after this manner it had beene a thousand times better for him that Christ had neuer been borne into the world or at least that himselfe had beene borne in such an obscure corner of it that hee had neuer heard of him For his outward profession of and with all the prerogatiue of it with which hee contented himselfe without any hearty loue vnto him the faire offers of saluation which hee had and made nothing of shall presse him more heauily at the day of Iudgement then all his sins against the law though they were murders and adulteryes when for these very reasons it shall bee easier for Turkes Americans and Virginians then for him If you demand the reason of all this mischiefe it is because the not laying to heart of what Christ hath done for vs and the not-receiuing him being offered vs with the thankefull affections of loue and reuerence vnmixed delight and compleat content in him is the highest dishonour and basest indignity except wilfull Apostacy or malious blasphemy which can bee offered by a sinfull man to the most blessed and glorious Trinity Should I stand â—o recount and amplify euery circumstance of it I thinke I should both weary and amaze you Suffice it therefore onely briefly to consider how contempt offered to Christ and his Gospell reflects vpon all the Persons of the Blessed Trinity For the Father whosoeuer sets light by his Sonne doth most grosly vnderualue both his wisdome and his goodnesse For his wisdome The contriuing of mans redemption by the death of his Sonne in the fulnesse of time is so farre as is reuealed to vs the master-piece chiefe plot with reuerence bee it spoken which hath been from all eternity thought on by that infinite boundlesse wisdome of God blessed for euer whereby hee purposed to get himselfe farre more glory then hee did by the creation of the world when by a deliuerance so superlatiuely admirable hee should both saue mankind and astonish it This is that for which the Gospell is so often called the wisdome of God vnto saluation This is that mistery of Godlynesse which is great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the confession of all without controuersy 1 Tim. 3. 16. This is that illustrious mystery of saluation which the Prophets enquired after and searched diligently with the Angels to looke into 1. Pet. 1. 10. 12. Lastly this is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that wisdome of God which hath such curious variety in it Ephes 4. 10. Well then to come to the point when the time is come as it is come to vs who liue in this blessed noone-tide of the Gospell that God reueales to any man this astonishing mystery of his infinite wisdome when hee pleaseth to shew any man how admirably hee hath contriued his saluation for him by sending his own sonne to satisfy his iustice and therefore expects abundance of glory by it if that man now abase varlet created by God that hee might applaud his lesser works of creation shall behaue himsele so stupidly that hee forsooth can scarse haue patience to take a full view of his Sonne if hee can espie no such arte in the contriuance as may rauish him no such wonders as may withdraw his minde from those bawbles about which it was before busied O beloued this is an indignity to the glorious wisdome of God the Father beyond all expression of mortall eloquence 2. For his goodnesse and mercy God the Father from euerlasting beholding mankind in the vgly masse of corruption through their owne wilfull rebellion knew he must bee iust and yet desired to bee mercifull And when nothing might make these two stand together but satisfaction from one as infinite as himselfe that he might commend his loue to vs as the Apostle speakes Rom. 3. 8. hee resolued not to spare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sonne of his Loue as hee is called by a significant Hebraisme Col 1. v. 13. but to send him in similitude of sinnefull flesh to vndergoe that heauy businesse for vs presuming as it is in the parable that howsoeuer his other messengers had fared but ill in the world yet his Sonne the heire should bee entertained with reuerence O then can wee imagine with what hellish contempt they euen defye the loue of God towards them who look strangely vpon his Sonne who behaue themselues towards him as if his Father had sent him in a needles err and into the world or as if there needed not to haue beene all this care taken for them 2. In the next place it would bee an endlesse businesse to rehearse the indignities which are offered to the second person in Trinity Christ himself by such as call him Lord Lord but yet deale not honestly with him in their hearts Greater loue then this hath no man then that hee lay downe his life for his friend saith our Sauiour Ioh. 15. 13. True Lord it 's the greatest loue that one friend can shew another but yet thy loue was greater uÌ„to vs in that thou laydest down thy life for thy enemies yea in that thou vouchsafedst for our sakes to take such a life which thou mightst lay down Consider in briefe I beseech you how the Sonne of God out of meere obedience vnto his Father and compassion vnto vs rebellious wormes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 empâ—tied himselfe of the lustre of his Deity and in the forme of a seruant humbled himselfe to the death â—uen the most painefull and shamefull death of the Crosse Phil. 2. 8. Peruse the history of his passion yea of his whole life which was litle better then a passion obserue how throughly the sad predictions of a despised life and ignominious death Isa 53. were fulfilled in him how in euery point hee was made isch enaccâ—both a man of sorrowes draw into a Catalogue the rude discourtesies churlish affronts the â—euilings buâ—â—etings spittings torments agonies and the contradictions of sinners all along that is of sinnefull caytifes which hee indured with patience Lastly remember that all this befell him onely because the Lord laid vpon him the iniquity of vs all Isa 53. 6. where the Hebrew phrase is elegantly significant hiphgiah he hath made the iniquity of vs all to meet on him as our translators haue rightly expressed it in the margent Remember still I say that all this was but what wee had deserued and therefore we may well suppose him with pitifull moanes crying out vnto vs vpon the Crosse in the mouing language of Ierusalem Lam 1. 12. Is it nothing to all you that passe by behold and see if there bee any sorrow like vnto my sorrow Now beloued whosoeuer hee bee that hath read or heard all these things so punctually set downe in the Gospell that hee hath had his sauiour euen crucified before his eyes whosoeuer is conceited and he beleeues this history and yet cannot bleed within or weepe without for his sinnes which were the cause of it but can
that vpon this perswasion hee thinkes he can neuer loue him enough and therefore submits his whole soule vnto him in a vniuersall obedience vnto his will To draw towards a conclusion of this point let vs scanne a little Psal 2. 12. Kisse the Sonne least hee bee angry and yee perish from the wayâ— and this Psalme containes a cleere prophecie of our Sauiour and such great ones of the world as should oppose themselues against him whom yet the Prophet vouchsafeth to direct v. 10. For all this they might make their peace with God the chiefe part of the direction is set downe in the words which you haue now heard Kisse the Sonne that is reuerence respect embrace the Sonne of God Why so Least by his anger yee perish from the way from what way The Syriack interpreteter tells you mâ— vrkeh from his way He himselfe is the onely way vnto his Father to whom no man commeth but by him as himselfe tells vs in the Gospell Whosoeuer therefore stands off from Christ Iesus and striues not to kisse that is to be vnited vnto him by the choisest twinnes of dearest affection must needes perish out of the way to life continue still in his sinnes expecting all the curses of the Law to fal vpoÌ„ him The law was our Schoolemaster to bring vs vnto Christ saith the Apostle Gal. 3. 24. What to bring vs within the sound of his name To bring vs to talke and discourse of him More then so to amaze vs with the horrour of our sins and to make vs â—eele what need wee haue of a Sauiour and hauing one offered vs to lay fast hold on him whatsoeuer it cost vs and to prize him aboue all the Iewels in the world But if the Law cannot preuaile so much with vs as to make vs groane for a redeemer to make vs come crouching vnder our burdens vnto Christ Iesus wee must continue still vnder the lash It 's true which the Apohath v. seq that after faith is come wee are no longer vnder a Schoolemaster But if this faith which is inseparably ioyned with loue neuer come we are sure to smart vnder his heauy hand through all eternity You haue heard the first part of his burden who in the light of the Gospell does not really loue Christ Iesus to wit that he has no part in Christ therfore all the curses of the law belong vnto him One would thinke there needed no more to bee said to proue him accursed who loues not Christ Iesus seeing this hauing no part in him includes more horrours and terrours then it 's possible for the braine of man to shape the Ideates of But I must tell you that as heauy a doome as this is yet is it but light in comparison of which I shall describe vnto you in a second consideration to wit whosoeuer hee be that is Catechised and brought vp in the Christian profession and yet doth not heartily and sincerely affect Christ Iesus besides all the curses due vnto his sinnes against the Law he treasures vp vnto himselfe a farre more compleat vengeance for his disesteeme and contempt of the Gospell It were well beloued if when Christ Iesus comes vnto a man and that man receaues him not if hee left him in no worse case then hee found him though that were vnconceauably miserable But it 's neuer so For if hee entertaynes not Christ as a Sauiour hee is sure to haue him hence forth his accuser and if he will not admit him ad salutem hee shall haue him whether hee will or no ad Testimonium It 's true which our Sauiour told Nicodemus Ioh. 3. 17. That God sent not his Sonne into the World to condemne the world but that the world through him be saued Christ doth not knocke at any mans heart with that intent that he may haue the more aduantage against him if he let him not in no hee comes with purpose and desire to brind in saluation with him but if hee and his saluation be so little regarded that we entertaine him onely with a few cold complements at doore as I may say and so dismisse him O then he goes away in a rage complaines to his father that for such vngratefull wretches hee shed his dearest blood And therefore though God sent not his Sonne into the world to condemne it yet it followes in the next verse Hee that belieueth not is condemned already because hee belieueth not in the name of the onely begotten Sonne of God Condemned c. hee beleeueth not Why the Law had sufficiently coÌ„demned him before True but now God offers him a pardon by his Son to exempt him from coÌ„demnation which seeing hee scornes or cares not to accept God will now not onely haue the other condemnation to continue it's force against him but hee will load him with another more heauy which shall neuer be reuersed by any pardon This is made more plaine by the verse following This is the condemnanation that light is come into the world and men loue darknesse rather then light that is For this is that great and finall condemnation which can neuer bee remitted as that of the Law may that Christ is come into the world bringing redemption with him and men are so little sensible of it so dully affected with it that they care not for making any vse of him but had rather continue Satan's prisoners still then come forth into his maruailous light So that the neglect of Christ Iesus and his Gospell is that which makes a man compleatly Anathema Maranatha because if we passe by him there remaines henceforth no more sacrifice for sinne but a fearefull expectations of Judgement Hebr. 10. 26. Mistake mee not beloued when I say there remaines no more sacrifice for sinne to those who haue passed by Christ Iesus I meane such as haue passed him by for good and all such as are not entirely incorporated into him before they are snatched out of this life For indeed wee haue a redeemer so sensible of our infirmities that when hee comes a wooing vnto our soules hee will not bee driuen away at the first deniall Alas if he should be so touchy there would hardly euer any soule bee espoused to him seeing all of vs naturally hang backe find excuses and make many pauses and demurres before wee giue our consent But our Sauiour is so patient towards our follies that for all his repulse hee will vouchsafe to come againe and againe waite our leasure take all opportunity sollicite the businesse by his holy spirit But here is no ground for presumption For whosoeuer denies him so often or so peremptorily that he is forced as if it were to leaue of his sute during the life of the party or whosoeuer dallies so long with him that hee is called out of this life as who can promise himselfe an houre before the match bee made vp I say whosoeuer shall sleight his Sauiour or neglect him
at quiet vntill we are initiated into some Religion or other The Ancient Epicures though it were the scope of their damned profession to bee altogether irreligious and the most contenting perfectiō they could proiect vnto themselues yet as wee may perceiue by such writings as they haue left vs they could neuer fully attaine vnto it but in spight of their affected Atheisme they were forced to betray many shrewd grudgings and terrible gripes of naturall conscience And though in the deniall of diuine prouidence vpon the supposall of which depends all religion they put a good face vpon it and seeme to laugh at the matter yet wee may perceiue they were still gawled with that formido oppositi and by those engraued principles were euer and anon stung to reall feare of that truth which they would faine haue mocked out of the world either as an ancient inuention of policy to keepe men in awe or as an inueterate slauery of vulgar ignorance The same inbred seedes of religion by which it pleaseth God to force a manifestation of himselfe euen vpon those who would faine haue no notice of him and in the most reprobate mindes to make Atheisme rather a wish then an opinion after so many successions of ages are no whit decayed but continue still as stirring and actiue in the hearts of men as euer they were since they receiued that vnhappy crush by the first transgression For the Creator of all things as the Psalmist tells vs Psal 33. 15. fashioneth the hearts of all men alike the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifyes together at once intimating that the hearts of all men though separated from one another by neuer so vast a gulfe of time or place are as exactly alike in respect of their originall inclinations as if they had beene all moulded at the same time The worship of a God then some kinde of religion is necessary vnto vs wee cannot shift it of but now the propensions of nature being blind and confused and there being a various multiplicity of religions in the world here ordinarily step in the lawes and customes of the countrey into which the wombe of nature first empties vs which shape our generall inclinations either to worship the true God or this or that Idoll and the true God after this or that manner Looke abroad into the world and obserue the swarmes of diuers contrary religions which either fill places apart by themselues or are promiseuously exercised amongst one another you shall perceiue them to bee nothing but the naturall instincts of religion in generall specificated into diuerse formes and fashions by birth and education For albeit there may bee many occasions of and difficulties in the first bringing in of a religion into a countrey yet after it hath once by countenance from supreme authoritie and other plausibilities insinuated it selfe into the acceptance and approbation of the multitude it thenceforth becomes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to vse S t Peters word and with an easie descent runnes downe the streame of succession being deliuered from Father to Son as naturally as the proper language manner of diet fashion of apparell or any other customes of the countrey Now amongst so many religions as in severall parts of the world are by custome conveyed and passed from one to another wee suppose there is but one which wee may dare to trust for our happinesse but one that can certainely doe our soules that good which most of them would seem to promise Neither will wee seeme to doubt but that this one sauing religion is that which consists in the knowledge of the only true God and whom hee hath sent Iesus Christ and therefore we will all seeme to bee much in loue with this heavēly profession before any other whatsoeuer If then wee will be sure not to cosen our selues in these perswasions not to over-reckon our selues in our loue vnto Christ and his Gospell here is a maine businesse for vs punctually to enquire how we came by this loue and liking vnto Christ vpon what motiue wee haue preferred this profession of Christ before such a multitude of Religions in the world You know that no art or invention can force waters to mount aboue their spring head in like manner it 's impossible that our affections vnto Christ should be more elevated more heauenly and spirituall then the originall from whence they streame If then being put to it by our selues or others we can think of no better reasons for our choice of Christianity then such as these because we had the fortune to be born in a place where Christ onely was talked of because we haue heard Turkes Iewes and Papists much spoken against and were ever told that this is the best religion because the King and Lawes haue banished all other Sects and haue established this profession of Christ which we haue alwaies beene brought vp in and could never see any harme in it if such sottish senslesse stuffe bee the best defence wee can make for our selues it appeares too plainely that our religiō is nothing but those common reliques of naturall instincts which I spoke of before christned as it were by humane lawes customes and that we are Christians upon no waightier inducements then wee might haue beene Pagans or Idolaters I tremble to speak it if an Indian should bee demanded why hee worshipped the Divell changing only the circumstances hee might giue as sufficient reasons as these for his most fearefull and horrible Idolatry But this example though it might square but too well to my purpose is too odious to be insisted vpon Aske a common Iew why he blaspheames our blessed Saviour why hee expects another Messias a Turke why he is circumcised why he is so devoted to Mahomet they wil both in effect giue the very same reasons of their blaspheamies and superstitions which a common ignorant Christian will giue why hee is rather a Christian then a Iew or a Turke justifie their damned hatred and detestation of Christ by the same arguments which cause him to professe speciall loue and service vnto him Nay you will say there is no Christian so barbarously ignorant but he may say more for himselfe then any of those vnbeleeuing misereants can he hath heard the holy Scriptures read beene made partakers of the blessed Sacraments he hopes to haue his sinnes forgiuen him by Christ though hee bee not able to proue it by formall argumentation hee knowes well enough that Turkes and all such as speake against Christ are accursed infidells I thinke indeed there are not many Christians but may say so much and perhaps more by wrote and taking it vp vpon trust but this is quite besides the purpose For I doe not now question the Christian in the duties or opinions of his religion but I cal vpon him for his speciall reasons which cause him to performe those duties or embrace those opinions He hath beene
the King of heaven would commend his loue vnto vs as the Apostle excellently expresseth it Rom 5. 8. In this saith Saint Iohn 1. 4. 9. was manifested the loue of God towards vs that he sent his onely begotten some into the world that we might liue through him manifested in this Why in what not so it is in every bit of bread we eate in every sup of aire we take in O but the noblest blessings of this life are such poore curtesies in comparison of what we hope for by Christ that Gods loue though most eminent too doe's scarse appeare in them being eclipsed by that most orient and everlasting blaze of his loue in Christ Wherefore to conclude my first consideration it is no wonder if the justice of God which is to see that his Glory receiue no damage require that our esteeme of this his greatest mercy which himselfe values so farre aboue all his other mercies should so far exceed our esteeme of any other matters though otherwise most excellent in themselues and deare vnto vs that our very esteeme of them may be but a disesteeme and a hatred if compared to our esteeme of his loue in Christ Consid 2. If a man professe never so much loue vnto Christ if hee doe indeed preferre him before never so many conveniences of this life yet if hee loue but any one thing in the world never so little better then hee doth Christ he doth him in effect as much dishonour as he that never lookes after him at all Thus much I intimated before but what I did but touch vpon and in reference to God the father I will now amplify with speciall references vnto God the sonne It is all one as I said before not to esteeme a pearle at all and to esteeme it lesse worth then a barley-corne in like manner though wee preferre Christ before never so many profits and pleasures yet if there remaine behind one darling contentment which wee are resolued to keepe whatsoever may become of his glory or our interest in him wee doe in the issue esteeme him not at all because wee still wittingly value him below that which is infinitely worse then dung in comparison of him When a saleable commodity is offered vpon reasonable price we vse to say that if it be not worth that it 's worth iust nothing Now our part in Christ is so infinitely overworth any thing that wee can possibly giue for it that by farre better reason wee may say that he that thinkes it not cheape bought with all that he hath even to his last breath indeed thinkes it worth nothing at all Let a woman loue her husband better then a million of men yet if shee loue but any one man in the world better then her husband hee will giue her but little thankes for louing him aboue so many others But to amplify this point more distinctly let vs briefly consider that transcendent pitch of loue we owe first vnto the benefits of Christ secondly vnto his person All those inestimable benefits which wee make account of by Christ may bee reduced to 2. heads 1. a ransome 2. an inheritance The ransome is from horrours and those torments which are infinite for smart variety and duration which wee haue all deserved a thousand times over and therefore the case being thus with vs though wee looked for nothing but such a ransome by our Saviour though he had procured vs only this that after this life wee should spend eternity in a Limbus vnacquainted with any paine or pleasure yea though hee had procured vs only the mortality of our soules that they might perish with our bodies I say this alone had beene beyond all proportion better for vs then the whole world seeing what would a thousand worlds doe vs good if after a while wee must bee packed out of them all into that place where we shall everlastingly curse the day that ever wee were borne or made reasonable creatures But now that besides all this wee make first account for an inheritance by him an inheritance immortall vndefiled reserved in heaven for vs seeing wee expected to be made heires with Christ in that glory which hee had with his father before the beginning of the world of that glory the least sparke of which if visible to bodily eyes would shame all the beauty pompe and bravery of the world and whatsoever the Magnifico's of the earth are proud of it is a stupidity worse then any madnesse to conceiue we esteeme sufficiently of such glorious hopes if vpon deliberate choice we make much but of any one indearement of this life which may any way hinder our assurance of them 2. for our loue vnto the person of Christ equity requires that we should loue him with a loue yet more overtopping then either our ransome or inheritance and therefore it will be yet a more intollerable extremity of madnesse to imagine we loue him with an acceptable degree of affection as long as we dare to bring the most louely obiect that wee can picke out of the store-house of nature within the compasse of a comparison with him I say reason requires that wee should loue his person more entirely then his benefits that wee should preferre his glory before eternall life it selfe Our Saviour is contented that our feare of misery and desire of happines should first enter vs into the loue of him that til we know him better wee should loue him onely for our owne sakes and his benefits but after that he hath sent his spirit to expound the mystery of his loue vnto vs more clearely to make vs lay to heart not onely what he hath purchased for vs but also how deare the purchase cost him how though he was rich yet for our sakes hee became poore that wee through his poverty might be made rich as the Apostle passionately deliuers it 2. Cor. 8. 9. how being every way equall with God Phil. 2. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he was faine to emptie and strip himselfe as it were of all his royaltie that he might compasse these great matters for vs for whom hee had not the least reason to doe the least good when his spirit hath effectually melted our hearts with these considerations we shall perceaue our loving him chiefly for our owne salvation to be somewhat too grosse and mercenary loue being not much different from that of a woman who loues her joynture better then her husband or that of a sonne who loues his Father chiefly for his patrimony And though hitherto wee haue loued Christ only because wee hope to get by him yet now that we know what the kisses of his mouth meane that which we principally loue in him is his loue hauing before loued the giuer for the gift by a kinde of regresse in our affection wee henceforth striue to loue gift for the giuer But this point though many of Gods children knowe it to bee most