THE Godly Man's Picture Drawn with a Scripture-Pensil OR Some Characteristical Notes of a Man that shall go to Heaven By THOMAS WATSON Minister of the GOSPEL But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is Godly for himself Psalm 4. 3. Cl●m Alex. LONDON Printed for Thomas Parkhurst at the three Crowns over against the great Condu●t at the lower end of Cheapside 1666. To the Reader Christian Reader THe Soul being so precious and Salvation so glorious it is the highest point of Prudence to make preparations for another world That there is an Inheritance in Light beyond all dispute and that there must be an Idoneity and meetness for it in Sacred Writ most strenuously * Colos● 1. 12. as●●rted If any shall ask who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord The answer is He that hath clean hands a pure * Psal. 2. 4. heart To describe such person is the work of this ensuing ●●reatise Here you have the godly ●ans Effigies and see him portrayed his full Lineaments What a rare ●●ing is godliness 't is not airy and flatulent but solid and such as will take up the heart and spirits Godliness consists in an exact harmony between holy Principles and Practices that all into whose hands this Book shall providentially come may be enamoured with Piety as to fall the hearty embracing of it So sublime is Godliness that it cannot be del●●neated in its perfect radiancy and lustre though an Angel should take Pencil Godliness is our * Vera est 〈…〉 cam Hebrai ele●anter appellant i. e. esse●tiam 3. ●1 wisdom● Job 28. 28. The fear of the Lord th●● is wisdom Policy without Piety profound madness Godliness is a Spiritual Queen which whosoever Marries is sure of a large Dowry with 1 Tim. 4. 8. Godliness hath the pr●mise of the life that now is and that which is to come Godliness gius * Isai. 32. 17. assurance yea holy triumph in Go● and how sweet is † Omni melle dulcior omni luce clarior Aug. that It was Latimers' Speech when sometimes I sit alone and have a settled assurance of the state of my Soul and know that God is my God I can laugh at all troubles and nothing can daunt me Godliness puts a man in heaven before his time Christian aspire after Piety it is a lawful Ambition Look upon the Saints Characters here and never leave till thou hast gotten them instamped upon thy own Soul This is the grand business that should swallow up your time and thoughts Other Speculations and Acquaint Notions are nothing to the Soul They are like Wafers which have fine works printed upon them and are curiously damasked to the eye but are thin and yield little nourishment But I will not stay you longer in the Porch should I have enlarged upon any one Character of the Godly Man it would have required a Volume but designing to go over many I have contracted my Sails and given you only a brief Summary of things If this Piece how indigested soever may conduce to the good of Souls I have my Option which that the God of Grace will effectually accomplish shall be the Prayer of him who is Thine in all Christian affection Thomas Watson Feb. 26. 1666. THE Character of a Godly Man drawn with a SCRIPTURE-PENSIL PSAL. 32. 6. For this shall every one that is godly prey unto thee CHAP. I. Containing the Preface or Introduction HOly David in the front of this Psalm shows us wherein true happiness consists not in beauty honour riches the World's Trinity but in the forgiveness of sin Vers. 1. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven The Hebrew word to forgive * signifies to carry out of sight which well agrees with that jerem. 50. 20. In those days saith the Lord the sins of Judah shall be sought for and they shall not be found This is an incomprehensible blessing and such as lays a foundation for all other mercies I shall but glance at it and lay down these five Assertions about it 1. Forgiveness of sin is an act of Gods Free Grace The Greek word to forgive * deciphers the Original of pardon it ariseth not from any thing inherent in us but is the pure result of Free Grace Isa. 43. 25. ay even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake When a Creditor forgives a Debtor he doth it freely Pardon of sin is a fine thread spun out of the bowels of Free Grace Paul cries out I obtained mercy 1 Tim. 1. 13. I was be-mercied he who is pardoned is all bestrewed with mercy When the Lord pardons a sinner he doth not pay a Debt but give a Legacy 2. God in forgiving sin remits the guilt and penalty Gild cries for justice no sooner had Adam eaten the Apple but he saw the flaming sword and heard the Curse but in remission God doth indulge the sinner he seems to say thus to him Though thou art fallen into the hands of my Justice and deservest to die yet I will absolve thee and whatever is charged upon thee shall be discharged 3. Forgiveness of sin is through the blood of Christ Free grace is the impulsive cause Christ's * Christus se in cruse Deo oblatus est sacrificium sic nostra pians peccata Maresius de ver rel lib. 3. blood is the meritorious Heb. 9 22 Without shedding of blood is no remission Justice would be revenged either on the sinner or the surety Every pardon is the price of blood 4. Before sin is forgiven it must be repent of Therefore repentance and remission are linked together Luk. 24. 47. That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name * Da Domin● poenitentiam & postea indulgentiam Fulgentius Not that repentance doth in a Popish sense merit forgiveness Christ's blood must wash our Tears but repentance is a qualification though not a cause He who is humbled for sin will the more value pardoning mercy When there is nothing in the soul but clouds of sorrow and now God brings a pardon which is a setting up a Rainbow in the Cloud to tell the sinner that the flood of wrath shall not overflow him O what joy is there at the sight of this Rainbow The soul that before was steeped in tears now melts in love to God Luk. 7. 38. 47. 5. God having forgiven sin he will call it no more into remembrance jer. 31. 34. the Lord will make an * Peccata semel remissa nunquam redeunt act of Indemnity he will not upbraid us with former unkindnesses or sue us with a canceled Bond. Micah 7. 19 he will cast our sins into the depth of the sea Sin shall not be cast in as Cork which riseth up again but as Led which sinks to the bottom How should we all labour for this Covenant-blessing 1. How sad is it to want it It must needs be ill with the Malefactor who wants his pardon all the Curses of God stand in full force against the unpardoned sinner his very blessings are cursed Mal. 2. 2. Caesar wondered at one of his Soldiers that was so merry when he was in debt Can the sinner be merry who is heir to all God's Curses and knows not how soon he may take up his Lodgings among the damned 2. How sweet is it to have it 1. The pardoned soul is out of the gunshot of Hell * Peccatum sic pessundatum est ut non possit nos damnare Luther Rom. 8. 33. Satan may accuse but Christ will show a discharge 2. The pardoned soul may go to God with boldness in prayer Gild eclipse the wings of prayer that it cannot fly to the Throne of Grace but forgiveness breeds confidence He who hath his pardon may look his Prince in the face with comfort This great mercy of pardon David had obtained as appears vers. 5. Thou forgavest me And because he had found God a God of pardons * Neh. 9 17. therefore he encourageth others to seek God in the words of the Text For this cause shall every one that is godly prey unto thee CHAP. II. Opening the Nature of Godliness Every one that is godly IT will first be enquired What Godliness is 1. Inquiry I answer in general Answ. Godliness is the sacred impression and workmanship of God in a man whereby of carnal he is made spiritual When Godliness is wrought in a person he doth not receive a new soul but he hath another spirit Numb 14. 24. The faculties are not new but the qualities the Strings are the same but the Tune is mended Concerning Godliness I shall lay down these seven Maxims or Positions 1. Godliness is a Real thing it is not but Godliness is not the feverish conceit of a sick brain a Christian is no Enthusiast one whose Religion is made up all of Fancy Godliness hath Truth for its foundation it is called the way of Truth * Psal. 119. 30. godliness is a ray and beam that shines from God if God be true than godliness is true 2. Godliness is an  thing it lies chiefly in the heart Rom. 2. 29. Circumcision is that of the heart The dew lies on the leaf the sap is hid in the root The Moralists Religion is all in the leaf it consists only in Externals * but godliness is an holy sap which is radicated in the soul. * Psal. 51. 6. in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom The Chalde expounds it In the close place of the heart 3 Godliness is a supernatural thing by nature we inherit nothing but evil Rom. 7. 5. When we were in the flesh the motions of sin did work in our members we did suck in sin as naturally as our Mother's milk but godliness is the wisdom from above Jam. 3. 17. it is breathed in from heaven God must light up the Lamp of Grace in the heart Weeds grow of themselves flowers are planted Godliness is a Celestial Plant that comes from the New Jerusalem Therefore it is called a fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5. 22. A man hath no more power to change himself than to create himself 4. Godliness is an extensive thing it is a sacred leaven that spreads itself into the whole soul. 1 Thess. 5. 23. The God of peace sanctify you wholly There is light in the understanding order in the affections pliableness in the will exemplariness in the life We do not call a Blackamoor white because he hath white teeth he is not godly who is good only in some part Grace is called the new man Col. 3. 10. not a new eye or tongue but a new man he who is godly is good all over though he be regenerate but in part yet it is in every part 5. Godliness is an intense thing it doth not lie in a dead formality and indifferency but is vigorous and flaming Rom. 12. 11. Fervent in spirit * Qualitates sunt in subjecto intensive We call water hot when it is so in the third or fourth degree He is godly whose devotion is inflamed and his heart boils over in holy affections 6. Godliness is a glorious thing As the Jewel to the Ring so is Piety to the Soul bespangling it in God's eyes Reason makes us Men Godliness makes us earthly Angels by it we partake of the divine nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. Godliness is near a kin to Glory 2 Pet. 1. 3. Glory and Virtue Godliness is glory in the ●eed and glory is godliness in the flower 7. Godliness is a permanent thing Aristotle saith denominations are given from the habit We do not call him sanguine that blusheth but who is of a ruddy complexion † 1 Sam. 17. 42. A blush of godliness is not enough to denominate a Christian but godliness must be the temper and complexion of the soul. Godliness is a fixed thing There is a great deal of difference between a Stake in the Hedge and a Tree in the Garden a stake rots and moulders but a tree having life in it abides and flourisheth When godliness hath taken root in the soul it abides to eternity 1 joh. 3. 9 his seed remaineth in him Godliness being engraven in the heart by the Holy Ghost as with the point of a Diamond can never be razed out CHAP. III. A Reproof to such as are but Pretenders to Godliness Use of Reproof Use. HEre is a sharp Reprehension to such as are Alchemy Christians who do only make a show of * Non faciunt justitiam sed fing●nt Melancth. godliness like Michal who put an Image in the bed and so deceived Saul's Messengers 1 Sam. 19 16. these our Saviour calls whited * Mar: 23. Sepulchers They do not Virtutem colere but colorare In ancient times a third part of the Inhabitants of this Island were called Picts which signifies painted 't is to be feared they still retain their old name How many are painted only with the Vermilion of a Profession whose seeming lustre dazzles the eyes of beholders but within there is nothing but putrefaction † Matth. 23. 27. Hypocrites are like the Swan which hath white feathers but a black skin or like the Lily which hath a fair colour but a bad sent Rev. 1. 3. Thou hast a name to live but thou art * Quis pejor an profitens impietatem an mentiens sanctitatem Bern. dead These the Apostle jude compares to clouds without water vers. 12. they pretend to be full of the Spirit but they are empty clouds their goodness is but a Religious Cheat. Quest. But why do persons content themselves with a show of godliness Answ. This helps to keep up their fame 1 Sam. 15. 30. Honour me before the people Men are ambitious of credit and would gain repute in the world therefore they will dress themselves in the garb and mode of Religion that others may write them down for Saints But alas what is one the better to have others commend him and his Conscience condemn him What good will it do a man when he is in Hell that others think he is gone to Heaven O beware of this Sergeant piety is double † Simulata sanctitas duplex iniquitas iniquity 1. To have only a show of godliness is a God-enraging sin he who is a pretender to Saint-ship but his heart tells him he hath nothing but the * Name he carries Christ in his Bible but not in his Heart some politic design spurs him on in the ways of God he makes Religion a Lackey to his carnal Interest What is this but to abuse God to his face and to serve the Devil in Christ's Livery Hypocrisy makes the fury rise up in God's face therefore he calls such persons the generation of his wrath Isa. 10. 6. God will send them to Hell to do penance for their hypocrisy 2 To make only a show of godliness is self-delusion Ajax in his frenzy took Sheep for † Arietem occidit credens se Vlyssem interemisse men but it is a worse mistake to take a show of grace for grace This is for one to put a cheat upon himself jam. 1. 22. Deceiving your own souls He who hath counterfeit Gold instead of true wrongs himself most The hypocrite deceives others while he lives but deceives himself when he dies 3 To have only a name and make a show godliness is odious to God and man The hypocrite is born under a sad Planet he is abhorred of all Wicked men hate him because makes a show and God hate him because he doth but make a show The wicked ●ate him because he hath so much as a mask godliness and God hates him because he ●ath no more Act. 26. 28. Thou hast almost persuaded me to be a * Christian. The wicked ●ate the hypocrite because he is almost a Christian and God hates him because he is almost 4 To be only Comets and make a show of ●iety is a vain thing Hypocrites los● all ●hey have done Their dissembling tears ●rop beside God's bottle their Prayers and ●asts prove abortive Zack 7. 5. When ye ●asted and mourned did ye at all fast unto me ●ven to me as God will not recompense a ●othful so neither a treacherous servant All ●he hypocrites reward is in this life Matth. ● 5. They have their reward A poor reward ●he empty breath of men The hypocrite may make his Acquittance and write Received in full payment Augustus Caesar had great triumphs granted him but the Senate would not suffer him to be Consul or sit in the Senate-house Hypocrites may have the praise of men but though these triumphs be granted them they shall never have the privilege to sit in the Senate-house of Heaven What acceptance can he look for from God whose heart tells him he is no better than a Mountebank in Divinity 5 To have only a pretence of godliness will yield no comfort at death Will painted gold enrich a man Will painted wine refresh him that is thirsty will the paint of godliness stand thee in any stead what were the foolish Virgins better for their blazing lamps when they wanted oil what is the lamp of Profession without the oil of Grace he who hath only a painted holiness shall have a painted happiness 6 Thou who hast nothing but a specious pretext and mask of Piety exposest thyself to Satan's scorn Thou shalt be brought forth at the last day as Samson to make the devil * Judg. 16. 25. sport He will say what is become of all thy Vows Tears Confessions Is all thy Religion come to this Didst thou so often defy the devil and art thou now come to dwell with me couldst thou meet with no weapon to kill thee but what was made of Gospel-mettle couldst thou suck poison no where but out of Ordinances couldst thou find no way to hell but by seeming godly what a vexation will this be to have the devil thus reproach a man 'T is sad to be insulted over in this life Cleopatra Queen of Egypt when she saw she was reserved by the Enemy for a triumph that she might avoid the infamy put Asps to her breasts and died What then will it be to have the devil triumph over a man at the last day Let us therefore take heed of this kind of pageantry or devout stage-play That which may make us the more to fear our hearts is when we see tall Cedars in the Church wormeaten with hypocrisy Balaam a Prophet jehu a King judas an Apostle all of them stand to this day upon record for hypocrites 'T is true there are the seeds of this sin in the * Vivit adhuc quamdiù aliquae fibrae manent sed agrè & admodum languidè best but as it was with the Leprosy under the Law all that had risings or spots in the skin of the flesh were not reputed unclean and put out of the * Levit. 13. 6. Camp so all that have the risings of hypocrisy in them are not to be judged hypocrites for these may be the spots of God's * Deut. 32 5. children But that which denominates an hypocrite is when hypocrisy is predominant and is like a spreading humour in the body Quest. When is a man under the regency and power of hypocrisy Answ. There are two signs of its predominancy 1 A squint eye when one serves God for sinister ends 2 A right eye when there is some sin dear to a man which he cannot part with These two are as shrewd signs of an hypocrite as any I know Oh let us take David's candle and lantern and search for this leven and burn it before the Lord Christian if thou mournest for hypocrisy yet findest this sin so potent that thou canst not get the mastery of it go to Christ beg of him that he would exercise his Kingly Office in thy soul that he would subdue this sin and put it under the yoke Beg of Christ to exercise his spiritual Chirurgery upon thee desire him to launce thy heart and cut out the rotten and that he would apply the medicine of his blood to heal thee of thy hypocrisy Often make that prayer of David Psalm 119. 80. Let my heart be found in thy statutes Lord let me be any thing rather than an hypocrite Two hearts will exclude from one heaven CHAP. IU. Showing the Characters of a godly man 2. IT will be enquired in the next place 2 Inquiry Who is the godly man For the full answer whereunto I shall lay down several specifical signs and characters of a godly man SECT I. 1 The first fundamental sign is 1 Character a godly man is a man of † Arist. Knowledge Prov. 14. 18. The prudent are crowned with knowledge The Saints are called wise Virgins Mat. 25. 4. A natural man may have some discursive knowledge of God but he knoweth nothing as he ought to know 1 Cor. 8. 2. He knows not God savingly he may have the eye of Reason open but he discerns not the things of God after a spiritual † Nihil agit ultra suam speciem manner Waters cannot go beyond their Springhead Vapours cannot rise higher than the Sun draws them natural man cannot act above his sphere 〈…〉 no more able to judge aright of sacred things than a blind man is to judge of colours 1 He sees not the evil of his heart if a face be never so black and deformed yet it is not seen under a Veil the heart of a sinner i● so black that nothing but Hell can pattern it yet the vail of ignorance hides it 2 He sees not the beauties of a Saviour Christ is a Pearl but an hid Pearl But a godly man is taught of God 1 joh. 2. 27. The anointing teacheth you all † Spiritus sanctus veluti oleo mentes fidelium perfundit & irrigat Estius things that is all things essential to salvation A godly man hath the good knowledge of the Lord 2 Chron. 30. 22. he hath sound wisdom Prov. 3. 21. he knows God in Christ to know God out of Christ is to know him an enemy but to know him in Christ is sweet and delicious A gracious soul hath the savour of knowledge 2 Cor. 2. 14. There is a great difference between one that hath read of a Country or viewed it in the Map and another who hath lived in the Country and tasted the Fruits and Spices of it The knowledge wherewith a godly man is adorned hath these eight rare Ingredients in it 1 It is a grounded Knowledge Col. 1. 27. If ye continue in the Faith grounded It is not a believing as the Church believes but Knowledge rests upon a double basis Word and Spirit the one is a 〈…〉 other a witness saving Knowledge is not pendulous or doubtful but hath a certainty in it john 6. 69. We believe and are sure thou art that Christ 2 Cor. 5 6. being always confident * Si caelum ruat si orbis illabatur precept ego in Deum erectus ero Angelus licèt de caelo aliud mihi persuadere enitatur dicam ei Anathema Anton. Marinar a godly man holds no more than he will die for The Martyrs were so confirmed in the knowledge of the Truth that they would seal it with their blood 2. It is an appretiative knowledge The Lapidary is said to know a Jewel who hath skill to value it He knows God who esteems him above the glory of heaven † Psal. 73. 25. and the comforts of the earth To compare other things with God is to debase Deity as if you should compare the shining of a Gloworm with the Sun 3. The knowledge of a godly man is quickening Psalm 119. 93. I will never forget thy Precepts for with them thou hast quickened me Knowledge in a natural man's head is like a Torch in a dead man's hand True knowledge animates A godly man is like john Baptist a burning and a shining Lamp He doth not only shine by illumination but burn by affection * Claritas in intellectu parit ardorem in affectu The Spouses knowledge made her sick of love Cant. 2. 5. Per●ulsa sum † I am wounded with love I am like a Deer that is struck with a Dart my Soul lies a bleeding and nothing can cure me but a sight of him whom my Soul loves 4. Divine Knowledge is appropriating joh 19 25. I know that my Redeemer liveth A Medicine is best when it is applied this applicative Knowledge is joyful Christ is called a Surety Hebr. 7. 22. O what joy when I am drowned in debt to know that Christ is my Surety Christ is called an Advocate 1 joh. 2. 1. The Greek word for Advocate signifies a Comforter O what comfort is it when I have a bad Cause to know Christ is my Advocate who never lost any Cause he pleaded Quest. But how shall I know that I make a right application of Christ an Hypocrite may think he applies when he doth not Balaam though a Sorcerer yet said My God Numb 22. 18. Answ. 1. He who rightly applies Christ puts these two together jesus and Lord Phil. 3. 8. Christ jesus my Lord Many take Christ as a jesus but refuse him as a Lord Do you join Prince and Saviour Act. 5. 31. Would you as well be ruled by Christ's Laws as saved by his Blood Christ is a Priest upon his Throne Zac. 6. 13. He will never be a Priest to intercede unless your hear be the Throne where he sways his Sceptre A true applying of Christ is when we so take him for an Husband that we give up ourselves to him as a Lord 2. He who rightly applies Christ fetcheth virtue from him The Woman in the Gospel having touched Christ felt virtue coming from him and her fountain of blood was dried up Mar. 5. 29. This is to apply Christ when we feel a sin mortifying virtue flow from him Naturalists tell us there is an Antipathy between the Diamond and the Loadstone insomuch that if a piece of iron be laid by the Diamond the Diamond will not suffer it to be drawn away by the Loadstone So that knowledge which is applicatory hath an antipathy against sin and will not suffer the heart to be drawn away by it 5. The knowledge of a godly man is transforming 2 Cor. 3. 8. We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image As a Painter looking upon a face draws a face like it in the Picture So looking upon Christ in the glass of the Gospel we are changed into his similitude We may look upon other objects that are glorious yet not be made glorious by them A deformed face may look upon beauty and yet not be made beautiful a wounded man may look upon a Chirurgeon and yet not be healed but this is the Excellency of Divine Knowledge it gives us such a sight of Christ as makes us partake of his Nature as Moses when he had seen God's backparts his face shined some of the Rays and Beams of God's glory fell upon him 6. The knowledge of a godly man is self-emptying carnal knowledge makes the head giddy with pride 1 Cor. 8. 2. True knowledge brings a man out of love with himself the more he knows the more he blusheth at his own ignorance David a bright Star in God's Church yet he thought himself rather a Cloud than a Star Psalm 73. 22. 7. The knowledge of a godly man is growing Col. 1. 10. Increasing in the knowledge of God * Tandem fit surculus arbour True knowledge is like the light of the morning which increaseth in the Horizon till it comes to the full Meridian So sweet is Spiritual Knowledge that the more a Saint knows the more thirsty he is of knowledge 't is called the Riches of Knowledge 1 Cor. 1. 5. the more riches a man hath the more still he desires though S. Paul knew Christ yet he would know him more Phil. 3. 10. that I may know him and the power of his Resurrection 8. The knowledge of a godly man is practic john 10. 4. The Sheep follow him for they know his voice Though God requires knowledge more than burnt-offering Host 6. 6 yet it is a knowledge accompanied with obedience True knowledge doth not only mend a Christians sight but mends his pace 'T is a reproach to a Christian to live in a contradiction to his knowledge to know he should be strict and holy yet to live loosely Not to obey is all one as not to know 1 Sam. 2. 12. The Sons of Eli knew not the Lord they could not but know for they taught others the knowledge of the Lord yet they are said not to know because they did not obey when Knowledge and Practice like Castor and Pollux appear together than they presage much happiness Use 1. Use of Trial Let us try ourselves by this Character 1. Are they godly who are still in the Region of darkness 1 Bran. Pro. 19 2. That the Soul be without knowledge it is not good ignorant persons cannot give God a reasonable service Rom. 12. 1. 'T is sad that after the Sun of Righteousness hath shined so long in our Hemisphere yet that persons should be under the power of ignorance Perhaps in the things of the world they are knowing enough none shall out reach them but in the things of God they have no knowledge Nahash would make a Covenant with Israel that he might put out their right eyes 1 Sam. 11. 1. The Devil hath left men their left eye knowledge in secular matters but he hath put out their right eye they understand not the Mystery of Godliness it may be said of them as of the Jews To this day the vail is upon their heart 2 Cor. 3. 15. Many Christians are no better than baptised Heathens What a shame is it to be without knowledge 1 Cor. 15. 34. Some have not the knowledge of God I speak this to your shame Men think it a shame to be ignorant in their Trade but no shame to be ignorant of God there 's no going to Heaven blindfold Isa. 27. 11. It is a people of no understanding therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them Surely ignorance in these days is affected 't is one thing nescire another thing nolle scire 't is one thing not to know another thing not to be willing to know john 3. 19 They loved darkness rather than light 'T is the Owl loves the dark Sinners are like the Athlantes a people in Aethiopia which curse the Sun Wicked men shut their eyes wilfully Mat. 13. 15. and God shuts them judicially Isa. 6. 10. 2. Are they godly 2 Bran. who though they have knowledge yet they know not as they ought to know they know not God experimentally How many knowing persons are ignorant they have Illumination but not Sanctification their knowledge hath not a powerful influence upon them to make them better If you set up an hundred Torches in a garden they will not make the flowers grow but the Sun is influential Many are so far from being better for their knowledge that they are worse Isa. 47. 10. Thy knowledge hath perverted thee the knowledge of most makes them more cunning in sin these have little cause to glory in their knowledge Absalon might boast of the hair of his head but that hanged him so these may boast of the knowledge of their head but it will destroy them 3. Are they godly 3 Bran. who though they have some glimmering of knowledge yet no fiducial applying of Christ Many of the Old World knew there was an Ark but were drowned because they did not get into the Ark Knowledge which is not applying will but light a man to hell it were better to live an Indian than to die an Infidel under the Gospel Christ not believed in is terrible Moses Rod when it was in his hand did a great deal of good it wrought Miracles but when it was out of his hand it became a Serpent So Christ when laid hold on by the hand of Faith is full of comfort but not laid hold on will prove a Serpent to sting Use 2. Use 2. of Exhort As we would evidence ourselves godly let us labour for this good knowledge of the Lord What pains will men take for the achievement of Natural Knowledge I have read of one Benchorat who spent forty years in finding out the motion of the Eighth Sphere what pains then should we take in finding out the knowledge of God in Christ There must be digging and searching for it as one would search for a vein of silver Pro. 2. 3. If thou seekest her as silver Et pluteum coedit Pers. & dimorsoes sapit ungues This is the best knowledge Motive it doth as far surpass all other as the Diamond doth the Crystal no Jewel we wear doth so adorn us as this Pro. 3. 15. She is more precious than Rubies job 28. 12 13. Man knows not the price thereof the depth saith it is not in me it cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir with the precious Onyx or the Saphire The dark Chaos was a fit Emblem of an ignorant Soul Gen. 1. 2. but when God lights up the Lamp of Knowledge in the mind what a new Creation is there How doth the Soul sparkle as the Sun in its glory This knowledge is comfortable Motive we may say of the Knowledge of Nature as Solomon Eccles. 1. 18. He that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow The knowledge of Arts and Sciences is gathering of straw but the knowledge of God in Christ is gathering of Pearl This Knowledge ushers in Salvation 1 Tim. 2. 4. Quest. But how shall we get this Saving Knowledge Answ. Not by the power of Nature Some speak of Reason well improved how far it will go but alas the plumbline of Reason is too short to fathom the deep things of God A man can no more by the power of Reason reach the Saving Knowledge of God than a Pigmy can reach the Pyramids The Light of Nature will no more help us to see Christ than the light of a Candle will help us to understand 1 Cor. 2. 14. The natural man receives not the things of God neither can he know them What shall we do then to know God in a Soulsaving manner I answer let us implore the help of God's Spirit Paul never saw himself blind till a light shined from heaven Act. 9 3. God must anoint our eyes ere we can see What needed Christ have bid Laodicea to come to him for eyesalve if she could see before Revel 3. 18. Oh! let us beg the Spirit which is a Spirit of Revelation Eph. 1. 17. Saving Knowledge is not by speculation but by inspiration job 32. 8 The inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding Narrat Cassianus † Lib. 3. Constit. Mon Cap. 33. de Theodoro quodam qui notitia Scripturarum praeclare emicuit quam ei non tam studium lectionis contulerat quam Spiritus Sancti Gratia siquidèm vix ipsius Graecae Linguae perpauca verba vel intelligere poterat vel proloqui quae Sancti Patris Oratio inquit Acosta non eò pertinere putanda est ut studium humanum floccipendamus sed ut hoc nobis eluoeat Divini Spiritus dono interdùm fieri ut homo plura de Sacris Scripturis Saluificè intelligat vel nuda lectione quam magna vallatus copia commentariorum alioqui assequi possit We may have excellent notions in Divinity but the Holy Ghost must enable us to know them after a spiritual manner A man may see the Figures upon a Dial but he cannot tell how the day goes unless the Sun shine We may read many Truths in the Bible but we cannot know them savingly till God's Spirit doth shine upon us 1 Cor. 2. 10. The Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God The Scripture discovers Christ to us but the Spirit reveals Christ in us Gal. 1. 16. The Spirit makes known that which all the world cannot do namely the sense of God's love Use 3. Use 3. You who have this saluifical sanctifying knowledge flourishing in you bless God for it this is the Heavenly Anointing the most excellent objects cannot be seen in the dark but when the light appears than every flower shines in its Native beauty So while men are in the midnight of a natural estate the Beauty of Holiness is hid from them but when the light of the Spirit comes in a saving manner than those truths they slighted before appear in that glorious lustre as transports them with wonder and love Bless God ye Saints that he hath taken off your Spiritual Cataract and hath given you to discern those things which by Nature's Spectacles you could never see How thankful was Christ to his Father for this Mat. 11. 25. I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes How should you admire Freegrace that God hath not only brought the light to you but given you eyes to see it that he hath enabled you to know the truth as it is in jesus Ephes. 4. 21. That he hath opened not only the eye of your understanding but the eye of your Conscience This is a mercy you can never be enough thankful for that God hath so enlightened you that you should not sleep the sleep of death SECT II. 2. The godly man is a man acted by Faith 2 Character † Fides est Sanctissima humani pectoris gemma as gold is the most precious among the metals so is Faith among the Graces Faith cuts us off from the wild Olive of Nature and inoculates us into Christ Faith is the vital artery of the Soul Hab. 2. 4. The just shall live by his Faith Such as are destitute of Faith though they breathe yet they want life Faith is the quickener of the Graces not a Grace stirs till Faith sets it a-work Faith is to the soul as the animal spirits are to the body they excite lively operations in the body Faith excites Repentance it is like the fire to the Still which makes it drop When I believe God's love to me this makes me weep that I should sin against so good a God Faith is the Mother of Hope first we believe the Promise than we hope for it Faith is the Oil which feeds the Lamp of Hope Faith and Hope are two Turtle-graces take away one and the other languisheth If the sinews be cut the body is lame if this sinew of Faith be cut Hope is lame Faith is the ground of Patience He who believes God is his God and all Providences work for his good doth patiently yield up himself to the Will of God thus Faith is a living Principle And the life of a Saint is nothing else but a life of Faith his prayer is the breathing of Faith jam. 5. 15. His obedience is the result of Faith Rom. 16. 26. A godly man by Faith lives in Christ as the beam lives in the Sun Gal. 2. 20. I live yet not I but Christ lives in me A Christian by the power of Faith sees above Reason * 2 Cor. 4. 18. trades above the Moon by Faith his heart is finely quieted † Psal. 112. 7. he trusts himself and all his affairs with God As in a time of War men get into a Garrison and trust themselves and their treasure there So the Name of the Lord is a strong Tower Pro. 18. 10. and a Believer trusts all that ever he is worth in this Garrison 2 Tim. 1. 12. I know whom I have believed and I am persuaded he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day God trusted Paul with his Gospel and Paul trusted God with his Soul Faith is a Catholicon or remedy against all troubles it is a godly man's sheat-anchor that he casts out into the Sea of God's mercy and is kept from sinking in despair Si modo firma fides nulla ruina nocet Use. Let us try ourselves by this Character Alas how far are they from being godly that are destitute of Faith such as are altogether drowned in Sense Most men are spiritually purblind they can see but just before them * 2 Pet. 1. 9 I have read of a people of India who are born with one eye such are they who are born with the eye of Reason but want the eye of Faith who because they do not see God with bodily eyes they do not believe a God they may as well not believe they have Souls because being Spirits they cannot be seen O where is he who lives in Excelsis who is gotten into the upper Region and sees things not seen Heb. 11. 27. † Chrysost. Did men live by Faith would they use sinful policy for a livelihood Were there Faith would there be so much fraud Did Faith live would men like dead fish swim down the stream In this Age there is scarce so much Faith to be found among men as there is among the Devils for they believe and tremble * Jam. 2. 19 It was a grave and serious speech of Mr. Greenham that he feared not Papism but Atheism would be England's ruin But I shall not expatiate having been more large upon this Head in another discourse † See the Christians Charter in Quarto pag. 103. SECT III. 3. A godly man is fired with love to God 3 Character Psalm 116. 1. Faith and Love are the two Poles on which all Religion turns A true Saint is carried in that Chariot the midst whereof is paved with love Cant. 3. 10. As Faith doth quicken so love doth sweeten every duty The Sun mellows the fruit so love mellows the services of Religion and makes them come off with a better relish A godly man is sick of love joh. 21. 16. Lord thou knowest I love thee Though dear Saviour I did deny thee yet it was for want of strength not for want of love God is the Fountain and Quintessence of goodness his beauty and sweetness lay constraints of love upon a gracious heart God is the Saints portion Psalm 119. 57 And what more loved then a portion I would hate my own Soul saith Austin if I found it not loving A godly man loves God therefore delight to be in his presence he loves God therefore takes comfort in nothing without him Cant. 3. 3. Saw ye him whom my Soul loveth Lilia nigra videntur Pallentesque rosae nec dulce rubens hyacinthus Nullos nèc myrtus nec laurus spirat odores The pious Soul loves God therefore thirsts after him the more he hath of God the more still he desires a sip of the Wine of the Spirit provokes the appetite after more The Soul loves God therefore rejoiceth to think of his appearing 2 Tim. 4. 8. He loves him therefore longs to be with him Christ was in Paul's heart and Paul would be in Christ's bosom Phil. 1. 23. When the Soul is once like God it would fain be with God A gracious heart cries out O that I had wings that I might fly away and be with my Love Christ The Bird desires to be out of the Cage though it be hung with Pearl Such is the love a gracious Soulbears to God that many waters cannot quench it he loves a frowning God † Herb. Poem Though I am out of sign and clean forgot Let me not love thee if I love thee not A godly man loves God though he be reduced to straits A Mother and her Child of nine years old being ready to perish with hunger the Child looking upon its Mother said Mother do you think God will starve us No Child said the Mother he will not The Child replied But if he do we must love him and serve him Use. Let us try our godliness by this Touchstone Do we love God Is he our Treasure and * Amor ponit amantem extrase Aquinas Centre Can we with David call God our joy yea our exceeding joy Psal. 43. 4. Do we delight in drawing nigh to him and come before him with singing Psal. 100 2. Do we love him for his Beauty more than his jewels Do we love him when he seems not to love us If this be sign of a godly man how few will be found in the number Where is the man whose heart is dilated in love to God Many court him but few love him * Plurima fier● sunt quae speciem habent bonam sed non ex radice amoris proficiscuntur habent & spinae flores sit intùs dilectio non potest ex ista radice nisi bonum existere Aug. in Epist. joh. Tom. 9 People are for the most part eaten up with self-love they love their ease their worldly profit their lusts but they have not a drop of love to God Did they love God would they be so willing to be rid of him job 21. 14. They say to the Almighty depart from us Did they love God would they tear his Name by their Oaths Doth he love his Father who shoots him to the heart Though they worship God they do not love him they are like the Soldiers that bowed the knee to Christ and mocked him Mat. 27. 29. He whose heart is a grave in which the love of God is buried deserves to have that Curse written upon his Tombstone 1 Cor. 16. ult. Let him be Anathema Maranatha A Soul void of Divine Love is a temper that best suits with damned spirits But I shall wave this and pass to the † See Divine Cordial page 123. next SECT IV. 4. A godly man is like God 4 Character he hath the same judgement with God he thinks of things as God doth he hath a Godlike disposition he partakes of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. A godly man doth bear God's Name and Image godliness is Godlikeness 'T is one thing to profess God another thing to resemble him A godly man is like God in † Summa religio est imitari quem colis Lactant. Holiness Holiness is the most orient Pearl of the King of Heaven's Crown Exod. 15. 11. Glorious in Holiness God's power makes him Mighty his mercy makes him lovely but his holiness makes him glorious The Holiness of God is the intrinsic purity of his Nature and his abhorrency of sin A godly man bears some kind of Analogy with God in this He hath the Holy Oil of Consecration upon him Psal. 106. 16. Aaron the Saint of the * Deo consecratus & à rebus immundis sejunctus River Lord Holiness is the Badge and Livery of Christ's people Isa. 63. 18. The people of thy † Holiness The godly are as well an Holy as a Royal Priesthood 1 Pet. 2. 9 Nor have they only a Frontispiece of holiness like the Egyptian Temples which were fair without but they are like Solomon's Temple which had gold within they have written upon their heart Holiness to the Lord The holiness of the Saints consists in their conformity to Gods Will which is the rule and pattern of all Holiness Holiness is a man's glory Aaron put on garments for glory and beauty Exod. 28. 2. So when a person is invested with the embroidered garment of Holiness it is for glory and beauty The goodness of a Christian lies in his Holiness as the goodness of the Air lies in the clearness of it the worth of gold in the pureness Quest. Wherein do the godly discover their holiness Answ. 1. In hating the garment spotted by the flesh jude 3. The godly do set themselves against evil both in purpose and practise they are fearful of that which looks like sin 1 Thes. 5. 22. The appearance of evil may prejudice a weak Christian If it doth not defile a man's own Conscience it may offend his Brother's Conscience and to sin against him is to sin against Christ 1 Cor. 8. 12. A godly man will not go as far as he may lest he go further than he should he will not swallow down all that others bribed with preferment may plead for 'T is easy to put a golden colour upon a rotten stuff 2. The godly discover their holiness in being Advocates for Holiness Psal. 119. 46. I will speak of thy Testimonies before Kings and will not be ashamed When Piety is calumniated in the world the Saints will stand up in the defence of it they will wipe off the dust of a reproach from the face of Religion Holiness defends the godly and they will defend Holiness it defends them from danger and they will defend it from disgrace Use 1. Use 1. How can those be reputed godly who are unlike God they have nothing of God in them not one shred of holiness They call themselves Christians but blot out the word holiness you may as well call it day at midnight So impudent are some that they boast they are none of the holy ones Is it not the Spirit of Holiness which marks the sheep of Christ from the goats Eph. 1. 13. Ye were sealed or marked with the Holy Spirit And is it a matter for men to boast of that they have none of the Spirits ear-mark upon them Doth not the Apostle say that without holiness no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. Such as bless themselves in their unholiness had best go ring the Bells for joy that they shall never see God Others there are that hate holiness sin and holiness never meet but they fight holiness dischargeth its fire of zeal against sin and sin spits its venom of malice at holiness Many pretend to love Christ as a Saviour but hate him as he is the Holy One Act. 3. 14. Use 2. Use 2. of Exhort Let us labour to be like God in holiness 1. This is God's great design he drives on in the world Motive 't is the end of the Word preached the silver drops of the Sanctuary are to water the seed of grace and make a crop of holiness spring up What use is there of the Promises but to bribe us to holiness What are all Gods Providential Dispensations but to excite holiness As the Lord makes use of all the seasons of the year frost and heat to bring on the harvest so all prosperous and adverse providences are for the promoting the work of holiness in the soul. What is the end of the mission of the spirit but to make the heart holy When the air is unwholesome by reason of foggy vapours the wind is a fan to winnow and purify the air so the blowing of God's Spirit upon the heart is to purify it and make it holy 2. Holiness is that alone which God is delighted with Motive * Aristot. Tamerlain being presented with a pot of gold asked whether the gold had his Father's stamp upon it But when he saw it had the Roman stamp he rejected it Holiness is God's stamp and impress if he doth not see this stamp upon us he will not own us 3. Holiness fits us for communion with God Motive communion with God is a paradox to the men of the world every one that hangs about the Court doth not speak with the King We may approach to God in duties and as it were hang about the Court of Heaven yet not have communion with God That which keeps up the intercourse with God is holiness the holy heart enjoys much of God's presence he feels heart-warming and heart-comforting virtue in an Ordinance Where God sees his Likeness there he gives his love SECT V. 5. A godly man is very exact and curious about the Worship of God 5 Character the Greek word for * godly signifies a right Worshipper of God A godly man doth reverence Divine Institutions and is more for the Purity of Worship than the Pomp Mixture in sacred things is like a dash in the wine which though it gives it a colour yet doth but adulterate it The Lord would have Moses make the Tabernacle according to the pattern in the † Mount Exod. 25. 40. If Moses had left out any thing in the pattern or added any thing to it it would have been very provoking The Lord hath always given testimonies of his displeasure against such as have corrupted his Worship Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire other than God had sanctified on the Altar and fire went out from the Lord and devoured them Levit. 10. 1. Whatsoever is not of Gods own appointment in his Worship that he looks upon as strange fire and no wonder he is so highly incensed at it for as if God were not wise enough to appoint the manner how he will be served Men will go to prescribe him and as if the rules for his Worship were defective they will attempt to mend the Copy and superadd their * Qui Deum ad humani cerebri id aeam & ingenii tenuitatem admetiuntur necesse est ut in sua arrogantia confusi jaceant Rivet inventions A godly man dares not vary from the Pattern which God hath shown him in the Scripture and probably this might not be the least reason why David was called a man after Gods own heart because he kept the springs of God's Worship pure and in matters sacred did not supper induce any thing of his own devising Use. By this Character we may try ourselves Use whether we are godly Are we tender about the things of God Do we observe that mode of worship which hath the stamp of Divine Authority upon it 'T is of dangerous consequence to make a medley in Religion 1. Those who will add to one part of God's Worship will be as ready to take away from another Mar. 7. 8. Laying aside the Commandment of God ye hold the Traditions of men They who will bring in a Tradition will in time lay aside a Command This the Papists are highly guilty of they bring in Altars and Crucifixes and lay aside the second Commandment They bring in Oil and Cream in Baptism and leave out the Cup in the Lord's Supper they bring in praying for the dead and lay aside reading the Scriptures intelligibly to the living They who will introduce that into God's Worship which he hath not commanded will be as ready to blot out that which he hath commanded 2. Those who are for outward commixtures in God's Worship are usually regardless of the Vitals of Religion living by Faith leading a strict mortified life these things are less minded by * Si modo exteriorum rituum pompis luxuriare poterint sperant se Deo glaucoma obduxisse Rivet them Wasps have their Combs but no honey in them the Religion of many may be likened to those ears which run all into straw 3. Superstition and Profaneness kiss each † Qui curios simulant & bacchanalia vivunt other Hath it not been known that those who have kneeled at a Pillar have reeled against a Post. 4. Such as are devoted to Superstition are seldom or never converted Mat. 21. 31. Publicans and Harlots go into the Kingdom of God before you It was spoken to the Chief Priests who were high Formalists and the reason why such persons are seldom wrought upon savingly is because they have a secret antipathy against the power of godliness the Snake is of a fine colour but it hath a sting so outwardly men may look zealous and devout but retain a sting of hatred in their hearts against goodness Hence it is that they who have been most hot for superstition have been most hot for persecution The Church of Rome wears white linen an Emblem of Innocency but the Spirit of God paints her out in Scarlet Rev. 17. 4. Whence is this not only because she puts on a scarlet Robe but because her body is of a scarlet die having imbrued her hands in the blood of the Saints Rev. 17. 6. Let us then as we would demonstrate ourselves godly keep close to the rule of Worship and in the things of jehovah go no further than we can say it is written SECT VI 6 A godly man is a servant of God 6 Character and not a servant of men This Character hath two distinct branches I shall speak of both in order 1. A godly man is a servant of God 1 Bran. Ezra 5. 11. We are the servants of the God of Heaven Col. 4. 12. Epaphras a servant of Christ Quest. In what sense is a godly man a servant of God Answ. In seven respects 1. A servant leaves all other and confines himself to one Master so a godly man ●eaves the service of sin and betakes himself ●o the service of God Rom. 6. 22. Sin is a tyrannising thing a sinner is a slave when he ●ins with most † freedom The wages which sin gives may deter us from its service Rom. ● 23. The wages of sin is death Here is damnable pay A godly man Lists himself God's Family and is one of his menial servants Psalms 116. 16. O Lord truly I am thy servant I am thy servant David useth an in●emination as if he had said Lord I have ●aken earnest none else can lay claim to me ●●y ear is bored to thy service 2. A servant is not sui juris at his own dispose but at the dispose of his Master A servant must not do what he please but ●e at the will of his Lord Thus a godly ●an is God's servant he is wholly at God's dispose he hath no will of his own Thy will done on earth Some will say to the godly why cannot you do as others Why will not you drink and swear and profane the Sabbath as others do The godly are God's servants they must not do what they will but be under the rules of the Family they must do nothing but what they can show their Master's hand for 3. A servant is bound there are Covenants and Indentures sealed between him and his Master Thus there are Indentures drawn in Baptism and in Conversion the Indentures are renewed and sealed we do there bind ourselves to God to be his sworn servants Psal. 119. 106. I have sworn and I will perform it that I will keep thy righteous judgements A godly man hath tied himself to the Lord by * Psalm 56. 12. Vow and he makes conscience of his vow he had rather die by Persecution than live by Perjury 4. A servant doth not only wear his Master's Livery but do his work Thus a godly man works for God S. Paul did spend and was spent for Christ 2 Cor. 12. 15. He outwrought all the other Apostles 1 Cor. 15. 10. A godly man is active for God to his last breath Psalm 119. 112. only The dead rest from their labours 5. A servant follows his Master thus a godly man is a servant of God while others wonder after the * Revel 13. 3. beast he follows after the † Revel 14. 4. Lamb. He will tread in the steps of Christ If a Master leap over hedge and ditch the servant will follow him A godly man will follow Christ through afflictions Luk. 9 23. If any man will come after me let him take up his Cross daily and follow me Peter would follow Christ upon the water A godly man will follow Christ though it be death every step he will keep his goodness when others are bad as all the water in the salt Sea cannot make the Fish salt but still they retain their freshness so all the wickedness in the world cannot make a godly man wicked but still he retains his piety he will follow Christ in the worst times 6. A servant is satisfied with his Master's allowance he doth not say I will have such provisions made ready if he hath short commons he doth not find fault he knows he is a servant and is at his Masters carving In this sense a godly man is God's servant he is willing to be at God's allowance if he hath but some leave he doth not grumble Paul knew he was a servant therefore whether more or less fell to his share he was indifferent Phil. 4. When Christians murmur at their condition they forget that they are servants and must be at the allowance of their Heavenly Master Thou that hast the least bit from God wilt die in his debt 7. A servant will stand up for the honour of his Master he cannot hear his Master reproached but will vindicate his credit Thus every godly man will stand up for the honour of his Master Christ Psal. 119. 139. My zeal hath consumed me A servant of God appears for his truths They who can hear Gods Name reproached and his ways spoken against yet be silent God will be ashamed of such servants and discard them before men and Angels Use. Use Let us declare ourselves godly by being servants of the most high God Consider 1. Motive God is the best * Euripides Master he is punctual in all his promises 1 Kin. 8. 23. There is no God like thee in Heaven above or on earth beneath who keepest Covenant with thy servants Ver. 56. There hath not failed one word of all his good promise God is of a most sweet gracious disposition he hath this property he is slow to † Psal. 103 9 anger and ready to * Psal. 86. 5. forgive In our wants he doth relieve us in our weakness he doth pity us he reveals his secrets to his † Pro. 3. 32. servants Psal. 25. 14. He wait on his servants Was there ever such a Master Luke 12. 37. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching verily I say unto you that he shall gird himself and make them sit down to meat and will come forth and serve them When we are sick he makes our bed Psal. 41. 3. Thou wilt make all their bed in their sickness He holds our head when we are fainting Other Masters may forget their servants and cast them off when they are old but God will not Isa. 44. 21. Thou art my servant O Israel thou shalt not be forgotten of me 'T is a slander to say God is an hard Master 2. God's service is the best service Motive There are six privileges in God's service 1. Freedom Though the Saints are bound to God's service yet they serve him freely God's Spirit which is called a free * Psa. 51. 12. spirit makes them free and cheerful in obedience The Spirit carries them upon the wings of delight it makes duty a privilege it doth not force but draw it enlargeth the heart in love and fills it with joy God's service is perfect freedom 2. Honour David the King professeth himself one of God's Pensioners Psal. 143. 12. I am thy † Servire est regnare servant St. Paul when he would blaze his Coat of Arms and set forth his best Heraldry he doth not call himself Paul ●n Hebrew of the Hebrews or Paul of the Tribe of Benjamin but Paul a servant of Christ Rom. 1. 1. Theodosius thought it a greater dignity to be God's servant than to be an * Nihil regio splendore indignum si ad hanc ingenuam invitentur Rivet Emperor Christ himself who is equal with his Father yet is not ashamed of the Title Servant Isa. 53. 11. Every servant of God is a Son every subject a Prince 'T is more honour to serve God than to have Kings serve us The Angels in Heaven are servitors to the Saints on † Non est onerans sed ornans Dei servitus earth 3. Safety God takes care of his servants he gives them a protection Isa. 41. 9 10. Thou art my servant fear not I am with thee God hides his servants Psa. 27. 5. In the secret of his Tabernacle * In abdito tento rii● sui shall be hide me that is he shall keep me safe as in the most holy place of the Sanctuary where none but the Priests might enter Christ's † Mal 4. 2. Wings are both for healing and for hiding for curing and securing us The Devil and his Instruments would soon devour the servants of God if he did not set an invisible guard about them and cover them with the golden feathers of his * Psal. 91. 4. Protection Acts 18. 10. I am with thee and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee God's watchful eye is ever upon his people and the Enemies shall not do the mischief they intent they shall not be destroyers but Physicians 4. Gain Atheists say It is vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his Ordinances Mal. 3. 14. besides the vails which God gives in this life sweet peace of Conscience he reserves his best Wine till last he gives a glorious Kingdom to his * Origen Cont. Cels. servants Heb. 12. 28. The servants of God may for a while be kept under and a bused but they shall have preferment at last john 12. 26. Where I am there shall my servants be 5. Assistance Other Masters cut out work for their servants but do not help them in their work but our Master in heaven doth not only give us work but strength Psalm 138. 3. Thou strengthenedst me with strength in my Soul God bids us serve him and he will enable us to serve him Ezek. 36. 27. I will cause you to walk in my Statutes The Lord doth not only fit work for us but fit us for our work with his Command he gives † Da Domine quod jubes & ju●e quod vis Austin power 6. Supplies A Master will not let his servants want God's servants shall be provided for Psal. 37. 3. Verily thou shalt be fed Doth God give us a Christ and will he deny us a crust Gen. 48. 15. The God who hath fed me all my days If God doth not give us what we crave he will give us what we need the wicked are fed who are dogs Phil. 3. 2. If a man feeds his dog sure he will feed his servant Oh than who would not be in love with God's service 3. We are engaged to serve God Motive we are pretio empti bought with a price 1 Cor. 6. 20. 'T is a Metaphor taken from such as do ransom Captives out of prison by paying a sum of money for them they are to be at the service of them that ransomed them So when the Devil had taken us prisoners Christ ransomed us with a price not of money but blood therefore we are to be only at his service If any can lay a better claim to us than Christ we may serve them but Christ having the best right to us we are to cleave to him and enrol ourselves for ever in his service 2. I pass to the second Branch of this Character 2 Bran. A godly man is not the servant of men 1 Cor. 7. 23. Be ye not the servants of men Quest. But is there no service we owe to men Answ. There is a threefold serving of men 1. There is a Civil service we owe to men as the inferior to the superior The servant is a Living Tool as Aristotle * saith Eph. 6. 5. Servants obey your Masters 2. There is a Religious service●we owe to men when we are serviceable to their souls 2 Cor. 4. 5. Your servants for jesus sake 3. There is a sinful serving of men this consists in three things 1. When we prefer men's Injunctions before God's Institutions God commands one thing man commands another God saith sanctify the Sabbath man saith profane it When men's Edicts have more force upon us than God's Precepts this is to be the servants of men 2. When we do voluntarily prostitute ourselves to the impure lusts of men † Ne adulentur & impiis aeliorum cupiditatibus se addicant vetat Apostolus Calv. in 1 Cor. cap. 7. we let them lord it over our Consciences when we are ductill and frameable to any thing either Arminian or Atheist either for the Gospel or the Koran when we will be what others will have us just of Issachars' temper Gen. 49. 14. Issachar is a strong Ass couching down between two burdens This is not humility but sordidness and it is a serving of men 3. When we are Advocates in a bad Cause pleading for any impious unjustifiable actings when we baptise sin with the Name of Religion and with our Oratory wash the Devil's face this is to be the servants of men in these cases a godly person will not so unman himself as to serve men he saith as Paul Gal. 1. 10. If I pleased men I should not be the servant of Christ And as Peter Act. 5. 23. We ought to obey God rather than men Use. Use How many leagues distant are they from godliness who do who either for fear of punishment or hope of preferment comply with the sinful commands of men who will put their Conscience into any yoke and sail with any wind that blows profit These are the servants of men they have abjured their Baptismal Vow and renounced the Lord that bought them He who is such a * Omnium scenarum homo Erasm Proteus who can change into any form and bow as low as hell to please men I would say two things to him 1. Thou that hast learned all thy postures who canst cringe and tack about how wilt thou look Christ in the face another day When thou shalt say upon thy death bed Lord look upon thy servant Christ shall disclaim thee and say servant No thou didst renounce my service thou wert a servant of men depart from me I know you not What a cooling card will this be at that day 2. What doth a man get by sinfully enslaving himself he gets a blot in his name a curse in his estate an hell in his Conscience nay even those that he basely stoops to will scorn and despise him How did the High-Priests kick off judas Mat. 27. 4. Look thou to that That we may not be the servants of men let us abandon * Esther 8. 17. fear and advance faith Faith is a world-conquering grace 1 joh. 5. 4. It overcomes the world's music and furnace it steels a Christian with Divine courage and makes him stand  as a Rock in the midst of the Sea SECT VII 7. A godly man is a Christ-prizer 7 Character To illustrate this I shall show 1. That Jesus Christ is in himself precious 2. That a godly man esteems him precious 1. That Jesus Christ is in himself precious 1 Pet. 2. 6. Behold I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone elect precious Christ is compared to things most precious 1. To a bundle of myrrh Cant. 1. 13. Myrrh is very † Plin. precious it was one of the chief spices whereof the holy anointing Oil was made Exod 30. 25. 1. Myrrh is of a perfuming Nature so Christ perfumes our persons and services that they are a sweet odour to God whence is it the Church that heavenly Bride is so perfumed with * Cant. 3. 6. grace but because Christ that Myrrhe-tree hath dropped upon her 2. Myrrh is of an exhilarating nature the smell of it doth comfort and refresh the spirits So Christ doth comfort the souls of his people when they are fainting under their sins and sufferings 2. Christ is compared to a Pearl Mat. 13. 46. When he had found one Pearl of great price Christ this Pearl was little in regard of his humility but of infinite value Jesus Christ is a Pearl that God wears in his † John 1. 18. bosom a Pearl whose lustre drowns the world's * Gal. 6. 1● glory a Pearl that enricheth the soul the Angelical part of † 1. Cor. 1. 5. man a Pearl that enlightens * Rev. 21. 23. heaven a pearl so precious that it makes us precious to † Eph. 1. 6. God a Pearl that is cordial and * Luke 2. 25. restorative a Pearl more worth than † Col. 1. 16 17. heaven The preciousness of Christ is seen three ways 1. He is precious in his ●erson he is the picture of his Father's glory * Origen Cont Cels. Heb. 1. 3. 2. Christ is precious in his Offices which are several Rays of the Sun of Righteousness 1. Christ's Prophetical Office is precious Deut. 18. 15. He is the great Oracle of Heaven he hath a preciousness above all the Prophets which went before him he teacheth not only the ear but the heart He who hath the Key of David in his hand opened the heart of Lydia Act. 16. 14. 2. Christ's Priestly Office is precious This is the solid basis of our comfort Heb. 9 26. Now once hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of * Hic est in cujus typo immolabatur agnus qui non solum suo sanguine nos redemit sed & lanis over●it Hierom. himself By virtue of this Sacrifice the soul may go to God with boldness Lord give me heaven Christ hath purchased it for me he hung upon the Cross that I might sit upon the † Per has ●●mas later●● Christi licet sugere me● de Petra ●ern Throne Christ's Blood and Incense are the two hinges on which our Salvation turns 3. Christ's Regal Office is precious Rev. 19 16. He hath on his Vesture and on his Thigh a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords Christ hath a pre-eminence above all other Kings for Majesty he hath the highest Throne the richest Crown the largest Dominions and the longest possession Heb. 1. 8. Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever Though Christ hath many Assessors Ephes. 2. 6. yet no Successors Christ sets up his Sceptre where no other King doth he rules the will and affections his power binds the Conscience The Angels take the oath of Allegiance to him Heb. 1. 6. Christ's Kingship is seen in two Royal Acts. 1. In ruling his people 2. In overruling his Enemies 1. In ruling his people He rules with Clemency his Regal Rod hath honey at the end of it Christ displays the Ensign of Mercy which makes so many Volunteers run to his Standard Psal. 110. 3. Holiness without Mercy and Justice without Mercy were dreadful but Mercy encourageth poor sinners to trust in him 2. In overruling his Enemies He pulls down their pride befools their policy restrains their malice Psalm 76. 10. The remainder of wrath thou shalt restrain Or as it is in the Hebrew Accinges Aria's Mont. thou shalt girdle up That stone cut out of the Moutains without hands which smote the Image Dan. 2. 34. was an Emblem saith Austin of Christ's Monarchical power conquering and triumphing over his Enemies 3. Christ is precious in his benefits by Christ all dangers are removed through Christ all mercies are conveyed in his blood flows Justification Act. 3. 9 Purgation Heb. 9 14. Fructification joh. 1. 16. Pacification Rom. 5. 1. Adoption Gal. 4. 5. Perseverance Heb. 12. 2. Glorification Heb. 9 12. This will be matter of sublimest joy to Eternity We read that those who had passed over the Sea of Glass stood with their Harps and did sing the Song of Moses and the Lamb Revel 15. 2. So when the Saints of God have passed over the glassy Sea of this world they shall sing Hallelujahs to the Lamb who hath redeemed them from sin and hell and hath translated them into that glorious Paradise where they shall see God for ever and ever 2. The second thing to be illustrated is that every godly man doth set an high value and estimate upon Christ 1 Pet. 2. 7. Unto you therefore who believe he is precious In the Greek it is an honour Believers have an honourable esteem of Christ the Psalmist speaks like one captivated with Christ's amazing beauty Psalm 73. 25. There is none upon earth that I desire besides thee He did not say he had nothing he had many comforts on earth but he desired none but God as if a wife should say there 's no one's company she prizeth like her husbands How did David prize Christ Psa. 45. 2. Thou art fairer than the children of men The Spouse in the Canticles looked upon Christ as the Coriphoeus the most incomparable one Cant. 5. 10. The chief among ten * thousand Christ outvies all others Cant. 2. 3. As the appletree among the trees of the wood so is my beloved among the sons Christ doth infinitely more excel all the beauties and glories of this visible world than the appletree doth surpass the trees of the wild Forest So did Paul prize Christ that he made him his chief study 1 Cor. 2. 2. I determined to know nothing among you save jesus Christ I judged not any thing else of worth St. Paul did best know Christ 1 Cor. 9 1. Have I not seen jesus our Lord He saw him with his bodily eyes in a Vision when he was wrapped up into the third heaven 2 Cor. 12. 2. and he saw him with the eye of his faith in the blessed Supper therefore he did best know him and behold how he did slight and vili-prize other things in comparison of Christ Phil. 3. 8. I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ jesus my Lord Gain he esteemed loss and gold dung for Christ Indeed a godly person cannot choose but set an high valuation upon Christ he sees a fullness of worth in him 1. A fullness in regard of variety Col. 2. 3. In whom are hid all † Theophilact treasures No Country hath all commodities of its own growth but Christ hath all kind of fullness fullness of Merit of Spirit of Love he hath a treasure adequate to all our wants 2. A fullness in regard of degree Christ hath not only a few drops or rays but is more full of goodness than the Sun is of light he hath the fullness of the Godhead Col. 2. 9 3. A fullness in regard of duration The fullness in the creature like the brooks of Arabia is soon dried up but Christ's fullness is * inexhaustible 't is a fullness overflowing and ever-flowing And this fullness is for † Believers Christ is Communis Thesaurus as Luther saith a common Treasury or Magazine for the Saints joh. 1. 16. Of his fullness have we all received Set a glass under a Still and it receives water out of the Still drop by drop So those who are united to Christ have the dews and drops of his grace distilling upon * Communio fundatur in union them Well then may Christ be admired of all them that believe Use 1. Use 1. Is a godly man an high prizer of Christ than what is to be thought of them who do not put a value upon Christ are they godly or no There are four sorts of persons who do not prise Christ 1. The jews They believe not in Christ 2 Cor. 3. 15. Unto this day the vail is upon their heart They expect their saeculum futurum a Messiah yet to come as their own Talmud reports they blaspheme Christ they slight righteousness imputed They despise the Virgin Mary calling her in derision Marah which signifieth bitterness They vilify the * Evangelium vocant avengelaion Gospel they deny the Christian Sabbath they have the Christians in abomination they hold it not lawful for a Jew to take physic of a Christian. Schecardus relates of one Bendema a Jew that being stung with a Serpent a Christian came to heal him but he refused his help and chose rather to die than to be healed by a Christian So do the jews hate Christ and all that wear his Livery 2. The Socinians who acknowledge only Christ's Humanity this is to make him below the Angels for the Humane Nature simply considered is inferior to the Angelical Psa. 8. 5. 3. Proud Professors who do not lay the whole stress of their Salvation upon Christ but would mingle their dross with his gold their duties with his Merits this is to steal a Jewel from Christ's Crown and implicitly to deny him to be a perfect Saviour 4. Airy Speculatists who prefer the study of the Arts and Sciences before Christ not but that the knowledge of these is commendable Moses was skilled in all the knowledge of the Egyptians Acts 7. 22. Humane Learning is of good use to prepare for the study of better things as a courser die prepares the cloth for a richer and a deeper die but the fault is when the study of Christ is neglected The knowledge of Christ ought to have the pre-eminence It was not sure without a Mystery that God suffered all Solomon's writings about birds and plants to be lost but what he wrote about spiritual wisdom hath been miraculously preserved as if God would teach us that to know Christ the true * Pro. ● 12. Wisdom is the Crowning Knowledge One leaf of this Tree of Life will give us more comfort on a deathbed than the whole Idea and platform of Humane Science What is it to know all the motions of the Orbs and influences of the Stars and in the mean time to be ignorant of Christ the bright Morning Star Rev. 22. 16. What is it to understand the nature of Minerals or precious stones and not to know Christ the true Cornerstone Isa. 28. 16. 'T is an undervaluing yea despising of Christ when with the loadstone we draw iron and straw to us but neglect him who hath tried gold to bestow upon us Rev. 3. 18. Use 2. Use 2. of Trial Is it the sign of a godly person to be a Christ-prizer then let us try our godliness by this Do we set an high estimation upon Christ Quest. How shall we know that Answ. 1. If we are prisers of Christ than we prefer him in our judgements before other things We value Christ above honour and riches the Pearl of Price lies nearest our heart He who prizeth Christ esteems the glean of Christ better than the world's Vintage He counts the worst things of Christ better than the best things of the world Heb. 11. 26. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt And is it thus with us Is the price of worldly things fallen Gregory Nazianzen did solemnly bless God that he had any thing to lose for Christ's * Naz. sake But alas how few Nazianzenes' are to be found You shall hear some say they have honourable thoughts of Christ but they prise their Land and Estate above him The young man in the Gospel preferred his bags of gold before Christ judas valued thirty pieces of silver above him May it not be feared if an hour of trial come there are many would rather renounce their Baptism and throw off Christ's Livery than hazard the loss of their earthly possessions for him 2. If we are prisers of Christ we cannot live without him things which we value we know not how to be without A man may live without music but not without food A Child of God can want health and friends but he cannot want Christ In the absence of Christ he saith as job I went mourning without the Sun job 30. 28. I have the starlight of creature-comforts but I want the Sun of Righteousness Give me Children said Rachel or I die Gen. 30. 1. So saith the Soul Lord give me Christ or I die one drop of the Water of Life to quench my thirst Let us try by this do they prise Christ who can make a shift well enough to be without him Give a child a rattle and it will not mind gold If men have but worldly accommodations corn and wine they can be well enough content without Christ Christ is a Spiritual Rock 1 Cor. 10. 4. Let men have but oil in the cruse they care not for honey out of this Rock If their Trading be gone they complain but if God takes away the Gospel which is the Ark wherein Christ the Manna is hid they are quiet and tame enough Do these prize Christ who can sit down content without him 3. If we are prisers of Christ than we shall not grudge at any pains to get † Plut. him He who prizeth gold will dig for it in the Mine Psa. 63. 8. My Soul followeth hard after God Plutarch reports of the Gauls an ancient people in France after they had tasted the sweet wine of the Italian Grape they enquired after the country and never rested till they had arrived at it He in whose eye Christ is precious never rests till he hath gotten Christ Cant. 3. 1 2 4. I sought him whom my soul loveth I held him and would no● let him go Try by this Many say they have Christ in high Veneration but they are not industrious in the use of means to obtain him If Christ would drop as a ripe fig into their mouth they could be content to have him but they will not put themselves to too much trouble to get him Doth he prise his health who will not put himself upon physic or exercise 4. If we are prisers of Christ than we take much complacency in Christ What joy doth a man take in that which he counts his treasure He who prizeth Christ makes him the Head of his joy He can delight in Christ when other delights are gone Hab. 3. 17. Though the figtree doth not flourish yet I will rejoice in the Lord Though a flower in a man's garden die yet he can delight in his money and Jewels He who esteems Christ can solace himself in Christ when there is an Autumn upon all other comforts 5. If we are prisers of Christ than we will part with our dearest lusts for him Paul saith of the Galathians they did so esteem him that they were ready to have pulled out their own eyes and have given him Gal. 4 15. He who esteems Christ will pull out that lust which is his right eye A wise man will throw away a poison for a cordial He who sets an high value upon Christ will part with his pride unjust gain sinful † Isaiah 30. 22. fashions He will set his feet upon the neck of his sins Try by this How can they be said to prize Christ who will not leave a vanity for him Not a spot in the face not an oath not an intemperate cup What a scorn and contempt do they put upon the Lord Jesus who prefer a damning lust before a saving Christ 6. If we are prisers of Christ we shall think we cannot have him at too dear a rate We may buy gold too dear but we cannot purchase Christ too dear Though we part with our blood for him it is no dear bargain The Apostles rejoiced that they were graced so much as to be disgraced for Christ Act. 5. 41. They esteemed their fetters more precious than bracelets of gold Let not him say he prizeth Christ who refuseth to bear his Cross Mat. 13. 21. When persecution ariseth because of the Word by and by he is offended 7. If we are prisers of Christ we will be willing to help others to a part in him that which we esteem excellent we are desirous our friend should have a share in If a man hath found a Spring of water he will call others that they may drink and satisfy their thirst Do we commend Christ to others Do we take them by the hand and lead them to Christ This shows how few prize Christ because they strive no more that their Relations should have a part in him They get land and riches for their posterity but have no care to leave them the Pearl of Price for their portion 8. If we are prisers of Christ than we prise him in health as well as in sickness when we are enlarged as well as when we are straitened A friend is prized at all times the Rose of Sharon is always sweet He who values his Saviour aright hath as precious thoughts of him in a day of prosperity as in a day of adversity The wicked make use of Christ only when they are in straits as the Elders of Gilead went to jeptha when they were in distress judg. 11. 7. Themistocies complained of the Athenians that they ran to him but as to a Tree to shelter them in a storm Sinners desire Christ only for a shelter The Hebrews never chose their Judges but when they were in some imminent * Godw. jew. Antiq. dangers Godless persons never look after Christ but at death when they are in danger of hell Use 3. As we would evidence to the world that we have the impress of godliness on us Use 3. of Exhort let us be prisers of Jesus Christ he is Elect Precious Christ is the wonder of beauty Pliny saith of the Mulberry Tree there is nothing in it but what is medicinable and useful the fruit leaves bark So there is nothing in Christ but what is precious his Name is precious his Virtues precious his blood precious Et precium mundi sanguiser at Domini Oh then let us have endearing thoughts of Christ let him be accounted our chief treasure and delight This is the reason why millions perish because they do not prize Christ Christ is the door by which men are to enter into heaven john 10. 9 If they do not know this door or are so proud that they will not stoop to go in at i● how can they be saved That we may have Christ-admiring thoughts Let us consider 1. We cannot prise Christ at too high a rate we may prise other things above their worth that is our sin we commonly over-rate the creature we think there is more in it than there is therefore God withers our gourd because we overprize it But we cannot raise our esteem high enough of Christ he is beyond all value There is no Ruby or Diamond but the Jeweller can set a just price upon it he can say it is worth so much and no more but Christ's worth can never be fully known No Seraphim can set a due value on him his are unsearchable riches Eph. 3. 8. Christ is more precious than the Soul than the Angels than † Si tanti vitreum quanti verum Margaritum Tertull. Heaven 2. Jesus Christ hath highly prized us he took our flesh upon him Heb. 2. 16. He made his Soul an offering for us Isa. 53. 10 How precious was our Salvation to Christ Shall not we prise and adore him who hath put such a value upon us 3. Not to prize Christ is high imprudence Christ is our Guide to Glory 't is folly for a man to slight his Guide he is our Physician Mal. 4. 2. 'T is folly to despise our Physician What to set light by Christ for things of no value Mat. 23. 17. Ye fools and blind How is a fool tried but by showing him an Apple and a piece of Gold if he choose the Apple before the Gold he is judged to be a fool and his Estate is begged How many such Idiots are there who prefer Husks before Manna the gaudy empty things of this life before the Prince of Glory Will not Satan beg them at last for fools 4. Such as slight Christ now and say There is no beauty in him that he should be * Isa 53. 2. desired There is a day shortly coming when Christ will as much slight them he will set as light by them as they do by him he will say I know you not Luk. 13. 27. What a slighting word will that be when men shall cry Lord Jesus save us and he shall say I was offered to you but you would none of † ●sa 81. 11. me you scorned me and now I will set light by you and your Salvation Depart from me I know you not This is all that sinners get by rejecting the Lord of Life Christ will slight them at the day of Judgement who have slighted him in the day of Grace SECT VIII 8. A godly man is an Evangelical weeper 8 Character David did sometimes sing with his Harp and sometimes the Organ of his eye did weep Psal. 6. 6. I water my couch with tears Christ calls his Spouse his Dove Cant. 2. 14. The Dove is a weeping creature Grace dissolves and liquifies and Soul causing a spiritual thaw The sorrow of the heart runs out at the eye Psa. 31. 9 The Rabbins report that the same night Israel departed out of Egypt towards Canaan all the Idols of Egypt were broken down by Lightning and Earthquake So at that very time men go forth out of their natural condition towards heaven all the Idols of sin in the heart must be broken down by Repentance A melting heart is the chief branch of the Covenant of Grace Ezek. 36. 26. and the product of the Spirit Zac. 12. 10. I will pour upon the House of David the Spirit of Grace and they shall look on me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him Quest. But why is a godly man a weeper Is not sin pardoned which is the ground of joy Hath ot he had a transforming work upon his heart why then doth he weep Answ. A godly man finds matter enough of weeping 1. He weeps for the in-being of sin the Law in his members Rom. 7. 23. The ebullitions and first risings of * Motus primo primi Aquin. sin his Nature is a poisoned Fountain A regenerate person grieves that he carries that about him which is enmity to God his heart is like the wide Sea wherein there are creeping things † Psa. 104. 25. innumerable vain sinful thoughts A Child of God laments hidden wickedness he hath more evil in him than he knows * Plangendae tenebrae Aug. of There are those Meanders in his heart which he cannot trace a terra incognita an unknown world of sin Psalm 19 12. Who can understand his errors 2. A godly man weeps for the adherency of Corruption if he could get rid of sin there were some comfort but he cannot shake off this † Foams iste & stirps ●eccati etiam in renatorum medullis tenacissimè i●h●ret Viper Sin cleaves to him as the Leprosy to the wall Leu. 14. 39 Though a Child of God forsakes his sin yet sin will not forsake him Dan. 7. 12. Concerning the rest of the beasts they had their Dominion taken away yet their lives were prolonged for a season So though the Dominion of sin is taken away yet the life of it is prolonged for a season and while sin lives it molests The Persians were daily Enemies to the Romans and would be invading upon their frontiers So sin wars against the Soul 1 Pet. 2. 11. And no cessation of arms till death will not this cause tears 3. A Child of God weeps that he is sometimes overcome by the prevalency of Corruption Rom. 7. 19 The evil I would not that do I. Paul was like a man carried down the stream How oft is a Saint overpowred with pride and passion When David had sinned he steeped his Soul in the brinish tears of Repentance It cannot but grieve a regenerate person to think he should be so foolish as after he hath felt the smart of sin yet to put this fire in his bosom again 4. A godly heart grieves that he can be no more holy it troubles him that he shoots so short of the Rule and Standard which God hath set I should faith he love the Lord with all my heart But how defective is my love how far short do I come of what I should be nay of what I might have been What can I see in my life but either blanks or blots 5. A godly man weeps sometimes out of the sense of God's love Gold is the finest and most solid of all the metals yet is soon melted with the fire Gracious hearts which are golden hearts are the soon melted into tears by the fire of God's love I once knew an holy man who walking in his garden and shedding plenty of tears a friend coming to him accidentally asked him why he wept He broke forth into this pathetical expression O the love of Christ the love of Christ Thus have we seen the Cloud melted into water by the Sunbeams 6. A godly person weeps because the sins he commits are in some sense worse than the sins of other men the sin of a justified person is very odious 1. Because he acts contrary to his own principles he doth not only sin against the Rule but against his Principles against his knowledge vows prayers hopes experiences He knows how dear sin will cost him yet he adventures upon the forbidden fruit 2. The sin of a Justified person is odious because it is a sin of unkindness 2 King 11. 9 Peter's denying of Christ was a sin against love Christ had enroled him among the Apostles he had taken him up into the Mount of Transfiguration and showed him the glory of Heaven in a Vision yet after all this signal Mercy that he should deny Christ it was high ingratitude This made him go out and weep bitterly Mat. 26. 75. He baptised himself as it were in his own * Chrysost. de poen tears The sins of the godly go nearest to God's Heart Others sins anger God these grieve him The sins of the wicked pierce Christ sides the sins of the godly wound his heart the unkindness of a Spouse goes nearest the heart of her Husband 3. The sin of a Justified person is odious because it reflects more dishonour upon God 2 Sam. 12. 14. By this deed thou hast given occasion to the Enemies of the Lord to blaspheme The sins of God's people put black spots in the face of Religion Thus we see what cause there is why a Child of God should weep even after Conversion Quis talia fando temperet à lachrymis Now this sorrow of a godly man for sin is not a despairing sorrow he doth not mourn without hope Psal. 65. 3. Iniquities prevail against me There is the Holy Soul weeping as for our transgressions thou shalt purge them away There is Faith triumphing Divine sorrow is excellent There is as much difference between the sorrow of a godly man and a wicked as between the water of a Spring which is clear and sweet and the water of the Sea which is salt and brackish A godly man's sorrow hath these three qualifications 1. It is internal it is a sorrow of Soul hypocrites disfigure their faces Mat. 6. 16. godly sorrow goes deep it is a pricking at the heart Acts 2. 37. True sorrow is a spiritual Martyrdom therefore called Soul-affliction Leu. 23. 29. 2. Godly sorrow is ingenuous it is more for the evil that is in sin than the evil which follows after it is more for the spot than the sting Hypocrites weep for sin only as it brings affliction I have read of a Fountain that never sends out streams but the Evening before a Famine Hypocrites never send forth the streams of their tears but when God's Judgements are approaching 3. Godly sorrow is influential it makes the heart better Eccles. 7. 3. By the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better Divine tears do not only wet but wash they purge out the love of sin Use 1. Use 1. How far are they from being godly who scarce ever shed a tear for sin If they lose a near Relation they weep but though they are in danger of losing God and their Souls they weep not How few know what it is to be in an Agony for sin or what a broken heart means their eyes are not like the Fish-pools of Heshbon full of water Cant. 7. 4. but rather like the Mountains of Gilboa which had no dew upon them 2 Sam. 1. 21. It was a greater plague for Pharaoh to have his heart turned into stone than to have his Rivers turned into blood Others if they do sometimes shed a tear yet they are never the better they go on in wickedness and do not drown their sins in their tears Use 2. Use 2. Let us labour for this Divine Character be weepers This is a repentance not to be repent of 2 Cor. 7. 10. 'T is reported of Mr. Bradford Martyr that he was of a melting spirit he seldom sat down to his meat but some tears trickled down his cheeks There are two Lavors to wash away sin Blood and * Just. in Collatine cum Triph. Tears The Blood of Christ washeth away the guilt of sin tears wash away the filth repenting tears are precious God puts them in his bottle Psal. 56. 8. They are beautifying a tear in the eye doth more adorn than a Ring on the finger Oil makes the face shine Psal. 104. 15. Tears make the heart shine tears are comforting a sinner's mirth turns to melancholy a Saints mourning turns to music Repentance may be compared to Myrrh which though it be bitter to the taste it is comforting to the spirits Repentance may be bitter to the fleshy part but it is most refreshing to the spiritual Wax that melts is fit for the Seal a melting Soul is fit to take the stamp of all heavenly blessings Let us give Christ the water of our tears and he will give us the Wine of his Blood SECT IX 9 A godly man is a lover of the Word 9 Character Psal. 119. 97. O how love I thy Law 1. A godly man loves the Word written Chrysostom compares the Scripture to a garden set with knots and * Chrys. Psa. 48. flowers A godly man delights to walk in this garden and sweetly solace himself he loves every branch and parcel of the Word 1. He loves the counselling part of the Word as it is a Directory and Rule of life The Word is the Mercurial Statue which points us to our duty it contains in it credendae and fac●enda things to be believed and practised A godly man loves the Aphorisms of the Word 2. A godly man loves the Minatory part of the Word The Scripture like the Garden of Eden as it hath a Tree of Life in it so it hath a Flaming Sword at the Gates of it this is the threatening of the Word it flasheth fire in the face of every person that goes on obstinately in wickedness Psal. 68 21. God shall wound the hairy scalp of such an one as goes on still in his trespasses The Word gives no indulgence to evil it will not let a man halt between God and Sin The true Mother would not let the Child be divided and God will not have the heart divided The Word thunders out threatenings against the very appearance of evil it is like that flying Roll full of curses Zac. 5. 1. A godly man loves the menaces of the Word he knows there is love in every threatening God would not have us perish therefore doth mercifully threaten us that he may scare us from sin Gods threatenings are as the  which shows the Rocks in the Sea and threateneth death to such as come near the threatening is a kerbing bit to check us that we may not run in a full career to hell there is mercy in every threatening 3. A godly man loves the consolatory part of the * Chry●ost Word the Promises he goes feeding upon these as Samson went on his way eating the honeycomb judg. 14. 8. The Promises are all marrow and sweetness they are our Bezar-stone when we are fainting they are the conduits of the Water of Life Psal. 94. 19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my Soul The Promises were David's Harp to drive away sad thoughts they were the breast which milked out Divine Consolation to him A godly man shows his love to the Word written 1. By diligent reading of it The Noble Bereans did search the Scriptures daily Act. 17. 11. Apollo's was mighty in the Scriptures Act. 18. 24. The Word is our Magna Charta for heaven we should be daily reading over this Charter The Word is index sui & obliqui it shows what is truth and what is error it is the field where the Pearl of Price is hid How should we dig for this Pearl A godly man's heart is the Library to hold the Word of God it dwells richly in him Col. 3. 16. It is reported of Melancthon that when he was young he carried the Bible always about him and did greedily read in † Biblia etiam adolescens semper secum circumtu●it avideque legit in templo & alibi Melch. Adam in vit Melancth. it The Word hath a double work to teach us and to judge us They that will not be taught by the Word shall be judged by the Word Oh let us make the Scripture familiar to us What if it should be as in the ●imes of Dioclesian who commanded by Proclamation the Bible to be * Euseb. lib. 8. c. 3. burned or as in Queen Mary's days wherein it was death to have a Bible in English by diligent conversing with Scripture we may carry a Bible in our head 2. A godly man shows his love to the Word by frequent meditating in it Psalm 119. 97. It is my meditation all the day A pious Soul meditates of the Verity and Sanctity of the Word he hath not only a few transient thoughts but lays his mind a steeping in the Scripture by meditation he sucks from this sweet flower and concocts holy truths in his mind 3. He shows his love to the Word by delighting in it it is his recreation jer. 15. 16. Thy word● were found and I did eat them and thy Word wa● unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart Never did a man take such delight in a dish that he loved as the Prophet did in the Word And indeed how can a Saint choose but take great complacency in the Word because all that ever he hopes to be worth is contained in it Doth not a son take pleasure in reading over his Father's Will and Testament where he makes a conveyance of his Estate to him 4. He shows his love to the Word by hiding it Psal. 119. 11. Thy Word have I hid in my heart As one hides a treasure that it should not be stolen away The Word is the Jewel the heart is the Cabinet where it must be locked up Many hide the Word in their memory but not in their heart And why would David enclose the Word in his heart That I might be kept from sinning against thee As one would carry an Antidote about him when he comes near an infected place so a godly man carries the Word in his heart as a spiritual antidote to preserve him from the infection of * Verbum Dei alexipharmacum sin Why have so many been poisoned with error others with moral vice but because they have not hid the Word as an holy antidote in their heart 5. He shows his love to the Word by descending it A wise man will not let his Land be taken from him but will defend his Title David looked upon the Word as his Land of Inheritance Psal. 119. 111. Thy Testimonies have I taken as an Heritage for ever And do you think he would let his Inheritance be wrested out of his † Potius ruat caelum quam pereat una mica veritatis Luther hands A godly man will not only dispute for the Word but die for it Rev. 6. 9 I saw under the Altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God 6. He shows his love to the Word by preferring it above things most precious 1. Above food job 23. 12. I have ●esteemed the words of his mouth above my necessary food ● Above riches Psal. 119. 72. The Law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and * vocat Zenoph silver 3. Above worldly honour Memorable is the story of King Edward the Sixth who upon the day of his Coronation when they presented before him three Swords signifying to him that he was Monarch of three Kingdoms the King said there is yet one Sword wanting being asked what that was he answered the Holy Bible which is the sword of the Spirit and is to be preferred before these Ensigns of † Wolfius lect memorabil Centur 16. Royalty 7. He shows his love to the Word by talking of it Psal. 119. 172. My tongue shall speak of thy Word As a covetous man is talking of his rich purchase so a godly man is speaking of the Word what a treasure it is how full of beauty and suavity they whose mouths the Devil hath gagged who never speak of God's Word it is a sign they never reaped any good by it 8. He shows his love to the Word by conforming to it the Word is his Sundial by which he sets his life the balance in which he weighs his actions he copies out the Word in his daily walk 2 Tim. 4. 7. I have kept the Faith St. Paul kept the Doctrine of Faith and lived the life of Faith Quest Why is a godly man a lover of the Word Answ. 1. Because of the excellency of the Word 1. The word written is our pillar of fire to guide * Clem. A●lexandrin us It shows us what Rocks we are to avoid it is the card by which we sail to the new Jerusalem 2. The word is a Spiritual Optic Glass through which we may see our own hearts The Glass of Nature which the Heathen had discovered spots in their Conversation but this Glass discovers spots in the Imagination that Glass discovered the spots of their unrighteousness this discovers the spots of our righteousness Rom. 7. 9 When the Commandment came sin revived and I died when the word came as a Glass all my opinion of self-righteousness died 3. The word of God is a Sovereign comfort in distress while we follow this Cloud the Rock follows us Psal. 119. 50. This is my comfort in my affliction for thy word hath quickened me Christ is the Fountain of Living water the word is the Golden Pipe through which it runs what can revive at the hour of death but the Word of † Phil. 2. 16. Life 2. A godly man loves the word because of the efficacy it hath had upon him this daystar hath risen in his * Chrysost. heart and ushered ●n the Sun of Righteousness 2. A godly man loves the Word Preached which is a Commentary upon the word written The Scriptures are the Sovereign oils and balsams the preaching of the word is the pouring of them out The Scriptures are the precious spices the preaching of the word is the beating of these spices which causeth a wonderful fragrancy and delight The word preached is the Rod of God's strength Psal. 110. 2. and the breath of his lips Isa. 11. 4. What was once said of the City Thebes that it was built by the sound of Amphius his Harp is much more true of Soul-Conversion it is built by the sound of the Gospel Harp therefore the preaching of the Word is called the power of God to Salvation 1 Cor. 1. 24. By this Christ is said now to speak to us from Heaven Heb. 12. 5. This Ministry of the word is to be preferred before the Ministry of Angels A godly man loves the word preached partly from the good he hath found by it he hath felt the dew fall with this Manna and partly because of God's Institution the Lord hath appointed this Ordinance to save him the King's Image makes the Coin go currant the stamp of Divine Authority upon the word preached makes it an Engine conducible to men's Salvation Use. Use Let us try by this Character whether we are godly Are we lovers of the word 1. Do we love the word written What sums of money did the Martyrs give for a few leaves of the Bible Do we make the word our familiar As Moses had often the Rod of God in his hand so should we have the Book of God in our hand when we want direction do we consult with this sacred Oracle when we find corruptions strong do we make use of this Sword of the Spirit to hew them down when we are disconsolate do we go to this Aqua vitae bottle for comfort then we are lovers of the word But alas how can they say they love the Scriptures who are seldom conversant in them their eyes begin to be sore when they look upon a Bible The two Testaments are hung by like rusty Armour which is seldom or never made use of The Lord wrote the Law with his own finger but though God took pains to write men will not take pains to read they had rather look upon a pair of Cards then upon a Bible 2. Do we love the word preached Do we prise it in our judgements Do we receive it into our hearts Do we fear the loss of the word preached more than the loss of peace and trading Is it the removal of the Ark that troubles us Again do we attend the Word with Reverential Devotion when the Judge is giving his Charge upon the Bench all attend when the word is preached the great God is giving us his Charge do we listen to it as to a matter of life and death this is a good sign we love the word Again do we love the Sanctity of the word Psal. 119. 140. The word preached is to beat down sin and advance holiness Do we love it for its spirituality and purity Many love the word preached only for its eloquence and notion they come to a Sermon as to a Musick-lecture Ezek. 33. 31. or as to a garden to pick flowers but not to have their lusts subdued or their hearts bettered These are like a foolish woman which paints her face but neglects her health Again do we love the convictions of the word Do we love the word when it comes home to our Conscience and shoots its arrows of reproof at our sins 'T is the Minister's duty sometimes to reprove He that can give smooth words in the Pulpit but knows not how to reprove is like a sword with a fine hilt without an edge Titus 2. 15. Rebuke them sharply Dip the nail in oil reprove in love but strike the nail home Now Christian when the word toucheth upon thy sin and saith Thou art the man dost thou love the reproof Canst thou bless God that the sword of the Spirit hath divided between thee and thy lusts This is indeed a sign of grace and shows thou art a lover of the word A corrupt heart loves the comforts of the word but not the reproofs Amos 5. 10. They hate him that rebuketh in the gate Igne micant oculi Like venomous creatures that upon the least touch spit poison Act. 7. 54. When they heard these things they were cut to the heart and gnashed upon him with their teeth When Stephen touched them to the quick they were mad and could not endure * Quales quaeso illi sunt qui verbi redargutiones accipere nolunt sed contra obstinati murmurant & Ministros verbi Caelestis ob id odio prosequuntur Nimirum non sunt vasa contrita sed serrea ac lapidea & o utinam malleo legis hae petrae se concuti Paterentur sed quia quotidie in duricie sua pergunt & diabo●o se regendos in solidum tradunt idem Dei malleus tandem in inferni barathru●● eos percussione horrenda deturbabit Glassii ex egg p. 4. in Johan it Quest. How shall we know that we love the reproofs of the word Ans. 1. When we desire to sit under an heart-searching Ministry who cares for Physic that will not work A godly man chooseth not to sit under such a Ministry as will not work upon his Conscience 2. When we pray that the word may meet with our sins if there be any traitorous lust got into our heart we would have it found out and Execution done upon it we would not have sin covered but cured we can open our breast to the bullet of the word and say Lord smite this sin 3. When we are thankful for a reproof Psa. 141. 5. Let the righteous smite me it shall be a kindness and let him reprove me it shall be an excellent oil which shall not break my * Sermo vulnerans dolorem affert sed salutarem Molleru● head David was glad of a reproof Suppose a man were in the mouth of a Lion and another should shoot the Lion and save the man would not he be thankful So when we are in the mouth of sin as of a Lion and the Minister by a reproof shoots this sin to death shall not we be thankful A gracious soul rejoiceth when the sharp Lance of the word hath let out his Imposthume he wears a reproof as a Jewel on his ear Pro. 30. 12. As an ear-ring of gold so is a reprover on an obedient ear To conclude 't is convincing ●reach●ng must do the soul good a nipping reproof prepares for comfort as a nipping frost prepares for the sweet flowers of spring SECT X. 10. A godly man hath the Spirit of God residing in him 10 Character 2 Tim. 1. 14. The Holy Ghost which dwelleth in * Gal. 4. 6. us The Schoolmen move the question whether a man receive the Holy Ghost himself or no Montanus held that the godly have so God's Spirit in them that they partake of his Essence and are become one person with himself but this amounts to no less than blasphemy than it would follow that every Saint were to be worshipped I conceive the spirit is in the godly per modum influxus they have the presence and receive the sacred influences of it When the Sun comes into a room not the body of the Sun is there but the beams that sparkle from it Indeed some Divines have thought that the godly have more than the influx of the spirit though to say how it is more is ineffable and is fitter for some Seraphic Pen to describe than mine The Spirit of God discovers its self in a gracious soul two ways 1. By its motions These are some of that sweet perfume the spirit breathes upon the heart whereby it is raised into a kind of Angelical frame Quest. 1. But how may we know the motions of the Spirit from a delusion Answ. The motions of the Spirit are always consonant to the word the word is the Chariot wherein the Spirit of God * Verbum est vehiculum spiritus rides which way the tide of the word runs that way the wind of the spirit blows Quest. 2. How may the motions of the Spirit in the godly be distinguished from the impulses of a Natural Conscience Answ. 1. A Natural Conscience may provoke sometimes to the same thing that the spirit doth but not from the same principle Natural Conscience is a spu● to duty but it puts a man upon doing duties for fear of hell as the Galley tugs at the Oar for fear of being beaten whereas the spirit moves a Child of God from a more Noble Principle it makes him serve God out of choice and esteem duty his privilege 2. The impulses of a Natural Conscience put men only upon more facile duties of Religion wherein the heart is less exercised as perfunctory reading or praying but the motions of the spirit in the godly go further causing them to set upon the most irksome duties as selfreflection self-humbling yea perilous duties as confessing Christ's Name in times of danger Divine motions are in the heart like new wine which will have vent When God's Spirit possesseth a man it carries him full-sail through all difficulties 2. The Spirit discovers itself in the godly by its † Spiritus Dei opulens virtutibus suamque impertiens Ambros. de Spir. virtues These are various 1. God's Spirit hath a teaching virtue the spirit teacheth convincingly * joh. 16. 8. It doth so teach as it doth persuade 2. God's Spirit hath a sanctifying † Omne agens producit sibi simile virtue the heart naturally is polluted but when the spirit comes into it it works sin out and grace in The Spirit of God was represented by the Dove Emblem of Purity the spirit makes the heart a Temple for pureness and a Paradise for pleasantness The holy Oil of * Exod. 30. ●5 Consecration was nothing else but a prefiguring of the † Chry. spirit The spirit sanctifies a man's fancy causing it to mint holy meditations it sanctifies his will byassing it to good so that now it shall be as delightful to serve God as before it was to sin against him sweet powders perfume linen so God's Spirit in a man perfumes him with holiness and makes his heart a Map of Heaven 3. God's Spirit hath a vivifying virtue 2 Cor. 3. 6. The Spirit giveth * life As th● blowing in an Organ makes it sound so th● breathing of the spirit causeth life and mo●on When the Prophet Elijah stretche● himself upon the dead Child it revived 1 Kin. 17. 22. so Gods Spirit stretching self upon the soul infuseth life into it As our life so our liveliness is from th● spirits operation Ezek. 3. 14. The Spirit lifted me up When the heart is bowed dow● and is listless to duty the Spirit of God lift it up it puts a sharp edge upon the affection's it makes love ardent hope lively the spir●● takes off the weights of the soul and gives wings Cant. 6. 12. Or ever I was aware Soul made me like the Chariots of Ammin●●i The wheels of the soul were before pulle● off and it did drive on heavily but whe● the spirit of the Almighty possesseth a ma● now he runs swiftly in the ways of God an● his soul is as the Chariots of Amminadib 4. God's Spirit hath a Jurisdictive virtue it rules and governs Gods Spirit sits paramount in the † Spiritus Dei habitat in nobis quia regit & gubernat Paraeus soul it gives check to th● violence of corruption it will not suffer man to be vain and loose as others The Sp●rit of God will not be put out of office exerciseth its authority over the heart bringing every thought to the obedience of Chri●● 2 Cor. 10. 5. 5. The spirit hath a mollifying virtue therefore it is compared to * Act. 2. 3. fire which softens the wax The spirit turns flint into flesh Ezek. 36. 26. I will give you an heart of flesh How shall this be effected Ver. 27. I will put my spirit within you While the heart is hard it lies like a log and is not wrought upon either with judgements or mercies but when God's Spirit comes in it makes a man's heart as tender as his eye and now it is made yielding to Divine Impressions 6. The spirit of God hath a corroborating † Spirit● praeeunte nullus fit obex virtue it infuseth strength and assistance for work it is a spirit of Power 2 Tim. 1. 7. God's spirit carries a man above himself Eph. 3. 16. Strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man The spirit confirms faith animates courage it lifts at one end of the Cross and makes it lighter to be * born The spirit gives not only a sufficiency of strength but a redundancy Quest. How shall we know whether we act in the strength of God's Spirit or in the strength of our own abilities Answ. 1. When we do humbly cast ourselves upon God for assistance as David going out against Goliath did cast himself upon God for help 1 Sam. 17. 45. I come to thee in the Name of the Lord 2. When our duties are divinely qualified we do them with pure aims 3. When we have found God going along with us we give him the glory of all 1 Cor. 15. 10. This doth clearly evince that the duty was carried on by the strength of God's Spirit more than by any innate abilities of our own 7. God's Spirit hath a comforting † Spiritus super mel dulcis qui vel ipsam mortem suavem reddit Bern. virtue disconsolacy may arise in a gracious * Psa. 43. heart as the Heaven though it be a bright lucid body yet hath interposition of Clouds this sadness is caused usually through the malice of Satan who if he cannot destroy us he will disturb us but God's Spirit within us doth sweetly cheer and revive he is called the Comforter joh. 14. 16. These comforts are real and infallible Hence it is called the Seal of the Spirit Eph. 1. 13. When a Deed is sealed it is firm and unquestionable so when a Christian hath the seal of the spirit his comforts are confirmed every godly man hath these revivings of the spirit in some degree he hath the seminals and initials of joy though the flower be not fully ripe and blown Quest. How doth the Spirit give comfort Answ. 1. By showing us that we are in a state of Grace A Christian cannot always see his riches the work of Grace may be written in the heart like shorthand which a Christian cannot read the spirit gives him a Key to open these dark Characters and spell out his Adoption whereupon he hath joy and peace 1 Cor. 2. 12. We have received the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things which are freely given to us of God 2. The spirit comforts by giving us some ravishing apprehensions of God's love Rom. 5. 5. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost God's love is a box of precious ointment and it is only the spirit can break open this box and fill us with the sweet perfume of it 3. The spirit comforts by carrying us to the Blood of Christ as when a man is weary and ready to faint carry him to the water and he is refreshed so when we are fainting under the burden of sin the spirit carries us to the Fountain of Christ's Blood Zac. 12. 1. In that day there shall be a Fountain opened etc. The spirit enables us to drink the waters of Justification which run out of Christ's sides The spirit applies whatever Christ hath purchased it shows us that our sins are done away in Christ and though we are spotted in ourselves we are undefiled in our head 4. The spirit comforts by enabling Conscience to comfort the Child must be taught before it can speak The spirit opens the mouth of Conscience and helps it to speak and witness to a man that his estate is good whereupon he begins to receive comfort Rom. 9 2. My Conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost Conscience draws up a Certificate for a man than the Holy Ghost comes and sets his hand to the Certificate 5. The spirit conveys the Oil of Joy through two Golden Pipes 1. The Ordinances 2. The Promises 1. The Ordinances As Christ in prayer had his countenance changed Luk 9 29. There was a glorious lustre upon his face so often in the use of Holy Ordinances the godly have such raptures of joy and soul-transfigurations that they have been carried above the world and despised all things below 2. The Promises The Promises are comfortable 1. For their sureness Rom. 4. 16. God in the Promises hath laid his truth to * Chrysost. pawn 2. For their suitableness being calculated for every Christians condition The Promises are like a Physick-garden there is no disease but some herb may be found there to cure it but the Promises of themselves cannot comfort only the spirit enables us to suck these Honey-combs The Promises are like a Limbeck full of herbs but this Limbeck will not drop unless the fire be put under So when the spirit of God which is compared to fire is put to the Limbeck of the Promises than they distil Consolation into the soul. Thus we see how the spirit is in the godly by its virtues Object But is this the sign of a godly man to be filled with the Spirit Are not the wicked said to partake of the Holy Ghost Heb. 6. 4. Answ. Wicked men may partake of the spirits working but not of its indwelling they may have God's spirit move upon them the godly have it enter into them Ezek. 3. 24. Object But the unregenerate taste of the Heavenly Gift Heb. 6. Answ. It is with them as Cooks who may have a smack and taste of the meat they * Mr. Perkins dress but they are not nourished by it Tasting there is opposed to eating The godly have not only a drop or taste of the spirit but it is in them as river of living water john 7. 38. Use 1. Use 1. It brands them for ungodly who have none of God's spirit 1 Bran. Rom. 8. 9 If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his And if he be none of Christ's than whose is he to what Regiment doth he belong 'T is the misery of a sinner he hath none of God's spirit Me thinks 't is very offensive to hear men say Take not thy holy spirit from us who never had God's spirit will they say they have God's spirit in them who are drunkards and swearers Have they God's spirit who are malicious and unclean It were blasphemy to say these have the spirit Will the blessed spirit leave his Celestial Palace to come and live in a prison A sinner's heart is a Gaol both for darkness and noisomeness and will God's free spirit † Psal. 51. 52. be confined to a prison A sinner's heart is the Emblem of Hell what should Gods spirit do there Wicked hearts are not a Temple but an Hog●sty where the unclean spirit makes his abode Ephes. 2. 2. The Prince of the power of the Air the spirit that now worketh in the children of * Th●ophilact disobedience We would be loath to live in an house haunted with evi● spirits a sinner's heart is haunted joh. 13 27. After the sop Satan entered Satan venture upon the godly but enters into the wicked when the Devils went into the herd of swine they ran violently down a steep place into th● Sea Mat. 8. 32. Whence is it men run so greedily to the Commission of sin but because the Devil hath entered into these * Diabolus ab impios propellit donec in aeternum ignem ruant Praecipites Glassius Swine 2. This cuts them off from being godly who not only want the spirit but deride it Like those jews Acts 2. 13. These men are full of new wine And indeed so the Apostles were they were full of the wine of the spirit How is God's spirit scoffed at by the sons of Belial These say they are men of the Spirit O wretches to make those tongues which should be Organs of God's praise instruments to blaspheme Have you none to throw your squibs at but the spirit Deriding of the spirit comes very near to the despighting of it How can men be sanctified but by the spirit therefore to reproach that is to make merry with their own damnation Use 2. Use 3. Exhort As you would be listed in the number of the godly labour for the blessed indwelling of the spirit pray with Melancthon Lord inflame my soul with thy holy † Domine accende animam meam spiritu tu● spirit and with the Spouse Awake O Northwind and come thou South blow upon my garden Cant. 4. 16. As a Mariner would desire a wind to carry him to Sea so beg the prosperous gales of the spirit and the Promise may add wings to prayer Luke 11. 13. If ye being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Spirit to them that ask him God's spirit is a rich Jewel go to him for it Lord give me thy spirit where is the Jewel thou didst promise me When shall my soul be as gideon's Fleece wet with the dew of heaven Consider how needful the spirit is Motive without it we can do nothing acceptably to God 1 We cannot pray without it 't is a spirit of Supplication Zac. 12. 10. It both helps the invention and the affection Rom. 8. 26. The spirit helps us with sighs and * Suspiria haec & gemitus à caelesti columba didicerunt sancti Aug. groans 2. We cannot resist temptation without it Act. 1. 8. Ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you He who hath the tide of corrupt nature and the wind of temptation must needs be carried down the stream of sin if the contrary wind of the spirit doth not blow 3. We cannot be fruitful without the spirit Aureus imber sitientia caelo ●orda rigans Why is the spirit compared to dew and † Si fluvius riparum editis superfusus exu●dat quanto magis spiritus superveniens animam ●ffusiore quadam ubertate laetificat Ambr. de Spir. rain but to show us how unable we are to bring forth a Crop of Grace unless the dew of God fall upon us 4. Without the spirit no Ordinance is effectual to us Ordinances are the Conduit-Pipes of Grace but the spirit is the Spring Some content themselves that they have a Levite to their Priest but never look any further as if a Merchant should content himself that his ship hath good tackling and is well manned though it never have a gale of wind The Ship of Ordinances will not carry us to heaven though an Angel were the Pilot unless the wind of God's Spirit blow The Spirit is the Soul of the Word without which it is but a dead letter Ministers may prescribe Physic but it is God's spirit must make it work Our hearts are like David's body when it grew old they covered him with clothes but he got no heat 1 King 1. 1. So though the Minister of God ply us with prayers and counsels as with hot clothes yet we are cold and i'll till God's spirit comes and then we say as the Disciples Luke 24. 32. Did not our hearts burn within us Oh therefore what need have we of the spirit 3. You who have the blessed spirit manifested by its energy and vital operations Use 3. 1. Acknowledge Gods distinguishing love the spirit is an ear-mark of Election 1 john 3. 4. Christ gave the bag to judas but not his spirit The spirit is a Love-token where God gives his spirit for a pawn he gives himself for a portion The spirit is an Epitomizing blessing it is put for all good things Mat. 7. 11. What were you without the spirit but as so many carcases Without this Christ would not profit you the Blood of God is not enough without the Breath of God Oh then be thankful for the spirit this Loadstone will never leave drawing you till it hath drawn you up to heaven 2. If you have this spirit do not grieve it Eph. 4. 30. Shall we grieve our Comforter Quest. How do we grieve the Spirit Answ. 1. When we unkindly repel the motions of it The spirit sometimes whispers in our ears and calls to us as God did to jacob Gen. 35. 1. Arise go to Bethel So saith the spirit Arise go to prayer retire thyself to meet thy God Now when we stifle these motions and entertain temptations to vanity this is a grieving of the spirit if we check the motions of the spirit we shall lose the comforts of the spirit 2. We grieve the spirit when we deny the work of the spirit in our hearts if one gives another a token and he should deny it and say he never received it this were to abuse the love of his friend So Christian when God hath given thee his spirit witnessed by those melt of heart and passionate breathe after heaven yet thou deniest that thou ever hadst any renewing work of the spirit in thee this is high ingratitude and is a grieving the good spirit renounce the sinful works of the flesh but do not deny the gracious work of the spirit SECT XI 11. The godly man is an humble man 11 Character he is like the Sun in the Zenith which when it is at the highest shows lowest 1 Distinction St. Austin calls Humility the Mother of the Graces but ere I show you who is the humble man I shall lay down three distinctions 1. I distinguish between being humbled and humble a man may be humbled and not * Quanti humiliantur & humiles non sunt Bern. humble 2 Distinction a sinner may be humbled by affliction his condition is low but not his disposition a godly man is not only humbled but humble his heart is as low as his condition 2. I distinguish between outward humility and inward there 's a great deal of difference between an humble carriage and an humble † Plurimi humilitatem vultu menti entes superbia autem intus adeò tument ut nulla vesica adeò sic inflata ventoquam cor eorum fastu spirit a person may carry it humbly 1. Towards others yet be proud who more humble than Absalon in his outward behaviour 2 Sam. 15. 5. When any man came near to do him obeisance Absalon took him by the hand and kissed him But though he had an humble carriage he aspired after the Crown ver 10. As soon as ye hear the sound of the Trumpet ye shall say Absalon reigneth in Hebron Here was Pride dressed in Humilities Mantle 2. A person may behave himself humbly towards God yet be proud 1 King 21. 27. Ahab put on sackcloth and fasted and went softly but his heart was not * Nobilior humilitatis pars animo inclusa latet atque oculorum aciem effugit 3 Distinction humble A man may bow his head like a bulrush yet lift up the Ensigns of Pride in his heart 3. I distinguish between Humility and Policy many make a show of Humility to work their own * Plurimi humilitatis umbram sectantur Hierom. ends The Papists seem to be the most humble mortified Saints but it is rather subtlety than humility for by this means they get the Revenues of the earth into their possession all this may be and yet no godliness Quest. How may a Christian know that he is humble and consequently godly Answ. 1. An humble soul is emptied of all swelling thoughts of himself Bernard calls Humility a Self-annihilation job 22. 29. Thou wilt save the humble In the Hebrew it is Him that is of low * eyes An humble man hath lower thoughts of himself than others can have of * Humilitas est suae agnitio him David though a King yet looked upon himself as a worm Psal. 22. 6. I am a worm and no man Bradford a Martyr yet subscribes himself a sinner job 10. 15. If I am righteous I will not lift up my head Like the Violet a sweet flower but hangs down the head 2. An humble soul thinks better of others than of himself Phil. 2. 3. Let each esteem others better than † Humilitas est contemptus propriae excellentiae Bern. the guard humil themselves An humble man values others at an higher rate than himself and the reason is because he can better see his own heart than he can another's he sees his own corruption and thinks sure it is not so with others their Graces are not so weak as his their corruptions are not so strong sure thinks he they have better hearts than I An humble Christian studies his own infirmities and another's exellencies and that makes him put an higher value upon others than himself Pro. 30. 2. Surely I am more brutish than any man And Paul though he were the chief of the Apostles yet he calls himself the least of Saints Eph. 3. 8. 3. An humble soul hath a low esteem of his duties Pride is apt to breed in our holy things as the worm breeds in the sweetest fruit and forth comes from the most generous wine An humble person doth not only deny his sins but his duties when he hath prayed and wept alas saith he how little have I done God might damn me for all this he saith as good Nehemiah Chap. 13. 22. Remember me O my God concerning this and spare me Remember Lord how I have poured out my soul but spare me and pardon me he sees that his best duties weigh many grains too light therefore he desires Christ's Merits may be put into the Scales The humble Saint blusheth when he looks upon his Copy he sees he cannot write even nor without blotting this humbles him to think that his best duties run dregs he drops poison upon his sacrifice Oh saith he I dare not say I have prayed or wept those which I write down for duties God might write down for sins 4. An humble man is ever preferring Bills of Indictment against himself he complains not of his condition but his heart O this evil heart of unbelief Lord saith Hooper I am hell but thou art heaven An hypocrite is ever telling how good he is an humble soul is ever saying how bad he is Paul that highflown Saint who was caught up into the third heaven how doth this bird of Paradise bemoan himself for his corruptions Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am etc. Holy Bradford subscribes himself the hardhearted sinner The more knowledge an humble Christian hath the more he complains of ignorance the more Faith the more he bewails his * Quanto quis plus proficit eò minus se reputet profecisse Bern the mod. Orand unbelief 5. An humble man will justify God in an afflicted condition Nehem. 9 33. Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us If men oppress and calumniate the humble soul acknowledgeth God's righteousness in the midst of severity 2 Sam. 24. 17. Lo I have sinned Lord my pride my barrenness my Sermon-surfeiting hath been the procuring cause of all these judgements when Clouds are round about God yet righteousness is the habitation of his Throne Psa. 97. 2. 6. An humble soul is a Christ-Magnifier Phil. 1. 20. he gives the glory of all his actions to Christ and Freegrace King Canutus took the Crown off his own head and set it upon a Crucifix so an humble Saint takes the Crown of honour from his own head and sets it upon Christ's and the reason is from that he bears to Christ Love can part with 〈…〉 to the object loved Isaac loved 〈…〉 and he gave away his Jewels to † Gen. 24. 53. 〈…〉 humble Saint loves Christ entirely therefore can part with any thing to him he gives away the honour and praise of all he doth to Christ let Christ wear those Jewels 7. An humble soul is willing to take a reproof for sin a wicked man is too high to stoop to a reproof The Prophet Micaiah used to tell King Ahab of his sin and saith he I hate him 1 Kin. 22. 8. Reproof to a proud man is like pouring water on lime which grows the more hot a gracious soul loves him that reproves Pro. 9 8. Rebuke a wise man and he will love thee The humble-spirited Christian can bear the reproach of an Enemy and the reproof of a friend 8. An humble man is willing to have his name and parts eclipsed so God's glory may be more increased he is content to be out-shined by others in gifts and esteem so that the Crown of Christ may shine the brighter This is the humble man's Motto Let me decrease let Christ increase 'T is his desire that Christ should be exalted and if this be effected let who will be the instrument he rejoiceth Phil. 1. 15. Some preach Christ of envy They preached to get away some of Paul's hearers Well saith he Christ is preached and I therein do rejoice ver 8. An humble Christian is content to be laid aside if God hath any other tools to work with which may bring him more glory 9 An humble Saint likes that condition which God sees best for him a proud man murmurs he hath no more an humble man wonders he hath so much Gen. 32. 10. I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies when the heart lies low it can stoop to a low condition A Christian looking upon his sins wonders it is no worse with him he doth not say his mercies are small but his sins are great he knows the worst piece God carves him is better than he deserves therefore takes it thankfully upon his knees 10. An humble Christian will stoop to the meanest person and the lowest office he will visit the poorest member of Christ Lazarus his sores are more precious to him than Dives purple he doth not say Stand by come not near to me for I am holier than thou but condescends to men of low estate Rom. 12. 16. Use 1. Is Humility the inseparable Character of a godly man Use 1. of Trial let us try our hearts by this Touchstone Are we humble alas where doth their godliness appear who are swelled with pride and ready to † Cristas erigit & jovem se putat burst But though men are proud they will not confess it This Bastard of Pride is born but none are willing to father it therefore let me ask a few questions and let Conscience answer 1 Are not they proud who are given to glorying 1 Cor. 5. 6. Your glorying is not good 1 Who glory in their riches their hearts swell with their estates St. Bernard calls Pride the rich man's cousin Ezek. 28. 5. Thy heart is lifted up because of thy riches 2 Who glory in their apparel Many dress themselves in such fashions as they make the devil fall in love with them Black-spots gaudy attire naked breasts what are these but the flags and banners which Pride doth display 3 Who glory in their beauty The body is but dust and blood kneaded together Solomon saith Beauty is vain Prov. 31. 30. Yet so vain are some as to be proud of vanity 4 Who glory in their gifts These trappings and ornaments do not set them off in God's eyes an Angel is a knowing creature but take away humility from an Angel and he is a devil 2 Are not they proud who are highly opinionated of their own excellencies who beholding themselves in philautiae speculo in the multiplying glass of self-love appear in their own eyes better than they are Simon Magus gave out that himself was some great one Act. 8. 9 Alexander would needs be son to jupiter and of the Race of the gods Sapor King of Persia styles himself Brother of the Sun and Moon Projicit ampullas & sesqui pedalia * Horat. verba I have read of a Pope who trod upon the neck of Frederick the Emperor and as a Cloak for his pride cited that Text Psa. 91. 13. Thou shalt tread upon the Lion and the Dragon shalt thou trample under feet No such Idol as Self the proud man bows down to this Idol 3. Are not they proud who despise others Luke 18. 9 The Pharisees trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised † Alto supercilio alios intuentes & quum loquuntur dictatores agunt others The people of the Chineses say that Europe hath one eye and they have two and all the world else is blind A proud man looks upon others with such an eye of scorn as Goliath did upon David 1 Sam. 17. 42. When the Philistim looked about and saw David he disdained him They who stand upon the Pinnacle of Pride look upon other men no bigger than Crows 4. Are not they proud who are the Trumpets of their own * Proprio laus sordet in ore praise Acts 5. 36. Before these days rose up Theudas boasting himself to be some body A proud man is the Herald of his own good deeds he blazeth his own fame and therein is his vice to paint his own virtue 5. Are not they proud who take the glory due to God to themselves Dan. 4. 30. Is not this great Babylon I have built So saith the proud man are not these the Prayers I have made Are not these the works of Charity I have done When Herod had made an Oration and the people cried him up for a God Act. 12. 22. he was well content to have that honour done to him Pride is the greatest sacrilege it robs God of his glory 6. Are not they proud who are never pleased with their condition they speak hardly of God taxing his care and wisdom as if he had not dealt well with them A proud man God himself cannot please but like Momus he is ever finding fault and flying in the face of heaven Oh let us search if there be none of this leven of pride in us Man is Naturally a proud piece of flesh this sin runs in a blood our first Parents fell by their Pride they did aspire after a Deity there are the seeds of this in the best but the godly do not allow themselves in it they labour to kill this weed by mortification But certainly where this sin is regnant and prevailing it cannot stand with grace you may as well call him a prudent man who wants discretion as a godly man who wants humility Use 2. Labour for this character Use 2. Exhort be humble 'T is an Apostolical Exhortation 1 Pet. 5. 5. Be clothed with humility Put it on as an embroidered † idem valet quod Helychius robe better want any thing than humility better want parts than humility nay better want the comforts of the Spirit than want humility Micah 6. 8. What doth the Lord require of thee but to walk humbly with thy * Excelsa est Patria humilis est Via God 1. The more worth any man hath the more humble he is Feathers fly up but Gold descends Motive The golden Saint descends in humility Some of the Ancients have compared Humility to the Celidonian stone which is little for substance but of rare virtue 2. God loves an humble soul. 'T is not our high birth but our low hearts God delights in An humble spirit is God's prospect Isa. 66. 2. To this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit an humble heart is God's Palace Isa. 57 15. I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of an humble spirit Great Personages besides their houses of state have lesser houses which upon occasion they retreat to Besides God's house of state in Heaven he hath the humble soul for his retiring-house where he takes up his rest and doth solace himself Let Italy boast that it is for pleasure the Garden of the world an humble heart glories in this that it is the Presence-chamber of the Great King 3. The Times we live in are humbling The Lord seems to say to us now as he did to Israel Exod. 33. 5. Put off thy Ornaments from thee that I may know what to do to thee My displeasure is breaking forth I have eclipsed the light of the Sanctuary I have stained the waters with blood I have shot the arrow of Pestilence therefore lay down your Pride put off your Ornaments Woe to them that lift themselves up when God is casting them down When should a people be humble if not under the rod 1 Pet. 5. 6. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God When God afflicts his people and cuts them short in their privileges 't is time then to sow sackcloth on their skin and defile their horn or honour in the dust Job 16. 15. 4. What an horrid sin Pride is St. Chrysostom calls it the mother of Hell Pride is a complicated evil as Aristotle saith Justice comprehends all virtue in it so Pride comprehends all vice 'T is a spiritual drunkenness it flies up as Wine into the brain and intoxicate it It is * idolatry a proud ma● is a self-worshipper 'T is revenge Hama● plots Mordicaies death because he would not bow the knee How odious is this sin to † 1 Pet. 5. 5. God Prov. 16. 5. Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord 5. The mischief of pride It is the break-neck of * Quem non gula superavit Cyprian souls Zeph. 2. 9 10. Surely Moab shall be as Sodom etc. this shall they have for their pride The Doves saith Pliny take a pride in their feathers and in their flying high at last they fly so high that they are a prey to the Hawk Men fly so high in pride that at last they are a prey to the Devil the Prince of the † Superbiat homo & tanquam Icariis pennis●e ipsum elevet deprimitur tamen in profundum ruinae barathrum Rivet air 6. Humility raiseth one's esteem in the eyes of others All give respect to the humble Prov. 15. 33. Before honour is * Chrysost. humility Quest. What means may we use to be humble Answ. 1. Let us set before us the golden pattern of Christ He commenced Doctor ●n humility Phil. 2. 7. But made himself of ●o reputation and was made in the likeness of flesh O what abasement was it for the Son of God to take our Flesh nay that Christ ●hould take our Nature when it was in disgrace being stained with sin this was the wonder of humility Look upon an humble Saviour and let the plumes of Pride fall 2 Study God's Immensity and Purity a sight of glory humbles Elijah wrapped his face in a Mantle when Gods glory passed before him 1 King 19 13. The Stars vanish when the Sun appears 3 Let us study ourselves First our dark side by looking our faces in the glass of the Word we see our † Chrysost. spots what a world of sin swarms in us We may say as Bernard Lord I am nothing but peccatum aut sterilitas either sinfulness or barrenness Secondly Our light side Is there any good in us 1 How disproportionable is it to the means of Grace we have enjoyed There is still something lacking in * our Faith 1 Thess. 3. 10. O Christian be not proud of what thou hast but be humble for what thou wantest 2 The Grace we have is not of our ow● growth We are beholding to Christ an● free Grace for it as he said of that Ax● which fell in the water 2 King 6. 5. Al● master for it was borrowed So I may say all the good and excellency in us it is borrowed Were it not folly to be proud of Ring that is † Ne micam habes quam non Dei charismate accepisti num sani hominis est de eo gloriari quod non est suum sed alienum lent 1 Cor. 4. 7. For maketh thee to differ from another and wh● hast thou that thou didst not receive Th● Moon hath no cause to be proud of light when she borrows it from the Sun 3. How far short do we come of others perhaps other Christians are Giants in Grace they are in Christ not only before us but above * In quantis sis minor cogita non in quantis sis major Aug. in Mat. us We are but as the foot in Christ's Body they are as the eye 4. Our beauty is spotted The Church is said to be fair as the Moon Cant. 6. 10. which when it shines brightest hath a dark spot in it Faith is mixed with infidelity a Christian hath that in his very grace may humble him 5. If we would be humble let us contemplate our mortality Shall dust exalt it † Cum sis humilimus cur● non humilimus self The thoughts of the grave should bury our pride They say when there is a Tympany in the body the hand of a dead man stroking that part cures the Tympany The serious meditation of death is enough to cure the Tympany of Pride SECT XII 12. A godly man is a praying man 12 Character This is in the Text Every one that is godly shall pray unto thee As soon as Grace is poured in prayer is poured out Psa. 109. 4. But I give myself to prayer in the Hebrew it is but I prayer Prayer and I are all one Prayer is the Souls traffic with heaven God comes down to us by his Spirit and we go up to him by prayer Caligula placed his Effigies in the Capitol whispering in jupiters' ear prayer whispers in God's ear A godly man cannot live without prayer A man cannot live unless he takes his breath not can the Soul unless it breathes forth its desires to God As soon as the Babe of Grace is born it cries no sooner was Paul converted but behold he prayeth Act. 9 11. No doubt he prayed before being a Pharisee but it was either superficially or superstitiously but when the work of Grace had passed upon his soul behold now he prays A godly man is every day upon the Mount of Prayer he begins the day with prayer before he opens his shop he opens his heart to * Oratio ●st clavis diei God We use to burn sweet perfumes in our houses a godly man's house is domus aromatum an house of perfume he airs it with the incense of prayer he engageth in no business without seeking God Scipio never entered into the Senate House but first he ascended the Capitol where he did his † Prius in Capitolium quam Seratum Plutarch devotion A godly man consults with God in every thing he asks his leave and his blessing The Grecians asked counsel at their Oracles so doth a godly man inquire at the Divine Oracle Gen. 24. 12. 1 Sam. 23. 3 4. A true Saint continually shoots up his heart to heaven by sacred ejaculations Quest. Is Prayer a sign of a godly man may not an hypocrite pray eloquently and with seeming devotion Answ. He may Isa. 58. 2. they seek me daily but an hypocrite doth not pray in the spirit Eph. 6. 18. A man may have the gift of prayer and not have the spirit of prayer Quest. How shall we know that we have the Spirit of Prayer Answ. When the prayer which we make is spiritual Quest. What is it to make a Spiritual Prayer Answ. 1. When we pray with knowledge under the Law Aaron was to light the Lamps when he burned the Incense upon the Altar Exod. 30. 7. Incense did typify prayer and the lighting of the Lamps did typify knowledge when the Incense of prayer burns the Lamp of knowledge must be lighted 1 Cor. 14. 15. I will pray with the understanding We must know the Majesty and Holiness of God that we may be deeply affected with reverence when we come before him we must put up such Petitions as are exactly adequate and agreeable to Gods will Eccles. 5. 2. Be not rash with thy mouth to utter any thing before God The Lord would not have the blind offered to him Mal. 1. 8. How can we pray with affection when we do not pray with judgement The Papists pray in an unknown tongue Christ may reply to them as he did to the Mother of Zebedees' Children Mat. 20. 22. Ye ask ye know not what He that prays he knows not how shall be heard he knows not when 2. A spiritual prayer is when the heart and spirit pray there are not only words but * Chrys. desires 'T is excellent when a man can say Lord my heart prays 1 Sam. 1. 13. Hannah prayed in her heart The sound of a Trumpet comes from within and the excellent Music of Prayer comes from within the † Chrys heart if the heart doth not go along in duty it is speaking not praying 3. A spiritual Prayer is a fervent * Act. 12. 5. Prayer jam. 5. 16. An effectual fervent prayer prevails much The heart like the Primum Mobile should carry the affections in a most zealous and rapid manner fervency is the wing of Prayer by which it ascends to heaven Prayer is expressed by sighs and groans Rom. 8. 26. It is not so much the gifts of the spirit as the groans of the spirit God likes Prayer is called a wrestling Gen. 32. 24. and a pouring out of the Soul 1 Sam. 1. 15. Prayer is compared to Incense Psa. 141. 2. Incense without fire makes no sweet smell Prayer without fervency is like Incense without fire Christ prayed with strong cries and tears Heb. 5. 7. crying Prayer † Clamour iste penetrat nubes ac pertingit usque ad aures Dei Luther prevails When the heart is inflamed in Prayer a Christian is carried as it were in a Fiery Chariot up to heaven 4. A Spiritual Prayer is such as comes from a broken heart Psa. 51. 17. The Sacrifices of God are a broken spirit The Incense was to be beaten to typify the breaking of the heart in Prayer 'T is not the voluble tongue but the melting heart God accepts Oh saith a Christian I cannot pray as others as Moses said to the Lord I am not eloquent But canst thou weep and sigh Doth thy soul melt out at thy eyes God accepts broken expressions when they come from broken hearts I have read of a Plant that bears no fruit but it weeps forth a kind of Gum which is very costly So though thou dost not flourish with those gifts and expressions as others yet if thou canst weep forth tears from a contrite heart these are exceeding precious to God and he will put them in his bottle jacob wept in prayer and had power ever the Angel Host 12. 4. 5. A spiritual Prayer is a believing Prayer Mat. 21. 22. Whatever ye shall ask in prayer believing ye shall receive The reason why so many Prayers suffer shipwreck is because they split against the Rock of unbelief Praying without Faith is shooting without * Qui timide rogat docet negare Seneca bullets When Faith takes Prayer by the hand than we draw near to God we should come to God in Prayer as the Leper Mat. 8. 2. Lord if thou wilt thou canst heal † Invoco te Domine quanquam languida & imbecilla fide tamen fide Caspar Cruciger me 'T is a disparagement to Deity to have such a whisper in the heart that God's ear is heavy and cannot * Isa. 59 1. hear What is said of the people of Israel may be applied to Prayer It could not enter in because of † Heb. 3. 19 unbelief 6. A Spiritual Prayer is an holy Prayer 1 Tim. 2. 8. Wherefore lift up pure hands Prayer must be offered upon the Altar of a pure heart sin lived in makes the heart hard and God's ear deaf sin stops the mouth of Prayer it doth as the Thief to the Traveller puts a Gag in his mouth that he cannot speak sin poisons and infects prayer A wicked man's prayer is sick of the Plague and will God come near him The Loadstone loseth its virtue when it is bespread with Garlic so doth prayer when it is polluted with sin Psa 66. 18. If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me 'T is foolish to pray against sin and then to sin against prayer a spiritual prayer like the spirits of Wine must be refined and taken off the Lees and dregs of sin Mal. 3. 3. That they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness If the heart be holy this Altar will sanctify the gift 7. A spiritual prayer is an humble prayer Psa. 10. 17. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble Prayer is the ask of an Alms which requires humility Luke 18. 13. The Publican standing afar off would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven but smote upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a * Quanto cum tremore quantâ humilitate accedere debet à Palude sua repens ranuncula vilis Bern. de mod Orandi sinner God's incomprehensible glory may even amaze us and strike an holy consternation into us when we approach nigh to him Ezra 9 6. O my God I blush to lift up my face to thee 'T is comely to see a poor nothing lie prostrate at the feet of its Maker Gen. 18. 27. Behold I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord which am but dust and ashes The lower the heart descends the higher the prayer ascends 8. A spiritual prayer is when we pray in the name of Christ To pray in the name of Christ is not only to name Christ in prayer but to pray in the hope and confidence of Christ's mediation as a Child claims his Estate in the right of his Father who purchased it so we come for mercy in Christ's Name who hath purchased it for us in his blood unless we pray thus we do not pray at all nay we rather provoke God as it was with Uzziah when he would offer Incense without a Priest God was angry and struck him with Leprosy 2 Chron. 26. 16. So when we do not come in Christ's Name in prayer we offer up Incense without a Priest and what can we expect but to meet with wrath 9 A spiritual prayer is when we pray out of love to prayer A wicked man may pray but he doth not love prayer job 27. 10. Will he delight himself in the Almighty A godly man is carried upon the wings of delight he is never so well as when he is praying he is not forced with fear but fired with love Isa. 56. 7. I will make them joyful in my house of prayer 10. A spiritual prayer is when we have spiritual ends in prayer There is a vast difference between a spiritual prayer and a carnal desire the ends of an Hypocrite are secular and carnal he looks asquint in prayer it is not the sense of his spiritual wants that moves him but rather lust jam. 4. 3. Ye ask amiss that ye may consume it upon your lusts The sinner prays more for food than Grace this God doth not interpret praying but howling Hosea 7. 14. They howled upon their beds they assemble for corn and wine Da modo lucra mihi Ovid. Prayers which want a good aim want a good answer A godly man hath spiritual ends in prayer he sends out his prayer as a Merchant sends out his Ship that he may have large returns of spiritual blessings his design in prayer is that his heart may be more holy and that he may have more communion with God A godly man drives the Trade of prayer that he may increase the stock of Grace 11. A spiritual prayer is accompanied with the use of means there must be as well as When Hezekiah was sick he did not only pray for recovery but he laid a lump of figs to the boil Isa. 38. 21. Thus it is in case of the soul when we pray against sin and avoid temptations when we pray for Grace and improve opportunities this is the laying a fig to the boil which will make us recover To pray for holiness and neglect the means is like winding up the Clock and pulling off the weights 12. A spiritual prayer is that which leaves a spiritual frame behind upon the heart a Christian is better after prayer he hath gotten more strength over sin as a man by exercise gets strength The heart after prayer keeps a tincture of holiness as the Vessel savours and relisheth of the Wine that is put into it Moses having been with God on the Mount his face shined so having been on the Mount of prayer our Grace's shine and our lives shine This is the sign of a godly man he prays in the spirit This is the right kind of praying the gift of prayer is ordinary like Culinary fire but spiritual prayer is more rare and excellent like Elementary fire which comes from heaven Use 1. Is a godly man of a praying spirit Use 1. then this excludes them from being godly 1. Who pray not at all Their houses are unhallowed houses 't is made the note of a Reprobate he calls not upon God Psal. 14. 4. Doth that indigent creature think to have an Alms who never asks it Do they think to have mercy from God who never seek it Truly then God should befriend them more than he did his own Son he offered up prayers and supplications with strong cries Heb. 5. 7. None of God's Children are tongue tied Gal. 4. 6. Because ye are sons God hath sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts crying Abba Father Creatures by the instinct of Nature cry to God Psal. 147. 9 The young Ravens which cry Psal. 104. 21. The Lions seek their meat from God Not to cry to God is worse than brutish 2. Others pray but it is seldom like that profane Atheist Heylin speaks of who told God he was no common beggar he never troubled him before and if he would hear him now he would never trouble him again 3. Others pray but not in the Holy Ghost jude 20. They are rather Parrots than weeping Doves their hearts do not melt in prayer they exercise their invention more than their affection Use 2. Use 2. As you would evidence the New-birth Exhort cry Abba Father be men of prayer pray at least twice a day In the Temple there was the Morning and Evening Sacrifice Daniel prayed three times a day nay so did he love prayer that he would not neglect prayer to save his life Dan. 6. 10. Luther spent three hours every day in prayer Object But what needs prayer when God hath made so many promises of blessings Answ. Prayer is the condition annexed to the Promise Promises turn upon the hinge of prayer Ezek. 36. 37. I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel A King promiseth a pardon but it must be sued out David had a promise that God would build him an house but he sues out the promise by prayer 2 Sam. 7. 25. Christ himself had all the promises made sure to him yet he prayed and spent whole nights in prayer Therefore if you would be counted godly be given to * Deus nunquam frustra quaeritur imò ne tunc cum inveniri non potest Bernard Prayer Prayer sanctifies your mercies 1 Tim. 4. 5. prayer weeds out sin and waters Grace That I may encourage Christians and hold up their heads in prayer as Aaron and Her held up Moses hands let me propound these few considerations 1. Prayer is a seed sown in God's ears other seed sown in the ground may be picked up by the Birds but this seed especially if watered with tears is too precious to be lost 2. Consider the power of prayer The Apostle having set down the whole Armour of a Christian brings in prayer as the chief part Eph. 6. 18. Without this saith Zanchy all the rest are little † Reliqua arma Parum prosunt Zanch. worth By prayer Moses divided the Red Sea joshua stopped the course of the Sun and made it stand still josh. 10. 13. Nay prayer made the Sun of Righteousness stand still Luke 18. 40. And jesus stood still Prayer is the inlet to all blessings spiritual and temporal When Aurelius Antonius went against the Germans he had in his Army a Regiment of Christians who upon their earnest prayer obtained Rain for the refreshment of his Army and because of the power of their prayers he called them the Thundering Regiment Prayer hath a power in it to destroy the insolent Enemies of the Church We read the two Witnesses have a flame at their lips fire proceeds out of their mouths which devours their Enemies Rev. 11. 5. This fire is certainly to be interpreted of their * Macar Hom. prayers David prayed Lord turn the counsel of Achitophel into foolishness 2 Sam. 15. 31. This prayer made Achitophel hang himself Moses prayer against Amalek did more than Ioshua's Sword Prayer hath a kind of Omnipotency in it it hath raised the dead overcome Angels cast out Devils it hath influence upon God † Exod. 32. 10. himself Jacob's prayer held God Gen. 32. 26. I will not let thee go till thou bless * Precibus suis velut vinculis ligatum tenuit Deum me Prayer finds God free but leaves him bound 3 Jesus Christ prays over our prayers again he takes the dross out and presents nothing but pure gold to his Father Christ mingles his sweet odours with the prayers of the Saints Rev. 5. 8. Think of the dignity of his person he is God and the sweetness of his Relation he is a Son Oh than what encouragement is here for us to pray Our prayers are put in the hand of a Mediator though as they come from us they are weak and imperfect yet as they come from Christ they are mighty and powerful 4. The sweet promises which God hath made to prayer Isa. 30. 19 He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry jer. 29. 13 14. Then shall ye go and pray unto me and I will hearken unto you and ye shall seek me and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart And Isaiah 65. 24. Before they call I will answer and while they are yet speaking I will hear These promises keep the head of prayer above water God is bound with his own promises as Samson was bound with his own hair Let us then double our files and with our Saviour pray yet more earnestly Luke 22. 44. Let us be importunate Suitors and resolve with S. Bernard that we will not come away from God without * Nunquam à te Domine absque te recedam Bern. God prayer is a Petard which will make heaven gates fly open Quest. How shall we do to pray aright Answ. Implore the Spirit of God jude 20. Praying in the Holy Ghost The Holy Ghost both Indights' prayer and inflames it God understands no other language but that of his spirit pray for the Holy Ghost that you may pray in the Holy Ghost SECT XIII 13. A godly man is a sincere man 13 Character john 1. 47. Behold an Israelite indeed in whose spirit there is no guile The word for sincere signifies sine plicis without pleats and folds A godly man is  having no subtle subterfuges Religion is the Livery a godly man wears and this Livery is lined with Sincerity Quest. Wherein doth the godly man's Sincerity appear Answ. 1. The godly man is that which he seems to be he is a jew inwardly Rom. 2. 29. Grace runs through his heart as silver through the veins of the earth The hypocrite is not what he seems Front positus Astutam vapido servans sub pectore vulpem A picture is like a man but it wants breath The Hypocrite is an Effigies a picture he doth not breathe forth Sanctity he is but like an Angel on a Signpost A godly man answers to his profession as the Transcript to the Original 2. The godly man labours to approve himself to God in every thing 2 Cor. 5. 9 We labour that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him 'T is better to have God approve than the world applaud They that did run in the Olympic Race laboured to have his approbation who was the Judge and Umpire of the Race There is a time shortly coming when a smile from God's face will be infinitely better than all the applauses of men How sweet will that word be Euge bone serve Well done thou good and faithful servant Mat. 25. 21. A godly man is ambitious of Gods Letters-Testimonial the hypocrite desires to carry it fair with men Saul was for the vogue of the people 1 Sam. 15. 30. A godly man approves his heart to God who is both the Spectator and the Judge 3. The godly man is ingenuous in laying open of his sins Psa. 32. 5. 1 confessed my sin to thee and my iniquity have I not hid The hypocrite doth vail and smother his sin he doth not abscindere peccatum but abscondere like a Patient that hath some loathsome disease in his body he will rather die than confess his disease But a godly man's sincerity is seen in this he will confess and shame himself for sin 2 Sam. 24. 17. Lo I have sinned and I have done wickedly Nay a Child of God will confess sin in particular an unsound Christian will confess sin by wholesale he will acknowledge he is a sinner in general whereas David doth as it were point with his finger to the sore Psal. 51. 4. I have done this evil He doth not say I have done evil but this evil he points at his bloodguiltiness 4. The godly man hath blessed designs in all he doth he propounds this end in every Ordinance that he may have more acquaintance with God and bring more glory to God as the herb Heliotropium turns about according to the motion of the Sun so a godly man's actions do all move towards the glory of God It is an axiom in Philosophy The means are in order to the * Media sunt appetenda propter finem end A godly man's praying and worshipping is that he may honour God though he shoots short yet he takes a right aim the hypocrite minds nothing but self-interest the sails of his Mill move not but when the wind of preferment blows he never dives into the waters of the Sanctuary but to fetch up a piece of gold at the bottom 5. The godly man abhors dissimulation towards men his heart goes along with his * Homo sine fuco Erasm. tongue he cannot flatter and † Psa. 28. 3. hate commend and censure Rom. 12. 9 Let love be without dissimulation Dissembled love is worse than hatred counterfeiting of friendship is no better than a * Psa. 78. 36. lie for there is a pretence of that which is not Many are like joab 2 Sam. 20. 9 He took Amasa by the beard to kiss him and smote him with his sword in the fifth rib and he † Mell in ore fell in cord died Impia sub dulci melle venena latent There is a River in Spain where the fish seem to be of a golden colour but take them out of the water and they are like other fish All is not gold that glisters there are some pretend much kindness but they are like great veins which have little blood if you lean upon them they are as a Leg out of joint For my part I much question his truth towards God that will flatter and lie to his friend Pro. 10. 18. He that hideth hatred with lying lips is a fool By all that hath been said we may try whether we have this note of a godly man to be sincere Sincerity as I conceive is not properly ● grace but rather the ingredient into every grace Sincerity is that which doth qualify grace and without which grace is not true Eph. 6. ult. Grace be with them which love our Lord jesus Christ in sincerity Sincerity qualifies our love sincerity is to grace as the blood and spirits are to the body there can be no life without the blood so no grace without sincerity Use. As we would be reputed godly Use of Exhort let us labour for this Character of sincerity 1. Sincerity renders us lovely in God's eyes Motive God saith of the sincere soul as of Zion Psal. 132. 14. This is my rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it A sincere heart is God's Paradise of * Tali corde unicè delectatur Deus id veluti dulcisonum quoddam spirituale nabl●um harmoniae suae suavitate modulorumque oblectamine aures ejus mirum in modum mulcet delight Noah found grace in God's eyes Why what did God see in Noah he was girt with the girdle of sincerity Gen. 6. 9 Noah was perfect in his Generation Truth resembles God and when God sees a sincere heart he sees his own Image and he cannot choose but fall in love with it Pro. 11. 20. He that is upright in his way is God's delight 2. Sincerity makes our services find acceptance with God the Church of Philadelphia had but a little † strength her grace was weak her services slender yet of all the Churches Christ wrote to he found the least fault with her What was the reason because she was most sincere Rev. 3. 8. Thou hast kept fast my word and hast not denied my Name Though we cannot pay God all we owe yet a little in currant Coin is accepted God takes sincerity for full payment A little gold though rusty is better than Alchemy be it never so bright a little sincerity though rusted over with many infirmities is of more value with God than all the glorious flourishes of hypocrites 3. Sincerity is our safety false hearts that will step out of God's way and use carnal policy when they think to be most safe they are least secure he that walketh purely walketh surely Pro. 10. 9 A sincere Christian will do nothing but what the word warrants and that is safe as to the Conscience Nay oftentimes such as are upright in their way the Lord takes care of their outward safety Psal. 4. I laid me down and slept David was now beleaguered with Enemies yet God did so incamp about him by his Providence that he could sleep securely as in a Garrison Ver. 5. The Lord sustained me The only way to be safe is to be sincere 4. Sincerity is Gospel perfection job 1. 8. Hast thou considered my servant Job that there is none like him in the earth a perfect and an upright man Though a Christian be full of infirmities and like a Child that is put out to Nurse weak and feeble yet God looks upon him as if he were completely righteous Every true Saint hath the Thummim of perfection upon his breastplate 5. Sincerity is that which the Devil strikes most at Satan's spite was not so much at jobs Estate as his integrity he would have wrested the Shield of Sincerity from him but job held that fast job 27. 6. A Thief doth not fight for an empty purse but for money The devil would have robbed job of the Jewel of a good Conscience and then he had been poor job indeed Satan doth not oppose Profession but Sincerity Let men go to Church and make glorious pretences of holiness Satan doth not oppose this this doth him no hurt nor them no good but if men will be sincerely pious then Satan musters up all his forces against them Now that which the Devil doth most assault we must labour most to maintain Sincerity is our Fort-Royal where our chief treasure lies this Fort is most shot at therefore let us be more careful to preserve it While a man keeps his Castle his Castle will keep him While we keep Sincerity Sincerity will keep us 6. Sincerity is the beauty of a Christian wherein lies the beauty of a Diamond but in this that it is a true Diamond If it be counterfeit it is worth nothing So wherein lies the beauty of a Christian but in this that he hath truth in the inward * Psa. 51. 6 parts Sincerity is a Christians Ensign of glory 't is both his Breastplate to defend him and his Crown to adorn him 7. The vileness of hypocrisy The Lord would have no leven offered up in Sacrifice leven did typify hypocrisy Luke 12. 1. The hypocrite doth the devil double service under the Vizor of Piety he can sin more and be less † Euseb. suspected Mat. 23. 14. W● unto you Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for ye devour Widows houses and for a pretence make long prayers Who would think they were guilty of Extortion that would pray so many hours together Who would suspect him of false weights that hath the Bible so often in his hand Who would think he would slander that seems to fear an oath Hypocrites are the worst sort of sinners they reflect infinite dishonour upon Religion hypocrisy for the most part ends in scandal and that brings an evil report upon the ways of God one man breaking makes such as are honest suspected one scandalous hypocrite makes the world suspect that all Professors are so the hypocrite was born to do Religion a spite and to bring it into an odium The hypocrite is a liar he worships God with his knee and his lusts with his heart like those 2 Kin. 17. 33. They feared the Lord and served their own gods The hypocrite is an impudent sinner he knows his heart is false yet he goes on judas knew himself to be an hypocrite he asks Master is it I Christ replies Thou hast said it Yet so shameless was he as to persist in his falseness and betray Christ All the plagues and curses written in the Book of God are the hypocrites portion Hell is his place of Randezvous Mat. 24. 51. Hypocrites are the chief guests the Devil expects and he will make them as welcome as fire and brimstone can make them 8. If the heart be sincere God will wink at many failings Numb 23. 21. He hath not seen iniquity in jacob God's love doth not make him blind he can see infirmities but how not with an eye of revenge but pity as a Physician sees a disease in his Patient to heal him God doth not see iniquity in jacob so as to destroy him but to heal him Isa. 57 18. He went on frowardly I have seen his ways and I will heal him How much pride vanity passion doth the Lord pass by in his sincere ones He sees the integrity and pardons the infirmity How much did God overlook in Asa the high-places were not removed Yet it is said 2 Chron. 15. 17. The heart of Asa was perfect all his days We esteem of a picture though it be not drawn at the full length So though the graces of God's people are not drawn at their full length nay have many scars and spots yet having something of God in sincerity they shall find mercy God loves the sincere and 't is the nature of love to cover * Pro. 12. 10. infirmity 9 Nothing but sincerity will give us comfort in an hour of trouble King Hezekiah thought he had been dying yet this revived him that Conscience drew up a Certificate for him Isa. 38. 2. Remember O Lord how I have walked before thee in truth etc. Sincerity was the best flower of his Crown What a golden Shield will this be against Satan when he shall roar upon us by his temptations and set our sins before us on our Deathbed than we shall answer 'T is true Satan these have been our miscarriages but we have bewailed them if we have sinned it was against the bent and purpose of our heart this will stop the Devil's mouth and put him to a retreat therefore labour for this Jewel of Sincerity 1 joh. 3. 24. If our heart condemn us not than we have confidence towards God If we are cleared at the Petty Sessions in our own Conscience than we may be confident we shall be acquitted at the Great Assizes at the day of Judgement SECT XIV 14. A godly man is an heavenly man 14 Character Heaven is in him before he is in Heaven the Greek word for Saint signifies a man taken off from the earth a person may live in one place yet belong to another he may live in Spain yet be a free Denizon of England Pomponius dwelled at Athens yet was a Citizen of Rome So a godly man is a while in the * Patria loci world but he belongs to the Jerusalem † Patria juris above that is the place to which he aspires every day is Ascension day with a Believer The Saints are called Stars for their sublimeness they are gotten above into the upper Region Pro. 15. 24. The way of life is above to the wise A godly man is Heavenly six ways 1. In his Election 2. In his Disposition 3. In his Communication 4. In his Operation 5. In his Expectation 6. In his Conversation 1. A godly man is heavenly in his Election he chooseth heavenly objects David did choose to be a Residentiary in God's house Psa. 84. 10. A godly person chooseth Christ and grace before the most illustrious things under the Sun That a man is that his choice is and this choosing of God is best seen in a critical hour When Christ and the World come in competition and we part with the world to keep Christ and a good Conscience a sign we have chosen the better * Luke 10. 42. part 2. A godly man is heavenly in his Disposition he sets his affections on things above Col. 3. 2. He sends his heart to heaven before he comes there he looks upon the world but as a beautiful prison and he cannot be much in love with his Fetters though they are made of gold An holy person contemplates glory and Eternity his desires have gotten wings and are fled to heaven Grace is in the heart like fire which makes it sparkle upwards in Divine breathe and ejaculations 3. A godly man is heavenly in his Communication his words are powdered with salt to season others Col. 4. 6. As soon as Christ was risen from the grave he was speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God Act. 1. 3. No sooner is a man risen out of the grave of Unregeneracy but he is speaking of heaven Eccles. 10. 12. The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious He speaks so heavenly as if he had been already in heaven the love he bears to God will not suffer him to be silent the Spouse being sick of love her tongue was as the pen of a ready writer Cant. 5. 10. My beloved is white and ruddy his head is of fine gold etc. If Wine be in the house the Bush will be hung forth and where there is a principle of godliness in the heart it will vent itself at the lips the Bush will be hung forth How can they be termed godly 1. Who are possessed with a dumb devil They never have any good discourse they are fluent and discursive enough in secular things they can speak of their wares and drugs they can tell what a good crop they have but in matters of Religion they are as if their tongue did cleave to the roof of their mouth There are many persons if you come into their company you cannot tell what to make of them whether they are Turks or Atheists for they never speak a word of Christ 2. Whose tongues are set on fire of Hell Their lips do not drop honey but poison to the defiling of others Plutarch saith speech ought to be like gold which is then of most value when it hath least dross in it O the unclean malicious words that some persons utter What an unsavoury stench comes from these dunghills those lips had need have David's * Psa. 39 1 Bridle that gallop so fast in sin Can the body be healthful when the tongue is black Can the heart be holy when the devil is in the lips A godly man speaks the language of Canaan Mal. 3. 16. They that feared the Lord spoke often one to another 4. A godly man is heavenly in his Operation The motions of the Planets are Celestial A godly man is sublime and sacred in his motions he works out salvation he puts forth all his strength as they did in the Olympics that he may obtain the Garland made of the Flowers of Paradise he prays fasts watcheth he offers violence to heaven he is divinely acted he carries on God's Interest in the world he doth Angel's work he is in his Operations Seraphical 5. A godly man is heavenly in his Expectation his hopes are above the † Psa. 39 7 world Tit. 1. 2. In hope of eternal life A godly man casts Anchor within the * Viget spei immobilis virtus Cypr. vail he hopes to have his fetters of sin filled off he hopes for such things as eye hath not seen he hopes for a Kingdom when he dies a Kingdom promised by the Father purchased by the Son assured by the Holy Ghost as an Heir lives in hope when such a great Estate shall befall him so a Child of God who is a Co-heir with Christ hopes for glory This hope comforts him in all varieties of condition Rom. 5. 2. We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God 1. This hope comforts a godly man in affliction hope doth lighten and sweeten the most severe Dispensations A Child of God can laugh with tears in his eyes the time is shortly coming when the Cross shall be taken off his shoulders and a Crown set upon his head A Saint at present is miserable with a thousand troubles in an instant clothed with Robes of Immortality and advanced above Seraphims 2. This hope comforts a godly man in death Pro. 14. 32. The righteous hath hope in his death If one should ask a dying Saint when all his earthly comforts were gone what he had left he would say the Helmet of Hope I have read of a Martyr Woman who when the Persecutor commanded that her breasts should be cut off she said Tyrant do thy worst I have two breasts which thou canst not touch the one of Faith the other of Hope A soul that hath this blessed hope is above the desire of life or the fear of death Would one be troubled to exchange a sorry Lease for an Inheritance that will be for him and his Heirs Who would care to part with life which is a Lease will soon be run out to be possessed of a glorious Inheritance in light 6. A godly man is heavenly in his Conversation he casts such a lustre of Holiness as adorns his Profession he lives as if he had seen the Lord with bodily eyes what zeal sanctity humility shines forth in his life A godly person doth emulate not only the Angels but imitate Christ himself 1 john 2. 6. The Macedonians celebrate the Birthday of Alexander on which day they wear his picture about their necks set with Pearl and rich Jewels so a godly man carries the lively picture of Christ about him in the heavenliness of his deportment Phil. 3. 20. Our conversation is in heaven Use 1. They must needs be cast over the Bar for ungodly Use 1. who are eaten up with the world godly and earthly is a contradiction Phil. 3. 18 19 For many walk of whom I now tell you even weeping that they are the Enemies of the Cross of Christ whose god is their belly who mind earthly things We read the earth swallowed up Korah alive Numb 16. 32. This Judgement is on many the earth swallows up their time and thoughts and discourse they are buried twice their hearts are buried in the earth before their bodies How sad is it that the soul that Princely thing which is made for Communion with God and Angels should be put to the Mill to grind and made Mancipium terrae a slave to the earth How is the soul become like the Prodigal choosing rather to converse with swine and feed upon husks than to aspire after Communion with the blessed Deity Thus doth Satan befool men and keep them from heaven by making them seek an heaven here Use 2. Use 2. As we would evidence ourselves to be born of God let us be of a sublime heavenly temper Exhort We shall never go to heaven when we die unless we are in heaven whilst we live That we may be more Noble and raised in our affections let us seriously weigh these four considerations 1. God himself sounds a retreat to us to call us off the world 1 john 2. 15. Love not the world We may use it as a posy of flowers to smell to but it must not lie as a bundle of myrrh betwixt our breasts Rom. 12. 2. Be ye not conformed to this world do not hunt after the honours and profits of it and as God's Precepts so his Providences are to beat us off the world Why doth he send War and Pestilence What means the heat of this great anger Surely dying times are to make men die to the world 2. Consider how much below a Christian it is to be earthly-minded We laugh sometimes at Children when we see them busying themselves about toys blowing bubbles in the air out of a shell kissing their Babies etc. when in the mean time we do the same at death what will all the world be which we so hug and kiss but as a Baby of Clouts it will yield us no more comfort then and to be taken up with these things how far is it below an heavenborn soul nay for such as profess to be ennobled with a principle of Piety and to have their hopes above for them to have their hearts below how do they disparage their Heavenly Calling and spot their silver wings of Grace by beliming them with earth 3. Consider what a poor contemptible thing the world is it is not worth setting the affections on it cannot fill the heart if Satan should take a Christian up to the Mount of Temptation and show him all the Kingdoms and glory of the world what could he show him but a fancy an apparition Nothing here can be proportionable to the immense soul of man job 20. 22. In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits Here is want in plenty the creature will no more fill the soul than a drop will fill the bucket and that little sweet we suck from the creature is intermixed with some bitterness like that Cup which the Jews gave Christ Mar. 15. 23. They gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh And this imperfect sweet will not last long 1 john 2. 17. The world passeth away The creature doth but salute us and is presently upon the * socr ad Demon. wing The world rings Changes it is never constant but in its disappointments how quickly may we remove our lodgings and make our pillow in the dust The world is but a great Inn where we are to stay a night or two and be gone what madness is it so to set our heart upon our Inn as to forget our home 4. Consider what a glorious place heaven is We read of an Angel coming down from heaven who did tread with his right foot on the Sea and with his left foot on the earth Revel 10. 2. Had we but once been in heaven and viewed the superlative glory of it how might we in an holy scorn trample with one foot upon the earth and with the other foot upon the Sea Heaven is called a better Country Heb. 11. 16. But now they desire a better Country that is an heavenly Heaven is said to be a better Country in opposition to the Country where we now sojourn What should we mind but that better * Sistitur appetitus in via satiatur in Patria Country Quest. In what sense is heaven a better Country Answ. 1. In that Country above there are better delights there is the Tree of Life the Rivers of Pleasure there is amazing beauty unsearchable riches there are the delights of Angels there is the Flower of Joy fully blown there is more than we can ask or † Eph. 3. 20. think there is glory in its full dimensions and beyond all hyperbole 2. In that Country there is a better dwelling house 1. It is an house not made with hands 2 Cor. 5. 1. To denote the excellency of it There was never any house but was made with hands but the house above surpasseth the art of man or Angel none besides God could lay a stone in that building 2. It is eternal in the heavens it is not a sojourning house but a Mansion-house it is an house will never be out of repair Wisdom hath built this house and hewn out her seven * Pro. 8. 1. Pillars which can never moulder 3. In that Country there are better provisions in our Father's house is bread enough Heaven was typified by Canaan which did flow with milk and honey There is the Royal Feast the spiced Wine there is Angel's food there are those rare viands and dainties served in as exceed not only our expressions but our faith 4. In that Country is better Society There is God blessed for ever How infinitely sweet and ravishing will a smile of his face be the King's presence makes the Court There are the glorious Cherubims in this terrestrial Country where we now live we are among Wolves and Serpents in that Country above we shall be among Angels There are the spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12. 23. Here the people of God are clouded with infirmities we see them with spots in their faces they are full of pride passion censoriousness in that Jerusalem above we shall see them in their Royal attire decked with unparallelled beauty not having the least tincture or shadow of sin upon them 5. In that Country there is a better air to breathe in We go into the Country for air the best air is only to be had in that better Country 1. It is a more temperate air the Climate is calm and moderate we shall neither freeze with the cold nor faint with the heat 2. It is a brighter air there is a better light shines there The Sun of Righteousness enlightens that Horizon with his glorious beams Rev. 21. 23. The Lamb is the light thereof 3. It is a purer air The Fens which are full of black vapours we count a bad air and unwholesome to live in This world is a place of Bogs and Fens where the noxious vapours of sin arise which make it pestilential and unwholesome to live in but in that Country above there are none of these vapours but a sweet perfume of holiness there is the smell of the Orange-tree and the pomegranate there is the Myrrh and Cassia coming from Christ which send forth a most odoriferous smell 6. In that Country there is a better soil the Land or Soil is better 1. For its altitude the earth lying low is of a base pedigree the Element which is nearest heaven is purer and more excellent as the fire that Country above is the High Country Psal. 24. 3. it is seated far above all the visible Orbs. 2. It is a better Land for its fertilness it bear a richer Crop The richest Harvest on earth is the golden Harvest but the Country above yields Nobier Commodities there are Pearls Celestial there is the Spiritual Vine there is the honeycomb of God's love dropping there is the Water of Life the hidden Manna there is fruit that doth not rot flowers that never fade there is a Crop which cannot be quite reaped it will be ever reaping time in heaven and all this the Land yields without the labour of ploughing and sowing 3. It is a better Land for its inoffensiveness There are no briars there the World is a Wilderness where are wicked men and the best of them is a briar Mica 7. 4. They will be tearing the people of God in their spiritual Liberties but in the Country above there is not one briar to be seen all the briars are burned 4. It is a better Land for the rareness of the prospect all that a man sees there is his own I account that the best prospect where a man can see furthest on his own ground 7. In that Country is better union all the Inhabitants are knit together in love The poysonful weed of malice doth not grow there there is harmony without division and charity without envy In that Country above as in Solomon's Temple no noise of Hammer is heard 8. In that Country is better employment while we are here we are complaining of our wants weeping over our sins but there we shall be praising God How will the Birds of Paradise chirp when they are in that Celestial Country There the Morning Stars will sing together and all the Saints of God shout for joy O what should we aspire after but this Country above Such as have their eyes opened will see that it doth infinitely excel An ignorant man looks upon a Star and it appears to him as a little silver spot but the Astronomer who hath his Instrument to judge of the dimension of a Star knows it to be many degrees bigger than the earth So a natural man hears of the heavenly Country that it is very glorious but it is at a great distance and because he hath not a spirit of discerning the world looks bigger in his eye but such as are Spiritual Artists who have the Instrument of Faith to judge of Heaven will say it is far the better Country and thither will they hasten with the Sails of desire SECT XV. 15. A godly man is a zealous man grace turns a Saint into a Seraphim Char. 15. it makes him burn in holy zeal zeal is a mixed affection a compound of love and anger it carries forth our love to God and anger against sin in the most intense manner Zeal is the flame of the affections a godly man hath a double baptism of water and fire he is baptised with a spirit of zeal he is zealous for God's honour truth worship Psal. 119. 139. my zeal hath consumed me it was a crown set on Phineas his head he was zealous for his God Numb 25. 13. Moses being touched with a coal from God's altar in his zeal he breaks the Tables Exod. 32. 19 our blessed Saviour in his zeal whips the buyers and sellers out of the Temple joh. 2. 17. the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up But there is a Preternatural heat something looking like zeal which is not a Comet looks like a Star I shall therefore show some differences between a true and a false zeal 1 A false zeal is a blind zeal Rom. 10. 2. They have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge this is not the fire of the spirit but wildfire The Athenians were very devout and zealous but they knew not for what Acts 17. 23. I found an Altar with this Inscription To the unknown God Thus the Papists are zealous in their way but they have taken away the key of knowledge 2 A false zeal is a selfseeking zeal jehu cries come see my zeal for the Lord 2 King 10. 16. but it was not zeal but ambition he was fishing for a Crown Demetrius pleads for the Goddess Diana but it was not her Temple but her Silver shrines he was zealous for Such zealots Ignatius complains of in his time that they made a Trade of Christ and Religion thereby to enrich * Ignat themselves 'T is probable many in King Henry the eights time were forward to pull down the Abbeys not out of any zeal against Popery but that they might build their own houses upon the ruins of those Abbeys like Eagles which fly aloft but their eyes are down upon their prey If blind zeal be punished seven fold hypocritical zeal shall be punished seventy and seven fold 3 A false preposterous zeal is a misguided zeal it runs out most in things which are not commanded It is the sign of an hypocrite to be zealous for traditions and careless of institutions The Pharisees were more zealous about washing of their cups than their hearts 4 A false zeal is fired with passion james and john when they would call for fire from heaven were rebuked by our Saviour Luk. 9 54. Ye know not what spirit ye are off it was not zeal but choler many have espoused the cause of Religion rather out of faction and humour than out of zeal to the truth But the zeal of a godly man is a true and holy zeal which evidenceth itself in the effects of it 1 True zeal cannot bear an injury done to God zeal makes the blood rise when God's honour is impeached Rev. 2. 2. I know thy works and thy labour and patience and how thou canst not bear them which are evil he who zealously affects his friend cannot hear him spoken against and be silent 2 True zeal will encounter with the greatest difficulties when the world holds out a Gorgon's head of danger to discourage us zeal casts out fear it is quickened by * Marcet sine adversario virtus Sen. de provide opposition Zeal doth not say there is a Lion in the way zeal will charge through an Army of dangers it will march in the face of death Let news be brought to Paul that he was waylaid in every City bonds and imprisonment did abide him this sets a keener edge upon his zeal Acts 21. 13. I am ready not only to be bound but to die for the name of the Lord jesus as sharp frosts do by an antiparistasis make the fire burn hotter so sharp oppositions do but inflame zeal the more 3 True zeal as it hath knowledge to go before it so it hath sanctity to follow after it Wisdom leads the van of zeal and holiness brings up the rear an hypocrite seems to be zealous but he is vicious the godly man is white and ruddy white in purity as well as ruddy in zeal Christ's zeal was hotter than the fire and his holiness purer than the sun 4 Zeal that is genuine love's truth when it is despised and opposed Psal. 119. 126. They have made void thy law therefore I love thy commandments above gold the more others deride holiness the more we love it what is Religion the worse for others disgracing it doth a Diamond sparkle the less because a blind man disparageth it the more outrageous the wicked are against the truth the more courageous the godly are for it When Mical scoffed at David's religious dancing before the Ark if saith he this be to be vile I will yet be more vile 2 Sam. 6. 22. 5 True zeal causeth fervency in duty Rom. 12. 11. fervent in † spirit Zeal makes us hear with reverence pray with affection love with ardency God kindled Moses his sacrifice from heaven Leu. 9 24. There came a fire out from before the Lord and consumed upon the Altar the  offering when we are zealous in devotion and our heart waxeth hot within us here is a fire from heaven kindling our sacrifice how odious is it for a man to be all fire when he is sinning and all y●e when he is praying A pious heart like water seething hot boils over in holy affections 6. True zeal is never out of breath though it be violent 't is perpetual no waters can quench the flame of zeal it is torrid in the frigid zone The heat of zeal is like the natural heat coming from the heart which lasts as long as life That zeal which is not constant was never true Use 1. Use 1. How opposite are they to godliness who cry down zeal 1 Bran. and count it a Religious frenzy They are for the light of knowledge but not for the heat of zeal When Basil was earnest in preaching against the Arrian Heresy it was interpreted folly and dotage Religion is a matter requires zeal the Kingdom of heaven will not be taken but by violence Mat. 12. 11. Object But why so much fervour in Religion what becomes then of Prudence Answ. Though Prudence be to direct zeal yet not to destroy it because sight is requisite must the body therefore have no heat If Prudence be the eye in Religion zeal is the heart Quest. But where is moderation Answ. Though moderation in things of indifferency be commendable and doubtless it would much tend to the settling the peace of the Church yet in the main Articles of Faith wherein God's glory and our Salvation lie at stake here moderation is nothing else but sinful neutrality It was calvin's advice to Melancthon that he should not so affect the name of moderate that at length he lost all his zeal Object But the Apostle presseth moderation Phil. 4. 5. Let your moderation be known to all Answ. The Apostle speaks there of moderating our passion the Greek word for * moderation signifies candour and meekness opposite to rash † Beza anger and so the word is rendered in another place * Patient 1 Tim. 3. 3. By moderation then is meant meekness of spirit and that is clear by the subsequent words The Lord is at hand As if the Apostle had said avenge not yourselves for the Lord is at hand he is ready to avenge your personal wrongs but this doth not at all hinder but that in matters of Religion a Christian should be zealous 2 What strangers are they to godliness 2 Bran. who have no zeal for the glory of God they can see his ordinances despised his worship adulterated yet their spirits are not at all stirred in them How many are of a dull lukewarm temper zealous for their own secular interest but have no zeal for the things of heaven hot in their own cause but cool in Gods The Lord doth most abominate lukewarm professors I had almost said he is sick of them Rev. 3. 15. I would thou wert cold or hot any thing but lukewarm but because thou art neither cold nor hot I will spew thee out of my mouth A lukewarm Christian is but dough-baked just like Ephraim Host 7. 8. Ephraim is a cake not turned To keep up a form of Religion without zeal is to be like those bodies the Angels assumed which moved but had no life in them I would ask these Tepid neutral professors this question If Religion be not a good cause why did they undertake it at first if it be why do they go so faintly about it why have they no more holy ardours of soul these persons would fain go to heaven in a soft bed but are loath to be carried thither in a fiery Chariot of zeal Remember God will be zealous against them who are not zealous he provides the fire of hell for those that want the fire of zeal Use 2. Use 2. Exhort As you would be found in the catalogue of the godly labour for zeal as good be of no religion as not to be zealous in religion Beware of carnal policy This is one of those three things which Luther feared would be the death of * Melch. Adam in vit Luth. Religion Some men have been too wise to be saved Their discretion hath quenched their zeal beware of stoth which is an enemy to zeal be zealous and repent Rev. 3. 19 Christians what do you reserve your zeal for is it for your gold that perisheth or for your lusts that will make you perish can you bestow your zeal better than upon God how zealous have men been in a false religion Isa. 46. 6. They lavish gold out of the bag and weigh silver in the balance The jews did spare no cost in their idolatrous worship nay jer. 32. 35. They cause their Sons and Daughters to pass thorough the fire to Molech They were so zealous in their idolworship that they would sacrifice their Sons and Daughters to their false Gods how far did the purblind Heathens go in their false zeal the Tribunes of Rome complained they wanted gold in their Treasuries to offer to Apollo the Roman Matrons plucked off their chains of gold and rings and bracelets and gave them to the Priests to offer up * Livy sacrifice were these so zealous in their sinful worship and will not you be zealous in the worship of the true God can you lose any thing by your zeal shall it not be super-abundantly recompensed what is heaven worth what is a sight of God worth was not Jesus Christ zealous for you he sweat drops of blood he conflicted with his Father's wrath how zealous was he for your redemption and have you no zeal for him is there any thing you yourselves hate more than dulness and slothfulness in your servants you are weary of such servants do you dislike a dull temper in others and not in yourselves what are all your duties without zeal but non entia mere fancies and nullities Do you know what a glorious thing zeal is it is the lustre that sparkles from grace it is the flame of † Ignis quidam flagrantissimi amoris Aug. love it resembles the Holy Ghost Act. 2. 2. There appeared cloven tongues like fire which sat upon them and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost Tongues of fire were an Emblem to represent that fire of zeal which the spirit poured upon them Zeal makes all our religious performances prevalent with God When the iron is red hot it enters best and when our services are red hot with zeal they soon pierce heaven SECT XVI 16. A godly man is a patient man 16 Character jam. 5. 11. Ye have heard of the patience of job. Patience is a star which shines in a dark night There is a twofold patience 1. Patience in waiting 2. Patience in bearing 1. Patience in waiting A godly man if he hath not his desire presently he will wait till the mercy be ripe Psa. 130. 6. My soul waiteth for the Lord Good reason God should have the Timing of our mercies Isa. 60. 22. I the Lord will hasten it in his time Deliverance may tarry beyond our time but it will not tarry beyond God's time Why should not we wait patiently upon God 1. We are servants it becomes servants to be in a waiting posture 2. We wait upon every thing else we wait upon the fire till it burns we wait upon the seed till it grows jam. 5. 7. Why cannot we wait upon God 3. God hath waited upon * Isa. 30. 18. us Did not he wait for our repentance How often did he come year after year before he found fruit Did God wait upon us and cannot we wait upon him A godly man is content to stay God's leisure though the Vision tarry he will wait for † Hab. 2. 3 it 2. Patience in bearing This patience is twofold 1. Either in regard of man when we bear injuries without revenging Or 2. In regard of God when we bear his hand without repining A good man will not only do Gods will but bear his will Mica 7. 9 I will bear the indignation of the Lord This patient bearing of God's will is not 1. A Stoical Apathy Patience is not insensibleness under God's hand we ought to be sensible 2. It is not patience upon force to bear a thing because we cannot help it which as Erasmus saith is rather necessity than patience But patience is a cheerful submission of our will to God Act. 21. 4. The will of the Lord be done A godly man doth acquiesce in what God doth as being not only good but best for him The great quarrel between God and us is whose will shall stand Now the Regenerate will falls in with the will of God ●here are four things opposite to this patient ●ame of soul. 1. Disquiet of spirit When the soul is discomposed and pulled off the hinges insomuch that it is unfit for holy duties when the strings of a Lute are snarled the Lute is not fit to make Music so when a Christians spirit is perplexed and disturbed he cannot make melody in his heart to the Lord 2. Discontent which is a sullen dogged humour When a man is not angry at his sins but at his condition this is different from patience Discontent is the daughter of pride 3. Prejudice which is a dislike of God and his ways and a falling off from Religion Sinners have hard thoughts of God and if he doth but touch them in a tender part they will presently be gone from him and throw off his Livery 4. Self-vindication when instead of being humbled under God's hand a man justifies himself as if he had not deserved what he suffers A proud sinner stands upon his own defence and is ready to accuse God of unrighteousness which is as if we should tax the Sun with darkness this is far from patience A godly man subscribes to God's wisdom and submits to his will he saith not only good is the Word of the Lord Isa. 3●●8 but good is the Rod of the Lord Use. Use As we would demonstrate ourselves godly let us be eminent in this grace of patience Eccles. 7. 8. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit There are some Graces which we shall have no need of in heaven we shall have no need of Faith when we have full Vision nor patience when we have perfect joy but in a dark sorrowful night there is need of these stars to * Heb. 10. 36. shine Let us show our patience in bearing Gods will patience in bearing Gods will is twofold 1. When God removes any comfort from us 2. When God imposeth any evil upon us 1. We must be patient when God removes any comfort from us Doth God take away any of our Relations Ezek. 24. 16. I will take away the desire of thine eyes with a stroke yet it is our duty patiently to acquiesce in the Will of God The loss of a dear Relation is like the pulling away a Limb from the † Quae arden er diligimus habita graviter suspiraemus ablae●ae body Homo toties moritur quoties amittit suos But grace will make our hearts calm and sedate and work us to an holy patience under such a severe dispensation I shall lay down eight considerations which may be as spiritual Physic to kill the worm of impatience under the loss of Relations 1. The Lord never takes away any comfort from his people but he gives them that which is better The Disciples parted with Christ's corporal presence and he sent them the Holy Ghost God eclipseth one joy and augments another he doth but make an exchange he takes away a Flower and gives a Diamond 2. Godly friends dying are in a better condition they are taken away from the evil to come Isa. 57 1. They are out of the storm and are gotten to the Haven Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord Rev. 14. 13. The godly have a portion promised them upon their marriage with Christ but the portion is not paid till the day of their death The Saints at death are preferred to Communion with God they have that they so long hoped for and prayed for why then should we be impatient at our friend's preferment 3. Thou that art a Saint hast a friend in heaven which thou canst not lose The Jews have a saying at their † Sit consolatio tua in caelis Funerals Let thy consolation be in heaven Art thou a close Mourner look up to heaven and fetch comfort thence thy best kindred are above Psa 27. 10 When my Father and Mother forsake me than the Lord will take me up God will be with thee in the hour of death Psa. 23. 4. Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death thou art with me Other friends thou canst not keep God is a friend thou canst not lose he will be thy Guide in life thy Hope in death thy Reward after death 4 Perhaps God is correcting thee for a fault and it so it becomes thee to be patient it may be thy friend had more of thy love than God and therefore God did take away such a relation that the stream of thy love may run back to him again A gracious woman having been deprived first of her Children then of her Husband Lord saith she thou hast a plot upon me thou intendest to have all my love God doth not like it to have any Creature set upon the throne of our affections he will take away that comfort and then he shall lie nearest our heart If an Husband bestow a jewel upon his Wife and she doth so fall in love with that jewel as to forget her Husband he will take away the jewel that her love may return to him again a dear relation is this jewel if we begin to idolise it God will take away the jewel that our love may return to him ●gain 5 A Godly Relation is parted with but not lost that is lost which we are out of hope ever of seeing again religious friends are but gone a little † Non sunt amissi sed promise Cypr. before A time will shortly come when there shall be a meeting without parting 1 Thes. 5. 10. How glad is one friend to see another that hath been long absent Oh what glorious acclamations shall there be when old relations shall meet together in heaven and be in each others embraces when a great prince lands at the shore the guns go off in token of joy when godly friends shall be all landed at the heavenly shore and shall congratulate one another's felicity what stupendious joy will there be what music in the choir of Angels how will heaven ring of their praises and that which is the crown of all they who were here joined in the flesh shall be joined nearer than ever in the mystical body and shall lie together in Christ's † 1 Thes. 4. 17. bosom that bed of perfume 6 We have deserved worse at God's hands hath he taken away a child a wife a parent he might have taken away his spirit hath he deprived us of a relation he might have deprived us of salvation doth he put wormwood in the cup we have deserved poison Ezra 9 13. Thou hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve we have a sea of sin and but a drop of suffering 7 The patient soul doth most sweetly enjoy itself an impatient man is like a troubled sea that cannot rest he tortures himself upon the wrack of his own griefs and passions whereas patience calms the heart as Christ did the sea when it was rough and now there is a sabbath in the heart yea an heaven Luk. 21. 19 In your patience possess ye your souls By faith a man possesseth God and by patience he possesseth himself 8 How patient have many of the Saints been when the Lord hath broken the very staff of their comfort in bereaving them of Relations The Lord took away jobs children and he was so far from murmuring that he falls a blessing job 1. 21. The Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord God foretell the death of Elies' sons 1 Sam. 2. 34. In one day they shall die both of them but how patiently did he take this sad news 1 Sam. 3. 18. It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good See the difference between Eli and Pharaoh Pharaoh saith who is the * Exod 5. 2. Lord Eli saith it is the Lord When God struck two of Aaron's sons dead Leu. 10. Aaron held his peace patience opens the ear but shuts the mouth it opens the ear to hear the Rod but shuts the mouth that it hath not a word to say against God Behold here the patterns of patienc● and shall not we write after their fair Copies these are heart-quieting considerations when God sets a deaths-head upon our comforts and removes dear relations from us 2 We must be patient when God inflicts any evil upon us Rom. 12. 12. Patient in Tribulation 1 The Lord sometimes lays heavy affliction upon his people Psal. 38. 2. Thy hand lies sore upon me The Hebrew word for * afflicted signifies to be melted God seems to melt his people in a furnace 2 God doth sometimes lay divers afflictions on the Saints job 19 17. He multiplieth my wounds as we have divers ways of sinning so the Lord hath divers ways of afflicting some he melts away their estates others he chains to a sick bed others he confines to a Prison God hath various arrows in his quiver which he shoots 3 Sometimes God lets the affliction lie long Psal. 74. 9 There is no more any Prophet neither is there among us any that knoweth how long As it is with diseases there are some Chronical that linger and hang about the body several years together so it is with afflictions the Lord is pleased to exercise many of his precious ones with Chronical afflictions such as lie upon them a long time now in all these cases it becomes the Saints patiently to rest in the will of God the Greek word for † patient is a metaphor alludes to one who stands invincibly under a burden This is the right notion of patience when we bear affliction invincibly without fainting or fretting The trial of a Pilot is seen in a storm so is the trial of a Christian seen in affliction he hath the right art of navigation who when the boisterous winds blow from heaven doth steer the ship of his soul wisely and not dash upon the ●rock of impatience a Christian should always keep a decorum not behaving himself unseemly or disguising himself with intemperate passion when the hand of God lies upon him Patience adorns suffering affliction in Scripture is compared to a net Psa. 66. 11. Thou broughtest us into the net Such as have escaped the Devil's net yet the Lord suffers them to be taken in the net of affliction but they must not be as a wild Bull in a net Isa. 51. 20. to kick and fling against their maker but lie patiently till God break the net and makes away for their escape I shall propound four cogent Arguments to excite patience under those evils which God inflicts on us 1 Afflictions are 1 Argu. for our benefit Heb. 12. 9 He for our profit we pray that God would take such a course with us as may do our souls Good when God is afflicting us he is hearing our prayers he doth it for our * Domine hic ure hic seca ut in aeternum parcas Aug. profit not that afflictions in themselves do profit us but as God's Spirit works with them For as the waters of Bethesda could not give health of themselves unless the Angel descended and stirred the water john 5. 4. So the waters of affliction are not in themselves healing till God's Spirit co-operates and sanctifies them to us Afflictions are many ways † Quod mundus noxium esse putat exitum utilem parit Calv. profitable 1. They make men sober and wise Physicians appoint distracted persons to be bound in Chains and to be dieted and have hard fare to bring them to the use of reason Many run stark mad in prosperity they neither know God nor themselves the Lord therefore binds them with cords of affliction that he may bring them to their right * Chrysost. understandings job 36. 8. If they be held in cords of affliction than he shows them their transgression he openeth also their ear to discipline 2 Afflictions are a friend to grace 1 They beget grace Beza acknowledged God laid the foundation of his Conversion in a violent sickness at Paris 2 They augment grace the people of God are beholding to their troubles they had never had so much grace if they had not met with such sore trials now the waters run and the spices flow forth The Saints thrive by affliction as the Lacedæmonians grew rich by war God makes grace flourish most in the fall of the leaf 3 Afflictions quicken our pace in the way to heaven it is with us as with children sent on an errand if they meet with Apples or Flowers by the way they linger and make no great haste home but if any thing fright them than they run with all the speed they can to their father's house so in prosperity we are gathering the Apples and Flowers and do not much mind heaven but if troubles begin to arise and the times grow frightful than we make more haste to heaven and with David run the way of God's commandments Psa. 119. 32. 2 Argu. 2 God intermixeth mercy with affliction he steeps hissword of justice in the oil of * Vindictae gladium misericordiae oleosemper exacuit mercy there was no night so dark but Israel had a Pillar of fire in it there is no condition so dismal but we may see a Pillar of fire to give light if the body be in pain conscience is in peace there is mercy affliction is for the prevention of sin there is mercy In the Ark there was a rod and a pot of Manna the Emblem of a Christians condition mercy interlined with * Psa. 101. 1. judgement here is the rod and Manna 3 Patience evidenceth much of God in the heart 3 Argument patience is one of God's titles Rom. 15. 5. The God of patience thou that hast thy heart cast into this blessed mould it is a sign God hath imparted much of his own nature to thee thou shinest with some of his beams Impatience evidenceth much unsoundness of heart as it is in the body if the body be of that temper that every little scratch of a pin makes the flesh to rankle you will say sure this man's flesh is very unsound so for every petty cross to fly out in impatience and quarrel with providence it is the sign of a distempered Christian if there be any grace in such an heart they must have good eyes that can see it but he who is of a patient spirit is a graduate in Religion and doth much participate of the divine nature 4 The end of affliction is glorious 4 Argument the jews were captive in Babylon but what was the end they departed out of Babylon with vessels of silver with gold and precious things Ezra 1. 6. So what is the end of affliction it ends in endless glory Acts 14. 22. 2 Cor. 4. 17. how may this rock our impatient hearts quiet who would not willingly travel through a little dirty way and ploughed lands at the end whereof is a fair Meadow and in that Meadow a golden Mine Quest. How shall I get my heart tuned into a patient frame Answ. 1 Get faith all our impatience proceeds from unbelief faith is the breeder of patience when a storm of passion begins to arise faith saith to the heart as Christ to the Sea peace be still and there is presently a calm Quest. How doth faith work patience Answ. Faith argues the soul into patience faith is like that Town-Clark in Ephesus who allayed the contention of the multitude and argued them soberly into peace Act. 19 35 36. So when impatience begins to clamour and make an hubbub in the soul faith appeaseth the tumult and argues the soul into holy patience Saith faith Why art thou disquieted O my Soul art thou afflicted is it not thy Father hath done it he is carving and polishing thee and making thee fit for glory he smites that he may save what is thy trial is it sickness God shakes the Tree of thy body that some fruit may fall even the peaceable fruit of righteousness Heb. 12. 11. Art thou driven from thy habitation God hath prepared for thee a City Heb. 11. 16. Dost thou suffer reproach for Christ's sake a spirit of God and glory rest upon thee 1 Pet. 4. 14. Thus faith argues and disputes the soul into patience 2 Pray to God for patience patience is a flower of Gods planting pray that it may grow in your heart and send forth its sweet perfume Prayer is an holy charm to charm down the evil spirit prayer composeth the heart and puts it in Tune when impatience hath broken the strings and put all into a confusion Oh go to God prayer delights God's ear it melts his heart it opens his hand God cannot deny a praying soul seek to him with importunity and either he will remove the affliction or which is better he will remove thy impatience SECT XVII 17 A Godly man is a thankful man praise and thanksgiving 17 Character is the work of heaven and he begins that work here which he shall be always doing in heaven The jews have a saying the world subsists by three things the Law the worship of God and * Super tribus consistit mu●●dus super lege & cultu sacro & retributione Aloys novar thankfulness as if where thankfulness were wanting one of the Pillars of the world were taken away and it were ready to fall The Hebrew word for praise comes from a radix that signifies to shoot † jaculatus est Hiph confiteri gratias agere Buxtorf up the Godly man sends up his praises as a volley of shot towards heaven David who was modelled after God's heart how melodiously did he warble out God's praises therefore was called the sweet singer of Israel 1 Sam. 23. 1. Take a Christian at the worst yet he is thankful The Prophet jonah who was homo a man of a waspish spirit the sea did not so work with the tempest * Jon. 1. 13. as jonahs' heart wrought with passion yet through this cloud you might see grace appear he had a thankful heart jonah 2. 9 I will Sacrifice to thee with the voice of thanksgiving I will pay that which I have vowed For the clearer illustrating of this I shall lay down these four particulars 1 Praise and thanksgiving is a Saintlike work we find in Scripture the godly are still called upon to praise God Psa. 135. 20. Ye that fear the Lord bless the Lord Psa. 149. 5. Let the Saints be joyful in glory let the high praises of God be in their mouth praise is a work proper to a Saint 1 None but the godly can praise God aright as all have not skill to play on the Lute so every one cannot sound forth the harmonious praises of God wicked men are bound to praise God but they are not fit to praise him none but a living Christian can tune God's praise wicked men are dead in sin how can they lift up God's praises that are dead Isa. 38. 19 The grave cannot praise thee A wicked man stains and eclipseth God's praise if a foul hand work in Damask or flowered Satin it will slur the beauty of it God will say to the sinner what hast thou to do to take my name into thy mouth Psa. 50. 16. 2 Praise is not comely for any but the godly Psa. 33. 1. Praise is comely for the righteous A profane man stuck with God's praises is like a dunghill stuck with flowers praise in the mouth of a sinner is like an Oracle in the mouth of a fool how uncomely is it for him to praise God whose whole life is a dishonouring of God it is as undecent for a wicked man to praise God as it is for an Usurer to talk of living by faith or for the Devil to quote Scripture the godly only are fit to be queristers in God's praises 't is called the Garment of praise Isaiah 61. 3. this garment sits handsome only on a Saints back 2 Thanksgiving is a more noble part of God's worship our wants may send us to prayer but it argues an heart highly ingenuous to bless God the Raven cries the Lark sings in petition we act like men in thanksgiving we act like Angels 3 Thanksgiving is a God-exalting work Psa. 50. 23. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me though nothing can add the least cubit to God's essential glory yet praise exalts him in the eyes of others praise is a setting forth of God's honour a lifting up of his name a displaying the trophy of his goodness a proclaiming his excellency a spreading his renown a breaking open the box of ointment whereby the sweet savour and perfume of God's name is sent abroad into the world 4 Praise is a more distinguishing work by this a Christian excels all the infernal spirits dost thou talk of God so can the Devil he brought Scripture to Christ dost thou profess religion so can the Devil he transforms himself into an Angel of light dost thou fast he never eats dost thou believe the Devils have a faith of assent they believe and tremble jam. 2. 19 but as Moses wrought such a miracle as none of the Magicians could do the like so here is a work Christians may be doing which none of the Devils can do and that is the work of thanksgiving they blaspheme but do not bless Satan hath his fiery darts but not his harp and viol Use 1 See here the true genius and complexion of a godly man Use 1. he is much in doxologies and praises 1 Bran. 'T is a saying of Lactantius he cannot be a good man who is unthankful to † Lactan. instit. c. 3. his God A godly man is a God-exalter the Saints are Temples of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 3. 16. where should Gods praises be sounded but in his Temples a good heart is never weary of praising God Psa. 34. 1. His praise shall continually be in my mouth Some will be thankful while the memory of the mercy is fresh but afterwards leave * Plures sunt apud quos non diutius in animo sunt donata quam in usu Sen. the benef off The Carthaginians used at first to send the tenth of their yearly revenue to Hercules but by degrees they grew weary and left off * Diodor. Siculus sending David as long as he drew his breath would chirp forth God's praise Psa. 146. 2. I will sing praises to my God while I have any being David would not now and then give God a fit of Music and then the instrument must be hung up but he would continually be celebrating God's praise A godly man will express his thankfulness in every duty he mingles thanksgiving with prayer Phil. 4. 6. In every thing by prayer with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God Thanksgiving is the more divine part of prayer in our petitions we express our own necessities in our thanksgivings we declare Gods excellencies Then prayer goes up as incense when it is perfumed with thanksgiving And as a godly man expresseth thankfulness in every duty so in every condition he will be thankful in * Chrysost. ad Antioch ●om 1. ●om 17. adversity as well as prosperity 1 Thes. 5. 18. In every thing giving thanks A gracious soul is thankful and rejoiceth that he is drawn nearer to God though it be by the cords of affliction when it goes well with him he praiseth God's mercy when it goes ill with him he magnifies God's justice when God hath a rod in his hand a godly man will have a Psalm in his mouth The Devils smiting of job was like the striking upon a musical instrument he sounded forth praise The Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord job 1. 21. God's spiritual plants when they are cut and do bleed drop thankfulness the Saints Tears cannot drown their praises 2 If this be the sign of a godly man 2 Bran. than the number of the godly will appear to be very small Few are in the work of praise sinners cut God short of his thank-offering Luk. 17. 17 where are the * Theodor. nine Often Lepers healed there was but one returned to give praise the most of the world are Sepulchers to bury God's praise you shall hear some swearing and cursing but few that bless God Praise is the yearly rent that men sit at but most are behind hand with their rent God gave King Hezekiah a famous deliverance but Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him 2 Chron. 32. 25. that But was a blot in his Scutcheon some instead of being thankful to God render evil for good they are the worse for mercy Deut. 32. 6. Do ye thus requite the Lord foolish people and unwise This is like the Toad that converts the most wholesome herb to poison where shall we find a grateful Christian We read of the Saints Rev. 5. 8. Having harps in their hand the Emblem of praise many have tears in their eyes and complaints in their mouths but few that have harps in their hand who are blessing and praising the name of God Use 2 Let us put ourselves upon a scrutiny and examine by this Character whether we are godly Use 2. Trial. are we thankful for mercy 't is an hard thing to be thankful Quest. How may we know whether we are rightly thankful Answ. 1 When we are careful to register God's mercy 1 Chron. 16. 4. David appointed certain of the Levites to record and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel Physicians say the memory is the first thing that † Memori● primo senescit decays 't is true in spirituals Psal. 106. 13. They soon forgot his works A godly man enters down his mercies as a Physician his receipts into a book that they may not be lost Mercies are Jewels that should be locked up A child of God keeps two books always by him one to write his sins in that he may be humble the other to write his mercies in that he may be thankful 2 Then we are rightly thankful when our hearts are the chief instrument in the music of praise Psa. 111. 1. I will praise the Lord with my whole * heart David would not only put his Viol in tune but his heart if the heart doth not join with the tongue there can be no consort where the heart is wanting the Parrot is as good a Chorister as the Christian. 3 Then we are rightly thankful when the favours which we receive endear our love to God the more David's miraculous preservation from death drew forth his love to God Psa. 116. 1. I love the Lord it is one thing to love our mercies another thing to love the Lord many love their deliverance but not their deliverer God is to be loved more than his mercies 4 Then we are rightly thankful when in giving our praise to God we take all worthiness from ourselves Gen. 32. 10. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies thou hast showed unto thy servant as if jacob had said Lord the worst bit thou carvest me is better than I deserve 2 Sam. 9 7. Mephibosheth bowed himself and said what is thy Servant that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am So a thankful Christian when he takes a survey of his blessings and sees how much he enjoys that others better than he want Lord saith he what am I a dead dog that freegrace should look upon me and that thou shouldst crown me with such loving kindness 5 Then we are rightly thankful when we put God's mercies out of Use we turn our enjoyments into improvements the Lord gives us health and we spend and are spent for Christ 2 Cor. 12. 15. he gives us an estate and we honour the Lord with our substance Prov. 3. 9 he gives us children and we dedicate them to God and edugate them for God we do not bury our Talents but trade them this is to put out our mercies to Use a gracious heart is like a piece of good ground that having received the seed of mercy thrusts forth a crop of obedience 6 Then we are rightly thankful when we can have our hearts more enlarged for spiritual mercies than for temporal Eph. 1. 3. Blessed be God who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings A godly man blesseth God more for a fruitful heart than a full crop he is more thankful for Christ than for a Kingdom Socrates was wont to say he loved the Kings smile more than his gold a pious heart is more thankful for a smile of God's face than he would be for the gold of the Indies 7 Then we are rightly thankful when mercy is a whe● to duty it causeth a spirit of activity for God Mercy is not as the Sun to the fire to dull it but as oil to the wheel to make it run faster David wisely argues from mercy to duty Psal. 116. 8 9 Thou hast delivered my Soul from death I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living It was a saying of Bernard Lord I have two Mites a soul and a body and I give them both to * Du●s h●beo min●tias domine etc. Bern. thee 8 Then we are rightly thankful when we excite others to this Angelical work of praise David would not only bless God himself but calls upon others to do so Praise ye the Lord Psalm 111. 1. That is the sweetest music which is in consort when many Saints join together in consort than they make heaven ring of their praises as one drunkard will be calling upon another so in an holy sense one Christian must be stirring up another to the work of thankfulness 9 Then we are rightly thankful when we do not only speak God's praise but live his praise It is called gratiarum actio than we give thanks when we live thanks such as are mirrors of mercy should be patterns of piety Obad. 17. Upon Mount Zion shall be deliverance and there shall be holiness To give God oral praise and dishonour him in our lives is to commit a barbarism in religion and is to be like those jews who bowed the knee to Christ and then did spit upon him Mark 15. 19 10 Then we are rightly thankful when we do propagate God's praises to posterity we tell our children what God hath done for us in such a want he supplied us in such a sickness he raised us in such a temptation he succoured us Psa. 44. 1. O God our Fathers have told us what work thou didst in their days in the time of old By transmitting our experiences to our Children God's name is eternised and his mercies will bring forth a plentiful crop of praise when we are gone He man puts the question Psal. 88 10. Shall the dead praise thee Yes in this sense when we are dead we praise God because having left the Chronicle of God's mercies with our Children we put them upon thankfulness and so make God's praises live when we are dead dumque aurea voluet astra polus Memory semper celebrabunt cantu Use 3 Let us evidence our godliness by gratefulness Use 3. Exhor. Psa. 29. 2. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name 1 It is a good thing to be thankful Psal 147. 1. Motive It is good to sing praises to our God 'T is ill when the tongue that Organ of praise is out of tune and doth jar by murmuring and discontent but it is a good thing to be thankful it is good because this is all the creature can do to lift up God's name and it is good because it tends to the making us good the more thankful we are the more holy while we pay this tribute of praise our stock of grace increaseth in other debts the more we pay the less we have but the more we pay this debt of thankfulness the more grace we have 2 Thankfulness is the quitrent we owe to God Psa. 148. 11 13. King of the earth and all people let them praise the name of the Lord Praise is the tribute or custom to be paid into the King of heaven's Exchequer Surely while God renews our Lease we must renew our rent 3 The great cause we have to be thankful 't is a principle grafted in nature to be thankful for * Beneficium Postulat officium benefits The Heathens praised jupiter for their victories What full clusters of mercies hang upon us when we go to enumerate God's mercies we must with David confess ourselves to be nonplussed Psal. 40. 5. Many O Lord my God are thy wonderful works which thou hast done they cannot be reckoned up in Order And as God's mercies are past numbering so they are passed measuring David takes the longest measuring line he could get he measures from earth to the clouds nay above the clouds yet this measure would not reach the height of God's mercies Psal. 108. 4. Thy mercy is great above the heavens O how hath God enriched us with his silver showers a whole constellation of mercies hath shined in our Hemisphere 1 What Temporal favours have we † Chrys. received every day we see a new tide of mercy coming in the wings of mercy have covered us the breast of mercy hath fed us Gen. 48. 15. The God which hath fed me all my life long to this day What snares laid for us have been broken what fears blown over the Lord hath made our bed when he hath made others grave he hath taken such care of us as if he had none else to take care for never was the cloud of providence so black but we might see a Rainbow of Love in the cloud we have been made to swim in a sea of mercy and doth not all this call for thankfulness 2 That which may put a string more into the instrument of our praise and make it sound louder is to consider what spiritual blessings God hath conferred upon us he hath given us of the upper-springs 〈…〉 he hath opened the Wardrobe of Heaven and fetched us out a better garment than any of the Angels wear he hath given us the best robe and put upon us the Ring of faith whereby we are married to him These are mercies of the first magnitude which deserve to have an Asterist put upon them and God keeps the best Wine till last here he gives us mercies but by retail the greatest things are laid up here are some Honey drops and fore-tastes of God's love the River's of pleasure are reserved for Paradise well may we take the harp and viol and triumph in God's praise who can tread upon these hot coals of God's love and his heart not burn in thankfulness 4 Thankfulness is the best policy there is nothing lost by it to be thankful for one mercy is the way to have more 't is like pouring water into a † Ascensus gratiarum descensus gratiae Pump which fetcheth out more Musicians love to sound their trumpets where there is the best Echo and God loves to bestow his mercies where there is the best Echo of * thankfulness 5 Thankfulness is a frame of heart God delights in if repentance be the joy of heaven praise is the * music Bernard calls thankfulness the sweet Balm that drops from a Christian. Four Sacrifices God is much pleased with the sacrifice of Christ's blood the sacrifice of a broken heart the sacrifice of Alms and the sacrifice of thanksgiving Praise and Thanksgiving saith Mr. Greenham is the most excellent part of God's worship for this shall continue in the heavenly choir when all other exercises of Religion shall cease 6 What an horrid thing ingratitude is it gives a die and tincture to every other sin and makes it Crimson ingratitude is the spirits of baseness Obad. v. 7. They that eat thy bread have laid a Wound under thee Ingratitude is worse than brutish Isa. 1. 3. 'T is reported of julius Caesar that he would never forgive an ungrateful person though God be a sin-pardoning God he scarce knows not how to pardon for this jer. 5. 7. How shall I pardon thee for this thy children have forsaken me when I had fed them to the full they then committed adultery Draco whose Laws were written in blood published and edict that if any man had received a benefit from another and it could be proved against him that he had not been grateful for it he should be put to death an unthankful person is a monster in nature a Pardox in Christianity he is the scorn of heaven and the plague of earth an ungrateful man never doth well but in one thing that is when he dies 7 The not being thankful is the cause of all the Judgements which have lain upon us our unthankfulness for health hath been the cause of so much Mortality our Gospel-unthankful thankfulness and Sermon-surfeiting hath been the reason why God hath put so many Lights under a Bushel as Bradford said my unthankfulness was the death of King Edward the sixth Who will bestow cost on a piece of ground that brings forth nothing but briers unthankfulness stops the golden Vial of God's bounty that it will not drop Quest. How shall we do to be thankful Answ. 1. If you would be thankful get an heart deeply humbled in the sense of your own vileness a broken heart is the best pipe to sound forth God's praise he who studies his sins wonders that he hath any thing and that God should shine upon such a dunghill 1 Tim. 1. 13. Who was before a Blasphemer and a Persecuter but I obtained mercy How thankful was he how did he Trumpet forth freegrace A proud man will never be thankful he looks upon all his mercies to be either of his own procuring or deserving if he hath an Estate this he hath gotten by his wit and industry not considering that Scripture Deut. 8. 18. Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God for it is he that gives thee power to get Riches Pride stops the Current of gratitude O Christian think of thy unworthiness see thyself the least of Saints and the chief of Sinners and then thou wilt be thankful 2 Labour for sound evidences of God's love to you read God's love in the impress of holiness upon your hearts Gods love poured in will make the Vessels of Mercy run over with thankfulness Rev. 1. 5 6. Unto him that loved us be glory and dominion for ever The deepest Springs yield the sweetest water hearts deeply sensible of God's love yield the sweetest praises SECT XVIII 18 A godly man is a lover of the Saints Char. 18. the best way to discern grace in ones self is to love grace in others 1 joh. 3. 14. We know we have passed from death to life because we love the Brethren What is religion but religation a knitting together of hearts Faith knits us to God and love knits us one to another There is a twofold love to others 1 A civil love a godly man hath a love of civility to all Gen. 23. 7. Abraham stood up and bewed to the children of Heth Though they were extraneous and not within the pale of the Covenant yet Abraham was affable to them grace doth sweeten and refine nature 1 Pet. 3. 8. be † courteous we are to have a love of civility to all 1 As they are ex eodem luto of the same lump and mould with ourselves and are a piece of God's curious * Resert laertius de Aristotele quum ipsi probo daretur quod flagitioso homini opem tulisset eum respondisse needlework 2 Because our sweet deportment towards them may be a means to win upon them and make them in love with the ways of God a morose rugged carriage often alienates the hearts of others and hardens them the more against holiness whereas a loving behaviour is very obliging and may be as a loadstone to draw them to religion 2 There is a pious and an holy love and this a godly man doth bear chiefly to them who are of the household of † Quemadmodum ignis ea intensius caleficit quae adsita quam quae dissita sunt ●ta charitatis ignis ferventius fidei domesticos diliget quam qui sunt a fide extranei faith the other was a love of courtesy this of complacency Our love to the Saints saith Austin should be more than to our natural relations because the bond of the spirit is nearer than * Quia major est fraternitas spiritus quam sanguinis Aug. Tom. 0. that of blood This love to the Saints which evidenceth a man godly must have seven ingredients in it 1 Love to the Saints must be sincere 1 joh. 3. 18. Let us not love in word or in tongue but in deed and in truth The honey that drops from the comb is pure so must love be pure without deceit Many are like Naphtali Gen. 49. 21. he giveth goodly words Pretended love is like a painted fire which hath no heat in it Some hide malice under a false veil of love I have read of Antoninus the Emperor where he made a show of Friendship there he intended the most mischief 2 Love to the Saints must be spiritual we must love them because they are Saints not out of self-respects because they are affable or have been kind to * Ollaris amor qui tamdiù fervet quam diù olla fervida est us Hesh but we must love them under a spiritual notion because of the good that is in them we are to reverence their holiness else it is a carnal love 3 Love to the Saints must be extensive we must love all that bear God's * A quatenus ad omne valet consequentia image 1 Though they have many infirmities a Christian in this life is like a good face full of Freckles thou that canst not love another because of his imperfections didst never yet see thy own face in the glass thy brother's infirmities may make thee pity him his graces must make thee love him 2 We must love the Saints though in some things they do not coalesce and agree with us another Christian may differ from me in less matters either because he hath more light than I or because he hath less light if he differs from me because he hath more light than I have no reason to censure him if because he hath less light than I ought to bear with him as the weaker Vessel in things of an indifferent nature there ought to be Christian connivance 3 We must love the Saints though their graces outvie and surpass ours we ought to bless God for the eminency of another's grace because hereby religion is honoured Pride is not quite slain in a believer Saints themselves are apt to grudge and repine at each others excellencies is it not strange that the same person should hate one man for his sin and envy another for his virtue Christians had need look to their hearts then is love right and genuine when we can rejoice in the graces of others though they seem to eclipse ours 4 Love to the Saints must be appretiating we must esteem their persons above others Psa. 15. 4. He honours them that fear the Lord we are to look upon the wicked as lumber but upon the Saints as jewels these must be had in high veneration 5 Love to the Saints must be Social we should delight in their company Psal. 119. 63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee 'T is a kind of hell to be in the company of the wicked where we cannot choose but hear Gods name dishonoured It was a capital crime to have carried the Image of Tiberius engraven upon a Ring or Coin into any fordid place They who have the Image of God engraven upon them should not go into any sinful fordid company Never but two that I read of who were living did desire to keep company with the dead and they were possessed with the * Mat. 8. 28. Devil what comfort can a living Christian have to converse with the dead jude 2. but the society of Saints is eligible this is not to walk among the Tombs but among beds of spices Believers are Christ's garden their graces are the flowers their savoury discourse is the fragrant smell of these flowers 6 Love to the Saints must be demonstrative we should be ready to do all offices of love to them vindicate their names contribute to their necessities and like the good Samaritan pour Oil and Wine into their wounds * Haec erat aqua limpida ex fonte charitat is in miserum profluens Solitarius erat Samaritanu● accedit eum & visitat vulner atus erat haec sine naus●ae vin● expurgat oleo lenit semi-mortuus erat hic suo jumento ipsum vehit peregrinus erat hic in hospitium invehit pauper erat hic pecuniam pro illo erogat Glass exeg p. 4. in luc Luk. 0. 34. 35. Love cannot be concealed but is active in its sphere and will lay out itself for the good of others 7 Love to the Saints must be constant 1 john 4. 16. He that dwelleth in love Our love must not only lodge for a night but we must dwell in love Heb. 13. 1. Let Brotherly love * continue as love must be sincere without hypocrisy so constant without deficiency love must be like the pulse always beating not like those Galathians who at one time were ready to pull out their eyes for Paul Gal. 4. 15. and afterwards were ready to pluck out his eyes love should not expire but with our life and surely if our love to the Saints be thus divinely qualified we may hopefully conclude that we are enroled among the godly joh. 13. 35. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another That which induceth a godly man to love the Saints is because he is nearly related to them there ought to be love among relations there is a spiritual consanguinity among believers they have all one head therefore should all have one heart they are stones of the same building 1 Pet. 2. 5. and shall not these stones be cemented together with * Quando quidem lapides vivi sumus nos coadunari in unu●● templum ac mutua charitate conglutinari necesse est Calvin Use 1. Love Use 1. Is this the distinguishing Mark of a godly man to be a lover of the Saints then how sad is it to see this grace of love in an eclipse this Character of godliness is almost blotted out among Christians England was once a fair garden where the flower of love did grow but sure now this flower is either plucked or withered where is that amity and unity as should be among * Quam ardent ubique odia regnat discordia germana illa non secus ac si in tenebrosum aliquem carcerem esset inclusa aut in exilium pulsa nusquam fere inter Christianos conspicitur Christians I appeal to you would there be that censuring and despising that reproaching and undermining one another if there were love instead of bitter Tears there are bitter spirits a sign iniquity abounds because the love of many waxeth cold there is that distance among some professors as if they had not received the same spirit or as if they did not hope for the same heaven In the Primitive times there was so much love among the godly as set the heathens a wondering and now there is so little as may set Christians a blushing Use 2 Use 2. As we would be written down for Saints in God's Calendar Exhort let us love the † 1 Pet. 2. 17. Brotherhood they who shall one day live together should love together what is it makes a disciple but * Charitati nihil est virtutum regina Christianorum vexillum discipulorum perfectionis vinculum love john 13. 35. The Devil hath knowledge but that which makes him a Devil is that he wants love To persuade Christians to love consider 1 The Saints have that in them which may make us love them they are the curious embroidery and workmanship of the Holy ghost Eph. 2. 10. they have those rare lineaments of grace as none but a pencil from heaven could draw their eyes sparkle forth beauty Cant. 4 9 their breasts are like clusters of grapes Cant 7. 7. This makes Christ himself delight in his spouse The King is held in the galleries The Church is the daughter of a Prince Cant. 7. 1. she is waited on by Angels Heb: 1. ult she hath a Palace of glory reserved for her joh. 14. 2. and may not all this draw forth our love 2 Consider how evil it is for the Saints not to love 1 It is Unnatural the Saints are Christ's Lambs joh. 21. 15. for a dog to worry a Lamb is usual but for one Lamb to worry another is unnatural The Saints are brethren 1 Pet. 3. 8. how barbarous is it for brethren not to love 2 Not to love is a foolish thing have not God's people enemies enough that they should fly in the faces one of another the wicked confederate against the godly Psal. 83. 3. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people though there may fall out a private grudge betwixt such as are wicked yet they will all agree and unite against the Saints if two Gray-hounds are snarling at a bone yet put up an Hare between them and they will leave the bone and follow after the Hare so if wicked men have private differences amongst themselves yet if the godly be near them they will leave snarling at one another and will pursue after the godly now when God's people have so many enemies abroad who watch for their halting and are glad when they can do them a mischief shall the Saints fall out and divide into parties among themselves 3 Not to love is very unseasonable Gods people are in a common calamity they suffer in one cause and for them to disagree is altogether unseasonable why doth the Lord bring his people together in affliction but to bring them together in affection Metals will unite in a furnace if ever Christians unite it should be in the furnace of affliction chrysostom compares affliction to a shepherd's Dog which makes all the sheep run together God's Rod hath this loud voice in it Love one another how unworthy is it when Christians are suffering together to be then striving together 4 Not to love is very Sinful 1 For Saints not to love is to live in a contradiction to Scripture the Apostle is continually beating upon this string of love as if it made the sweetest music in Religion Rom. 13. 8. Col. 3. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 22. 1 joh. 3. 11. 1 john 4. 21. This Commandment we have from him that he who loveth God love his Brother also not to love is to walk Antipodes to the word can he be a good Physician who goes against the rules of Physic can he be a good Christian who goes against the rules of Religion 2 Want of love among Christians doth much silence the spirit of prayer hot passions make cold prayers where animosities and contentions prevail instead of praying one for another Christians will be ready to pray one against another like the Disciples who prayed for fire from heaven upon the Samaritans Luke 9 54. and will God think you hear such prayers as come from a wrathful heart will he eat of our leavened bread will he accept of those duties which are sowered with bitterness of spirit shall that prayer ever go up as incense which is offered with the strange fire of our sinful passions 3 These heartburning hinder the progress of piety in our own souls the flower of grace will not grow in a wrathful heart the body may as well thrive while it hath the Plague as a soul can that is infected with malice while Christians are debating grace is abating as the spleen grows health decays and as hatred increaseth holiness declines 5 Not to love is very fatal the differences among God's people portend † Omne divisibilé est corruptibile ruin all mischiefs come in at this gap of division Mat. 12. 25. Animosities among Saints may make God leave his Temple Ezek. 10. 4. The glory of the Lord went up from the Cherub and stood upon the threshold Doth not God seem to stand upon the threshold of his house as if he were taking his wings to ●lye and woe to us if God depart from † Host 9 12 us If the Master leave the ship it is near sinking indeed if God leave a land it must needs ●ink in ruin Quest. How shall we attain this excellent grace of love Answ. 1 Beware of the Devils Foot●osts I mean such as run on his errand and make it their work to blow the coals of contention among Christians and render one party odious to another 2 Keep up friendly meetings Christians should not be shy one of another as if they had the Plague 3 Let us plead that promise jer. 32. 39 I will give them one heart and one way Let us pray that there may be no strife among Christians but who shall love most let us ●ray that God will divide Babylon and unite ●ion Use 3 Is this a mark of a godly man Use 3. to ●ove the Saints then they must stand enlightened for ungodly who hate the Saints the wicked have an implacable malice against God's * Impii sanctorum statuas coronant eorumque virtutes odio habent people and how can antipathies be reconciled To hate Saint-ship is a brand of a reprobate they that malign the godly are the curse of the creation if all the scalding drops in God's Vial will make them miserable they shall be so Never did anya who were the haters and persecuters of Saints thrive upon that Trade What became of julian Dioclesian Maximinus Valerian Cardinal Crescentius and others some of them their bowels came out others choked with their own blood that they might be set up as standing monuments of God's vengeance Psa. 34. 21. They that hate the righteous shall be desolate SECT XIX 19 A godly man doth not indulge himself in any sin 19 Character Though sin lives in him yet he doth not live in sin Every man that hath wine in him is not in wine A godly man may step into sin through infirmity but he not keep the road Psal. 139. 24. See if there be any way of wickedness in me Quest. What is it to indulge sin Answ. 1 To give the breast to it and feed it as a fond Parent humours his child and lets him have what he will so to indulge sin is to humour sin 2 To indulge sin is to commit it with delight 1 Thess. 2. 12. They have pleasure in unrighteousness In this sense a godly man doth not indulge sin though sin be in him he is troubled at it and would fain get rid of it there is as much difference between sin in the wicked and the godly as between poison being in a Serpent and in a Man Poison in a Serpent is in its natural place and is delightful But poison in a man's body is offensive and he useth Antidotes to expel it So sin in a wicked man is delightful being in its natural place but sin in a child of God is burdensome and he useth all means to expel it This pares off from the sin the will is against it A godly man enters his protest against sin Rom. 7. 15. What I do I allow not A child of God while he commits sin hates the sin he * Suae ipsius odio habet commits Rom. 7. in particular there are four sorts of sins which a godly man will not allow himself in 1 Secret sins Some are more modest than to commit gross sin that would be a stain to their reputation but they will sit brooding upon sin in a corner 1 Sam. 23. 9 Saul secretly practised mischief All will not sin in a Belcony but perhaps they will sin behind the curtain Rachel did not carry her father's Images as a Sumpter-cloth to be exposed to public view but she put them under her and sat upon them Gen. 31. 34. many carry their sins secretly as a candle in a dark lantern But a godly man dares not sin secretly 1 he knows that God sees in secret Psal. 44. 21. as God cannot be deceived by our subtlety so he cannot be excluded by our secrecy 2 A godly man knows that secret sins are in some sense worse than others they discover more guile and Atheism The Curtain-sinner makes himself believe God doth not see Ezek. 8. 12. Son of man hast thou seen what the Ancients of the house of Israel have done in the dark for they say the Lord seeth us not They that have bad eyes think the Sun is dim how doth this provoke God that men's Atheism should give the lie to his Omnisciency Psal. 94. 9 He that form the eye shall he not * Cyril see 3 A godly man knows that secret sins shall not escape God's Justice a Judge on the Bench can punish no offence but what is proved by Witness he cannot punish the Treason of the heart but the sins of the heart are as visible to God as if they were written upon the forehead As God will reward secret duties so he will revenge secret sins 2 A godly man will not allow himself in gainful sins Gain is the golden bait with which Satan fisheth for souls dulcis odor lucri This was the last temptation he used to Christ Mat. 4. 9 All this will I give thee But Christ saw the hook under the bait Many who have escaped gross sins yet are caught in a golden Net To gain the world they will use indirect courses A godly man dares not travel for riches thorough the Devil's highway Those are sad gains that make a man lose peace of conscience and heaven at last He who getteth an estate by injustice stuffs his pillow with thorns and his head will lie very uneasy when he comes to die 3 A godly man will not allow himself in a beloved sin there is usually one sin that is the † Peccatum in delitiis Aug. favourite the sin which the heart is most fond of A beloved Sin lies in a man's bosom as the Disciple whom jesus loved leaned on his bosom joh. 13. 23. A godly man will not indulge a darling sin Psa. 18. 23. I have kept myself from mine iniquity The Sin of my constitution to which the bias of my heart doth more naturally incline 1 Kings 22. 31. Fight neither with small nor great save only with the King a godly man fights with this King-sin The Oracle of Apollo answered the people of Cyrrha that if they would live in peace among themselves they must make continual war with those strangers which were upon their confines If we would have peace in our souls we must maintain a war against our complexion-sin and never leave till it be † Thucid. subdued Quest. How shall we know the beloved sin Answ. 1 That sin which a man doth not love to have reproved is the darling Sin Herod could not endure to have his incest spoken against if the Prophet medles with that sin it shall cost him his head men can be content to have other sins declaimed against but if the Minister put his finger upon the sore and toucheth this sin their hearts begin to burn in malice against him a shrewd sign that is the Herodias 2 That sin the thoughts run most upon is the darling sin which way the thoughts go the heart goes he that is in love with a person cannot keep his thoughts off the object examine what sin runs most in your mind what sin is first in your thoughts and salutes you in the morning that is the predominant 3 That sin which hath most power over us and doth most easily lead us captive that is the beloved of the soul there ●re some sins a man can make better resistance against if they come for entertainment he can more easily put them off but there is one sin if that comes to be a suitor he cannot deny it but is overcome by it this is the bosom sin The young man in the Gospel had given a repulse to many sins but there was one sin foiled him that was covetousness Christians mark what sins you are soon led captive by that is the Harlot in your bosom 'T is a sad thing that a man should be so bewitched by lust that if it ask to part with not only half the Kingdom Esth. 7. 2. but the whole Kingdom of heaven he must part with it to gratify that lust 4 That sin which men use arguments to defend is the beloved sin he that hath a jewel in his bosom will defend it as his life so when there is any sin in the bosom men will defend it the sin we are advocates and disputants for is the complexion-sin if the sin be passion and we plead for it Io● 4. 9 I do well to be angry if the sin be covetousness and we vindicate it and perhaps wrest Scripture to justify it that is the sin which lies nearest the heart 5. That sin which doth most trouble us and flies most in our face in an hour of sickness and distress that is the Dalilah-sin When Joseph's Brethren were distressed their sin came to remembrance in selling their Brother Gen. 42. 21. We are verily guilty concerning our brother in that we saw the anguish of our brother when he be sought us and we would not hear therefore is this distress come upon us So when a man is upon his Sickbed and Conscience shall say thou hast been guilty of such a sin thou didst go on in it and roll it as honey under thy tongue Conscience reads a sad Lecture sure that was the beloved sin 6. That sin which a man doth most hardly let go his hold of is the endeared sin jacob could of all his sons most hardly part with Benjamin Gen. 42. 36. Joseph is not and Simeon is not and ye will take Benjamin away So saith the sinner this and that sin I have parted with but must Benjamin go must I part with this delightful sin that goes to the heart As it is with a Castle that hath several Forts about it the first and second Fort are taken but when it comes to the Castle the Governor will rather fight and die than yield that So a man may suffer some of his sins to be demolished but when it comes to one sin that is the taking of the Castle he will never yield to part with that surely that is the Master-sin The complexion-sin is a God-provoking sin The wise men of Troy counselled Priam to send back Helena to the Grecians not suffering himself to be any longer abused by the Charms of her beauty because the keeping her within the City would lay the foundation of a fatal war So should we put away our Dalilah-sin lest it incense the God of heaven and make him commence a war against us The complexion-sin is of all other most dangerous As Sampsons' strength lay in his hair so the strength of sin lies in this beloved sin This is like an humour striking to the heart which brings death A godly man will lay the Axe of Repentance to this sin and hew it down he sets this sin as Uriah in the forefront of the battle that it may be slain He will sacrifice this Isaac he will pluck out this right eye that he may see the better to go to heaven 4. A godly man will not allow himself in those which the world counts lesser sins There is no such thing as little sin yet some may be deemed less comparatively but a good man will not indulge himself in these As Sins of Omission Some think it no great matter to omit Family or Closet-prayer they can go several months and God never hear of them A godly man will as soon live without food as without prayer He knows every creature of God is sanctified by prayer 1 Tim. 4. 5. The Bird may sh●me many Christians it never takes a drop but the eye is lift up towards heaven 2. A godly man da●es not allow himself in vain frothy discourse much less in that which looks like an oath If God will reckon for idle words will he not much more for idle oaths 3. A godly man dares not allow himself in rash censuring Some think this a small matter Use of Exhort they will not swear but they will slander this is very evil thou woundest a man in that which is dearest to him He who is godly turns all his censures upon himself he judgeth himself for his own sins but is very chary and tender of the good name of another Use. As you would be numbered among the Genealogies of the Saints do not indulge yourselves in any * Quam absurdum est postula re à Deo omnium peccatorum veniam & ●olle repromittere omnium peccatorum fugam sin consider the mischief that one sin lived in will do 1. One sin gives Satan as much advantage against thee as more The Fowler can hold the Bird by one wing Satan held judas fast by one sin 2. One sin lived in argues the heart is not sound he who hides one Rebel in his house is a Traitor to the Crown that person who indulgeth one sin is a traitorous hypocrite 3. One sin will make way for more as a little Thief can open the door to more Sin is linked and chained † Omne peccatum est connexum Aquin. together one sin will draw on more David's adultery made way for murder One sin never goes alone if there be but one Nest-egg the Devil can brood upon it 4. One sin is as well a breach of God's Law as more jam. 2. 10. He that shall offend in one point is guilty of all If the King make a Law against Felony Treason Murder if a man be guilty but of one of these he is as well a Transgressor of the Law as if he were guilty of all 5. One sin lived in keeps out Christ from entering one stone in the Pipe keeps out the water one sin indulged obstructs the soul and keeps the streams of Christ's Blood from running into it 6. One sin lived in will spoil all thy good duties A drop of poison will spoil a glass of Wine Abimeleck a Bastard destroyed threescore and ten of his Brethren judg. 9 5. One Bastard-sin will destroy threescore and ten prayers One dead fly will corrupt the box of ointment 7. One sin lived in will be a Canker-worm to eat out the peace of Conscience it takes away the Manna out of the Ark and leaves only a Rod. Eheu quis intus scorpio Sen. Trag. One sin is a Pirate to rob a Christian of his comfort one jarring string brings all the Music out of tune one sin countenanced will spoil the Music of Conscience 8. One sin allowed will damn as well as more one disease is enough to kill If a Fence be made never so strong leave open but one gap the wild Beast may enter and tread down the corn If there be but one sin allowed in the soul you set open a gap for the Devil to enter 'T is a simile of Chrysostom a Soldier that hath his Head-piece on and Breastplate if in but one place he wants Armour the bullet may enter there and he may as well be shot as if he had no Armour on So if thou favourest but one sin thou leavest a part of thy soul unarmed and the Bullet of God's Wrath may enter there and ●hoot thee One sin may shut thee out of heaven and as Hierom * Quid refert an uno an pluribus Hier. faith What difference is there in being shut out for more sins or for one Therefore take heed of cherishing one sin One Millstone will sink a man into the Sea as well as an hundred 9 One sin harboured in the soul will unfit for suffering How soon may an hour of Trial come he who hath an hurt in his shoulder cannot carry an heavy burden and he who hath any guilt in his Conscience cannot carry the Cross of Christ Will he deny his life for Christ that cannot deny his lust for Christ One sin in the soul unmortified will bring forth the bitter fruit of Apostasy Would you then show yourselves godly give a Bill of Divorce to every sin kill the Goliah-sin Rom. 6. 12. Let not sin reign In the Original it is let not sin King it over you Grace and Sin may be together but Grace and the love of Sin cannot Therefore parley with sin no longer but with the Spear of Mortification let out the heartblood of every sin SECT XX. 20. A godly man is good in his Relations 20 Character To be good in general is not enough but we must show forth Piety in our Relations 1. He is godly who is good as a Magistrate The Magistrate is Gods Representative a godly Magistrate holds the balance of Justice and gives to every one his * Ius suum cuique tribuit right Deut. 16. 19 Thou shalt not respect persons neither take a gift for a gift doth blind the eyes A Magistrate must judge the Cause not the person He who suffers himself to be corrupted with bribes is not a judge but a Party A Magistrate must do that which is according to Law Act. 23. 3. And that he may do Justice he must examine the Cause T●e Archer that will shoot right must first see the mark 2. He is godly who is good as a Minister A Minister must be 1. Painful 2 Tim. 4. 1 2. Preach the Word be instant in season out of season The Minister must not be idle sloth is as inexcusable in a Minister as sleep in a Centinel john Baptist was a voice crying Mat. 3. 3. A dumb Minister is of no more use than a dead Physician A man of God must work in the Lord's † Oportet Episcopum concionantem mori B. Jewel Vineyard It was Augustine's wish that Christ might find him at his coming either praying or preaching 2. A Minister must be knowing Mal. 2. 7. The Priest's lips should keep knowledge and they should seek the Law at his mouth It was said in the honour of Nazianzen that he was an Ocean of Divinity The Prophets of old were called Seers 1 Sam. 9 9 'T is absurd to have our Seers blind Christ said to Peter Feed my sheep joh. 21. 16. But how sad is it when the Shepherds need to be fed Ignorance in a Minister is like blindness in an Oculist Under the Law he who had the plague in his head was unclean Levit. 13. 44. 3. A Minister must preach plain suiting his matter and stile to the capacity of his Auditory 1 Cor. 14. 19 Some Ministers like Eagles love to soar aloft in abstruse Metaphyfical notions thinking they are most admired when they are least understood they who preach in the Clouds instead of hitting their people's Conscience shoot over their heads 4 A Minister must be zealous in reproving sin Tit. 1. 13. Rebuke them sharply Epiphanius saith of Eliah he sucked fire out of his Mother breasts a man of God must suck the fire of zeal out of the breasts of Scripture Zeal in a Minister is as proper as fire on the Altar some are afraid to reprove like the Swordfish which hath a sword in his head but is without an heart so they carry the sword of the spirit about them but have no heart to draw it out in a reproof against sin Eze. 13. 18 how many have sown pillows under their people making them sleep so securely that they have never waked till they have been in hell 5 A Minister must be holy in heart and life 1 In heart How sad is it for a Minister to preach that to others which he never felt in his own soul to exhort others to holiness and himself a stranger to it O that it were not thus too often how many blow the Lords Trumpet with a foul breath 2 In Life The Priests under the Law before they served at the Altar washed in the Lavor such as serve in the Lord's house must first be washed from gross sin in the Lavor of repentance The life of a Minister should be a walking Bible Basil said of Nazianzen he did thunder in his doctrine and lighten in his conversation A Minister must imitate john Baptist who was not only a voice crying Isa ● 3. but a light shining joh. 5. 35. they disgrace this excellent calling who live in a contradiction to what they preach they turn their codices into calices † Pet. Blessens ep. 7. their books into cups and though they are Angels by office yet are Devils in their lives jer. 23. 15. 3. He is godly who is good as an Husband he fills up that relation with love Eph. 5. 25. Husband's love your Wives The Vine twisting its branches about the Elm and embracing it may be an emblem of that entire love which should be in the conjugal relation a married condition would be sad if it hath cares to embitter it and not love to sweeten it Love is the best diamond in the marriage Ring Isaac loved Rebeckah Gen. 24. 57 Unkindnesses in this near relation are very unhappy We read in Heathen Authors that Clytaemnestra the wife of Agamemnon to revenge an injury received from her Husband first rend the Veil of her chastity and afterwards consented to his death The Husband should show his love to his Wife by covering infirmities by avoiding occasions of strife by sweet endearing expressions by pious counsel by love-tokens by encouraging what he sees amiable and virtuous in her by mutual prayer by associating with her unless detained by urgency of business The Pilot that goes from his ship and quite leaves it to the merciless waves declares that he doth not esteem it or reckon any treasure to be in it The Apostle gives a good reason why there should be mutual love between Husband and Wife 1 Pet. 3. 7. That your prayers be not hindered where passions prevail there prayer is either intermitted or interrupted 4 He is godly who is good as a Father 1 A Father must drop holy instructions into his Children Eph. 6 4. Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Thus did Abraham Gen. 18. 19 I know Abraham that he will command his children and his household and they shall keep the way of the Lord Children are young plants which must be watered with good education that they may with Obadiah fear the Lord from their youth up 1 Kings 18. 12. Plato saith in vain doth he expect an harvest who hath been negligent in sowing nor can a parent look to reap any good from a child where he hath not sown the seed of wholesome instruction and though notwithstanding all counsel and admonition the child should die in sin yet it is a comfort to a godly Parent to think that before his child died he gave it spiritual physic 2. A parent must pray for his Children Monica the Mother of Austin prayed for his Conversion and one said It was impossible a Son of so many Prayers and Tears should miscarry The soul of thy Child is in a snare and wilt not thou pray that it may be recovered out of the snare of the Devil 2 Tim. 2. 26. many Parents are careful to lay up portions for their children but they do not lay up prayers for them 3 A Parent must give his children discipline Prov. 23. 13. Withhold not correction from the child for if thou beatest him with the rod he shall not die The rod beats out the dust and moth of sin a child indulged and humoured in wickedness will prove a burden instead of a blessing David cockered Adonijah 1 King 1. 6. His Father had not displeased him at any time saying why hast thou done so and he afterwards was a grief of heart to his Father and would have put him besides his throne correction is a hedge of thorns to stop Children in their full Car●eir to hell 5 He is godly who is good as a Master a godly man promotes religion in his family he sets up piety in his house as well as in his heart Psalm 101. 2. I will walk within my house with a perfect heart joshua 24. 15. ay and my household will serve the Lord I find it written in the honour of Cranmer his Family was Palaestra Pietatis a Nursery of Piety A godly man's house is a little Church Col. 4. 15. The Church which is in his house 1. A good man makes known the Oracles of God to them who are under his roof he reads the Word perfumes his house with prayer It is recorded of the jews that they had sacrifices in their Family as well as in the Tabernacle Exod. 12. 3. 2. A godly man provides necessaries he relives his servants in health and Sickness he is not like that Amalakite who shook off his servant when he was sick 1 Sam. 30. 13. But rather like the good Centurion who sought to Christ for the healing of his sick servant Mat. 8. 5. 3. A godly man sets his servants a good example he is sober and heavenly in his deportment his virtuous life is a fair glass for the servants in the family to dress themselves by 6. He is godly who is good in the Relation of a Child He honours his parents Philo the Jew placed the fifth Commandment in the first Table as if Children had not performed their whole devotion to God till they had given honour to their Parents This honouring of Parents consists in two things 1. In reverencing their persons which reverence is shown both by humility of speech and gesture The contrary to this is when a Child doth behave himself unseemly and proudly Among the Lacedæmonians if a Child had carried himself imperiously towards his parent it was published by Authority that it was lawful for the Father to appoint whom he would to be his Heir and to disinherit that Child 2. Honouring of Parents lies in obeying their Commands Eph. 6. 1. Children obey your Parents in the Lord Duty is the Interest money which children pay their Parents for the Principal they have had from * Isocr them Christ hath set all Children a pattern of obedience to their Parents Luke 2. 51. He was subject unto them The Rechabites were eminent for this jerem. 35. 5. 1 set before the Rechabites pots full of wine and said to them drink ye wine but they said we will drink no wine for Jonadab the son of Rechab our Father commanded us saying Ye shall drink no wine neither ye nor your sons for ever Solon among the many Laws he made one asked him Why he made no Law against disobedient Children he answered because he thought none would be so wicked God hath punished Children who have refused to pay the tribute of obedience Absalon a disobedient son was hanged in an Oak betwixt Heaven and Earth as being worthy of neither Manlius an old man being reduced to much poverty and having a rich son he entreated him only for an alms but could not obtain it the son disowned him as his Father and gave him reproachful language the poor old man let tears fall as witnesses of his grief and went away God to revenge this disobedience of the son soon after struck him with † Beards Theat frenzy he in whose heart godliness lives makes as well Conscience of the fifth Commandment as the first 6. He is godly who is good as a servant Col. 3. 22. Eph. 6. 5. Servants be subject to them who are your Masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling The goodness of servants lies 1. In * Ig at Ep. ad Tarsens diligence Abraham's servant made haste to dispatch the business his Master entrusted him with Gen. 24. 33. 2. Cheerfulness Servants must be Free-willers Thus the Centurion's servants Luke 7. 8. If I say to one go he goes 3. Faithfulness which consists in two things 1. In not defrauding Titus 2. 10. Not purloining 2. In keeping counsel it argues the badness of a stomach when it cannot retain what is put into it and the badness of a servant when he cannot retain those secrets which his Master hath committed to him 4. Silentness Titus 2. 9 Not answering ●●gain 'T is better to mend a fault than to mince it and that which may quicken a servant in his work is that encouraging Scripture Col. 3. 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the Inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ If Christ should bid you do a piece of work for him would ye not do it While you serve your Master you serve the Lord Christ If you ask what Salary you shall have Ye shall receive the reward of the Inberitance Use 1. Is this the Grand Sign of a godly man Use 1. to be relatively holy ●hen the Lord be merciful to us Inform. how few godly ones are to be found Many put on the Coat of Profession they will pray and discourse of points of Religion but what means the bleating of the sheep They are not good in their Relations How ill doth it sound when Christians are defective in Relative Piety Can we call him godly who is a bad Magistrate He perverts equity Psalm 58. 1. Do ye judge uprightly O ye sons of men You weigh the violence of your hands in the earth Can we call him godly who is a bad Parent He never teacheth his Child the way to heaven He is like the Ostrich which is cruel to her young job 39 19 Can we call him godly who is a bad Master Many Masters leave their Religion at Church as the Clerk doth his book they have nothing of God at home their houses are not Bethels but Beth-avens not little Temples but little Hells How many Masters at the last day must hold up their hand at the Bar though they have fed their servants bellies they have starved their souls Can we call him godly who is a bad Child He stops his ear to his Parent's counsel you may as well call him a good subject who is disloyal Can we call him godly who is a bad servant He is slothful and wilful he is more ready to spy a fault in another than to mend it in himself To call one godly who is bad in his Relations is a contradiction it is to call evil good Isa. 5. 20. Use 2. As we desire to have God approve us Use 2. let us show forth godliness in our Relations Exhort Not to be good in our relations spoils all our other good things Naaman was an honourable man but he was a Leper 2 King 5. 1. That But spoiled all so such an one is a great hearer but he neglects relative duties this stains the beauty of all his other actions as in Printing though the Letter be never so well carved yet if it be not set in the right place it spoils the sense so let a man have many things commendable in him yet if he be not good in his right place making conscience how he walks in his relations he doth hurt to religion There are many to whom Christ will say at last as to the young man Luk. 18. 22. Unum deest yet lackest thou one thing thou hast miscarried in thy relative capacity as therefore we tender our salvation and the honour of religion let us shine forth in that Orb of relation where God hath fixed us SECT XXI 21 A godly man doth spiritual things in a spiritual manner 21 Character Phil. 3. 3. We are the Circumcision which worship God in the spirit Spirit-worship is Virgin-worship 1 Pet. 2. 5. Ye are built up a spiritual house an holy priesthood to offer up spiritual * Templum dei est vir pius & ubicunque locorum fuerit altar in cord suo ponere potest sacrifices not only spiritual for the matter but the quality a wicked man either lives in the total neglect of duty or else dischargeth it in a dull careless manner in stead of using the world as if he used it not 1 Cor. 7. 30. he serves God as if he served him not a godly man spiritualizeth duty he is not only for the doing of holy things but for the holy doing of things Quest. What is it to perform spiritual duties spiritually Answ. It consists in three things 1. To do duties from a spiritual principle viz. a renewed principle of grace let a man have gifts to admiration let him have the most melting ravishing expressions let him speak like an Angel dropped out of heaven yet his duties may not be spiritual because he wants the grace of the spirit whatever a moral unregenerate person doth is but nature refined though he may do duties better than a godly man yet not so well better as to the matter and elegancy yet not so well as wanting a renewed principle a Crabtree may bear as well as a Pippin the fruit may be bigger and fairer to the eye yet it is not so good fruit as the other because it doth not come from so good a stock so an unregenerate person may perform as many duties as a child of God and these may seem to be more glorious to the outward view but they are harsh and sour because they do not come from the sweet and pleasant root of grace a true Saint gives God that wine which comes from the pure grape of the spirit 2 To perform duties spiritually is to do them with the utmost intention a Christian is very serious and labours to keep his thoughts close to the work in hand 1 Cor. 7. 35. That ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction Quest. But may not a godly man have roving thoughts in duty Answ. Yes sad experience sets seal to it the thoughts will be dancing up and down in prayer the Saints are called Stars and many times in duty they are wand'ring stars The heart is like Quicksilver which will not fix 'T is hard to tie two good thoughts together we cannot lock our hearts so close but that distracting thoughts like wind will get in Hierom * Aut per● porticus de ambulo ●ut de faenore computo etc. complains of himself sometimes saith he when I am about God's service I am walking in the galleries or casting up of accounts But these wand'ring thoughts in the godly are not allowed Psa. 119. 113. I hate vain thoughts they come as unwelcome guests which are no sooner spied but are turned out of doors Quest. Whence do these impertinent thoughts arise in the godly Answ. 1 From the pravity of nature they are the mud which the hear casts up 2. From Satan the Devil if he cannot hinder us from duty ●hee will hinder us in duty when we come before the Lord he is at our right hand to resist us Zac. 3. 1. As when one is going to write another stands at his elbow and jogs him that he cannot write even Satan will set vain objects before the fancy to cause a diversion the Devil doth not oppose formality but fervency if he sees we set ourselves in good earnest to seek God he will be whispering things in our ears that we can scarce mind what we are doing 3 These impertinent thoughts arise from the world these vermin are bred out of the earth worldly business oft crowds into our duties and while we are speaking to God our hearts are talking with the world Ezek. 33. 31. They sit before me as my people but their heart goes after their covetousness While we are hearing the word or meditating one worldly business or other commonly knocks at the door and we are taken off the duty while we are in the duty 'T is with us as with Abraham when he was going to worship the fowls came down upon the sacrifice Gen. 15. 11. Quest. How may we get rid of these wand'ring thoughts that we may be more spiritual in duty Answ. 1 Eye God's purity he is an holy God whom we serve and cannot endure when we are worshipping him that we should converse with vanity Will a King like it that while his subject is speaking to him he should be playing with a feather will God endure light feathery hearts how devout and reverend are the Angels they cover their faces and cry Holy Holy 2 Think of the Grand importance of the duties we are engaged in as David said concerning his building an house for God 2 Chron. 29. 1. The work is great when we are hearing the word the work is great this is the word by which we shall be judged when we are at prayer the work is great we are pleading for the life of our souls and is this a time to trifle 3 Come with affection to duty the nature of love is to fix the mind upon the object he who is in love his thoughts are still upon the person he loves and nothing can take them off He that loves the world his thoughts are ever intent upon it were our hearts more fired with love they would be more fixed in duty and O! what cause have we to love duty is not this the direct road to heaven do we not meet with God here can the spouse be better than in her Husband's company where can the soul be better than in drawing nigh to God 4 Consider the mischief that these vain distracting thoughts do they fly-blow our duties they hinder fervency they show high irreverence they tempt God to turn away his ear from us how do we think God should mind our prayers when we ourselves scarce mind them 3 To do duties spiritually is to do them in faith Heb. 11. 4. By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain The holy oil for the Tabernacle had several spices put into it Exod. 30. 34. Faith is the sweet spice which must be put into duty 'T is a wrong to God to doubt either of his Mercy or Truth a Christian may venture his soul upon the public faith of heaven Use 1 How far are they out of the way of Godliness Use 1. who are unspiritual in their worship who do not duties from a renewed principle and with the utmost intention of soul but merely to stop the mouth of conscience many people look no farther than the bare doing of duties but never mind how they are done God doth not judge of our duties by the length but by the love when men put God off with the dreggish part of duty may not he say as Isa. 58. 5. Is it such a Fast that I have chosen Are these the duties I required I called for the heart and spirit and you bring nothing but the Carcase of Duty should I receive comfort in this Use 2. Let us show ourselves godly Use 2. by being more spiritual in duty Exhort 't is not the quantum but the quale 't is not how much we do but how well A Musician is commended not for playing long but for playing well We must not only do what God appoints but as God appoints O how many are unspiritual in spiritual things they bring their services but not their hearts they give God the skin not the fat of the offering God is a Spirit joh. 4. 24. And it is the spirituality of duty he is best pleased * Nobis cum Deo est negotium cui nihilo minus cum carne dissidium quam igni cum aqua with 1 Pet. 2. 5. Spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God The spirits of the Wine are best so is the spiritual part of duty Eph. 5. 19 Making melody in your hearts to the Lord It is the heart makes the † Non chordula musica sed cor Music the spiritualizing of duty gives life to it without this it is dead praying dead hearing and dead things are not pleasing a dead flower hath no beauty a dead breast hath no sweetness Quest. How may we do to perform duties in a spiritual manner Answ. 1. Let the Soul be kept a Virgin lust doth besot and dis-spirit a man beware of any tincture of uncleanness jam. 1. 21. Wood that is full of sap will not easily burn and an heart steeped in sin is not fit to burn in holy devotion Can he be spiritual in worship who feeds carnal lust Host 4. 11. Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart Any sin lived in takes away the heart such an one hath no heart to pray or meditate The more alive the heart is in sin the more it dies to duty 2. If we would be spiritual in duty let us revolve these two things in our mind 1. The profit which comes from a duty performed in a spiritual manner it infeebles Corruption it increaseth Grace it defeats Satan it strengthens our Communion with God it breeds peace of Conscience it procures Answers of Mercy and it leaves the heart always in a better tune 2. The danger of doing duties in an unspiritual manner they are as if they had not been done for what the heart doth not do is not * Quiequid cor non facit non fit done Duties slubbered over turn Ordinances into Judgements Therefore many though they are often in duty they go away worse from duty If Physic be not well made and the ingredients rightly tempered it is as bad as poison for the body So if duties are not well performed they leave the heart more hard and sinful than before Duties unspiritual oft create Judgements temporal 1 Chron. 15. 13. The Lord our God made a breach upon us for that we sought him not after the due order Therefore God makes breaches in Families and Relations because persons worship him not in that manner and due order which he requires 3. If we would have our duties spiritual we must get our hearts spiritual an earthly heart cannot be spiritual in duty Let us beg of God a spiritual  to relish a sweetness in holy things for want of spiritual hearts we come to duty without delight and go away without profit If a man would have the wheels of his Watch move regularly he must mend the Spring Christian if thou wouldst move more spiritually in duty get the Spring of thy heart mended SECT XXII 22. A godly man is thoroughpaced in Religion 22 Character he obeys every Command of God Act. 13. 22. I have found David a man after mine own heart which shall fulfil all my will In the Greek all my wills A godly man labours to walk according to the full breadth and latitude of Gods Law Every Command hath the same stamp of Divine Authority upon it and he who is godly will obey one Command as well as another Psal. 119. 6. Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect to all thy Commandments A godly man goes through all the Body of Religion as the Sun through all the Signs of the Zodiac He that is to play upon a ten-stringed Instrument must strike upon every string or he spoils all the Music The ten Commandments may be compared to a ten-stringed Instrument we must obey every Commandment strike upon every string or we can make no sweet Music in Religion True obedience is filial it is fit the Child should obey the Parent in all just and sober commands Gods Laws are like the Curtains of the Tabernacle which were looped together they are like a Chain of Gold where all the links are coupled A conscientious man will not willingly break one Link of this Chain if one Command be violated the whole Chain is broken jam. 2. 10. Whosoever shall keep the whole Law yet offend in one point is guilty of all A voluntary breach of one of God's Laws involves a man in the guilt and exposeth him to the curse of the whole Law True obedience is entire and uniform A good heart like the Needle points that way which the Loadstone draws This is a grand difference between a Child of God and an hypocrite the hypocrite doth pick and choose in Religion some duties he will perform which are more facile and do gratify his pride or interest but other duties he makes no reckoning of Mat. 23. 23. Ye pay tithe of Mint and Annis and have omitted the weightier matters of the Law judgement Mercy and Faith To sweat in some duties of Religion and freeze in other is the symptom of a distempered Christian. jehu was zealous in destroying the Idolatry of Baal but let the golden Calves of Jeroboam stand 2 Kin. 10. 30. This shows men are not good in truth when they are good by halves If your servant should do some of your work you set him about and leave the rest undone how would you like that The Lord saith Walk before me and be perfect Gen. 17. 1. How are our hearts perfect with God when we prevaricate with him Some things we will do and other things we leave undone he is good who is good universally Pater adsum impera quid vis Plautus There are ten duties God calls for which a godly man will conscientiously perform and indeed these Duties may serve as so many other Characters and Touchstones to try our godliness by 1 A godly man will be often calling his heart to account 1 Duty he takes the candle of the word and searcheth his inward parts Psa. 77. 6. I common with my own heart and my spirit made diligent search a gracious soul searcheth whether there be any duty omitted any sin cherished he examines his evidences for heaven as he will not take his gold upon trust so neither his grace he is a spiritual Merchant he casts up the estate of his soul to see what he is worth he sets his house in order often reckonings keep God and conscience friends a carnal person cannot abide this heart-work he is ignorant how the affairs go in soul he is like a man who is well acquainted in foreign parts but a stranger in his own country ut nemo insese tentat descendere nemo 2 A godly man is much in closet-prayer he keeps his hours for private devotion jacob when he was left alone wrestled with God Gen. 32. 24. So when a gracious heart is alone it wrestles in prayer and will not leave God till it hath a blessing a devout Christian exerciseth eyes of faith and knees of prayer Hypocrites who have nothing of religion besides the frontispiece love to be seen Christ hath Characterised them Mat. 6. 5. They love to pray in the corners of the streets that they may be * plus valet qua Beza seen The hypocrite is devout in the Temple there all will gaze on him but he is a stranger to secret communion with God he is in the Church a Saint but in his closet an Atheist a good Christian holds secret intelligence with heaven ille dolet verè qui sine teste dolet Private prayer keeps up the trade of godliness when closet-holiness is laid aside there is a stab given to the hear● of religion 3 3 Duty A godly man is diligent in his † Nullus mihi per otium dies exit Sen. ep 8. calling he takes care to provide for his family the Church must not exclude the shop 'T is a speech of Mr. Perkins though a man be endued with excellent gifts and hear the word with reverence and receive the sacrament yet if he practise not the duties of his calling all is but hypocrisy religion did never grant a patent for idleness 2 Thess. 2. 11 12. There are some which walk among you disorderly working not at all them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord jesus that with quietness they work and eat their own bread That bread eats most sweet which is got with most sweat a godly man had rather fast than eat the bread of idleness Vain professors talk of living by faith but do not live in a calling they are like the Lilies of the field they toil not neither do they spin an idle person is the Devil's Tennis-ball which he bandies up and down with temptation and at last the Ball falls into the Hazzard 4 A godly man sets bounds to himself in things lawful 4 Duty he abates in matters of recreation and diet he takes only so much for the recruits of nature as may the better dispose him for God's service Hierom lived abstemiously his diet was a few dried Figs and cold water And Austin in his Confessions saith thus Lord thou hast taught me to go to my meat as to a * Lib. 10. confess medicine If the snaffle of reason much more should the curbing-bit of grace check the † Magnu● sum & majora natus ut sim corporis mei mancipium Seneca appetite the life of a Sinner is brutish the glutton feeds without fear jude 2. and the drunkard drinks without * Claud reason Too much oil chokes the Lamp whereas a lesser quantity makes it burn brighter a godly man holds the golden bridle of temperance and will not suffer his Table to be a snare 5 A godly man is careful about moral righteousness 5 Duty he makes conscience of equity as well as piety the Scripture hath linked both together Luk. 1. 75. That we might serve him in righteousness and true holiness Holiness there is the first Table Righteousness there is the second Table Though a man may be morally righteous and not godly yet no man can be godly but he must be morally righteous This moral righeousness is seen in our dealings with men a good man observes that golden maxim Mat. 7. 12. Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them There is a threefold injustice in matters of dealing 1 Using of false weights Host 12. 7. The balances of deceit are in his hands men by making their weights lighter make their sin heavier Amos 5. 8. They make the Ephah small the Ephah was a measure they used in selling they made the Ephah small they gave but scant measure a godly man who takes the Bible in one hand dares not use false weights in the other 2 Embasing a commodity Amos 8. 6. They sell the refuse of the wheat they would pick out the best grains of the wheat and sell the worst at the same price as they did the best Isa. 1. 22. Thy wine is mixed with water they did adulterate their wine yet make their customers believe it came from the pure grape 3 Taking a great deal more than the commodity is worth Leu. 25. 14. If thou sell aught to thy neighbour ye shall not oppress one another a godly man deals exactly but not exactingly he will sell so as to help himself but not damnify another His motto is A conscience void of offence towards God and towards men Act. 23. 16. The Hypocrite separates these two which God hath joined together Righteousness and Holiness he pretends to be pure but is not just This brings religion into contempt when men hang forth Christ's colours yet will use fraudulent circumvention and under a mask of piety neglect morality a godly man makes conscience of the second Table as well as the first 6 A godly man will forgive them that have wronged him 6 Duty revenge is sweet to nature Hom. II. A gracious spirit passeth by affronts forgets injuries and counts it a greater victory to conquer an enemy by patience than by † Haud quaquam offensas ●●bi illatas chaly●eo stilo marmore insculpit se● Dei imitatur qui injurias molli inscribit palimpsesto cui gratiae suae spongia alligata est ut illas statim deleat power This is truly heroical To overcome evil with good Though I would not trust an Enemy yet I would endeavour to love him though I would exclude him out of my Creed yet not out of my prayer Mat. 5. 4. Quest. But doth every godly man arrive at this to forgive yea love his Enemies Answ. He doth it in a Gospel-sense that is 1. Quoad assensum he subscribes to it in his judgement as a thing which ought to be done Rom. 7. 18. With my mind I serve the Law of God 2. Quoad dolorem A godly man mourns that he can love his Enemies no more Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am O this base cankered heart of mine that have received so much mercy and can show so little I have had Talents forgiven me yet I can hardly forgive Pence 3. Quoad votum A godly man prays that God will give him an heart to love his Enemies Lord pluck this root of bitterness out of me perfume my soul with love make me a Dove without gall 4. Quoad conatum A godly man doth in the strength of Christ resolve and strive against all rancour and virulency of spirit This is in a Gospel-sense to love our * Amicos ●iligere omnium est inimico● autem s●lorum Christi anorum Tert. ad Scapull cap. 8. Enemies a wicked man cannot do this his malice boils up to revenge 7. Duty 7. A godly man lays to heart the miseries of the Church Psal. 137. 1. We wept when we remembered Zion I have read of certain Trees whose leaves if cut or touched the other leaves begin to contract and shrink up themselves and for a space hang down their heads Such a spiritual sympathy is there among Christians when other parts of God's Church suffer they feel themselves as it were touched in their own persons Ambrose reports that when Theodosius was sick unto death he was more troubled about the Church of God than about his own sickness When Aeneas would have saved Anchises his life saith he Absit ut excisa possim supervivere Troiâ Virg. Far be it from me that I should desire to live when Troy is buried in its ruins there are in Music two Unisons if you strike one you shall perceive the other to stir as if it were affected When the Lord strikes others a godly heart is deeply affected Isa. 16. 11. My bowels shall sound like an Harp Though it be well with a Child of God in his own particular he dwells in an house of Cedar yet he grieves to see it go ill with the public Queen Esther enjoyed the King's favour and all the delights of the Court yet when a bloody Warrant was signed for the death of the Jews she mourns and fasts and ventures her own life to save theirs 8. 8 Duty A godly man is contented with his present † Dives est qui ni nil concupiscit condition if provisions grow low his heart is tempered to his condition Many saith Cato blame me because I want and I blame them because they cannot want A godly man puts a candid interpretation upon Providence when God brews him a bitter Cup this saith he is my diet-drink it is to purge me and do my soul good therefore he is well * Phil. 4 11. content 9 A godly man is fruitful in good works 9 Duty Titus 2. 7. The Hebrew word for godly signifies merciful implying that to be godly and charitable are one and the same A good man feeds the hungry clothes the naked he is ever merciful † cyril Psal. 37. 6. The more devout sort of the Jews at this day distribute the tenth part of their Estate to the poor and they have a Proverb among them give the tenth and you will grow * Decima ut dives fias rich The hypocrite is all for Faith nothing for Works like the Laurel that makes a flourish but bears no fruit 10. A godly man will suffer persecution 10 Duty he will be married to Christ though he settle no other Jointure upon him but the Cross he suffers out of † Heb. 11. 35. choice and with a spirit of gallantry Argerius wrote a Letter to his friend dated From the pleasant Garden of the Leonine prison The blessed Martyrs who put on the whole Armour of God did by their courage blunt the edge of Persecution The Juniper Tree makes the coolest shadow and the hottest coal So Persecution makes the coal of love hotter and the shadow of death cooler Thus a godly man goes round the whole Circle of Religious Duties and obeys God in what ever he commands Polynices ap Erip. Object But it is impossible for any one to walk according to the full breadth of God's Law and to follow God fully Answ. There is a twofold obeying God's Law the first is perfect when all is done that the Law requires this we cannot arrive at in this life Secondly There is an incomplete obedience which in Christ is accepted This consists in four things 1. An approving of all God's Commandments Rom. 7. 12. The Commandment is just and holy and good and ver 16. I consent unto the Law that it is good There is both assent and consent 2. A sweet complacency in God's Commands Psal. 119. 47. I will delight myself in thy Commandments which I have loved 3. A cordial desire to walk in all God's Commands Psal. 119. 5. O that my ways were directed to keep thy Statutes 4. A real endeavour to tread in every path of the Command Psal. 119. 59 I turned my feet unto thy Testimonies This God esteems perfect obedience and is pleased to take it in good part Zacharias had his failings he did hesitate through unbelief for which he was strucken dumb yet it is said he did walk in all the Commandments of the Lord blameless Luke 1. 6. Because he did cordially endeavour to obey God in all things Evangelical obedience is true for the essence though not perfect for the degree and wherein it comes short Christ puts his Merits into the Scales and then there is full weight SECT XXIII 23. A godly man walks with God 23 Character Gen. 6. 9 Noah walked with God The Age in which Noah lived was very corrupt ver 5. The wickedness of man was great in the earth But the iniquity of the times could not put Noah out of his walk Noah walked with God Noah is called a Preacher of Righteousness 2 Pet. 2. 5. Noah preached 1. By Doctrine his preaching was say some of the Rabbins after this manner Turn ye from your evil ways that the waters of the Flood come not upon you and cut off the whole seed of the Race of * R. Eli●z c. 22. Adam 2. Noah preached by his life he preached by his humility patience sanctity Noah walked with God Quest. What is it to walk with God Answ. Walking with God imports five things 1. A walking as under God's eye Noah did reverence a Deity A godly man sets himself as in God's presence knowing his Judge looks * Iso●r on Psalm 16. 8. I have set the Lord always before me Here was David's Optics 2. Walking with God implies the familiarity and intimacy the soul hath with God Friends walk together and solace themselves one with another The godly make known their requests to God and he makes known his love to them There is a sweet intercourse between God and his people 1 john 1. 3. Our our Communion is with the Father and his Son jesus 3. Walking with God is a walking above the earth A godly man is elevated above all sublunary objects that person must ascend very high who walks with God A Dwarf cannot walk among the Stars nor can a dwarfish earthly soul walk with God 4. Walking with God denotes visible piety walking is a visible posture grace must be conspicuous to the beholders He walks with God who discovers something of God in his carriage he shines forth in a Bible-Conversation 5. Walking with God imports a continued progress in Grace it is not only a step but a walk there is a going on towards perfection A godly man doth not sit down in the middle of his way but goes on till he comes at the † Quid prodest currere & ante cursus metam defecere Bern. end of his Faith 1 Pet. 1. 9 Though a good man may be extra semitam yet not extra viam He may through infirmity step aside as Peter did but he recovers himself by repentance and goes on in a progress of holiness job 17. 9 The righteous also shall hold on his way Use 1. See from hence Use 1. Inform. how improper it is to call them godly who do not walk with God They would have Noah's Crown but they do not love Noah's walk Most are found in the Devils black walk Phil. 3. 18. Many walk of whom I tell you weeping that they are the Enemies of the Cross of * Cyrill Christ 1. Some will commend walking with God and say it is the rarest life in the world but will not set one foot in the way all that commend Wine do not come up to the price many a Father commends virtue to his Child but doth not set him a pattern 2. Others walk a few steps in the good old † Jer. 6. 16. way but they retreat back again If the ways of God were not good why did they enter into them If they were good why did they forsake them 2 Pet. 2. 21. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after they have known it to turn from the holy Commandment 3. Others slander walking with God that it is a melancholy walk and such as are less zealous are more prosperous this God accounts blasphemy 2 Pet. 2. 2. The way of truth shall be evil spoken of In the Greek it is it shall be blasphemed 4. Others deride walking with God as if it were a way of foolish preciseness What you will be of the Holy Tribe You will be wiser than * Psal. 137. 3. others There are some persons if it were in their power would jeer Holiness out of the world The Chair of the Scornful stands at the Mouth of † Pro. 19 29. Hell 5. Others instead of walking with God walk after the * 2 Pet. ● 10. flesh 1. They walk by Fleshly Opinions 2. They walk after Fleshly Lusts. 1. They walk by Fleshly Opinions There are six of these 1. That it is best to do as the most do 1 Opin to steer after the course of the World to be in the Mode not to get a new heart but to get into a new fashion 2 That Reason is the highest Judge and Umpire in matters of Religion 2 Opin we must believe no farther than we can see for a man to become a fool that he may be wise 1 Cor. 3. 18 Phil. 3. 9 to be saved purely by the righteousness of another to keep all Mar. 10. 39 by losing all this the natural man will by no means put in his Creed 3 That a little Religion will serve the turn 3 Opin the life-less form may in policy be kept up but zeal is Frenzy the world thinks that religion to be best which like leafgold is spread very thin 4 That way is not good 4 Opin which is exposed to affliction a stick though it be strait yet under water it seems crooked So Religion if it be under affliction appears to a carnal eye crooked 5 That all a man's care should be for the present 5 Opin as that profane Cardinal said he would leave his part in Paradise to keep his Cardinalship in Paris 6 That Sinning is better than Suffering 6 Opin 't is more discretion to keep the skin whole than the Conscience pure These are such Rules as the Crooked Serpent hath found out which whosoever walk by shall not know Peace 2 They walk after fleshly lusts they do turn Caterers for the * Animalia ventris Luther flesh Rom. 13. 14. such an one was the Emperor Heliogabalus he so indulged the flesh that he never sat but among sweet flowers mixed with Amber and Musk he attired himself with Purple set with precious stones he burned in his Lamps instead of oil a costly Balsam brought from Arabia very odoriferous he bathed himself in perfumed waters he did he put his body to no other use Epictetus but to be a strainer for meat and drink to run thorough Thus Sinners walk after the flesh if a drunken or unclean lust call they gratify it they brand all for cowards who dare not sin after the same rate as they do These instead of walking with God walk contrary to him Lust is the Compass they sail by Satan is their Pilot and Hell the Port they are bound for Use 2 Let us try whether we have this Character of the godly Use 2. do we walk with God Trial. That may be known 1 By the way we walk in it is a private retired way wherein only some few holy ones walk therefore it is called a Pathway to distinguish it from the common road Pro. 12. 28. In the pathway thereof is no death 2 If we walk with God than we walk in the fear of God Gen. 5. 22. Enoch walked with God The Chalde Version renders it he walked in the fear of the Lord the godly are fearful of that which may displease God Gen. 39 9 How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God this is not a base servile fear but 1 A fear springing from affection Host 3. 5. a child fears to offend his father out of the tender affection he bears to him This made holy Anselm say If Sin were on one side and Hell on the other I would rather leap into Hell than willingly offend my God 2 It is a fear joined with affiance Heb. 11. 7. By faith Noah moved with fear Faith and fear go hand in hand when the soul looks upon God's holiness he fears when he looks upon God's promises he believes A godly man doth tremble yet trust fear preserves reverence faith preserves cheerfulness fear keeps the soul from lightness faith keeps it from overmuch sadness By this we may know whether we walk with God if we walk in the fear of God we are fearful of infringing his Laws and forfeiting his love It is a brand set upon sinners Rom. 3. 18. They have not the fear of God before their eyes The godly fear and offend not Psa. 4. 4. the wicked offend and fear not jerem. 5. 23 24. Loose and dissolute walking will soon estrange God from us and make him weary of our company 2 Cor. 6. 4. What communion hath light with darkness Use 2. Let me persuade all who would be accounted godly Use 2. to get into Noah's walk Exhort Though the truth of grace be in the heart yet the beauty of it is seen in the walk 1. Walking with God is very pleasing to God He that walks with God declares to the world what is the company he loves most his fellowship is with the Father he counts those the sweetest hours which are spent with God this is very grateful and acceptable to God Gen. 5. 24. Enock walked with God And see how kindly God took this at Enocks hands Heb. 11. 4. He had this testimony that he pleased God 2. Close walking with God will be a good means to entice and allure others to walk with him The Apostle exhorts Wives to walk so that the Husbands might be won by the Conversation of the * Est pellax virtutis odor Wives 1 Pet. 3. 1. justin Martyr confessed he became a Christian by beholding the holy and innocent lives of the Primitive † Euseb. Saints 3. Close walking with God would put to silence the Adversaries of the Truth 1 Pet. 2. 15. A loose carriage puts a Sword into wicked men's hands to wound Religion What a sad thing is it when it shall be said of Professors they are as proud as coverous as unjust as others Will not this expose the ways of God to contempt But holy and close walking would stop the mouths of sinners that they should not be able to speak against God's people without giving themselves the lie Satan came to Christ and found nothing in him john 14. 30. What a confounding thing will it be to the wicked when they shall have nothing to fasten as a crime upon the godly but their holiness Dan. 6. 5. We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the Law of his God 4. Walking with God is a pleasant walk The ways of Wisdom are called Pleasantness Pro. 3. 17. Is not the light pleasant Psal. 89. 15. They shall walk O Lord in the light of thy countenance Walking with God is like walking among Beds of * Arist l. 1. Spices which send forth a fragrant perfume This is it which brings peace Act. 9 31. Walking in the fear of the Lord and in the joys of the Holy Ghost While we walk with God what sweet Music doth the Bird of Conscience make in our breast Psal. 138. 5. They shall sing in the ways of the Lord 5. Walking with God is honourable it is a credit for one of an inferior rank to walk with a King What greater dignity can be put upon a mortal man than to converse with his Maker and to take a turn with God every day 6. Walking with God leads to rest Heb. 4. 9 There remains a rest for the people of God The Philosopher saith Motion tends to * Motus tendit ad quietem rest Indeed there is a motion which doth not tend to rest they who walk with their sins shall never have rest Re. 4. 8. They rest not day & night But they that walk with God shall sit down in the Kingdom of God Luk. 13. 29. As a weary traveller when he comes home sits down and rests him Rev. 3. 21. To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my Throne A Throne denotes Honour & sitting denotes rest 7. Walking with God is the most safe walking Walking in the ways of sin is like walking upon the edge of a River The sinner treads upon the banks of the bottomless Pit and if Death gives him a jog he tumbles in but it is safe going in God's way Pro. 3. 23. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely He walks safe who walks with a Guard he that walks with God shall have God's Spirit to guard him from sin and Gods Angels to guard him from danger Psal. 91. 11. 8. Walking with God will make death sweet It was Augustus his wish that he might have an a quiet easy death without much pain If any thing make our Pillow easy at death it will be this that we have walked with God in our Generation Do we think walking with God can do us any hurt Did we ever hear any cry out upon their Deathbed that they have been too holy that they have prayed too much or walked with God too much No that which hath cut them to the heart hath been this that they have walked no more closely with God they have wrung their hands and torn their hair to think that they have been so bewitched with the pleasures of the World Close walking with God will make our Enemy Death to be at peace with us King Ahashuerus when he could not sleep called for the Book of Records and read in it Esther 6. 1. So when the violence of sickness causeth sleep to depart from our eyes and we can call for Conscience that Book of Records and find written in it such a day we humbled our souls by fasting such a day our hearts melted in prayer such a day we had sweet communion with God what a reviving will this be How may we look death in the face with comfort and say Lord now take us up to thee in Heaven where we have so often been by affection let us now be by fruition 9 Walking with God is the best way to know the mind of God friends who walk together impart their secrets one to another Psa. 25. 14. The secrets of the Lord is with them that fear him Noah walked with God and the Lord revealed a great secret to him of destroying the Old World and saving him in the Ark. Abraham walked with God Gen. 24. 40. and God made him one of his Privy-council Gen. 18. 17. Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do God doth sometimes sweetly unbosom himself to the soul in Prayer and in the holy Supper as Christ made himself known to the Disciples in the breaking of bread Luk. 24. 35 10 They who walk with God shall never be wholly left of God the Lord may retire himself for a time to make his people cry after him the more but he will not quite leave them Isa. 54. 8. I hid my face for a moment but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee God will not cast off any of his old acquaintance he will not part with one that hath born him company Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him Gen. 5. 24. He took him up to heaven as the Arabic renders it Enoch was lodged in the bosom of divine Love Quest. How may we do to walk with God Answ. 1 Get out of the old road of sin he that would walk in a pleasant meadow must turn out of the road The way of sin is full of Travellers there are so many travelling in this road that hell though it be of a great circumference is fain to enlarge itself and make room for them Isa. 5. 14. This way of sin seems pleasant but the end is damnable I have saith the Harlot perfumed my bed with Myrrh Aloes and Cinnamon Prov. 7. 17. See how with one sweet the Cinnamon there were two bitters Myrrh and Aloes for that little sweet in sin at present there will be a far greater proportion of bitterness afterwards Therefore get out of these briers you cannot walk with God and sin 2 Cor. 6. 14. What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness 2 If you would walk with God get acquaintance with him job 22. 21. Acquaint now thyself with him Know God in his attributes and promises strangers do not walk together 3 Get all differences removed Amos 3. 3. Can two walk together except they are agreed This agreement and reconciliation is made by faith Rom. 3. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood When once we are friends than we shall be called up to the Mount as Moses and have this dignity conferred on us to be the favourites of heaven and to walk with God 4 If you would walk with God get a liking to the ways of God They are adorned with beauty Prov. 4. 18. sweetened with pleasure Prov. 3. 17. fenced with truth Rev. 15. 3. accompanied with Life Acts 2. 28. lengthened with eternity Hab. 3. 6. be enamoured with the way of Religion and you will soon walk in it 5 If you would walk with God take hold of his arm such as walk in their own strength will soon grow weary and tyre Psal. 71. 16. I will go in the strength of the Lord God We cannot walk with God without God let us press him with his promise Isa. 36. 27. I will cause you to walk in my statutes If God take us by the hand than we shall walk and not faint Isa. 40. 31. SECT XXIV 24 He who is godly 24 Character labours to be an instrument of making others godly he is not content to go to heaven alone but would bring others thither Spiders work only for themselves but Bees work for others A godly man is both a Diamond and a Loadstone a Diamond for the sparkling lustre of grace and a Loadstone for his attractiveness he is ever drawing others to the embracing of Piety Living things have a propagating virtue where Religion lives in the heart there will be an endeavour to propagate the life of grace in those we converse with Philemon v. 10. My son Onesimus whom I have begotten in my bonds Though God be the fountain of grace yet the Saints are pipes to transmit living streams to others This thirsty endeavour after the conversion of souls proceeds 1 From the nature of Godliness it is like fire which assimilates and turns every thing into its own nature where there is the fire of grace in the heart it will endeavour to inflame others grace is an holy leaven which will be seasoning and leavening others with divine principles Paul would fain have converted Agrippa how did he court him with Rhetoric Act. 26. 27. King Agrippa believest thou the Prophets I know that thou believest his Zeal and Eloquence had almost captivated the King ver 28. Then Agrippa said unto Paul almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. 2 A godly man attempts the conversion of others out of a spirit of compassion Grace makes the heart tender a godly man cannot choose but pity such as are in the gall of bitterness he sees what a deadly cup is a brewing for the wicked they must without repentance be bound over to God's wrath the fire which reigned on Sodom was but a painted fire in comparison of hellfire this is a fire with a vengeance jude 7. Suffering the Vengeance of eternal fire now a godly man seeing captive Sinners ready to be damned labours to convert them from the error of their way 2 Cor. 5. 11. Knowing the terror of the Lord we persuade men 3 A godly man endeavours the good of others out of an holy zeal he bears to Christ's glory the glory of Christ is dear to him as his own salvation therefore that this may be promoted he labours Summo conatu to bring in souls to Christ 'T is a glory to Christ when multitudes are born to him every star adds a lustre to the sky every convert is a member added to Christ's body and a jewel adorning his Crown Though Christ's glory cannot be increased as he is God yet as he is Mediator it may the more are saved the more Christ is exalted why else should the Angels rejoice at the Conversion of a † Luke 15. 10. Sinner but because now Christ's glory shines the more Use 1. This excludes them from the number of godly Use 1. who are spiritual Eunuches 1 Bran. they labour not to promote the Salvation of others Nascitur indignè per quem non nascitur alter Did men love Christ they would endeavour to draw as many as they could to him He who loves his Captain will persuade others to come under his Banner this unmasks the hypocrite Though an hypocrite may make a show of Grace himself yet he never minds the procuring Grace in others he is without bowels I may allude to that Zac. 11. 9 That which dies let it die and that which is cut off let it be cut off Let souls go to the Devil he cares not 2. How far are they from being godly 2 Bran. who instead of endeavouring Grace in others labour to destroy all hopeful beginnings of Grace in them Instead of drawing them to Christ they draw them from Christ their work is to poison and mischief souls This mischieving of souls is three ways 1. By evil Edicts So Jeroboam made Israel sin 1 King 17. 26. He forced them to Idolatry 2. By evil Examples Examples speak louder than Precepts but principally the examples of great ones are influential Men placed on high are like the Pillar of Cloud when that went Israel went If great ones move irregularly others will follow after 3. By evil Company the breath of sinners is * Nemo errat sibi ipsi sed dementiam suam spargit in Proximos Sen. Epist. infectious they are like the Dragon which cast a flood out of his mouth Revel 12. 15. They cast a flood of oaths out of their mouth Wicked tongues are set on fire of Hell jam. 3. 6. The sinner finds Match and Powder and the Devil finds fire The wicked are ever setting snares and temptations before others as the Prophet speaks in another sense jer. 35. 5. I set pots full of wine and cups and said unto them drink So the wicked set pots of Wine before others and make them drink till Reason be stupefied and Lust inflamed These are prodigiously wicked who make men Proselytes to the Devil How sad will their doom be who besides their own sins have the blood of others to answer for 3. If it be the sign of a godly man to promote Grace in others 3 Bran. then much more ought he to promote it in his near Relations A godly man will be careful that his Children should know God he would be sorry that any of his flesh should burn in hell he labours to see Christ form in them who are himself in another Edition Austin saith That his Mother Monica traveled with greater care and pain for his Spiritual Birth than for his † Lib. 5. Confess Natural The time of Childhood is the fittest time to be sowing seeds of Religion in our Children Isa. 28. 9 Whom shall he make understand Doctrine Them that are weaned from the milk that are drawn from the breasts The Wax while it is soft and tender will take any impression Children while they are young will fear a reproof when they are old they will hate it 1. It is pleasing to God that our Children should know him betimes When you come into a garden you love to pluck the young bud and smell to it God loves a Saint in the bud of all the Trees the Lord made choice of in a Prophetical Vision it was the Almond Tree which blossoms one of the first of the * Jer. 1 11 Trees Such an Almond Tree is an early Convert 2. By endeavouring to bring up our Children in the fear of the Lord we shall provide for God's glory when we are † Celebre honoris divini trophaeum etiam mortui in altum feremus dead A godly man should not only honour God while he lives but do something that may promote God's glory when he is dead Our Children being seasoned with gracious Principles will stand up in our room when we are gone and will glorify God in their generation A good piece of ground doth not only bear a fore-crop but an after-crop he that is godly doth not only bear God a crop of obedience himself while he lives but by principling his Child with Religion he bears God an after-crop when he is dead Use 2. Let all who have Gods Name named upon them Use 2. Exhort do what in them lies to advance Piety in others A Knife touched with a Loadstone will draw the Needle he whose heart is divinely touched with the Loadstone of God's Spirit will endeavour to draw those who are near him to Christ The Heathen could say We are not born for ourselves * Non nobis solum nati only The more excellent any thing is the more communicative in the body every member is diffusive the eye conveys light the head spirits the liver blood a Christian must not move altogether within his own circle but endeavour the welfare of † Vir bonus magis aliis prodest quam sibi others To be diffusively good makes us resemble God whose sacred influence is universal And surely it will be no grief of heart when Conscience can witness for us that we have brought glory to God in this manner by labouring to fill heaven Not that this is any ways Meritorious Caution or hath any causal influence upon our Salvation Christ's blood is the cause but our promoting Gods glory in the Conversion of others is a signal evidence of our Salvation As the Rainbow is not a cause why God will not drown the World but it is a sign that he will not drown it or as Rahabs Scarlet thread she hung out of the * Josh. 2. ●8 window was not a cause why she was exempted from destruction but it was a sign of her being exempted so our building up others in the Faith is not a cause why we are saved but it is a Symbol of our Piety and a presage of our felicity And thus I have shown the Marks and Characters of a godly man If a person thus described be reputed a Fanatic then Abraham and Moses and David and Paul were fanatics which I think none will dare to affirm but Atheists CHAP. V. Containing two Conclusions COncerning the Characteristical signs  I shall lay down two Conclusions 1 These Characters are a Christians box of evidences 1 Conclus for as an impenitent sinner hath the signs of reprobation upon him whereby as by so many spots and tokens he may know he shall die so he who can show these happy signs of a godly man may see the Symptoms of Salvation in his Soul and may know he is passed from death to life he is as sure to go to heaven as if he were in heaven already such a person is undoubtedly a member of Christ and if he should perish than something of Christ might perish These blessed Characters may comfort a Christian under all worldly dejections and Diabolical suggestions Satan tempts a Child of God with this that he is an hypocrite and hath no title to the Land of promise a Christian may pull out these evidences and put the Devil to prove that ever any wicked man or hypocrite had such a fair Certificate to show for heaven Satan may sooner prove himself a liar than the Saint an hypocrite 2 He who hath one of these Characters in truth 2 Conclus hath seminally all he who hath one link of a Chain hath the whole Chain Object But may a Child of God say either I have not all these Characters or they are so weakly wrought in me that I cannot discern them Answ. To satisfy this scruple you must diligently observe the distinctions the Scripture gives of Christians it casts them into several classes and orders some are infantuli little children who are but newly laid to the breast of the Gospel others are adulti Young men who are grown up to more maturity of Grace others are patres Fathers who are ready to take their degree of Glory 1 john 2. 12. 13 4. Now you who are but in the first rank or classis yet you may have the vitals of Godliness as well as those who have arrived at an higher stature in Christ the Scripture speaks of the Cedar and the bruised Reed the last of which is as true a Plant of the heavenly Paradise as the other so that the weakest ought not to be discouraged all have not these characters of godliness written in Text-Letters if they be but dimly stamped upon their souls God can read the work of his spirit there Though the seal be but weakly set upon the wax it ratifies the will and gives a real conveyance of an estate 1 Kings 14. 13. If there be found but some good thing towards the Lord as it was said of Abijah God will accept it CHAP. VI Containing the first Use Exhorting all to become Godly Use 1 FRom all that hath been said I would draw three great Uses Use 1. First Such as are still in their natural estate who never yet did relish any sweetness in the things of God let me beseech them in the bowels of Christ that they would labour to get these Characters of the Godly engraven upon their hearts though godliness be the object of the world's scorn and ha●ed as in Tertullia's days the name of a Christian was a * Ideo torquemur confitentes quia nominis prali●● est Tertu● Apol. crime yet be not ashamed to espouse godliness know that persecuted godliness is better than prosperous wickedness what will all the world avail a man without godliness To be learned and ungodly is like a Devil transformed into an Angel of light to be beautiful and ungodly is like a fair picture hung in an infected room to be honourable in the world and ungodly is like an Ape in purple or like that Image which had an head of gold upon feet of clay 't is godliness Dan. 2. 33. that en-nobles and consecrates the heart making God and Angels fall in love with it Labour for the reality of godliness rest not in the common workings of God's spirit Col. 1. 6. think not that it is enough to be intelligent and discurive a man may discourse of Religion to the admiration of others yet not feel the sweetness of those things in his own Soul the Lute gives a melodious sound to others but is not at all sensible of the sound itself judas could make an elegant discourse of Christ but did not feel virtue from him Rest not in having your affections a little stirred an hypocrite may have affections of sorrow as Ahab affections of desire as Balaam these are sleight and flashy and do not amount to real godliness Oh I labour to be as the King's daughter glorious within Psa. 45. 13. That I may persuade the sons of men to become godly I shall lay down some forcible Motives and Arguments and the Lord make them as nails fastened by his spirit 1 Let men seriously weigh their misery Motive while they remain in a state of ungodliness which may make them hasten out of this Sodom the misery of ungodly men appears in nine particulars 1 They are in a state of death Eph. 2. 1. dead in * Manet hoc porisma unionem anim e nostrae cum Christo veram esse & unicam ejus vitam ac proinde extra Christū nos esse penitus mortuos quia regnat in nobis pecca●ū mortis material Calvin Trespasses dead they must needs be who are cut off from Christ the principle of life for as the body without the soul is dead so is the soul without Christ This spiritual death is visible in the effect it bereaves men of their senses sinners have no sense of God in them Ephe. 4. 19 who being without feeling all their moral endowments are but strewing flowers upon a dead corpse and what is hell but a sepulchre to bury the dead in 2 Their offerings are polluted not only the * Pro. 21. 4. Ploughing but the praying of the wicked is sin Prov. 15. 8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord If the water be foul in the well it cannot be clean in the bucket if the heart be full of sin the duties cannot be pure In what a straight is every ungodly person if he doth not come to the Ordinance he is a contemner of it if he doth come he is a defiler of it 3. Such as live and die ungodly have no right to the Covenant of Grace Eph. 2. 12. At that time ye were without Christ strangers from the Covenants of Promise And to be without Covenant is to be like one in the old World without an Ark. The Covenant is the Gospel-Charter which is enriched with many glorious privileges but who may plead the benefit of this Covenant Surely only such whose hearts are in-laid with grace Read the Charter Ezek. 36. 26. A new heart will I give you and I will put my spirit within you Then it follows ver 28. I will be your God A person dying in his ungodliness hath no more to do with the New Covenant than a Ploughman hath to do with the privileges of a Corporation God's Writing is always before his Seal 2 Cor. 3. 3. Ye are declared to be the Epistle of Christ written not with ink but with the spirit of the living God not in Tables of stone but in fleshy Tables of the heart Here is a golden Epistle the writing is the work of Faith the Table it is written in is the heart the finger that writes it is the spirit Now after the Spirits writing follows the Spirits sealing Ephes. 1. 13. After ye believed ye were sealed with the Spirit that is ye were sealed up to an assurance of glory What have ungodly men to do with the seal of the Covenant who have not the writing 4. The ungodly are spiritual fools Psalm 75. 4. I said to the fools deal not foolishly and to the wicked lift not up the * Nun isti moriones qui dum animam suam vulnerant rident horn If one had a Child very beautiful yet if he were a fool the Parent would take little joy in him The Scripture hath dressed the Sinner in a Fool's Coat and let me tell you better be a fool void of Reason than a fool void of Grace This is the Devil's fool Pro. 14. 9 Is not he a fool who refuseth a rich portion God offers Christ and Salvation but the Sinner refuseth this portion Psal. 81. 11. Israel would none of me Is not he a fool who prefers an Annuity before an Inheritance Is not he a fool who tends his mortal part and neglects his Angelical part As if one should paint the wall of his house and let the Timber rot Is not he a fool who will feed the Devil with his Soul As that Emperor who fed his Lion with † Heliogab pheasant Is not he a fool who lays a snare for himself Pro. 1. 18. Who consults his own shame Hab. 2. 10. who loves death Pro. 8. 36. 5. The ungodly are vile persons Nahum ● 14. I will make thy grave for thou art vile 〈…〉 men base it blots their name it taints their blood Psal. 14. 3. They are altogether become filthy In the Hebrew it is rancidi facti sunt they are become * stinking Call wicked men never so bad you cannot call them out of their name they are swine † Cyrill Mat. 7. 6. Vipers Mat. 3. 7. Devils john 6. 70. The wicked are scoria & gluma the dross and refuse Psalm 119. 119. And heaven is too pure to have any dross mingle with it 6. Their Temporal Mercies are continued in Judgement The wicked may have health and estate yea more than heart can wish Psa. 73. 7. But their Table is a snare Psa. 69. 2● Sinners have their mercies with God's leave but not with his love The people of Israel had better been without their Quails than to have had such sour sauce The ungodly are Usurpers they want a spiritual Title to what they possess their good things are like cloth taken up at the Drapers which is not paid for death will bring in a sad reckoning at last 7. Their Temporal Judgements are not removed in Mercy Pharaoh had ten Arrows shot at him ten Plagues and all those Plagues were removed but his heart remaining hard those Plagues were not removed in Mercy it was not a preservation but a reservation God reserved him for a signal Monument of his Justice when he was drowned in the depth of the Sea God may reprieve men's persons when he doth not remit their sins The wicked may have sparing Mercy but not saving Mercy 8. The ungodly while they live are exposed to the wrath of God joh. 3. 36. He that believeth not the wrath of God abideth on him He who wants Grace is like one who wants a pardon he is every hour in fear of Execution How can a wicked man rejoice Over his head the Sword of God's Justice hangs and under him hell fire burns 9 The ungodly at death must undergo God's fury and indignation Psal. 9 17. The wicked shall be turned into hell I have read of a Loadstone in Aethiopia which hath two * Vincentius corners with one it draws the iron to it with the other it puts the iron from it So God hath two hands of Mercy and Justice with the one he will draw the godly to heaven with the other he will thrust the sinner to hell And O how dreadful is that place It is called a fiery † lake Rev. 20. 15. A lake to denote the plenty of Torments in hell a fiery lake to show the fierceness of them Fire is the most torturing Element Strabo in his Geography mentions a Lake in Galilee of such a pestiferous nature that it scaldeth off the skin of whatsoever is cast into it But alas that Lake is cool compared with this fiery Lake into which the damned are thrown To demonstrate this fire terrible there are two most pernicious qualities in it 1. It is Sulphureous it is mixed with brimstone Revel 21. 8. which is unsavoury and suffocating 2. It is unextinguishable though the wicked shall be choked in the flames yet not consumed Revel 20. 10. And the Devil was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the Beast and the False Prophet * Poenam inextinguibilem & foetorem maximum minatur Deus Muscul. are and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever Behold the deplorable condition of all ungodly ones in the other world they shall have a life that always dies and a death that always lives May not this affright men out of their sins and make them become godly unless they are resolved to try how hot hell fire is 2. What rare persons the godly are Motive Pro. 12. 26. The righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour As the Flower of the Sun as the Wine of Lebanon as the sparkling upon Aaron's Breastplate such is the Orient splendour of a person embellished with godliness The excellency of the persons of the godly appears in seven particulars 1. They are precious therefore they are set apart for God Psal. 4. 3. Know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself We set apart things that are precious the godly are set apart as God's peculiar treasure Psa. 135. 4. As his garden of delight Cant. 4. 12. As his Royal Diadem Isa. 62. 3. The godly are the excellent of the earth Psa. 16. 2. Comparable to fine gold Lam. 4. 2. Double refined Zach. 13. 9 They are the glory of the Creation Isa. 46. 13. Origen compares the Saints to Saphires and * Origen Cont. Cel● Crystal God calls them jewels Mal. 3. 17. They are so 1. For their value Diamonds saith Pliny were not known a long time but among Princes and were hung upon their Diadem God doth so value his people that he will give Kingdoms for their ransom Isa. 43. 5. He laid his best Jewel to pawn for them joh. 3. 6. 2. They are Jewels for their lustre If one Pearl of grace doth shine so bright that it doth delight Christ's heart Cant. 4. 9 Thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes that is one of thy Graces Then how illustrious are all the Graces met in a Constellation 2. The godly are honourable Isa. 43. 4. Thou hast been * Gloriosus fuisti honourable The godly are a Crown of glory in the hand of God Isa. 62. 3. They are plants of Renown Ezek. 16. 14. They are not only Vessels of Mercy but Vessels of Honour 2 Tim. 2. 21. Aristotle calls Honour the chief good † thing The godly are near a Kin to the blessed Trinity they have the Tutelage and Guardianship of Angels they have Gods Name written upon them Revel 3. 12. and the Holy Ghost dwelling in them 2 Tim. 1. 14. The godly are a sacred Priesthood the Priesthood under the Law was honourable the King's Daughter was wife to jehoiada the Priest 2 Chron. 22. 11. It was a custom among the Egyptians to have their Kings chosen out of their Priests The Saints are a Divine Priesthood to offer up spritival sacrifices 1 Pet. 2. 9 They are Coheirs with Christ Rom. 8. 17. They are Kings Rev. 1. 6. Novarinus relates of an ancient King who invited a Company of poor Christians and made them a great Feast and being asked why he showed so much respect to persons of such mean birth and Extract he told them these I must honour as the Children of the most high God they will be Kings and Princes with me in another world The godly are in some sense higher than the Angels the Angels are Christ's friends these are his spouse the Angels are called morning-stars job 38. 7. but the Saints are clothed with the Sun of righteousness Rev. 12. 1. all men saith * Chrys. chrysostom are ambitious of honour behold then the honour of the godly Prov. 7. 8. Wisdom is the principal thing therefore get wisdom exalt her and she shall promote thee she shall bring thee to honour when thou dost embrace her The Trophies of the Saints renown will be erected in another world Famaque post cineres major 3 The godly are beloved of God Psal. 47. 4. The excellency of jacob whom he loved An holy heart is the garden where God plants the flower of his love God's love to his people is an ancient love it bears date from eternity Ephe. 1. 4. he loves them with a choice distinguishing love they are the dearly beloved of his soul jer. 12. 7. The men of the world have bounty dropping from God's fingers but the godly have love dropping from God's heart he gives the one a golden cup the other a golden kiss he loves the godly as he loves Christ john 17. 26. it is the same love for kind though not for degree here the Saints do but pitissare sip of God's love in heaven they shall drink of Rivers of pleasure Psa. 36. 8. And this love of God is permanent death may take away their life from them but not God's love from them jer. 31. 4. I have loved thee with a love of * perpetuity 4 The godly are prudent persons they have good Insight and Foresight 1 They have good insight 1 Cor. 2. 10. He that is spiritual judgeth all things the godly have insight into Persons and Things 1 They have insight into persons they have the anointing of God and by a spirit of discerning they can see some difference between the precious and the vile jer. 15. 19 God's people are not censorious but they are judicious they can see a wanton heart through a naked breast and a spotted face they can see a revengeful spirit through a bitter tongue they can guests at the Tree by the fruit Mat. 12. 33. They can see the Plague-tokens of sin appear in the wicked which makes them remove from the tents of those sinners Num. 16. 26. 2 The godly have insight into Things Mysterious 1 They can see much of the mystery of their own hearts Take the greatest Politician who understands the mysteries of state yet he doth not understand the mystery of his own heart you shall sometimes hear him swear his heart is good but a Child of God sees much heart-corruption 1 King 8. 38. though some flowers of grace grow there yet he sees how fast the weeds of sin grow therefore is continually weeding his heart by repentance and mortification 2 The godly can discern the mystery of the times 1 Chron. 12. 32. The children of Issachar were men that had understanding of the times The godly can see when an age runs dregs when God's name is dishonoured his messengers despised his Gospel eclipsed the people of God labour to keep their garments pure Rev. 16. 15. their care is that the times may not be the worse for them nor they the worse for the times 3 The godly understand the mystery of living by faith Heb. 10. 38. The just shall live by faith they can trust God where they cannot trace him they can fetch comfort out of a promise as Moses did water out of the rock Hab. 3. 17. Though the Figtree doth not blossom yet I will rejoice in the Lord 2 The godly have good foresight 1 They foresee the evil of a Temptation 2 Cor. 2. 11. We are not ignorant of his devices The wicked swallow temptations like Pills and when it is too late feel these Pills gripe their Conscience but the godly foresee a Temptation and will not come near they see a snake under the green grass they know Satan's kindness is craftiness he doth as I●phtha's daughter he brings forth the Timbrel and danceth before men with a temptation and then brings them very low judg. 11. 35. 2. The godly foresee temporal dangers Pro. 22. 3. A prudent man forseeth the evil and hideth himself The people of God see when the Cloud of wrath is ready to drop upon a Nation and they get into their Chambers Isa. 26. 20. The Attributes and Promises of God and into the cliffs of the Rock the bleeding wounds of Christ and hide themselves well therefore may they be baptised with the name of Wise Virgins 5. The godly are the bulwark of a Nation 2 Kin. 2. 12. O my Father the Chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof The godly are the Pillars to keep a City and Nation from falling they stave off Judgement from a Land It was said of old so long as Hector lived Troy could not be demolished God could do nothing to Sodom till Lot was gone out of it Genesis 19 22. Golden Christians are Brazen Walls The Lord would soon break up house in the world were it not for the sakes of a few Religious ones Would God think we preserve the world only for Drunkards and Swearers He would soon sink the Ship of Church and State but that some of his Elect are in it Yet such is the indiscretion of men as to injure the Saints and to count them burdens which are the chief * Isa. 1● 24. blessings 6. The godly are of a brave Heroic spirit Numb 14. 24. My servant Caleb because he had another spirit An excellent spirit was found in Daniel Cap. 5. 12. The godly hate that which is base and sordid they will not enrich their purses by enslaving their Consciences they are Noble and courageous in God's Cause Pro. 28. 1. The righteous are bold as a Lion The Saints live suitably to their high birth they breathe after God's love they aspire after glory they set their feet where worldly men set their heart they display the Banner of the Gospel lifting up Christ's Name and interest in the world 7. The godly are happy persons King Balak sent to curse the people of God but the Lord would not suffer it Numb 22. 12. God said unto Balaam thou shalt not curse the people for they are blessed And Moses afterwards records it as a thing memorable that that intended Curse of the King God did convert into a blessing Deut. 23. 5. The Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee They must needs be happy who are always on the strongest side Psa. 118. 6. The Lord is on my side they are happy who have all conditions sanctified to them Rom. 8. 28. Who are crowned with peace while they live Psa. 119. 165. and with glory when they die Psal. 73. 24. And may not this tempt all to become godly Deut. 33. 29. Happy art thou O Israel a people saved by the Lord 3. Motive To endeavour after godliness is most rational 1. It is the highest act of Reason for a man to become another man If while he remains in Nature's Soil he is poisoned with sin no more actually fit for communion with God than a Toad is fit to be made an Angel than it is very consonant to Reason that he should endeavour after a change 2. It is rational because this change is for the better Eph. 5. 8. Now are ye light in the Lord Will not any man be willing to exchange a dark prison for a King's Palace Will he not change away his brass for gold Thou that becomest godly changest for the better thou changest thy pride for humility thy uncleanness for holiness thou changest a lust that will damn thee for a Christ that will save thee Were not men besotted had not their fall beat off their head-piece they would see it were the most rational thing in the world to become godly 4. The excellency of godliness Motive Auro quid melius jaspis quid jaspide virtus The excellency of godliness appears several ways 1. Godliness is our spiritual beauty Psa. 110. 3. The beauties of holiness Godliness is to the soul as the light to the world to illustrate and adorn it 'T is not greatness sets us off in God's eye but goodness What is the beauty of the Angels but their sanctity Godliness is the curious embroidery and workmanship of the Holy Ghost A soul furnished with godliness is damasked with beauty it is enameled with purity this is the clothing of wrought gold which makes the King of heaven fall in love with us were there not an excellency in holiness the hypocrite would never go about to paint it Godliness sheds a glory and lustre upon the Saints What are the Graces but the golden feathers in which Christ's Dove * Psa 68 13. shines 2. Godliness is our defence Grace is called the Armour of Light Rom. 13. 12. It is light for beauty and armour for defence A Christian hath armour of Gods making which cannot be shot thorough he hath the Shield of Faith the Helmet of Hope the Breastplate of Righteousness this is armour of proof which defends against the assaults of temptation and the terror of † Chrysost. hell 3 Godliness breeds solid peace Psa. 119. 165. Great peace have they that love thy Law Godliness composeth the heart making it sedate and calm like the upper Region where there are no winds and tempests How can that heart be unquiet where the Prince of Peace dwells Col. 1. 27. Christ in you An holy heart may be compared to the doors of Solomon's Temple 1 Kin. 6. 32. which were made of Olive-tree carved with open Flowers There is the Olive of peace and the open Flowers of joy in that heart godliness doth not destroy a Christians mirth but refine it his Rose is without prickles his wine without froth he must needs be full of joy and peace who is a favourite of heaven he may truly sing a Requiem to his soul and say Soul take thy * Luk. 12. 19 ●ase King Ptolemy asked one how he might be in rest when he dreamt He replied Let piety be the scope of all thy actions If one should ask me how he should be in rest when he is awake I would return the like answer Let his soul be in-laid with godliness 4. Godliness is the best Trade we can drive it brings profit wicked men say It is vain to serve God and what profit is it Mal. 3. 14. To be sure there is no profit in sin Pro. 10. 2. Treasures of wickedness profit nothing But godliness is profitable 1 Tim. 4. 8. It is like digging in a gold Mine where there is gain as well as toil godliness makes God himself over to us as a portion Psa. 16. 5. The Lord is the portion of my Inheritance If God be our portion all our estate lies in Jewels where God gives himself he gives every thing else he who hath the Manor hath all the Royalties belonging to it God is a portion that can neither be spent nor lost Psa. 26. 73. Thus we see godliness is a thriving Trade And as godliness brings profit with it so it is profitable for all things 1 Tim. 4. 8. What is so besides godliness Food will not give a man wisdom gold will not give him health honour will not give him beauty but godliness is useful for all things it fenceth off all troubles it supplies all wants it makes soul and body completely happy 5. Godliness is an enduring substance it knows no fall of the leaf All worldly delights have a Deaths-Head set upon them they are but shadows and they are flying Earthly comforts are like Paul's friends who brought him to the Ship and there left him Acts 20. 38. So these will bring a man to his grave and then take their farewell but godliness is a possession we cannot be robbed of it runs parallel with Eternity force cannot weaken it age cannot wither it it out-braves sufferings it ourlives death Pro. 10. ● Death may pluck the stalk of the body but the Flower of grace is not hurt numquam stygias fertur ad umbras inclyta virtus Seneca 6 Godliness is so excellent that the worst men would have it when they are going hence though at present godliness be despised and under a cloud yet at death all would be godly A Philosopher ask a young man whether he would be rich Croesus or virtuous Socrates answered he would live with Croesus and die with Socrates So men would live with the wicked in pleasure but die with the godly Numb 23. 10. Let me die the death of the righteous and let my end be like his If then godliness be so desirable at death why should we not pursue after it now godliness is as needful now and would be more feasible 5 There are but few godly they are as the glean after vintage Motive most receive the Mark of the Beast Rev. 13. 17. The Devil keeps open house for all comers and he is never without guests this may prevail with us to be godly if the number of the Saints be so small how should we labour to be found among these pearls Rom. 9 27. but a remnant shall be saved it is better going to Heaven with a few than to Hell in the crowd 6 Consider how vain and contemptible other things are Motive about which persons void of godliness busy themselves men are taken up about the things of this life and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind Eccles. 5. 16. can the wind fill what is gold but dust Amos 2. 8. which will sooner choke than satisfy pull off the mask of the most beautiful thing under the Sun and look what is within there is care and vexation and the greatest care is yet behind and that is account The things of the world are but as a bubble in the water or a Meteor in the air But godliness hath a real worth in it if you speak of true honour it is to be born of God if of true valour it is to fight the good fight of faith if of true delight it is to have joy in the Holy ghost Oh then espouse godliness here is reality to be had of other things we may say as Zac. 10. 2. They comfort in vain CHAP. VII Prescribing some helps to Godliness Quest. But what shall we do that we may be godly Answ. I shall briefly lay down some rules or helps to godliness 1 Be diligent in the use of all means 1 Rule that may promote godliness Luke 13. 24. strive to enter in at the strait gate what is purpose without pursuit when you have made your estimate of godliness prosecute those mediums which are most expedient for obtaining it 2 If you would be godly 2 Rule take heed of the world 't is hard for a clod of dust to become a star 1 joh. 2. 15. love not the world many would be godly but the honours and profits of the world divert them where the world fills both head and heart there is no room for Christ he whose mind is rooted in the earth is likely enough to deride godliness when our Saviour was preaching against sin the Pharisees who were covetous derided him Luk. 16. 14. The world eats out the heart of godliness as the lvy eats out the heart of the Oak the world kills with her silver darts 3 Enure yourselves to holy thoughts 3 Rule serious meditation represents every thing in its native colour it shows an evil in sin and a lustre in grace By holy thoughts the head grows clearer and the heart better Psa. 119. 59 I thought on my ways and turned my feet unto thy testimonies Did men step aside a little out of the noise and hurry of business and spend but half an hour every day in thinking upon their souls and eternity it would produce a wonderful alteration in them and tend very much to a real and blessed conversion 4 Watch your hearts 4 Rule it was Christ's watchword to his Disciples Mat. 24. 42. Watch therefore the heart will praecipitate us to sin before we are aware a subtle heart needs a watchful eye watch your thoughts your affections the heart hath a thousand doors to run out at O keep close sentinel in your souls stand continually upon your Watchtower Hab. 2. 1. when you have prayed against sin watch against * Haud militi tutum cum in castris ei excuba●dum est vel ad quadrantem hor ae a somno opprimi tentation most wickedness in the world is committed for want of watchfulness watchfulness maintains godliness it is the selvedge which keeps religion from ravelling out 5 Make Conscience of spending your time 5 Rule Eph. 5. 16. redeeming the time Many persons fool away their * Aut aliud agendo aut male agendo● Sen. time some in idle visits others in recreations and pleasures which secretly bewitch the heart and take it off from better things What are our golden hours for but to mind our souls Time mis-improved is not time lived but time lost Time is a precious commodity a piece of wax in itself is not much worth but as it is affixed to the label of a Will and conveys an estate so it is of great value Thus time simply in itself is not so considerable but as salvation is to be wrought out in it and a conveyance of heaven depends upon the well improvement of it so it is of infinite concernment 6 Think of your short stay in the world 6 Rule 1 Chron. 29. 15. Our days on the Earth are as a shadow and there is none abiding There is but a span between the Cradle and the Grave Solomon saith there is a time to be born and a time to die Eccles. 3. 2. but mentions no time of living as if that were so short it were not worth naming and time when it is once gone cannot be recalled the Scripture compares time to a flying Eagle Io● 9 6. yet herein time differs from the Eagle the Eagle flies forward and then back again but time hath wings only to fly forward it never returns back fugit irrevocabile tempus The serious thoughts of our short abode here would be a great means to promote godliness what if death should come before we are ready what if our life should breathe out before God's spirit hath breathed in he that considers how flitting and winged his life is will hasten his repentance when God is about to make a short work he will not make a long work 7 Possess yourselves with this maxim 7 Rule that godliness is the end of your Creation God never sent men into the world only to eat and drink and put on fine clothes but that they might serve him in righteousness and holiness Luk. 1. 75. God made the world only as an attiring room to dress our souls in he sent us hither upon the grand errand of godliness should nothing but the body the brutish part be looked after this were basely to degenerate yea to invert and frustrate the very end of our being 8. Be often among the godly 8 Rule they are the salt of the earth and will help to season * Clem. Alex Paed. l. 3. you Their counsels may direct their prayers may quicken Such holy sparks may be thrown into your breasts as may enkindle devotion in you It is good to be among the Saints to learn the trade of godliness Pro. 13. 20. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise CHAP. VIII Exhorting such as have made a Profession of Godliness to persevere Use 2. MY next Use is to exhort those who wear the Mantle Use 2. and in the judgement of others are looked upon as godly that they would † Non cepisse sed perfecisse virtutis est persevere Heb. 10. 23. Let us hold fast the profession of our Faith This is a seasonable Exhortation in these times when the Devils Factors are abroad whose whole work is to unsettle people and make them fall off from that former strictness in Religion which they have professed 'T is much to be lamented to see Christians 1. Wavering in Religion How many do we see desultorii ingenii unresolved and unsteady Like Reuben unstable as water Gen. 49. 4. These the Apostle fitly compares to waves of the Sea and wand'ring Stars jude 13. They are not fixed in the principles of godliness Beza writes of one Bolsechus his Religion changed like the * Religionem Ephemeram habuit Moon Such were the Ebionites who kept the Jewish Sabbath and the Christian Many Professors are like the River Euripus ebbing and flowing in matters of Religion they are like reeds bending every way either to the Mass or the † Hos cum hyaena meritò comparaveris de quâ Plinius lib. 7. cap. 2. Hyaena sicut & ichneumon nunc mas est nunc faemina it a quidem sui dissimiles nunc Deo serviunt nunc carni ab uno ad aliud transferuntur tipula leviores Koran They are like the Planet Mercury which doth vary and is seldom constant in its motion When men think of heaven and the recompense of reward than they will be godly but when they think of Persecution than they are like the Jews who deserted Christ and walked no more with him john 6. 66. Did men's faces alter as fast as their Opinions we should not know them to be thus vacillant and wavering in Religion argues lightness Feathers are blown any way so are feathery Christians 2. 'T is to be lamented to see men fall from that godliness which once they seemed to have they are turned to worldliness and wantonness the very mantle of their Profession is fallen off and indeed if they were not fixed stars it is no wonder to see them falling stars This spiritual Epilepsy or falling-sickness was never more rife this is a dreadful sin for men to fall from that godliness they-seemed once to have Chrysostom saith Apostates are worse than they who are openly flagitious they bring an evil report upon godliness The Apostate saith Tertullian seems to put God and Satan in the balance and having weighed both their services prefers the Devil's service and proclaims him to be the best Master in which respect the Apostate is said to put Christ to open shame Herald 6. 6 This will be bitter in the end Heb. 10. 38. What a worm did Spira feel in his Conscience How did Stephen Gardiner cry out in horror of mind upon his Deathbed that he had denied his Master with Peter but he had not repent with Peter That we may be † Ig●at steadfast in godliness and persevere let us do two things 1. Let us take heed of those things which will make us by degrees fall off from our profession 1. Let us beware of covetousness 2 Tim. 3. 2. Men shall be covetous ver 5. Having a form of godliness but denying the power One of Christ's own Apostles was caught with a silver bait Covetousness will make a man betray a good cause and make shipwreck of a good Conscience I have read of some in the time of the Emperor Valens who denied the Christian Faith to prevent the confiscation of their goods 2. Beware of unbelief Heb. 3. 12. Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God No evil like an evil heart no evil heart like an unbelieving heart why so It makes men depart from the blessed God he that believes nor Gods mercy will not dread his Justice Infidelity is the Nurse of Apostasy therefore unbelieving and unstable go together Psal. 78. 22. They believed not in God ver 41. They turned back and tempted God 3. Take heed of cowardliness he must needs be evil who is afraid to be good Pro. 29. 25. The fear of man bringeth a snare They who fear danger more than sin to avoid danger will commit sin Origen out of a spirit of fear offered Incense to the Idol Aristotle saith the reason why the Chameleon turns into so many colours is through excessive fear Fear will make men change their Religion as often as the Chameleon doth her colour Christian thou who hast made a profession of godliness so long and others have noted thee for a Saint in their Calendar why dost thou fear and begin to shrink back The Cause is good which thou art embarked in thou fightest against sin thou hast a good Captain which marcheth before thee Christ the Captain of thy Salvation Heb. 2. 10. What is it thou fearest Is it loss of liberty What is liberty worth when Conscience is in bonds Better lose thy liberty and keep thy peace than lose thy peace and keep thy liberty Is it loss of Estate Dost thou say as Amaziah 2 Chron. 25. 9 What shall we do for the hundred Talents I would answer with the Prophet The Lord can give thee much more than this He hath promised thee in this life an hundred-fold and if that be not enough he will give thee life everlasting Mat. 19 29. 2. If you would hold fast the profession of godliness use all means for perseverance 1. Labour for a real work of Grace in your soul Grace is the best fortification Heb. 13. 9 It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace Quest. What is this real work of Grace Answ. It consists in two things 1. It lies in an heart-humbling work The thorn of sin pricked Paul's Conscience Rom. 7. 9 Sin revived and I died Though some are less humbled than others as some bring forth Children with less pangs yet all have pangs 2 Grace lies in an heart-changing work 1 Cor. 6. 11. But ye are washed but ye are sanctified A man is so changed as if another soul did live in the same body if ever you would hold out in the ways of God get this vital principle of grace why do men change their religion but because their hearts were never changed they do not fall away from grace but for want of grace 2 If you would hold on in godliness be deliberate and judicious weigh things well in the balance Luke 14. 28. Which of you intending to build a Tower sitteth not dow● first and counteth the cost Think with yourselves what it will cost you to be godly you must expect the hatred of the world joh. 15. 19 the wicked hate the godly for their piety 't is strange they should do so do we hate a flower because it is sweet the godly are hated for the perfume of their graces is a Virgin hated for her beauty the wicked hate the godly for the beauty of holiness which shines in them and secret hatred will break forth into open violence 2 Tim. 3. 12. Christian's must count the cost before they build why are people so hasty in laying down Religion but because they were so hasty in taking it up 3 If you would hold fast your profession get a clear distinct knowledge of God know the love of the Father the merit of the Son the efficacy of the Holy Ghost Such as know not God aright will by degrees renounce their profession The Samaritans sometimes sided with the jews when they were in favour afterwards they disclaimed all kindred with the jews when they were persecuted by * Josephus Antiochus and no wonder they did shuffle so in their religion if you consider what Christ saith of the Samaritans joh. 4. 22. Ye worship ye know not what they were enveloped with ignorance blind men are apt to fall so are they who are blinded in their minds 4 If you would persist in godliness enter upon it purely out of choice Psa. 119. 30. I have chosen the way of truth espouse godliness for its own worth he that would persevere must rather choose godliness with reproach than sin with all its worldly pomp he who takes up religion for fear will lay it down again for fear he who embraceth godliness for gain will desert it when the ●ewels of preferment are pulled off be not godly out of a worldly design but a religious choice 5 If you would persevere in godliness labour after integrity this will be a golden pillar to support you a tree that is hollow must needs be blown down the hypocrite sets up in the trade of religion but he will soon break Psa. 78. 37. Their heart was not right with him neither were they steadfast judas was first a sly hypocrite and then a Traitor if a piece of copper be guilded the guilding will wash off nothing will hold out but sincerity Psa. 25. 21. Let integrity preserve me How many storms was job in not only Satan but God himself set against him job 7. 20. which was enough to have made him desist from being godly yet job stood fast because he stood upright job 27. 6. My righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live those colours hold best which are laid in oil if we would have our profession hold its colour it must be laid in the oil of sincerity 6 If you would hold out in godliness hold up the life and fervour of duty Rom. 12. 1. 1. Fervent in spirit serving the Lord We put coals to the fire to keep it from going out when Christians grow into a dull formality they begin to be dis-spirited and by degrees abate in their godliness none so fit to make an Apostate as a lukewarm professor 7 If you would persevere in godliness be much in the exercise of self-denial Mat. 16. 24. let him deny himself self-ease * Nemo d● displicet nisi qui sibi placet Bernard self-ends whatever comes in competition with or stands in opposition to Christ's glory and interest must be denied Self is the great snare self-love undermines the power of godliness The young man in the Gospel might have followed Christ but that something of self * Nemo laeditur nisi a se ipso hindered Mat. 19 20 22. Self-love is self hatred he will never get to heaven that cannot get beyond himself 8 If you would hold on in godliness preserve an holy jealousy over your hearts Rom. 11. 20. Be not highminded but fear he that hath Gun powder in his house fears lest it should catch fire sin in the heart is like Gunpowder it may make us fear lest a sparkle of temptation falling upon us should blow us up There are two things may make us always jealous of our hearts the deceits of our hearts and the lusts of our hearts When Peter was afraid he should sink and cried to Christ Lord save me than Christ took him by the hand and helped him Mat. 14. 31. but when Peter grew confident and thought he could stand alone than Christ suffered him to fall Oh let us be suspicious of ourselves and in an holy sense clothe ourselves with trembling Eze. 26. 16. 9 If you would continue your progress in godliness labour for assurance 2 Pet. 1. 10. Give diligence to make your calling and election sure He who is sure God is his God is like a Castle built upon a rock all the powers of Hell cannot shake him How can he be constant in religion who is at a loss about his spiritual estate and knows not whether he hath grace or no it will be a difficult matter for him to die for Christ who doth not know that Christ hath died for him assurance establisheth a Christian in shaking times he is the likeliest to bear witness to the truth who hath the spirit of God bearing witness to his heart Rom. 8. 16. Oh give diligence be much in prayer reading holy conference these are the oil without which the lamp of assurance will not shine 10 If you would hold out in godliness lay hold of God's strength God is called the strength of Israel 1 Sam. 15. 29. It is in his strength we stand more than our own the child is safest in the Nurse's hands it is not our holding God but his holding us preserves us a little pinnace tied fast to a rock is safe so are we when we are tied to the rock of ages CHAP. IX Motives to persevere in Godliness THat I may excite Christians to persevere in the profession of Godliness I shall propose these four considerations 1 It is the glory and Crown of a Christian to be gray-headed in godliness Act. 21. 16. Mnason of Cyprus an old Disciple What an honour is it to see a Christians garments red with blood yet his conscience pu●e white and his graces green and flourishing 2 How do sinners persevere in their sins they are settled on their lees Zeph. 1. 12. The judgements of God will not deter or remove them they say to their sin as Ruth to Naomi Ruth 1. 16. Where thou goest I will go the Lord do so to me and more if ought but death part thee and me so nothing shall part between men and their sins Oh! what a shame is it that the wicked should be fixed in evil and we unfixed in good that they should be more constant in the Devil's service than we are in Christ's 3 Our perseverance in godliness may be a means to confirm others Cyprians hearers followed him to the place of his suffering and seeing his steadfastness in the faith ●●iamur ●ul cum ●cto Escopo in ●ss Cypr. cried out Let us also die with our holy Pastor Phil. 4. 14. Many of the Brethren waxing confident by my Bonds are much more bold to speak the Word St. Paul's zeal and constancy did animate the beholders his Prison-chain made converts in Nero's Court and two of those Converts were afterwards Martyrs as History relates 4 We shall lose nothing by our perseverance in Godliness There are eight glorious Promises which God hath entailed upon the persevering Saints The first is Rev. 2. 10. Be thou constant to the death and I will give thee a Crown of * Tria amplectitur corona ●uae beatitudini apprime conve●iunt nimirum tranquilitatem ●uia corona dat praemium post ●ertamen deinde plenit●dinem quia corona habet perfectam figuram utpote circularem & denique sublimitatem quandoquidem corona est summi honoris ●signe Brond life Christian thou mayest lose the breath of life but not the Crown of life The second promise is Revel 2. 7. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life This Tree of life is the Lord Jesus This tree infuseth life and prevents * Lignum vitae ea virtute est praeditum ut animi vires roboret nec senium obrepere unquam patiatur Alchazar death in the day we eat of this tree our eyes shall indeed be opened to see God The third promise is Rev. 2. 17. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Manna Vincere est peccatum & mundum fide calcare & veritatem nunquam deserere Muscul. and will give him a white stone and in the stone a new name written which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it This Promise consists of three branches 1 I will give to eat of the hidden Manna This is mysterious it signifies the love of God which is Manna for its sweetness and hidden for its rarity 2 I will give him a white stone Alb● lap●●●● not ar● dicitur qui probatur that is absolution it may be called a precious stone saith Hierom. 3 And in the stone a new name That is Adoption he shall be reputed an Heir of Heaven and no man can know it saving he who hath the privy seal of the spirit to assure him of it The fourth promise is Rev. 3. 5. he that overcometh the same shall be clothed in white raiment and I will not blot his name out of the book of life but I will confess his name before my Father and before his Angels The persevering Saint shall be clothed in White This is an Emblem of joy * Festos Albatus celebret Horat Eccles. 9 8. He shall put off his mourning and be clothed in the white robe of glory and I will not blot his name out of the book of life God will blot a Believers sins out but he will not blot his name out the Book of God's Decree hath no Erratas in it But I will confess his Name he who hath owned Christ on earth and worn his colours when it was death to wear them Christ will not be ashamed of him but will confess his Name before his Father and the holy Angels Oh what a comfort and honour will it be to have a good look from Christ at the last day nay to have Christ own us by Name and say these were they who stood up for my truth and kept their garments pure in a defiling age These shall walk with me in white for they are worthy The fifth promise is Rev. 3. 12. Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God and he shall go no more out and I will write upon him the Name of my God and the Name of the City of my God Here are many excellent things couched in this Promise I will make him a Pillar in the Temple of my God The Hypocrite is calamus a Reed shaken with the wind but the conquering Saint shall be columna a glorious Pillar a Pillar for strength and a Pillar in the Temple for sanctity and he shall go no more out I understand this of a glorified state He shall go no more out that is after he hath overcome he shall go no more out to the Wars he shall never have sin or temptation more to conflict with no more noise of Drum or Cannon shall be heard but the Believer having won the field he shall now stay at home and divide the spoil And I will write upon him the Name of my God That is he shall be openly acknowledged for my Child as the Son bears his Father's Name How honourable must that Saint be who hath God's own Name written upon him And I will write upon him the Name of the City of my God That is he shall be enroled as a Denizen or Citizen of the jerusalem above he shall be made free of the Angelical society The sixth promise is Rev. 2. 26. He that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end to him will I give power over the nations this may have a double mystery either it may be understood of the Saints dwelling upon earth they shall have power over the nations their zeal and patience shall overpower the adversaries of * Necesse est ut Veritati cedat mendacium Piis impii truth Act. 6. 10. or principally it may be understood of the Saints triumphing in heaven they shall have power ●ver the nations they shall share with Christ in some of his power they shall join with him in judging the world at the last day 1 Cor. 6. 2. Know ye not that the Saints shall judge the world The seventh promise is Rev. 3. 21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me upon my throne 1 Here is first the Saint's dignity they shall sit upon the throne 2 Their safety they shall sit with Christ Christ holds them fast and none shall pluck them out of his throne the Saints may be turned out of their houses but they cannot be turned out of Christ's throne men may as well pluck a star out of the sky as a Saint out of the throne The eighth promise is Rev. 2. 28. I will give him the morningstar Though the Saints may be sullied with reproach in this life they may be termed factious and disloyal St. Paul himself suffered trouble in the opinion of some as an evil doer 2 Tim. 2. 9 yet God will bring forth the Saints righteousness as the light and they shall shine as the Morningstar which is brighter than the rest Rev. 22. 16 I will give him the morningstar This morning star is meant of Christ as if Christ had said I will give the persevering Saint some of my beauty I will put some of my splendid rays upon him he shall have the next degree of glory to me as the mornning Star is next the Sun O what soul-ravishing promises are here who would not persevere in godliness he that is not wrought upon by these promises is either a stone or a bruit CHAP. X. The third Use referring to the Godly Use 3. LEt me in the next place direct myself to those Use 3. who have a real work of godliness upon their hearts and I would speak to them by way of 1 Caution 2 Counsel 3 Comfort 1 By way of Caution that they do not blur these Characters of grace in their souls though God's children cannot quite deface their graces yet they may disfigure them too much carnal liberty may weaken their evidences and so dim their lustre that they cannot be read These Characters of the godly are precious things the gold and crystal cannot be compared with them O keep them fair written in your hearts and they will be so many living comforts in a dying hour it will not affright a Christian to have all the signs of death in his body when he can see all the signs of grace in his soul he will say as Simeon Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace 2 By way of Counsel you who are enriched with the treasures of godliness bless God for it This flower doth not grow in nature's garden when you had listed yourselves under the Devil and taken pay on his side fight against your own happiness that then God should come with converting grace and put forth a a loving and gentle violence causing you to espouse his quarrel against Satan when you had lain many years soaking in wickedness as if you had been parboiled for Hell that then God should lay you a steeping in Christ's blood and breathe holiness into your heart O what cause have you to write yourselves eternal debtors to free grace He denies God to be the Author of his Grace who doth not give him the praise of it * Negat beneficium qui beneficium non honorat Tertul. O acknowledge the love of God admire distinguishing mercy set the Crown of your praise upon the head of free grace If we are to be thankful for the fruits of the earth much more for ●he fruits of the Spirit it is well there is an eternity coming when the Saints shall triumph in God and make his praise glorious 3 Let me speak to the godly by way of Comfort you that have but the least dram of godliness in sincerity let me give you two rich Consolations 1 That Jesus Christ will not discourage the weakest Grace 1 Consolation but will cherish and preserve it to Eternity Grace which is but newly budded shall by the beams of the Sun of Righteousness be concocted and ripened into Glory This I shall speak more fully to in the next CHAP. XI Showing that the least degree of Godliness shall be preserved Mat. 12. 20. A bruised Reed shall he not break and smoking flax shall he not quench till he send forth judgement unto Victory THis Text is spoken Prophetically of Christ Isa. 42. 3. he will not insult over the infirmities of his people he will not crush Grace in the infancy A bruised Reed shall he not break and smoking flax shall be not quench I begin with the first the bruised Reed Quest. What is to be understood here by a Reed Answ. It is not to be taken literally but mystically It is a Rational Reed the Spiritual part of man the Soul which may well be compared to a Reed because it is subject to imbecility and shaking in this life till it grow up unto a firm Cedar in Heaven Quest. What is meant by a bruised Reed Answ. It is a soul humbled and bruised in the sense of * animan contrited interpret●tur Erasm. sin it weeps but doth not despair it is tossed upon the waves of fear yet not without the Anchor of Hope Quest. What is meant by Christ's not breaking this † reed Answ. The sense is Christ will not discourage any mournful spirit who is in the pangs of the New-birth If the bruise of sin be felt it shall not be mortal A bruised reed shall he not break In the words there is a Mi●o●●s he will not break that is he will bind up the bruised reed he will comfort it The result of the whole is to show Christ's compassion to a poor dejected sinner that smites upon his breast and dares hardly lift up his eye for mercy the bowels of the Lord Jesus yern towards him this bruised reed he will not break In the Text there are two parts 1. A Supposition a soul penitentially bruised 2. A Proposition it shall not be broken Doct. The bruised soul shall not be broken Psal. 147. 3. He bindeth up their wounds For this end Christ received both his Mission and Unction that he might bind up the bruised soul Isa. 61. 1. The Lord hath anointed me to bind up the  But why will not Christ break a bruised reed 1. Out of the sweetness of his Nature Reas. 1. jam. 5. 11. the Lord is very pitiful he begets bowels in other creatures therefore is called the Father of mercies 2 Cor. 1. 3. and surely he himself is not without bowels when a poor soul is afflicted in spirit God will not exercise harshness towards it lest he should be thought to put off his own tender disposition Hence it is the Lord hath been ever most solicitous for his bruised ones as the Mother is most careful of her Children that are weak and sickly Isa. 40. 11. He shall gather the Lambs with his arm and carry them in hi● bosom Such as have been spiritually bruised who like Lambs are weakly and tender Christ will carry them in the arms of freegrace 2 Jesus Christ will not break the bruised reed Reas. 2. because a contrite heart is his sacrifice Psa. 51. 17. A bruised spirit sends forth tears which are as precious wine Psa. 56. 8. A bruised soul is big with holy desires yea is sick of love therefore if a bruised reed hath such virtue in it Christ will not break it no Spices when they are bruised are so fragrant to us as a contrite spirit is to God 3 The bruised reed shall not be broken Reas. 3. because it doth so nearly resemble Christ Jesus Christ was once bruised on the cross Isa. 53. 10. It pleased the Lord to bruise him his hands and feet were bruised with the nails his side was bruised with the Spear A bruised reed resembles a bruised Saviour nay a bruised reed is a member of Christ which though it be weak Christ will not cut off but cherish so much the more 1. Will not Christ break the bruised reed Use 1. this tacitly implies he will break unbruised reeds Inform. such as were never touched with trouble of spirit 1 Bran. but live and die in impenitency these are hard reeds or rather rocks Christ will not break a bruised reed but he will break an hard reed Many know not what it is to be bruised reeds they are bruised outwardly by affliction but they are not bruised for sin they never knew what the pangs of the New birth meant You shall hear some thank God they were always quiet they never had any anxiety of spirit these bless God for the greatest Curse Such as are not bruised penitentially shall be broken judicially they whose hearts would not break for sin shall break with despair in hell there is nothing to be seen but an he●p of stones and an hammer an heap of stones that is hard hearts and an hammer that is God's Power and Justice breaking them in pieces 2. Will not Christ break a bruised reed 2 Bran. See then the gracious disposition of Jesus Christ he is full of clemency and sympathy though he may bruise the soul for sin he will not break it The Chirurgeon may launce the body and make it bleed but he will bind up the wound as Christ hath beams of Majesty so bowels of mercy Christ gives the Lion in his Scutcheon and the Lamb the Lion in respect of his fierceness to the wicked Psal. 50. 22. And the Lamb in respect of his mildness to his people his name is jesus a Saviour and his office is an healer Mal. 4. 2. Christ made a plaster of his own blood to heal a broken † Cum debilitati nostrae ita se attemperat Christus ejus deo●culari discamus Musc. heart Christ is the quintessence of love One saith if the sweetness of all flowers were in one flower how sweet would that flower be How full of Mercy is Christ in whom all mercy meets Christ hath a skilful hand and a tender heart He will not break a bruised reed Some are so full of Ostracism and cruelty as to add affliction to affliction which is to lay more weight upon a dying man but our Lord Jesus is a compassionate High Priest Heb. 2. 17. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmity every bruise of the soul goes to his heart none refuse Christ but such as do not know him He is nothing but love incarnated He himself was bruised to heal them that are bruised 3. See then what encouragement here is for Faith 3 Bran. Had Christ said he would break the bruised reed than indeed there were ground for despair but when Christ saith he will not break a bruised reed this opens a door of hope for humble bruised souls Can we say we have been bruised for sin why do we not believe Why do we go drooping under our fears and discouragements as if there were no mercy for us Christ saith He will heal the broken in heart Psal. 147. 3. No saith Unbelief he will not heal me Christ saith he will cure the bruised soul No saith Unbelief he will kill it Unbelief as it makes our comforts void so it goes about to make the Word void as if all God's Promises were but forgeries or like Blanks in a Lottery Hath the Lord said he will not break a bruised reed can Truth lie O what a sin is unbelief Some think it dreadful to be among the number of drunkards swearers whoremongers let me tell you it is no less dreadful to be among the number of * Rev. 21. 8. Unbelievers Unbelief is worse than any other sin because it brings God into suspicion with the Creature it robs him of the richest Jewel of his Crown and that is his truth 1 joh. 5. 10. He that believeth not hath made God a liar Oh then let all humbled sinners go to Jesus Christ Christ was bruised with desertion to heal them who are bruised with sin If you can show Christ your sores and touch him by faith you shall be healed of all your soul-bruises Will not Christ break thee then do not undo thyself by despair Use 2. Will not Jesus Christ break a bruised reed Use 2. than it reproves those who do what in them lies to break the bruised reed Reproof and they are such as go about to hinder the work of Conversion in others when they see them wounded and troubled for sin they dishearten them telling them that Religion is a sour melancholy thing they had better return to their former pleasures when an Arrow of Conviction is shot into their Conscience these pull it out again and will not suffer the work of Conviction to go forward Thus when the soul is almost bruised they hinder it from a thorough bruise This is for men to be Devils to others If to shed the blood of another makes a man guilty what is it to damn another's soul Use 3. This Text is a spiritual hony-comb Use 3. dropping consolation into all bruised hearts Consol. as in the body when there is a Lipothimy or fainting of the vital spirits we apply cordials so when sinners are bruised for their sins I shall give them some cordial-water to revive them This text is comfortable to a poor soul who sits with job among the Ashes and is dejected in the sense of its unworthiness Ah! saith the soul I am unworthy of mercy what am I that ever God should look upon me those who have greater parts and Graces perhaps may obtain a look from God but alas I am unworthy doth thy unworthiness trouble thee what more unworthy than a bruised reed yet there is a promise made to that a bruised reed he will not break the promise is not made to the Figtree or Olive which are fertile plants but to the Bruised reed Though thou art despicable in thy own eyes a poor shattered reed yet thou mayest be glorious in the eyes of the Lord let not thy unworthiness discourage thee if thou seest thyself vile and Christ precious this promise is thine Christ will not break thee but will bind up thy wounds Quest. But how shall I know that I am savingly bruised Answ. Did God ever bring thee upon thy knees hath thy proud heart been humbled didst thou ever see thyself a sinner and nothing but a sinner didst thou ever with a weeping eye Zac. 12. 10. look upon Christ and did those tears drop from the eye of faith Mar. 9 24. This is a Gospel-bruising canst thou say Lord though I do not see thee yet I love thee though I am in the dark yet I cast Anchor this is to be a bruised reed Object 1 But I fear I am not bruised enough Answ. 'T is hard to prescribe a just measure of humiliation it is in the new birth as in the natural some bring forth with more pangs some with fewer but would you know when you are bruised enough when your spirit is so troubled that you are willing to let go those lusts which did bring in the greatest income of pleasure and delight when sin is not only discarded but disgusted than you have been bruised enough then the Physic is strong enough when it hath purged out the disease than the soul is bruised enough when the love of sin is purged out Object 2 But I fear I am not bruised as I should be I find my heart so hard Answ. 1 We must distinguish between hardness of heart and an hard-heart the best heart may have some hardness but though there be some hardness in it it is not an hard heart denominations are from the better part if we come into a field that hath Tares and Wheat in it we do not call it a field of Tares but a Wheat-field so though there be hardness in the heart as well as softness yet God who judgeth by that part which is more excellent looks upon it as a soft heart 2 There is a great difference between the hardness in the godly and the wicked the one is natural the other is only accidental the hardness in a wicked man is like the hardness of a stone which is an innate continued hardness the hardness in a child of God is like the hardness of Ice which is soon melted with the Sunbeams perhaps God hath at present withdrawn his spirit whereupon the heart is congealed as Ice but let God's spirit as the Sun return and shine upon the heart now it hath a gracious thaw upon it and it melts in love 3 Dost not thou grieve under thy hardness thou sighest for want of groans thou weepest for want of tears the hard reed cannot weep if ●hou wert not a bruised reed all this moisture could not come from thee Object 3 But I am a barren reed I bring forth no fruit therefore I fear I shall be broken Answ. Gracious hearts are apt to overlook the good that is in them they can spy the worm in the leaf but not the fruit Why dost thou say thou art barren if thou art a bruised reed thou art not barren The spiritual reed engrafted into the true Vine is fruitful there is so much sap in Christ as makes all who are inoculated into him bear fruit Christ distils grace as drops of dew upon the soul Host 14. 5 6. I will be as the de● unto Israel he shall grow as the Lily his branches shall spread and his beauty shall be as the Olive-tree That God who made the dry rod blossom will make the dry reed flourish So much for the first expression in the Text I proceed to the second The smoking Flax shall he not quench Quest. What is meant by smoke Answ. By smoke is meant corruption Smoak is offensive to the eye so sin offends the pure eye of God Quest. What is meant by smoking flax Answ. It is meant Grace mingled with corruption as with a little fire there may be much smoke so with a little grace there may be much corruption Quest. What is Christ's not quenching the Smoking Flax Answ. The meaning is though there be but a spark of grace with much sin Christ will not put out this spark In the words there is a figure He will not * quench that is he will increase Nothing more easy than to quench Smoking Flax the least touch doth it but Christ will not quench it he will not blow the spark of Grace out but will blow it † Ellychnium prope extinctum sufflavit magis ut clarè arderet Musculus up he will increase it into a flame he will make this Smoking Flax a burning Taper Doct. That a little grace mixed with much corruption shall not be quenched For the illustrating of this I shall show you 1. That often a little grace is mixed with much corruption 2. That this little grace interlined with corruption shall not be quenched 3. The Reasons of the Proposition 1. Often in the godly a little grace is mingled with much corruption Mark 9 24. Lord I believe there was some Faith help my unbelief there was corruption mixed with it There are in the best Saints interweavings of sin and grace a dark side with the light much pride mixed with humility much earthliness with heavenliness Grace in the godly doth relish of an old Crabtree stock Nay in many of the Regenerate there is more corruption than grace so much smoke that you can scarce discern any fire so much distrust that you can hardly see any * 1 Sam. 27. 1. Faith so much passion that you can hardly see any meekness jonah a peevish Prophet he quarrels with God nay he justifies his passion jonah 4. 9 I do well to be angry to the death Here was so much passion that it was hard to see any grace A Christian in this life is like a glass that hath more froth than wine or like a diseased body that hath more humours than spirits This may humble the best to consider how much corruption is interlarded with their grace 2. This little grace mixed with much corruption shall not be quenched The smoking flax he will not quench The Disciples Faith was at first but small they forsook Christ and * Mat. 26. 56. fled Here was smoking flax but christ did not quench that little grace but cherish and animate it their Faith afterwards grew stronger and they did openly confess † Acts 4. 29. 30. Christ Here was the flax flaming 3. The Reasons why Christ will not quench the smoking flax 1. Because this Scintilla this little light which is in the smoking flax is of divine production it comes from the Father of Lights and the Lord will not quench the work of own grace Every thing by the instinct of Nature will preserve its * Omne agens est ful conservativum own The Hen that hatcheth her young will preserve and cherish them she will not destroy them as soon as they are hatched God who hath put this tenderness into the Creature to preserve its young will much more cherish the work of his own spirit in the heart Will he light up the Lamp of Grace in the soul and then put it out This would be neither for his interest nor honour 2. Christ will not quench the beginnings of grace because a little grace is precious as well as more A small Pearl is of value Though the Pearl of Faith be little yet if it be a true Pearl it shines gloriously in God's eyes A Goldsmith makes reckoning of the least filings of gold and will not throw them away The pupilla oculi the apple of the eye is but little yet of great use it can at once view an huge part of the heavens A little Faith can justify a weak hand can tie the Nuptial Knot a weak Faith can unite to Christ as well as a strong a little grace makes us like God a silver penny bears the King's Image upon it as well as a larger piece of Coin The least dram of grace bears God's Image on it and will God destroy his own Image When the Temples in Greece were demolished Xerxes caused the Temple of Diana to be preserved for the beauty of its structure When God shall destroy all the glory of the world and set it on fire yet he will not destroy the least grace because it bears a print of his own likeness upon it That little spark in the smoking flax is a ray and beam of Gods own glory 3. Christ will not quench the smoking flax because this little light in the flax may grow bigger Grace is resembled to a grain of Mustardseed of all seeds it is the least but when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs and becometh a Tree Mat. 13. 32. The greatest grace was once little the Oak was once an Acorn the most Renowned Faith in the world was once in its Spiritual Infancy the greatest flame of zeal was once but smoking flax Grace like the waters of the Sanctuary riseth higher If then the least Embryo and seed of holiness be of a ripening and growing nature the Lord will not suffer it to be abortive 4. Christ will not quench the smoking flax because when he preserves a little light in a great deal of smoke here the glory of his power shines forth The trembling soul thinks it shall be swallowed up of sin but God by preserving a little quantity of grace in the heart nay by making that spark prevail over corruption as the fire from heaven licked up the water in the trench 1 King 18. 38. Now God gets himself a glorious Name and carries away the Trophies of Honour 2 Cor. 12. 9 My strength is made perfect in weakness 1. See the different dealings of God and men Use 1. men for a little smoke will quench a great deal of light Inform. God for a great deal of smoke will not quench a little light 1 Bran. 'T is the manner of the world if they see a little failing in another for that failing they will pass by and quench a great deal of worth This is our nature to aggravate a little fault and diminish a great deal of virtue to see the infirmities and darken the excellencies of others as we take more notice of the twinkling of a Star than the shining of a Star We censure others for their passion but do not admire them for their piety Thus for a little smoke that we see in others we quench much light God doth not thus for a great deal of smoke he will not quench a little light he sees the sincerity and overlooks many infirmities the least sparks of grace he cherisheth and blows them gently with the breath of his spirit till they break forth into a flame 2 If Christ will not quench the smoking flax 2 Bran. than we must not quench the smoking flax in ourselves if grace doth not increase into so great a flame as we see in others therefore to conclude we have no fire of the spirit in us this is to quench the smoking flax and to bear false witness against ourselves as we must not credit a false evidence so neither must we deny a true fire may be hid in the embers so may grace be hid under many distempers of soul some Christians are so skilful at this in accusing themselves for want of grace as if they had received a fee from Satan to plead for him against themselves This is a great mistake to argue from the weakness of grace to the nullity it is one thing to be wanting in faith and another thing to want faith he whose eyesight is dim is wanting in his sight but he doth not want sight a little grace is grace though it be smothered under much corruption 3 If the least spark of grace shall not be quenched than this follows as a great truth that there is no falling from * Fides justificans semel habita non potest in totum amitti grace if the least dram of grace should perish than the smoking flax should be quenched grace may be shaken by fears and doubtings but not blown up by the * Gratia concutitur non excutitur Aug. roots I grant seeming grace may be lost this wildfire may be blown out but not the fire of the Spirits kindling Grace may be dormant in the soul but not dead as a man in an Apoplexy doth not put forth vital operations Grace may be eclipsed not extinct a Christian may lose his comfort like a tree in Autumn that hath shed its fruit but still there is sap in the vine and the seed of God remains 1 joh. 3. 9 Grace is a flower of eternity This smoking flax cannot be quenched by affliction but like those trees Pliny writes of growing in the red Sea which being beaten upon by the waves stand immoovable and though they are sometimes covered with water flourish the more grace is like a true orient Diamond that sparkles and cannot be broken I confess it is matter of wonder that grace should not be wholly annihilated especially if we consider two things 1 The malice of Satan he is a malignant spirit and lays bars in our way to heaven the Devil with the wind of temptation labours to blow out the spark of grace in our hearts if this will not do he stirs up wicked men and raiseth the Militia of Hell against us what a wonder is it that this bright Star of grace should not be swept down with the tail of the Dragon 2 It is an amazing thing that grace should subsist if we consider the world of corruption in our hearts sin makes the major part in a Christian there is in the best heart more dregs than spirits The heart swarms with sin what a deal of pride and Atheism is in the soul now is it not admirable that this Lily of grace should be able to grow among so many thorns it is as great a wonder that a little grace should be preserved in the midst of so much corruption as to see a Taper burning in the Sea and not extinguished But though grace lives with so much difficulty as the infant that struggles for breath yet being born of God it is immortal grace conflicting with corruption is like a Ship tossed and beaten with the waves yet it weathers out the storm and at last gets to the desired Haven If grace should expire how could this Text be verified The smoking flax he will not quench Quest. But whence is it that grace even the least degree of it should not be quenched Answ. It is from the mighty operation of the Holy Ghost the Spirit of God who is origo originans doth continually excite and quicken grace in the heart He is every day at work in a believer he pours in oil and keeps the Lamp of Grace burning Grace is compared to a river of life joh. 7. 38. The river of grace can never be dried up for the Spirit of God is the Spring which feeds it Now that the smoking flax cannot be quenched is evident from the Covenant of Grace Isa. 54. 10. The Mountains shall depart and the Hills be removed but the Covenant of my peace shall not be removed saith the Lord If there be falling from grace how is it an  Covenant If grace die and the smoking flax be quenched wherein is our state in Christ better than it was in Adam The Covenant of Grace is called A better Covenant Heb. 7. 22. How is it a better Covenant than that which was made with Adam Not only because it hath a better Surety and contains better privileges but because it hath better conditions annexed to it It is ordered in all things and sure 2 Sam. 23. 5. * Status ante la●sum purior in Christo certior Such as are taken into the Covenant shall be as stars fixed in their Orb and shall never fall away If grace might die and be quenched than it were not a better Covenant Object But we are bid not to quench the spirit 1 Thes. 5. 19 which implies that the grace of the Spirit may be lost and the smoking flax quenched Answ. We must distinguish between the common work of the spirit and the sanctifying work the one may be quenched but not the other The common work of the spirit is like a picture drawn upon the ice which is soon defaced The sanctifying work is like a Statute carved in gold which endures The gifts of the spirit may be quenched but not the grace there is the enlightening of the spirit and the anointing the enlightening of the spirit may fail but the anointing of the spirit abides 1 joh. 2. 27. The anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you The hypocrites blaze goes out the true believers spark lives and flourisheth th●● one is the light of a Comet which wastes and * Mat 25. 8. evaporates the other is the light of a star which retains its lustre From all that hath been said let a Saint of the Lord be persuaded to these two things 1. To believe his privilege 2. To pursue his duty 1. To believe his privilege This is the incomparable and unparallelled happiness of a Saint that his coal shall not be † 2 Sam. 14 7. quenched That grace in his soul which is minute at● languid shall not give up the Ghost but recover its strength and increase with the increase of God The Lord will make the smoking flax a burning lamp It were very sad that a Christian should be continually upon the Tropics one day a member of Christ and the next day a limb of Satan one day to have grace shine in his soul and the next day his light put out in obscurity This would spill a Christians comfort and break asunder the golden Chain of Salvation but be assured O Christian he who hath begun a good work will ripen it into perfection Christ will send forth judgement unto victory he will make grace victorious over all opposite corruption If grace should finally perish what would become of the smoking flax And how would that title properly be given to Christ Finisher of the * Heb. 12. 2. Faith Object No question this is an undoubted privilege to such as are smoking flax and have the least beginnings of grace but I fear I am not smoking flax I cannot see the light of grace in myself Answ. That I may comfort the smoking flax why dost thou thus dispute against thyself What makes thee think thou hast no grace I believe thou hast more than thou wouldst be willing to part with thou valuest grace above the gold of Ophir How couldst thou see the worth and lustre of this Jewel if God's Spirit had not opened thy eyes Thou wouldst fain believe and mournest that thou canst not believe are not these tears the Initials of Faith Thou desirest Christ and canst not be satisfied without him this beating of the pulse evidenceth life The iron could not move upward if the Loadstone did not draw it the heart could not ascend in holy breathe after God if some heavenly Loadstone had not been drawing it Christian canst thou say sin is thy burden Christ is thy delight and as Peter once said Lord thou knowest I love thee This is smoking flax and the Lord will not quench it thy grace shall flourish into glory God will sooner extinguish the light of the Sun than extinguish the dawning light of his spirit in thy heart 2. Let a Christian pursue his duty There are two duties required of believers 1. Love 2. Labour 1. Love Will not the Lord quench the smoking flax but make it at last victorious over all opposition how should the smoking flax flame in love to God Psal. 31. 23. love the Lord all ye his Saints The Saints owe much to God and when they have nothing to pay it is hard if they cannot love him O ye Saints it is God who carries on grace progressively in your souls He is like a Father who gives his son a small stock of money to begin with and when he hath traded a little he adds more to the stock So God adds continually to your stock he is every day dropping oil into the lamp of your grace and so keeps the lamp burning This may inflame your love to God who will not let the work of grace miscarry but will bring it to perfection The smoking flax he will not quench How should God's people long for heaven when it will be their constant work to breathe forth love and found forth praise 2. The second duty required of Christians is labour Some may think if Christ will not quench the smoking flax but make it burn brighter to the Meridian of glory than we need take no pains but leave God to bring his own work about Take heed of drawing so bad a Conclusion from such good premises What I have spoken is to encourage Faith not to indulge sloth Do not think God will do our work for us and we sit still As God will blow up the spark of grace by his spirit so we must be blowing it up by holy endeavours God will not bring us to heaven sleeping but praying The Lord told Paul all in the Ship should come safe to shore but it must be in the use of means Act. 27. 21. Except ye abide in the Ship ye cannot be saved So the Saints shall certainly arrive at Salvation they shall come to shore at last but they must abide in the Ship in the use of Ordinances else they cannot be saved Christ assures his Disciples None shall pluck them out of his hand joh. 10. 28. But yet he gives that counsel Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation Mat 26. 41. The seed of God shall not die but we must water it with our tears the smoking flax shall not be quenched but we must blow it up with the breath of our endeavour The second comfort to the godly 2 Conclusion is that godliness advanceth them into a near and glorious union with Jesus Christ But of this in the next CHAP. XII Showing the Mystical union between Christ and the Saints CANT 2. 16. My beloved is mine and I am his IN this Book of the Canticles we see the love of Christ and his Church running toward each other in a full torrent The Text contains three general Parts 1 A Symbol of affection my beloved 2 A term of appropriation is mine 3 An holy resignation I am his Doct. That there is a conjugal union between Christ and believers The Apostle having treated at large of marriage he winds up the whole chapter thus Eph. 5. 32. This is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the Church what nearer than union what sweeter there is a twofold union with Christ 1 A natural union this all men have Christ having taken their nature upon him and not the Angels Heb. 2. 16. but if there be no more than this natural union it will give little comfort thousands are damned though Christ be united to their nature 2 There is a sacred union whereby we are mystically united to Christ the union with Christ is not personal if Christ's essence were transfused into the person of a believer than it would follow that all which a believer doth should merit But the union between Christ and a Saint is 1 Faederal * Religio nostra non mis●et naturas sed personas confederate my beloved is mine God the Father gives the bride God the Son receives the bride God the Holy ghost ties the knot in marriage he knits our wills to Christ and Christ's love to us 2 This union is virtual Christ unites himself to his spouse by his graces and influences john 1. 16. Of his fullness have we all received and grace for grace Christ makes himself one with the spouse by conveying his Image and stamping the impress of his own holiness upon her This union with Christ may well be called mystical it is hard to describe the manner of it as it is hard to show the manner how the soul is united to the body so how Christ is united to the soul but though this union be spiritual it is real Things in nature work often insensibly yet really Eccles. 11. 5. we do not see the hand move on the Dial yet it moves the Sun exhales and draws up the vapours of the earth insensibly yet really so the union between Christ and the soul though it be imperceptible to the eye of reason yet is real 1 Cor. 6. 17. Before this union with Christ there must be a separation the heart must be separated from all other lovers as in marriage there is a leaving of Father and Mother Psa. 45. 10. Forget also thine own people and thy Father's house So there must be a leaving of our former sins a breaking off the old league with hell before we can be united to Christ Host 14. 8. Ephraim shall say what have I to do any more with Idols or as it is in the Hebrew with sorrows Those sins which before were looked upon as lovers now they are sorrows there must be a divorce before an union The end of our conjugal union with Christ is twofold 1 Co-habitation this is one end of marriage to live together Ephes. 3. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts it is not enough to give Christ a few complimental visits in his ordinances hypocrites may do so but there must be a mutual associating we must dwell upon the thoughts of Christ 1 john 3. 24. he that dwelleth in God married persons should not live asunder 2 Fructification Rom. 7. 4. That ye should married to another even to him who is raised from the dead that we should bring forth fruit unto God the Spouse brings forth the fruits of the spirit love joy peace long-suffering gentleness Gal. 5. 22. Barrenness is a shame in Christ's spouse This marriage-union with Christ is the most noble and excellent union 1 Christ unites himself to many in other marriages there is but a person taken but here millions are taken alas else poor souls might cry out Christ hath married himself to such an one's person but what is that to me I am left out no Christ marries himself to thousands 't is casta polygamia an holy and chaste polygamy multitudes of persons doth not defile this marriagebed no poor sinner but bringing an humble believing heart may be married to Christ 2 In this holy marriage is a nearer conjunction than can be in any other in other marriages two make one flesh but Christ and the believer make one spirit 1 Cor. 6. 17. He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit now as the soul is more excellent than the body and admits of far greater joy so this spiritual union brings in more astonishing delights and ravishments than any other marriage-relation is capable of the joy that flows from the mystical union is unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1. 8. 3 This union with Christ never ceaseth Foelices ter & amplius Horat. 1. Carm. 13. quos irrupta tenet copula Other marriages are soon at an end Death cuts asunder the marriage-knot but this conjugal union is eternal thou that art once Christ's spouse shalt never be a widow more Host 2. 19 I will betrothe thee unto me for ever to speak properly our marriage with Christ begins where other marriages end at death In this life is but the contract the jews had a time set between their espousals and marriage sometimes a year or more in this life is but the affiancing and contract promises are made on both sides and love passeth secretly between Christ and the soul he gives some smiles of his face and the soul sends up her sighs and drops tears of love But all this is but a praevious work and something tending to the marriage the glorious completing and solemnising of the Nuptials is reserved for heaven there is the marriage-supper of the Lamb Rev. 19 9 and the Bed of glory perfumed with love where the souls of the elect shall be perpetually solacing themselves 1 Thes. 4. 17. then shall we ever be with the Lord so that death doth but begin our marriage with Christ Use 1 If Christ be the head of the body Mystical Use 1. Ephes. 1. 22. then this Doctrine doth behead the Pope that man of sin who usurps this prerogative to be Ecclesiae caput the head of the Church and so would defile Christ's marriagebed what blasphemy is this two heads is monstrous Christ is head as he is husband there is no vice-husband no deputy in his room The Pope is the Beast in the Revelation Ca 13. 11 to make him head of the Church what were this but to set the head of a Beast upon the body of a Man Use 2 Is there such a conjugal union Use 2. Trial let us try whether we are united to Christ 1 Have we chosen Christ to set our love upon and is this choice founded upon knowledge 2 Have we consented to the match 't is not enough that Christ is willing to have us but are we willing to have him God doth not so force salvation upon us as that we shall have Christ whether we will or no we must consent to have him many approve of Christ but do not give their consent and this consent must be 1 Pure and genuine we consent to have him for his own worth and excellency Psa. 45. 2. Thou art fairer than the Children of men 2 It must be a present consent 2 Cor. 6. 2. now is the accepted time if we put Christ off with delays and excuses perhaps he will come no more he will leave off wooing his spirit shall no longer strive and then poor finner what wilt thou do when God's wooing ends thy woes begin 3 Have we taken Christ faith is vinculum unionis the bond of the union Christ is joined to us by his spirit and we are joined to him by faith Faith ties the marriage-knot 4 Have we given up ourselves to Christ thus the spouse in the Text I am his as if she had said all I have is for the use and service of Christ have we made a surrender have we given up our name and will to Christ when the Devil solicits by a temptation do we say we are not our own we are Christ's our tongues are his we must not defile them with oaths our body's ar● his temple we must not pollute them with sin if it be thus it is a sign the Holy ghos● hath wrought this blessed union between Christ and us Use 3. Is there this Mystical Union then from hence we may draw many Inferences 1. See the dignity of all true believers 1. Infer they are joined in Marriage with Christ there is not only assimilation but union they are not only like Christ but one with Christ This honour have all the Saints A King marrying a Beggar by virtue of the union she is ennobled and made of the Bloud-Royal wicked men are united to the Prince of darkness and he settles Hell upon them for their Jointure So the godly are divinely united to Christ who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19 16. By virtue of this Sacred Union the Saints are dignified above the Angels Christ is their Lord but not their Husband 2. See how happily all the Saints are married 2. Infer they are united to Christ who is the best Husband Cant. 5. 10. The chief of ten thousand Christ is a Husband that cannot be paralleled 1. For tender care 2. For ardent affection 1. For tender care The Spouse cannot be so tender of her own soul and credit as Christ is tender of her 1 Pet. 5. 7. He careth for you Christ hath a debating with himself a consulting and projecting how to carry on the work of our Salvation he transacts all our affairs he minds our business as his own indeed he himself is concerned in it he brings in fresh supplies to his Spouse if she wanders out of the way he guides her if she stumble he holds her by the hand if she falls he raiseth her if she be dull he quickens her by his spirit if she be froward he draws her with cords of love if she be sad he comforts her with promises 2. For ardent affection No Husband like Christ for love The Lord saith to the people I have loved you and they say Wherein hast thou loved us Mal. 1. 2. But we cannot say to Christ wherein hast thou loved us Christ hath given real Demonstrations of his love to his Spouse He hath sent her his Word which is a Love-letter and he hath given her his Spirit which is a Love-token Christ loves more than any other Husband 1. Christ puts upon his Bride a richer Robe Isa. 61. 10. He hath clothed me with the garments of Salvation he hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousness In this Robe God looks upon us as if we had not sinned This is as truly ours to justify as it is Christ's to bestow this Robe doth not only cover but adorn Having on this Robe we are reputed righteous not only as Angels but as Christ 2 Cor. 5. 21. That we might be made the righteousness of God in him 2. Christ gives his Bride not only his Golden Garments but his Image He loves her into his own likeness An Husband may bear a dear affection to his Wife but he cannot stamp his own Effigies upon her if she be deformed he may give her a Veil to hide it but he cannot put his beauty upon her But Christ imparts the beauty of holiness to his Spouse Ezek. 16. 14. Thou wert comely through my comeliness When Christ marries a soul he makes it fair Cant. 4. 7. Thou art all fair my Spouse Christ never thinks he hath loved his Spouse enough till he can see his own face in her 3. Christ dischargeth those debts which no other Husband can Our sins are the worst debts we owe if all the Angels should go to make a Purse they could not pay one of these debts but Christ frees us from these he is both an Husband and a Surety he saith to Justice as Paul concerning Onesimus If he owes thee any thing put it upon my score I will repay it Philem. 19 4. Christ hath suffered more for his Spouse than ever any Husband did for a Wife he suffered poverty and ignominy He who crowned the heavens with stars was himself crowned with * Chrysost. thorns He was called a companion of sinners that we might be made companions of Angels he was regardless of his life he leapt into the Sea of his Father's wrath to save his Spouse from drowning 5. Christ's love doth not end with his life He loves his Spouse for ever Host 2. 19 I will betroath thee unto me for ever Well may the Apostle call it a love that passeth knowledge Eph. 3. 19 3. See how rich believers are 3 Infer they are matched into the Crown of Heaven and by virtue of the Conjugal Union all Christ's riches go to believers Communion is founded in Union Christ communicates his Graces john 1. 16. As long as Christ hath it believers shall not want and he communicates his Privileges Justification Glorification He settles a Kingdom upon his Spouse for her Jointure Heb. 12. 28. This is a Key to the Apostles Riddle 2 Cor. 6. 10. As having nothing yet possessing all By virtue of the Marriage-Union the Saints are interested in all Christ's riches 4 See how fearful a Sin it is to abuse the Saints 4. Infer it is an injury done to Christ for believers are mystically one with him Act. 9 4. Saul Saul why persecutest thou me when the body was wounded the head being in heaven cried out in this sense men crucify Christ afresh Heb. 6. 6. because what is done to his members is done to him if Gideon was avenged upon those who slew his brethren judg. 8. 21. will not Christ much more be avenged upon those that wrong his Spouse Will a King endure to have his Treasure rifled his Crown thrown in the dust his Queen beheaded will Christ bear with the affronts and injuries done to his Bride the Saints are the apple of Christ's eye Zac. 2. 8. and they that strike at his eye let them answer it Isa. 49. 26. I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh and they shall be drunken with their own blood as with sweet wine 5 See the reason why the Saints do so rejoice in the Word and Sacrament 5. Infer because here they meet with their Husband Christ the Wife desires to be in the presence of her Husband The Ordinances are the chariot in which Christ rides the lattice through which he looks forth and shows his smiling face here Christ displays the banner of love Can. 2. 4. The Lord's Supper is nothing else but a pledge and earnest of that eternal communion the Saints shall have with Christ in heaven Then he will take the Spouse into his bosom if Christ be so sweet in an Ordinance when we have but short glances and dark glimpses of him by saith Oh then how delightful and ravishing will his presence be in heaven when we shall see him face to face and be for ever in his loving embraces 4 This mystical union affords much comfort to believers Use 4. Consol. in several cases 1 In case of the dis-respects and unkindnesses of the world Psa. 55. 3. In wrath they hate me but though we live in an unkind world we have a kind Husband joh. 15. 9 As the father hath loved me so have I loved you What Angel can tell how God the Father loves Christ yet the Father's love to Christ is made the copy and pattern of Christ's love to his Spouse this love of Christ as far exceeds all created love as the Sun out shines the light of a Torch and is not this matter of comfort what though the world hates me yet Christ loves me 2 It is comfort in case of weakness of grace the believer cannot lay hold upon Christ but with a trembling hand there is a spirit of infirmity upon him but O weak Christian here is strong consolation there is a conjugal union thou art the Spouse of Christ and he will bear with thee as the weaker vessel will an Husband divorce his Wife because she is weak and sickly no he will be the more tender of her Christ hates treachery but he will pity infirmity when the spouse is faint and ready to be discouraged Christ puts his left hand under her head Can. 2. 6. this is the spouses' comfort when she is weak her Husband can infuse strength into her Isaiah 49. 5. My God shall be my strength 3 It is comfort in case of death when believers die they go to their Husband who would not be willing to shoot the Gulf o● death that they might meet with their Husband Christ Phi. 1. 23. I desire to lose Anchor and be with Christ what though the way be dirty seeing we are going to ou● friend when a woman is contracted she longs for the day of marriage after th● Saints funeral begins their marriage the body is ergastulum animae a Prison to the soul who would not desire to exchange a Priso● for a Marriage bed How glad was Iosep● to go out of Prison to the King's court God is wise he lets us meet with changes an● troubles here that he may we a us from the world and make us long for death when the soul is divorced from the body it is married to Christ 4 It is comfort in case of passing the sentence at the day of Judgement There is a marriage union and O Christian thy Husband shall be thy Judge a Wife would not fear to be cast at Bar if her Husband sat Judge what though the Devil bring in many indictments against thee Christ will expunge thy sins in his blood he will say shall I condemn my spouse O what a comfort is this the Husband is Judge Christ cannot pass the sentence against his spouse but he must pass it against himself for Christ and believers are one 5 It is comfort in case of the Saints sufferings The Church of God is exposed in this life to many injuries but she hath an Husband in heaven that is mindful of her and will turn her waters into wine now it is a time of mourning with the Spouse because the Bridegroom is absent Mat. 9 15. But shortly she shall put off her mourning Christ will wipe off the tears of blood from the cheeks of his Spouse Isa. 25. 8. The Lord God will wipe off tears from off all faces Christ will comfort his spouse after the time wherein she hath been afflicted he will solace her with his love he will take away the cup of trembling and give her the cup of consolation and now she shall forget all her sorrows being called into the banqueting house of heaven and having the banner of Christ's love displayed over her 5. Let me press several duties upon such as have this Marriage-Union with Christ Use 5. 1. Make use of this Relation 1 Duty in two cases 1. When the Law brings in its Indictments against you here are saith the Law so many debts to be paid and it demands satisfaction acknowledge the debt but turn over all to your Husband Christ 'T is a Maxim in Law that the suit must not go against the wife as long as the Husband is * Uxori lis no● intenditur living Tell Satan when he accuseth thee 't is true the debt is mine but go to my Husband Christ he will discharge it Would we take this course we might ease ourselves of much trouble by Faith we turn over the debt to our Husband Believers are not in a state of Widowhood but Marriage Satan will never go to Christ he knows Justice is satisfied and the Debt-book cancelled but he comes to us for the debt that he may perplex us we should send him to Christ and then all Lawsuits would cease This is a believers Triumph when he is in himself guilty in Christ he is worthy when he is spotted in himself he is pure in his head 2. In case of desertion Christ may for ends best known to himself step aside for a time Cant. 5. 6. My beloved had withdrawn himself say not therefore Christ is quite gone 'T is a fruit of jealousy in a Wife when her Husband hath left her a while to think he is quite gone from her Upon every removal out of sight for us to say as Zion The Lord hath forsaken me Isa. 49. 14. This is jealousy and it is a wrong done to the love of Christ and the sweetness of this Marriage-Relation Christ may forsake his Spouse in regard of comfort but he will not forsake her in regard of union An Husband may be a thousand miles distant from his Wife but still he is an Husband Christ may leave his Spouse but still the Marriage Knot holds 2. Love your Husband Christ 2 Duty Cant. 2. 5. love him though he be reproached and persecuted A Wife loves her Husband when in prison To inflame your love towards Christ consider 1. Nothing else is fit for you to love If Christ be your Husband it is not fit to have other Lovers that would make Christ grow jealous 2. He is worthy of your love he is of unparallelled beauty Cant. 5. 10. altogether lovely 3. How pregnant is Christ's love towards you he loves you in your worst condition he loves you in affliction The Goldsmith loves his gold in the Furnace he loves you notwithstanding your scars and blemishes The Saints infirmities cannot wholly take off Christ's love from them jer. 3. 1. Oh then how should the Spouse be endeared in her love to Christ This will be the excellency of Heaven our love will then be as the Sun in its full strength 3. Rejoice in your Husband Christ 3 Duty hath Christ honoured you to take you into the Marriage-Relation and make you one with himself this calls for joy By virtue of the Union believers go sharers with Christ in his riches It was a custom among the Romans when the Wife was brought home she received the Keys of her husband's house intimating that the treasure and custody of the house was now committed to her When Christ shall bring his Bride home to those glorious Mansions which he is gone before to Prepare for her john 14. 2. He will deliver up the keys of his treasure to her and she shall be as rich as heaven can make her and shall not the Spouse rejoice and sing aloud upon her bed Psal. 149. 5. Christians let the times be never so sad you may rejoice in your spiritual Espousals Hab. 3. 17. Let me tell you it is a sin not to rejoice you disparage your Husband Christ When a wife is always sighing and weeping what will others say This woman hath a bad husband Is this the fruit of Christ's love to you to reflect dishonour upon him A melancholy spouse sads Christ's heart I deny not but a Christian should grieve for sins of daily incursion but to be always weeping as if he mourned without hope is dishonourable to the Marriage-Relation Phil. 4. 4. Rejoice in the Lord always Rejoicing doth credit your husband Christ loves a cheerful Bride and indeed the very end of Gods making us sad is to make us rejoice we sow in tears that we may reap in joy The excessive sadness and contristation of the godly will make others afraid to embrace Christ they will begin to question whether there be that satisfactory joy in Religion as is pretended Oh ye Saints of God forget not consolation let others see that you repent not of your choice 't is joy that puts liveliness and activity into a Christian Nehem. 8. 10. The joy of the Lord is your strength Then the soul is swiftest in duty when it is carried upon the wings of joy 4. Adorn this Marriage-Relation 4 Duty that you may be a crown to your husband 1. Wear a vail We read of the spouses' vail Cant. 5. 7. This vail is humility 2. Put on your Jewels These are the graces which for their lustre are compared to rows of Pearl and chains of gold Cant. 1. 10. These precious Jewels distinguish Christ's Bride from strangers 3. Carry yourselves as becomes Christ's Spouse 1. In chastity 2. In sanctity 1. In chastity Be chaste in your judgements defile not yourselves with error error adulterates the mind 1 Tim. 6. 5. 't is one of Satan's artifices first to defile the judgement than the conscience 2. In sanctity It is not for Christ's Spouse to do as Harlots a naked breast a wanton tongue doth not become a Saint Christ's Bride must shine forth in Gospel-purity that she may make her husband fall in love with her A woman being asked what Dowry she brought her husband answered she had no Dowry but she promised to keep herself chaste so though we can bring to Christ no Dowry yet he looks we should keep ourselves pure not spotting the breasts of our Virginity by contagious and scandalous sins FINIS AN ALPHABETICAL TABLE A AFflictions on the Saints various 172 Afflictions may lie long ibid. Affliction compared to a Net 173 Apostasy dangerous 301 Arguments to patience in affliction 174 Assurance to be endeavoured after 308 B Benefits by Christ precious 56 Bruised reed what 318 When a soul is bruised enough 326 Bruised Reed not barren 328 C Caution to the Godly 315 Characters of a godly man 15 Children to honour their Parents 225 Christ of a merciful disposition 322 Christ full of preciousness 53 Christ prized by a Saint 57 Comfort to the real Christian. 317 Company of the godly to be frequented 299 Complexion-sin how known 210 Contentment with our condition 247 Covetousness to be avoided 301 Counsel to the godly 316 D Danger in allowing one sin 215 Decay of Charity to be bewailed 200 Diligence in a man's calling 242 Disobedient children punished 226 Distinctions about humility 103 Distractions in duties whence they arise 232 How they may be cured 233 E Earthly and godly a contradiction 146 Endeavours of a Christian to be quickened 342 Examples of patience 171 Examples speak louder than precepts 267 Excellency of the Word written 83 F Faith excites all the graces 28 Few know the mystery of Faith 30 Faith's encouragement 323 Falling from grace refuted 334 Fathers to instruct and pray for children 223 Forgiveness of sin 2 How sad to want it 4 How sweet to have it ib. G Gainful sins make men loser's 209 God the best Master 46 Godliness what 5 Seven maxims about godliness 6 Godly man like God 34 Godly man a lover of the Word 77 Godly man exact about the worship of God 39 Godly man instrumental for the good of others 263 Godliness exhorted to 273 Godly men prudent 284 Godly men the Bulwark of a nation 285 Helps to godliness 295 Grace to be promoted in our relations 268 One grace in truth hath all linked with it 272 H Hardness of heart differenced from an hard heart 327 Haters of Saints put in God's black Book 206 Heart to be called toaccount 240 Heart to be watched 296 Heavenly mindedness the note of a Saint 141 How many ways a godly man is heavenly 142 Heaven-aspiring motives 147 How heaven is a better country 150 Holiness God's glory 35 Holiness of Saints wherein discovered 36 Honouring of Parents wherein it consists 225 Humble Soul Characterised 104 Humility exhorted to 113 How to be attained 115 Husbands must love their Wives 221 Hypocrisy a vile sin 138 Hypocrites partial in matters of Religion 239 I Ignorance in Gospel-times inexcusable 22 Indulging sin what 206 Ingratitude odious 193 Injuries to be forgiven 245 K Divine Knowledge how qualified 16 To be sought after 24 How obtained 25 L Life of a Saint a life of believing 29 Love of God to his people 283 Love to God 31 Love to the Scriptures how shown 79 Love to the Word Preached 84 Whether we are Lovers of the Word 85 Love to the Saints how qualified 196 Motives to Love 201 Love how gotten and preserved 205 Lukewarm temper abominable 161 M Magistrates must put on justice as a robe 218 Masters to be good at home as well as at Church 224 Ministers must sweat in God's Vineyard 218 Ministers ought to be zealous 219 Mischieving of Souls three ways 267 Misery of a natural estate 275 Moral Righteousness to be observed 243 Mystical union sweet 343 O Obedience to God must be universal 238 How a godly man obeys all God's commands 249 Object Touching hardness of heart answered 327 Object Touching smoking flax answered 339 Offices of Christ precious 55 Opposites to patience 166 P Patience in waiting 164 Patience in bearing 165 Patience what it is ib. Patience how attained 177 Persecution for Christ 248 Perseverance in the profession of godliness 299 Means to perseverance 301 Motives to perseverance 309 Persons of the godly precious 280 Praise a God-exalting work 181 Prayer the badge of a godly man 117 Prayer spiritual what it is 119 A persuasive to Prayer 128 Pretenders to godliness 8 Pride an horrid sin 114 Persons who do not prise Christ 60 Whether we are prisers of Christ 62 A persuasive to all to prise Christ 67 Promises to persevering Christians 310 Proud men unmasked 110 R Relative holiness 218 Motives to be good in our relation 228 Reproof to them who pray not at all 126 Reproofs when loved 87 Religion to be entered upon out of choice 305 S Secret sins 207 Self-denial needful 307 Servant of God described 43 Service of God excellent 47 Serving of men when sinful 51 Servants how to carry themselves to their Masters 226 Sincere Christian deciphered 131 Sincerity the ingredient into all the graces 134 Sincerity a jewel of incomparable worth 135 Sins of a justified person odious 73 Smoking flax what it signifies 328 Why smoking flax shall not be quenched 331 Spirit of God known by its motions 89 Spirits motions how distinguished from the impulse of a natural conscience 90 Spirit known by its virtues 91 How the spirit of God comforts 94 Spirit deriders far from Godly 99 Spirits indwelling to be laboured after 100 Such as have the spirit how they are to carry themselves 101 Spiritualness in duty what 230 How we may grow more spiritual in the service of God 236 Superstitions persons seldom converted 41 Support in the death of godly relations 168 Sympathy with Zion 246 T Thankfulness a work proper for a Saint 179 Thankfulness in adversity as well as prosperity 183 How we may know whether we are rightly thankful 185 Motives to thankfulness 189 How to get a thankful heart 194 Thanksgiving a more noble part of God's worship 181 Time to be redeemed 297 Trial of our love to God 33 V Unbeleif a God-dishonouring sin 323 Unworthiness ought not to discourage 325 W What it is to walk with God 251 Walking after the flesh what it imports 253 How we may know whether we walk with God 255 Walking with God excellent 257 How we may come to walk with God 262 Weeper for sin 70 Why weeping after conversion 71 Weep how qualified 75 Go often into the weeping hath 76 Works of Mercy 248 World an hindrance to godliness 295 Worldly things contemptible 148 Worship of God better in purity than pomp 39 Z Zeal the flame that ascends from an holy heart 155 Zeal fictitious 156 Zeal rightly tempered 157 Zeal to be pursued after 162 FINIS ERRATA Page 76. line 23. For sangui serat read sanguit erat page 64. marg. for read page 131. line 20. for front positus read front politus page 278. marg. for read page 342. marg. for 2 Conclusion read 2 Consolation These Books following are Printed for and sold by Thomas Parkhurst at the three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside over against the great Conduit A Divine Cordial Or the Transcendent Privilege of those that love God and are savingly Called By Tho. Watson The Holy Eucharist or the Mystery of the Lords Supper briefly explained By Tho. Watson Paramythion or a Word of Comfort for the Church of God By Tho. Watson