. 5.9 Ought we not to walk in the fear of the Lord because of the heathen 3 When we fear not the greatest of men in opposition to God Exod. 1.15 16. The King bad the Hebrew mid-wives kill the male children but they would not obey the King why was it the Text vers 17. gives the reason because they feared God they would not obey the King How did the three children out of fear to God not fear Nebuchadnezzar his burning fiery furnace Dan. 3.17 18 28. The Parents of Moses hid Moses three moneths and they not affraid of the Kings commandment Heb. 11.23 4 When we are fearfull of the private and secret stirrings of corruption in our own hearts Job 31.1 2. Job so apprehended Gods eye that he durst not have or harbour a lustfull thought see vers 4. This fear of God kept him from lifting up his hand against the fatherless when he saw his help in the gate for destruction from God was a terrour unto him vers 21.23 Deut. 15.9 10. Gods fear will be opposing proud revengefull unclean and hypocriticall thoughts in the soul 5 When hope or proffer of gain will not make us sin against God Peter would not take Magus his money Acts 8.20 Nor Elisha Naamans talents 2 Kings 5. Why he knew in his conscience it was no time for it Contrary in Balaam how fain would he have been fingring Balaks gold so Judas Demas 6 When we will not deliberately venture upon sin for fear of losse Gen. 39.9 How can I do this great evill and sin against God 1 Kings 22.13 14. Micaiah durst not flatter the King as the false prophets did John Baptist durst not forbear Herods sin though the Princes favor lay on one side and the loss of his life or hazzard thereof on the other Mat. 14.3 Such a man will not be drawn to sin for fear of offending a wife or husband where Gods fear is there will be a choice of affliction rather than iniquity 7 When we are affraid of doing any thing with a doubting conscience Rom. 14.22 23. 8 When we are affraid of the least evil Carnal men for shame of the world may avoid gross evils but where Gods fear is the soul is affraid of small sins 1 Sam 24.5 even for cutting the skirt of Sauls garment how much more was he of hurting Sauls person 1 Sam. 26.9 It s said of a godly man that he keeps his hand from doing any evil Isai 56.2 9 When we are affraid of sinfull temptations and occasions Gen. 39.10 Joseph would not hearken to his Mistris to ly by her or to be with her Prov. 5.8 Come not nigh the doors of her house Hos 4.15 that Judah might not offend with Israels Calve-worship the Prophet bids them not to come to Gilgal or Beth-aven where the Calves were God will not keep us from sin if we do not keep our selves from the occasions of it He that ventures upon the occasions of sin
Laws set by him in the creation without taking advice of any creature I have oft endeavoured to prescribe to God certain ways which he should use in the government of his Church and other things I said ah Lord I would have it done in this order this event but God did altogether the contrary from that which I had requested then did I think but my counsel is not strange from the glory of God but will conduce much to sanctifie his name It 's well thought but doubtless God laught at this my wisedome and said Go too I know thee to be wise and learned but it was never my manner that Peter or Martin should teach lead form govern me I am not a passive God but an active Luth. Tom. 4. in Gen. fol. 56. 2 Extraordinary when God works against or besides his appointed order as in dividing the waters of the red Sea Reas 1 Because all things yea the most contingent things in the world are ordered by it as the falling of a tyle Exod 21.13 the flying of the head of the ax from the helve and killing a man Deut. 19.5 yea the ordering of a lot Prov. 16.33 2 The order of things in the world prove it 1 Natural order the motions of the heavens the Sun warms the earth the ayr moistens it the earth brings forth the grass the beasts feed on it and man feeds on them Look on the fowls God appoints them their residence Psal 104.17 18. and so doth he for other creatures Yea the fowl knows her appointed time and changes her country according to the season of the year That there 's a place appointed for the waters that they may not overflow the earth Psal 104.7 8 9. that there are springs of waters in the Valleys to give drink to the beasts of the field v. 10. that there should be an intercourse of light and darkness that the wilde beasts should get them to their dens on the day time that man may follow his work that there should be such provisions made for all the inhabitants of the world all this proves to us a providence 2 Politick order In Courts of Justice one Officer depends on another as wheels in a clock and moves not without the first wheel How many thousands are provided for in their several trades one depending upon another How hath God made the City to depend upon the Country and the Country upon the City how do all creatures move at his command as soldiers at the command of the General 3 From the reasonable actions God puts into unreasonable creatures Prov. 6.6 7 8. the Pismire having no guide over-seer nor ruler provideth her meat in the summer Jer. 8.6 7. the Stork Crane Swallow know their appointed time Who hath put wisdome in their inward parts Job 38.36 4 Should God not take care of things below it 's either because he will not or cannot or knowes them not but to affirm any of these were blasphemy 5 In his provision he makes for all creatures Psal 145.15 The eyes of all wait on thee and thou givest them food in due season thou openest thy hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing Psal 104.28 That thou givest them they gather thou openest thy hand they are filled with good v. 30. Every Spring God renues the face of the earth Psal 147.9 He giveth to the Beast his food and to the young Ravens which cry compared vvith Job 38.41 See Job cap. 36 37 38 39. 6 In ordering the sins of men for his own glory and good of his Church The envy of Josephs brethren for the advancement of Joseph and the preservation of Jacobs posterity The treason of Bigthan and Teresh for the advancement of Mordecai Cyrus his ambition for the Churches deliverance Titus Vespasian who persecuted the Christians at Rome God orders his passion that he goes to revenge Christs death at Jerusalem Sennacheribs covetousness and pride to punish the hypocrisie of the Jews Isai 10.5 6 7. the covetousness of Judas and malice of the devil to accomplish the work of our redemption 7 In a special respect to the good of his people Besides a general providence in the world he hath a special providence for their good 1 Cor. 9.9 He is the Savior of all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the preserver of all but specially of them that believe 2 Tim. 4.9 10. 2 Chron. 16.9 The eyes of the Lord run to and fro through the whole earth to show himself strong in the behalf of those whose hearts are perfect with him Zach. 2.8 He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of mine eye 8 In snaring the wicked in the work of their own hands Psal 9.16 The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands Higgaion Selah a thing to be meditated as Hierom renders it When Nebuchad-nezzar in his boasting is bereft of his wits Herod in his pomp eaten up of Worms the Philistims in their jollity have the house fall on them Judg. 16.30 who will not say they are taken in a snare 9 In making wicked men whether they will or no to do Gods will Acts 4.28 To do whatsoever thy hand and counsel had before determined to be done As in a kennel of hounds every one of them runs according to his natural inclination yet all of them serve the purpose of the Hunter And as in an Army of men one fights for honour another for spite another for pay yet all of them fight for victory for the Prince who sent them into the field so whatsoever wickedness evil men do they do but serve Gods providence and fulfill his will God sometimes changes their will sometimes stops it by offering consideration of good or ill danger or profit so that still he makes their wills serve his decree Use 1 Acknowledg this Providence in all thy undertakings God keeps us not onely waking but sleeping when we know not that we live then he observes our dreams in opposition of that tenent that God considers nothing but himself and is onely delighted in the beholding of himself in thy appointing future businesses James 4.15 16. Go to ye that say We will go to such a City and buy and sell c. Prov. 3.6 In all thy ways acknowledg him and he shall direct thy steps So did Eleazar for his Master Abraham Gen. 24. that he might get a Wife for Isaac but yet Eleazar did not neglect the use of means he that rightly looks to Gods providence is most carefull to use means When thou findest a treasure in digging of a field when thou escapest a fall in walking on a plank was it not God who brought thee to the one and saved thee from the other 2 Not to fear men to the balking of duty seeing Gods provicence takes care of us this stayed Davids heart when at Ziglag his Souldiers were at the point of stoning him 1 Sam. 30.6 He encouraged himself in