Instit lib. 2. BOOK IV. THE Fifth HEAD OF Metaphors Allegories and Similes With other borrowed Terms Respecting the Graces of the Holy-Spirit AND THE Blessed Ordinances of the Gospel Grace compared to Salt Mark 9.50 Have Salt in your selves c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. TOuching the several Metaphorical Notations of this Term Salt we shall refer you unto the Eleventh Chapter of Philologia Sacra By Salt in this place is meant the blessed and most precious Grace of the Spirit Metaphor Parallel SAlt is of a searching quality if it be laid or rubb'd upon Meat it will pierce and search it to the very Bone TRue Grace or the spiritual Operation of the Spirit is of a searching nature it will when received in Truth infuse it self into every Faculty of the Soul The Spirit searcheth all things yea 2 Cor. 2. the deep things of God If there be any Sin hid it will search and find it out Simile Parallel II. Salt is of a purging cleansing and purifying nature it will work out Blood Filth c. as common Experience shews II. Grace is of a purging and purifying virtue it will not only search Corruption out whether it be in the Heart or Life but also in a blessed manner purge and work it forth He that hath this Hope 1 Joh. 2.3 purifieth himself even as he is pure III. Salt hath a preserving quality it will not only purge Corruption out of Meat but also preserve Meat and other things from Corruption and Putrefaction III. Grace preserves the Soul from all manner of Sin and Defilements it will not suffer a Saint to run with others to the same excess of Riot 1 Pet. 4.4 but teacheth us to deny all Vngodliness and worldly Lusts and to live righteously soberly Tit. 2.12 and godly in this present World How shall I do this thing and sin against God IV. Salt seasons things causing that to taste savoury which otherwise would be no way pleasant wholsom or good for the Body Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without Salt Job 6.6 IV. Grace seasons a Christian it makes him savoury to God and to all good Men savoury in his Words savoury in his Dealings and Commerce savoury in all his whole Conversation not only savoury himself but seasoning others also hence called the Salt of the Earth Let your Speech be alway with Grace Col. 4 6 seasoned with Salt That ye may know how to answer every Man V. Salt is of universal use throughout the World it is the one thing needful among Men it is said to season all things we receive great Advantage by it It is known to be exceeding necessary both by Sea and Land V. Grace is also absolutely necessary 't is the one thing needful to Salvation without which there is no getting to Heaven The Advantages all Believers receive thereby are wonderful All Men of what rank or quality soever stand in need of Grace they were better be without Gold than without Grace It is good in every Place and Condition Men need it as well at Sea as at Land in Sickness and Health VI. Salt as Pliny and other Naturalists say is exceeding good against the Sting of Serpents and will destroy Worms that breed in the Body and hath many other medicinable Virtues in it VI. Grace is a most Sovereign Remedy against Sin that Sting of the old Serpent and there is nothing like it to kill the Worm of Conscience that is bred by means of the Corruption of the inward Man and there gnaws and greatly torments the Soul and many other Soul-medicinable Virtues it hath VII Salt was made use of under the Law in Sacrifices And every Oblation of thy Meat-Offering shalt thou season with Salt â—â—v 2 13. With all thy Offerings thou shalt use Salt VII Grace must be made use of in all our spiritual Sacrifices and Offerings unto God We must pray with Grace and sing with Grace and do all in God's Worship with Grace in our Hearts nothing we do will be accepted without it Mark 9.4 Every one shall be salted with Fire or seasoned with Affliction and every Sacrifice shall be salted with Salt viz. Grace Metaphor Disparity SAlt is natural or else made by Art of salt Water Ashes Fire Plin. lib. 3â— p. 41â— 41â— c. Pliny says that in India they have Salt out of Quarries of Stone GRace is supernatural No Man hath the Divine Influence and Operation of the Spirit of God naturally nor can he get it by any humane Contrivance or Art whatsoever Joh. 1.14 it is the Gift of God II. If Meat be quite corrupted putrified stink and is loathsom Salt cannot recover it nor make it savoury II. But if the Soul be wholly or in every Faculty thereof corrupted stinks and is loathsom in the Nostrils of God yet Grace can quickly recover it and make it very savoury and sweet to God and good Men. III. Salt may lose its Saltness or Savour and become good for nothing but to be trodden under the foot of Men. III. Grace cannot lose the excellent Savour thereof Christians may lose much of their Salt or decay in Grace but Grace be it little or much will never lose its own precious Virtue IV. Things may be over-salted or seasoned so that they may be spoiled and become unwholsom to human Bodies IV. But no Man can be over-much seasoned with Grace never had any Christian too much of this spiritual Salt in him The more you receive and take in of this the better you will be seasoned thereby Inferences FRom hence we infer That Grace is the principal Thing 2. How unsavoury are all graceless Persons The whole World lieth in Wickedness They are like putrified or stinking Carrion in a Common-Shore as the Greek Word there signifieth 3. This may stir up all ungodly Ones to look out and cry mightily for Grace the excellent Nature of which is set forth under the Metaphor Light Vol. 1. 4. Let all who profess themselves Christians examine themselves throughly whether they are salted with Grace or not Are you savoury Men and Women What is your Communication your Speech your Conversation c. 5. Take heed you lose none of this Divine Salt you will soon become unsavoury if you have not Salt in your selves 6. You that should season others should have much Salt in your own Hearts and Lives Ye are the Salt of the Earth The Girdle of Truth Ephes 6.14 And having your Loins girl about with Truth c. A Girdle properly is a Belt or Girdle used to be worn by Souldiers to preserve the Breast and Belly Truth hath various Acceptations in the holy Scriptures some of which according to Wilson and others you may take as follows 1. The most perfect Divine Essence which is Truth it self and the Author of all Truth in his Creatures Thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of Truth Psal 31.5 2. Jesus Christ I am the
How suitable to the holy Nature of God! What superlative Piety and Vertue without any spot of Vice What punctual and perpetual Truth and Honesty is here required yet without the least Taint of base Means or unworthy sordid Ends No Vain-Glory no Esteem of Men no corrupt Advantages But on the contrary what Charity is here required What repeated Commands not to offend weak Ones What mutual Forgivenesses What Provocations to Love With what Patience and Meekness Justice and Modesty are we taught to behave our selves In a word 'T is such a Doctrine as makes a Man perfect throughly furnished to every good Work which brings Men to the best Way of Living the noblest Way of Suffering and the comfortablest Way of Dying Now must not such pure Streams needs flow from the Fountain of all Perfection Does such a serious and effectual Advancement of Holiness in the World look like an Intrigue of polluted Man or any unclean Spirit How can we better judg of a Law that declares it proceeds from God and is of Divine Obligation than by its Nature Tendency and Influence on humane Life Whether it be suitable to those Pretensions and such an adorable and unspotted Original And when we find so holy and excellent a Design as appears throughout this whole Book for the Honour of God and compleating the Happiness of Men by Methods so agreeable and yet above the reach of Humane Invention what can we judg unless we will be obstinately perverse but that such a Book 's Testimony of it self is true and that it is indeed of God and not of Men V. The sweet and admirable Agreement Consent Dependence and Harmony 5. The Harmony of the Scriptures that we find in all and every part of Scripture tho there are so many Books thereof written by so many different Persons of various Conditions many Ages remov'd in several Places and in different Languages yet all agreeing with each other and every part with the whole which could not be foreseen or contriv'd by any humane Wisdom or Cunning in the writing of any one Part For all the Histories Prophecies Promises Types and Doctrines in an orderly Connection tend to promote the same Thing and every Age proves a fresh Interpreter and reveals to us more and more of this admirable Concord which could not be the Effect of humane Artifice nor of any other Cause but an infinite Comprehension and Fore-sight and that the several Writers of this Book were in all Times guided in what they wrote by the Supreme Wisdom of that one God who is always constant to himself and the same yesterday to day and for ever VI. This further appears from the Credit and Sincerity of those that were the Pen-men 6. The Credit of the Pen-men If the Scriptures were not what they pretend to be viz. the Word of God and dictated to the Writers thereof by his holy Spirit it would be the greatest Affront to the Divine Majesty and the grossest Cheat towards Mankind that ever was put upon the World But if we consider the Pen-men thereof we shall find them all of undoubted Credit generally esteemed holy and good Men in the Ages they liv'd in so no way to be suspected of Imposture Some of them were Kings and of the deepest Learning not likely to be guilty of such a mean-spirited Baseness as Lying and Forgery Many of the Prophets and most of the Apostles were Men illiterate of Parts and Education so mean that of themselves they seem no way capable to write so profoundly or lay so deep a Contrivance for deluding the World And as 't is incredible that so many Men of such distant Times Qualities and Abilities should all agree in the same Imposture and so harmonize in promoting it so neither could any Interest or Ambition prompt them thereunto For as the main Tendency of this Book is to mortify Mens Ambitions and Lusts so most of them exposed themselves by publishing these Writings to great Hazards and Persecutions Nor have several of them been shie to record the great Failings and Imperfections of themselves or their Brethren Thus Moses (a) Exod. 3 4 chapters relates his own Infidelity and Averseness to submit to the extraordinary Call of God In another place (b) Numb 11.21 he records the Shame of his Distrustfulness or at least the Carnality of his Conceit or Apprehension of the Power of God Again (c) Numb 20.12 he inserts God's heavy Sentence and the Ground thereof against him The same Moses did not set up any of his own Posterity to succeed him in the Guidance of Israel but left Joshua to succeed him c. and placed the Kingly Superiority over that People in another Tribe from his own viz. the Tribe of Judah Indeed throughout the whole Book there is a visible Antipathy to all self-seeking Flattery or Compliance God alone is exalted and all Mens Persons Actions and Reputations are laid in the Dust in respect of his Honour and the Truths therein delivered Besides these very Writers appear themselves to be under a subjection to the Doctrine they taught and no way Masters of it as their own All which plainly shews that they were inspired from above and wrote not their own Words or for their own Honour but as inspired and for the Honour of God 8. Scripture-prophecies and their Accomplishments prove 't is divine VII Another Demonstration or Proof that the Scriptures are from God is the exact and punctual fulfilling of the Prophecies therein contained To foretell Events is the Prerogative of God (d) Isa 41.22 Let them bring forth saith God the Lord expostulating with his People about the Vanity of Idols and shew us What shall happen Shew us the Things that are to come hereafter that we may know that ye are Gods Now the Body of the Scriptures is enlivened with the Spirit of Prophecy almost throughout That of Jacob recorded by Moses (e) Gen. 49.10 That the Scepter should not depart from Judah nor a Law-giver from between his Feet untill Shiloh come and to him shall the gathering of the People be was not compleatly fulfilled till well near two thousand Years after tho made good during a great part of that Time viz. from the Entrance of the Tribe of Judah upon the Government in King David until the going of it out again in the Person of Hircanus whom Herod slew as Josephus testifies But when the Time appointed was expired the Prophecy it self was compleatly fulfilled For when Herod a Stranger and of another Nation had cut off the House and Line of Judah from the Government of Jewry then and at that Time Shiloh the long-expected Messiah our Lord Christ punctually came into the World for that by Shiloh is meant the Messiah the Jewish Rabbies do not deny Now at the Time of Jacob's uttering these Words there was little probability that any of his Posterity should have a Scepter or any Kingly Power being poor
few and in a strange Land Or if they should thrive so as to become a Kingdom or Nation why should Judah have the Government seeing there were three elder Brothers Reuben Simeon and Levi Nor was there likelihood of this Prophecy's being accomplish'd when Moses set it down in Writing for then he himself who was of the Tribe of Levi was in the actual Possession of the Government and put into it by God himself who appointed for his Successor Joshua not of the Tribe of Judah but of Ephraim Whence we have a notable Evidence of the Truth and Sincerity of this Prediction for had not Jacob really uttered it we cannot imagine Moses would have put such a Prophecy in Writing to the disparagement of his own Tribe How accurately are the four great Monarchies of the World described by Daniel (f) Dan 7.3 so lively as if he had lived under them and had that experience of them all respectively which the World hath since had of them How wonderful is that Prophecy of Isaiah at the end of his 44th and the beginning of the 45th Chapter touching Cyrus delivered at least an hundred Years some say two hundred before he was born wherein yet he is not only expresly named Thus saith the Lord to his Anointed Cyrus but it is foretold he should conquer Babylon and rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem which came to pass accordingly Nor can this Prophecy be suspected of Forgery or to be supposititious in any kind since it was pronounced openly as other Prophecies were in the hearing of all the People and so divulged into many hands before the Captivity and then also carried into Babylon where no doubt it was perused by many long before the accomplishment of it And that there was such a Man as Cyrus many Years afterwards that conquered Babylon and restored the Jews from their Captivity and furthered the Building of the Temple all Heathen Authors that write of those Times do affirm And indeed one great Inducement of his Kindness to the Jews was because he understood how his Successes had been thus prophesied of so long before by one of that Nation So that it appears the said Prophecy was then publickly known and its Truth and Authentickness no way doubted of How manifestly are the many Prophecies of the Old-Testament concerning our Saviour fulfilled And how dreadfully his Prophecy of the Destruction of Jerusalem was made good about forty Years after his Crucifixion we find in the History of Josephus exactly corresponding to what is foretold in Mat. 24. And how many other Prophecies of the New-Testament and especially of the Revelations do we daily find Verified in and by the Apostacy and wicked Usurpations of the Church of Rome Since therefore to foretell so plainly Particulars and Events so remote and depending on the meer Motions and Acts of the Wills of particular Persons yet unborn is an evident Mark of Omnisciency we cannot but conclude that the Scriptures which are fill'd with so many evident and certain Predictions must certainly proceed from the Finger of God VIII Those Writings and that Doctrine 8. Miracles confirm its divine Original which were confirmed by many and real Miracles must needs be of God But the Books and Doctrines of Canonical Scriptures were so confirmed Many and great Wonders such as Satan himself cannot imitate such as exceed the Power of any yea of all the Creatures in the World such as the most malicious Enemies could not deny to be divine hath the Lord openly wrought by the hands of Moses and the Prophets Christ and his Apostles for the Confirmation of this Truth (g) Numb 11.9 Exod. 19.16 1 Kings 17.24 Mark 16.20 Acts 5.12 These Miracles are recorded and attested by Persons of unquestionable Credit that were Eye and Ear-Witnesses The Things done as raising the Dead to Life curing the Blind c. were Matters of Fact easy to be discerned They were not done once or twice but very often not in the Night or in a Corner but in the open Light in the midst of the People in the presence of great Multitudes who were generally Enemies to those that wrought these Miracles So that if the Relations of them were false they would presently have disproved them or if there had been any Deceit they would soon have detected it When God puts forth his Miracle-working Power Dr. Owen in the Confirmation of any Word or Doctrine he avows it to be of and from himself to be absolutely and infallibly true setting the fullest and openest Seal unto it which Men who cannot discern his Essence or Being are capable of receiving or discerning And therefore when any Doctrine which in it self is such as becometh the Holiness and Righteousness of God is confirmed by the Emanation of his Divine Power in working of Miracles there can no greater Assurance even by God himself be given to confirm the Truth of it And as we have the Testimony of the Evangelists to confirm the many Miracles that Jesus did we also plead the Notoriety of those Miracles wrought by him and the Traditions delivering them down to us They were openly wrought and were all or most of them perform'd before the Eyes of Multitudes who envied hated and persecuted him and that in the most knowing Days of the World when Reason and Learning had improved the Light of the Minds of Men to the utmost of their Capacity in and upon Multitudes for sundry Years together being all of them sifted by his Adversaries to try if they could discover any thing of Deceit in them Besides the very Enemies have not had the impudence to deny such notorious Matters of Fact as our Saviour's Miracles Josephus in his Antiquity of the Jews makes mention of the mighty Miracles that Jesus did See p. 400. only they ascribe them to other Causes Even to this Day the Jews acknowledg much of the Works of Christ but slanderously and blasphemously father them on the Power of the Devil or upon the Force of the Name of God sowed up in his Thigh and such like ridiculous Stories they have Even the Turks confess much of the Miracles of our Lord and believe him to be a great Prophet though they are profest Enemies to the Christian Name Nor could all the Adversaries of these Miracles and Relations with all their Arguments or Violence hinder Thousands from believing them and even exposing their Lives on that Belief in the very Time and Country where they were done So that we must say Either they were Miracles or not If they were why do you not believe If they were not behold the greatest Miracle of all that so many Thousands even of the Beholders should be so blind as to believe Things that never were especially in those very Times when it was the easiest Matter in the World to have disproved such Falshoods Indeed the Miracles of Jesus and those of his Disciples and Servants in the Primitive Times were in Fact so many
the Languages and Matters have tryed and searched into them and all pious Christians who by Experience have felt their Divine Operation on their own Souls have asserted the same So that whoever rejects the Bible obliges himself to believe no other Books in the World whatsoever for since none of them have any such great and universal Attestations if he shall credit them and not this it will shew apparent disingenuity and peevish Obstinacy And secondly He that does credit the Author of this Book with the same Credit wherewith he credits other Authors whom he supposes Men of common Honesty that would not knowingly write an Untruth cannot then refuse to receive this as a Book Divine and Infallible upon as good Terms of Credibility as he believes any the best Human Author in its kind to be True because they themselves tell us that it is so which were it otherwise without most apparent Falshood they would not do They affirming that God himself inspired them to write it and that it was no Product of their own but every part of it the Genuine Dictate of the Holy Ghost And this Argument is abundantly reinforc'd and strengthned from the Consideration of that Glorious Company of Martyrs those Innumerable Multitudes who in the Flames and Rage of Persecution have with the loss of their Lives maintained the Scriptures to be the Sacred Word of God and had the same in such Veneration that in the Primitive Ages the Traditors Deliverers up of their Bibles to the Heathen to be destroyed were always esteemed as bad as profess'd Apostates Since therefore they did so constantly and with such Hazards affirm this Truth what shadow of Reason is there to suspect such a Cloud of Witnesses of Folly Weakness Credulity Wickedness or Conspiracy amongst themselves which such a diffused Multitude was absolutely uncapable of Nor can we suppose that Popular Esteem on Earth and Vain-Glory could be the Ground upon which they suffered since they gave up their Lives for a Religion which both utterly condemned such Vanity and was every where in the World at that time odious and detestable and whose Profession brought nothing but outward Shame and Contempt XIII But the Doctrines and Matters of Fact in the Scripture which if true 13 The Acknowledgment of the Heathen its Divine Original will be undeniable are not only avouched by its own Votaries but many most considerable parts of it acknowledged by its Enemies As appears by this brief induction of Particulars The Creation of the World is intimated by Ovid in his Metamorphosis lib. 1. The extraordinary long Lives of the Patriarchs in the first Ages oâ— the VVorld by Manetho the Egygtian Berosus the Caldean and others who add That they were ordained to live so long that they might study Sciences and invent Arts especially that they might observe the Celestial Motions and enrich the World with the knowledg of Astronomy wherein say they they would have done little good if they had lived less than six hundred Years because the great Year as they call it is so long in going about and coming to a Period The Flood is mentioned by the same Berosus whose VVords are recited by Josephus lib. 1. Antiq. cap. 4. Of Noah under the Notion of Bifronted Janus because he lived in both VVorlds we read in Berosus and Herodotus And of the Ark Sayling over America and the letting forth of Birds that found no dry Ground in Polyhistor and others Of the Destruction of Sodom or the Asphaltick Lake we have some Account in Pliny lib. 5. cap. 16. and Justin lib. 36. That there was such a Man as Moses such a People as the Israelites that this Moses was their Captain and led them out of Egypt wrote their Story and gave them Laws is testified by the most ancient Records or the Egyptians Phoenicians Caldeans and Grecians And Manetho speaks very particularly both of their Coming into Egypt and Departure thence Of Circumcision Herodotus Strabo Diodorus Siculus and Tacitus lib. 2. Of the coming of the Israelites into Canaan Procopius lib. 4. Of Solomon we read in Dionysius Cassius of the Slaughter of Sennachcrib in Herodotus lib. 2. The great Roman Historian Tacitus in his Annals speaking of the Christians being persecuted by Nero on pretence of burning of Rome which he set on fire himself says expreâ—ly (b) Author nominis ejus Christus qui Tiberio imperante per Procuratorem Pontium Pilatum supplicio affectus erat Tacit. Annal. l. 15. The Author of that Name or Sect was CHRIST who when Tiberius was Emperor was put to death by Pontius Pilate the then Procurator of Judea The Star that appeared at our Saviour's Birth is taken notice of by Pliny lib. 2. cap. 5. But more particularly by Calcidius an Heathen Philosopher in his Comment on Plato's Timaeus whose Words as I find them cited by Cardinal Baronius that learned Annalist are these (c) Est quoque alia venerabilior sanctior Historia qua perhibet de ortu Stellae cujusdam insolita non morbos mortesque denunciante sed descensum Dei venerabilis ad humanae conversationis rerumque mortalium gratiam Quam Stellam cùm nocturno itinere suspexissent Caldâ—eorum profectò sapiences viri consideratione rerum coelestium satis exercitati quaesisse dicuntur recentem Dei ortum repertâque illa Majestate puerili venerati esse vota Deo tanto convenientia nuncupasse Bar. Tom. 1. p. 52. There is another more venerable and holy History which tells us of the Rise of a certain unwonted Star not threatning Diseases and Death but the Descent of the venerable God to converse with Men and mortal Affairs Which Star when certain wise Men of Caldea saw in their fourney by Night being sufficiently acquainted with Astronomy and consideration of Celestial things They are reported to have sought out this new Birth of God and the Majesty of this Child being found to have worshipped him and offered Gifts suitable to so great a God Herod's slaughtering of the Children is notorious by that Joque passed upon him on that occasion by the Emperor Augustus recorded by Macrobius (d) Cum audisset inter eos quos in Syria Herodes Rex Judaeorum inter Binatum jussit interfici filium quoque ejus occisum ait Melius est Herodis porcum esse quam filium Macrob. Saturnal lib. 4. When he heard that amongst those Children under two Years old whom Herod the King of the Jews had commanded to be slain in Syria his the said Herod's own Son was slain also he said 'T is better to be Herod 's Hog than his Son Alluding to the Jews Abhorrence of Swines Flesh which it seems Herod tho not of that Nation yet pretending himself a kind of Proselyte did likewise observe Touching the preternatural Defect of the Sun at our Lord's Crucifixion it was with amazement seen and recorded by Dionysius the Areopagite And Tertullian in his Apology cap. 21. appeals to the Roman
of the Mind Will and Counsel of God as is sufficient by the Blessing of God upon a consciencious reading thereof to acquaint a Man with the Mysteries of Salvation to work in him a true Faith and bring him to live godly righteously and soberly in this present World and to Salvation in the next The Translators generally as they have been Men of Learning so likewise have they been honest and for the most part godly Men and thâ—refore would not for their own Honours sake and much more for Conscience sake abuse the World with any wilful false Versions to lead Souls into Error in a Matter of that importance Or if some shoulâ— have â—een so wicked others as learned and of better Principles would soon have discovered the Imposture Nor if we consider how many Men of different Persuasions have translated the Bible and harmoniously agree in all things of moment is it possible to imagine they should all combine so impertinently as well as wickedly to put a Fallacy on Mankind which everry one that has but bestowed a very few Years in the Study of the Languages can presently detect Object 5. How can we think the whole Bible to be of divine Inspiration when some parts of it contradict others The Divine Spirit cannot be contrary to it self yet is there any thing more opposite than the two Evangelists in reckoning up our Saviour's Genealogy St. Matthâ—w (o) Mat. 1.16 says Jacob begat Joseph the Husband of Mary (p) Luk. 3.23 and St. Luke says Joseph the Son of Eli. Answ The seeming Contradictions of Scripture for they are really no more are an Argument that in the writing of this Book there was no corrupt Design or Confederacy to engage the Opinions of Men and upon a due Scrutiny there will appear in them a deep and unthought of Concord and an unanimous Tendency towards the great End of the Whole 'T is our Inadâ—ertency or shallow Apprehension makes us think the Scripture is at variance with it self In the two Texts cited a natural Father is one thing a legal Father another For you must know that Joseph and Mary were both of one House and Family he descended from David by Solomon she by Nathan but in the Posterity of Zerobabel they were divided into two several Families whereof one was the Royal Race and that Linage Joseph was of which Matthew follows The other Family Luke follows whereof Mary was whom Joseph marries and by that means is called the Son of her Father Eli. So that here is no Contradiction but on the contrary an excellent Discovery of our Saviour's Line drawn down on bâ—th sides whereby it appears that as he was Joseph 's reputed Son so he had a Title to be King of the Jews and as he was born of Mary so likewise on her Side he descended from David as was promised of the Mâ—ssias But for reconciling all such seeming Contradictions see Mr. Streat 's Book entitled The dividing of the Hoof a very useful Piece and worthy Perusal I have but one Argument more to add from a very learned Author and then I shall close up all with the Testimony of the Reverend and Learned Mr. John Calvin 17. The internal Evidence of the Spiâ—it XVII And now it may not be amiss to add one Thing more which I could not pass by i. e. Notwithstanding the great Force and Strength of external Arguments and Motives to evince the Divine Authority of the Holy Scripture yet it is absolutely necessary to the stability and assurance of our Faith in order to eternal Life to have the internal Testimony of the Holy Spirit upon our Hearts or the effectual Operations thereof for if he does no otherwise work in and upon our Hearts but by the common Communication of spiritual Light unto our Minds enabling us to discern the Evidences that are in the Scripture of its own divine Original we should be often shaken in our Assent and moved from our Stability Therefore considering the great Darkness and Blindness which remains upon the Minds of Men all Things believed having some sort of Obscurity attending them besides the manifold Temptations of Satan who strives to disturb our Peace and weaken our Faith and cause Doubtings Happy are such who can experience the powerful Establishment and Assurance of the Holy-Ghost who gives them a spiritual sense of the Power and Reality of those Things believed whereby their Faith is greatly confirmed This is that which brings us unto the Riches of the full Assurance of Understanding (a) Col 2 2â— 1 Thess 1.5 and on the account of this spiritual Experience is our Perception of spiritual Things so often expressed by Acts of Sense as Tasting Seeing Feeling c. which are the greatest Evidences of the Property of Things natural 'T is the Holy Spirit that assists helps and relieves us against Temptations that may arise in us so that they shall not be prevalent And indeed without this our first prime Assent unto the Divine Authority of the Scriptures will not secure us but the Influence and Assistance of the Spirit in the midst of Dangers so strengthens the sincere Christian that it makes him stand as firm as a Rock who has no skill to defend the Truth by force of Arguments against those subtil and sophistical Artificers who on all occasions strive to insinuate Objections against it from its Obscurity Imperfection Want of Order Difficulties and seeming Contradictions contained therein c. Moreover there are other special and gracious Actings of the Holy-Ghost on the Minds of Believers which belong also to this internal Testimony whereby their Faith is established viz. his anointing and sealing of them his witnessing with them and his being an Earnest in them Wherefore altho no internal Work of the Spirit can be the format Reason of of our Faith or that which it is resolved into yet it is such as without it we can never sincerely believe as we ought nor be established in believing against the Temptations of the Devil and Objections of evil Men. It hath been already declared Dr. Owen saith a Reverend Divine that it is the Authority and Veracity of God revealing themselves in the Scripture and by it that is the formal Reason of our Faith or supernatural Assent unto it as it is the Word of God It remains only that we enquire in the second place into the Way and Means whereby they evidence themselves unto us and the Scriptures thereby to be of God so as that we may undoubtedly and infallibly believe them so to be Now because Faith as we have shewed is an Assent upon Testimony and consequently Divine Faith is an Assent upon Divine Testimony There must be some Testimony or Witness in this Case whereon Faith doth rest and this we say is the Testimony of the Holy-Ghost the Author of the Scriptures And this Work and Testimony of the Spirit may be reduced unto two Heads c. 1. The Impressions
had only in some particular Countries some People never taste of it as long as they live III. Christ's Love is not known to many that live in the World divers never tasted of it do not know how good it is died without any sight or assurance of Christ's Love IV. Wine is highly esteemed and valued when the excellent Virtue thereof is known IV. Christ's Love is esteemed by all that know his Worth they value him above Wine or Gold or the best of earthly things V. Men will not part with Store of the best Wine for Toys and Trifles V. Saints will not part with the Love of Christ for all the good things of this World they are but Trifles and Vanity in comparison of his Love If a Man would give all the Goods of his House to a Saint so that he would part with Christ's Love Cant. 8.7 it would be contemned VI. Wine is of a singular use to revive and make glad the disconsolate Spirit Vina parant animos Ovid. Give Wine to him that is of an heavy Heart VI. The Love of Christ is the most sovereign thing in the World in the Manifestations of it to revive and comfort poor disconsolate Souls Thou hast put more Gladness in my Heart Psal 4.7 than in the Time when their Corn and Wine encreased VII Wine causes a Man if he drinks freely of it Cura fugit dilueturque Mero Ovid. to forget his Sorrows VII The Evidence or Manifestation of Christ's Love to a poor Soul doth cause it to forget all its former Bitterness Terror of the Law Rom. 7.10 15 18 24 25. and Horror of Conscience for Sin which possibly for a great while it lay under VIII Wine Naturalists tell us repairs decayed Nature A Man may faint by some sudden Qualm and need a Cordial and that which may revive the Spirit may not recover a Man out of a Consumption or one brought by a languishing Distemper almost to the Grave VIII The Grace and Love of Christ will recover Strength that hath been lost A Saint may faint and need a Cordial by means of a Temptation when Grace is not much decayed in him A Draught of Christ's Love I mean the Manifestations of it will recover in a spiritual sence a Christian that has been a great while consumptive whose Vitals are impaired and he almost dead IX Wine was used in Legal Sacrifices in time of the Law IX The Grace of Love that Fruit of the Spirit which flows from Christ is the only Ingredient to stir up our Devotion We can perform no Services acceptably without Love Let all your Works be done in Charity And when the Soul hath sweet Manifestations of Chrst's Love to it how sweetly doth it go on in God's Worship X. Wine is good as it may be used to heal some sorts of Wounds X. The Love of Christ will heal a broken Heart There is no Salve both in the Nature and Effects thereof to cure a wounded Spirit like Assurance of Christ's Love XI Wine is good to stir up Courage in hostile Encounters it makes a Man brisk and valiant XI The Love of Christ breaking in upon the Soul makes a Christian couragious and very valiant in that spiritual Warfare he is engaged in he is hereby animated to endure all manner of Hardness and over all is more than a Conqueror Nothing shall separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. XII Wine is used at Marriage-Feasts and in great Banquets XII The Love of Christ is more than a Banquet of the greatest Varieties to a gracious Soul it affords choice Food a Feast of fat things of Wines upon the Lees of fat things full of Marrow of Wines upon their Lees well refined XIII Wine may be taken to excess XIII But none can have too much of Christ's Love XIV Wine daily drunk without fresh Supplies will not hold out long XIV Christ's Love is like a Fountain of living Water or an inexhaustible Treasure XV. Wine will decay by long keeping it will wax sour and become nauseous and unsavoury XV. Christ's Love the longer we enjoy it the sweeter it is and sweetest of all 't will be at the last Inferences BUt from whence is it that Believers do thus prize and esteem Jesus Christ and his Love First From the Excellency of his Person See Rose of Sharon and Lilly of the Vallies He is fairer than the Children of Men. Secondly From the sence of his great Love to them We love him because he first loved us Thirdly From the Consideration of those hard things he suffered for their sakes Fourthly Because of the Savour of his good Ointment He hath shed his Love abroad in their Hearts Rom 5 5. by the Holy Ghost Fifthly Saints value Christ's Love above Wine because his Love is beyond all comparison most sweet and consolatory 1. His Love was in him early betimes before ever the Earth was formed or the Foundations thereof laid Prov. 8 31. his Hearts Desire and Love was first set upon us 2. His Love is of an attracting Nature that the Spouse knew well enough He is like the Loadstone Jer. 31.3 1 John 4.19 he draws all Hearts after him that have a taste or touch of him 3. 'T is boundless like Nilus it overflows all Banks and Bounds it knows no Limits Prov. 8.30 4. It is a delighting Love His Delight was with the Sons of Men. He takes complacency in the Soul he loves Hos 14.4 Ezek 16.3 4 5 6 9. Cant. 8.6 7. 5. It is a free Love without foreseen Merit or Worth in the Object When Man lay weltring in his Blood loathsom and filthy Christ loved him 6. Christ's Love is hot and fervent much Water cannot quench it It hath a vehement Flame 7. 'T is a matchless Love far beyond the Love of Jacob to Rachel or Jonathan to David 8. 'T is an incomprehensible Love it passeth Knowledg You may sooner find out the Depth of the Sea the Heighth of Heaven tell the Stars or accompt the Sands of the Sea-shore than find out or measure the Love of Christ It is a lasting abiding and eternal Love His loving-kindness he will never take away This makes the Church so much to desire the Manifestations of the Love of Christ and in this is his Love better than Wine But who are they that thus prize and esteem the Love of Christ Take some brief Notes of them 1. Such cannot tell how to praise Christ nor set forth his Excellency as they would they cannot sufficiently exalt him 2. Such are in a longing and languishing Condition till they see him 3. Cannot be satisfied till they get to some good and well-grounded Assurance of an Interest in him 4. Christ runs much in their Minds 5. Such love Christ what State soever they are in 6. Such keep his Word 7. They love Christ above Husband Wife Children c. nay more than Life it self 8. They
tempestuous and boysterous Sea XVII 'T is a Wonder of Mercy to see how the Soul of a Saint should live be preserved and abide with its Head above Water in such a disquiet and tempestuous World as this is XVIII Some Ships suffer Shipwrack are lost and sink down to the bottom XVIII So doth the Soul of many a Professor that sets out with much seeming Hopes of Heaven suffer spiritual Shipwrack and sink down to Hell 1 Tim. 1.19 XIX A Ship must be well look'd to and kept very clean within and without or she will not sail with any speed XIX So must the Soul be washed and kept exceeding clean within as well as without or it will go but slowly or heavily towards the Haven of future Happiness the Mire and Clay or Scum and Filth of this World is so apt to obstruct its way as it passes Heaven-ward XX. A Ship hath its Anchor and if in the midst of a Storm it be rightly cast and takes good hold the Ship is safe XX. The Soul hath its Anchor Hope Which Hope we have as the Anchor of the Soul both sure and stedfast Heb. 6.19 This Anchor being rightly cast upwards within the Vail in the midst of the greatest Danger the Soul is safe Metaphor Disparity A Ship is a lifeless thing built of Timber c. by Man THe Soul of Man is a Spirit created by the Almighty Zech. 12.1 He hath formed the Spirit of Man within him II. A Ship is a thing visible to corporeal Eyes II. The Soul of Man is an invisible Substance i. e. it cannot be seen with fleshly Eyes III. A Ship may utterly be destroyed nay and cannot continue long III. The Soul of Man cannot lose its Being that will live when the Body is dead either in Joy or Misery it can never be destroyed so as to die Mat. 10.28 and lose its being or suffer annihilation IV. A Man that has a Ship may lose it yet may not be undone he may have his Loss repaired and may get another Ship better than the former IV. That Man that loses his Soul is undone for ever No Man hath more than one Soul and he can have no more that being cast away he is eternally ruined there is no reparation for him no making up his Loss V. A Ship tho it hath never so good a Pilot may miscarry and be cast away such Winds and Storms may arise or by means of unknown Rocks Sands and Shoals it may hit upon V. The Soul of a Believer that hath Christ for its Pilot cannot miscarry the Sea and Winds obey him he makes the Storm a Calm so that the proud Waves are still he will carry it through all the Dangers it meets with Psal 107.28 29 30. and bring it to its desired Haven Inferences IS the Soul fitly compared to a Ship that passeth through the troublesom Ocean or tempestuous Seas Then this shews us that the Life of a Christian is attended with many Difficulties and eminent Dangers and that we must expect to meet with sudden Storms in our passage to our eternal Port. Every Believer must resolve to sail through the Straits Mouth and expect to meet with those cursed Algerines those mortal Enemies of Christians I mean the Spirits of Darkness if ever he would arrive at the Holy-Land II. Let it be the Care and Endeavour of every Man and Woman to set out in this Voyage for Eternity whilst the Wind of the Spirit blows My Spirit saith God shall not always strive with Man III. Caution And let each Man from hence take heed of his Soul this Spiritual Ship lest it be lost He is but entrusted with it and must give an account to the great Owner Besides the Soul is of very great Worth far beyond all the Ships that sail on the Ocean nay what Value may be compared to the Soul of Man the Excellency of which we shall briefly hint here to caution all to take heed 1. It is capable of Divine Meditation and Contemplation by which means we come to know there is a God For the invisible things of Him Rom. 1.20 from the Creation of the World are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal Power and Godhead c. I am fearfully and wonderfully made marvellous are thy Works Psal 139.14 and that my Soul knoweth right well By prying into the Nature and Glory of the Work the Soul findeth out the Being Nature and Glory of the Workman 2. 'T is capable of Divine Inspiration But there is a Spirit in Man Job 32.8 and the Inspiration of the Almighty giveth him Vnderstanding Also of Comfort and Delight and that when Multitudes of Thoughts are or would be disturbing the Mind 3. 'T is capable of Divine Impression to receive the Image of God Psal 94 1â— as it is rebuilt in Christ Jesus 4. 'T is capable of Divine Union and Communion with God 5. Nothing save God himself can satisfy it The Heathen by this found out the Excellency of the Soul 6. The Soul must needs be excellent if we consider the Excellency of the Body which is but the House or Tabernacle for the Soul If the Cabinet be of so great a value and so curiously wrought then of what transcendent Value must the Jewel be 7. The Price paid for it was no less than the precious Blood of Christ Psal 49.8 9. the Redemption of the Soul is therefore precious its Value and Excellency from hence is beyond comparison 8. The Robes it weareth are a Demonstration of its great Worth and Excellency O what Cost and Charge is God at to speak with a holy Reverence in cloathing and adorning of it He puts on Robes of Righteousness and Garments of Salvation and adorns it with the Ornaments of Grace and Divine Vertue 9. From the Charge given us to look to it and keep it Only take heed to Deut. 4.9 and keep thy Soul diligently 10. From Satan's hunting after it to destroy it 11. That 't is exceeding excellent appears in that the Martyrs parted with all rather than they would wrong defile and lose it for ever 12. It is more worth than all the World Mat. 16.26 What shall it profit a Man to gain the whole World and lose his own Soul 13. 'T is immortal it cannot die nor be annihilated Mat 10.28 Fear not them that kill the Body but cannot kill the Soul The Soul of Man compared to a Candle Prov. 20.27 The Spirit of Man is the Candle of the Lord. Metaphor Parallel A Candle is made to give Light unto Men in the Night THe Spirit of Man is formed by the Lord to give Light unto him whilst he lives in the Night of this World II. A Candle must be lighted or receive Light from some other Light or it will light no Man II. The Spirit of Man receives its Light from God who is called Light There is a Spirit
Diet. III. So the Church is a Place of Soul-refreshment to all spiritual Travellers and Pilgrims There is both the sincere Milk of the Word and strong-Meat 1 Pet. 2.1 2. Heb. 5.12 all things ready the Soul needs Some are for one sort of Diet some for another In the Church also is sweet Repose there Christ giveth Rest to the Weary IV. An Inn sometimes lodgeth unknown to the Host evil Persons Thieves and Deceivers IV. So the Church notwithstanding all the Care that is taken by her Officers doth sometimes receive or take in false Professors such as are unsound at Heart Hypocrites and deceitful Workers V. An Inn is a very desirable Place to Men in their Journey V. So is the Church of God hence David longed after the Courts of God's House Psal 84.2 VI. An Inn is not a Place to abide long in the Traveller takes up his Abode in it but a Night or two and he is gone VI. So the Church Militant is no long abiding Place Christians stay in it but for a short time 't is a Place of Refreshment as it were for a Night Psal 30.5 Heb. 13.14 Here we have no continuing City we are Strangers as all our Fathers were when we come to Heaven we shall abide with the Church Triumphant for ever Metaphor Disparity IN an Inn there is little to be had without Money if a Man hath not Money or Credit he is no Guest for them THe Church is a Place for the Poor for such as have no Money they are welcome thither The Doors of this Inne are always open to all sincere Souls whether they be poor or rich II. A Man that comes to lodge in an Inn tho he hath never so good Entertainment yet he is not contented to stay there he makes ready in the morning to go forward in his Journey II. But he that comes to take up his Lodging in the Church or spiritual Inn if he be sincere desireth not to go out from thence any more he desireth to dwell therein as long as he liveth tho our abiding in this World is but compared to a Night One thing have I desired of the Lord and that will I seek after Psal 27.4 that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the Days of my Life III. An Inn may be so full of Guests that a weary Traveller especially if he come late can have no Entertainment but is forced to seek it elsewhere Luk. 2.8 There was no Room for them in the Inne III. The Church was never yet so full but that there was Room for all those that were weary and heavy-laden All that ever truly travelled towards Sion have found Entertainment there nay Mat. 22 3 to 14. tho the Servants of the Lord have been sent into the Streets and Lanes to fetch in the Poor and the Maimed and the Halt and the Blind and they do accordingly yet there is Room As there can be no want of any Accommodation of spiritual Food so there is no want of Room All that have been called by the Word and Spirit and compelled by Grace to come in in all Ages have had blessed Entertainment and as God hath enlarged and encreased Converts so he hath enlarged and encreased the Church by three thousand at a time Acts 2.40 IV. Commonly those that lodge in an Inn are Strangers and Foreiners and staying but a night or a very short time have no acquaintance with any that dwell therein IV. But the Saints that are in the spiritual Inn the Church Eph. 2.19 are no more Strangers and Foreigners but therein make their abode for tho it be said 't is but for a Night or a Day c. yet 't is as long as they live and they get very great Acquaintance with those that dwell therein Inferences BLess God that he hath provided such a Place of Refreshment for poor weary Travellers 2. You that look upon your selves to be Strangers and Pilgrims in this World may learn from hence where to take up your Lodging 3. Also it may inform God's People and faithful Ministers what care they ought to take in receiving Men and Women into the Church Inn-keepers will examine all suspicious Persons The Church compared to a Vine Psal 80.8 Thou hast brought a Vine out of Egypt thou hast cast out the Heathen and planted it c. Verse 14. Behold and visit this Vine c. Cant. 2.15 For our Vines have tender Grapes c. Hos 14.8 And flourish as the Vine The Church is compared to a Vine Metaphor Parallel A Vine is no beautiful Plant yet very fruitful it abounds with inward Sap. SO the Church altho she doth not seem so beautiful to carnal Eyes yet she is very fruitful to God Psal 104.6 The Trees of the Lord that is the Saints of God are full of Sap full of Divine Vertue or good Fruits II. A Vine spreads forth its Branches and accordingly grows much in a short time II. So the Lord 's spiritual Vine hath in former times exceedingly spread her Branches forth the Mountains are said to be covered with the Shadow of it and the Boughs thereof were like the goodly Cedars Psal 80.8 9 10 11. She stretched out her Branches to the Sea and her Boughs unto the River Israel God's ancient Vine grew wonderfully and so did the Gospel-Vine how did it in a little time spread forth its spiritual Branches Eastwards and Westwards over many Nations and Kingdoms She extended her Bouhgs into Parthia Media Mesopotamia Egypt Judea Cappadocia Pontus Asia Pamphilia Lybia Spain Italy England c. III. The Vine must have much Pains taken with it it needs Pruning often or else it will decay III. So God takes much pains with his Church it is pruned and purged Joh. 15.2 that it may bring forth the more Fruit. IV. The Vine is in it self but a weak Plant and therefore needs Under-propping IV. So the Church is in her self but weak and needs to be born up by Christ God is the Strength of his People they are wholly supported by Him V. Tho the Vine hath many Branches yet all have a Sufficiency of Sap and Nourishment from the Root to make them fruitful V. So the Church tho she hath many Members yet all receive a Sufficiency of Grace and Divine Virtue of the Root viz. the Lord Jesus to make them fruitful VI. The Vine if it be barren or unfruitful is the most unprofitable of any Tree and fit for nothing but the Fire Son of Man what cometh of the Vine-Tree above all other Trees and of the Vine-Branches which is amongst the Trees of the Forrest Shall Wood be taken thereof to hang any Vessel thereon Behold it is cast into the Fire to be burnt VI. So are the Members of the visible Church if unfruitful good for nought but to be cut down and cast into the Fire as our Saviour himself sheweth John 15. Therefore thus saith
all his People saying Every Son that is born ye shall cast into the River Eâ—od 1.22 and every Daughter ye shall save alive Hence poor Moses was cast into the Flags who afterwards was an Instrument in the hand of God by working many Signs and Wonders and appeared to help and deliver Israel one that Pharaoh little thought of Thirdly But this not taking so effectually neither they were most cruelly oppressed by hard Servitude and forced to make their full Tale of Bricks and yet Straw is denied them which made the Lives of God's People bitter unto them Fourthly and lastly When they desired liberty to go and worship God this was denied them by no means would Pharaoh consent to it but made his hands heavier and heavier upon them Thus were they in the Fire and Furnace of Affliction and yet graciously preserved notwithstanding their Enemies were so many so cruel and so mighty above them And this was that great Sight that God in a Figure shewed to Moses and this great Sight is to be seen at this Day in this and other Nations O what Hellish Plots and Contrivances have been on foot for many Years last past especially for the space of two or three Years How many Fires have been kindled to consume the poor Church of God in England and other adjacent Nations What Plots and Sham-Plots have the Popish Enemies set on foot since the Time that Dr. Oates first discovered the Grand and Hellish Intrigue And yet how wonderfully hath God wrought to save us to this Day notwithstanding we are an unworthy People and as little deserving this Divine Favour in our selves as ever any were who ever lived in any Age of the World The strange and perfidious Actings of the Enemy to destroy us and the strange and wonderful Workings of Divine Providence to preserve us have been so admirable that succeeding Ages who shall read the History of these Times will doubtless scarcely believe them but rather conclude they are meer Romances VI. Here I might note also for Illustration sake that a Bramble-Bush is attended with Thorns and often offends and wounds such as roughly and unadvisedly meddle with it VI. So such as roughly and unadvisedly touch and handle the Lord's People do but prick and wound themselves thereby as most plainly appeared in the Case of Pharaoh and the Egyptians What became of them Those that afflict God's People shall be afflicted nay wounded And I will undo all that afflict thee Zeph. 3.19 God knoweth how to make Jerusalem a burthensom Stone for all People All that burthen themselves with it shall be cut in pieces Zech. 12.3 tho all the Earth should be gathered together against it Hence Christ gave persecuting Saul Warning of the Danger 'T is hard for thee to kick against the Pricks Acts 9.5 Those that kick against God's Church do but kick against the Pricks they do but hurt wound and undo themselves thereby As for Disparities they are many and so obvious to all that I shall pass them by for tho the Church of God is here represented by a Bramble-Bush yet she is in Christ's sight as a Lilly among Thorns and her Worth and Glory through the Lord Jesus is so great that she very far surpasseth all the People and Families of the Earth Nothing of all created Things doth Christ think good enough to set forth and illustrate the Beauty and Excellency of his Church and People by however unworthy she is in her own sight or in the eyes of the sinful World Inferences ADmire the Grace and Love of God the Almighty Jehovah that inhabiteth Eternity that he should out of his abundant Favour good Will and great Condescension dwell in a poor Bramble-Bush Who is able to conceive of this rich and undeserved Favour 2. It also informeth us how it comes to pass that the poor Saints and Church of God are preserved to this day 'T is because God is among them God dwelleth in the Bush The Lord dwelleth in Sion to comfort revive uphold save and deliver her in the Day of Trouble 3. It may serve to humble us and lay us low in our own eyes What are the best of God's People by Nature and in themselves but as a Bush Bryar or Thorny Hedg 'T is God who hath made us to differ from others 4. It may deter the Wicked and for ever be a Warning to them to forbear persecuting God's People for that it will prove at last to their utter Ruine they kick but against the Pricks 5. Remember the good Will of Him and seek his Blessing that dwelt in the Bush The Church compared to a Mother Cant. 8.1 O that thou wert as my Brother that sucked the Breasts of my Mother Gal. 4.26 Jerusalem which is above is free which is the Mother of us all BY Mother in these Scriptures is meant the Church of God or as some expound it the Universal Church As God is a Believer's Father so the Church is his Mother Metaphor Parallel A Mother is the Wife of an Husband it imports a Marriage-State Every godly Woman that is a Mother can shew who is or was her Husband THe Church is the Spouse and Wife of Christ Isa 54.5 For thy Maker is thy Husband the Lord of Hosts is his Name Wherefore my Brethren Rom. 7.4 ye also are become dead to the Law by the Body of Christ that ye should be married to another even to him that is raised from the Dead that we should bring forth Fruit unto God II. A Mother is one that beareth and bringeth forth Children II. So the Church beareth and bringeth forth Children to Christ Psal 87.5 Of Zion it shall be said This and that Man was born in her Hence the Saints are called Sons Daughters and Children of Zion III. A Mother travails and is in great Pain in bringing forth Children III. So the Church is said to travail and be in pain in bringing forth of Children to Christ Isa 66.8 As soon as Zion travailed she brought forth her Children The Church may be said to travail two manner of ways 1. By Preaching Prayer and by other godly Means and Endeavours to bring forth poor Sinners out of a State of Nature into a State of Grace Paul was said to travail in Pain till Christ was formed in those to whom he preached 2. She travaileth by Preaching Prayer Tears and Sufferings and other lawful Ways to bring forth her Children out of a State of Bondage and external Slavery and Captivity into a State of perfect Peace Joy and Prosperity free from all outward Violence and Thraldom according to the Promise of God Therefore will I give them up Mich. 5.3 until the Time which she that travaileth hath brought forth Then the Remnant of his Brethren shall return unto the Children of Israel She being with Child cried travailing in Birth and pained to be delivered Rev. 12.2 For I have heard a Voice as of a
in Christ Jesus shall suffer Persecution Through much Tribulation we must enter into the Kingdom of God Hypocrites in a Day of common Danger and Persecution are in the like Circumstances with those who truly fear God Satan that Arch-Pirate and his Emissaries will favour them no more than others until they renounce their Religion c. IX When a Ship is in a Storm all the Mariners have their Hands and Hearts full they are at their Wit 's end every one takes hold of a Rope and endeavours to the utmost to save and secure the Ship if possible from sinking IX Isa 64.17 So in an Hour of Trouble and Persecution every Christian should do his best to secure and save the Church of God from sinking or from being cast away or lost Every one should have their Hearts up to God and their Hands to work wisely for her and their own Safety X. Merchant Ships greatly enrich those Places Cities and Kingdoms to whom they belong bringing to them rare and excellent Merchandizes which are offered to Sale or to be exchanged to Traders X. So the Church of God by daily Trading to Heaven greatly enricheth poor Sinners What she receiveth from Christ her Merchants or Ministers offer to Sale Prov. 23.23 to the Nation or Nations where she lives Truth Peace Pardon the the Pearl of great Price and other excellent Merchandize she furnisheth the World with XI A Ship 's great Safety consists in her being well built having a good Bottom a skilful Pilot and sure Anchors c. XI So the Churches Safety consisteth in her being truly constituted Heb. 6.1 2 according to the Apostolical Prescriptions or that Pattern left in the Gospel by Christ and the Primitive Saints and in having Christ for her Governour or chief Pilot who as Jerome observes sits at the Stern and guides her Course as he sees good And lastly by having Hope that precious Grace of the Spirit for her Anchor Which Hope we have as the Anchor of the Soul Heb. 6.19 both sure and stedfast c. The Nature of which is opened under the Fifth Head of Metaphors concerning the Graces of the Spirit to which we refer you Inferences THis may inform us that Trouble and Persecution must be expected No Ship sets out to Sea but meets with Storms and Tempests at one time or another and therefore the Mariners look for them and provide accordingly to secure the Ship and save themselves and so should spiritual Sea-faring Men do 2. It may also be Matter of Comfort to the Godly What assurance is here of Safety Christ who guides the Ship can at his pleasure still the Seas and make the greatest Storm in a Moment to be a Calm Psal 65.7 He stilleth as the Psalmist saith the Noise of the Seas the Noise of their Waves and the Tumults of the People Therefore tho Satan that cruel Pirate and other malicious Enemies of the Church seek daily to sink this spiritual Ship and tho he be a Spirit and therefore of great Power against us yet he is nothing to God who is the Creating Spirit That which is said of Behemoth is no less true of him He that made him Job 46.18 can make his Sword approach unto him Let therefore the Power and Rage of our Enemies be never so great and their Opposition at this day never so fierce against us yet we have an Assurance from our blessed Saviour that the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against the Church She shall never be broken to pieces nor suffer Shipwrack O thou tossed with Tempests and not comforted The Church compared to a Golden Candlestick Rev. 1.20 The Golden Candlesticks are the seven Churches MR. Brightman and others understand this Metaphor of Golden Candlesticks is taken from the Candlesticks that were in the Tabernacle erected by Moses and the Resemblance between these holds good in two or three Particulars which take as follow Metaphor Parallel IN general the Use of a Candlestick is to hold out the Light to others No Man saith our Saviour lighteth a Candle and putteth it under a Bushel but into a Candlestick and it giveth Light to all that are in the House SO the Church holdeth out the Light of God's Word to all that dwell therein in which respect the Apostle calleth the Church the Pillar of Truth 1 Tim. 3.17 Exercit. Divin Exer. 9. Way to the true Church p. 80. Gurs Theol part 2. Col. 324. because she holds out the Truth to be seen saith Weemse the Expression being taken from the Custom of many Nations who are used to write their Laws in Tables and so to hang them upon Pillars of Stone that the People whom it concerned to know them might see and read them as amongst us Proclamations are nailed to Posts in Market-Towns Dr. White The Church holds out her Light three ways 1. By her Doctrine she having divers approved Ministers belonging to her that she calleth forth to preach and publish the Word of Truth Hence the Law is said to go forth of Zion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem 2. By her holy Discipline 3. By her godly Example and Conversation Let your Light so shine before Men that they may see your good Works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven Mat. 5.16 Walk as the Children of the Light Eph. 5.8 The Church ought to meet publickly to make a publick Profession II. Candlesticks of Gold are of great Worth and seldom found but in the Houses of Princes II. So the Church is very precious in God's sight Exod. 19.5 6. Mal. 3.17 Ye shall be a peculiar Treasure unto me above all People Hence they are called his Jewels This Candlestick only belongs to the Prince of Heaven and Earth they are Christ's Churches III. Those Golden Candlesticks had some part of them for Use and some part for Ornament there were Knobs and Flowers curiously set upon them III. The Church of God is not only of use to hold out the Light of God's Word 1 Pet. 3.3 4. but it is also richly adorned with several choice and heavenly Graces that make it and every Member thereof who truly fears God amiable in Christ's Sight IV. The throwing down or removing of the Candlestick throweth down and removeth the Light or Candle also IV. So when a Church is removed out of its place the Light of God's Word is many times removed from a Nation or People likewise which severe Judgment hath befallen the People of Asia long ago by God's taking away or removing those seven famous Golden Candlesticks or Churches that once were there Inference LEt the Saints and People of God take heed how they walk before Him It behoves them to strive to recover themselves from whence they are fallen lest He remove their Candlestick out of its place The Church compared to a Flock of Sheep Cant. 1.7 Tell me O thou whom my Soul loveth where thou feedest and where thou makest thy
their Pasture X. Cant. 1 7 So the Saints and Church of God have a blessed Resting-place in the Time of the greatest Heat Temptation Affliction and Persecution or whatsoever may cause Disquiet and grieve them in the midst of which saith Mr. Ainsworth Christ giveth sweet Repose unto his Sheep they have Peace in Him tho Tribulation in the World Joh. 16.33 Isa 47.10 Psal 57.1 Isa 33.2 They shall not hunger nor thirst neither shall the Heat nor Sun smite them c. Vnder the Shadow of thy Wings will I make my Refuge until these Calamities be over-past Hence Christ is said to be as the Shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land XI Sheep have many Enemies as Lions Wolves Bears Dogs Foxes and the like and all their Safety stands only in the Care of their Shepherd otherwise these cruel Beasts besides Men who kill many in a Night would soon tear them to pieces XI So God's poor Flock have many strong and cruel Adversaries who would soon tear them in pieces and utterly destroy them were it not for the precious Love and Care of Jesus Christ Rom. 8.36 We are killed all the day long and accounted as Sheep for the Slaughter Zech. 11.4 hence called the Flock of Slaughter XII A Flock of Sheep love to feed and lie down together it is a difficult thing to scatter and divide them If they are frighted by an Enemy or pursued by Dogs Foxes or Wolves and should be separated they would soon get together again XII So the Saints of God do greatly love to assemble together Mal. 3.16 They that feared the Lord spake often one to another c. They that fear thee saith David Psal 119.74 will be glad when they see me because I have hoped in thy Word It is a hard thing to divide Christ's choice Sheep their Hearts are knit one to another as Jonathan's was to David's And if wicked Men like Dogs and Wolves do endeavour to scatter them by Persecution they will soon get together again as is signified Acts 4.23 And being let go they went to their own Company c. XIII A Flock of Sheep are subject to take Soil and Filth and therefore have need of washing XIII So the Godly and Faithful in Christ Jesus are very subject as they are in themselves to contract much Guilt and Pollution Sin being of a defiling Nature and therefore it is they are washed by their Shepherd If I wash thee not Joh. 13. thou hast no part in me The believing Corinthians are said to be washed they were before very unclean and filthy Such were some of you but ye are washed 1 Cor. 6.11 but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of our Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God who hath loved us and washed us from our Sins in his own Blood Rev. 1.5 XIV Sheep will live where other Beasts cannot they will live upon very hard and barren Commons where the Grass is exceeding short and yet seem very well contented XIV So the sincere and truly gracious Soul can live by Faith in a Time of Want and Scarcity when the Hopes of other Men die and pine away And tho the World frown upon them and they cannot see which way by an Eye of Sense they should subsist yet they make a good Shift to live upon the Providence of God who careth for them and are very contented and satisfied with such Pasture that God is pleased to put them into Altho the Fig-Tree shall not blossom Hab. 3.17 18. neither shall Fruit be on the Vine the Labour of the Olive shall fail and the Fields shall yield no Meat the Flocks shall be cut off from the Fold and there shall be no Herd in the Stall Yet will I rejoyce in the Lord and joy in the God of my Salvation XV. There are oftentimes in a Flock of Sheep some Goats XV. So in the Church of Christ are some evil and corrupt Members Mat. 13.47 or such who are none of Christ's Sheep Hypocrites such as are unsound at Heart who are also called Goats XVI Sheep are very fruitful they multiply in a little Time exceedingly tho many are killed by Butchers XVI So the Church of God is fruitful Acts 12.40 41. from a few they have often encreased to a great Multitude Nay tho they have been many of them slaughtered by the persecuting Butchers of Babylon yet they have rather multiplied the more from whence that Maxim grew The Blood of the Martyrs is the Seed of the Church VII In a Flock of Sheep are likely some fat and strong and some lean Ones and the strong are sometimes observed to run upon and abuse the weak being grown very wanton these sometimes leap over the Fold and the Shepherd hath much trouble with them XVII So amongst the Flock of Christ are some fat and rich Saints and some poor and lean Ones who do not thrive you may take it both in a temporal and spiritual Sence There are also some whom God rebukes and threatens who are grown so head-strong that they are waxed wanton and haughty that they oppress and abuse the Poor and these God saith he will destroy Ezek 34.16 they being grown fat like Jeshurun kick against the Lord and will not live in subjection to his Church nor abide in the Fold XVIII Sheep are sometimes separated from the Goats for some special occasion known to the Shepherd XVIII So the Sheep of Christ in the last Day shall be separated from the Goats Mat. 25.32 33. by the Lord Jesus Before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as a Shepherd divideth his Sheep from the Goats and he shall set the Sheep on his Right-hand and the Goats on his Left Metaphor Disparity SHeep may be lost and torn in pieces and utterly destroyed by Lions Bears c. BUt none of Christ's Sheep can be lost nor perish Mat. 10.28 Joh. 10.27 28. tho the Enemy may kill or destroy their Bodies yet they cannot destroy their Souls My Sheep hear my Voice and I know them and they follow me and I give them eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand My Father that gave them me is greater than all and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand Touching other Properties and Things relating to Christ's Sheep see the Metaphor Christ the good Shepherd The Church compared to a House 1 Tim. 3.15 But if I tarry long that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the House of God which is the Church of the Living God c. Heb. 3.6 But Christ over his own House whose House are we c. THe Church of Christ is compared to an House the great God whose Throne is above hath also a Dwelling-place here below Metaphor Parallel See Vartue's Parallels p. 400. A House
Judgment make haste their Consciences being thereby awakened by the Lord to get into that Place of Security God hath provided for them viz. the Rock Christ who is called an Hiding-Place Isa 32.2 IX There are many Sorts of Worms IX So there are many Sorts of Men Worms 1. Some great and some small Ones and yet all are but Worms 1. So there are some great Men mighty Ones of the Earth as Kings c. and some small or poor Men but yet all are but Worms weak and contemptible Creatures in God's sight David called himself a Worm I am a Worm and no Man c. Psal 22 6. 2. There are some Dunghil-Worms who love to abide or live in Dung and Muck of the Earth 2. So there are some Men whom we commonly call Muck-worms who delight in nothing more than in the Dung or Filth of the Earth or Muck of this World their Hearts and Hands are always in the Earth Take them out of this Filth and they are as dead Men and let them alone and you shall presently see them craul to their old Delights Nothing but the World is in their Mouths they wallow in their filthy Lusts and Earthly-mindedness as the Swine tumbles in the Mire III. There are some Worms very loathsom such as breed in rotten putrified Flesh which are called Carrion-Worms 3. Such a Worm is a wicked Man a Vermine a Worm that breeds in Corruption as it were a loathsom Creature in God's Sight See the Head of the Metaphor 4. There are some Worms that deceive the Eye seeming to be what they are not Many have thought they had seen Fire in the Night when they have cast their Eye upon them in the place where they have lain These are called Glow-worms R. W. tells us a Story of a Parson that in the Night being drunk casting his Eye upon one of these Worms having his Pipe of Tobacco filled went bodily towards it crying out Fire I hope Fire I hope When the Light comes these appear to all to be but Worms 4. There are some Men who deceive their Neighbours They take them to be holy and good Men precious Saints of God and yet are greatly mistaken in them they being no better than painted Sepulchers meer Hypocrites and notwithstanding their outward Shew of Holinesss and Sanctity are but Earth-Worms having the World viz. external Advantage or vain Glory in their Eye as the great Thing they aim at in their Profession and in the Day of Christ they will appear to be what in truth they are 5. There are some very hurtful Worms who spoil Trees Flowers and the Fruits of the Earth See Joel 1.4 Amos 4.9 Such are the Palmer-Worm the Caterpillar and the Canker-Worm Which Sort of hurtful Vermin God hath often brought upon a People and Nation as a Punishment of their Sins 5. So there are some Men who like to these Worms are of a very hurtful Nature and endeavour to spoil Christ's spiritual Trees Flowers and precious Fruit c. They are called Locusts or Caterpillars by the Holy-Ghost Rev. 9.3 they are said to come out of the Bottomless Pit And to them was given Power as the Scorpions of the Earth have Power c. By these Locusts are meant as Franciscus Claudius a Carmelite Fryar and others expound the Place as is noted by Mr. Wilson ' those great Swarms of Popish Priests Friars Monks Cardinals even the whole Popish Hierarchy and Pontificial Clergy These are fitly likened unto Locusts which are a little vile Vermine springing as some say out of Smoke c. And truly this is made too evident of that Sort of Men this day in England and other Nations of Europe Never were a more destructive Generation of vile Vermine in the World none make or threaten to make greater Spoil of Christ's Vineyard and precious Fruit-Trees than they And in that they are let in upon us we may plainly read God's Displeasure against us thereby and nothing but unfeigned Repentance and Reformation will doubtless free this poor Nation from them for at this very time we are sadly plagued and pestered with them See God an Husbandman 6. There are also some profitable Worms who are very laborious and cloath the World with Silk and they are called Silk-Worms 6. This Sort of Worms resemble the laborious and faithful Ministers of Christ who spend themselves in Preaching and in divine Prayer and Meditation that so they may enrich Mens Souls with Grace and true Vertue These as Instruments in God's Hand may be said to cloath Men and Women with Silk or gloriously adorn their better Part tho hereby through Zeal and faithful Industry for God's Glory they waste and consume their own Carcases spending and being spent as the Apostle speaks X. The House or Place of divers Worms is the Earth they lie hid in the Ground X. So Man who is a Worm must take up his Place for a short time in the Earth The Grave is my House saith Job Job 17.13 the Place appointed for all Living This Worm must go to his Fellows to the Worms Inferences BY this we may see what a poor thing Man is The mighty Ones of the Earth who boast of great Matters are but Worms And if Man be but a Worm why doth he swell above the Clouds as if he would make his Nest among the Stars when as he must shortly fall among the Clods and be eaten of Worms 2. Take heed of having Mens Persons in Admiration it is a vain thing to give flattering Titles to others As it becomes us not to reproach or vilify any Man tho all Men are but as Worms so it is a God provoking Evil to flatter Men thereby creating high thoughts in them of themselves as some once served Herod crying out It is the Voice of a God and not of a Man But the Almighty Acts 12.22 to shew how much he abhorred such as gave not him the Glory made them know he was but a Worm and therefore the Angel of the Lord smote him and he was eaten up of Worms 3. Be not envious at others tho more rich and honourable than thee The greatest of Men are but Worms and tho some sparkle and shine in outward Glory and Splendor and seem to excell every way yet they may be but like Glow-worms 't is but for a Night they seem like Stars in the Morning they will appear like others 4. Let us learn from hence not to overvalue our selves nor our Lives What is the Life of a Worm 5. What Fools are the Wicked of the Earth to muster up their Force against God's People Whom do they come out against It is but against a Worm Could they prevail what Honour would they gain by it Is it so great a matter to destroy a Worm for so Jacob in his low Estate is called Fear not thou Worm Jacob. But let them know this Worm hath a mighty God to take its part I will help
Eagles Note In some Things the Saints are likened to Eagles Simile Parallel AN Eagle is the chief amongst the Fowls of the Air as a Lion is the King or chief among all the Beasts of the Earth SO the Saints are the chief of Men the Excellent as David calls them Thou art my Lord Psal 16.2 3. my Goodness extendeth not to thee but to the Saints that are in the Earth and to the Excellent in whom is all my Delight The Righteous are said to be more excellent than their Neighbour Prov. 12.26 1 Chron. 4.9 The World is not worthy of them Hence Jabez that holy and gracious Man is said to be more honourable than his Brethren A godly Man is of a more noble Extraction than the Men of the Earth Saints have an honourable Pedigree and Descent they are born of God are as it were of the Blood-Royal of Heaven and nearly related to the Prince of the Kings of the Earth They daily converse have Communion and Fellowship with the Father and the Son the glorious Sovereign of all the World They are delicately and most splendidly fed every day Others live and feed upon the empty Things of this World nay on the Dust of the Earth on Ashes Husks and Gravel as the Holy-Ghost declares They feed upon the Wind Hos 12.1 and snuff in the East Wind Whilst Believers feed on hidden Manna He eats that which is good and his Soul delights it self in Fatness He is often had into the King's Wine-Cellar he is richly cloathed hath more noble and honourable Titles than any Men on Earth He hath a most glorious Retinue viz. the heavenly Angels to attend him every day Never was King if ungodly so attended as the poorest Saint in the World is Saints are the chief of all the Children of Men as Eagles are chief of all the Fowls of the Air. II. Eagles are quick-sighted they behold afar off They have not only a quick and clear Sight but a very strong Sight able to look fully upon the Sun shining in his Strength Hence the Proverb is A Man that hath a clear and strong Sight is Eagle-ey'd II. The Saints are very clear and quick-sighted they can see afar off even from Earth to Heaven They through Christ can behold the Glory of God with open Face 2 Cor. 3.18 They can see and do pry into the secret and hidden Mysteries of the Gospel and Covenant of Grace Psal 25.14 The Secrets of the Lord are with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant They see the Evil that is in the least Sin and can discern what the End of the Wicked will be III. Eagles are very swift Creatures they have long Wings by which means they flie with great Swiftness Therefore Solomon calling upon us not to set our Hearts upon Riches saith They make themselves Wings Prov. 27.5 and flie away as an Eagle The Scriptures often express the more than ordinary Swiftness of Men by the Swiftness of an Eagle David lamenting the Death of Saul and Jonathan gives them this Character 2 Sam. 1.23 They were stronger than Lions and swifter than Eagles III. The Saints are very swift and speedy in their Motions when under the powerful Operation of the Spirit or upon the Wings of Faith and Love Psal 119.59 60. I made haste c. saith David They are said to run nay flie like Eagles or as Doves to the Windows they are many times carried swiftly along in the way of their Duties as upon Eagles Wings The Ministers of the Gospel are set forth by an Angel flying in the midst of Heaven Rev. 14.6 having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell upon the Earth When God's People are assaulted and persecuted they flie to God for Shelter so David Psal 143.9 I flie unto thee to hide me IV. The Eagles mount up on high The Word in the Hebrew signifies to get high and therefore as it is noted by Mr. Caryl it is used in the Noun 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sublimis elatus fuit eminuit per Metaphoram supervivit to set forth the Highness of God Job 11.8 Psal 113.6 Isa 5.16 52.13 Scripture as well as Naturalists tell us that the Eagle's Motion and mounting up is wonderful she flies quite out of Sight One of the Ancients says The Eagle soars above the * Doubtless he means the lower Region Air as if she would visit the Starry Heavens The common Epithetes of an Eagle are high flying swift c. IV. The Saints of God mount up on high Phil 3.20 Our Conversation saith Paul is in Heaven Men of the World are like Moles and Worms always digging and tumbling in the Earth and Muck of this World but Believers those who are truly risen with Christ Col. 3.1 2 3. seek those things that are above they soar aloft nothing will satisfy them but Communion with God They mount up by Prayer as also by fresh Acts of Faith they mount up by divine Meditation They are said to dwell on high Earth and earthly Things will not satisfy them they are of a more heroick and sublime Spirit V. Eagles are unweary in their Flight they faint not tho they flie high and are long before they rest V. So the Saints should never grow weary nay and the Promise is Gal. 6. Isa 40.31 They shall mount up as with Eagles Wings they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint Tho it be long before they come to Heaven their everlasting Resting-place they are held up and therefore they hold out in all their Service and Sufferings Faith and Love are two such strong and excellent Graces that they like Eagle's Wings keep them from tiring and fainting in their Minds tho their Work be hard and their Flight towards Heaven long Psal 27.13 I had fainted unless I had believed c. VI. An Eagle saith one hath a high Spirit she flies high and aims at high things she will not catch Flies she scorns to stoop to such low Game VI. So a Saint hath a noble high and excellent Spirit Low things are not for high and heavenly-born Souls they catch not at the Flies Toyes and Trifles of the Profits Honour and Pleasures of the World as others do VII Eagles make their Nests on high She dwelleth and abideth on the Rocks Job 39.28 upon the Crag of the Rock and strong Place VII So the Saints dwell on high Their Place of Defence shall be the Munition of Rocks Isa 33.16 They make their Nests in the Rock of Ages they dwell in God He is their strong Dwelling-Place VIII Eagles renew their Strength by changing their Feathers tho old they seem young and lively again and are very long-lived VIII The Saints renew their Strength When any Oldness as Mr. Caryl words it is coming upon the new Creature they renew their Strength by looking to Jesus
to Salt Mat. 5.13 Ye are the Salt of the Earth but if the Salt have lost its Savour wherewith shall it be salted It is henceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under Foot of Men. BElievers as well as Ministers are called by our Saviour the Salt of the Earth for Christ preached this Sermon not only to his Apostles but to all the Disciples it is not appropriated to Ministers alone but to all Believers Why the Godly are and may be compared to Salt is briefly opened in the following Parallel Metaphor Parallel SAlt is very profitable it keeps and preserves Meat from putrifying which would soon stink corrupt and perish was it not for it Salt as one saith is the Blossom of Nature it is mingled with all mixed Bodies and preserves them from Corruption SO the Godly are most profitable in all the Earth 1. They keep the World from being totally corrupted by evil and pestilent Errors and Heresy 2. From being spoiled by Prophaneness and Hellish Debauchery They by their holy Lives Doctrine and gracious Deportment put a check to the over-spreading Wickedness of those Places where they live The World would soon grow much worse than it is were it not for the Saints and People of God it would stink and be so abominable in God's sight that he would not endure it any longer And besides God many times spares a People Family and Nation for the sake of the Righteous who dwell among them The Godly are the Interest of People and Nations as is elsewhere shewed Had there been but a little more of this spiritual Salt in Sodom viz. but ten righteous Ones it might have continued to this day And he said O let not the Lord be angry and I will speak yet but this once Gen. 18.32 Peradventure Ten shall be found there c. And He said I will not destroy it for Ten 's sake Nay tho there was scarce ever a godly Soul in it but righteous Lot yet what said the Angel Haste thee escape thither for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither Gen. 19.22 As Zoar was saved for Lot's sake so Sodom could not be set on fire till he was out of it Again was not Joseph the Interest of Potiphar's House was not his Master blessed for his sake And was not Laban and what he had blessed for Jacob's sake And was not the whole House of Israel and Judah preserved and saved from utter Ruine for the sake of a holy Remnant that was amongst them â—sa 1.9 Except the Lord of Hosts had left us a very small Remnant we should have been as Sodom and been like unto Gomorrah II. Salt draws putrifying Humors out of Meat it is of a purging and cleansing quality II. So gracious Christians Blackwood by their Doctrine and holy Example and in particular Preachers draw out Rottenness and Filth from the Hearts and Tongues of Men. III. Salt seasons Meat and makes it savoury III. The godly Christian by his Wisdom seasons the Minds of good Men. Hence Sapientia is derived à Sapore from Savour The Latines express wise and witty Speeches pleasant Discourse a good Grace in speaking and Salt by the same Word This agrees with that of the Apostle Let your Speech be always with Grace seasoned with Salt Col. 4.6 that ye may know how to answer every Man IV. Salt is of a hot and fiery Nature being cast into the Fire it sparkles and burns furiously IV. So Christ's Disciples are by the Spirit made hot fervent and zealous for God and his Truth yet this Heat should be mingled with Discretion lest they flie out Luk. 9.33 as those did who called for Fire from Heaven V. Salt stirs up Thirst V. So the good Example of Christians stir up others to thirst after Christ and heavenly Things Blackwood We should not so much look for Examples from others as give Examples our selves VI. Salt makes Meat fit for Food and meet to be received by such as want it VI. So by the Salt of a holy Conversation or a good Life in them that preach and profess the Gospel the Word becomes fit to be received This makes it relish and this way a Preacher or Professor may be said to season his own Doctrine And on the other hand how unsavoury doth that good Doctrine seem to be Rom. 2.21 22 23 24. and what little Relish is there in it that is preached by an unholy and unsanctified Person VII Salt may lose its Savour and become good for nothing but to be trodden under Feet of Men. It is not fit for the Land nor yet for the Dunghill but Men cast it out Naturalists tell us that Salt having lost its Savour being laid upon Land it causeth Barrenness VIII So Professors if they lose their Savour if they become vain vicious and carnal in their Conversations what are they good for A Christian to turn an Apostate he that seemed once savoury and serious in his Words and Behavior to become filthy unclean proud ambitious covetous c. is one of the worst of Men such are fit for nothing but to be cast into Hell Of these the Apostle speaks It is impossible to renew them again by Repentance c. Unsavoury Professors Heb 6 4 5 6. and wicked Apostates tend to make the Church barren they hinder the Increase thereof Inferences HOw unsavoury is the World Sinners by Nature are loathsom and stinking in God's Sight Their Throats are like open Sepulchers Rom. 3.13 2. It shews Saints their Duty which is to season others They should season the Place Town Family where they live 1. By good Doctrine 2. By a good Conversation 3. By good Counsel Jacob told his Sons Simeon and Levi Gen. 34.30 by their slaying the Sichemites they made him to stink among the Inhabitants of the Land The Speech as well as the Practice of Christians should be a seasoning and savoury Pattern that it may administer Grace to the Hearers and Observers thereof 3. O let it stir up every Christian as well Preachers as others to be savoury Ezek. 36.20 Rom. 2.24 How can we season others if the Salt hath lost its Savour Take heed of scandalous Sins 1. By these the Name of the Lord is blasphemed 2. Religion brought to Contempt and Reproach 3. The Hearts of all sincere Ones greatly grieved 4. The Conversion of Sinners hindred 5. Mens Damnation furthered Hence saith Christ Wo be to the World because of Offences But on the other hand 1. A holy and savoury Life makes a Man lift up his Head with much Boldness tho reproached Whose Ox have I taken or whose Ass Or of whose hands have I received a Bribe 2. It tends to stop the Mouths of the Wicked 1 Sam. 12.3 1 Pet. 3.16 3. It is many times not only a Means of Conviction but Conversion of others nay and of such as will not be won by the
Pilgrim but he had such a cruel Burthen upon his Shoulders that he tired before he came to the end of his Journey Covetousness or an unsatisfied Desire after the Things of this World is compared to a Burthen or Load of thick Clay Who enlargeth his Desires as Hell and cannot be satisfied c. Wo to him that encreaseth that which is not his how long Hab. 2.5 6 And to him that ladeth himself with thick Clay Would not a Man that hath a long Journey to go be laugh'd at should he carry with him a heavy Burthen of Dirt and Rubbish Such Fools are many Professors See Runner III. A Pilgrim in his Travels goes up-hill and down-hill sometimes he meets with good Way and sometimes with bad Way Sometimes he passeth over Stiles and through dirty Lanes and then again through green Fields and pleasant Pastures and delightful Paths till he comes to his desired Place III. So the Pilgrim that would travel to the New Jerusalem meets with various Ways and Passages 1. He must go out of the horrible Pit of Prophaneness that is Work enough for the first Day 's Journey 2. Through the Brook of sincere Repentance or true Contrition for every one that leaves open Prophaneness is not truly penitent 3. Down the Valley of Self-denial a very difficult Passage 4. Over the Mountains of Opposition for the Devil and all will straitway make head against him 5. Over the Stile of carnal Reason Immediatly I consulted not with Flesh and Blood 6. Into the pleasant Ways of the New Covenant 7. So upon the Top of the Rock of Ages and there he may take a Prospect of his own Country IV. A Pilgrim that hath a long and difficult Way to travel is very thoughtful how to find the right Way being a Stranger in that Country through which he must pass And besides being told there are many cross Ways and Turnings and hard difficult Passages to find he takes care therefore to get a good and skilful Guide lest he should lose his Way IV. So the spiritual Pilgrim spares no Cost omits no Study to get the best Information imaginable of the ready Way to the Land of Promise He ceaseth not to enquire of such as pretend themselves to be Guides and such as know the Way but finding them to be short-fighted and ignorant of the Way themselves he seeks further And as he goes along one cries This is the Way Mat. 24.23 another That Some bid him believe as the Church believes and he shall never go astray Others bid him coâ—form to the Laws of Men and do whatever the Supreme Authority of the Nation doth enjoin in Matters of Faith and Religion Others call upon him to be led wholly by the Light of his Conscience and that will bring him unto the Land of Promise the Place he longs for And at last he meets with another that seems yet to differ from them all and greatly to slight and condemn one grand Fundamental God's Word holds forth under plausible Pretences He cries up Holiness and just Living which all confess is required but in the mean time strives to persuade him to cast off the Satisfaction of Jesus Christ and trust to his own Righteousness or to refined Morality rendring Faith in Christ crucified little more than a Fancy and that the main Design of Christ in coming into the World was only to be a Pattern of Holiness and Humility But he perceiving the Danger great upon this account and that none of these Pretenders could give any convincing Evidence why they should be believed and their Counsel followed above others he rejected all their Directions and resolved to be led by none of them further than their Doctrine agreed with a certain Directory which through the Grace of God he hath obtained namely the written Word of God and that tells him plainly The Way is Christ viz. Christ as a Priest dying for him to appease the Wrath of God Joh. 14.6 and make Atonement for his Sin fulfilling the Law and bringing in everlasting Righteousness Christ as a King to subdue his Sin and to rule and reign over him Dan. 9.24 according to those blessed and wholesom Laws Ordinances and Institutions given forth by him and left in his Word Christ as a Prophet to teach and instruct him Christ as a holy Pattern and Example to imitate and follow so far as by the help of Grace he is able See Surety Sin a Debt The Word compared to Light The Spirit to a Teacher and Guide He hath learned of Christ to be holy and is helped therein by the Holy-Ghost to excell his Neighbour and denies all his Ungodliness and worldly Lusts and yet casts himself only on Christ relying upon his Merits labouring to be like him in all things as the Apostle observes 1 Joh. 3.3 He that hath this Hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure He lets his Sins go nay loaths that which is evil he lives a mortified Life unto the World and yet trusteth not to any thing that he hath done or can do for eternal Life Acts 4.12 knowing there is no Salvation but by Christ alone He is as godly as any Socinian in the World and yet magnifies the Riches of God's Grace and Christ's Merits so as not to expect Justification any other way V. A Pilgrim often meets with Trouble and great Difficulties in his Way by Winds Storms and Tempests hard Weather Cold Frost and Snow deep and bad Ways and many Dangers which he narrowly escapes V. So the spiritual Pilgrim is also exposed to many Difficulties in his Journey Heaven-wards Terrible Storms sometimes arise Winds of Persecution and Temptation blow so hard that he is scarce able to stand upon his Legs Psal 73.2 My Feet were almost gone my Steps had well nigh slipt c. He is often beset with Crosses and Afflictions that he is as a Man in the Mire and can hardly get out VI. A Pilgrim is a Stranger in the Country through which he passeth and being not known he is much gazed on and sometimes abused by the rude Rabble all which he takes with patience and makes no resistance VI. So the Godly are Strangers in this World And confessed Heb. 11.13 that they were Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth David breaks forth Hold not thy peace at my Tears Psal 39.12 for I am a Stranger with thee and a Sojourner as all my Fathers were Hence they are made oftentimes a Gazing-stock to Men by Reproaches and Afflictions Heb. 10.33 And how grievously have they been abused by the wicked Rabble of the Earth as Jesus Christ himself testifieth If ye were of the World the World would love its own Joh. 15.19 22. but because ye are not of the World but I have chosen you out of the World therefore the World hateth you All these things will they do unto you because they know not him that sent me VII A
upon Christ's Palm-Trees and what is their Intent and Purpose in so doing you may read in the Scriptures Come on saith Pharaoh let us deal wisely with them how was that To lay Weights and Burthens upon them To what end Lest they should multiply They resolved to keep them down they strove to hinder their Growth they designed to spoil their Multiplying and their Growth in Number as also in Grace and Vertue but they were like the Palm-Tree the more they were oppressed the more they grew and multiplied That way Men think to hinder the Truth to obstruct the Gospel from flourishing that way God takes to make it spread and flourish the more Those things that happened to the Apostles to hinder their Ministry God made for the furtherance of the Gospel 3. This should raise up our Hearts to magnify the Power Wisdom and Goodness of God who over-rules things thus in the World who turns that for Good which wicked Men design for the great Hurt of his poor People This also cometh from the Lord of Hosts who is wonderful in Counsel and excellent in Working He makes the Righteous to flourish like the Palm-Tree to grow upwards by those Ways and Means which one would think would bring them quite down and utterly spoil their growing Like as when we see the Corn laid at and thresh'd with a Flail Caryl one would think there were great Hurt intended to the Corn but it is only to separate it from the Straw and Chaff that it may appear in its own Beauty and Usefulness So the Lord hath his Flail to separate the Chaff from the Wheat Those Acts of Providence which seem to be for their Hurt and Undoing when they are thresh'd as it were by the World are only to make them appear what they are But thus it fareth not with the Wicked who flourish not like the Palm-Tree but as the Grass they pass away 4. This may animate the Righteous and greatly encourage them against Persecution Why should they fear that which God turns to their great Advantage O let us labour to improve Burthens Afflictions and heavy Pressures to the end God designs them and never more fear the worst that Men can do unto us The Righteous shall flourish like the Palm-Tree 5. Let us labour for Union and strengthen one another combine as one Man in the Way of Holiness and Christian Affection that so thereby we may like the tender Plants of the Palm-Tree get Strength and stand when the Wind blows hardest and the Storms of the Ungodly rise upon us 6. This may be also Matter of Trial to us we hereby may try our selves and try our Graces How is it with you Sirs under Sufferings Do you grow and flourish the more If you wither and decay in Grace in a Day of Trial or when you are under Pressures and Afflictions and cannot bear hard Things for Christ's sake it clearly shews you are none of God's Palm-Trees Saints compared to Wheat Mat. 13.27 28. Let both grow together till Harvest c. Verse 30. But gather the Wheat into my Barn THe Saints of God are in this Parable compared to Wheat or good Seed but the Wicked to Tares and the End of the World to the Harvest Why Believers are compared to Wheat will appear by what follows Metaphor Parallel VVHeat is a precious Sort of Grain the best of Grain THe Saints of God are a choice People the best of Men. Prov. 12.26 The Righteous are more excellent than their Neighbours II. Wheat is a very profitable Sort of Grain it tends to the enriching the Husband-man he accounts it his Treasure II. The Saints are a People profitable to the World many ways See Salt Nay Mat. 3.17 and God accounts them his peculiar Treasure III. Wheat will abide and live in the sharpest Winter which some other Seed will not III. So sincere Souls will endure the sharpest Trials They will live in the Winter-Time of the Church when others fall off wither die away and come to nothing IV. Wheat is a small Sâ—ed and when it is first sown it lies hid in Winter it seems as if it were quite dead but when the Spring comes it sweetly revives again and flourisheth exceedingly IV. The Godly are in comparison of the World a small People Luke 12.32 called a little Flock and they lie hid as it were scarcely seeming to be a People whilst the Winter of Persecution and Trouble under the four Monarchs of the World predominate Cant. 2.11 But when the Winter is past and the Spring-Time of the Church shall come they shall revive and cover the Earth as Wheat doth the Land where it is sown Light is sown for the Righteous Prov. 4.18 and Joy for the Vpright in Heart The Growth of Saints in Times of Temptation doth not always so visibly appear They are like Corn sown that lies under the Clods but when they have taken sweet Root they soon appear to revive and sprout forth like Wheat by means of the Dew of Grace and sweet Rays of the Sun of Righteousness They shall revive as the Corn and grow as the Vine Hos 14.7 and the Scent thereof shall be as the Wine of Lebanon V. An Ear of Wheat that is full of Corn always hangs downs its Head when that which is light and empty stands upright V. So the Saints of God or all sincere Souls that have much Grace are humble Ones they hang down their Heads as it were are cloathed with Humility when Hypocrites or empty Professors are puffed up Abraham calls himself but Dust and Ashes David a Worm and no Man Job abhors himself as a nothing Creature Paul saith he was the least of all Saints Job 42.6 Eph. 8.3 When the empty Hypocrite cries out Lord I thank thee I am not as other Men. VI. Wheat needs Weeding Weeds many times come up with it and hinder its Growth VI. So the Saints and People of God need weeding Weeds of Corruption often spring up and trouble them which did not God the good Husband-man Heb. 12.15 root out and destroy would quite spoil his choicest Wheat VII Wheat hath it is observed sometimes Tares amongst it which the Husband-man sees good to let alone till the Harvest lest in plucking them out some of the Wheat be pull'd up with them VII The Field is the World Mat. 13.38 where the Saints of God who are compared to Wheat grow i. e. live and much Tares grow up or live among them in every Nation City and Town And it is the pleasure of God that they should be let alone or suffâ—red to grow together in the World that common Field tho not in the Church And therefore were the People of God such as the wicked Persecutor calls them viz. Tares Hereticks the Off-scouring of the World yet it is directly contrary to the Mind of God that they should be rooted up and turned out of the Earth Let both grow
that Star of the first Magnitude drive away That blessed Light which he afforded the World hath shone so gloriously that the Devil the Pope and all their Adherents notwithstanding all their Skill have not been able to put out to this Day IV. When the Light of the Candle is put out which is to give Light to the whole House how do Men stumble and grope in Darkness IV. So when the Saints shine not in Grace and Holiness or fall into Sin and wickedly comply with the Evils of the Times in which they live how do the ungodly World stumble and fall the which made our Saviour to say Mat. 18.7 Wo to the World because of Offences c. 'T is a great Judgment to the Wicked to have those who should be as Lights in the World darkened or give occasion of Stumbling Inferences THis shews what a great Blessing the World receives by means of the Godly They are set up as Lights in a dark Night to direct Men in the right Way that they may not stumble and fall upon the dark Mountains II. Let this teach Believers their Duties let them remember to have their Conversations honest among the Gentiles Let your Light shine forth to others not that you may be praised but that the Praise may be given to God c. In all your holy Walking propose this as your ultimate End not that you may be magnified and lifted up but that God by you and through your good Works may be magnified and his glorious Name advanced on high III. It may be an Use of Caution to them to take heed of Sin If they comply with Satan and yield to Temptations and thereby let their Light go out no wonder if the World stumble Sometimes Professors instead of being Lights prove dark Stumbling-Blocks As to instance in two or three things 1. When Professors fail in their Morals i. e. are not just in their Dealings between Man and Man they give just cause of Offence 2. When they are like the World and none can discern any great difference between them and others in respect of their Conversation how can they then be said to be the Light of the World 3. When they are overcome with scandalous Sins viz. are proud covetous Backbiters Tattlers Drunkards c. 4. When they want Love and Bowels of Compassion to their Brethren they cease to be the Lights of the World They are no more a Blessing to the World who thus degenerate from what they should be but rather the contrary Therefore if you want Motives to stir you up to take heed how you walk and live among Men that you may not give occasion of Offence or Stumbling to them but contrary-wise be as Lights to them take these following 1. Your good Works and holy Conversation will greatly tend to glorify God but the contrary will greatly dishonour him 2. Your good Works and godly Life will greatly tend to the Profit of the World but the contrary will prove to their great Hurt 3. Your holy Life will make your Profession shine and also further the Promulgation of the Gospel but the contrary will bring a Stink or ill Savour upon your Profession and hinder the Promulgation of the Gospel 4. An evil Life hinders poor Souls from enquiring after the Truth and stumbles them in the way of their Obedience to it 5. It stumbles weak Christians that are in the Ways of God 6. It weakens the Hands and grieves the Hearts of strong and sincere Ones Phil 3.18 7. A holy Life will free thee from Blood-guiltiness I mean thou wilt not have the Blood of other Mens Souls to answer for but the contrary may make thee culpable Saints compared to Cedars Psal 92.12 He shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon the Trees of the Lord are full of Sap. Psal 104.16 The Cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted c. Hos 14.5 And cast forth his Root as Lebanon GOd's People their Growth and Rooting are in these Scriptures compared to the Cedar-Tree the Cedar in Lebanon in Greek Libanos which was a Mountain in the North Part of the Land of Canaan possessed of old Time by the Hivites Judg. 3.3 afterwards by the Israelites on it grew many stately Cedars c. In what respect the Saints may be compared to the Cedars will appear by the following Parallels Simile Parallel THe Cedar is a very noble and stately Tree it grows very high 2 King 19.23 Ezek. 17.22 hence they are called tall Cedars also its Branches are called Branches of the high Cedar It mounts high towards Heaven Pliny tells of one Cedar that grew in Cyprus Plin. lib. 16. p. 490. which was one hundred and thirty Foot high and three Fathom thick THe Godly are a renowned People Tho they seem in the Eyes of the World but meer Shrubs yet they are as it was said of Saul higher by the Head and Shoulders than all others who dwell upon the Earth They grow high in Grace and spiritual Experiences They are said to dwell on high Isa 33.10 they dwell in God in Communion with Him they soar aloft and mount towards Heaven Isa 40. ult Col. 3.1 2. Their Affections are set upon Things above They may in this Sence be said to grow like the Cedar they overtop the Wicked in Renown and Dignity Prov. 12.26 The Righteous are more excellent than their Neighbours II. The Cedar is a Tree that takes deep Root its Roots spread this way and that way and go far into the Ground Naturalists say that as Trees grow high so proportionably they take Root downward because otherwise they would be top-heavy and overturn a Blast of Wind taking advantage of their Talness being weak at Root would soon blow them down therefore proportionable to their spreading above there must be a rooting in the Ground II. The Godly are said to take Root downward they are well-rooted they cast forth their Roots as the Cedars in Lebanon Saints are well rooted in Christ rooted in the Covenant 2 Sam. 23.5 which is firm ordered in all things and sure well rooted in Grace in Faith Love and Humility And indeed those Saints that grow high in Knowledg who in Gifts and Parts overtop their Brethren had need to grow downwards in Humility proportionable to their Growth upwards or else a strong Blast of Temptation may soon puff them up with Pride and Self-conceitedness and so thereby quite blow them down In Adam we had no sure Rooting but in Christ by partaking of his Fulness our standing is firm III. The Cedar is a very strong Tree Naturalists also tell us that it is not subject to Putrefaction as many other Trees are III. Eph. 6.10 11. The Saints are strong in the Lord. 'T is Sin that causeth Men to be spiritually weak unstable as Water as Jacob spake of his Son Reuben but the Godly are delivered from the Guilt and Dominion of it and thereby become strong in
have paid the utmost Farthing Inferences HOw may this humble sinful Mortals What little cause have any of the Chrildren of Men to boast of their Riches Alas they are whether they know it or no exceedingly in Debt they are worth nothing and whether they believe it or not Death will convince them of it 2. It may stir up the Hearts of the Godly to pity Sinners when you see poor Prisoners that are in Prison for Debt crying out of the Grates Bread Bread for the Lord's sake how ready are you to pity them but how more doleful is that Cry of the rich Glutton in Hell for a drop of Water to cool his Tongue and none is given to him 3. It speaks much Comfort to Believers who have through that redemption that is in Christ obtained the forgiveness of all their Debts Oh! what a Blessing these things being considered is pardon of Sin Let thy Soul with David Bless the Lord and all that is within thee praise his holy Name who forgiveth all thine Iniquities Psal 103.1 2 3. who healeth all thy Diseases who hath freed thee from thy Sins and the Punishment of them Wicked Men the Rod of God Isa 10.5 O Assyrian the Rod of mine Anger THe Ungodly and bloody Persecutors of the Lord's People are called his Hand his Rod and his Sword Deliver my Soul from the Wicked which is thy Sword from Men of the World which are thy Hand O Lord Psal 17.13 14. Parallels I. A Man smites such as have offended him with his Hand and with a Rod or Sword So God makes use of the Wicked as an Instrument to chastize his Children when they transgress his Law and grievously sin against him II. As a Hand or Rod lays on harder or softer Blows according to the Pleasure and Purpose of him that strikes So God lets the Wicked out upon his own People to oppress and afflict them as he fees good either in a milder or more severe manner III. When a Father hath chastized his Children sufficiently and throughly humbled them he sometimes casteth the Rod into the Fire So when God hath by the Wicked who are his Rod throughly humbled his People and taken away their Sin he will throw the Wicked their bloody Persecutors into the Fire of his Wrath For yet a very little while Isa 10.25 and the Indignation shall cease and mine Anger in their Destruction Wicked Men compared to Tares Mat. 13.38 The Tares are the Children of the Wicked One TAres 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Varineus quia amet triticum illud ut umbra corpus sequitur imitatus simul arescit ac si esset de tritici genere i. e. Because it loveth the Wheat and imitates it as the Shadow imitateth the Body and groweth up with it as if it were of the same kind with the Wheat It should not saith one be translated Tares but evil Seed It is that which we call the deaf Ears that grow up with the good Corn and cannot be discerned till the Harvest Liegh's Crit. Sacr. and then it proves naught for Tares and Fitches are soon discerned and pluck'd up The Enemy sowed Tares v. 15. i. e. corrupted Ungodly Men are compared to Tares Tares saith a noted Writer is a Sort of Grain that groweth in the Eastern Country therefore those that are called Tares amongst us I suppose are not the Tares our Saviour alludes to Metaphor Parallel TAres are a low and base Sort of Grain of little worth or esteem in comparison of Wheat and some other Grain SO the Children of the Wicked One are a base and contemptible Sort of People in comparison of the Children of God II. If Tares are sown amongst Wheat it is done by the Hand of an Enemy out of spite and malice to the Injury and Loss of the Owner of the Field II. So the spiritual or metaphorical Tares viz. the Children of Belial that grow in the Field of this World were first sowed by the Devil he is that Enemy who did it i. e. He infused by his Spirit through the Corruptness of Mortals that evil Seed into their Hearts from whence these Tares spring out of spite and Malice to God himself whose is the Field and also out of spite and malice to Mankind III. Tares growing among Wheat do hurt and prejudice the Wheat hindering its growth and flourishing III. So the Ungodly or Children of the Wicked One dwelling with or among the Saints hurt and greatly prejudice them hindering their Growth in Grace and Godliness Saith David Psal 120.6 Wo is me that I sojourn in Mesech that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar It is a hard Matter to keep our Garments clean and no way to defile them living in the midst of a wicked and ungodly Generation Who can touch Pitch and not be defiled therewith The Israelites dwelling among the wicked Natives of the Land of Canaan Psal 10 6.35 36. 't is said learned their Works and served their Gods IV. Tares as Wilson observes are so like Wheat whilst they are in the Blade as hardly the one can be discerned from the other IV. So Hypocrites seem so like true and sincere Christians that for a while the one can hardly be known from the other V. The Man who had Tares sown amongst the Wheat in his Field whilst Men slept would not suffer his Servants to pluck them up lest some of the Wheat should be pluck'd up with them but let them grow together until Harvest and then commands the Reapers to separate the one from the other and the Wheat to gather into his Barn but the Tares to cast into the Fire from whence it appears that those Tares were good for nothing but Fuel for the Fire c. V. So the Almighty tho there be many Hypocrites Hereticks and Reprobates in the World would not have Magistrates or others to pluck them up for their Errors or Heresy only that is destroy them or take them away by corporal Punishment and Death lest they pull up and destroy some of his precious Saints with them instead of those Children of the Evil One but would have them live or grow together in the Field of the World until the Harvest that is the End of the World The Field is the World Mat. 13.38 39 40 41. the good Seed an the Children of the Kingdom but the Tares the Children of the Wicked One. The Enemy that sowed them is the Devil the Harvest is the End of the World and the Reapers are the Angels As therefore the Tares are gathered and burnt in the Fire so shall it be in the End of the World The Son of Man shall send forth his Angels to gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them that do Iniquity And shall cast them into a Furnace of Fire there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth Inferences THis may put every Christian upon the Search and Examination of
their Hearts lest instead of good Wheat they should at last prove evil Tares 2. It also reproves those Magistrates who in a blind Zeal persecute Men for Religion and Conscience sake pretending they do it to destroy the Tares viz. Hereticks c. whereas they know not but that those they persecute may be good and faithful Christians Besides 't is a Work that belongs not to them God would have both tho one Sort may be very vile and impudent Hereticks Schismaticks c. to live together to the end of the World Wicked Men compared to Chaff Psal 1.4 The Vngodly are not so but are like the Chaff which the Wind driveth away Mat. 3.12 But he will burn up the Chaff with unquenchable Fire Wicked Men are compared to Chaff Simile Parallel CHaff before it is separated from the Wheat cleaves close to it and the Wheat must be trod or threshed before the one can be separated from the other SO some wicked Men I mean Hypocrites seem to cleave close to the Saints and to be in perfect Union or Oneness with them And the Godly must be trod upon or threshed with the Flail of Persecution before they as sacred Wheat can be separated from the Chaff viz. counterfeit Christians II. Chaff is of little worth or value to the Wheat Jer. 23.28 What is the Chaff to the Wheat 'T is a low mean and contemptible thing one Bushel of Wheat is worth many Bushels of Chaff II. So wicked Men and Hypocrites are of little worth and value in the sight of God he esteems one true Christian worth thousands and ten thousands of Hypocrites I give Egypt for thy Ransom Isa 43.3 Ethiopia and Seba for thee Since thou wert precious in my sight thou hast been honourable c. III. Chaff is light and airy 't is no ponderous Thing and therefore the Wind carries it away with a Blast III. So the Wicked whatever shew they make of Religion and Piety they are light as Chaff they are not weighty nor ponderous their Lightness and Levity is discovered by their Words and Behavior and when the Blast and Tempest of Persecution comes it drives them away from the seeming Zeal and Religion they pretend to and at last the Wind of God's Wrath will drive them into the lowest Hell there to be burned with unquenchable Fire Inferences THis shews what a great difference there is between the Godly and the Ungodly also what the woful Condition of Hypocrites is and what will be in the End Wicked Men compared to Thorns Numb 33.55 They shall be Pricks in your Eyes and Thorns in your Sides c. Josh 23.13 But they shall be as Snares and Traps unto you and Scourges in your Sides and Thorns in your Eyes c. Cant. 2.2 As a Lilly among Thorns Nah. 1.10 For whilst they are folden together as Thorns c. THorns as Glassius and others observe in these Places of holy Sripture signify wicked mischievous Men. Numb 33.55 Simile Parallel THorns came in with the Curse Cursed is the Ground for thy sake Gen. 3.18 Thorns also and Thistles shall it bring forth unto thee c. Had not Adam sinned we should not have been troubled with Thorns SO wicked Men came in with the Fall and as the Fruit of the Curse Had not Adam sinned the World had never been troubled with these Briars and Thorns but ever since the Curse for Adam's Sin the World hath been full of these Thorns II. A Thorn is no tender Tree but contrary-wise sturdy hard knotty and full of Knobs and Pricks dangerous to meddle or have to do with II. Clopham So the Wicked these Sons of Belial Belegnol without Yoke that is such as will not come under the Yoke of Obedience or Beli Gnalah not ascending because their Males prospered not These Thorns wicked Men 2 Sam. 23.6 are hard-hearted knotty-conditioned full of pricking and stinging Words and Works What can he expect that meddles with a Thorn or Briar but to be scratch'd prick'd and wounded in his so doing So that Man that has to do with some wicked Men shall be scratch'd or prick'd in his good Name and Estate one way or other III. Thorns are Trees of little worth low and base Things hurtful to Fields Gardens and Vineyards c. III. So wicked Men are of little worth and value in God's sight they are of a base Spirit and Principle Lovers of Pleasure more than Lovers of God preferring Earth above Heaven Prov. 10.20 The Heart of the Wicked is little worth And as they are unprofitable and little worth in themselves so they are offensive and prejudicial to God's Garden they hinder the Growth of the Saints as much as in them lies wounding the Lilly that groweth among them See Lilly among Thorns IV. Thorns nevertheless do serve sometimes to make a Hedg to keep out wild Beasts from breaking into a Field or Vineyard IV. So some of these wicked Ones God now and then makes use of to be a Hedg to his People to keep out a more bloody and cruel Adversary Rev. 12 The Earth helped the Woman that is Wicked Men Men of the Earth stood up for and sided in with the Church and People of God and so proved as a Wall of Defence or Hedg to them Besides God makes use of them sometimes as a Hedg to stop his People in their evil Courses by suffering these Sons of Belial to afflict them I will hedg up her Way with Thorns Hos 2.6 V. Thorns and Briars when they are grown to any height are oft-times by the Owner cut down and cast into the Fire V. So the Wicked and Ungodly when they are grown to a great height of Wickedness provoking God against themselves are cut down and cast into Hell That which beareth Briars and Thorns is near unto Cursing whose end is to be burnt He 8.6.8 VI. Thorns and Briars are not able to stand before a devouring and consuming Fire VI. So the Wicked are not able to stand before the dreadful and angry God For while they be folden together as Thorns Nah. 1.10 and whilst they are drunken as Drunkards they shall be destroyed as Stubble fully dry Isa 27.4 Who would saith God set the Briars and Thorns against me in Battel I would go through them I would burn them together Inferences IS it not a strange and marvellous thing that God's People are no more scratch'd and prick'd with these troublesom Thorns considering what a Multitude of them are amongst us 2. It may caution all true Christians how they meddle with these pricking Thorns 3. It shews the Folly of the Wicked who strive with the Almighty and set themselves in Battel against Him who is a consuming Fire and they but Thorns and Briars or like Stubble fully dry Wicked Men compared to Mountains Isa 41.15 Thou shalt thresh the Mountains and beat thm small c. Isa 2.14 Vpon all high Mountains that are lifted up
We must not understand it as if wicked Men do ever give over sinning Sin and their desire of sinning is in a kind Infinite they never say Now we have done and will sin no more but the meaning is when thou canst sin no more nor deal treacherously no more when thou hast done thy utmost and spent thy Strength in spoiling others or taken all their Spoil so that thou hast done spoiling because there is no more to spoil then others shall spoil thee And thou Lion who hast preyed upon others along time shalt not have a bit thy self but shalt perish for want of Prey It is the Promise of God unto his own People Psal 34.10 That the Lions shall lack and suffer Hunger but they that fear the Lord shall not want any good Thing he expresses it by Lions to note that certainly they that fear him shall not want for if any Creatures in the World can preserve themselves from Hunger Lions can if they do but roar the very Beasts will fall down as a Prey before them but yet saith God these even these shall rather perish for Hunger than any one that feareth me shall want God provides for his Lambs for innocent Persons for those that fear him tho they have no Strength to provide for themselves but the Wicked who have greatest Power and have been most active to provide for themselves shall pine with want they who have caused so many to be bitten with Hunger shall at last be Hunger-bitten and for want of Meat gnaw their Tongues Lastly Where it is said that the Lions Whelps are scattered abroad observe God will not only destroy the Persons of Wicked Men but their Families and Posterities they and their Whelps shall all be scattered He will not leave them so much as a Man or a Remembrance Psal 36.6 I sought his place saith the Prophet and he could not be found there was no print of him no Man could remember that there was such a Man in the World unless to curse his Memory I shall only give one caution concerning this and so conclude the Point That which is here affirmed in the General by Eliphaz concerning the destruction of Wicked Men Lions and fierce Lions is not to be taken as a Truth in the universal Experience of it we are not to understand it thus as if all Persons all Lion-like Persons at all times perish are destroyed and scattered abroad but Eliphaz speaks of what is usually done or he speaks of what God can easily do at any time and of what God may justly do at all times Lions fierce Lions Tyrants Oppressors he both may and can scatter when he pleaseth yet we find that God hath permitted some Lions to live long and die quietly they spend all their days in roaring and rending in tearing and devouring and yet themselves are not devoured God suspends his Justice but it is for weighty reasons For in word First If God should destroy all Lion-like Men the Joints of the World would be unclosed and the Bands of human Society broken asunder God forbad the Children of Israel to destroy all the Canaanites lest the Beasts of the Field should multiply c. Secondly If God should hunt all these Lions out of the World his own People would live by Sense rather than by Faith and seem to be terrified by the visible Actings of Wrath rather than allured by the Promises of Mercy or Tenders of free Grace Thirdly He defers them until they have suck'd Blood enough rent enough done Evil enough even fill'd up the measure of their Sin and fulfilled the righteous Purpose of God by their Unrighteousness As these Lions fill their own Bellies so they fulfill God's Counsels therefore he lets them alone that they may do his Work tho they little think of it and less intend it Lastly Eliphaz speaks of what God did frequently in those Times of the World wherein he lived for then God dealt more by outward Judgments than in these Gospel-Times As his Mercies are now more spiritual so usually are his Judgments Wicked Men compared to Foxes Luk. 12.32 Go tell that Fox c. THe Lord Jesus calls Herod a Fox by reason of his treacherous Plots and Craft whereby he privately contrived to intrap him See Erasmus in his Paraphrase upon the Place Go and tell that Fox who confides in human Craft and believes that he can do any thing against the Majesty and Counsel of God c. A Fox is called in Hebrew Schual and in Caldee Thual and therefore Psal 61. where the Hebrew readeth Schuatim there the Caldee translateth it Thealaia The Arabians call him Thaleb and Avicen calleth a Fox sometimes Chabel and also Chalchail the Greek Septuagint Alopehon and vulgarly Alopex and Alopon the Latin Vulpes the French Regnard c. The Epithets expressing the Nature of the Fox among Writers are these viz. Crafty wary deceitful stinking strong-smelling quick-smelling tailed warlike or contentious rough the Grecians fiery-coloured subtil for Slaughter A wicked and subtil Persecutor is and may be fitly compared to a Fox which we shall briefly open in the following Parallel Metaphor Parallel A Fox is a crafty and subtil Creature which appears in these respects following 1. In that he claps his Tail between his Legs when he is pursued 2. When he perceiveth he cannot escape he urines on his Tail and whisks it on the Dogs which hath an exceeding strong Scent insomuch that the Dogs not enduring the Scent are forced for a while to desist 3. He will often when he is in danger and no avoiding of it bite the Dogs on their hinder Legs for that is the tenderest part about them 4. Because the Beast called the Urchin is too strong for him he taketh him by Craft for when he casteth himself down upon the Ground he leapeth upon his Belly and destroyeth him 5. The Fox Naturalists observe hath a subtil way to take Fish Wandering by the Shore he dippeth his Tail in the Water and the little Fish immediatly entangle themselves in it and so are taken 6. By Craft as Gesner observes he gets the Badger's Den for his own use and by laying in the mouth of the Wolfe's Den an Herb called Sea-Onion which is contrary to the Nature of Wolves he frights away that Creature so that he will not come near it 7. He is often troubled with Wasps in the Summer-time but useth this Wile to destroy them He hideth himself but layeth his Tail out the Wasps flie to his Tail and when there are abundance in it he runneth to the Wall or to some Tree and striketh his Tail against the Tree and rubbeth it against the Ground and so he destroyeth all of them Dr Frantzius 8. If he wanteth Food and knows not where to get it Dr Frantzius he lieth upon the Ground upon his Back with his Legs stretched abroad and so feigneth himself dead the Birds seeing him lie in this manner light on him thinking
you If you acknowledg a religious Respect and Reverence due to the Son of God exercise it in humble Obedience to his Word and if you love him and value his Gospel treat not his Ministers in an unworthy manner and forget not that He who gave his Life a Ransom for you well deserves a Return of the greatest Love from you and to be honoured by you not only with good Words but with your Substance and the First-Fruits of all your Increase Prov. 3.9 Secondly 'T is the Business of your Salvation and the Concern of your precious and immortal Souls that a Minister is employed in and therefore it is much more your own Interest than his that you should make Conscience of your Duty With this Argument the Apostle enforces his Exhortation Heb. 13.17 For they watch for your Souls as they that must give an Account that they do it with Joy and not with Grief for that is unprofitable for you The Ministry can never be effectual to the saving of your Souls if you be not sincere in Obedience under it And will you be less careful for your Souls and their eternal Welfare than you are for your Bodies and the Comforts of a temporal Life Can you be content to lay out your Strength and Substance to provide for these and neglect the other It is sad to consider how many there are among Professors that live in the World as if there were no Truth in the Report of that which is to come and have the meanest esteem of the most necessary Means of Salvation viz. the Word and Ordinances of Christ and a Gospel-Ministry Can expend perhaps an hundred Pound per annum more or less for the Convenience Ornament or Delight of a frail Carcase but will grudg half so much for the Poor or the support of Gospel-Worship Ministers compared to Watchmen Isa 62.6 I have set Watchmen upon thy Walls O Jerusalem Ezek. 3.17 I have made thee a Watchman c. Heb. 13.17 They watch for your Souls Ministers are called Watchmen Watchmen Parallel VVAtchmen have a Charge committed to them and they ought to take heed they do not betray their Trust MInisters have a great Charge committed to them which they ought to see to and so to behave themselves that they may have their Accounts to give up with Joy For 1. They are entrusted with the Word the faithful Word and Doctrine of God is committed to them they must see they preach nothing for Doctrine but what is the direct and undeniable Truth and Mind of God they must not corrupt the Word nor intermix it with the Traditions of Men. I give thee charge in the sight of God 1 Tim. 6.13 who quickneth all things and before Christ who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good Confession that thou keep this Commandment without spot unrebukable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. They have received the Charge of preaching God's Word they must preach whoever forbid them I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 4.1 2. who shall judg the Quick and the Dead at his appearing and his Kingdom preach the Word be instant in season and out of season reprove exhort with all Long-suffering and Doctrine 3. They have the Charge of God's Ordinances or the holy Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper Go therefore teach all Nations Mat. 28.19 20. i. e. make Disciples baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy-Ghost c. For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered unto you I had it in charge as if he should say from Christ himself that the same Night in which he was betrayed 1 Cor. 11.23 24. he took Bread and blessed it and said Take eat this is my Body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me After the same manner he took the Cup c. They must not corrupt the Ordinances nor administer them otherwise than the plain Rule left in the Word of God directeth 4. They have the Charge of the Church and Flock of God Acts 20.27 Take heed therefore unto your selves and unto the Flock over which the Holy-Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own Blood c. 5. They must know the State of the Flock be Examples to the Flock 1 Pet. 5.2 3 Feed the Flock of God which is amongst you not by constraint but willingly not for filthy Lucre but of a ready Mind neither being Lords over God's Heritage but being Examples to the Flock 6. Lastly They have the Charge of Mens Souls Watch for your Souls Heb. 13.17 as such that must give an account These things are part of these Watchmen's Charge II. Watchmen are not to sleep nor give way to slumber they must be awake when others sleep to see what Dangers are near c. II. So the Ministers of the Gospel must not be sleepy and slothful they are to be upon the Watch-Tower to see what Danger approacheth or is coming upon the Church and People of God III. Watchmen are to give warning if they see Evil coming hence they ought to have a good Eye-sight a blind Man is not fit to be a Watchman III. So Ministers or Christ's spiritual Watchmen must give warning when they see Danger approaching and therefore had need be Men of Knowledg They are called Seers if they have no Eyes they cannot be called Seers Ministers had need be like Argus whom Poets say had an hundred Eyes they should be full of Eyes like the living Creatures about the Throne to see before them and behind them that so they may perceive clearly every thing that is evil or hurtful to the Souls of Men or Church of God and give warning of it and not like those foolish Watchmen the Prophet speaks of His Watchmen are blind sleeping lying down Isa 56 10. Ezek. 33.6 7. loving to slumber If the Watchman seeth the Sword coming and blow not the Trumpet and the People be not warned if the Sword come and take away any Person from among them he is taken away in his Iniquity but his Blood will I require at the Watchman's hand They are to give warning to Sinners that they repent and be converted for Wrath is gone out against them from the Lord if they live in one Sin they must perish They are to warn them of the Danger of Unbelief to warn them of the Danger of the Hardness of their Hearts to warn them of the Danger of Pride Covetousness and all other Sins to give warning of the Danger of Idolatry and all false Worship and Heresy of the Danger of Apostacy the Danger of the inordinate Love of the World or of any thing short of Jesus Christ c. IV. Watchmen are made and constituted such by others and called forth to stand upon the Watch. IV. So Ministers are made or
Severity and Mildness to all studying the Nature and Disposition of every Member VIII Fathers ought to walk wisely before their Children in all Holiness and Sobriety setting themselves as Patterns to all that are in the Family of Grace and Vertue VIII So 't is the Duty of Pastors and Ministers of Churches to lead an holy and godly Life and be as Examples of true Vertue and Piety to all they converse with Be thou an Example of the Believers 1 Tim. 4.12 in Word in Conversation in Charity in Spirit in Faith in Purity IX It is a great Sorrow and Grief to a good and godly Father to see his Children froward and fall out one with another violating the Bonds of Nature IX So 't is an Heart-breaking Sorrow to a godly and faithful Minister to see the Saints and Members of the Church walk loosely and live in Strife and Vain-Glory wronging and abusing each other and thereby violate the sacred Bonds of brotherly Love Tenderness and Forbearance For many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are Enemies of the Cross of Christ Phil. 3.18 X. It is the Property of a godly Father to pray for his Children and also for the whole Family committed to his Charge X. So Christ's faithful Ministers do not cease to pray for those whom they have been instrumental to beget by the Word of Truth unto Christ nay not only for them but for all committed to their Charge nay for all the Children of God Eph. 3.17 That Christ might dwell in their Hearts by Faith and that they may be rooted and grounded in Love c. Inferences WE may infer from hence that the Office of a Minister is an honourable Employment 2. It may in many things teach Pastors their Duties to their Members and Members their respective Duties towards their Pastors 3. It also serves to inform us who are faithful wise and discreet Ministers of Christ 4. We may further learn what a great Concern it is for a Church to chuse wise and sober Persons to be their Pastors Ministers compared to Stewards Luke 12.42 Who is a faithful Steward c. 1 Cor. 4.1 Let Men so account of us as the Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the Mysteries of God Verse 2. Moreover it is required in Stewards that a Man be found faithful Liegh's Crit. Sacr. STeward Stewardship the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rendred in 1 Cor. 9.17 Dispensation properly signifieth the Administration of Houshold-Business whereof one taketh such and such Care and doth so dispose thereof as that he appointeth every one what they are to do Note True Gospel-Ministers are Stewards spiritual Stewards Stewards of God Metaphor Parallel A Steward is an Officer that principally belongs to great Men few besides rich and noble Persons have Stewards of their Houses SO true Gospel-Ministers or Pastors are Officers that belong to Christ's House who is a great Prince nay King of Heaven and Earth II. A Steward is a Person that hath a great Trust and Charge reposed in him many rich and excellent Things are committed to his Care and Oversight sometimes all the Goods of the House and Charge of the Family II. So faithful Ministers have a mighty Trust reposed in them the Lord Jesus hath committed to their Care and Charge Things of very great worth and value even all the Goods of his House 1. They are entrusted with the Truth and every Branch and Part of it called the Mysteries of God which is of inestimable Value 2. The whole Church they have the Care and Charge of the whole Family or Houshold of God 3. They have the Care and Charge of Mens Souls committed to them See Watchmen III. It behoveth a Steward to be faithful in all things seeking the Honour of his Lord They ought to be much in their Business not leaving it to others that are not experienced in it nor careful to look after it nor leave their Master's Business to mind and look after their own III. So ought every Minister of Christ to be faithful in all things wholly studying the Profit Honour and Interest of the Lord Jesus They ought continually to be about his Affairs not leave the Management of the Church and Concerns of the Ministry like some self-seeking Priests of our Days to others who are unexperienced negligent and worse to follow their own Concerns and living in Ease and Pleasure pursuing after the Riches and Vanities of the World mattering not whether Christ be honoured or no or whether his Interest sink or swim so that things go well with them and they thrive in the World There are too many such in this Day so that we may well say with the Apostle All seek their own and none the Things that are Jesus Christ's IV. Stewards give direction to all inferior Officers and others in the Family about their respective Work and Business IV. So Ministers give directions to the Deacons and other Members of Christ's Church how to discharge their Duties in their respective places c. V. Stewards must expect to be called to an account and if unfaithful are frequently put out of their Stewardship Luk. 16.2 Give an account of thy Stewardship for thou mayest be no longer Steward V. So all the Ministers of Christ must expect to be called to an Account The Time is coming when Christ will reckon with them and happy will they be that have their Accounts to give up with Joy to whom the Lord Jesus will say Well done good and faithful Servant c. Ministers compared to Planters 1 Cor. 3.6 I have planted and Apollo watered c. Verse 8. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one GOD is the chief spiritual Planter Isa 5.7 60.21 61.3 Mat. 15.13 None but he can implant a Principle of Grace in the Sinner's Heart 't is his proper Work to take us out of the old Stock and Root and plant us into the new But forasmuch as these Things are asserted by the Preaching of the Word Ministers are called Planters I have planted c. 1 Cor. 3.6 They are but under or subordinate Planters and Waterers to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him that gives the Increase viz. Jehovah Metaphor Parallel A Skilful Planter is a curious Artist one that knows the Nature of Trees Plants and Seeds He is skilled in Setting Ingrafting Innoculation or Grafting with the Scucheon as they call it c. SO an experienced and able Minister of the Gospel is a very skilful Person one that hath knowledg of great Mysteries both of Nature and Grace He knows the State of Man in the first Adam that old Stock and also the Nature of Planting or Grafting into Jesus Christ how and which way it is and must be done II. A Planter hath fit Tools or Instruments to do his Work withal viz. a Spade a Knife c. without which he can do nothing II. So Ministers of Christ
Church of God and help them by their Counsel and Prayers at all times and not to weaken but strengthen their Hands and protect them from the Scorn Reproach and Oppression of the Enemy as much as lieth in them c. XIII When a Prince finds his Ambassadors cannot succeed in their Business but that all Terms of Peace are rejected he calls them home and then bloody Wars commonly follow XIII So when God sees that the Messenger and Message he sends by his faithful Ministers is slighted and that Sinners remain obstinate after long patience he calls home his Ministers perhaps takes them away by Death and resolves to treat with that People or State no more but contrary-wise to let out his Wrath upon them And thus it fared with Israel of old The Lord God of their Fathers sent to them by his Messengers rising early and sending them c. 2 Chron. 36.15 16. But they mocked the Messengers of God and despised his Word and misused his Prophets until the Wrath of the Lord arose against his People till there was no Remedy Inferences THis shews what great Dignity God hath conferred upon his faithful Ministers and this Title should procure an honourable Esteem of them in the Hearts of all Persons to whom they are sent And this is more necessary to the good Success of their Message than is generally thought tho 't is evident what Ministers speak upon this Subject is misconstrued as if they herein rather sought themselves than to befriend the Gospel or advance the Honour of their Master Men are ready to interpret it as a Fruit of their Pride and an Affectation they have of some outward Grandure and worldly Pomp which they design to gain by such a magnificent Title The Apostle himself was sensible of this and yet would not desist to magnify his Office 1 Cor. 4.5 and therefore saith he Let Men so account of us as Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the Mysteries of God and that they should judg nothing before the Time Object But some may say If God will use Ambassadors to treat with Sinners why doth be not use Angels c. 2 Cor. 4.7 Answ 1. The Apostle answers this We have this Treasure in earthen Vessels that the Excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us 2. Ministers being Men have the Advantage many ways above Angels for this Work 1. They are more concerned themselves in the Message they bring than Angels are What greater Argument for a Man's Care than his own Interest 2. They have a more deep Sense arising in their Hearts upon the account of the Temptations they are subject to c. 3. The Sufferings which Ministers meet with for the Gospel's sake are of great advantage to their Brethren had Angels been the Ambassadors they could not have sealed to the Truth of their Doctrine with their Blood they cannot die c. 4. Besides the Presence of Angels might terrify and afrighten us their Glory is so great c. II. This shews that Ministers have a special Commission How shall they preach except they are sent Rom. 10. They must have a lawful Call to this Office as Ambassadors have III. Let poor Sinners from hence be persuaded to hearken to them and carefully receive the Message Ministers bring from the great God and accept of Terms of Peace and close in with Jesus Christ IV. It shews the wonderful Love of God and the great Care he hath of Men's Souls V. It shews what an intolerable Affront is offered to the Majesty of Heaven by those that abuse or deride the Ministers of the Gospel and much greater by them that persecute and imprison them for delivering their Message Paul was an Ambassador in Bonds c. VI. It shews the Weight and Importance of the Preachers Message it is not a slight or sleeveless Errand they come about Deut. 30.15 Joh. 3.36 Mark 16.15 16. I set before you this day Life and Death Hear and your Souls shall live He that believeth not the Wrath of God abideth on him Go into all the World and preach the Gospel to every Creature He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned Ministers compared to Rulers Heb. 13.7 Remember them which have the Rule over you who have spoken unto you the Word of God c. MInisters of the Gospel are Rulers or Governors c. Rulers Parallel RUlers are Men in high Place endued with Power and Authority over others 't is a Name of Dignity SO Ministers are the chief of God's People such as have great Power committed to them as the Deputies and Ambassadors of Christ II. Rulers or Governors have a Law by which they ought to rule and govern in all things II. So Ministers are to rule the House and Church of God by the Rule of God's Word III. 'T is an evil thing and justly reprovable in Rulers to exceed the Limits and Bounds of the Law by which they are to rule and govern or to carry things according to their own Wills and Lusts not regarding the fundamental Laws of the Land where they live III. So 't is an abominable Evil in Ministers to rule according to their own Wills violating the Law of God Ministers may exceed their due Bounds and be arbitrary and tyrannize over the People in things spiritual as well as Civil Rulers or Magistrates in things temporal IV. Rulers in some places are chosen by the People whom they govern 't is the People's Privilege to chuse their Magistrates IV. So Ministers ought to be chosen by the Church 't is the Privilege of the People to chuse their own Pastors and other Officers according to the Qualifications laid down by the Spirit of God 1 Tim. 3.1 2 3. Acts 6.3 Wherefore Brethren look ye out among your selves c. V. Rulers ought to be wise Men Men fearing God See Jethro's Counsel to Moses Exod. 18.21 Thou shalt provide out of all the People able Men such as fear God Men of Truth hating Covetousness 2 Sam. 23.4 c. The God of Israel said the Rock of Israel spake unto me He that ruleth over Men must be just ruling in the Fear of God What a sore Rebuke doth God give covetous Rulers by the Prophet Ezek. 22.27 Her Princes in the midst thereof are like Wolves ravening the Prey to shed Blood and to destroy to get dishonest Gain V. So Ministers ought to be Men wise holy and of a blameless Conversation such as are given to Hospitality 1 Tim. 3.2 3. and not greedy of filthy Lucre. 'T is an odious thing to see a Minister covetous who is required to open the Nature of and preach against that Sin as well as all others and ought to live accordingly How can he preach against that Sin he is guilty of himself or if he doth what good effect can he think it will have upon other Mens Hearts when
without as hath been shed by a Generation nearer home and we shall become like the Man without a Wedding-Garment wholly speechless and say not a Word more about Babylon III. Now that Babylon in the Apocalypse is Great Rome that in former Times reigned and in future Times shall be destroyed is owned by some of the Papists themselves and is asserted by all Protestants the Difference betwixt them is brought to this narrow Point The one wholly confines Babylon to Rome Heathen and there totally to terminate the other brings Babylon down lower to Rome Antichristian or Papal Rome Now that this Work may be to Edification and more full Satisfaction in this great Case we shall advance to the last and chief Secret that is to be opened and considered namely Whether all Things in John's Vision or Prophecy that are applied to Mystery Babylon did compleatly terminate in Rome Heathen and come no further In Answer to this great Enquiry we do with the Body of Protestants in opposition to the Papists conclude the Negative viz. That all Things in the Apocalypse applied to Mystery Babylon did not terminate in Rome Heathen The Reasons of which Negative are as followeth 1. Because the Beast that Mystery Babylon rides on is the eighth Head or last Ruling-Power of that City that is seated upon seven Hills which must be Rome Papal because the whole Race of Rome Heathen was gone off before the eighth Head came up The sixth Head was in John's Time the seventh was to come and continue but a short Space The Beast that carrier the Woman viz. Babylon is of the seventh but is the eighth and shall be the last for he goeth into Perdition This being so evident from the Letter of the Text needs nothing more to confirm it Now that Rome Heathen was not the last Part of the Romish Power is not only the full and joint Consent of all Writers upon this Subject but is so evident to all the Christian World that it would be Vanity it self to make a Show of Proof The Conclusion then is this If the very last Part of the Roman Power carries the Woman Babylon and that the Heathen State of Rome went off before and was not the last then Babylon could not terminate in Rome Heathen but must come down to Rome Papal See Rev. 17.3 7 9 11. 2. If Babylon be totally terminated in Rome Heathen then the Book of the Apocalypse is of little use to the latter Ages of the Christian World For if the whole Transactions relating to the Persecution of the Church and the Slaughter and Destruction of God's Enemies did end in Rome Heathen then it served only to give a characteristical Account of a Beast and Whore that was grown old and ready to go off the Stage but hath wholly left us in the dark and given us no notice at all of that horrible Confusion and bloody Persecutions which have reigned in the Christian World for more than a thousand Years last past which for Length of Time Numbers of Murthers and Manner of Cruelties hath out-done all the Wickedness of Rome in its Heathen State Which is not at all likely that a Vision should be given and a Revelation made and call'd so about a State that was almost expired and the most great and principal Part wholly left out and said nothing to Who can imagine that a careful Saviour should be so full in his Discoveries to the Jewish Church concerning their Sufferings and the Time under Egypt and Babylon Literal and be so short and lean to his Gospel-Church to leave them altogether without any written Profpect or extraordinary Prophet to inform them what should come to pass in the World from the going off of the Power of Rome Heathen to the end of all the Churches Troubles which have already lasted above a thousand Years The Conceit of which is fit but for two Ranks of Men to receive viz. the Roman-Catholicks and such Protestants as look for Antichrist to come at the end of the World after the Restauration of the Jews to their own Land and building a material Temple at Jerusalem where Antichrist shall sit three Days and an half or Years to kill two Men called the two Witnesses 3. If this last Babylon was wholly to terminate in Rome Heathen then there was no Cause of Wonderment and great Admiration for a wise Man to see in a Vision an Heathenish State under a Diabolical Influence to perform Actions sutable to their State and not contrary to their Professions For what matter of Wonderment can it be to feel the Wind blow to see the Sea foam and hear the Waves rage and roar when the Winds oppose its Effluxion And what Cause of great Wonderment and Admiration for a wise Man to see wicked Heathens oppose and persecute Christianity when it is so sutable to their Spirit and agreeable to their Profession so to do we cannot yet understand and we will diligently listen to them who will undertake to inform us For the thing is true that a wise Man did wonder at the Sight he saw with great Admiration Rev. 17.6 I saw the Woman drunk with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus and I wondred with great admiration Wonder'd O strange At what To see that which was common to all Ages the Seed of the Serpent that profest Heathenism the Wicked even the worst of the Wicked by Principle and Profession to plot against the Righteous and to gnash upon him with their Teeth Idolaters profest Idolaters to persecute the Servants and Worshippers of the true God those that were born after the Flesh and lived after the Flesh to persecute them that were born of the Spirit and lived after the Spirit Surely if our Adversaries Opinion was true in this Case that Babylon is only Rome Heathen St. John had forgot that Cain killed Abel and Ishmael persecuted Isaac and took not so much notice of the Course of the World common to every Age as Paul did who said But as he that was born after the Flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit as it was then so it is now And what strange Wonder is in all this 4. Rome Heathen never was espoused married or united to the Lord Jesus in a spiritual way visibly owning his Laws and submitting to his Government as a Wife submits to and obeys her Husband and afterwards casts him off and chuses another Head and Husband and therefore cannot be Mystical Babylon or the great Whore For tho these Heathens were great Idolaters yet were they never charged with spiritual Adultery nor could they unless they had once by visible Profession made a Covenant with or espoused themselves to the Lord Jesus which Rome Papal before its Apostacy did Therefore Rome Heathen could not be the great Whore or Mystical Babylon 5. Rome Heathen cannot be the Babylon set forth by St. John unless she be guilty of all the Christian Blood shed upon the Earth since the
of Satan c. See Sleep Disparity SOme Men enjoy Rest but in part they have no perfect Rest But a godly Man at Death hath perfect Rest nothing shall disturb or disquiet him any more II. Some Men have Rest but for a little time a short Rest But the godly Man's Rest is for ever at Death he enters into God's everlasting Rest III. Some Rest from Labour is not honourable 't is a Reproach to a Man to take his Rest when he should be at work But the Rest of a godly Man at Death is honourable 't is a Rest that Christ himself entred into when he had finished all his Work Of the Resurrection The Resurrection compared to the Morning Psal 49.14 And the Righteous shall have Dominion over them in the Morning Parallels THe Morning comes after the Night is gone So the Resurrection will come after the Night of this World is gone the Time of this World's Continuance is called Night in the Holy Scriptures The Night is far spent c. II. The Morning is longed for many watch and long for the Morning So the Godly long for the Resurrection all the Faithful ever waited for and greatly desired that Day III. The Morning brings Light and makes Things manifest which lie hid or appear not what they are in themselves in the Night-Time So the Resurrection will make manifest all the hidden Things of Darkness which appear not to the Sight of Men that glorious Morning will sooon discover all 1. It will make manifest all the horrid and cursed Designs of the Ungodly which they from time to time have contrived and endeavoured to carry on against the Saints and Church of God many of which God in his gracious Providence prevented from taking place and so they were never known but that Morning-Light will discover all those hidden Things of Darkness 2. The Light of that Morning will discover all the Secrets of every Man's Heart all the Evil Lust Envy Pride Revenge c. or what else hath been harboured in the Bosoms of Men. See 1 Cor. 4.5 3. It will discover all the filthy Actions and Abominations of the Wicked that are not known to Men nor fit to be mentioned Eph. 5.12 For it is a Shame to speak of those Things that are done of them in secret 4. That Morning will discover all Persons as well as Things then it will appear who are God's People and who are not who they were that served God in Truth Mat. 3. ult and who were Hypocrites c. IV. Towards the Morning the Morning-Star appears which gives notice the Day approacheth So towards this Morning there will appear many Signs to give warning to the World that the Day of the Resurrection is at hand Mat. 24.33 So likewise when ye shall see all these Things know thâ—t it is near even at the Door V. When the bright Morning is come the Sun rises and shines forth gloriously So when that Morning is come Jesus Christ the Sun of Righteousness will appear in his Glory and shine forth to the amazement of all the World VI. The Morning brings Joy and Gladness with it it makes the Birds to sing and send forth their warbling Notes So the Morning of the Resurrection will bring Joy and Gladness to all the Righteous then shall the Saints sing for Joy of Heart and be glad in the Lord. VII In the Morning Men arise out of their Beds So in the Morning of the Resurrection shall all the Saints of God be raised out of their Graves Thy dead Men shall live Isa 26.19 together with my dead Body shall they arise c. The Dead in Christ shall rise first VIII We commonly give a guess what kind of Day it will be by the Morning So by the Morning of the Resurrection the Godly will perceive what kind of Day the Day of Eternity or Glory of Christ's Kingdom will be IX In a springing Morning Things look fresh and very beautiful and also send forth a most sweet and fragrant Scent So in the Morning of the Resurrection the Earth will appear in its Bâ—auty and the Saints in their Glory Mat. 13.43 Then shall the Righteous shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father c. Disparity IN the Morning of a natural Day here wicked Men receive like Benefit with the Righteous The Sun rises upon the Just and upon the Vnjust But in the Morning of the Resurrection it shall not be so the Ungodly shall not partake with the Saints of any of the Blessings and Comforts of that Morning then that Word shall be made good The Righteous shall have Dominion over them in the Morning Psal 49.14 In many other respects that Morning will differ from all other Mornings that ever were before it The Resurrection compared to awaking out of Sleep Dan. 12.2 And many of them that sleep in the Dust of the Earth shall awake c. Parallels DEath we have already shewed is called a Sleep and after a Man hath had his full Sleep he awaketh So when the Dead have lain their full Time appointed by the Almighty in the Grave they shall be quickned and come to life again II. Some fall into such a sound Sleep that they must when there is occasion for it be awakened So the Dead are fallen into such a fast or sound Sleep that they must be awakened John 5.28 Marvel not at this for the Hour is câ—ming in the which all that are in the Grave shall hear his Voice III. When a Man is throughly awakened he rises up So when the Dead are quickned by the mighty Power of God they shall rise up out of the Grave Sea or wheresoever else they lay asleep IV. There is a great difference between one Man's awaking out of Sleep and anothers some are awakened before they are willing and arise up with great horror and amazement when others awake in a sweet peaceable and quiet manner c. So there will be a great difference between the awaking of the Godly and the Ungodly at the last Day 1 Cor. 15. 1. The Godly shall arise sooner than the Ungodly The Dead in Christ shall rise first 2. The Saints of God shall awake in Christ's likeness their vile Bodies shall be fashioned and made like Christ's glorious Body But the Wicked shall appear base and vile in that Day Let them lie down in never so great Pomp and external Grandure yet alas when they awake they will appear most vile and contemptible 3. The Godly shall awake with glorious Robes upon them fit for the Consummation of their Marriage with the Lamb the Prince of the Kings of the Earth But the Wicked shall awake in a poor miserable and naked Condition What Robes shall they have on unless they be the filthy Rags of their own Righteousness with which they were cloathed whilst they lived in this World 4. The Godly shall have sweet and heavenly Company about them
destructive and amazing to their Enemies III. They are set out by red speckled and white Horses to note the different Work and Office they are set about whilst they are employed in the Workings of Providence in governing the World 1. Red signifies the Sufferings of the Church together with the Blood and Slaughter or dreadful Judgments that Jesus Christ hath to execute on the World by the Ministration of Angels or a severe Dispensation 2. Speckled shews a mixed State or Dispensation of God's Judgments mixed with Mercy 3. White notes Peace and Prosperity to the Saints and the whole World which will be produced by the Providence of God after the bloody and mixed State of the Church is gone The Soul of Man compared to a Ship Heb. 6.19 Which Hope we have as the Anchor of the Soul c. HEre observe two Doctrines one implied the other expressed Doct. 1. The Soul of a Believer in the Judgment of some Divines is and may fitly be compared to a Ship Doct. 2. Hope that noble and precious Grace of the Spirit is and may fitly be compared to an Anchor Metaphor Parallel A Ship is a rare and curious Piece of Workmanship it shews forth the excellent Wit and Invention of Man THe Soul of a Believer is a very rare and curious Piece of God's Workmanship The Body and Face of a Man doth magnify the Wisdom and Glory of the Creator but what is the Body without the Soul it is but the Cabinet without the Jewel II. A Ship is a very costly thing a little will not build rigg and fit out a Ship to Sea especially if it be designed for a long and profitable Voyage as to the East-Indies or the like II. The Soul of a Believer is a very costly and chargeable thing God hath parted with much Treasure in building 1 Pet. 1.18 or rather rebuilding and fitting of it out to sail through the Ocean of this World to the Haven of eternal Happiness hath parted with his Son with his Spirit his Grace his Gospel c. III. Some Ships are built for noble and eminent Service and are very profitable to the Owners III. The Charge that God hath been at in building and rebuilding the Soul of a Believer is for renowned and eminent Service viz. the Glory of God and everlasting Happiness IV. He that builds and owns a Ship doth usually commit the Care and Charge of her to another who is to sail in her IV. So doth God Almighty commit the Charge and Care of our Souls to us We are employed but as Stewards Deut. 4 9. Prov. 4.23 or Deputy-Owners and must be accountable to God if our Souls are lost V. A gallant Ship that is bound for India or for some noble and eminent Service is richly fraighted hath divers rare Commodities in her c. V. So the Soul of a Believer that it may make a blessed and glorious Voyage is most richly stored and fraighted with the precious Gifts and Graces of God's holy Spirit c. VI. A Ship ought to have a good Bottom or the Danger is very great Whatever she seems to be above Deck tho never so stately and lovely to look upon yet if her Bottom be naught and defective she will never make the Voyage VI. So ought the Soul of a Christian to have a good Foundation If not built upon Christ if not sincere and firm at Heart what Profession he may make tho never so glorious will prove fruitless and vain the Soul is in danger and will for ever unavoidably be lost VII A Ship cannot sail without Wind or Tide VII The Soul of a Believer cannot sail Heavenwards in any Service Duty or Suffering without the sweet Movings and Gales of God's Spirit VIII A Ship ought to have a wise and skilful Pilot. VIII So ought the Soul of a Believer for if it hath not Christ to guide and steer its Course for it it is impossible to escape the Danger of the Sea of Trouble and Temptation IX A Ship needeth often to be repaired being very subject to spring a Leak IX So doth the Soul of a Christian need often to be repaired by Prayer and Repentance or else it will fall under sad and fearful Decays Heb. 2.1 The Soul is like pared to a leaking Vessel X. A Ship is tossed upon the rough and tempestuous Waves and has its Ups and Downs and seldom hath rest or quiet till she has made the Voyage X. Thus 't is with the Soul it is often tossed upon the boysterous and tempestuous Seas of Temptation sometimes transported up to Heaven Psal 107. v. 23 to 28. and then by and by down again to the Depths and all the Billows of God's Wrath seem to run over it XI A Ship is in danger of being lost and that many ways viz. by Rocks by Sands by the raging Waves and by springing of a Leak c. XI The Soul also is in great danger Never was Ship in more eminent hazard than the Soul of a Christian and that many ways Zech. 4.7 viz. by the Rocks and Mountains of great Opposition the Sands of Despair and raging Waves of Persecution besides the Leaks occasioned by indwelling Sin c. XII A Ship hath a Compass by which she is steered from place to place without which no Man can or dares go to Sea XII So likewise the Soul must have a Compass unto which we are with care and diligence to look and to be well-skilled in all the Points thereof viz. the Word and Spirit of God 2 Pet. 2.19 XIII A Ship is exposed to great Danger of being robbed by Pirates of all her Treasure XIII So is the Soul of a Believer by that cursed Pirate Satan who sometimes transforms himself into an Angel of Light and to trapan the Soul 2 Cor. 11.15 puts out false Colours pretends himself a Friend when his whole Design is Blood and Slaughter and treacherously to ruin and spoil the Soul 1 Pet. 2 1â— The Flesh is another secret Sea-Thief and the World yea and Sin is as arch a Pirat as any XIV A Ship often meets with sudden Storms and a good Mariner doth not only look for them but also provide and prepare for them XIV So must the Soul expect to meet with a dreadful Tempest or Hurricane The Winds will rise and a Storm will come upon the Ship where Christ is David was aware of these Dangers Psal 55.8 and saw how to prevent and escape sinking XV. 'T is a rare thing to see a Ship sail along before a fresh and prosperous Gale XV. 'T is a rare and lovely thing to see a Soul carried swiftly along in the Work and Service of God being under the powerful Influences a fresh and prosperous Gale or Wind of the Spirit XVI A Ship is sometimes becalmed XVI So alas it is too often with the Soul of a poor Christian XVII 'T is a Wonder to see a Ship to live in a
Spring and seems very beautiful but its standing is very short as you may observe in the Cowslip and divers other Flowers So Man comes up but his Abiding here is short his standing is so small that it is not so much as mentioned We are born to die and we die as soon as we are born i. e. We are in a dying State II. A Flower is oft-times cut down or cropt off in its budding So is Man he comes up like a Flower and is cut down he is cut down by Death Death is the Sithe which cuts down this Flower 1. Natural Death 1. by Sickness 2. By Age. 2. Violent Death 1. Casual when a Man is slain by Accident 2. Cruel when a Man is slain by Murderers 3. Legal when a Man is slain or cut off by the Magistrate III. A Flower if it be not cut or cropt off yet it soon withers away and is gone The very Sun the Wind and Air consumes its Beauty The Naturalists tell us of a Plant called Ephemeron because it lasts but one Day as also of a Worm called Hemerobion because it lives but one Day Such a Plant and Worm is Man The Heathen Poet gives his Wonder and Observation of the Rose that it grows old in the very Budding The Seventy read these Words of Job in the same Tenour he Decays like a budding Flower as if Death saith Caryl did rise early Eccl. 12.5 and watch for this budding Flower to cut it down And though some of these Flowers stand till they wither as Solomon in his Allegory sheweth that is till gray Hairs yet all the Time of their standing they have been falling So that we may well say with the Psalmist Psal 103.15 16. As for Man his Days are as Grass as a Flower of the Field so he flourisheth for the Wind passeth over it and it is gone and the Place thereof shall know it no more IV. The Owner of Flowers knows the best Time to crop them c. So God knows the best Time to crop off or take away by Death any of his choice Flowers See more Man a Flower pag. 138 139. The Life of Man compared to a Shadow Job 14.2 He fleeth also as a Shadow and continueth not Jam. 4.14 For what is your Life it is even a Vapor that appeareth for a little Time and then vanisheth away THe Learned observe three Sorts of Shadows 1. Natural 2. Civil 3. Spiritual 1. A natural Shadow is a dark Light caused by the coming of some thick Body between us and the Sun This is a Shadow in a proper and strict Acceptation 2. By Civil Shadow we understand Protection Defence or safety Isa 45.25 Col. 2.17 Heb. 8.5 10.9 Psal 102.11 3. Spiritual Shadow is taken for a dark and imperfect Representation of Divine Things So all the Ceremonies of the Law of Moses are called Shadows The whole Life of Man is but as a Shadow My Days are like a Shadow that declineth Parallels A Shadow is next to nothing what is there in a natural Shadow So what 's the Life of Man he rather seems to live than lives A Shadow you know is opposed to a Substance II. A Shadow is a very uncertain Thing So is the Life of Man The Shadow a Man may be under now may before he is aware be gone A Shadow is as fleeting and uncertain a Thing as any Thing in the World †1 Chron. 29.15 Our Days on Earth are as the Shadow How is it that there is no abiding no certainty of our Lives III. A Shadow is very swift in Motion what flies more swiftly than a Shadow as common Experience shews So the Life of Man is gone in a Moment like Lightning a Dream a Bubble the Flower of the Field or a flying Shadow Our Days on Earth are as a Shadow that is They fly swiftly away like as a Shadow and there is no abiding A Vapor is much of the Nature of a Shadow Inferences FRom all these Similitudes we may infer that the Life of Man is very short his Days swiftly pass away Man that is born of a Woman is of few Days c. He comes up like a Flower and is cut down he flieth as a Shadow and continueth not his Life is like Wind like a Cloud or Vapor c. All swift and fleeting Things Psal 39.5 Behold thou hast made my Days as an Hand-breadth The largest Extent of the Breadth of an Hand is but a Span the lesser extent only four Fingers To which the Measure of Man's Life is compared I. Man's Life is Short in Comparison of those who lived before the Flood some then lived near a Thousand Years II. Much shorter when compared with the Life of God who is from Everlasting without Beginning and without Ending Secondly this may stir us aâ—â— up or be a great Motive to us to improve and redeem our Time This I say Brethren the Time is short I. Be persuaded your Days are few 'T is easy to say it but hard to believe it and live in the Sense of it The Child hopes to be a Man a Man hopes to be an Old Man and he that is very old hopes to live yet many Days II. Be persuaded thy Days are uncertain when thou liest down thou knowest not whether thou shalt rise any more or no when thou goest out thou knowest not whether thou shalt return any more or no. What a small Thing may take away thy Life III. Learn from hence to get a true Measure of your Days David desired a Measure of his Days that he might know how frail he was Some do not measure their Days by the King's Standard they measure their Days by the Life of their Progenitors My Father and my Grand-father saith one lived so long and vvhy may not I live as long as they did Others measure their Days by their present Health and Strength Others by the sound and healthy Constitution of their Bodies Novv these Things are not a fit nor lavvful Measure of your Days but rather those Things of vvhich you have heard viz. The Weaver's-Shuttle the morning Dew the Flovver of the Field the early Cloud the Shadovv and Vapor that flieth away IV. This may reprove and shevv the Folly of many vvicked Men vvho like the rich Man in the Gospel say in their Hearts We have Goods laid up for many Years take your Ease Luk. 19.20 Psal 49.11 eat drink and be merry c. Their inward Thought is that their Houses shall continue for ever and their Dwelling-places to all Generations V. It may tend to strengthen the Godly under Afflictions Let them strive to bear up with Patience All their Days are but few and therefore the Days of Sorrow cannot be many VI. It may stir up all to labour to take hold of eternal Life If our Days here are few let us get a well-grounded Hope of living in Heaven for they never die who live in that Kingdom VII Let
us also endeavour to improve the Opportunity of Time I mean those gracious Advantages God is pleased to afford us for the everlasting Good and Well being of our Souls when Time and Days shall be no more Men of the World take great Care to improve all Opportunities to enrich themselves or increase their outward Substance They will not lose their Market-time nor Change-time nor Fair-time They will be sure to come early enough and every Way to bestir themselves with Wisdom and Diligence And shall not we be as wise and as diligent for the enriching our Souls Shall we slight Seasons Sabbaths Sermons Convictions c. Let all remember now is the accepted Time 2 Cor. 6.2 Now is the Day of Salvation now whilest it is called to Day or never Now Sinners may get an Interest in Christ Union with God the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit Now they may obtain Pardon of Sin and Peace of Conscience Now there is a Prize put into their Hands they may be made for ever if they look wisely about them Now they may be made Heirs of God Heirs of a Kingdom Heirs of a Crown of a Crown of Life of a Crown of Glory of a Crown that fadeth not away But if they lose the present Opportunity they may never have the like again Time is but in a very short Space it may be said Time was nay Time is past Will it not be sad to hear God tell thee and Conscience tell thee on thy Death-bed Now Time is past 't is too late now these Things shall be denied you now you must perish for ever and be damned in your Sins Of Death The Body of Man in the Grave compared to Seed that is sown 1 Cor. 15.36 Thou Fool that which thou sowest is not quickned except it die THE Apostle compares the Body of Man that is laid in the Grave to Seed that is sown Parallels SEed that is sown lies some considerable Time in the Earth before it rises or springs up So the Bodies of Men lie some Time in the Grave before the Resurrection tho some lie much longer than others as such who lived in Adam's Noah's and Abraham's Days yet generally all lie and shall lie some Time in the Grave before they rise again II. Seed that it may not abide alone is first sown and dies and then it rises again Verily Joh. 12.24 verily I say unto you except a Corn of Wheat fall to the Ground and die it abideth alone but if it die it bringeth forth much Fruit. So the Body of Man must die or be changed or it can never arise nor be made glorious to bring forth the eternal Fruit of Praise to God As Seed loses nothing by being sown So the Bodies of the Saints shall lose nothing by Death Death I mean vvill be no vvays to their Disadvantage but contrarivvise to their great Benefit III. The Body of the same Seed or Corn of Wheat that is sovvn rises again Every Seed hath its own Body 1 Cor. 15.38 So the same numerical Body that is laid in the Grave shall rise again If it vvas not thus the Dead rise not he that denies this denies the Resurrection of the Dead And tho after my Skin Worms destroy this Body Job 19.26 27. yet in my Flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and mine Eyes shall behold and not another tho my Reins be consumed within me Death compared to a Sleep Dan. 12.2 And many of them that sleep in the Dust of the Earth shall awake 1 Thess 4.14 Even so them also that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him DEath is often called a Sleep in the holy Scripture Sleep is a Figure or Image of Death a fit Resemblance of Death as vvill appear by the follovving Parallels Parallels SLeep is Rest or gives Rest to the Body So Death is or doth give Rest to the Body And hence Job Job 3.13 saith speaking of Death I should have lien still and been quiet I should have slept then had I been at Rest We usually say vvhen a Man goes to sleep he goes to rest There is a fourfold Rest vvhich vve obtain in Death 1. From Labour and Travel no vvork there 2. There is a Rest from Trouble and Oppression There the Wicked cease from troubling Job 3.17 and the Weary be at rest 3. There is a Rest from Passion and Sorrovv no Grief shall afflict us there 4. Which is better than all there is a Rest from Sin a Rest from the Temptations and Drudgery of Satan a Rest from the Lavv in our Members II. In Sleep the vvhole Body resteth but many Times the Spirits of some Men are troubled tho the outvvard Man is at rest yet the invvard Man is sorely disturbed vvhereas the Bodies and Spirits too of others are at rest and quiet So in the Death of the Wicked tho their Bodies be at rest yet their Souls are tormented 'T is the Opinion of some Men that the Soul sleeps vvith the Body and is vvholly senseless of Joy or Mysery until the Resurrection But that doubtless is a great Errour For tho it be granted that many Operations of the Soul do cease when it departs from the Body yet the Soul sleeps not There are some Acts of the Soul which are organical and there are other Acts which are inorganical or immaterial The Organical Acts that is whatsoever the Soul acts by the Members of the Body those Acts must needs cease at Death but the Soul can act of it self without the Assistance of the Body Caryl as we may collect by many Experiments while our Bodies and Souls are joined together How often do we find our Souls at work when our Bodies lie still and do nothing When Sleep binds up all our Senses and shuts up the Windows of the Body close that we can neither hear nor see yet then the Soul frames to it self and beholds a thousand various Shapes and hears all Sorts of Sounds and Voices the Soul then sees and hears and deviseth discourseth grieves rejoices hopes fears chuseth and refuseth all this the Soul doth in Dreams and Visions of the Night when deep sleep falls upon Man What Meditations have some good Men had in their Sleep they have had Scriptures wonderfully opened to them and have been grieved when they waked to find the Matter gone from them God seals up Instruction sometimes to his People in their Sleep Also in Ecstasies and Ravishments the Body is as it were laid by as useless and uninstrumental to the Soul I knew a Man in Christ fourteen Years ago so the Apostle saith whether in the Body I cannot tell 2 Cor. 12.2 3. or out of the Body I cannot tell God knoweth c. Now if the Soul was not capable of a Separation from the Body and in that separated State capable of such divine Ravishments Paul might easily have resolved the Case and said he was taken up