The Saints Safety in Evil Times, Text 2 – Title page 3

The Saints Safety in Evil Times · Text 2 – Title page 3

p. 79THE SAINTS SAFETY IN EVILL TIMES: Manifested by S. Paul from his experience of Gods goodnesse in greatest distresses, out of,

2 TIM. 4. 17, 18.

Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me, that by me the preaching might be fully knowne, and that all the Gent les might heare: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lion.

And the Lord shall deliver mee from every evill worke, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdome; to whom be glory for ever and ever; Amen.

BLessed Saint Paul, being now an old man, and ready to sacrifice his dearest blood, for p. 80the sealing of that truth, which hee had carefully taught; sets downe in this Chapter, what diverse entertainment hee found both from God and Man in the preaching of it. As for men hee found they dealt most unfaithfully with him, when hee stood most in need of comfort from them. Demas (a man of great note) in the end forsooke him: Alexander the Copper smith (thus it pleases God torry his dearest ones with base oppositions of worthlesse persons) did him most mischiefe: Weaker Christians forsooke him, &c. But mark the wisdome of Gods Spirit in the blessed Apostle, in regard of his different carriage towards these persons. Demas, because his fault was greater, by reason of the eminency of his Profession: him hee brands to all posterity, for looking backe to Sodom, and p. 81to the world, after hee had put his hand to the Plough: Alexanders opposing, because it sprung from extremity of malice towards the profession of godlinesse, him he curseth: The Lord reward him, &c. Weaker Christians who failed him, from want of some measure of spirit and courage, tetaining still a hidden love to the cause of Christ; their names he conceales, with prayer, that God would not lay their sinne to their charge. But whilst Paul lived in this cold comfort on Earth, see what large encouragement had hee from Heaven? Though all forsooke me, yet (sayes he) God did not for sake me, but stood by me, and I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lion. And the Lord will deliver me, &c.

In the words, wee have (in Pauls example) an expressing of p. 80duplicate page p. 81duplicate page p. 82that generall Truth, set downe by himselfe, Rom. 5. 3. And not onelyonly so, but we glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience. and patience experience: and experience hope, &c. So here, affliction breeds experience of Gods mercy in our deliverance: & experience breeds hope of deliverance for the time to come: and both his Experience and Hope stirres him up to glorifie God, who was his deliverer: so that here offer unto us to be unsolded,

1. Pauls experience of Gods loving care of him, in his deliverance past.

2. His assured hope, built upon his experience, for the time to come: set downe in two Branches:

p. 831. The Lord will deliver me frō every evill work.

2. He will preserve mee to his heavenly kingdom.

3. The issue hee maketh of both: as they flow from Gods grace, so he ascribes him the glory of both: [To whom be glory for ever and ever: Amen.]

For the first; I finde that most both Ancient and Moderne writers, by Lion, understand Ner…, that cruell Tyrant, thirsty of blood; especially of Christians: Some also understand it to be a provetbiall speech; to expresse extremitie of danger; both which are true: but if wee take the words in the just bredth of the Apostles intent; we may by Lion, understand the whole united company of his crull enemies; as David in many places hath the like: and by the mouth of the p. 84Lion, the present danger he was in, by reason of their cruell malice. Whence observe,

11. That enemies of the truth, are (oft for power, alwayes for malice) Lions.

22. That God suffers his dearest children to fall into the mouthes of these Lions.

33. That in this extremity of danger, God delivers them.

For the second; his hope built upon his experience; both Branches thereof hath its limitation and extent: The Lord shall deliver me; not from evill suffering, but from evill workes: this hee could boldly build on: he could not conjecture, what he should suffer; because that was in the power of others: but he could build upon this, what God would give him grace to doe: and so p. 85he limits his considence; He will deliver me from evill workes, and he will preserve me; from what? from da…ger? from death? no, here is the limitation: He will preserve me to his heavenly Kingdome. He will not preserve me from death; (and yet he will doe that whilst I can doe his service by my life:) but sure I am, hee will preserve me beyond death, to a state of security and happinesse: He will preserve me to his heavenly Kingdome.

And then for the third: after his experience, confidence, and hope wel built; (as his fashion is) when his heart was once warmed; he breakes our into thanksgiving, in the consideration of Gods favours past, and to come: his tongue is large thereupon, and God hath the fruit of it: To whom be glory for ever: and lastly, he seales up all with the word, Amen

p. 86[I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lion, &c.] Beloved, by nature we are all Lions and nothing will alter us, save the effectuall knowledge of Christ: Education may civilize, but not subdue: A Sound knowledge of Gods Truth, hath a changing power: for (when the spirit becomes tender, and when the heart, which lyes in a cursed estate, under and in danger of the wrath of a iust God, whose eye cannot spare iniquity unrepented of, is cited and affrighted effectually by the spirit of bondage) it will cast downe, and pull sorrow from the strongst spirit; making it melting and tender. Againe, in this estate when the soule hath felt favour shining upon it; when the eye is opened, to see the high prerogatives and exceeding riches of Christ; when we finde ourselves p. 87that we are delivered from the Lions mouth; wee cannot but shew that pity to others, which wee felt from God our selves. Paul thirsts as eagerly after the conversion of others now,Acts 9. 22.Acts 9:22 as ever he did for their blood before. The Iaylor also, a man by nature, custome, and calling, Acts 16. 33.Acts 16:33hardened in the practice of cruelty; yet after hee had felt the power of Gods blessed truth, shewed forth those bowels of pitie, hee felt from Christ, which were shut before.

Let us then be thankfull, that God hath changed us from being Lions: and with meeknesse submit our selves unto Gods ordinances: desiring him to write his Law, not onelyonly in our understandings, but in our very hearts and bowels; that wee may not onelyonly know, that we should walke harmelesse and full of good; p. 88Jer. 31. 33.Jer 31:33but be so indeed: resembling him by whom we hope to be saved, in a right serviceable plyablenesse to all duties of love.

And because our impersect measure of mortification in this life, hinders us from a full content in one anothers communion; let this make us the more willing to be translated to Gods holy Mount, where, being purged from all such lusts, as hinder our peace and love, we shall fully enioy one another, without the least falsenesse or distrust: then shall wee see totall accomplishment of these promises, which are but in part fulfilled in this life.

That God suffereth his children to fall into the mouth of Lions, Obser. 1.or into some danger proportionable, where in they shall see no helpe from him is a truth cleare as the Sunne: The History p. 89of the Church in all ages shewes as much: Was not Christ in the mouth of the Lion, Mat. 2. 13.Matt 2:13so soone as borne, when Her…d sought to kill him? Did not satan, and all the spirituall powers of Hell daily come about him, like ramping & roaring Lions? And hath it not been thus with Gods Church from Abel to this present, as appeares by the children of Israel in Egypt, at the redsea, and in their iourney to Canaan, being invironed round about with cruell enemies, and dangers on every side, like Daniel in the midst of Lions.Psal. 44. 9.Ps 44:9 So farre God gave them up to the power of their enemies, that the wisest of the Heathen iudged them a forlorne people, hatefull to God and men. For particular instances; see Iob and David, so neare, as there was but a step betweene them and death.

p. 90Besides God often awakens the consciences of his children and exerciseth them with spirituall conflicts; their sins, as so many Lions, stand up against them, ready to teare their souls: Nay, rather then those that belong to God shall want that, which will drive them unto him; God himselfe will bee a Lion unto them, as unto Ephraim, Hosea 5. 14. which made David pray,Psal. 6. 1.Ps 6:1 O Lord rebuke mee not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy het displeasure. Of all the troubles which a child of God undergoeth in his way to heaven, these bring him lowest; when the body is vexed and spirit troubled, it is much: but when God …rownes, when neither Heaven nor Earth yeelds comfort to a distressed soule,Psal. 6. 1.Ps 6:1 no evill in the world is like to this; Imagine the horrour and straits p. 91of such a soule (when all things seeme against it, and it selfe against it selfe) as neare to the paines of the very damned in hell.

The reasons of this dispensation of God are, 1. because we 1are so desperately addicted to present things, and so prone to put con…idence in the arme of flesh; that unlesse God driveth us from these holds (by casting us into a perplexed estate) wee shall never know what it is to live by faith in God alone, when all other props are puld away; and when the streame of things seeme crosse unto us. That God therefore may traine us up to live the spirituall life of the just, (which is by faith in him,) when all else faile; he suffereth us to fall into the Lions mouth; that so our prayers which are the flame of faith, may bee more ardent p. 92and peircing, rather cryes than words: Why cryest thou unto me, Exod. 14. 15.Exod 14:15faith God to Moses? when was this? even when hee knew not what way to turne him. It was out of the depths that David cryed most earnestly unto God:Psal. 130. 1.Ps 130:1 and Christ in the dayes of his flesh cryed unto God with strong cryes and teares in a deepe distresse,Heb. 5. 7.Heb 5:7 and was also heard in that which he feared: strong troubles force from the afflicted strong cryes: even experience shewes, in prosperity, and a full estate, how faint and cold the prayers and desires of men are.

22. Besides, it is meet that the secrets of mens hearts should bee discovered: for when all is quiet, we know not the falsehood of our owne hearts. Some over-value their strength as Peter: Mat. 26. 33.Matt 26:33others underprize themselves p. 93and of the gifts and graces of Gods spirit in them, thinking that they want Faith, Patience, Love, &. who yet, whē God calleth thē out to the crosse, shine forth in the eyes of others in the example of a meeke and faithfull subjection. The wisdome of God therfore judgeth it meet that there should bee times of sifting; that both the Church and our selves may know, what good or ill is in us: what soundnesse or loosenesse remaines in our hearts. When therefore we are wanting in fanning our selves; God in love takes the fanne into his hand.

It is likewife behoovefull, that false Brethren may be discovered: Afflictions are wel called tryalls; because then it is known what metall men are made of: whether Pure of Reprobate silver: thinke it not strange then, p. 94when our estate seemes desperate: it is but with us after the manner of Gods dearest ones; why should we have a severed condition from them? Remember this, that God, as he suffers his children to fall into the Lions mouth, so he delivers them out: and that hee never leaves his (especially in extremity) but in fit case of soule, to receive the greatest comfort, and to render him the greatest glory, for then it is knowne to be Gods worke; our extremity is his opportunity: God will especially shew himselfe at such a time, and make it appeare that the Church stands not by mans strength: When Christians are at a losse, and know not which way to turne themselves, then is God nearest hand and careth most for them.

And this the Lord doth both for the greater shame of those, p. 95that contrive mischiefe; when they make themselves s…rest to bring their wicked plots and purposes to passe, then their designes are most frustrated.

As also, to draw on others, not yet called: that they seeing Gods immediate care over his Church and children, may come in and obtaine like protection and deliverance.

The manner how God delivereth his children out of the Lions mouth, Divers Waye… ho… God delivers from the Lions mouth.is divers: 1. By suspending their malice for the time: as in 1Noahs Arke, the fiercenesse of the wilde creatures was stopt by Divine Power, from preying upon the tamer: so the Lions mouthes were stopt from preying upon Daniel Daniel 6. 22.Dan 6:22in the Lions Den.

2. By stirring up one Lion against 2another; as the Persians against the Baby lonians: Grecians p. 96against Persians: Romancs against the Grecians: and the other barbarous nations, as the Gothes and Vandals, against them: so whilst Lions spit their fury one upon another, the Sheepe are quiet. Thus the Turke, and other enemies have kept Popish Princes from raging, and tyrannizing over the Church to the height of their malice.

33. By casting something unto these Lions, to divert them another way from their intended prey; as when a man is in danger, a Dogge is cast unto the Lion: Thus when Saul was ready to devoure David, 2 Sam. 23. 27.2 Sam 23:27the philistines made a breach upon him, invaded the Land, and turned his fury another way.

44. By altering and changing Lions to be Lambes: as when Paul was set upon havock and mischiefe, God, by changing p. 97his heart, gave the Churches cause to glorifie God for him; of whom before they were most affraid.

5. God shewes himselfe a Lion 5to these Lions; by breaking their teeth and Jaw-bones, striking them with sudden and fearefull judgement;Acts 12. 23.Acts 12:23 as Herod and the persecuting Emperors: and as in 88, when God with his foure windes fought for us against the enemies of his truth,

6. By making them Lions to 6themselves: witnesse Achit…phel, Saul, and other such like enemies of Gods children.

7. Againe, God maketh them 7friends, without changing their disposition by putting into their hearts some conceit for the time, which inclineth them to favour, as in Nehemiah, Nehem. 2. 8.Neh 2:8God put it into the Kings heart to favour his people:Gen. 33. 4.Gen 33:4 Esau was not p. 98changed, onelyonly God for the time changed his affections to favour Iacob so God puts it into the hearts of many, (groundedly naught) to favour the best persons.

88. Lastly, God maketh his owne children sometimes Lions to their Adversaries: for the Image of God shining in his children, hath a secret Majesty in it, and striketh an awe upon wicked men: so Pharaoh at length could not endure to see Moses and Aaron any more:Exod. 10. 28.Exod 10:28 and Foelix trembled whilst Paul disputed of temperance and judgement.Acts 24. 25.Acts 24:25

Thus we see the Lord knows how to deliver his,Use of instruction and co…solation. and can if he will; and will doe it in their extremities, when is most …or his glory, his peoples comfort, and confusion of his owne and their enemies: never despaire therefore of thy selfe, or the p. 99Church of God: it shall rather than faile breed in the Lions den: Paul salutes the Philippians from the Church in Caesars house, a place (in appearance) little fitter for a Church, thanPhilip. 4. 22.Phil 4:22 hell it selfe: what though things seeme past recovery abroad? when they are at the worst, then are they nearest mending. When the taske of brick was doubled by Pharaoh upon Israel; Exodus 5. 11.Exod 5:11then came Moses to worke out their deliverance: when the Iewes heard newes of their liberty to returne from captivity,Psal. 126. 1Ps 126:1 they were as those that dreamed; they could not suddenly beleeve it, it seemed so strange a thing in that their hopelesse estate. Learne wo then, from this dealing of God with his people, in the midst of all extremities to alleage unto God the extremitie we are in: Helpe Lord, p. 100for vaine is the helpe of man: is a prevailing argument. Alledge the pride of enemies; the presumption of those that feare not God, &c. and that hee onelyonly can give issue from death when he will: And as God brings us to heaven by contraries, so let us in one contrary beleeve another; hope against hope; In misery, looke for mercy: in death for life: in guiltinesse for forgivenesse. Learne to wrastle with God, when he seemeth thy enemy; oppose unto God his former dealings, his nature, his Promise, &c. Iob had learned this,Job 13. 15.Job 13:15 Though he kill me, yet will I trust in him. Be of Iacobs resolution,Gen. 32 26.Gen 32:26 I will not leave hold of thee, untill I get a blessing: whatsoever wee are stript of, let us never forsake our owne mercy.Jonah. 2. 8Jonah 2:8 This one word, I despaire; takes a …ay God, and Christ all at p. 101once: We must remember, Our sinnes are the sinnes of men, but mercy is the mercy of God. God will never leave us, but be with us whilst we are with him. The world, and all comforts in it, leave a man when they can have no more use of him, nor hee of them; Satan leaves his sworne vassals at their wits end, when he hath brought them into danger: But blessed be for ever our gracious God; then of all other times he is nearest to helpe us, when we stand most in need of him. He was never nearer Moses, than when Moses seemed furthest from comfort:Exodus 3. 2.Exod 3:2 never nearer Iacob, than when heaven was his Canopie, and a Stone his pillow:Gen. 28. 12.Gen 28:12 never nearer Ioseph, than when in prison. Ionas, then in the belly of the Whale, for God went downe with him: never nearer Paul, Acts 16. 26.Acts 16:26than when in p. 102the Dungeon: A Christian is not alone,2 Cor. 4. 9.2 Cor 4:9 when left alone: not forsaken, when forsaken: God and his Angells supply them the want of other comforts. Is it not a greater comfort that a Prince should come in Person to a subject, and cheare him up, than send a meaner man? And whence is this to me, Luke 1. 43.Luke 1:43(said Elizabeth) that the mother of my Lord should come unto me? Is it not the greatest comfort to a Christian soule, when God in want of meanes, comes immediately himselfe unto us, and comforts us by his Spirit? for in defects of second causes comforts are ever sweetest: therefore in all extremities, let us wait and hope still for mercy: If the vision stay (saith Habakkuk) wait, Habak 2. 3.Hab 2:3for it will come.

This is a maine differenceDifferences of godly, and wicked. betwixt the Child of God, and a p. 103person destitute of sound grace: for the Child of God in extremitie recovers himselfe; as David after a great conflict gets still the upper hand: Yet my soule keepe thou silence unto God: for God is yet good to Israel: Psal. 73. 1.Ps 73:1as if hee should say, Though when I look upon my present outward condition, I stagger, yet when I consider more deepely of his dealing, I am resolved; God is good to Israel: thus after much tossing, they get up upon that rock which is higher than they But those, who are not uprighthearted, in any great extremity sinke downe with despaire, as heavy bodies to the Center of the Earth, without stop. The reason is, in their best estate they never were acquainted with relying upon God, but bore themselves up with fleshly helpes, which being taken away, p. 104they must needs fall down right: But a sincere Christian in midst of his flourishing estate acquainteth himself with God, and sets not his heart upon present things: Iob sayes, that which he feared in his best case, that …efell unto him: Therefore they can rest upon Gods mercy,Job. 3. 25.Job 3:25 when other props are taken away.

Yet there be divers degrees of upholding us when we are at a spirituall losse:Of our support in Spirituall losses. for usually in what measure we, (in the times of our peace and liberty) inordinately let loose our affections; in that measure are wee cast downe, or more deeply, in discomfort: when our adulterous hearts cleave to outward things more than becomes chas… hearts, it makes the crosse more sharpe and extreame: For, That which is not enjoyed with overmuch pleasure, p. 105is parted withall without overmuch griefe. But for, spirituall extremities, oftentimes the strongest feele them with quickest sense; for God herein respects not alwayes sinnes past, or more, or lesse measure of grace, as in Iobs case, who could without much distemper of soule, endure extremities of body and estate, but when God wrote bitter things against him; Job. I9. 25.presently he begins to sinke, and but begins onelyonly: for when hee was at worst, he stayes himselfe upon his Redeemer, to the glory of Gods Grace, and shame of the devill: Thus sometimes God makes his Children triumph, whom he sets as Champions in defiance of Satar. They in weaknesse thinke they shall utterly faile and perish, but their standing our in greatest conflicts shewes the contrary.

p. 106But to come to that, which I intend chiefly to insist on; The Lord shall deliver me from every evill worke, &c. wherein we may see;

1. The Author of his safety;

2. The deliverance it selfe.

The Author is the Lord: No lesse then an almighty power is necessary to deliver from any evill worke. For such is our inclinablenesse to joyne with temptation; such the malice and strength of our enemy; so many bee the snares, and so cunningly spread in every thing we deale withall; that whatsoever delivereth us, must bee above Satan and our owne evill hearts; more wise, more powerfull, more gracious to preserve us; than any adverse power can be to draw us unto evill workes: In which case, well said Moses; when God in his wonted glorious presence p. 107refused to goe along with them O (saith Moses) if thou go… not with us, Exodus 33. 15.Exod 33:15carry us not hence.

[Deliver] supposeth danger possible; or present: Beloved, Our lives are such, as stand in need of perpetuall deliverance. Our estate here is waving: The Church lives alwayes in tents,& hath never any hope of rest, untill the day of triumph: therefore, after forgivenesse of sinnes, followes, lead us not into temptation: because though sins past be forgiven, yet we are in danger to be led into temptation: let none promise a truce to himselfe, which God promiseth not; if Satan and our corruptions joyne, we cannot be quiet: after sinnes of youth, we are in danger of sinnes of riper age▪ for though by grace in some sort sinne be subdued, yet (untill it be wholly mortified) there will p. 108be some stirring up, untill that which is imperfect in us be abolished.

But I hasten to that which followes: The Lord will deliver me from every evill worke.

Whence (from the forme of the argument) observe, that, We ought to reason with God from former experience, 1 Sam. 17. 37.1 Sam 17:37to future; yea it is a binding Argument with God:2 Cor. 1. 10.2 Cor 1:10 he loves to be sued, and pressed from former mercies, and suffers them to be bonds unto him: men will not doe so, because their fountaine is soone drawne drie; But God is a spring that can never be emptied: as he was able to helpe in former time, so hee is also for the time to come: He is alwayes, I AM, JEHOVAH; alwayes where he was, his Arm is not shortened; what hee hath done heretofore, he can do now.

p. 109We should therefore register Gods favours Vse.(…hich is the best use wee can put out memories to) and make them so many arguments to build upon him for time to come, as David: 1 Sam. 17. 37.1 Sam 17:37The Lord, that delivered me(saith he) out of the pawe of the Lion, and out of the pawe of the Beare, will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. Oh were we but acquainted with this kinde of reasoning with God, how undaunted would we bee in all troubles? we should bee as secure for the time to come, as for the time past, for all is one with God; Wee doe exceedingly wrong out owne soules, and weaken our faith by not minding of Gods favours. How strong in faith might old men be, that have had many experiences of Gods love; if they would take this course? every former mercy p. 108duplicate page p. 109duplicate page p. 110sho…ld strengthen our faith for a new: as conquerours, whom every former victory incourageth to a new conquest: So old favours should helpe us to set upon God afresh.

But what is the limitation here? from every evill worke: which words we will first touch a little severally, and then consider more particularly of them

Sometimes God speakes of duties as they issue from man; because indeed the will is mans from whence the duty comes; and therefore the Scripture speakes, as though the duty came from us, because the powers are ours from whence they spring. Sometimes the Scripture speakes of holy duties as they issue from a higher power; from God: so here (The Lord will deliver me from every evill worke) he meanes, that God p. 111would stirre up his heart to a care to avoid evill workes. We are agents and patients in all we doe: we are agents, because the powers are ours; we are patients; because the Lord doth all. Now it is the language of the holy Ghost for the most part▪ when he speakes of good duties▪ to goe to the fountaine; especially when faith is to bee strengthened.

But how doth God deliver?Quest. Answ.

By keeping us from occasions; or by ministring strength, if occasions be offered: by giving occasions of good▪ and by giving a heart to entertaine those occasions. He preserves us from evill works by planting the graces 1of faith, and of feare in us, whereby wee are preserved; and by peace which guards our soules from despaire; and tumultuous thoughts; yea hee preserves us p. 112from evill workes,Philip. 4. 7.Phil 4:7 through faith unto his heavenly Kingdome.

2In a word, God preserves his children by making them better: by weakning corruptions by his Spirit, stirring up a cleare sight and hatred of the same in them: and by withdrawing occasions which might prevaile over us, and by keeping us from betraying our selves unto them: by chayning up Satan, untill our strength be such as may incounter him; a great mercy it is, though little thought on, that God lettet… not loose Satan upon us every moment; how should this stirre us up with David to thankfulnesse and dependance upon God.

He delivers also wicked men from dangers; (not out of any love to their persons, but) because he hath some base service for them to undertake, to exercise p. 113the patience of his children, and vexe others better than themselves, which is not fit for godly men to doe: They are onelyonly gods Rod, and their deliverance is no preservation, but a reservation to worse mischiefe; it is not a bettering deliverance.

But God delivers his, graciously, not onelyonly from danger, but from those evill workes they are subject to fall into in their danger; it is not ill, to suffer ill, but to doe ill. For, doing ill makes God our enemie; suffering ill doth not: doing ill staines and defiles the soule, and blemisheth the Image of God in us; suffering ill doth none of this: doing ill …inders communion and acquaintance with God; suffering ill doth not: God is more immediately acquainted with the soule in suffering p. 114ill. Doing ill is the cause of all i…s; suffering ill, comes from doing ill: the ill of sinne, is the ill of ils, because it is evill it selfe, and the cause of all other evills whatsoever: We may thanke our ill in doing, for our ill in suffering; and therefore the Apostle is well assured what he sayes, The Lord will deliver mee from every evill worke, not from every inward infirmity and weaknesse, but from every evill worke that is scandalous and offensive to him.

It is an aggravation of ill when it is manifested; for then it either taints orgrieves others. Indeed so soone as the resolution of the soule hath passed it, when the will resolves on such a thing, it is done, both in good and evill, before God. But in regard of the world, and of the Church we live in; the bringing p. 115of the worke upon the stage (as it were) is an aggravation of evill; because (besides the hurt which is done to evill men) good men are either hurt or vexed at it. Therefore the Apostle saith, The Lord will deliver me from every evill worke. This a Christian should especially labour for, that God in all things would keepe him free from sin. Yea this differenceth a Christian from another man; take a carnall man when hee is like to fall into danger, he studies how to get out of suffering evill, not how to prevent doing evill; hee plots, devises, and intangles himselfe in his owne wit, and makes the matter worse by equivocation, and such like sinfull courses, as we might learne from the Papists, if we had not enough from our owne breast. But Pauls care was to be delivered p. 116from evill workes: For a man indeed is never overcome (let him be never so vexed in the world by any) till his conscience be crackt. If his conscience and his cause stand upright, he prevailes still,Rom. 8. 37.Rom 8:37 In all these things wee are more than conquerors, saith the Apostle. The meaning is, sufferings cannot quell our courage, they cannot staine our conscience, they doe not hurt the cause, but it gets victory in despight of them: so that our courage is undaunted, and our conscience abides unstained: let it be our care therefore, to take heed of evill workes. Looke into the world and see what is the care of most men we converse with, oh, if they can get such a place, if they can get such an estate! I, but it cannot be had without finful abasement, without cracking of conscience, p. 117and unlawfull engagement: O say they, it is no matter, God will pardon all, I care not so I may have my wish; this is the heart of many gracelesse persons that are not led with heavenly respects. But take a Christian, and he had rather beg, doe any thing in the world, than doe a thing unworthy his profession, unbeseeming the Gospell, or that high calling whereunto hee is called. Shall such a man as I doe this? hee will not, and therefore his care is to take heed of ill workes: for then he is sure to have God his friend, who hath riches and honour enough for him, because the earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof: Psal. 24. 1.Ps 24:1this is the care of a judicious wel instructed Christian.

But marke the (Extent) from every evill worke: Saint Pauls p. 118care is not for one or two, but that God would keepe him from every evill worke.

Why so?

Because he that truly hates one sinne,Why S. Paul sayes from every evill worke. will hate all the kinds of it, both come from the same love of God: he that loves God as he should, will hate whatsoever God hates: and have respect to all Gods Commandements (as the Psalmist speakes) partiall obedience,Psal. 119. 128Ps 119:128 is indeed no obedience at all: for he that obeyes one, and not another, obeyes not simply because of the Commander to yeeld obedience unto him: but onelyonly to satisfie his owne corrupt nature, picking and choosing what pleases himselfe, which belongs not to an inferiour, but to a superiour to doe: And therefore, such make themselves gods, in that they single out easie things that doe p. 119not oppose their lusts, which are not against their Reputation, &c. and therein perhaps they will supererogate, and doe more than they need, onelyonly because they will have a compensation with God, that he should quit with them for other things: I have done that, and therefore he must beare with mee in this. Oh, but there is no compensation here; a man is never so straitned but he may escape without sinne: there is no pretence will serve: but we must abstaine from every evill worke: Satan keepes many men in his snare by this, and so he hath them safe in one sinne, hee cares not: therefore he will suffer them to heare, read, and pray, &c. holding them fast in one raigning sinne, wherein hee will let them alone till the time of some great affliction, or death; and then he will p. 120roare upon them. Oh beloved, wee cannot provide worse for our owne soules, than to cherish a purpose of living in any one sin, for that is enough for the devill to hold his possession in us by, and at the houre of death to claime us for his owne. If wee regard any iniquity in our heart, the Lord will not heare our prayers, Psal. 66. 18.Ps 66:18I beseech you therefore let us labour to have cleare consciences, freeing our selves from a purpose to live in any sinne; that in all our slips and failings we may say with an honest heart My purpose was not to do this, but to refraine from wickednesse.

Againe, he speakes of this for the time to come; the Lord will deliver me from evill: A true Christian is as carefull to avoide sinne for the time to come, as to bee freed from the guilt of sinnes past. Iudas may desire to have his p. 121conscience freed from former sinnes, but Indas cannot desire to be a good man for the time to come. Nothing argues a good conscience more than this. The most wicked wretch that breathes, may desire to have his conscience stilled, and yet never have any purpose or power to abstaine from sinne; but like a dogge (after he hath disgorged himselfe) returne to his vomit againe. True Repentance is a turning from former evills, to a contrary good. Our griefe no further yeelds comfort of sound repentance, then it hath care attending for prevention of sinne; according to that which Christ said to the woman taken in adultery, Goe, and sinne no more, and as David prayes Purge me O Lord and cleanse me (but withall) establish me with thy free spirit for the time to come: As if hee p. 122should say, Lord I know it is not in man to order his owne wayes, I desire not the forgivenesse of my sinnes, that there by I might with more liberty offend thy Majesty, but with pardoning grace, I begge preventing grace; No false heart can move such a desire as this to God A gracious heart that prayes aright, prayes as well that God would preserve him from future sinne, as forgive him his former sinnes. It is a ridiculous thing of the Papists, to make confession of a sinne which they meane to commit; as some late Traitors confessed such and such things which they were to act, & were straight absolved for it: So your cursed duelists that will pray and repent when they meane presently to fall one upon another. Is this repentance, when a man is inveigled with the sin p. 123hee meanes to commit: and cannot overcome himselfe in the case of revenge? Doe these men thinke they repent? No certainely, repentance is of sinnes past, and the carriage of every true Christian is to avoide evill for the time to come.

Againe, it is here a perpetnated Act; the Lord will deliver me still from every evill worke: whence you see that In every evil worke we are tempted to, we need delivering Grace, as to every good worke assisting Grace. Indeed our whole life (if we look upwards) is nothing but a deliverance, but if we looke to our selves, it is nothing but danger and a warfare; and therefore wee have need of a deliverance. How little a temptation turnes over a great man? as sometimes a little winde turnes over your mighty gallies. We see this in p. 124David and Salomon, and (if God leave us to our selves) even the strongest man in the world, how soone is he overturned? in the midst of sinsull occasions, how ready are wee to joyne with them, and betray our owne soules?

But from the whole, take it as it comes from God altogether, the truth is thus much, that a Christian, who is privy to his own soule, of good intentions to abstaine from all ill for the present, may presume that God will assist him against all ill workes for the time to come. I say a Christian that hath his conscience telling him, that he meanes to be better, and is not in league with any sin, may beleeve this for the time to come, that God will keepe him from evill workes. I speak this, because many who are yet sinners, thinke it in vaine to strive; p. 125for they shall never bee better. What doest thou talke man? hast thou a minde to be better? God will meet thee one time or other: is thy will at liberty? he that gives thee the will, will also give thee the deed: is not this the Promise that God will deliver thee from every evill worke? and therefore away with all discouragements.

O but There are sonnes of Anak mighty Giants, Object.that molest mee; my sinnes are as so many Giants to stop my proceeding, I shall never be… better: Sol.Say not so; nay, rather thou wilt not be better: thou art in league with some secret sinne, thy heart riseth against those that reprove thee of it, thine owne conscience tells thee that thy heart is naught: for if thou wouldst set thy selfe to obey God in truth, assuredly he would deliver thy soule. And p. 126therefore the Apostle to prevent such doubts, speakes of deliverance from evill workes, as comming from God.

But some may object,Object. we sin every day; and if we say we have no sinne, 1 John 1. 8.1 John 1:8wee deceive our selves, and the truth is not in us.

You must not understand this Phrase Legally in the vigor of it;Answ. as that God will deliver us from every ill thought, or rising in the heart, or from every outward slip and failing, &c. But by every evill worke, the Apostle meanes, every reproachfull sinne that breakes the peace of our conscience, that swallowes up a mans salvation; from such kinde of sins that bring a staine and discredit unto a mans profession, that wound his soule, and may discourage others, the Lord will deliver his▪ he will keepe them from greater sinnes altogether, p. 127and from being in league with lesser. You know in falls there are severall degrees, there is a slip, a falling, and a falling on all foure, (as we say) a flat falling: Now God will deliver his children from falling so fouly.

Nay, Sometimes he will deliver 2them from evill workes, by not delivering them from evill workes: How God deli…ers from ill workes, by not delivering.Hee will deliver from great ill workes, by letting them alone in losser ill workes. God delivers from evill divers wayes, he delivers from falling into ill, and he delivers out of ill when we are fallen, he delivers from ill likewise by supporting us: nay, which is more, he delivers from ill workes by ill workes.

How is that?Quest.

How doe Physitians deliver from an Apoplexie … from a Letharg…e?Sol. Is it not by casting the sicke person into an Ague, to awaken p. 128that dull sicknesse: so God to cure the conscience of a man, when he sees him in danger of security by those soulekilling sinnes, Pride, Covetousnesse, Loosenesse, Hypocrisie, and the like, suffers him sometimes to fall into lesse offences, to awake his conscience, that being rouzed up he may fly to Gods mercy in Christ: so infinite is Gods care this way that he will deliver either from ill workes, or from the evill of ill workes; or if hee deliver not from ill workes, yet hee will deliver us from worse workes by those ill workes: Austin saith, I dare presume to say, it is profitable for some men to fall: if a man be of a proud peremptory disposition, or of a blockish, dull, and secure nature; it is good he should bee acquainted what sin he carryes in his breast, where p. 129his corruptions are, &c. that so he may know himselfe and his danger the better.

I beseech you make use of this,Vse to helpe your faith and thankfulnesse; when we are delivered from evill workes, it is God that doth it: The consideration whereof mee thinkes should strengthen our faith against Satan and all his fiery darts, and incourage us to set confidently upon any corruption, that we are moved to by others, or our owne naturall inclination; It is Gods enemy, and it is my enemy: it is opposite to Gods will, and it is an enemy to my comfort; God will take my part against that which is opposite to him, he hath promised me to assist me against every evill worke by his holy Spirit. A Christian is a King,Revel 1. 6.Rev 1:6 and hee hath the triumphing Spirit of p. 130Christ in him, which will prevaile over all sinne in time.

But some poore soule mayObject. object; Alas, I have beene assaulted by such a corruption a long time, in a grievous manner, and am not yet delivered from it.

God doth by little,Answ. and little purge out corruption, as every stroke helpes the fall of the oak, the first stroke helpes forward: so every opposing of corruption (never so little) helpes to root it out, and it is weakned by little and little, till death accomplish more mortification:

But to proceed, God doth not onelyonly deliver from evill workes, but preserves us to his heavenly Kingdome. We must take [preserve] here in its full bredth he preserves us whilst he hath any worke for us to doe in this life; and when he will have us p. 131live no longer, he will preserve us to heaven: howsoever by death he takes us away, yet even then the Lord still preserves us.

Hee will preserve us in our outward estate,Under-preservers of the Saints. by himselfe, and by under-preservers, for there be many such under God: as Angels that are his ministring spirits, and Magistrates who are the shields of the earth, they may preserve under God; and likewise Ministers that are the Chariots and horsemen of Israel; and good Lawes, &c. but God is the first turner of the Wheele, we must see him in all other preservers whatsoever. And therefore the Apostle in the language of the holy Ghost, and of Canaan, saith here:Psal. 47. 9.Ps 47:9 The Lord will preserve me. 2 Kings 2.… 2.2 Kgs 2:2And rather than a man shall miscarry when God hath any thing for p. 132him to doe, God will worke a miracle.Dan. 3. 25. and 6. 12.Dan 3:25Dan 6:12 The three men could not be burned in the fire, God so suspended the force thereof: Daniel could not bee devoured of the greedy Lions, &c. rather than Gods purpose shall faile, that a man should perish before the time that God hath allotted him, the Lions shal not devoure, and the fire shall not burn; God hath measured our glasse and time even to a moment, and as our Saviour Christ (out of knowledge of this heavenly truth) saith, My time is not yet came: so let us know that till … houre comes, all the Devils in hell cannot hurt one haire of our head: And this is a wondrous ground of confidence, that we should carry our selves above all threatnings, and above all feares whatsoever.John 19. 10.John 19:10 Thou canst doe nothing except it were given p. 133thee (saith Christ) to bragging Pilate, who boasted of his power: alas, what can all the enemies of Gods people doe except God permit them?

If a King or a great man should say to an inferiour, Goe on, I will stand by thee and preserve thee, thou shalt take no harme: what an incouragement were this? Oh but when God shall say to a Christian, walke humbly before me, keepe close to my word, be stedfast in the wayes of holinesse, feare not man, you are under my protection and safeguard, what an incouragement is this to a beleeving soule.

But put case wee cannot bee preserved from death, (for so it was here with the Apostle, hee dyed a bloody death) Why let us observe his blessed carriage in all this, and doe likewise: p. 134I regard not that, saith hee, doe your worst, God will preserve me still. So it should be the bent of a Christians soule to come to God with this limitation, in his faith and in his prayer: Lord if thou wilt not deliver me from suffering ill, preserve me from doing ill: If thou wilt not preserve mee from death, preserve me from sinfull workes. This we may build on, that either God will preserve us in life, or if we die, he will preserve us in death to his heavenly Kingdome. And sometimes God preserves by not preserving from death: for indeed death keepes a man from all danger whatsoever; hee is out of all gun-shot when he is once dead: death is a deliverance and a preservation of it selfe, it sends a man to heaven straite, and therefore the Apostle knew what he said, The p. 135Lord will preserve mee to his heavenly Kingdome.

That is, he will preserve me til I be possest of Heaven, hee will goe along with me in all the passages of my life: he will cary me through all, and bring mee thither at last. As the Angell that strooke off Peters bolts, shined in the prison, Acts 12. 7.Acts 12:7and carryed him out into the City: So God by his Spirit, shines into our soules, and carryes us through all the passages of this life, never leaving us till he have brought us to his heavenly Kingdome.

And not to open unto you things that are beyond my conceit, much more my expression; what a state this heavenly kingdome is, unto which S. Paul hoped to be preserved: observe briefely thus much,

p. 1361. It is a Kingdome; of all conditions the freest:

2. The most glorious:

3. The most abundant in all supplies:

4. It is a heavenly Kingdome:

5. It is an everlasting Kingdome.

Things the neerer the Heavens they are,The excellency of the heavenly Kingdome. the purer they are; 1. heaven is a most holy Kingdome, no uncleanenesse can enter there. 2. it is a large Kingdome, and 3. an everlasting Kingdome. Other mens Kingdomes determine with their persons; perhaps they may live to out-live their glory in the world; as Nero did (the king that Paul was under now, when hee wrote this Epistle) who came to a base end: But this Kingdome can never be shaken: Gods preservation shall end in eternall glory.

p. 137Here is a speciall ground to Gods children of perseverance in weldoing: Vse 1.what, doth God undertake, even from himselfe to deliver us from evill works which might indanger our salvation, and to preserve us untill he have put us into heaven? where is the popish doctrine of falling away then?Object. Oh but I may sin and so fall away: Sol.I, but God will deliver us from evill workes, he takes away that objection: Hee that keepes Heaven for us, keepes us for heaven, till he have put us into possession of it; We are kept (we are guarded as the word is) by the power of God to salvation. 1 Pet. 1. 5.1 Pet 1:5Salvation is kept for us, and we for that; If we indanger heaven any way, it is by ill workes, and God keepes us from them: what a most comfortable doctrine is this.

But to adde a second,Vse 2. against p. 138that foolish, vaine, and proud point of Popish Merit; we see what a straine they are in: first before conversion, they will have Merit of congruitie, that it befits the goodnesse of God, when we doe what we can, that we should have grace. 2. When wee are in the state of grace, they will have Merit of condignity; but how can that be, when as free grace runnes along in all? God preserves us from evill workes, and preserves us to his heavenly Kingdome of his meere love and mercy; where then is the merit of man? Indeed, wee doe good when we doe good, but God inables us: wee speake to the praise of God, but he opens our mouth: we beleeve, but God draws our heart to it: as Austin sayes, we move, but God moves us.

I beseech you observe furtherVsUs… 3. p. 139here: How compleat Gods favours are to his: He deales like a God: that is, fully, and eternally with his children. If he deliver, it is from the greatest evill; if he preserve, it is to the greatest good; Who would not serve such a master? O the basenesse of the vile heart of man, that is a slave to inferiour things, and affraid to displease men, never considering what a blessed condition it is, to be under the government of a gracious God, that will keepe us from ill (if it be for our good) for ever; Outwardly from evill workes, inwardly from the terrors of an il conscience; that will preserve us here in this world, and give us heaven when we have done. I beseech you let this compleate and full dealing of God quicken us to a holy courage and constancy in his service.

p. 140And see here a point of heavenly wisdome: Vse 4.to looke (when we are in any danger) with the Apostle to the heavenly Kingdome. When we are sicke, look not at death; Paul cared not for that, but sayes he; The Lord will preserve me to his kingdome. Hee looked to the bank of the shore as a man that goes through a river, hath his eye stil on the shore so the Apostle had his eye fixed upon heaven stil, I beseech you therefore in all dangers and distresses whatsoever (if you would keepe your soules without discouragements, as you should) bee much in heaven in your thoughts, minding the things above, and conversing with God in your spirits. Look to the Crowne that is held out to us: let our mindes be in heaven before our soules. It is a wondrous helpe to our weakenesse p. 141in the time of trouble, not to thinke; I am full of paine, I must be turned into the grave, and rot, and what shall become of me then, &c. away with this carnall reasoning it much weakens faith and damps the hearts of Christians.

Againe,Vse 6. How doth this arme the soule with invincible courage in any trouble: God may call mee to trouble, but he will preserve me in it that I shall not staine my conscience; What a ground of Patience is this? Patience is too meane a word: what a ground of joy and triumphing is it? We rejoyce under the hope of glory. Rom. 5. 2. A Christian should triumph in soule over all evills whatsoever, and be (as the Apostle faith) more than a Conqueror; Rom. 8. 37.Rom 8:37considering that God will be present with him all his life long and after that bring p. 142him to an everlasting kingdome: what an incouragement is this? Heaven is holy, and shall we not fit our selves for that blessed estate. There is much holinesse required for heaven: the sinfull, wicked, malicious, poysonfull world, layes reproaches upon holinesse;Heb. 12. 24.Heb 12:24 but without it no man shall see God. Doth that man beleeve he shall obtaine a heavenly kingdome, who never sits himselfe with holinesse for it? Oh no: Faith and hope have this efficacie (in the breast) wheresoever they are, to frame the heart to the thing beleeved. 2. Pet. 3. 13.2 Pet 3:13If I beleeve a kingdome to be where righteousnes and holinesse dwelleth; this beliefe forceth me to carry my selfe answerable to the state there. And therefore (saith the Apostle) Our conversation is in heaven, Philip. 3. 23.Phil 3:23from whence we looke for the Savioure, &c. because he was p. 143assured of heaven, therefore he conversed as a Citizen of heaven before he came there. Hee praised God, kept himselfe undefiled of the world, and conversed with the best people; every way he carryed himselfe (as much as earth would suffer him) as they do… in heaven. Certainly, He that hath the hope of a heavenly kingdome, 1 J…hn 3. 3.is pure as Christ …s pure: He endeavours and aimes to be holy as God is holy who hath called him. Faith is of efficacy to conforme a Christians carriage to the likenesse of him whom he beleeves to be so excellent. And therefore they are insidels and have no saving faith, prophane persons; who live in sinnes that staine their consciences, and blemish their conversation: not beleeving that there is a heaven. Deceive not your selves, neither Whoremongers, p. 144nor Adulterers, 1 Cor. 6. 9.1 Cor 6:9nor Extortioners, &c. shall inherit the kingdome of God. Doe men who live in these sinnes (without remorse) thinke to come to heaven? as though they should come out of the puddle to heaven? no,Mat. 25. 41.Matt 25:41 no, away you workers of iniquity, I know you not, faith Christ. Let no man cherish presumptions of a heavenly kingdome; except hee abstaine from all sinnes against conscience; The Apostle when hee would urge to holiness of life, uses this argumentCol…ff. 3. 1. If you be risen with Christ, seeke those things that are above, where Christ is at the right hand of the Father.

Well, let us oft (I beseech you) present unto our soules the blessed condition to come, which will be effectuall to quicken and stirre us up to every good duty, and comfort us in p. 145all conditions whatsoever. What will a man care for crosses, and losses, and disgraces in the world, that thinkes of a heavenly Kingdome? What will a man care for ill usage in his pilgrimage, when he knowes he is a King at home? Wee are all strangers upon earth, now in the time of our absence from God: what if we suffer indignities, considering that we have a better estate to come, when we shall be some body? What if wee passe unknowne in the world? It is safe that we should doe so: God will preserve us to his heavenly kingdome, and all that we suffer and endure here, it is but a fitting for that place. David was a King annointed many yeares ere hee was actually possessed of his Kingdome; but all that time betweene his annointing and his investing into p. 146the Kingdome; it was a preparing of him, by humility, that he might know himselfe; and learne fitnesse to govern aright: So wee are apointed Kings as soone as we beleeve: for when we beleeve in Christ who is a King, Priest, and Prophet, wee communicate with his offices: we have the same blessed anointing powred on our Head,… and runnes downe about us. But we must be humbled by crosses, and fitted for it, wee must bee drawne more out of the world, and bee heavenly minded first.

Would you know some rules of discerning whether heaven belongs to you or not?… In brief 1doe but remember the qualification of them that must reign: those that labour daily to purge themselves of all pride and selfconfidence: that see no excellencie in the creature, in comparison p. 147of heaven: that see a vanity in all outward things, which makes them humble in the midst of all their bravery: those that see themselves empty of al, without Gods favour: The poore in spirit &c. theirs (saith Christ) is the Kingdome of Heaven.

2. Faith makes us Kings, because 2thereby wee marry the King of Heaven: the Church is the Queene of Heaven, …and Christ is the King of Heaven. Where this grace is in. truth, happines belongs to that soule.

3. Those that are Kings have 3a…royall spirit; the hopes of a yong Prince puts into him a great deale of spirit, otherwise perhaps above his disposition. So all that are Kings, have a royall spirit in some measure, which naiseth them above all earthly things, and maketh them see all other things to bee nothing in p. 148comparison of Christ, to bee but drosse and dung, Philip. 3. 8.Phil 3:8as holy S. Paul saith. Those therefore that are slaves to their base justs, to riches, honour, pleasure, &c. know not what belongs to this heavenly Kingdome. What doe men thinke to reigne in heaven, when they cannot raigne over their owne hase corruptions? Wee see David prayes to God for an inlarged spirit,Ps…l. 51. 12.Ps 50:51Ps 50:12 that hee might bee capable of the best things; and certainely those that have this knowledge are of a spirit above the world more excellent than their neighbours as the Wiseman saith. You cannot shake them with offers of preferment, or with feares: they will not venture their hope of eternity for this or that base earthly thing, they are of a more royall spirit than so.

I beseech you therefore let us p. 149discerne of our spirits, what they are; whether God hath stablished us with a free spirit or not: the kingdome of Heaven is begunne upon earth, the doore whereby wee must enter in, is here. Those graces must be begunne here which must fit us for happinesse hereafter, as the stones of the Temple, 1 Kings 6. 7.1 Kgs 6:7were first hewne and then laid upon the Temple, so wee must bee he wne and fashioned here, ere we can come thither: those that are not fitted and squared now, must never thinke to be used of God as living stones of his Temple then. A word now of Pauls use of all, and so I conclude:

To whom be glory for ever and ever.

When he had mentioned the heavenly kingdome, and set himselfe by faith (as it were) in possession of it; hee presently beginnes p. 150the employment of heaven; to praise and glorifie God: even whilst hee was on earth. For faith stirres us up to doe that which wee shall doe when we obtaine the thing beleeved: it is called the evidence of things not seene;…eb. 11. 1. and makes them (as it were) present to the soule. Because when we are in heaven (indeed) we shall doe nothing else but praise God. Faith apprehends it, as if he were now there (for all is sure to faith, God having said it, who will doe it) and sets the soule upon that employment here, which it shall have eternally with God hereafter.

It is therefore Christian wisdome, to fix our soules on good meditations, to have them wedded to good thoughts, to have those praeclar as cogitationes, be…itting Christians, that may lead p. 151us comfortably in our way to heaven: Let a man thinke of Gods deliverances past, and that will strengthen his faith for the future deliverances: Let him thinke of future deliverances, and that will lead him to a kingdome, to praise God: and this praising of God will stretch his soule, for…ver and for ever: as if there were no time sufficient to glorisie God, that is so excellent and glorious. What a blessed condition is this, to have Gods spirit warming our soules and perfuming our spirits with holy ejaculations, continually putting us upon the employment of heaven, till at length it hath safely brought us thither.

Here then is the use of al uses: What is the former use which Paul makes of the experiēce of Gods deliverāce? The Lord hath p. 152delivered me; aud therefore he will deliver me: but what use doth he make of this, that God will deliver him? To glorisie God: here is the end of all ends, to praise God; happy wee when Gods end and our end meet together. Hee hath made all for his owne glory, and when wee with a single eye can ayme at that too, what a sweet harmony is there?

To direct us in this duty in 1praising God, let us with Paul (for I goe no surther than the text leads me) seriously meditate on Gods mercies, both past and to come; nothing moves thankfulnesse more than this. A Christian when hee lookes backwards hath comfort; and when he lookes forward, he sees comfort still: for preservation, and Kingdomes, and Crownes abide for him. If a man would p. 153praise God therefore, let him consider how graciously God hath dealt with him: Hee hath delivered me already by Jesus Christ, from sinne and eternall wrath; and he will deliver mee from every evill worke to come, that may indanger my salvation. Thinke of these things, and see whether your hearts can bee cold and dead or no; see if your spirits can be streightned. Certainely both heart and mouth will be full, thou canst not but say in the apprehension of Gods mercies: To him bee glory for ever.

2. Consider the kindes of favours 2thou receivest, they are either positive or privative: spirituall, or temporall. Positive, the Lord will preserve me: privative, the Lord will deliver mee from every evill worke. Temporall, the Lord in this life will p. 154keepe me: spirituall, he will deliver me from the power of sin: Eternall, Hee will preserve mee to his heavenly Kingdome. Thinke forward or backwards: outward or inward: spirituall or temporall: where ever you looke, tell me if you can doe otherwise then breake out with the holy Apostle, in the praises of so good a God.

3And 3. Thinke of the greatnesse of all these: the greatnesse of the deliverance from sinne, and damnation. The Apostle to make himselfe the more thankfull, saith; he was delivered out of the mouth of the Lion: he had large apprehensions of Gods goodnesse; So should we, beloved, consider the greatnesse of the misery we are in by nature, being slaves of Satan, in danger to slip into Hell every moment; and when God hath secured us p. 155from this, thinke of the greatnesse of the benefit, a heavenly kingdome. When we think not only of the benefits, but of the greatnesse of them; it is a wondrous incouragement to bee thankfull. Labour then to have a due and high esteeme of every mercy. God hath brought us out of darknesse into marvellous light, saith the Apostle; Great is the mystery of godlinesse, and the unsearchable riches of his grace, he had not words bigge enough to expresse Gods goodnes: Oh the heighth, and bredth, and depth, and length of his love. When we consider these dimensions, our thankfulnesse must be answerable.

Againe, if you would bee 4thankfull; Labour to have humble spirits, to see God in all things, and then you will sacrifice to him alone; not to thy parts, and p. 156graces, friends, abilities, &c. the meeke are fit to pray to God, Seeke the Lord yee meeke of the earth; Zeph. 2. 3.Zeph 2:3and an humbled meeke soule is the fittest to praise God of any other; he that knowes he is worthy of nothing, will blesse God for any thing: he that knowes he hath nothing in himselfe, will be thankfull for the least measure of grace: an humble soule is a thankfull soule. We see it was Pauls disposition here; he gives all to God, which makes him so breake out in praising his name.

5Againe, if wee would bee thankfull (as Paul here) and beginne Heaven upon Earth; Labour to be assured of salvation, and perseverance in thy Christian course. The Papists that speake against Assurance and Perseverance, kill prayer and praising of God. Shall a man praise God for that which he doubts of? I p. 157cannot tell whether God will damne me or not, perhaps I am but fitted as a sheepe to the slaughter, &c. how shall a man praise God for any blessing hee enjoyes, when these thoughts are still with him? how shall a man praise God for salvation, when perhaps he shall not come to it? how shall a man praise God for that which perhaps he may fall from, before hee die? when perhaps hee is Gods to day, and may be the Devills to morrow? How can there bee a hearty thankes, but when a man can say, The Lord will deliver me from every evill work, that by mine owne weaknesse, and Satans malice, I may occasionally fall into, betwixt this and Heaven? Therefore if we would praise God as we should, let us worke our hearts to labour after assurance of Gods favour, p. 158let us redeeme our precious time, and every day set some time apart to strengthen our evidences for heaven, which will set us in a continuall frame to every good worke.

Thus wee see out of Pauls example, how we should be disposed here, to be in heaven before our time. For, undoubtedly he who praiseth God is so much in Heaven, as he is given to thankfulnesse; for hee is in that imployment now, which shall be there altogether. But how long doth he desire that God should have glory? For ever and ever.

A Christian should have the extent of his desires of Gods glory, Obser.carried to eternity. Upon what ground? because God intends him glory for ever and ever: a Christian that is assured of his salvation, is assured that God will eternally glorisie him: He p. 159knowes that Christ is King for ever: He knowes that Christ is a Priest for ever: He knowes that the state and condition that he is kept for, is everlasting, It is an inheritance immortal and unde…iled, 1 Pet. 1. 4.1 Pet 1:4that fadeth not away: and therefore he saith, Hath God eternall thoughts of my good? and is Christ an eternall head? an eternall King to rule me both in lise and in death? Surely I will extend my desires of his glory as farre as hee extends his purpose to doe me good. Now his purpose to doe mee good is for eternity, and my desire that he may have glory, shall be …or eternity, world withont end. This is the disposition of a gracious soule, not that God may be honoured by him alone; but of all. To whom be praise (not by me) but by all; I am not sufficient enough to praise him: To him p. 160be praises in the Churches throughout all ages for ever: David had not largenesse enough in himselfe to blesse God; and therefore hee stirres up his spirits, and all within him to praise his holy name, Psal. 103.Ps 103as if all were too little to set out the glory of Gods infinite goodnesse, mercy, wisedome, and power; those gracious attributes, that shew themselves glorious in bringing man to salvation, and in governing the Church.

Learne this duty therefore:Vse. If we will make good to our owne soules, Vse.that we are in the state of grace, we must plot for eternity, and indeavour to lay a ground and foundation, that the Church may flourish for eternitie. No man can warrant himselfe to be a good Christian, but he that labours to have the Church and Common wealth flourish; to have a p. 161happy Kingdome, happy government, and happy lawes: not onelyonly to have the Church in his owne Familie, but that the Church may flourish in those that stand up when we are gone the way of all flesh: and therefore to declare the minde of God, and his favours to us, and our children, that they may strengthen their experience, with their fathers experience, and say to God, Thou art the God of my Fathers, therefore be my God; those that are called to places of dignity, should consider that it is required at their hands to labour, that there should be meanes to continue Religion, even to the worlds end (if it may be) and to stoppe all the breaches in this kinde. And if it were possible, it were to be wished that there were set up some lights in all the darke p. 162corners of this Kingdome, that might shine to those people that sit in darknesse, and in the shadow of death.

2One way is, to have a care that there be no breaches made upon the sound doctrine that is left unto us, and hath beene sealed up by the blood of so many Martyrs. Wee had it dearely, it hath beene taught by our forefathers, and sealed with their blood; & shall we betray it? No, let us labour to deliver it to our posterity, from hand to hand, to the comming of Christ; and then wee shall in effect (and not in word onelyonly) doe that which Paul saith here, labour to glorifie God for ever and ever, both in the Church, and in heaven. Surely those that will glorifie God in heaven, hee will have them so disposed, to glorifie him on earth.

p. 163It is a dangerous thing when persons are naught; wee see what comes of it (especially if they be great:) It is said of Manasseh when God had forgiven him his sinne, yet afterwards God plagued the Kingdome for the sinnes that Manasseh committed:2 Kings 24. 3.2 Kgs 24:3 how can this bee? because he by his sinne (though he repented, himselfe) yet set the Kingdome in an evill frame. And no question but hee had naughty principles: and among people that are given to licentiousnesse, if there bee any thing in great men, it will goe to posterity after them. So that when Governours are naught, they are not onelyonly a poison to the Church and State, while they live, but the mischiefe of it is, after and after still. And so it is in the best things, if the Governour be good, hee layes a foundation p. 164of good for the Kingdome in time to come, as well as for his owne time.

How will it shame a man when he shall thinke, I doe these things now, but what will Posterity thinke of me? what will be the remembrance of it when I am gone? then my name will stinke. The wicked Emperour Nero, was of this resolution whē he should die: Let Heaven and Earth mingle together, saith he, when I am gone: He knew himselfe to bee so naught, and that he should be so evill spoken of, that he wished there were no posterity, but that the world might end with him. So it is the wishes of those that are wretches themselves, and that lay a foundation of wretched times after; they wish that Heaven and Earth may mingle, that no man might censure p. 165them when they are gone. What a shamefull condition is it for men to gratifie a number of unrulie lusts, and give such sway to them, as to doe ill while they live, and to lay a foundation of misery for after-times.

On the contrary, what a good thing is it (like Iosi… and Nehemiah) to bee full of goodnesse while wee live? and to lay a foundation of happinesse and prosperity to the Church and State when we are gone? What a happy thing is it when a man is gone, to say, such a man did such a thing? he stood stoutly for the Church, for Religion, he was a publique man; he forgat his owne private good, for the publique; he deserved well of the times wherein hee lived. What a blessed commendation is this (next to Heaven) to have a blessed report on earth? and p. 166to carry such a conscience, as will comfort a man that he hath carryed himselfe well, and abounded in well doing.

I beseech you let us thinke of this; For ever and ever: it is not enough that we be good in our times that are circumscribed to us; but as God hath given us immortall soules, and preserves us to immortall glory, and a crowne of immortality: so let our thoughts and desires be immortall, that God may be glorified in the Church world without end. Oh what a sweet comfort will it be when we are on our death-bed, to thinke what we have done in our life times? then all our good actions will come and meet together, to comfort and refresh our soules.

The better to incourage us to glorifie God while we are here; Incouragements to glorifie God.and to lay a foundation to eternize his p. 167glorie for the time to come; Consider, 1 Sam. 2. 3o.1 Sam 2:3I. Gods gracious promise: 1Those that honour me I will honour. If we had inlarged hearts to honour God, God would honour us; he hath passed his word for it. If a King should say so, O how would we be set on fire? how much more when the King of Kings saith it.

2. Consider, that wee honour 2our selves, when wee honour God; nay, the more we honour God, the more we are bound to God; for it is from him that wee honour him: the sacrifice comes from him, as well as the matter for which we sacrifice.Gen. 22. 13.Gen 22:13 Hee found a Ramme for Abraham to sacrifice: hee gives the heart to be thankfull: the more wee are thankfull, the more we shall be thankfull, and the more wee ought to bee thankfull for our thankfulnesse.

p. 1683The more wee praise God, the more we should praise him; for it is the gift of God: when God sees we honour him, and frame our selves that we may be such as may honour him, by emptying and disabling our selves to be sufficient to doe him any service; he will bestow more upon us; as men cast seed upon seed where there is fruitfull ground, but they will sow nothing upon a barren heath: So the more we set our selves to doe good in our places, the more we shall have advantage thereunto; and the more wee doe good, the more we shall doe good. When God sees wee improve our talents so well that he trusts withall, he will trust us with more.

4Againe, consider; Our glorifiing and praising God, causeth others to doe so; which is the main end wherefore wee live in this p. 169world; It is the imployment of Heaven, and we are so much in heaven, as wee are about this worke: and when God gives us hearts to glorifie him here, it is a good pledge that he will afterward glorifie us in heaven. Who would lose the comfort of all this, to be barren, and yeeld to his base unbeleeving dead heart? to save a little here? to sleepe in a whole skin? and adventure upon no good action? Who would not rather take a course that hath such large encouragements attending it both in life and death. I beseech you thinke of these things. Christ ere long, will come to be glorified in all those that beleeve: 2 Thes. 1. 10.2 Thess 1:10He will come to be glorified in his Saints. Our glory tends to his glory; shall we not glorifie him all we can here, by setting forth his truth, by countenancing his p. 170Children and Servants, by doing good, and deserving well of ingratefull times we live in? Let men bee as unthankfull as they will, we looke not to them, but to the honour of God, the credit of Religion, the maintenance of the truth, &c. Let men be as they will be, base, & wicked, enemies to grace and goodnesse; we doe it not to them, but to God. Consider this, will Christ come from Heaven ere long to bee glorified in us, and shall not we labour to glorifie him, while we are here? Hee will never come to be glorified in any hereafter, but those that glorifie him now. As we looke therefore that he should be glorified in us, and by us, let us glorifie him now: for so he condescends to vouchsafe to be glorified in us and by us, that the may also glorifie us.

p. 171Saint Paul saith, The Wife is the glory of the Husband; Quest.what meanes he by this? That is,Sol. she reflects the graces of a good Husband; if he be good, shee is good, she reflects his excellencies. So let every Christian soule that is marryed to Christ, be the glory of Christ, reflect his excellencies;1. Pet. 1. 15.1 Pet 1:15 be holy as he is holy; fruitsull, as he was, in doing good; meeke and humble as he was; every way be his glory: and then, undoubtedly when he comes to judge us, he will come to bee glorified in us, having beene before glorified by us.

Beloved, these and such considerations should set us on worke how to doe Christ all the honour wee can: as David saith, is there any of Ionathans posterity alive,2 Sam▪ 9. 1.2 Sam 9:1 that I may doe good unto them for his sake? so considering we shal beso glorified p. 172by Christ, and that hee will doe so much for us in another world; Wee should enquire, Is there any of Christs posterity here, any of his Children in this world that I may doe good unto them? Is there any way wherein I may shew my thankfulnesse, and I will doe it? Let us consider that wee shall bee for and ever glorified; the expression of it is beyond conceit, wee shall never know it til wee have it. Let this (I beseech you) stirre us up to study how wee may bee thankfull to God, set forth his glory, and deserve wel of the Church and times wherein wee live. God hath children, and a cause in the world which hee dearely loves, let us owne the same, and stand for it to the uttermost of our power, maugre all the spight and opposition p. 173of Satan and his wicked instruments.

The Lord in mercy settle these truths upon our hearts, and incourage us in his most holy way.

FINIS.

CHRIST IS BEST: OR, S. PAVLS STRAIT. A SERMON PREA| ched at the Funerall of M^r. Sherland, late Recorder of Northampton.

BY R. SIBBS. D. D. Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and Preacher of Grayes-Inne, LONDON.

PSAL. 42. 2. My soule thirsteth for God, for the living God, when shall I come and appeare before God?

LONDON, Printed by M. F. for R. Dawlman, at the Brazen Serpent in Pauls Church-yard. I634.