Dwelling with God, Sermon 1
THE FIRST SERMON.
Pſal. 91. 9, 10.
Becauſe thou haſt made the Lord which is my refuge, even the moſt High, thy Habitation, there ſhall no evil befall thee, neither ſhall any Plague come nigh thy dwelling.
IT is as natural for all Men to deſire happineſs, as it is For the ſparks to flie upwards: To make them happy, there is required an abſence of all oppreſſing evils, and a concurrence of all things neceſſary, convenient, and decent: Among and above many other things an habitation or reſting place for their bodies is needful to their outward happineſs, without which they cannot but be miſerable, whatever other good things they may enjoy. Herein our bleſſed Saviour ſeems to prefer the felicity of Foxes and Fowles before his own. The Foxes have Holes, and the Birds of the Aire Mat. 8. 20.have Nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head. The better Houſe any Man hath, the more happy he is (in that:) He that hath the beſt is happieſt. Now that Houſe is beſt that is higher, ſtronger, larger, more lightſome, warm, and better furniſhed with proviſions, and all deſirable accommodations, than any other; That is not ſubject to any caſualties, and which ſecures its Inhabitants from all manner of evil preſent and future: And withall, is a reſting place for their Souls. They that have ſuch an habitation cannot but be acknowledged by all the World, to be the only happy People in the World. If the Queſtion be, where ſuch an habitation can be found? Where ſuch a People? And by what means they become thus ſuperlatively happy? This Text reſolveth it. The habitation is the Lord, who was David's refuge, even the moſt High; Find him, and this habitation is found. The People are ſuch, as he to whom David directs his Speech, whom the Lord himſelf deſcribes and ownes a little after. He hath ſet his love P. 14.upon me, he hath known my Name. The meanes whereby this People come to be poſſeſſed of this happineſs, it is by their own making. Becauſe thou haſt made the Lord, &c.
Who the Lord is, it is well known, even Iſrael's God, the ſame whom we Chriſtians own and worſhip: One in Eſſence; Three in Subſiſtence, the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghoſt. What, and what a One he is, his Name Jehovah in part imports, an Abſolute, Simple, Infinite, Independent and Immutable Beeing. That he is a real habitation, appears by all thoſe places of Scripture, where Men are ſaid to Dwell in God, (whereof we ſhall have occaſion hereafter) He that dwelleth Pſal. 91. 1.in the ſecret place of the most High, ſhall lodge under the ſhaddow of the Almighty. He that keepeth his Commandements dwelleth in him. 1 Joh. 3. 24.Hereby we know that we dwell in him, becauſe he hath given us of his Spirit. Whoſo ſhall confeſs 4. 13. 15, 16.that Jeſus is the Son of God, he dwelleth in God. He that dwelleth in Love, dwelleth in God. That he is ſuch an Habitation, as hath been formerly mentioned, and conſequently the beſt, as far ſurpaſſing all others, even the choiceſt under Heaven, as the ſtatelieſt Pallace in the World, doth the pooreſt Cottage, or Heaven Earth, and infinitely more, is now to be proved. And hereby the Concluſion aſſerted will be evinced to be a truth. That all, and only they are the moſt, yea the only, happy People upon Earth, whoſe Habitation the Lord Jehovah is.
1. Begin we with the Properties of this Houſe. The firſt whereof is Height, (expreſſed in the Text.) The Scituation of it is exceeding high. The Babel-builders deſigned to erect a Tower, whoſe Gen. 11. 4.top might reach unto Heaven. This is far above it. They that are in it are out of danger, of any deluge, beyond the reach of Men, or Devils.Pſal. 144. 2. David calleth God his high Tower. And he that can, as David could, prove God to be his Habitation,Eſa. 33. 15, 16. is ſaid to dwell in height.
2. It is alſo a non-ſuch for ſtrength. Hear that holy Man of God thankfully acknowledging what God had been for him in times paſt. Thou haſt been a ſhelter for me, Pſal. 61. 3. 71. 7.and a ſtrong Tower from the Enemy. And what he was at preſent. Thou art my ſtrong refuge. And he not only prayeth, that God would ſtill be his ſtrong habitation, whereunto he might continually reſort, his ſtrong Rock for an houſe of defence to ſave him; But frequently declares his confidence, that as God was, ſo he would ever be as he wiſhed; and how oft doth he call him his ſtrength? His Son tells us, he is the ſame to every one that is as he was. The Prov. 15. 10.Name of the Lord is a ſtrong Tower, the Righteous runneth to it, and is ſafe. And the Prophet Eſay praiſeth God for this. Thou haſt Eſa. 25. 4.been a ſtrength to the Poor, a ſtrength to the needy, in his diſtreſs, a refuge from the ſtorm, a ſhadow from the heat, when the blaſt of the terrible ones is as a ſtorm againſt the Wall. The greateſt Canon-bullets ſhot againſt the Walls of this Houſe, make no more Impreſſion, do no more execution than Paper-pellets ſhot againſt a Wall of Braſs or Marble.
3. It is a Houſe exceeding large; this is accounted a great commodity, of a Houſe to have RoomesJer. 22. 14. enow, and Room enough. Solomon intimates as much, when he ſaith, it is better to dwell in a Corner of Prov. 21. 9.the Houſe top, than with a brawling Woman in a wide Houſe. To have any thing we uſe too narrow, or too ſtreight, is very troubleſome. The Bed is ſhorter than that Eſa. 28. 20,a Man can stretch himſelf on it, and the Covering narrower than that he can wrap himſelf in it. In God there is Room more than enough, both for the underſtanding and affections of Man to expatiate themſelves in. Canſt thou by ſearching finde out God? Canſt Job 11. 7, 8, 9.thou by ſearching finde out the Almighty to perfection? 'Tis as high as Heaven, What canſt thou do? deeper than Hell, What canſt thou know? the meaſure thereof is longer than the Earth, and broader than the Sea. His Commandements are exceeding broad. How much more are his Attributes,Pſal. 119. 69. Abſolute, and Relative, proper and figurative. God bid Abraham Gen. 13. 17.to walk through the Land of Canaan, (which is called a good Land, and a large, (good, becauſeExod. 3. 8. large) in the length of it, and in the breadth of it. And he bids every Child of Abraham (to whom he gives himſelf for a poſſeſſion) as he gave that Land to Abraham) to walk within, and paſs through all his Divine Properties, going out▪ of one Room into another, as2 Pet. 1. 4. alſo his great and precious promiſes: Nor ſhall they have cauſe to complain of ſtraitneſs, as the Churches Children do in their Mothers eares.—The place is too Eſa. 49. 20.ſtrait for me, give place to me that I may dwell. To whom we may conceive her giving them this Anſwer; Children, though your bodies may be preſent in your Earthly dwellings, the faculties of your ſouls have ſpace enough, abundantly more than your faculties can conceive in God, who ſaith to every Saint of his dwelling in him, apt to make the like complaint, as Paul to the Corinthians, Ye are 2 Cor. 6. 12.not ſtraitned in us, but you are ſtraitned in your own Bowels.
4. It is a Houſe no leſs lightſome than large. God is light, and in 1 Joh. 1. 5.him is no darkneſs at all, in this Pſal. 36. 9.light we ſhall ſee Light. The Lord will be unto thee an everlaſting Light. When there was a thick darkneſs in all the Land of Egypt, Eſay 60. 19.The Iſraelites had Light in their dwellings. All that are Iſraelites indeed, have light in God theirExod. 10. 22, 23. dwelling place. When all others in the World ſit in darkneſs, and the ſhaddow of Death. And they do contemplate the light of his Mercy, Truth, and Power. With 2 Cor. 3. 18.open Face beholding his Glory by which they are transformed more and more into his Image. Sometimes indeed they are compelled to ſit in darkneſs of dangers and diſtreſſes, inward and outward. Who is among you that feareth the Eſa. 50. 10.Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his Servant, that walketh in darkneſs, and hath no light? He hath led Lam. 3. 2.me, and brought me into darkneſs, but not into light. But even in this darkneſs they are not altogether without light, they have the light of God's Word. They Word Pſal. 119. 105.is a Lamp unto my Feet, and a light unto my Path. And in his Word they have the light of his promiſes, that he will bring them out of that darkneſs whereinto he brought them, and turn their grief and afflictions into joy. For Pſal. 18. 28.thou wilt light my Candel, the Lord my God will enlighten my darkneſs. Yea, even when, and all theMic. 7. 8. while, I ſit in darkneſs, the Lord ſhall be a Light unto me. God is a Sun, ten thouſand times morePſal. 84. 11. full of Light than this material Sun; and it is impoſſible that he that dwells in the Sun ſhould want Light.
5. It is a warm Houſe, Light hath heat in it emiently (as the Peripateticks ſay) yea, it is both warm and cool: A Summer and a Winter Houſe both, (great Men were wont to have ſeveral Manſions for theſe two ſeveral Seaſons of the Year.) This Houſe is as ſome choice Roomes in ſome great Houſes, are warm in Winter, and cool in Summer. Many there are that dwell in God, who have more Winters than one, every Year▪ ſcarce one Summers day in many Years.Pſal. 88. 15. I am afflicted, and ready to die from my Youth up. Yet in the ſharpeſt weather this Houſe of yours keep their hearts warm. So that the Spouſe ſaid, I ſleep, but my Heart waketh. They can ſay with Paul, Cant. 5. 2.As ſorrowful, yet alway rejoycing. I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding 2 Cor. 6. 10.joyful in all our tribulations: Being juſtified by faith, we 7. 14.have peace with God, and rejoyce in hope of the glory of God; and not only ſo, but we glory in tribulations alſo,—Becauſe the Love of God is ſhed abroad in our Hearts, Rom. 5. 1, 6.by the Holy Ghoſt, which is given unto us. Although the Fig-Tree ſhall not bloſſome, neither ſhall fruit be in the Vines, the labour of the Olive ſhall faile, and the Fields ſhall yield no increaſe, the Flock ſhall be cut off from the Fold, and there ſhall be no Herd in the Stalls, yet I will rejoyce in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my Salvation. If it be objected, that this is not alway true, that they who dwell in God are alway thus joyful; nay, many times their hearts have not the leaſt ſenſe of comfort; yet in ſuch a caſe, they have a warmth and heat that is far better, and includes abundance of comfort in it, and in due ſeaſon will flame forth, namely that of love, and that both of deſire and complacency. Set me as a Seal upon thine arm, for love is ſtrong as death; The Coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a moſt vehement flame; many Waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it. This warmth their hearts never want, though ſometimes the ſenſe of the ſecond motion of it, may ſeem to them as dull, as that of their joy: Nor is there any time wherein they cannot ſay with David, My Heart was hot within Pſal. 39. 9.me. Yea, diſcouragements from the World are ſo far from cooling your love to God, that they make it hotter as Water caſt upon Lime; ſo Michol's ſcoffs were to David's Zeal; ſuch is a flame iſſuing from the fire of Love. If this be to be vile, I will yet be more vile than 2 Sam. 6. 22.thus.
Others of God's People have many Summer Days; yea, almoſt all their Days all the Year long, for many Years together, are ſuch. Job had ſuch a long Summer, all which time, God's Candle ſhined Job 29. 3.upon his head: The ſecret of God was upon his Tabernacle. His moſt wiſe Conduct governed his Houſe, provided plentifully for it. He 4… ▪waſhed his ſteps with Butter, and 6.the Rock poured him out Rivers of Oyl. Hyperbolical termes. As if he had ſaid, I enjoyed all my goods and pleaſures, according to mine own deſire. When the Eare heard him, then it bleſſed him; and when the Eye ſaw him, it gave witneſs unto him. He ſat chief, and dwelt as a King in the Army. Was both beloved and feared, yet in all theſe hot Sun-ſhine Dayes of proſperity, this Houſe of his kept his heart cool towards the things of the World: He lived in continual fear of looſing them. I feared (ſaith he) a fear, and it came upon Job 3. 25, 26.me. I never all this while gave my ſelf over to carnal ſecurity, I alway affrighted my heart with the apprehenſion of the Accidents of this life, and contained my ſelf in fear and humility towards God: and within the bounds of modeſty towards men. Hear him making a ſolemn proteſtation how cool his heart was kept from evil concupiſcence, and curſed love to Women. I ſet a watch (ſaith he) at Job 31 1.the entrance of my ſences, made a Covenant with mine Eyes. That my Soul might not by them receive any vicious enticements to uncleanneſs. Or if my ſences had been at any time, allured by any object of ſin, yet my heart, which is the ſeat of God's Spirit, hath oppoſed them: It never walked 7.after mine Eyes. And as for temporal good: Though I had exceeding25. great ſtore of them, and all juſtly gotten, yet was I free from rejoycing carnally, or ſetting24. my whole delight in them; nor did I put any confidence at all in them. Thus looſe was this holy Man's Soul kept, from the things of the World. The luſts of the fleſh, the luſts of the eye, and the pride of life. And ſo was the Soul of Moſes, who living by faith in God, had his affections ſo cooledHeb 11. 25, 26, 27. to the pleaſures of Egypt, that with eaſe he forſook them all, and with joy joyned himſelf to the Ignominious condition of his brethren.
6. No Houſe is ſo full of goods as this is, none ſo ſtored with all things, both for neceſſity and delight. Houſes that are high, and ſtrong, and large, and lightſome, and warm, if they want proviſion of good, and furniture, are far from being accounted good Houſes. Theſe only, where there is a fulneſs of Houſhold ſtuff, plenty of meat, and drink, and cloaths, and Silver, and Gold, and Armor for defence and offence, have the denomination given them, by the generality of People, and are only cryed up: empty ones have no bodies good word. Take notice of ſome paſſages of Scripture to this purpoſe, from the mouths both of Prophane and Divine Pen-men; yea, of Divinity it ſelf. How Luke 15. 17.many hired Servants in my Fathers Houſe have Bread enough, and to ſpare. We ſhall finde all Pro. 1. 13.precious ſubſtance, we ſhall fill our Houſes with ſpoyle. If Balak would Numb. 22. 18.give me his Houſe full of Silver and Gold. Through wiſdome is a Pro. 24. 3, 4.Houſe builded, and by knowledge ſhall the Chambers be filled with all precious, and pleaſant riches. Thou ſhalt ſave Goats milk enough 27. 27.for thy food, for the food of thy▪ Houſhold, and for the food of thy Maidens. Thy Barnes ſhall be filled 3. 10.with plenty, and thy Preſſes ſhall burſt out with new Wine: Wealth and Riches ſhall be in his Pſal. 112. 3.Houſe. They poſſeſſed Houſes full of all good, the Floors ſhall be full 9. 25.of Wheat, and the Fats ſhall overflow Joel 2. 24.with Corn and Oyle.
Some very good People, who had Houſe-room enough, have had therein next to nothing. The Widdow1 King 17. 13. of Zarephath going into her Houſe, to fetch the Prophet Elijah a little Water, in a Veſſel which he begged of her to drink, makes this anſwer to him, craving that ſhe would alſo bring him a morſel of Bread in her Hand. As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a Cake, but a handful of Meal in a Barrel, and a little Oyl in a Cruſe; this was all her ſtore. Such an anſwer gave a certain Woman, of the Wives of the Sons of the Prophets, unto Eliſha. Tell me (ſaid he) What haſt thou in the 2 King. 4. 1, 2.Houſe? Thy Hand-maid (ſaid ſhe) hath not any thing in the Houſe, ſave a Pot of Oyle.
In this Houſe which we have in hand, there is not only No want of any thing which is on the Earth (the good report given of Laiſh by the five Searchers.) But here isJudg. 18. 10. alſo all the good things that Heaven it ſelf is able to afford: Witneſs him that was caught up thither, and ſaw what was in thoſe Manſions; Bleſſing God for bleſſing 2 Cor. 12. 2.him, and all his fellow-Members of this bleſſed Family, withall ſpiritual bleſſings in Heavenly 1 Eph. 1. 3.places in Chriſt.
Begin we with Proviſions of food. They to whom it is given to dwell in God, ſhall be ſure not to want either Corporal or Spiritual ſuſtenance, but enjoy both in abundance. 1. For their bodies, this is one of the encouragements given to the Saints of God, to fear and ſeek him. O fear the Lord, Pſal. 34. 9, 10.O ye his Saints, for there is no want to them that fear him. The young Lyons do lack and ſuffer hunger, but they that ſeek the Lord ſhall not want any good thing, in the Day of Famine they ſhall be ſatisfied. The righteous eateth to the 37. 19.ſatisfying of his Soul; but the belly of the wicked ſhall want. They ſhall alway have Bread and Water enough: As thoſe hundred Prophets had in that time of great dearth, (whom Obediah fed by fifty in a Cave) Bread ſhall be given 1 King. 18. 4.them, their Waters ſhall be ſure. Likened unto Men that dwell in an unpregnable Fort: well providedEſa. 33. 16. with Victuals to hold out a Siege. And there Bread and Water is ſure, as is not elſe-where to be found. For there is a bleſſing in both, which are alſo of the choiceſt, and God himſelf feeds them therewith. I ſhould have fed them (ſaith the Lord to his profeſſing People, had they hearkened unto me, to come and live in him, but they would not) with the fineſt Pſal. 81. 16.of the Wheat, and with Honey out of the Rock ſhould I have ſatisfied them. No courſer Bread than wheaten doth every hinde, or Servant of this Houſe eat. That which is materially pulſe, beanes, peaſe, (which ſome of them are fain ſometimes to feed upon) is virtually the fat of wheat. So it was to Daniel, and his three Companions, whoſe countenances appeared fairer Dan. 1. 8▪17.and fatter in fleſh, than all the Children which did eat the portion of the Kings meat. Nor can theyDeut. 8. 9. be ſcanted. He whoſe the Earth is, and the fulneſs thereof, having ſaid, Thou ſhalt eat thy Bread without ſcarceneſs. I will abundantly bleſs her Proviſion, I will ſatisfie her Poor with Bread. In caſe they have but an handful of Meal: He1 King. 17. 15. 19. 8. can make it ſuffice them and theirs many Days; yea, enable them to go in the ſtrength of one Cake baken on the Coales forty Days; yea, to make five Loaves feed noMat 14. 15 22. fewer than five thouſand Men, beſides Women and Children; nor ſhall there want a concurence of his will with his power, if need be. Though Miracles are ſaid to beMat. 6. 1. ceaſed, every one of the Houſe ſhall have their Daily bread, accordingPro. 30. 8. as they are taught to pray. And as Agar prayed in faith, nothing doubting: nor were ever any of them in David's obſervation,Pſal. 37. 25. put to the Trade of begging their bread. Though ſome of them have in all Ages been conſtrainedExod. 25. 29. to live of Almes for exerciſe and tryal, which is a noble way of living. And ſo the Waters given them to drink, they are not like theſe of Marah and Jericho, bitter 2 King. 2. 19, 21.and naught, but ſweet and wholſome. If they be otherwiſe naturally, they are by a Tree or Salt caſt in preſently ſweetned, and healed, with which, as with Honey diſtilled out of the Rock, their thirſt is wonderfully quenched.
2. As for their Souls, there is in this Houſe abundantly more and better Proviſion of all manner of Food, for all ſorts of Perſons that are of the Family. Nehemiah tells us of what a great Table he kept, and what was provided for him …. 5. 18.daily. Viz. one Oxe and ſix choice Sheep, alſo Fowles, and once in ten Dayes ſtore of all ſorts of Wine. Solomon's Proviſions for one Day was thirty Meaſures of fine flower and threeſcore Meaſures of Meal, ten fat Oxen out of the Paſture, and an hundred Sheep, beſide Harts and Roe-bucks, and fallow Deer, and fatted Fowle; But all his great ſtore is but as a drop to the Ocean, in compariſon of the ſpiritual Proviſion prepared every day for the Saints, to feed upon in this Houſe. The Word of God, and God the Word are a million of times more in quantity and virtue to nouriſh and cheer. How ſweet Pſal. 119. 103.are thy Words unto my Taſte? Sweeter than honey unto my mouth. Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and thy word was unto Jer. 15. 16.me the joy and rejoycing of my Heart.
O Book, inſinite ſweetneſs! Let my heart
Suck every Letter, and a honey gainHerb. Ser.
Precious for every Greif in any part
To cheer the breſt, to mollifie all pain,
Thou aut all health, health thriving 'till it make
A full Eternity. Thou art a Maſs
Of strange delights, where we may wiſh and take.
Here is milk for Babes, the firſt1 Cor. 3. 2. Principles of the Oracles of God,Heb. 5. 12, 13, 14. and ſtrong meat for thoſe that are of full age, profounder and more myſterious Doctrines. The Stewards of the Houſe appointed to diſpenſe both to both, as they are able to bear them. As theJoh. 16. 1…. head of the Houſe taught them toMark 4. 33. do by his practice, every part and particle of the Holy Scriptures, Hiſtories, Precepts, Prohibitions, Promiſes, threatnings are all of them choice Viands wherewith holy Souls are ſatisfied, as with Pſal. 63. 6.marrow and fatneſs, Nor are they only meat but Medicinal alſo, and therefore called wholſome words2 Tim. 3. 16. that have a healing property in them. The Spirit of God accompanyingEſa. 59. 21. his word is called by our Saviour the Water of Life. Hadſt thou asked of me (ſaid he to the Woman of Samaria, that denyedJoh. 4. 20. to give him of her Water) I would have given thee a better and far more excellent kind of Water, than this is that I have deſired of thee. Whoſoever drinketh of this Water Eſa. 44. 3.ſhall thirſt again, but whoever ſhall drink of the Water that I ſhall Joh. 7. 38, 39.give him, ſhall never thirſt. Of this living Water they that dwell in God do drink continually; whereby the thirſt of their Souls after earthly things, the luſt of the fleſh, the luſt of the eye, and the pride of life is quenched. And their conſciences are ſatisfied and quieted, againſt the ſenſe and apprehenſion of Gods wrath due for theirCant. 1. 2. fins. And the ſenſe of his love affected2. 4. by this Water, is better than Wine; whoſe property is to comfort the heart, beget new Spirits,Eſ. 55. 1. purge, warm, refine, and waken them. Yea, this Houſe is a Houſe of Wine. And the graces and fruits of the Spirit, are delightful to them as Wine, with which they being ſpiritually drunk, have inward ſpiritual joy bred in them, teſtified in the private and publickEph. 5. 19. praiſes of God, by Pſalmes, Hymns, and ſpiritual Songs; Their hearts being merry, and chearful, They Zach. 9. 15.make a rejoyce, as if they were ſet on fire with Wine.
But here is another food, which every one of this Houſe have for commons every Day. The Body and Blood of Jeſus Chriſt. His fleſh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed. Note well that ſpiritual things have their truth and reality as much, and beyond compariſon in their kind, as corporal ones have theirs.
This meat and drink ſurpaſſeth all other upon a manifold account. 1. Of the place from whence it comes, This is the Bread which cometh down from Heaven; NotJoh. 6. 50. out of the middle Region of the Aire, as Manna did, but from the higheſt Heaven. 2. The Variety of Viands in it, for all things are in Chriſt, who of God is made unto us, Wiſdome, Righteouſneſs, and 1 Cor. 3. 30.Sanctification, and Redemption. Let our wants be what they will, let our wills be what they can to feed on this or that diſh: Nothing can be imagin'd nouriſhing or cheering, which is not to be found in Chriſt. Manna, which was but a type of this true bread, is ſaid to have had all ſorts of good taſts in it.
3. Of the ſufficiency of it, for Col. 1. 19.it pleaſed the Father, that in him ſhould all fulneſs dwell, in him 2. 9.dwelleth all the fulneſs of the Godhead bodily. The whole Maſs and gathering together of all Divine and everlaſting goods. Whereof the parcels and ſtreams do iſſue out upon the Church: They are in him not in ſhaddows, and figures, as in the Old Teſtament, but in reality and ſubſtance. And of his fulneſs have we all received Joh. 1. 16.grace for grace; Not a fulneſs of abundance only, but a fulneſs of redundance alſo: out of which a ſufficient portion is diſtributed to every of his Members. There can be no want in him, where Riches Eph. 3 8.are unſearchable. As he is able to ſave them unto the uttermoſt, that come unto God by him, and ſo to ſatisfie them that feed upon him, as it is ſaid of thoſe four thouſand Men, beſide Women andMath. 15. 37. Children. They did all eat, and were filled.
4. Of the powerful efficacy that is in it, I am the Bread of Life. Joh. 6. 35.That is there remains in me, received and applyed by a lively faith, power to quicken the Soul that is dead in ſin, ſeparated from God the true Spring of Life, and to preſerve it alive by a communicative and continual influence of Divine grace, and to give it alſo the life of joy and comfort; yea, and to cure not only all the Maladies that moleſt the Life of Grace, but of Nature alſo.
5. Of the permanency of it, this is not like other Food and Phyſick, that periſheth it ſelf, and is not able to keep the body, into which it is received from periſhing; Upon which account we are forbidden to labour for it. Labour Joh. 6. 27.not for the Meat which periſheth, but for that Meat which endureth to everlaſting life, which the Son of Man ſhall give unto you. What is that? The Bread that I will give is my Fleſh. If any Man eat of this 6. 51.Fleſh, he ſhall live for ever.
This Meat and Drink is every Day received by this whole Houſhold, not after a corporal and carnal manner, (as thoſe Capernaites conceived Chriſts meaning. How can this Man give us his Fleſh to John 6. 52.eat?) But by believing that it was given for them, and is the Price of their ſins to God. He that cometh 6. 39.to me ſhall never hunger, and he that believeth on me ſhall never thirſt. As Meat is received into the ſtomack by eating: ſo is Chriſt into the Soul by believing. He that eateth my Fleſh, and drinketh my Blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him: that is to ſay, is inſeparably united to me, and I to him, even as food is with him that eats it. This and no other way is this meat and drink received in the Holy Supper, (wherein here is or ought to be a frequent communicating) where and when every Communicant by eating and drinking the conſecrated Bread and Wine, being Sacramentally Chriſt's body and blood, Signes to repreſent it, Seals to confirm, aud Inſtruments really to exhibit them, doth acknowledge, and preach the benefits of the Lord's Death, and proteſteth to take part thereof by a lively faith; which is as the Eye and Hand to the Mouth and Stomack of the Soul, taking Chriſt into, and uniting him to them; even as corporal Food is by eating and digeſting united to the Body.
6. This is that Feaſt of fat Eſay 25. 6.things of Wine on the Lees, of fat things full of Marrow of Wines on the Lees, well refined; which the Lord of Hoſts promiſed to all Nations, gathered together in his Church, (to ſome of all) veiling Heavenly things under Earthly, condeſcending ſo low, as to enter into the inward Man by the outward, our apprehenſions being ſo weak and narrow, that we cannot otherwiſe be acquainted with them while our Souls are in our Bodies. They are much guided by our fancy, and then ſpiritual things are conveyed to them this way; only we muſt remember, that there is a far greater excellency in the things themſelves, than in their repreſentations: For what is all fulneſs with marrow, What is Wines on the Lees? what are all earthly royal dainties, to theſe rich graces and Divine ſpecial favours and bleſſings, offered and beſtowed, and participated of in the Sacraments? At which ſumptuous and delicious banquet every worthy receiver, that has made due preparation by ſelf examination, is or ſhould be much affected and raviſhed. As the Divine Poet, was, who thus expreſſeth himſelf. Firſt as to the manner of Importation, and ſubmiſſion.
Herb. H. Com.
Not in rich Ornament or fine Aray,
Nor in a Wedge of Gold,
Thou, who for me waſt ſold,
To me doſt now thy ſelf convey;
For ſo thou ſhould'ſt without me ſtil have been,
Leaving within me Sin.
But by the way of nouriſhment & ſtrength,
Thou creepeſt into my Breast;
Making thy Way my Reſt,
And thy ſmall quantities my length;
Which ſpread their Forces into every part,
Meeting Sins force and art.
Yet can theſe not get over to my Soul,
Leaping the Wall that parts
Our Souls and fleſhly Hearts;
But as the out-works they may controll
My Rebel-fleſh, and carrying thy Name,
Affright both ſin and ſhame.
Only thy grace, which with theſe Elements comes,
Knoweth the ready way,
And hath the Privy Key,
Op'ning the Souls moſt ſubtile Roomes,
While thoſe to Spirits refin'd at Door attend
Diſpatches from their Friend.
Give me my Captive Soul, or take
My Body alſo thither.
Another life like this will make
Them both to be together.
Before that Sin turn'd Fleſh to ſtone,
And all our Lump to leaven:
A fervent ſigh might well have blown
Our innocent Earth to Heaven.
For ſure when Adam did not know
To ſin, or ſin to ſmother;
He might to Heav'n from Paradiſe go,
As from one Room to another.
Thou haſt reſtor'd us to this eaſe
By this thy Heavenly blood,
Which I can go to when I pleaſe
And leave the Earth to their food.
When he was pleaſed to go to this Heavenly Banquet, (and he was ſo pleaſed, as oft as might be, and ſo ſhould every godly Chriſtian) hear him warbling this Divine Rapture.
Idem the Banquet.
Welcome ſweet and ſacred cheer,
Welcome deer;
With me, in me, live and dwell:
For thy neatneſs paſſeth ſight;
Thy delight
Paſſeth Tongue to taſte or tell.
O what ſweetneſs from the Bowl
Fills my Soul,
Such as is and makes Divine!
Is ſome Star (fled from the Sphere)
Melted there,
As we Sugar melt in Wine?
Or hath ſweetneſs in the Bread
Made a head
To ſubdue the ſmell of Sin;
Flow'rs and gums and powders giving▪
All their living,
Lest the Enemy ſhould win?
Doubtleſs neither Star nor Flower
Hath the Power
Such a ſweetneſs to impart:
Only God, who gives perfumes,
Fleſh aſſumes,
And with it perfumes my heart.
But as Pomanders and ſweet Wood
Still are good,
Yet being bruiſed are better ſented,
God, to ſhew how far his love
Could improve,
Here as broken is preſented.
&c.
Let the wonder of this pitty
Be my ditty,
And take up my lines and life:
Hearken under pain of Death,
Hands and breath,
Strive in this, and love the ſtrife.
Nor found he this food beyond all degrees of compariſon, nouriſhing and ſtrengthning, but he feeleth it alſo moſt effectually healing Phyſick, as appeares by what he ſpeaks to his pratling Conſcience, which call'd every fair look ſowl, every ſweet Diſh ſower.
If thou perſiſt, I will tell thee
That I have Phyſick to expell thee.
And the Receipt ſhall be
My Saviours Blood: when ever at his board
I do but taſte it, ſtraight it cleanſeth me,
And leaves thee not a Word,
No, not a Tooth, or Nail to ſcratch,
And at my actions carp or catch.
Here is therefore no ſuch proviſion of food, no ſuch ſumptuous fair in any Houſe as this. Solomon's, ſo much admired, was as Husks; yea, and ſtark hunger compared to this: and each of the Houſhold fares alike. And they have both Dinner and Supper every Day of the ſame delicates.Mat. 22. 4. (that which Matthew calls a Dinner, Luke calls a Supper.) AndLuke 14. 16. they are called upon to feed heartrly. Eat O Friends; Drink, yea, Cant. 5. 1.drink abnndantly, O well-beloved.
Nor are there any ſuch fellow-Commoners, to Dine and Sup withActs 17. 11. any where as here; Theſe are allEſa. 43. 4. Noble Honourable Perſons. The choiceſt, and moſt excellent Kings Pro. 12. 26.and Prieſts. A choſen Generation, a Royal Prieſthood, a Holy Nation, a peculiar People. Yea, the Rev. 1. 6.King of Kings, and Lord of Lords Dines and Sups with them. Mephiboſheth 1 Pet. 2. 9.thought it no ſmall honour,Rev. 3. 20. 2 Sam. 19. 28. that David ſet him among them that did eat at his own Table. How great honour muſt it then be to ſit at Chriſts Table, who is David's Lord? And to increaſe theirPſal. 110. 1. comfort, they have aſſurance of the ſame Seſſion with him in the Kingdome of Glory. I appoint you Luk 22 29, 30.(ſaith he) a Kingdome, as my Father hath appointed me; that ye may eat and drink at my Table in my Kingdome.
Nor are there any ſuch ſervitures in any Houſe, as in this, to wit, the Holy Angels. Are they Heb. 1. 14.not all Miniſtering Spirits ſent forth to Miniſter for them, who ſhall he Heirs of Salvation? TherePro. 15 15. are that make them both CooksLuk. 22. 43. and Butlers, that dreſs and diſh up, and bring in the proviſion ofDan. 10. 19. this continual Feaſt, attend at Table and Miniſter Cups of Conſolation. And moreover wait upon every Member of this Family,Pſal. 91. when they go abroad about the works of their Callings: and in all the changes of their life; who have care of them, beſides thisActs 12. 15. common attendance, a peculiar Guardian of Angels, from their new birth at leaſt, as ſome probably gather from ſundry Scriptures.Mat. 18. 10.
Nor are there any ſuch Veſſels in any Houſe to ſerve up theExod. 21. 29. Meat and Drink in, as are in this. The Diſhes, Spoons, Covers, and … 37. 16.Bowles belonging to the Sanctuary were all of pure Gold, ſo were all the Veſſels of the pure Table. All the drinking Veſſels of King Solomon were of Gold; and all the 2 Chr. 9. 20.Veſſels of the Houſe of the forreſt of Lebanon were of pure Gold. At that Royal Feaſt which Ahaſuerus made to all his Princes and Servants, That laſted an hundred and fourſcore Days, They gave them Eſt. 1. 7.Drink in Veſſels of Gold. The Veſſels of this Houſe, wherein the Saints dwell, and wherein they have their Meat and Drink ſerved up, are much more precious, than the Gold that periſheth, (which is1 Pet. 1. 7, 18. corruptible how pure ſoever) even2 Pet. 1. 4. great and precious promiſes, in which are contained all the choiceſt Viands, that Earth and Heaven can yield, both for the nouriſhment of Soul and Body. For Godlineſs is profitable for all 1 Tim. 4. 8.things, having the promiſe of the Life that now is, and that which is to come.
Nor are there any ſuch Seats, to reſt both Souls and Bodies on, in taking repaſt in any Houſe, as in this? Kings have had their Seats for themſelves, and by them for their Children, and Favorites, on which they ſate down to eat meat;1 Sam. 20. 24, 25. they were terreſtrial, theſe coeleſtial places. We read of the great King Eph 2. 6.ſitting at his Table with his Spouſe ſitting with him, preſented HimCant. 1. 12. with the exerciſe of her Virtues. And of his ſitting down with his Twelve Diſciples to eat the Paſsover, and before this, with manyMat. 26. 20. 9. 10. Publicans and Sinners. All penitent Sinners, whoſe habitation the Lord is, ever had, ſtill have, and ever ſhall have this Priviledge, to ſit with Chriſt in Heavenly places, which are no other, than the Loves Cant. 1. 2.of God in Chriſt: from which Seats neither Death, nor Life, nor Angels, Rom. 8. 38. 39.nor Principalities, nor Powers, nor things preſent, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other Creature ſhall be able to ſeperate them.
Nor any ſuch Beds to take reſt in, which the now named Loves make.
Herb. Evens.
My God thou art all Love,
Not one poor Minute ſcapes thy Breaſt,
But brings a favour from above;
And in this Love more than in Bed I reſt.
The ſofteſt down Beds, compared to theſe are harder than ſtones, on which as little true reſt can be taken, as Ahaſuerus took the Day before Mordecai was to be hanged: on that Night could not the Eſt. 6. 1.King ſleep: or as Job had, when he wanted the ſenſe of theſe Divine Loves. When I ſay my Bed Job 7. 13, 14.ſhall eaſe me, my Couch ſhall eaſe my Complaints, then thou ſcareſt me with Dreames, and terrifieſt Gen. 28. 11▪ 16.me with Viſions. In this Bed of aſſurance of Divine Love Jacob ſlept ſweetly, comforted by a Viſion, made by a Sign, namely a Ladder ſet upon the Earth, the top whereof reached unto Heaven, &c. and in words, promiſing the Land whereon he ſlept, a numerous poſterity and protection in his going out, and coming home, when his Body lay on the cold Ground, and his Head on a Stone. And in the ſame Bed David ſlept ſecurely, when ſurrounded with Enemies.Pſal. 3. 5▪ 6. I laid me down and ſlept, and I will not be afraid of ten thouſand of People, that have ſet themſelves againſt me, round about. Yea, when their Bodies are upon Sick-beds, God himſelf twines them, makes them ſoft, ſtirring up Feathers of Conſolation under them. The Lord will ſtrengthen Pſal. 41. 3.him upon the Bed of languiſhing, Thou wilt make all his Bed in his Sickneſs.
Nor is there in any Houſe ſuch Linnen for Bed and Board, which is ſpread and uſed as oft as reſt or repaſt is taken, and hath an influence into both, making them comfortable; yea, into the very Diſhes and Veſſels, wherein the Meat and Drink is ſerved up, making them2 Cor. 1. 20. precious and permanent, and into the Couches or places of repoſe corporal, as well as ſpiritual, without which thoſe would have no grateful reliſh: nor theſe any refreſhing ſweetneſs. (Such as Jeremy found wrapped therein, upon Jer. 31. 26.this I awaked and beheld, and my ſleep was ſweet unto me.)
But eſpecially this Linnen ſerves for the cloathing this Houſhold (imparting not only warmth (to which, ſufficient hath been ſpoken, but alſo Ornament beyond compare: To her (ſpeaking of the Church, the Lamb's Wife) was Rev. 19. 8.granted, that ſhe ſhould be arrayed in fine Linnen, clean and white, for the fine Linnen is the Righteouſneſs of Saints. Of old, great and honourable Perſons, were cloathed with fine Linnen. Pharaoh Gen. 41. 42.arrayed Joſeph in Veſtures of fine Linnen. Mordecai went out from the preſence of the King, in Royal Apparel, and with a Garment Eſt. 8. 15.of fine Linnen. Dives was cloathed in Purple and fine Linnen. The High Prieſts Garments were made of Gold, and of Blue, and Exod. 28. 5.of Purple, Scarlet, and of fine Linnen; The Ephod, and the curious 6, 8, 30.Girdle, the Coat and the Miter; and ſo were the Veſtures of his Sons, which are ſaid to be for Glory and for Beauty; that is, to6. 40. make them Venerable and Majeſtick in the executing▪ of their Office.
Every faithful Chriſtian, Man, or Woman, is a ſacred King, a Royal Prieſt, hath Royal blood running in his Veins: Was born not of blood, (is not ſuch by natural Generation) nor of the will of the Joh. 1. 12, 13.fleſh: But of God, by the power of his Spirit, unto his own Image, and ſo is higher than the Kings of the Earth, hath Power as a King to ſubdue, and keep under, the rebellious motions and luſts of his own corrupt reaſon, and will; and is by faith partaker of Chriſts royal Dignity, and Will, being with him annexed Heir of an Heavenly Kingdome. He is alſo made partaker of the Dignity of Chriſt's Prieſthood, (better than the Levitical Prieſthood, which was not after the Order of Melchiſedeck) having God propitious to him, by his Death, having acceſs to God by Prayer, through his interceſſion: and to offer ſpiritual ſacrifices to 1 Pet. 2. 5.him, the Sacrifice of Prayer, that is the fruit of the Lips, giving thanks to his Name. To do good Heb. 13. 14, 16.alſo, and to communicate for with ſuch Sacrifices God is well pleaſed. The Linnen wherewith theſe ſpiritual Kings and Prieſts are apparelled, being the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt's humane Nature, called the Righteouſneſs of God; Becauſe he is the Supream Author of it, and appointed his Son who wasRom. 1. 17. true God, for to fulfil and to acquire it out of his meer grace, and imputes it to the Elect, and accepts it for their abſolution; as far ſurpaſſeth in fineneſs, purity, and whiteneſs, that wherewith Earthly Princes and Prieſts were arrayed, as the fineſt Flax doth the courſeſt Sack or Hair-cloath. For it is Angelical, yea more pure and bright and tranſcendently glorious, and makes them appear ſo. The Kings Daughter is all glorious within. Pſal. 45. 17.Yea Glory it ſelf in the abſtract,Eſa. 4. 5. yea they do appear ſo, not only in the Eyes of God, but even in the Eyes of the Nations of the World, as appeares by theſe words of admiration, uttered by them. Who is ſhe that looketh forth as the Morning, Cant. 6. 10.fair as the Moon, clear as the Sun, and terrible as an Army with Banners? And this by reaſon ofActs 12. 21. thoſe gorgeous outward Garments, and Jewels that caſt a ſhining luſtre wherewith they are inveſted, and adorned Cap▪ a pe, (like Herod in his Cloath of Silver, which being beaten by the Sun-beames, dazled the Peoples Eyes.) The exerciſeCol. 3. 12, 14. and exerting of thoſe glorious Virtues mentioned by the Apoſtle, Bowels of Mercies, kindneſs, meekneſs of mind, long-ſuffering and Col. 2. 15.charity, which is the Bond of Perfection, make them to ſhine as lights in the World. He that will look into the Wardroab of this Houſe, ſhall finde, beſides theſe, very many changes of rich Rayment, fitted for all Sexes and Ages, which being put on and worn abroad, muſt needs make them glorious in the Eyes of all beholders.
And as there is no ſuch Veſtry in any Houſe as this, ſo neither is there any ſuch Armony. In the Tower Cant. 4. 4.of David, which was builded for an Armory, there hang a Thouſand Bucklers, all Shields of Mighty Men. There is in this one Shield, of more worth, to all intents and purpoſes, than all thoſe a thouſand times told over. The Shield of Faith, a ſpiritual Shield ſerving to beat back and bear off all the fierce Temptations of Satan,Eph 6. 16. To quench all his Fiery Darts, to hinder their pernicious working. By this the Fathers of old time, Of whom the World was not worthy, Heb. 11. 34.quenched the violence of Fire, and turned to Flight the Armies of the Aliens. Faith is of that force, that it is able to hold Argument, even againſt the wrath of God, to quench the fierceneſs of his Arrowes. Though he ſlay me, Job 13. 15.yet will I truſt in him. Its termed a Shield, every faculty of the Soul is defended by it, againſt all manner of temptations. A Shield ſerves for defence of the whole Body, and every part of it. Other pieces of ſpiritual Armor, the Girdle of Truth, the Breſt-plate of Righteouſneſs, the ſhews of Patience, the Helmet of Hope, are for particular parts, and ſerve againſt particular ſins and temptations; but faith puts by, and blunts all blows, and, as if this grace were all in all, a Chriſtians whole warfare, is called the 1 Tim. 6. 12.Fight of Faith. This, with the other now named, are defenſive only or mainly, like to which none can be found in any other Armory. And for offence here is a Sword, of which it may be ſaid, as David did of Goliah's, There is none like 1 Sam. 21. 9.that, the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. So calledEph. 6. 17. becauſe the Holy Ghoſt hath framed it, and put it into Believers hands, and is of a Divine ſtrength and temper to pierce and overthrow the ſpiritual Enemies. With this Word, which is ſharper than any two edged Sword, Chriſt himſelfHeb. 4. 12. defended himſelf againſt the Devil, and with the invincible force thereof foyl'd him, fulfilling in partMath. 4. 7. 10. that Propheſie. In that Day the Lord with his ſore, and great, and Eſ 27. 1.ſtrong Word, ſhall puniſh Leviathan, the piercing Serpent, even Leviathan the crooked Serpent, and in that Day he ſhall ſlay the Dragon that is in the Sea.
Moreover, Princes, and great Mens Houſes are ſtored with goods for Ornament, as well as for neceſſity and conveniency, ſerving to delight and pleaſe the outward Senſes of Seeing, Hearing, Smelling, and Feeling. (that of Taſting hath been ſpoken to) Rich Hangings, Curtains, Carpets, Images, and pleaſant Pictures Pourtrayed upon the Walls, Inſtruments of Muſick, Oyntments, Perfumes, Treaſures of Gold and Silver, and precious Stone. Hezekiah ſhewed the King of Babylon's Embaſſadors his Houſe of precious things, the Silver, and the Gold, and the Spices, and the precious Ornaments, and all Eſa. 39. 2.that was found in his Treaſures.
In Solomon's Houſe were Hangings of Purple, a rich and a beautiful Stuff, of a red and bloody hue, a dye of great eſteem. And in Ahaſuerus's Palace, where he feaſtedCant. 3. 10. his Princes and Servants, There Eſt. 1. 6.were white, green, and violet Hangings faſtned with Cords of fine Linnen and Purple to Silver Rings and Pillars of Marble. The Beds were of Gold and of Silver, upon a Pavement of red and blew, and 2 King. 23. 7.white and black Marble. In the Houſes of thoſe unnatural ſenſuality, we finde Women that wore Hangings, to make them more delightful. No leſs is implyed in that paſſage. Let them ſtretch Eſa. 54. 2.forth the Curtains of thine Habitation; What Lamentation is made when theſe are harmed? Suddenly Jer. 4. 20. 10. 20.are my Tents ſpoyled, and my Curtains in a moment. Or when they are not handſomely ſet up. There is none to ſet up my Curtains. The Tabernacle had great ſtore of coſtly Hangings and Curtains, to make it beautiful andExod. 26. 1. glorious, of cunning work woven, but wrought to the Life with a Needle, in manner of Pictures like Arras work, or other Tapiſtry. Solomon 1 King. 6. 29.carved all the Walls of the Temple round about with Figures of Cherubims and Palm-Trees, and open Flowers within and without: Nor was hardly any goodly HouſeEſa. 3. 16. without its pleaſant Pictures, Images of Men pourtrayed upon the Ezek. 23. 14.Walls with Vermilion.
Nor without Muſical Inſtruments. The Viol, the Tabret and Pipe are in their Feaſts. As the Prodigals Eſa. 5. 12.Elder Brother drew nigh to the Luke 25. 29.Houſe, he heard Muſick and Dancing.
But money anſwereth all things. By this Men furniſh their HouſesEccl 10. 19. with all the foreſaid Ornament, and their Feaſts with variety of all delights. Thrice happy is that habitation thought to be, where there is no want of this; and bleſſed are thoſe Children thought whoſe Parents go to the Devil to procure and leave them bags of theirs in abundance.
What ſhall we ſay to theſe things? If God be ours, how ſhall not all theſe things be ours? They whoſe Houſe the Lord is, have all theſe, and infinitely more to pleaſe and delight their inward Senſes, yea their outward alſo. That one ſight of Jeſus Chriſt hanging upon the Croſs, with his hands ſtretched abroad to embrace them, and his Head bowed down to kiſs them, and his pierced Side ſtreaming forth blood to waſh them, from the guilt and filth of their ſins, evidently ſet forth, lively and naturallyGal. 3. 1. repreſented unto them, with his Death and Paſſion, and the Virtue and uſe thereof is a Picture moſt pleaſant to their Eyes. So are the Portraictures of his holy Apoſtles and Martyrs, with the deſcription and hiſtory of their acts and paſſions ſeen and read of them.
And to pleaſe your Senſe of Smelling, the Houſe is filled withCant. 1 3. the ſavour of Chriſts good Oyntments (as that Houſe was with theJohn 12. 3. Odour of that Oyntment of Spiknard, wherewith Mary anointed his Feet.) Thoſe gifts of the holy Ghoſt, wherewith the Father hath anointed him, and which he poureth upon them by the preaching2 Cor. 2. 14, 15, 16. of the Goſpel, whereof take a taſte only of two words, and hereby judge of the reſt.
Herb. Ch. the Odour.
How ſweetly doth my Maſter ſound! my Maſter?
As Ambergreaſe leaves a rich ſent
Unto the Taſter:
So doth theſe words a ſweet content,
An Oriental fragrancy, My Master.
With theſe all Day I do perfume my mind,
My mind even thruſt into them both;
That I might find
What Cordials make this curious broth
This broth of ſmels, that feeds & fats my mind.
And farther for the Senſe of Hearing, if the Muſick made by Organs, in the Church, ſo ſounded in the Eares of that Divine Poet, that drew a Song of Thankſ-giving to it from his Tongue and Pen.
Id. Ch. Muſ.
Sweeteſt of ſweets, I thank you when diſpleaſure
Did through my Body wound my mind,
You took me thence, & in your houſe of pleaſure
A dainty Lodging me aſſign'd.
Now I in you without a Body move,
Riſing and falling with your Wings;
We both together ſweetly live and love,
Yet ſay ſometimes, God help poor Kings.
Comfort Ile dye, for if you poſt from me,
Sure I ſhall do ſo, and much more;
But if I travail in your Company,
You know the way to Heavens Door.
How infinitely ſweeter muſt that Muſick be to the Eares of this Houſhold, which the Organ of the Holy Scripture, the Keys whereof are ſtricken with the hand of the holy ſpirit, makes with ſuch ſtrains as theſe: Fear thou not, for I am Eſa. 41. 10.with thee; be not diſmayed, for I am thy God, I will ſtrengthen thee; yea I will help thee with the right hand of my Righteouſneſs. When Eſa. 43. 2.thou paſſeſt through the Waters, I will be with thee; and through the Waters, they ſhall not overflow thee; and through the fire it ſhall not burn thee, neither ſhall the flame kindle upon thee, for I am the Lord thy God, I will never leave thee Heb. 13. 5.nor forſake thee. Be of good cheer Mat. 9. 2.thy ſins are forgiven thee. If we 1 Joh. 1. 9.confeſs our ſins, he is faithful and juſt to forgive us our ſins. Bleſſed be the Poor, for theirs is the Kingdome Luk. 6. 20, 21.of God. Bleſſed are ye that hunger now, for you ſhall be filled. Bleſſed are ye that weep now, for Rom. 8. 28.ye ſhall laugh. All things ſhall work together for good to them that love God. If there be a willing 2 Cor. 8. 12.mind, it is accepted, according to what a Man hath with a thouſandPſal. 51. 8. more. This is the Muſick that David deſired to hear, which he calls joy and gladneſs. Such Muſick and Dancing there is to it, in this Houſe every moment, and frequently an expreſſion of ſpiritual joy, and jollity, in Pſalmes, and Hymns, and ſpiritual Songs, makeing Eph 5. 19.melody in the Heart unto the Lord.
And as for Treaſures of Gold and Silver, there is not one of this Houſe which hath not alway plenty of both; Though many of them, many a time may ſay as Peter did, Silver and Gold have I none: FirſtActs 3. 6. they have that which is a thouſand times better; The Word of God, which they juſtly claim as their Heritage for ever. Thy Teſtimonies Pſal. 119. 111.have I taken as an Heritage for ever: as my true Soveraign and peculiar good, which I hold from thee as a Child of thy grace. The Law of thy Mouth is 72.better unto me than thouſands of Gold and Silver. More to be deſired Pſal. 19. 10.than Gold, yea than much fine Gold. And in that word they have bonds (which made by ſolvent Men are eſteemed every whit as good as the ſums therein ſpecified) Divine Promiſes. One ſhall ſuffice for all. Thou ſhalt lay up Gold as Job 22. 24, 25.Duſt, and the Gold of Ophir, as the Stones of the Brook; yea, the Almighty ſhall be thy Gold, and thou ſhalt have plenty of Silver. There are a World of goods more wherewith this Houſe is ſtored, the worth whereof is unvaluable, the ſmalleſt quantity whereof being a thouſand times more worth, than a thouſand ſuch Worlds as this Viſible one is. The Lord, the Lord Exod. 34. 6.God, gracious, merciful, long-ſuffering, abundant in goodneſs and truth; The Earth is full of the goodneſs of the Lord, thy right Hand is full of Righteouſneſs. Pſal. 48. 10.Touching the Almighty, he is excellent in Power, and in Judgment, and in plenty of Juſtice. Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hoſts, Job 37. 23.the whole Earth is full of his glory. Thou Lord art good and ready to forgive, and plenteous in Mercy Pſal. 86. 5. 102. 8. 29. 4.unto all them that call upon thee; the Voice of the Lord is full of Majeſty.
And O the fulneſs of God manifeſted in the Fleſh! We beheld his Glory, the Glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace Joh. 1. 14, 16.and truth. Of his fulneſs have we all received. With him is plenteous Redemption.
7. This is a living Houſe, other Houſes are made of dead Materials, Wood and Stone, moſt ofJob 4. 19. them of Clay, whoſe Foundation is in the Duſt, which are cruſhed before the Moth. God the Father John 5. 26.hath life in himſelf, and he hath given to the Son to have life in himſelf, and to be the cauſe and giver of life, of the life of nature to all Men; and of grace and godlineſs to ſinful Men, and of comfort to ſorrowful Men, and of Reſurrection to dead Men, and of Glory to godly Men. It is God Acts 17. 28.in whom we live, and move, and have our Beeing, and he it is that maintains our life. O bleſs our God ye People, and make the voice of his praiſe to be heard, which Pſal. 66. 8, 9.holdeth our Soul in Life. Watching continually to prevent them that ſeek after it, and lay ſnares for it. Men that are Princes Life-Guards, are fain ſometimes to ſleep, cannot watch always, and Men that dwell in coſtly Houſes are fain to watch their Houſes. Know this ſaith our Saviour, that if the good Man of the Houſe had known in what Watch the Thief would come, he would have watched, and not have ſuffered his Houſe to be broken Mat. 24 43.up: But this Houſe watcheth over all that dwell in it, that no hurt be at any time done them. He that keepeth thee will not ſlumber, ſaith the Pſalmiſt ſpeaking to himſelf; (who dwelt in the ſecret place of the moſt High) in the ſpirit) Behold, he that keepeth Iſrael Pſal. 121. 3, 4.ſhall neither ſlumber nor ſleep.
This is a new Houſe, alwayes new, and ſo needs no repair; it is not ſubject, as all other Houſes are, to age and decay. Though ſome old things are better than new,Luke 5. 39. No Man having drunk old Wine, ſtraight-way deſireth new: for he ſaith the old is better. They ſacrificed to new Gods that came newly up. Yet generally new things are beſt, and ſo accounted, both things of Gods making. Behold, I make all things new. I create Rev. 21. 5.new Heavens, and a new Earth. I Eſa. 65. 17.will make a new Covenant. A new Heart will I give you, and a new Jer. 31. 31.ſpirit will I give you; thou ſhalt be called by a new Name, which Ez. 36 26.the Mouth of the Lord ſhall Name.
And ſo of Mens Garments, and all manner of Utenſils, when and while new, are moſt ſet by: Eſpecially Houſes, both themſelves live and lodge in, and alſo Out-houſes when they are over old, they pull them down, and build new ones. This Houſe is never old, but as new at this day, as it was when the firſt holy Man had his habitation in it, as full of luſtre and glory, ten thouſand times more glorious than that Palace of the Sun, which the Poet deſcribes; and it muſt needs be ſo, becauſe every Inhabitant is not only glorious, made ſo by it, but glory it ſelf.Eſ. 4. 5. Upon all the Glory ſhall be a defence. By Glory are meant the Saints of God, the abſtract put for the concrete, to note their eminent ſhining ſurpaſſing tranſcendent excellency; though in this life they are compaſſed about with many infirmities, which makes their glory leſs conſpicuous, They are all Pſal. 45. 13.glorious within. Now do but note what kind of defence▪ what manner of covering this Houſe is promiſed to be, to all thoſe glorious ones that dwell in it, namely like that of the Iſraelites, when they went out of Egypt. The Lord went Exod. 13. 21.before them by Day, to lead them in a Pillar of a Cloud in the way: and by Night in a Pillar of Fire to give them light. It ſhall be (though not ſo viſibly) conſpicuous, yet as illuſtrious and miraculous, and that againſt all manner of evils, heat and rain, and for all times Day and Night. There ſhall Eſa. 4. 6.be a Tabernacle for a ſhaddow in the Day-time, from the heat, and for a place of refuge from ſtorme, and from Rain. God hath been ever ſuch a houſe of defence to all his holy ones, is now and ever ſhall be, World without end. I am the Lord, I change not. Jeſus Mal. 3. 6. Heb. 13. 8.Chriſt yeſterday, to Day, and the ſame for ever.
His works indeed of the firſt Creation are changable to the worſe and weaker, but ſo is not he; of old haſt thou laid the foundationPſal. 102. 25. 26, 27. of the Earth, and the Heavens are the Works of thy Hands, they ſhall periſh, but thou ſhalt endure, they all of them ſhall wax old, like a Garment, but thou art the ſame. And ſo are all his works of the ſecond Creation. The renewing graces of his holy Spirit, the older they are, the newer and freſher, and more flouriſhing they grow. They that are partakers of them, can ſay, as Caleb did to Joſhua, Joſ. 14. 7. 10. 11.Forty Years old was I when Moſes ſent me to eſpie the Land, I am this Day fourſcore and five Years old, as yet I am as ſtrong, this Day, as I was the Day when Moſes ſent me, as my ſtrength was then, even ſo is my ſtrength now, for War both to go out, and to come in. So it is ſaid of Moſes, who was an hundred and twenty Years old when he dyed, yet his Eye Deut. 34. 7,was not dim, nor his natural force abated. How much more may it be ſaid of the everlaſting Lord God, that his Eyes are as ſharp ſighted as ever, nor is his Divine force abated? The Eyes of the Lord 2 Chron. 16. 9.run too and fro, throughout the whole Earth, to ſhew himſelf ſtrong Eſa. 50. 2.in the behalf of thoſe whoſe heart 59. 1.is perfect towards him. Is his hand ſhortned, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold the Lords hand is not ſhortned, that it cannot ſave, neither his Eare heavy that it cannot hear. Pſal. 103. 17.And as his Power is, ſo is his119. 90. Mercy and Truth. The Mercy of the Lord is from everlaſting to everlasting: upon them that fear him, and his righteouſneſs, unto Childrens Children. Thy faithfulneſs is unto all Generations.
This Houſe therefore with all its Furniture is alway new and freſh, which can be ſaid of no other▪ nor is it new formally only, but alſo effectively.
Haſt thou not known? haſt thou Eſay 4. 29.not heard that the everlaſting God, the Lord the Creator, of the ends of the Earth fainteth not, neither is weary? His ſtrength never decayeth, nor doth his will ever alter towards his, who by a never failing Power of the Holy Spirit are carryed as it were upon Eagles Wings, to Heaven, to the mark of their ſupernal Calling. Yea, their Wings grow like unto Eagles, that is, they grow young, and renew Pſal. 103▪ 5.in ſpiritual Vigour.
9. It is a dwelling houſe, dwelling in, as well as dwelt in, an habitation, inhabiting in each of its Inhabitants; which no other houſe is.
God is oft ſaid to dwell in Heaven. Unto thee will I lift up mine Pſal. 123▪ ….Eyes, O thou that dwelleſt in the Heavens. Look down from Heaven Iſ. 63. 15.and behold from the Habitation of thy Holineſs, and of thy Glory. I dwell in the High and Holy Place. 57. 15.The Heaven is my Throne. We muſt not underſtand this, placing God in Heaven, as if he were totally circumſcribed there, for this is contrary to his infinite greatneſs. Behold the Heaven, and Heaven of 1 Kings 8. 27.Heavens cannot contain thee. Do not I fill Heaven and Earth? ſaith Jer. 23. 24.the Lord. Nor muſt we think he is ſo in Heaven, as if his ſight of things below were hindered byJob▪ 22. 12-15. Heaven, as a Curtain drawn before him, as thoſe great Fools thought: for this is contrary to his Omniſciency.1 Cor. 13. 12. But he is ſaid to be in Heaven, becauſe he doth there moſt immediatly and viſibly manifeſt1 Joh. 3. 2. his Majeſty, and exhibit the fulneſs of his Glory, and becauſe from thence he doth moſt manifeſtPſal 19. 1. 76. 8. his powerful providence, wiſdome, juſtice and mercy: we are commanded, when we pray to him,Rom. 1. 18. to conceive of him, as being inMat. 6. 9. Heaven, to teach us to raiſe our Souls, as high in praiſe, as poſſibly we can above the Earth (beyond Heaven our thoughts cannot ſoar:) As alſo how to make Prayers pleaſing to God, both for matter and manner.
God is as oft ſaid to dwell on Earth, to have his Reſidence among his ancient People, in the Land wherein they dwelt. Defile Numb. 35 34.not the Land which ye ſhall inhabit, wherein I dwell, for I the Lord dwell among the Children of Iſrael. Pſ. 132. 13, 14.The Lord hath choſen Zion, he hath deſired it for his Habitation; This is my reſt for ever, here will I dwell, for I have deſired it. Bleſſed be the Lord out of Zion, 135. 21.which dwelleth at Hieruſalem. I have ſurely built thee an Houſe to 1 Kings 8. 13.dwell in. A ſetled place for thee to abide in for ever. In that place, as in the flitting Tabernacle whichDeut. 12. 11▪ Moſes made, he cauſed his Name to dwell: that is, he made manifeſt and known in thoſe places, the ſacred Signs of his Preſence, as it were by his own proper name: His Majeſty and Glory in ſingular and wonderful effects of Grace and Power.
Every regenerate and faithful Man and Woman hath ever been, is, and will be owned and acknowledged the Temple of the Holy, Bleſſed, and Glorious Trinity. Ye 2 Cor. 6. 16.are the Temple of the Living God, as God hath ſaid, I will dwell in Eph. 3. 17.them, and walk in them. That Chriſt may dwell in your hearts by Rom. 8. 9.faith. Ye are not in the Fleſh, but in the Spirit: if ſo be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Know you not that your Body is the Temple 1 Cor. 6. 19.of the Holy Ghoſt, which is in you, which ye have of God? Theſe things are ſignifyed by this dwelling of the Spirit in Believers. 1. That his Spirit is effectual, and mighty to poſſeſs and govern them, enlightning their minds to know, and powerfully guiding them, to do the known will of God. 2. That his Preſence is continual, not as of a Gueſt, who lodgeth for a Night at an Inne▪ and is gone next Day, nor as a Sojourner, but as an owner,Joh. 14. 16, 17. and Poſſeſſor to abide for ever. I will pray the Father, and he ſhall give you another Comforter, that he may ab…de with you for ever: even the Spirit of Truth, he dwelleth in you, and ſhall be in you. 3. The manner▪ of his Preſence, not by Infiniteneſs of Power, as he is preſent to all Creatures to ſuſtain them, but by his grace and healthful effects. If the Spirit of him that raiſed up Jeſus from the Dead, dwell in you, he ſhall quicken your immortal Souls, and mortal Rom. 8▪ 11.Bodies, by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
10. It is a movable Habitation, according to the motion of thoſe that dwell in it, accompanying them whitherſoever they go, covering them where-ſoever they are. Some Creatures carry their Houſes about with them: So doth every new Creature, They are never out of this their own Houſe.
The Iſraelites, during their abode in the Wilderneſs, dwelt in Tents Forty Years: The Arabians and other People do ſo conſtantly, having no firm Habitations. In time of War, and in travelling, theſe moveable Houſes were, and ſtill are in uſe. (Places to dwell in, ſo made, as they might be removed and carryed too and fro:) God himſelf ſends word to David, ſince the Day he brought up Iſrael, unto that Day, he had not dwelt in a fixed ſetled Houſe, But had 1▪ Chron. 17. 5.been from Tent to Tent, from one Tabernacle to another. But I have 8.been with thee (ſaith he) whither ſoever thou haſt walked. Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the Pſal. 23. 4.ſhaddow of Death, ſaith David unto God. I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. While I ſleep, 3. 5.and when I awake, I am ſtill with 139. 18.thee.
Jacob had this aſſurance given him, that God would accompany him, and go too and fro with him, when he fled from the face of his Brother. Behold I am with thee, Gen. 28. 15▪and I will keep thee in all places whither thou goeſt, and will come back again with thee. I will not 46. 4.leave thee. And ſo when he went to ſee his Son Joſeph, I will go down with thee into Egypt.
As the Wheeles accompanyed cloſely the living Creatures exactly following their motion and theirEzek. 1. 19. 21. reſt, reſting with them: When the living Creatures went, the Wheels went: when the living Creatures were lift up, the Wheels were lift up: when thoſe went, theſe went, and when thoſe ſtood, theſe ſtood. This living Houſe as cloſely accompanies the living Creatures in it, and as punctually attends their motions up and down, and reſteth with them in their reſting place every where.
11. Nor is this Houſe capable of, or ſubject to any ſuch caſualties, as other houſes are. The houſes of ſome poor Creatures, which they bear about with them, are ſo brittle, that a foot that treadeth on them, or a Cart-Wheel going over them, may cruſh and deſtroy them. The beſt built houſes may be burnt with Fire, or blown down with Tempeſts, or rent with Meteors, or broken up with Thieves;Job 1. 19. Job's Sons and Daughters were eating, and drinking Wine in their eldeſt Brothers Houſe, and behold there came a Wind from the Wilderneſs, and it fell upon the young Men, and killed them. The Hold Judg. 9. 46, 50.whereinto a thouſand Men and Women of the Tower of Shechem entered, was ſet on Fire, and conſumed with all the Perſons in it. 2 Kings 2…. 8, 9.Nebuzaradan burnt in one Day the Houſe of the Lord, and the Kings Houſes, and all the Houſes of Jeruſalem, and every great Mans Houſe burnt he with Fire. I will ech. 14. 2.gather all Nations againſt Jeruſalem, and the City ſhall be taken, and the Houſes rifled. The Earth Numb. 16. 32.opened her Mouth, and ſwallowed up Korah, Dathan and Abiram, and their Houſes, and all their goods.
But there is no fear of any ſuchPſal. 90. 1. & 91. 1. Eſa. 8. 9, 10. accident to this Houſe, what Plots or conſpiracies ſoever are made to harm it or them, that live in it,54. 16, 17. there ſhall not a hair of their headsPſal. 62. 3. periſh, nor their Treaſures be touched.Heb. 12. 29.
True it is, this Houſe is it ſelfDan. 3. 20. a Conſuming Fire, Infinitely hoter than that in Nebuchadnezar's Furnace, the Flame whereof conſumed thoſe Men that took up, Shedrach, Meſhach and Abednigo: but it is only ſo to them that are without, and dare to come nigh to pillage it, or hurt any in it, who walk as comfortably in this Fire, as thoſe three Children did in the burning Furnace, upon whoſe Bodies the Fire had no Power, nor was an Hair of their Heads ſinged, neither Dan. 25. 27.were their Coats changed, nor had the ſmell of Fire paſſed on them.
12. It is a holding Houſe: as it holds the Souls of the Inhabitants in Life, ſo it ſuffers not their feet to be moved out of it, but it keepethPſal. 66. 9. them conſtantly and perſeveringly in. Nor is it in the Power of Men or Devils to eject them, no, nor of the old Man that hath ſtill a Beeing in them, and perſwades them to depart, and make a change: for though they may do both if they will, yet they cannot will to do either; for God hath promiſed that all whom he receiveth within himſelf, ſhall not have a heart to leave him, But to abide for ever in him. I will put my fear in their Jer. 32. 40.hearts, and they ſhall not depart from me. And he hath power to perform what he has promiſed, he Jude 24.is able to keep you from falling, and to preſerve you blameleſs, before the preſence of his glory is 1 Pet. 1. 5.exceeding joy. We are kept by the Guard of Gods Power, his ſtrongeſt (if degrees be in) Omnipotency through faith unto ſalvation. There were never any that went into this Houſe by the Door. (Such as Jeſus Chriſt is. I am the Joh. 10. 9.Door. By him an abundant entrance is made into the Church, and conſequently unto God. No 14. 6.Man cometh unto the Father, but by me: by him we have acceſs with confidence.) that ever apoſtatized finally or totally.
Some that have ſeemed untoEph. 3. 12. themſelves, and others to be realCol. 4. 14. Members of this Family (Demas for example) that went out, butPhilem. 2. they were never truly in, as appears2 Tim. 4. 10. by their going out. Hear the teſtimony of one of the houſhold, the truth of whom is without queſtion. They went out from us, becauſe they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us; but they went out, that they might 1 Joh. 2. 19.be manifeſt, that they were not all of us, the ſervant abideth not in the Houſe for ever, but the Son abideth ever. The righteous is Prov. 10. 25.an everlaſting Foundation. True it is, he may ſet one Foot out of Doors. David did ſo when he2 Sam. 11. committed Adultery; and practiced the Death of Uriah, and Peter did ſo when he forſware hisMark 14. 71. Maſter, and with ſuch direful curſes denyed that he knew him. But this was through the violence of temptation: The purpoſe and reſolution of both their hearts, was not to take a ſtep out, but to keep cloſe within Door.
I have ſworn and will perform Pſal. 119. 106.it, that I will keep thy righteous Judgments. Though all Men ſhould be offended becauſe of thee, yet I will not be offended. Though I Mat. 26. 34, 35.ſhould dye with thee, yet will I not deny thee. How fell they then into ſo foul ſins? Surely they wereGal. 6. 1. ſuddenly overtaken: the one with a paſſion of luſt, the other with a paſſion of fear, and ſo they fell.1 Pet. 1. 23. But even then both of them had one Foot ſtill within the Houſe, which ſtai'd while the other ſtept. They had ſanctifying grace ſtill in their hearts, whoſe eſſential property is conſtancy, called therefore immortal Seed. And it appeared (like ſparks of Fire, when the aſhes covering them, are blown away)2 Sam. 12, 13. as ſoon as they came to themſelves: David yielded to the reproof of Nathan preſently. And Peter, when Luk. 22. 61, 62.the Lord turned and looked upon him, went out and wept bitterly. Each drew his Foot back into the Houſe again, and kept cloſe in unto the end of their lives.
13. It is a Houſe held by the beſt tenure, none like it; 'tis held in ſuch a head as is non-ſuch, Jeſus Chriſt, whom God hath made Eph. 1. 20, 21, 22.head of the Church, in a ſingular and eminent manner, far above the domination which he hath over all other Creatures.Col. 2. 10.
He dearly bought and purchaſed this Habitation for all the Elect, which they had forfeited by their firſt offence, and hereupon were outed of it: He gave himſelf 1 Tim. 2. 6.a Ranſome for them all, a Price fully anſwerable to their Souls, and to this Inheritance. In him they may have been ſaid to have received Eſa. 40. 2.at the Lords hand double for all their ſins.
And for them it were, and not for himſelf only, that He fulfilled Mat. 3. 15.all Righteouſneſs, and thereby paid the whole debt of obedience to the Law: which they did owe to God. All ſpiritual bleſſings whereby they are made meet to be made partakers of this bleſſed Manſion, Faith, Repentance, and Holineſs, though they be Goſpel. Gifts of God, and obtained meerly through his Mercy, yet is this mercy obtained from God only through Jeſus Chriſt. Bleſſed be God, who Eph. 1. 3.hath bleſſed us with all ſpiritual bleſſings in Chriſt, in him we have Redemption through his Blood. Heb. 9. 14. 10. 19.Which alſo purgeth our Conſciences from dead Works to ſerve the living God, and thereby we have boldneſs to enter into the holyeſt, and through his Interceſſion, it is that we have our abiding there. Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect? Or bring a Writ of Ejection to them? Who is he that condemneth? Or who is he that paſſeth Sentence, that they muſt avoid their Houſe? It is Rom. 8. 33, 34.Chriſt that dyed, yea rather that is riſen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who alſo maketh Interceſſion for us. He dyed for, and in their name and ſtead, whereby they are abſolved from all their forfeits. He is riſen again 4. 25.for their Juſtification, to acquit them, as it were by manner of ſolemn Judgment. His Reſurrection was a certain argument, that God was reconciled, and that this habitation was regained for them; which could not have been, if he had remained dead. For the continuation of the Payment, would alwayes have ſhewed the Imperfection of it. And as he is at the right hand of God in the Heavenly Glory, fully manifeſted, ſo they are at his right hand. Upon thy Pſal. 45. 9.right hand did ſtand the Queen. And there he maketh Interceſſion for them, by continually repreſenting himſelf, his Righteouſneſs, Merit, and Love before the face of his Father, and ſo preſerves them in his favour and love, from which nothing ſhall be ever able to ſeperate Rom. 8. 38, 39.them, by him they have and hold poſſeſſion.
14. It is a habitation beſt accommodated of any other. The conveniences belonging to it are numberleſs and matchleſs. The excellency of the meaneſt of them cannot be worthily uttered, nor ſufficiently magnified by the tongue of Men and Angels.
No ſuch paſſage into any Houſe as this. When the Queen of Sheba 1 Kings 10. 9.had ſeen the Houſe that King Solomon had built.—And his aſcent by which he went up to the Houſe of the Lord: (that moſt ſtately Bridge, and great terrace born up with exceeding ſtrong Walls, which he ſet upon that hollow place, and deep praecipice, which divided Mount Zion from Mount Moriah, by which they went from the royal Palace to the Temple,) There was no more Spirit in her: ſhe was raviſhed beyond her ſelf. How inſinitely more raviſhed would ſhe have been, had ſhe ſeen by the eye of faith, (as probably ſhe did and ſo was) the aſcent and paſſage into this houſe, which is the Lord. The Apoſtle tells us that heHeb. 10 19, 20. by his blood hath made a new and living way of entrance, into the holieſt for all believers: who by a lively faith repreſent unto themſelves his humane nature, with all that he hath done in it for them: and hereby get into the innermoſt fruition of Gods grace and glory. He in his own Perſon is the way and paſſage into this ſuper coeleſtial Pallace. I am the way, no John 14 6.Man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Nor is there any houſe that hath ſuch Air. Kings have had a care of this eſpecially, that the edifice when erected, might have freſh Air, and cooling Gales of Wind continually. Jehoiakim whoſe pride in building is blamed, is brought in thus, expreſſing his purpoſe. I will build me a high houſe ChambersJer. 22. 14. through Aired, (the Hebrew hath it ſo, and ſo the Septuagint.) expoſed to blaſts on every ſide. No houſe hath ſuch continual refreſhing Gales as this. Chriſt breaths upon his proper houſhold, for an external ſign of the Internal operation of his ſpirit. He ſtill dothJoh. 20. 20. ſo upon his whole houſhold of faith: ſhedding the love of God abroad in their hearts by his holy ſpirit, to whom their commonRom. 5. 5. Mother makes this Prayer, each is heard and granted. Awake O North Wind, and come O South, Cant. 4. 16.and blow upon my Garden.
By theſe two Winds of contrary qualities is ſignified the ſame ſpirit, working either coolneſs and refreſhing of Comfort, or heat and fervency of Zeal. And Moreover that every Wind ſhall blow profit to every one that loveth God, asRom. 8. 28. every one doth that to him that dwelleth in him.
Nor hath any Houſe ſuch Gardens, and Orchards, with Variety of Flowers, and Fruits, and freſh Springs therein, nor ſuch WalksPſal. 87. 7. and Arbours belonging and adjoyning26. 3. to it, as this hath. The loſs of this parcel of Ground,Gen 2 8, 9. which was ſtored with ſuch excellent Plants and Trees, and enriched with more fruitfulneſs, and beauty than any other part of the Earth, (called Paradiſe, and the Garden of the Lord) made for3. 23, 24. Mans uſe and delight, and out of which he was excluded, and to which he might no more come neer, becauſe of his ſin, is abundantly made up to all that dwell in God. Who have liberty to eat of the fruit of every Tree that is pleaſant to the ſight, and good for food. Yea, Of the Tree of Life Rev. 2. 7.which is in the midſt of the Paradiſe 22. 14.of God, and to drink of the 17.Water of Life freely, and to walk at liberty. Yea themſelves are thePſal. 119. 45. Gardens and Orchards of this Houſe, wherein he walks and delightsCant. 4 16. to feed. Nor have any Gardens and Orchards, and Springs ſuch Fences and Guards about them as theſe. A Garden incloſed Cant. 4. 12.is my Siſter, my Spouſe, a Spring ſhut up, a Fountain ſealed: in that Day ſing ye unto her a Vineyard of red Wine. I the Lord Eſay 27. 23.do keep it, I will Water it every moment; Leſt any hurt it, I will keep it Night and Day. I (ſaith the Lord) will be unto her a Wall Zec. 2. 5.of Fire round about.
Nor is there any Houſe that hath ſuch Lands and Revenues, ſuch a ſtock belonging to it. The Pſal. 24. 50.Earth is the Lords, and the fulneſs thereof. Every Beaſt of the 10. 11.Forreſt is mine, and the Cattel upon a thouſand Hills. I know all the Fowles upon the Mountains. (They are all before me, ready at my ſervice) The World is mine, and the fulneſs thereof: of the upper as well as lower World. Every one that dwells in this houſe may ſay truly, all theſe are mine. The Apoſtle ſays ſo. All things are 1 Cor. 3. 21.yours. Entirely, refinedly, really, ſafely, ſerviceably, ſatisfyingly. He muſt needs have all, that hath the haver of all. He is by faith in Chriſt, Heir of the World. Yea,Rom. 4. 13. they are in actual poſſeſſion of all things, when they are in want of all things. Having nothing, and 2 Cor. 6. 10.yet poſſeſſing all things.
15. It is a Houſe of the eaſieſt rent, the chiefage to be paid is not ſo much as a Pepper Corn, all that's required, is thankful acknowledgment, and invocation, which are pointed out by termes of the Law. Sacrifices, Prayers, and Vows. Offer unto God thanks-giving, and pay Pſal 50. 14, 15.thy vows unto the most High, and call upon me in the Day of trouble. Thou that teacheſt another, teacheſt thou not thy ſelf? Yes, that I do, and that practically and continually. Hear it and know it for your good. What ſhall I render Pſal. 116. 12, 13.unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me! I will take the Cup of Salvation. I will ſolemnly and thankfully acknowledge him, (a phraſe taken from the cuſtome obſerved in thankſ-giving, after which they made a place wherein the Father of the Family took a Cup in his hand, and uſed a certain form of bleſſing, and having drank, and cauſed the Cup to go round to all the reſt.) And I will call upon the Name of the Lord, I will pay my 14. 17.Vows unto the Lord. I will offer the Sacrifice of thanks giving, every Day will I bleſs thee, and I will praiſe thy Name for ever and Pſal. 145. 2.ever. God is willing we ſhould have the comfort of his bleſſings, but he will have the glory of them. My glory will I not give to another. Eſay 42 8.We muſt give him the glory, which we do, when we give him the praiſe and thanks. Whoſo offereth praiſe, glorifyeth me. Pſal. 50 23.The Shepwards returned, praiſing Luk. 2. 22.and glorifying God. The Samaritan that was heal'd, turned back, and with a loud Voice glorified God, giving thanks. For his healing,17. 14—19. now his thanks muſt not only be vocal, but vital and cordial. Bleſs the Lord O my Soul, and all Pſal. 103 1.that is within me, bleſs his holy Name. I will praiſe thee O Lord 9. 1.with my whole heart, the Life and Converſation alſo muſt be rightly ordered. The beſt livers are the beſt thankſ-givers. To him that Pſal. 50. 22.diſpoſeth his way aright, will I ſhew the ſalvation of God. He hath ſhewed thee, O Man, what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do juſtly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? And leſt any ſhould think it difficult and grievous to do all this, let theſe Scriptures be conſulted. 1 John 5. 3. Pro. 21. 15. Phil. 1. 29. 2. 13. Math. 11. 30. Ezek. 36. 26, 27.
16. Who ever dwells in this Houſe, ſhall be ſure not to want an Earthly Houſe to dwell in, with all proviſion, and furniture convenient. He that gives the greater, will not deny the leſs. Thus our bleſſed Saviour reaſoneth. Is not Mat. 6. 25.the Life more than Meat, and the Body than Rayment. God out of his Power and Goodneſs having granted unto Man his Beeing, which is the greater, will not deny him the leſſer, which is the preſervationRom. 8. 32. thereof. And the Apoſtle. He that ſpared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all; How ſhall he not with him alſo freely give us all things.
Object. The Son of God himſelf, when on Earth, had not where Mat. 8. 20.to lay his head. Thoſe Worthies mentioned in that little Book of Martyrs wanted houſes. Wandering about in Sheep-Skins, and Goat-Skins, Heb. 11. 37. 38.in Deſerts, and in Mountains, and in Dens, and Caves of the Earth. Saint Paul, deſcribing the condition of himſelf, and his fellows, ſaith. Even unto this preſent Hour, we both hunger and 1 Cor. 4. 11.thirſt, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place. Now the Diſciple is not above his Maſter, nor the Servant above his Lord. And who will be ſo arrogant as to think himſelfMat. 10. 24. better, or better privileged, than thoſe of whom the World was not worthy, or that Holy Apoſtle?
Anſw. Touching our Saviour, as he was Voluntary poor to enrich us. Ye know the Grace of our 2 Cor. 8. 9.Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that though he was rich, yet for your ſakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. He ſorrowed that we might rejoyce, dyed that we might live. So he would be houſeleſs, that none of his might want a Houſe. 1. As for thoſe other Worthies, God did indeed exerciſe their faith, and patience. Yet 2. their Dens and Caves were better to them, than any Earthly Palaces, having God's gracious preſence with them, which was better to them than ten Houſes: (as Elkanah 1 Sam. 1. 8.to Hannah, Am not I better to thee than Ten Sons?) Though Paul had no Houſe of his own, yet thoſe that had, willingly received him into theirs. Lydia did ſo. If ye have judged me faithful Acts 28. 7. 30.unto the Lord, come into my houſe, and abide there, and ſhe conſtrained us. So did Publius the Chief Man of the Iſland receive him, and his Company, and lodged them Three Days courteouſly. And Paul dwelt two whole Years in his own hired Houſe. Thus God provided1 King. 17. 9. 2 King. 4. 8. for Elijah and Eliſha, and thus he provided for his Goſpel-Miniſters, who have not been ſuffered to live in their own Houſes.
17. They that dwell in this Houſe here, are ſure of an Heavenly Houſe hereafter. We know 2 Cor. 5. 1.that if our Earthly Houſe of this Tabernacle were diſſolved, we have a building of God, an Houſe not made with hands, Eternal in the Heavens.
18. While they are here, they are, or may be ſure no evil ſhall befall them, Becauſe thou hast made the Lord, even the moſt High, thy Habitation, there ſhall no evil befall thee. See parallel promiſes, Pſal. 121. 7. Pro. 12. 21. 19. 23. Eccl. 85. By evil, is not meant moral evil, ſin and iniquity. Evil of fault or crime, for the holieſt are not free from this, while on this ſide Heaven. There is not a just Man Eccl. 7. 20.on Earth that doth good and ſinneth not. Who can ſay I have Pro. 20. 9.made my Heart clean, I am free from my ſin. If we ſay that we have no ſin, we deceive our ſelves, 1 Joh. 1. 8, 10.and the truth is not in us; if we ſay we have not ſinned, we make God a lyar; and his word is not in us: in many things we offend Jam. 3. 2.all. Nor are injuries and wrongs from Men intended, in which ſenſe evil is ſometimes taken, forPro. 17. 13. none are more ſubject to theſe, than the Houſhold of God, nor the matter of any other poenal evil ſent by God, (as indeed all ſuch20. 22. evils are) for theſe befall as wellPſal. 35. 12. the Righteous, as the wicked. All things come alike to all, there is one Eſay 45. 7.event to the Righteous, and to the wicked, to the good, and to the Amos 3. 6.clean, and to the unclean, to him Eze. 21. 3, 4.that ſacrificeth, and to him that ſacrificeth not. As is the good, ſo Eccl. 9. 2.is the ſinner; as he that ſweareth, ſo he that feareth an Oath. As the evil partake of common bleſſings with good Men; ſo the good of common judgments with evil ones: yea it is obſerved, that when God brings any common judgments, he uſually begins with his own, the dearly beloved of his Soul. Yea, that his ſtroaks are ſorer upon them than upon any others. Yea, and when wicked Men (whoſe habitationJoh. 6. 60. the Devil is, as they are his, for he dwells in them; yea, they are incarnate Devils) when theſe I ſay are free from all manner of outward evils, pious Men who have made God their habitation, have immunity from none. And that they are more-over obnoxious to inward afflictions, terror of Conſcience, and wounds of Spirit, which is an intolerable preſſure; and therefore the promiſe muſt be underſtood of their freedome from the form of poenal evils, which is the revenging wrath of God, and the power ſuch evils have to ſeparate the Soul from the Love of God. And the meaning is, they never have any dram of God's revenging juſtice on them. A little of his chaſtiſing wrath ſome afflictionsRom. 8. 38, 39. may have, for a little moment; nor ſhall any of them ſingly, or all of them joyntly be able to ſeparate them from his Love inMat. 6. 13. Chriſt. Nay, they ſhall all co-operate for the furtherance of their ſpiritual and eternal good. They believe as they are taught to pray that God would deliver them from all evil; That is, that he will eitherExod. 14. 13. keep away evil imminent, that it come not at all, or that he will ſo aſſiſt in ſuffering, as that theyPſal. 69. 14, 15. ſhall not ſink under the burden, or that he will take away the force and ſtrength of the Inſtrument,Dan. 3. 27. 6. 22. that it ſhall not be able to act according to its Nature, or that he will remove the evil clean away; or finally that he will take them2 Sam. 24. 25. away from the evil to come, orEſay 57. 1. that he will alter the nature of the evil, and turn it to good. One of theſe ways God will deliver them1 Kings 14. 13. whoſe habitation he is, and any of theſe ways is this promiſe made2 King. 22. 20. good to them.Gen. 50. 20.
No more need to be ſaid to prove the Lord the beſt Habitation, and them to be the moſt, yea the only happy ones, who have made him their habitation.