are deliuered but not from the latter We haue not receiued the spirit of bondage to feare againe Rom. 8.5 but the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abbah Father So that true loue is so farre off from casting out this holy feare of adoption whereby wee are drawne to hate sinne in loue towards God and not for punishments sake that it doth bring it in and establish it within vs yet this is to bee noted by the way that seruile feare is a good meanes at the first to bring vs vnto God for it prepareth a place for the holy Ghost to bring him into our soules as the bristles bringeth in the thred But when it is once entred into vs and hath taken vp the possession of our soules within vs then this feare is gone as the bristle is when the thred is entred into the hole Besides this we must marke that as the children of God are not by and by perfect so a peece of this feare may still remaine in them but the feare that is here required of vs and which is to last for euer is that feare of reuerence whereby we beholding our owne weakenesse and the excellency of God and his incomprehensible Maieiestie dare not lift vp our selues against him but do stand in awe of him with all reuerence being loath to offend him in any thing and most carefull to please him in all things it is such a feare as is in louing children toward their parents in dutifull wiues towards their husbands and in faithfull subiects towards their Princes the fountaine whereof is loue and a due consideration of his excellency euery away about vs. A plain difference betweene the true filiall and sonne-like feare the seruile slauish feare Here we may see a plaine difference betweene the true filial feare of God and the seruile and slauish feare the filiall feare keepeth vs from finall falling away but the seruile doth not the filiall is onely in the godly the seruile in the wicked the filiall is a peculiar gift of the spirit so is not the seruile and the filial feare is ioyned with loue but there is no seruile feare in loue And as the true feare of God proceeds from loue so it must bee continued in loue end in loue therefore if the Lord loue thee then thou doest loue him againe this Saint Iohn doth confirme We loue him because he loued vs first Ioh. 4.19 examine then what loue thou bearest towards God try whether it be sound for certainely if thou louest him thou art beloued of him It is thought to be a commō thing and easie to loue the Lord This feare of God must be louely for where God is not truly loued hee cannot be truly feared and he is a wretch and vnworthy to liue that doth not loue his maker but let euery one beware lest it be found in himselfe for it is not so common a thing to loue the Lord as the world takes it to bee Bee thou therefore of a good ground try thy loue by the fruits and effects therefore if thou louest God truely Mat. 10.37 Psal 63.3 Phil. 3.4 thou doest esteeme him his fauour aboue all things in the world besides counting his louing kindnesse better vnto thee then life and the signes of his fauour thy greatest ioy all things shall be counted but as drosse and dung in comparison of it Thirdly if thou louest God thou wilt then delight in his presence for the nature of true loue is such that it earnestly desireth the presence of the party which is beloued Psal 26.8 thou wilt loue his house and the place where his honour dwelleth thou wilt haue frequent recourse to those means by which the Lord is pleased to conuerse with his children whether publike as to the hearing of the word or priuate as reading singing c. Take all occasions to speake vnto him by prayer and meditation Phil. 1.25 yea thou wilt haue an ardent desire to be dissolued that thou mayest bee with Christ and to be absent from the body 2 Cor. 5.8 that thou mightest bee present with the Lord. Readinesse to obey signes of true loue Fourthly our loue to God may be tryed by our readines in obeying of his commands Loue can hardly deny any worke which the party beloued doth enioyne Loth we are to deny to doe any thing for those whom we entirely loue Hee that hath my commandements and keepeth them Ioh. 14.21 he it is that loueth me saith our Sauiour this is the loue of God that wee keepe his commandements his commandements are not greeuous So then 1. Ioh. 5.3 where there is loue there is obedience yea willing carefull obedience This may serue for the great comfort of all such as haue Gods loue manifested vnto them for as the terrors are great which that man hath in his conscience who is in doubt of the loue of the Almighty towards him so is the comfort as great which that man hath who is hereof perswaded for come tribulation or distresse or persecution Rom. 8 25 11. Heb. 11. or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword or life or death yet the certainty of Gods loue will support him this assurance doth make bitter things sweet and gall to relish as hony Comfort then thy heart thou beloued of the Lord let nothing dismay thee though the wicked mocke though the world scorne thee though thy acquaintance hate thee yet remember God loues and fauours thee 1. Sam. 1.8 and hath manifested the same vnto thee Is not my loue better vnto thee then ten children said Elkanah to Hannah so is not the loue of God vnto vs better then tenne worlds let then the meditation of this harden thy face like brasse against all dangers and sad times of temptations and persecution for God shall giue his beloued rest they shall be deliuered for he will helpe them with his right hand Therfore to this feare we must stir vp our soules euery day and so farre as we would either worship God aright or haue his blessings powred downe vpon vs whether for this life or the life to come we must striue and contend with our soules and our hearts to bring them hereunto that so wee may alwayes reuerence and dread the great name of the Lord of hosts doubtlesse we shall neuer serue the Lord aright or become happy and blessed vntill this bee brought to passe well wee may performe some duties in outward appearance wee shall neuer looke to all with a good heart and conscience within And howsoeuer we prosper and flourish for a while yet woe and destruction will ouertake vs at the last but let his feare bee once planted within vs then shall wee inwardly and from the heart haue a respect vnto all his commandements and bee most carefull to please him in all things and then againe shall wee prosper and flourish for euer not onely in this world but
holy ministry of Gods word longing and thirsting after it Psal 42.1.2 with Dauid As the Hart panteth after the water brookes so panteth my soule after thee O God Thus euery good Christian must whet the appetite of his soule to delight in Gods law by conference meditation hearing reading praying preaching and dayly frequenting of holy assemblyes Psal 122.1 I was glad when they sayd vnto mee let vs goe into the house of the Lord. So was it prophesied of the christian church that many people should go and say Mich. 4.1 Esa 2.3 Esa 60.7 Come let vs goe vp to the mountaine of the Lord to the house of the God of Iacob and he will teach vs his wayes and we shal walke in his paths who are these that flie like a cloude and as Doues to their windoes Noting not onely the greatnesse of the number but diligence and zeale of such as should come to Christ and receiue his doctrine and Christ sayd Mat. 11.12 that from the time of Iohn Baptist hitherto the kingdome of heauen suffereth violence and the violent take it by force Thus the zeale of Gods house should eate vs vp The least danger or weaknesse doth put of such as are backward in Gods seruice Secondly this serueth to confute and reproue all such as are backeward and carelesse in this necessary duty being idle and vaine in their excuses or reasons to hinder their zeale and loue to the word any feare the least danger Prou. 22.13 Psa 119.51 62.7.11.12 Luk. 14.18.19.20.23.23 and worldly businesse doth put them off There is a Lion in the way Some haue their oxen to prooue their Farme to see their wife to marry all these yet are inuited to come to the Feast though vnworthy of the same therefore God will fill his house with any others then with such euen those that sit in the high way and vnder hedges the most basest and vilest of men shall enter before them and bee saued Mat. 21.31.32 euen whores and harlots shall sooner be receiued then those that seeme children of the kingdome God will raise vp to Abraham sonnes of stones rather then these viperous serpents shall haue the name of his seed Mat. 3.9 Others there are that thinke if we should make conscience of religion begin to read the word to frequent sermons to haue prayer in our families and the like this would make vs to bee scoffed and mocked at but let such heare what the word saith that pronounces them blessed that delight in the law of the Lord Psalme 1. and meditate therein day and night and that seeke him with their whole hearts yea albeit they should meet with some disgrace and opposition in the world Psal 119. Math. 5. Blessed are yee saith Christ when men reuile you and persecute you and speake all manner of euill against you falsly for my names sakt Reioyce and be glad for great is your reward in heauen is it not better to endure a little mocking from men for a time and that for well doing then to vndergoe the wrath of God for euer for ill doing Let vs consider in particular what benefit we may reape by the ministry of the Gospel Isai 5.3 Heare saith the Prophet Isaiah Iam. 1.21 thy soule shal liue receiue the word with meekenes saith Iames which is able to saue your soules Reu. 1.3 blessed is he that reades heares the words of this Prophesie saith the spirit in the Reuelation And on the other side Prou. 28.9 he that turneth away his eare from hearing the law his prayer shall bee abomination saith Salomon and againe the wisedome of God speaks thus because I haue called and ye refused Prou 1.24.25.26 I haue stretched out my hand none would regard but yee haue despised all my counsell and would none of my correction I will also laugh at your destruction and mocke when your feare commeth These and the like places if wee could throughly consider of they would worke more powerfully with vs to cause vs to desire the word and to retaine and keepe our hearts still in loue and liking of it then all the reproches and persecutions in the world could to withdraw our affections from it God is to be heard before any Therefore they that come to receiue benefit by the ministery must not harken what reasons flesh and bloud can yeeld them against it but what reasons God can giue them for it for the diuell will haue much to say against goodnesse and our owne fleshly wisdome will haue haue as much the world will be as great a pulbacke vnto vs if we will giue it the hearing but if we can bend an attentiue eare vnto the Lord wee shall finde that hee will bring better arguments to perswade vs to goodnesse then all those our enemies can to disswade vs from it therefore it is that men are so often and so grossely deceiued because they heare what the one side can say to discourage and hinder them in actions of piety and godlinesse but not what the other can say to harten and draw them onward in good wayes for if they did bring a spirituall eare to receiue the proofes that are brought from the word they would be more forceable to bring them to God then al other means could be to allure them to forsake God Eph. 4.30 If wee cherrish in vs the gifts of Gods holy spirit it assures vs of deliuerance from the wrath to come and to embrace or hearken to the allurements of this present world therefore Paul writing to the Ephesians he saith thus grieue not the holy spirit of God nor that holy delight in the commandements he brings a forcible reason wherby you are sealed vnto the day of redemption This is the onely euidence wee haue of freedome from condemnation this is Gods marke and character set on vs and seizing vs for his owne this is like the blood that was stricken vpon the doore posts Exo. 12.22 which shall make the Lord to passe ouer vs and not suffer the destroyer to come neare vs when he goeth to smite the Egyptians By this wee are assured that the day of iudgement shall bee to vs no day of wrath but a day of redemption so then thus wee may take the Apostles meaning as you desire to retaine assurance of your deliuerance from the wrath to come and that the Lord should take notise of you for his in the day of that dreadfull separation so see that by all meaanes you cherish in you the gifts and operation of Gods holy spirit grieue it not by strangling and choaking of those holy motions and operations but let them be cherished and preserued without any the least abatement Thirdly Let vs beware of quēching the motions of the spirit for the sin is fearefull this serueth to condemne such as nip the bud so soon as euer it
remembrance written for them thar feare the Lord Mal. 3.16 and in this Chronicle all our good seruices euen euery action of obedience is recorded that it may bee rewarded our labour then shall not bee lost nor so much as our teares but they are blotted men may forget vs as Pharaoh did Ioseph Iudg. 9.17 Gen. 41 42. and Sechemites Gedeon but God wil not our reward is sure though not so speedy as wee desire Here is great comfort to all faithfull Ministers who spend their strength to turne sinners from their euill wayes great is their reward in Heauen We must liue the life grace heare if we meane to shine in glory hereafter God heere assures vs of reward in the Kingdome of Heauen Behold what comfort shineth from hence to all you who haue spent your strength in the seruice of God and conuersion of sinners great is your reward in Heauen you shall shine as starres in the Ftrmament for euer and euer From hence we learne that the degrees of glory heereafter shall bee according to the degrees of grace here so that if wee would then shine in glory now we must shine in grace therefore take the aduantage of this thy corruption shake of all spirituall sloth vse it as a goade in thy side to make thee sweat againe in Gods worke double paines shall bring thee double pleasure double deligence double delight double holinesse double honour Who will be a common stone in the building when he might be a Piller Who would be a Doore-keeper when he might be a Steward therefore let vs looke to the whole course of our liues God rewards vs not according to our good or euill worke but according to our workes to the ordinary course of them this must teach vs faithfully to walke before the Lord in the discharge of our seuerall callings let vs look well to our worke that wee doe it and God will looke farre better to reward our worke Oh then that instead of taking thought how to get this or that good thing promised wee would once take thought how to doe this or that good thing commanded and so doing our duty we should be happy for euermore In worldly affaires no weighty thing can bee done without diligence farre lesse in spirituall Cursed be he that doth the worke of the Lord negligently how shall hee looke for the penny that hath stood idle Oh that there were no such to bee found in these our dayes 2. Tim. 4 2. forgetting the rule of the Apostle Preach in season and out of season Hence it commeth to passe that their Sheepe belonging to their charge are like Pharoa his Kine so leane and euill fauoured and so weake as euery bush is able to entangle and euery ditch ready to drowne them and euery blast of vaine Doctrine able to blow them away Oh that this charge were considered and that we remembred that belongeth to them that preach not the Gospell Art thou a Steward Art thou an Ambassador Why then dost thou not distribute Gods food vnto his people How wilt thou be able to looke him in the face at whose barre one day all flesh must stand Luke 16.21 and if the rich man were cast into Hell who did not relieue poore Lazarus with his bread What shall become of those that haue famished the Soules of their people for want of holy admonition and instruction First to all bee it spoken both Minister and people let vs auoyd all sinne and endeauour our our selues to the vtmost of our power to keepe and delight in the Commandements not one but al and that we may not deceiue our selues herein let euery man examine himselfe at this marke and with a single eye and vpright heart take a view of his affections whether his ioy bee inward and spirituall that is in the assurances of God fauour in his word in his Children in Prayer and continuall practise of Godlinesse or outward and carnall that is in attainement of greatnesse and worldly pleasures in the encrease of our Corne and Wine and Oyle vvhether hee loue the peace of Conscience farre more dearely then the fauour of men or his owne life Whether hee bee more zealous for the honour and praise of GOD then his owne Whether hee bee more afraid of secret sinnes then open shame of offending God then outward afflictions Whether he bee more angry in the cause of Religion and concerning Gods glory or for our owne priuate wrongs and so throughout the rest of our affections Secondly wouldest thou repent thee of thy sinnes turne from them and haue them pardoned then labour to know them striue to find them out Consider of thy wayes make a stand for a while and examine thy courses put the question to thy soule what haue I done and againe propound it wherein am I fayling take the light of Gods Law that will shew thee thy filthinesse that will discouer vnto thee thy great corruptions and many faylings bee not backward in this duty the more backward thou art the greater cause thou hast to feare thy estate Bankerouts that are not worth a groat do not dare look into their state because they know they bee worse then nought bee then perswaded to call thy courses to account Consider the estate wherin thou art thy case is fearefull because thou art ignorant of it but it is desperate if thou wilt not be perswaded to looke into it but on the other side if thou wilt take thy selfe aside and commune with thy owne heart as Dauid speaketh Psal 4.4 surely then thou wilt be in a fayre forwardnesse to sound conuersion But heare some may aske Obedience to all the Commandements is an infallible signe of a true iustifying faith how shall I know if I be such a one or not I answere thou mayst easily prooue it in keeping the Commandements and delighting therein by this maist thou know and therefore try thy selfe whether thou hast respect to the first Table as well as to the second to the second as well as to the first dost thou performe good duties for conscience sake dost thou as well make conscience of dissembling with the world defrauding thy neighbour lying or equiuocating for aduantage as of blaspheming Gods name of prophaning Gods Sabbath of neglecting holy exercises Dost thou lament and bewayle thy dulnesse and deadnesse thy drowsinesse and heauines in the performance of holy duties to God and honest duties to men Art thou grieued and disquieted when thou findest not the efficacies and fruit of those good exercises in thy heart hast thou learned to make conscience of sinnes of omission as well of commission Dost thou as well open thy mouth to speake to his honour as keepe it shut from dishonouring him Dost thou as well make conscience of doing these good duties on the Sabbath Day hearing reading meditating and the like which God requireth as thou dost from abstaining of the workes of thy ordinary calling which hee forbiddeth
not leaue vs comfortles we shall inherit heauen that we shall haue peace at our death and glory after our death if the pestilence enter into our houses or take hold on our persons when none dare come vnto vs then God will be with vs though our bodyes bee infected yet our soules can neuer bee so infected if wee haue grace in our hearts but that God dareth to enter into our houses to visit vs and when our soules shall bee parted from our bodyes he will not think it too much to giue them a place of rest with himselfe in his owne kingdome and at length vnite them to our bodies againe that they may enioy euerlasting blisse together this generation of the righteous shall be blessed First therefore seeing religion is such an incomparable treasure True pietie is the onely meanes to reforme our crooked wayes this should teach vs to haue the meanes in due estimation whereby we may bee made truly religious by which our mindes that are blinde may bee enlightened our hearts of crooked may bee made straight of prowd may bee made humble and of fraudulent may be made true and faithfull those meanes are the word and sacrament prayer the like which are steps whereby we must ascend vnto this honourable estate for it is as possible for men to make stayres to climbe vp into the skie as for vs without these to ascend vnto heauen by any deuices of our owne framing The word of God preached is the chiefest meanes to loose vs frō the bonds of sinne and sathan Secondly the word is the key that must open hell gates to set vs at liberty from the bonds of sinne of sathan and of death and to vnlocke heauen gates that wee may haue entrance into glory in which respect it is that Christ sayth vnto Peter that he would giue vnto him and consequently to all ministers of the Gospel the keyes of the kingdome of heauen that is the dispensation of the word sacraments which maketh the way into heauen lie open to all such as by faith receiue the same into their hearts so that we should not come vnto the meanes with a base conceit or light estimation thereof but with a large and ample desire and exspectation of taking benefite thereby if men can once espy away how they may rise in the world either in great wealth or promotion they will bee most industrious and laborious in that course they will refuse no paines in seed time though the weather be vnseasonable cold and their worke euery way troublesome but they will put themselues to it with all care and industry in hope though it bee but an vncertaine hope of bettering their estate so those that liue by fayres and markets will not faile one of them ordinarily neither heate nor cold winde nor raine nor any the like impediments shall hinder them from pursuing the commodity why then should we be negligent and play the sluggards while our seede-time lasteth and the Lord biddeth vs plow vp the fallow ground of our hearts Ierem. 4. that he may sow therein the seed of life which will neuer faile to yeeld vs a plentifull haruest if wee can wait vpon him for the same and why should we be slacke and carelesse when our chiefe market dayes and faire dayes come and not rather set our hearts and endeuours to seeke after those things which all that seeke shall finde and being found will make vs blessed for euermore Therefore wee ought to breake through all impediments and swallow vp al difficulties with the consideration of this that our iourny tendeth not to the getting of some small commoditie or to the purchasing of some worldly possessions but that we are trauelling towards our owne countrey where we shall receiue an inualuable and eternall crowne of glory and albeit we must passe through many rough craggy and thorny wayes and meete with sundry things that will be very irkesome and vnpleasant The deficulty of the way should not hinder vs. yet let vs make account with all that we shall finde many sweee comforts and ioyes vnspeakeable and glorious in the midst of our pilgrimages and in the end shall haue the fruition of that blessednesse which will make amends for all Now that our desires may bee futher enlarged towards heauen and our affections the better withdrawne from the loue of this deceitfull life and world of vanities let vs meditate on those compleat ioyes which no tongue indeed is able to expresse or heart of man conceiue for if their estate bee so blessed in this life what shall their happinesse bee when they depart out of this life The happinesse of the life to come to haue the fruition of those ioyes which are prepared for the Saints in the kingdome of glory where all teares shall be wiped away from their eyes they being altogether freed from sinne and sorrow shall receiue an immortall crowne of blessednesse with the Saints and Angels in Gods owne presence where is fulnesse of Ioy Psal 16.11 and at whose right hand are pleasures for euermore Therefore I may say with the Apostle no eye hath seene no eare hath heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man 1. Cor. 2.9 what vnspeakeable ioyes God hath prepared for them that loue him If it be so sayth an ancient Father what can I doe else but lift vp mine eyes to heauen mine eares to God and my heart to Paradise to see and vnderstand what I can comprehend vpon earth and therfore my soule longeth after thee O God and sigheth till it see the brightnesse of thy face O kingdome of euerlasting blisse where thou O Lord the hope of all Saints art reioycing them on euery side with thy blessed sight If the wise men of the East came so farre off and reioyced to see Christ in the manger What will it be in the sight of his elect to see him in his glory If Iohn Baptist a babe sprang in his mothers wombe for ioy of Christ so newly conceiued not yet seene What shall his reall presence doe in his royall kingdome but euen rauish with ioy our very hearts soules when we shall continually enioy his most glorious sight for it passeth all other glory that the Saints haue in heauen and to receiue the beames of glory from the brightnesse of his Maiestie If Salomons seruants were accounted happy of Sheha the Southerne queene for their dayly liuing in the Court of Salomon hearing of his wisedome how happy then and thrice blessed shall the Saints and seruants of God bee accounted that liue continually in the Court of heauen the very paradise and Pallace of God himselfe O how happy and blessed is hee which with the onely desire and loue of eternitie pineth away such a one is neither prowde with prosperitie nor cast downe with adversitie for as he hath nothing in this world that hee loueth so is there no losse