Bowels Opened, Sermon 8
THE EIGHTH SERMON.SER. VIII.
CANT. V. III.
I have put of my coate, how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them?
WEE are now by Gods assistance to speake of the remedies against the lazie distempers we are prone unto in Spirituall things, where we left off the last day.
What course should we take then to come forth from this distempered lasinesse,Quest. That wee may attaine a spirituall tast and relish of heavenly things, so as not to loath religious exercises: or delay and put them off with excuses.
First of all,Answ. Resolve not to consult with flesh and blood in any thing; Resolve, not to consult with flesh and bloud.For it alwayes counsells us for ease, as Peter cou…selled Christ, Master pitty thy selfe. So wee have a nature in us like unto Peter, spare, favour, pity thy selfe. Like Hevah, Iob 2.and Iobs w…fe, wee have a corrupt nature that is alwayes solliciting from God, and drawing us unto vanity. Take heed of cou…selling with flesh and blood; for if men were in a citty invironed round about with enemies would they consult with them what they should doe for defence of the citty? were it not a mad part? and is it not a greater madnesse when Christians will consult with flesh and blood what they should do in duties of obedience, which will alwayes put us upon tearmes of ease, the favour of men, content and the like, which if a man yeeld to, hee shall never enter into heaven. Take heede therfore of consulting with our enemy, seeing Sathan hath all the correspondency hee hath by that enemy which wee harbour in our bossome. In which case the hurt hee doth us by his sophistry comes by our selves, wee betray our selves by our carnall reason, whereby Sathan mingleth himselfe with our imaginations and conceits. Let us therefore beware wee listen not to the counsell of flesh and blood, especially when the matter comes to suffering once, for there of all other things flesh and blood doth draw backe.▪ Every one hath a Peter in himselfe, that saith, Spare thy selfe; Thou art indiscreet to vent…re thy selfe …pon this and that hazard. But where the judgment is convinced of the goodnesse of the cause, whether it bee Religion or Iustice, …or the first or for the second table that matters not; If the judgment be convinced of the thing; then consult not with flesh and blood what…oever the suffering be. It is not necessary, that we should live in riches, honours, pleasures and estimation with the world. But it is necessary wee should live honest men, and good Christians. Therefore when flesh and blood objecteth in this kind, consult not with it. First, Because it is an enemy, and therefore is to be suspected and neglected; Secondly, Because it is said,1 Cor. 15. 50. Flesh and Blood shall not inherit the kingdome of Heaven. And therefore we should practise that first lesson in Religion, Heavenly wisdome; To ayde us wherein, Christ (knowing what an enemy wee are to our selves in the wayes of God) saith, Let a man deny himselfe, and take up his Crosse and follow mee, there is no following of Christ, considering that our flesh is so full of cavills and excuses, unlesse we practise that heavenly lesson of Christ, to denie our selves, our whole selfe, our wit and reason in the matters of God: our will and affections. Say nay to all the sluggishnesse of the flesh; silence all presently, as soone as ever they discourage thee from holy wayes. Consider whence they come? which is enough: from Gods and our enemie; and the worst enemie wee have that lyeth in our owne bosome. And to inable us the better,Rom. 8. marke what Paul saith, Wee are no more debtors to the flesh, &c. We owe nothing to it; I owe not such obedience, such subjection to the flesh and carnall reason: I have renounced it long since. What am I abnoxious to a man unto whom I owe no service. Wee owe the flesh no service or obedience, what shall we yeeld to that which wee have long since renounced.
And withall,To be resolute in spirituall undertakings. In Spirituall courses, let us arme our selves with resolution: First, conclude Is it so or not so, let our judgements be convinced; for, Resolution is a disposition arising from the will immediately, but it is of the will, by sound judgement convinced of the goodnesse of the thing, after which the will resolves. Get resolution from soundnesse of conviction, that such things are good, and that they are best for us, and best for us at this time, the sooner the better: that there is an absolute necessitie to have them, and that they are everlastingly good: O these considerations will put us on amaine to obtaine the same. It is our duty, and we shall sinne against God, against our Conscience, against the Spirit of God, and against others (that take like liberty by our examples) Jf we yeeld to our base lusts and suggestions in this kinde.
And to helpe Resolution the more,A help to Resolution let us have before our eyes,2 Sa…. 23. 16. the examples of Gods worthies, who (like unto Davids worthies, who brake through the Host of the Philistims for water) Have in all ages broken through all discouragements, and made a conscience more to please God, to hould communion and fellowship with Christ, then to hold any correspondencie with the World, Looke to Blessed Paul,Act. 21. 13. What doe yee vexing of me and breaking my heart? I am ready not onelyonly to goe to Ierusalem, but to die for Christs sake. And looke to Christ, how hee shakes of Peter,Mat. 16. 23. Get thee behind mee Sat…n, &c. Looke to Moses, how he shooke off all the solicitations of a Court; Because hee had an eye to the recompence of the reward. Looke to Ioshua,Heb 11. 26. I and mine house will serve the Lord. Iosh. 24. 15.Let others of the world doe what they will: If others will goe to the Divell let them, for my selfe, I and my house, (those that I have charge of) will serve the Lord. This was a noble resolution which was in good Nehemiah, Shall such a man as I flie? Neh. 6. 1….what shall J flie? shall I doe this; yeeld to this base discouragement? shall J discourage others (like those spies of Canaan) by mine example? Hence it is that Heb. 11. In that notable Chapter, That little booke of martyrs, after the catalogue of those worthies set downe there, that which we are exhorted and pointed to in the beginning of the next chapter, is unto the practise of the like vertues, In imitation having before us, such a Cloude of witnesses,Heb. 12. 1. wherewith beeing compassed, the exhortation is, Let us therefore shake off every thing that presseth downe, and the sinne that hangeth so fast on, &c. as the Cloude was a guide to them to Canaan out of Egypt; so the Cloude of good examples, is as it were a light to goe before us to the heavenly Canaan.
In this case above all, let us looke to Christ, Who is the author and finisher of our Faith. Heb. 12. 2.This will make us breake through discouragements and resolve indeed. What could hinder him? his love is so fiery, that nothing could hinder him to come from Heaven to the Wombe of the Virgin, from thence to the Crosse, and so to the grave, to be abased lower then ever any creature was. His love to us so carried him through all discouragements and disgraces. Consider him, Heb. 12. 3.who endured such speaking against of sinners. The consideration of Christs love, and example will carry us through all discouragements whatsoever.
And further,To have good grounds and …ound reasons …or all wee doe. Let us be able by sound reasons to justifie the wayes of God, and … answer cavills, to give account of what we doe to our selves and others, With reasons why wee sanctifie the Sabboth, have such Communion with God in Prayer, Neglect the fashions of the world, &c. To have reasons ready from Scripture, is an excellent thing, when we are able to justifie whatsoever we doe by the Word, against all the quarrells of our owne hearts and others. When we are led to doe things onelyonly b… the example of others, or by respects, then we are oft times put to it on the suddaine by temptations: being not able to justifie what we doe. Let us labour therefore to doe things upon good grounds, and be able to justifie al… the waies of Religion, as they are easily justified, for nothing in this world stands with so much reason, as exactnesse in the waies of God, There is so much Reason for nothing in the world, as to be not onelyonly Christians, but exact Christians, as Paul …aith to Agrippa,Acts 26. 29. would to God you were not almost, but altogether as I am, saving these bonds. To make conscience of all waies and courses, it stands with the most reason of the world, so to justifie Religion by reasons unanswerable, that may set downe corrupt nature, and stop the mouth of the divell himselfe: and herein let us propound found and strong Questions to our selvesTo helpe on reason, wee must often propound strong Questions to our selves. often; are those things (that I am mooved to do) good? or are they not? If they be good, why doe I not doe them? If they be bad, why doe I doe them at all? If they be good, why doe I stick at them? how doe I proove them to bee good? have alway ready some Scripture, or reason from thence which is as good. The reasons of the word are most divinely strong, let them be ready against all Objections whatsoever, Mat. 12.as against sleight oathes thinke of that of Christ, that we must give an account for all idle words: how much more for Atheisticall oathes: so against grosser sinnes learne reason; a civill man, an Heathen would not doe thus.
So also when the flesh mooveth us to any backwardnesse in religious courses, let us have some Scripture ready, or Reasons deducted from it. As, From the Dignity of our Profession, from the great Hopes we have to be glorious another day. And reason the matter,From the dignity of our Profession. how doth this that I am mooved to suite with my Hopes and expectation to come? how furthers it my journey homewards? And consider this likewise; That no excuse will serve the turne at the day of judgement,Consider, what excuses may be sufficient at the day of judgement. but such an one as ariseth from as invincible infirmity, or an unremoovable impediment. such an excuse taken from an invincible infirmity, may then serve the turne. As, when we cannot possibly doe a thing, from impediments that all the meanes in the world cannot remoove. As a poore man cannot be liberall, &c. Excuses also fetcht from impossible impediments, as from invincible weakenesse may availe, if a man have an infirme body, that he cannot doe that which another man can: these excuses, with a gratious God will serve the turne; which are not so much excuses, as a just plea. But otherwise, our untoward excuses will not serve the turne. What hindered them in the Gospell who were invited to the Supper?Luke 14. Excuses from Oxen, Wives, &c. Was it not lawfull to buy Oxen? and was it not lawfull for the married to take content in a wife? another had married a wife; were not all these things lawfull? very lawfull; The Farme hurts not, if it hinder not, no… the Wife, Oxen nor any thing: but in this case when we regard these things more then the invitation to come to the feast of holy things, heere is the malice of the divel, which brings that dolefull message; They shal never taste of my feast. There is such an infinite disproportion, betweene the good of Religion, Peace of Conscience, Ioy in the Holy Ghost here, and Heaven and Happinesse hereafter; and betweene any thing in this world, that to alleadge any hinderance wherby we cannot keep a good conscience, and preserve assurance of salvation, is most extreame folly & Atheisme. I beleeve not a better life (the disproportiō being so great betweene the state of this life and a better) if I fetch excuses from the things of this life, to keepe me from Religion, the Feare of God, and working out my salvation with feare and trembling. These excuses will not serve the turne, not onelyonly with God at the day of judgement: but also our owne consciences will tell us, that we are Hypocrites to make such or such a plea. Therefore when men become false, thereby to provide for wife or children, and take corrupt courses to keepe them from Religion, with pretext of their callings (least they should loose one day in …eaven) this imployment cannot prosper, which sleights over duties under false pretences. O! they can toile for the pelfe of the world, but for matters of their soules, they turne off all shamefully, as if there were not a God to judge them, a Heaven to reward them, or a Hell to punish them. Will such excuses serve the turne? O no, they cannot with conscience, much lesse with God the Judge who is greater then our conscience. This is another way to cut off these idle cavills, to consider that these excuses cannot serve the turne, neither to comfort conscience in this world, nor to uphold us in our plea at the day of judgement, Remember that.
And then againe,To inure our selves to beare the yoake of Religion▪ Let us inure our selves to beare the yoake of Religion from our youth, which will make it easie afterwards. It were an excellent thing if those who are young (in the prime of their yeares) would inure themselves to the exercise of Religion, this would make it easie unto them; to reade the Word of God, to open their spirits unto him in Prayer. It may please God hereby (though they be negligent herein) yet they may be called to Religion.The danger of ignorant old age. But for an old man there is much worke to doe to reade, to get any thing into his braine, when his memory is pestered with other things, and corrupt nature in him is armed with a world of excuses, that might have beene prevented by a timely and seasonable training up in a course of Religion. Prophane young persons know not what they doe when they put off Religion. Have they excuses now,That the longer we put off Religion, the more will bee our excu…es. they will have many more hereafter, when Satan and corruption will be much stronger. O let them beare the yoake of Religion, that is enure themselves to duties that become Christians, which may facilitate and make it easie and pliable, that it may not bee harsh to our nature. If a man doe not heare, pray and reade, he can never have Faith, Grace, Knowledge, Mortification of corruption (wherein Religion stands) but because these lead to duties that are hard to nature, and harsh, it is wisedome to inure young ones thereto betimes, that having used themselves to these preparing duties, they may be the more fitted for the essentiall ones. That having things in the braine by reading and hearing, Grace may bee wrought in the heart, it being a more easie passage from the braine to the heart. When a man is converted it is an easie matter to bring it from the braine unto the heart, whereas a man that hath beene negligent in his youth, must then be instructed in the Principles of Religion. Therefore, it is a miserable case (though men be never so politique in the world) to have beene negligent herein till age. It breeds a great deale of difficulty to them ere they can come to be in such a state as a Christian should be in. Remember this therefore, to doe as Paul adviseth Timothie a young man,1 Tim 6. 11. to exercise himselfe in Godliness…, it is a good thing for all that are young to exercise themselves to all duties of Religion, or else pretences will grow up with age, whereby they will be indisposed every day more then other. Experience shewes it generally, wee may beleeve it: if we will not, we shall finde it hereafter too true by woefull experience.
And then againe,To inure our selves to difficulty and hardship. by little and little, not onelyonly to be enured to the yoake of Religion, but likewise to endure difficulties, opposition and hardship; as the Apostle stands upon it to Timothie, To indure hardship and afflictions from the beginning. ….If the thing be good and warra…able, neglect the speeches of the world: what are the speeches of a company of men in the state of nature, in their miserable condition, to regard them so as not to endure hardship, in such things, of the goodnesse whereof we are convinced? But in these daies men take up a delicate profession of Religion, men will be Religious, but they will suffer nothing, not a taunt or a scoffe, they will part with nothing, be at no losse; suffer no crosse, be at no paines with Religion further then may stand with all earthly content of this world. This delicate profession (if any thing among us) threatneth the remooving of the Gospell, and blessed truths we enjoy, because we will not part with any pleasure now. How will they suffer afflictions for the Gospell (if such times come) that will not part with a vaine oath, a corrupt fashion of life, a superfluity, that wil not part with a rotten unsavourie discourse, which discovereth a rotten spirit and infecteth others. Heere is a profession of Religion indeed, that cannot have so much masterie of the corrupt heart, as to denie and overcome it selfe in things that are grossely ill. How will a man part with his blood and life, that will not part with things that hee should part withall, not onelyonly with something to the poore and to good uses; but to part with some sinfull course of life and wicked and ungodly lusts that fight against the soule, who will not endure, not so much as a checke, who rather then they will goe under that censure wherewith the world is pleased to disgrace Religion, they will live and die like Atheists. This extreame tendernesse in the matters of God and of salvation, is the cause why many eternally perish.
Againe,To remember what we should all be, and what we should all aime at. to cut of all vaine excuses: let us oft have in thought of our heart, what wee should be and what we should all aime at, and how farre we come all short of it; a Christian that hopes of good of his Religion, should live by faith, and depend upon God in the use of lawfull meanes. If he be as he should be, he ought to walke with God, keepe his watch with him, and doe nothing unbeseeming the eye of God. When his corruption drawes him to be carelesse, then hee is not as he should be, for in a right temper, he ought to be fitted to every good worke, ready for all opportunities of doing any thing that is good: because the time of this life is the feeds-time, the time of doing good, the time of reaping is in the world to come; when therefore the heart is shut when any opportunitie is offered of doing good, he may conclude, certainely, I am cold and dull, pretend what I will, I am not as I should be. A Christian ought to abound in the worke of the Lord, 1 Cor. 1… 58.especially having such abundance of incouragements as wee have. What a world of incouragements hath a Christian? there are none to those of Religion, from the inward content that it brings heere at the houre of death, and in Glory hereafter. When we are drawne to bee scantie, niggardly, and base to things that are good, surely, this is not as it should be, pretend what we will to the contrary, this is a fault. A Christian should at all times be fit to yeeld and to render up his soule unto God, because our life is uncertaine. When therefore, we are mooved by corruption to live in a state that we cannot abide to die in, because we are under the guilt of some sinne: then certainely pretend what we will, our state is so farre naught, as farre as there is unfitnesse and unwillingnesse to die. Let us have in the eye of our soule therefore, what a Christian should bee, aime at it, and think that when we stop at a lower measure and pitch; that (pretend what wee will) all is but from carnall wit and policie, the greatest enemie that Religion hath.
We pray in the Lords Prayer, Thy Kingdome come, thy will bee done in earth as it is in Heaven, great desires, and which should be the desires of all our hearts. But herein we play the Hypocrites, whilst wee pray thus that the Kingdome of God may come, that Christ may rule in our hearts over lusts and desires: yet notwithstanding we pretend this and that excuse, whereby we may be led with this and that lust, we crosse our own prayers: yet it sheweth what pitch we should aspire to, To sanctifie the Lord in our hearts, to delight in him, and trust in him above all. When wee doe not this, wee fall short of our owne prayers. And when we cannot bring our hearts to suffer, and to doe what God would have us to do, but are led away with our owne wills, wee are not as wee should be; our wills should be conformable to Christs in all things, It is our prayer, and therefore we should ayme at it. Now, when flesh and bloud sets up a pitch of Religion, I am well enough: and yet prais, Hollowed be thy Name; Thy Kingdome come, Thy will be done, &c. Such a man is an hypocrite; for his prayer leades him further and further still till he come to Heaven, where is all perfection: untill when, our life is a life of indeavour and progresse. Though we be never so perfect, yet Christ may more rule and set up his Kingdome yet more in the heart, and further bring our will to his in all things: when flesh and bloud sets up cavills against this, we play the hypocrites with God and crosse our selves. Therefore, Let us justifie a measure of Religion beyond our present pitch whatsoever it is, justifie it more and more still. Thinke wee are never as we should be till we be in Heaven; and never blesse our selves, but thinke that wee should alwayes be on the growing hand, and whatsoever excuse comes to hinder us from zealousnesse and earnestnesse (though it carry a shew of reason in the profession of Religion:) account it to come from our corrupt hearts.
Againe, Remember to doe all things to God, and not to man in our Callings both of Religion, and in our particular Callings, To doe all our works of Religion, and our calling to God▪ and not to man.and then whatsoever discouragement there is from men, we should not be discouraged. Wee shall heare men continually complaine of others, that they are unthankfull persons, and why should we doe any thing for them. Why? doe it to God, If it fall within our callings let us doe justice and shew mercy: God will accept, though men doe not. It cutts of many discouragements in duties; It is best to have Gods reward. In this world it is good to meet with naughty unthankfull persons, because else we should meet with all our reward here. It is good to doe somewhat for Gods sake, and for Religion, let people be as unthankfull as they will: to say, I did it not to you, but to God. If a man regard the discouragement of the world, he shall never doe that which is good, people in the world are so unthankfull and regardlesse to those that wish them best, and that doe best to them. But if a man doe a thing to God, and doe it out of dutie and conscience, he may hould on, have hee never so many discouragements in the world, he shall loose nothing, all shall be rewarded, and is regarded.
Likewise be sure to carry this in minde,To bee perswaded that sinne is the greatest evill, and grace the greatest good in the world. That sinne is the greatest evill, and grace and goodnesse the best thing in the world. Therefore, there is no excuse for sinne, from any thing in the world, for it is the worst thing in the world, which staines the soule, and hinders it from comfort. And for grace and goodnesse in the inward man, it is the best thing in the world, therefore, purchase this, though with disadvantage. It is best to avoyde sinne, though with enduring evill; yea to avoide the least sinne, by enduring the greatest evill. It is wisedome to doe good with disadvantage, when the disadvantage is bounded onelyonly in this life, the thing that I doe, beeing a thing which furthers my reckning at the day of account. Therefore, have this alway in consideration, whatsoever I suffer in this world, I will not sinne, this will cut off a world of excuses.
Therefore,1 Pet. 4. 1. let us labour to cut off all cavills, and to arme our selves. It is the Apostle Peters exhortation, as Davids worthies brake through the pikes to fetch him water from the well of Bethlehem: so all Christian worthies that looke to be Crowned, let them be armed inwardly with resolution for good things, take up resolutions that they will doe it.2 Tim. 3. 10. As Paul tells his scholler Timothie of his purpose. Thou knowest my purpose, and manner of living: This is the manner of a Christian life: that this,Psal. 119. I will not breake for all the world. So, there is a purpose of living honestly, a manner of life, not by starts, now and then to speake a good word, and to doe a good deed. But there is a purpose and manner of life for it, he resolves alwayes for the best things.
And to this end begg of God his Spirit, which is above all impediments. The more Spirit the more strength and courage against impediments. The more wee attend upon holy meanes, the more spirituall and heavenly light and life is set up in the soule. The more Spirituall wee are, the more we shall tread under foot all those things that stand us and Heaven. Let us therefore labour more and more for the Spirit,Mat. 11. 12. and then wee shall offer an holy violence unto good things; as it was said of Iohn Baptists time, The Kingdome of God suffered v…a…eace, men were so eager of it, as that they surprized it as a Castle, by violence. There is no way to take Heaven but by offering, violence to discouragement, corrupt on and whatsoever stands in the way, The violent onelyonly takes Heaven by force. Now when wee are spirituall, wee shall not pretend, That there is a lyo… in the way, that there are difficulties, as the sluggard doth, that thinks himselfe wiser then many men who can render a reason: but wee shall goe boldly and couragiously on; and know that there are more incouragements for good, and stronger, then the world hath allurements to bee naught, which are but for the present life, But wee have inward ones, which will hould out in the hower of death and after. Therefore, goe on boldly and resolutely in good things, alwayes remembring to beg the Spirit of God, that may arme our Spirits with invincible courage.
Now the Spirit of God brings Fa…th with it,Heb. 11. 27. which is a conquering victorious Grace over the world,Cant. 8. 6. and sees him that is invisible▪ which brings love also which is strong as death: wherewith the soule being warmed, It constraineth us, to doe duties in spight of all impediments; the Spirit of God will strengthen our hope also of Heaven, which stre…gthens us against all discouragements which stand in our way; For this hope is on greater and better grounds then discouragements are: and hee that giveth us this hope, will inable us to possesse it.
Therefore labour First, to have a cleare understanding of the things of God, and of the excellency of them, for light will cause heate: Why did the Kingdome of Heaven in Iohn Baptists time suffer violence? why were men then so violent to cleave unto Christ? because from that time the Gospell was more clearely manifested. And heavenly truths the more they are discovered and layd open (there is such an excellency in them) the more they worke upon the heart and affections. Therefore, The Kingdome of Heaven suffered violence And where are people more earnest after good things, then in these places where the Evangelicall Truths of God are layed open most, there they breake through all discouragements whatsoever.
And so, Labour for Faith to believe those truths: which is the most victorious and conquering Grace, that will carry us through all discouragements whatsoever, because it will set greater things before us, then the discouragements are. Are wee affraid of men? Faith it sets Hell before us. Are wee allured by the world? It sets Heaven before us. It conquers the world with all the discouraging duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page temptations thereof. Are the discouragements from impossibilities? O, It is hard, I cannot doe it.Phil. 4 13. I but (saith Paul) I am able to doe all things through Christ that strengthens mee. There is a kinde of omnipotency in Faith,Math. 15. O woeman bee it unto thee as thou wilt. Wee have abundance of strength in Christ, Faith is but an emptie hand that goes to Christ to draw from him what it hath need of; In Christ I can doe all things.
So, To have our hearts warmed with love to him; this Grace of the Spirit will make us passe through all discouragements, for, it hath a constraining power:2 Cor. 5. 14. The love of Christ constraines us (saith the Apostle) If our hearts once bee warmed with the love of Christ, this will make us to thinke nothing too deere for Christ, and will cut of all excuses and pretences whatsoever, which come from coldnesse of affection.Cant. 8 Love is strong as death as we have it in this Booke, Much water cannot quench it. All oppositions and discouragements whatsoever, all the water which the Divell and the world hath or useth, cannot quench the heavenly fire of love, when it is kindled in any measure. What carried the blessed Saints and Martyrs of God in all times through the pikes of all discouragements? The Spirit of God, by the Spirit of love, from a spirit of Faith, and heavenly conviction of the excellency and truth of the things: they saw such a light which wrought upon their affections, and carried them amaine against the streame, (contrary to the streame of the times wherein they lived) that the worse the times were, the better they were.
And let us consider againe,The shortnesse of injoying these helps. That Christ will not be alwayes thus alluring us, that wee shall not alwayes have these incouragements, such truths and motions of Gods Spirit, as perhaps wee feele now. Therefore, when wee feele any good motion stirred up toward Christ, entertaine it presently, haply wee shall never heare of it againe, the longer wee deferre and put it of, the worse. As a man that is rowing in a boate, let him neglect his stroake, the neglecting of one may make him tug at it five or six times after to overtake those that are before him. So nothing is gotten by sloath and negligence, wee doe but cast our selves backe the more.
And let us helpe our selves with setting the Glory to come before our eyes,By setting the glory to come before us. with Moses to have a Patriarks eye to him that is invisible, to see a Countrey afarre off, Now,Heb. 11. we are neerer salvation then when wee beleeved, let us helpe our backward soules this way: that so, having still Glory in our eyes, it may helpe us to goe through all discouragements whatsoever they bee. Wee know Zacheus, when hee was affraid that hee should not see Christ, went before the multitude; and getting up upon the top of a Tree, thus help… himselfe. So doth Grace helpe it selfe by Glory. And so farre is Grace from objecting and pretending lets, as it makes supplies in Gods service: as David, who in this case, was pleased to bee accounted vile. Let us looke unto the Recompence of the reward, not to the present discouragements, but to the prize at the end of the race. What makes a souldier to fight hard for the victory in the end? The sweetenesse of the triumph. What makes a husbandman goe through all discouragements? hee hopes to receive a croppe in the end. Consider the issue which followeth after a conscionable carefull and Christian life, after a more neere and perfect walking with God, maintaining Communion with him. Let there bee what discouragements there will bee in the world,Psal. 37. the end thereof is peace, The end of that man is peace. VponUpon this ground, the Apostle exhorts us, to be fruitfull, and abundant in the worke of the Lord; 1 Cor. 15. 58.knowing that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord.
The end of the eighth Sermon.