A Trial of Church-Forsakers, Section 1
SECTION I. The eſtate of Chriſtians and their care to keepe it,
THe better our eſtate is, the more wee muſt labour to keepe it. A poore man takes no great thought for iron bolts and barres: a wooden latch, a pin ſerves his turne,Mat. 6.21 and yet hee ſleepes ſecurely. A rich man, whoſe treaſure is great, and whoſe heart is nailed to it, hath lockes, bolts, and barres of ſtrongeſt aſſurance. Thus muſt it be with a Chriſtian He is not now in a beggerly eſtate he is crowned with loving kindneſſes and tender mercies unſpeakable.Pſal. 103.4 He hath liberty to enter into heaven: hee hath a way made to leade him thither: and he hath an able guide for his conduct. The holieſt is ſet before him.Heb. 10.19 20. His liberty to enter is purchaſed by the bloud of Ieſus. His way thither is Chriſts fleſh, conſecrated by the fulneſſe of the God-head dwelling in him bodily. Col. 2.9. Heb. 10.21His guide is the high-prieſt over the houſe of God, Chriſt the Lord, Chriſt alone purchaſed this liberty he alone is this way, by the marriage of our fleſh: hee alone is this guide who hath authority over the houſe of God, and cannot bee defeated.Act. 20.28 His liberty is of the ſureſt tenure, by purchaſe with the bloud of the ſonne of God. His way is of the firmeſt ſooting, ſureſt foundation, and beſt making, by Chriſt himſelf.Ioh. 14. And his guide is truth it ſelfe, one that cannot deceive,Col. 3.11. even our Ieſus Chriſt who is all and in all.
What therefore ſhould hee now doe▪ Let them get an eſtate in meanes offered which may preſent to God this coate o… armes.Heb. 10.22 A field of heavenly truth, and ſincerity (the royalleſt in Gods eies), charged with a cleane waſhed body, opened, for all the world to looke upon. In the midſt, an heart ſprinckled from an ill conſcience, breathing out by degrees, a full aſſurance of faith.
And becauſe he is a ſouldier, and many enemies will aſſault his colours, to win them, that he may never give them againe; let him not only have ſuch chriſtian armes,Heb. 10.23 Apoc. 3.11 but hold faſt the profeſsion of his faith, without wavering, that he doe not looſe his crowne, and honour with Chriſt.
But, Lord, how hard is this? The Chriſtian is weak,Eph. 6. and his enemies many & mighty. It is true therefore let him be ſtrong in the Lord, and run to ſuch meanes as God hath appointed, who knowes beſt how to give,… Pet. 1.5 and how to guard all his graces given. And what meanes are they? The publike and private communion of Saints, mentioned in theſe words. The publicke is, not to forſake the aſſembling of our ſelves together. The private is,Heb. 10.24 upon due conſideration of our ſelves to exhort one another. Theſe will make the chriſtian keepe his ground, not looſe his colours, not quit the field, but overcome in living,Rom. 8. and bee more then Conquerours in dying.
The words (without curioſity) preſent theſe three parts unto you. Firſt, the vertue of ſome Chriſtians, or rather the act of it. Secondly, the vice of others, or rather the act of many vices: and thirdly, the uſe to be made of eſchewing the one, and following the other. The act of vertue in all Chriſtians, who would keep what they have, is, m…n to forſake the aſſembling of our ſelves together: to keep publick communion of ſaints in the acts of religion and worſhip.
The act of vices in ſome Chriſtians, who have no care to keepe what they have, or a vicious care to get ſomething worſe; is,Iud. 5.15 to forſake the aſſemblies, though the diviſion of Reuben make great thoughts of heart.
The uſe that is to be made of flying the vices of theſe, and following the vertue of the others, is, to gaine ability from ſound judgment, and due conſideration, to exhort one another; which hee ſets on with a motive; becauſe the day is approaching, in which all muſt give accounts according to receits.
Thus have yee ſeene in a word, that a chriſtian hath a rich and precious eſtate:Iam. 2.5. 2 Pet. 1.1 1 Tim. 2.4 that God is willing he ſhould keep it to bring him to heaven: that it is poſſible for him to doe ſo in Gods way: that this way is here ſet downe; and therefore further follow it with me to Gods glory, and your good.