Works Part 1, Table of contents
The CONTENTS of the first Book of Mr. Stephen Marshals Works.
VIZ. Of Christs Intercession or Sins of Infirmity.
SERMON, I. On 1 John 2.1. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous.
THe scope of the Epistle Opened Page 1, 2, 3.
The words of the Text explained Page 3, 4.
Doct. That the Lord Jesus Christs Intercession in Heaven, is the great dayly Relief that all the Saints duplicate page duplicate page page missing diligentest, their watchfulest work in the world to keep their hearts in a good frame when once the Lord in mercy hath put them into a good frame Page 132, 133
Reasons of the Point.
Reas. 1. Because the Heart is beyond all comparisons the best part of Man, it is the Head Quarter Page 142
Reas. 2. Because the Heart is not only the best part of Man, but it is the Treasury, wherein better things are laid up than it self.
Quest. What are the Treasures laid up in the heart of a gracious Man?
Answer
1. The great God chooses the Heart of every Godly man for his Privy and Presence Chamber.
2. Christ Jesus dwels there; Emmanuel dwels there, in whom are bid, all the Treasures of God.
3. The Holy Ghost dwels there too, the Heart of every Godly man, is his Temple.
4. All the Graces of the Spirit of God are laid up there.
5. The Word that is the the rule of our life is laid up there
Reas. 3. Because the Lord whom we profess to serve looks only at the Heart in al the Sacrifices we perform to him.
Reas. 4. The Devil makes all his Assaults and Batteries against the Heart, and counts all his labor lost if he get not into the Heart.
Reas. 5. Because the Heart is not to be trusted, but is deceitfull, false, cosening, even the Heart of the best man in the world 139
Reas. 6. Because out of it are the Issues of Life▪ thy whol Conversation wil be as thy Heart is kept.
Use 1. Serves to reprove thousands with a bitter reproof who would fain go for Children of God and yet
1, They are exact in keeping their Houses &c, but neglect their Hearts. Page 143, 144
2. Others are curious about their Bodies, to Feed, Physick, Adorn them but neglect their Hearts.
Others are careful also of their manners and Conversation to avoid scandal and yet neglect their Hearts.
4, Others keep indeed their Hearts but sleightly, they do not keep them above all keepings Page 146
Use 2. This is a Doctrine of wonderful consolation (though it carry just rebuke with it) to al whose Consciences witness that their greatest care is to purge and keep their Hearts Page 147
Use 3. To exhort all men for the time to come to make this their study to keep their Hearts. Before this can be done,
I. The Lord must break the Heart to pieces and new mold it And then you must
1. Keep it pure from Sin.
2. Keep it fit for Duty.
The Life of Christ, or the great Mystery of Spiritual Life. SERMON I.
THe Text Opened, Page 1, 2, 3
Doctrine 1. Every Soul that hath Interest in Christ, while he is in this world, it is in Christ that lives in him.
Doctrine 2. The manner of their living this Life in this world it is by Faith.
For Explication consider that There is a twofold life.
1. A Natural life, which we have from Adam.
2. A Spiritual Life which flows from the second Adam.
Quest.What is this spiritual life.
Answ.It is a Participation of Christs Righteousness, upon the Souls union with him.
Use 1. Shews how necessary it is that we should all try and examin our Souls whether we are partakers of this Life or No. Page 20
Considerations to stir up to this examination.
1. That in Truth this alone is Christianity: there is nothing Christianity but the Life of Christ.
2 Aboundance of things go for this Life which are not this Life.
Quest. How shall we know this Life?
Answ. By these two Characters.
1 Wheresoever the Lord gives Life to any Creature in a Natural way, the life is the Preciousest thing in the world to that Creature: and so among al that live the life of Christ there is nothing in this world so dear to them, as their Spiritual Life is. Which valuation of the said Life appears in these three things. Page 22
1 In a Natural propensity and inclination and appetite towards those things that are the nourishment of this Life.
2 In a most vehement declining of what they know to be destructive to this life.
3 In a willingness to part with any thing to save this spiritual Life. Page 24
The second Character of this Spiritual Life. 2 Consists in some things that are the proper beatings of the pulse as it were of the Soul. Arguments of this spiritual Life. A…,
1 The Natural motion of this spiritual Life is to enjoy God in Jesus Christ as their chiefest good; this is the great thing wherin the souls pulse beates.
2 There is a Natural making out of the Heart towards holiness, righteousness, love, kindness mercy, pitty. Page 27
3 The Soul that is alive unto Christ, is guided by the word it is his Card, his compass, his Square, his Meetwand, his Eye Looking to the word as his only Guide. Who are strangers to the Life of Christ?
1 All that know not Christ
2 All that live to their Lusts.
3 All that live to the World.
4 All that live to their Pleasures.
Use, 2. This serves to comfort those that live this life considering that.
1 This is the highest, noblest, most excellent Life that ever any Creature did partake of.
2 This is the sweetest of all Lives, for in all other lives men tast but the sweetness of the Creature, but in this the sweetness of God and Christ.
3 It is the greatest pledge of Gods love he gives to any.
4 Christ being the fountain of this life you may be bold to rely upon him for the preservation of it. Page 32
Use, 3. To perswade all men to study and seek after this life.
SERMON, II.
DOCT. 2. That life of Christ which all Gods people live in this world, they live it by Faith The DOCTRIN is.
1 Demonstrated from scripture that it is so, that the whol Life of a Christian is led by Faith.
2 It is opened by shewing what the Holy Ghost means by this, and what it is for a Soul to live the life of Christ by Faith. Page 35
Use, 1. Hence we may safely and sadly conclude, that amongst the great multitudes of those that challenge the Name of Chrstians, there are very few that are really Christians. For,
1 Many are Ignorent of Christ.
2 Many never trouble themselves at the very Doctrine of Faith.
3 Many live to their lusts.
4 Multitudes live to the world.
5 Many live to their own wills.
Use, 2. Real Christians ought to lament nothing so much as their unbelife.
Quest. Do you think that the people of God are so much guilty of it? Judge by these Signs.
1 Our not studying of the Word
2 Our little Valueing of the Word.
3 Our unevenness in our whol course.
4 Our deviations and use of unlawful means.
SERMON, III.
Use, 3. This shewes what kind of Christians they must needs be who can live in the Flesh above Word and Ordinances, having no use of them, and (as they think) nothing to do with them, but live in an immediate communion with God and enjoyment of him.
Use, 4. To make this living by Faith better known to the Lords people and more exactly practised then it hath been hitherto. For encouragement to study this art of living by Faith, consider.
1 If you wil be Christians you have no other Mistery to maintaine your lives but Faith.
2 All other waies of life that any man pitches, upon wil shortly appear to be but a poor thing,
3 This Mystery of living by Faith is the best Life the most desirable Life that any Man or Woman can live, til they come to enjoy God immediately.
The Excellency of this Life opened in Particulars.
1 It is the life which the Lord hath chosen out to be the life of those that he loved from all Eternity.
2 It is most honorable to us.
3 In this world it is the easiest Life. To live by Faith is the easiest Life under Heaven.
4 It is the best Life because it is the surest Life. Page 64
Question. How shall we do to live this Life?
Answer.
1 The Grace of Faith is the principal of his Life.
2 If you would live the Life of Faith, labor to be well acqainted with God, especially with God in Christ. 68
3 Study to be acquainted with the word.
4 Faithfully and Conscientiously serve the Lord, in the use of means. Page 73
Two Cautions to be taken in with these directions. When it is said we must use means, and thus live by Faith, the meaning is.
1 That when we have done we must not limit God; God limits you and limits me, but Faith must not limit him, as to the way how, or time when be shall make… good. Page 74
2 When you are directed thus to live the life of Faith you must take heed of some other Principles, viz. your own Reason and your own sense.
The Premises considered it is sad to think.
1 How the common People of the world live amongst us, being wholly Ignorant of these things, and setting their Hearts upon wealth and Pleasure and Honor and such perishing things. Page 76
2 It is sad to think how many Souls that are Godly and study the Scriptures and attend upon the word, yet had rather study nice controversies and things that engender strife, then this great comprehensive Duty of living to Christ, and living by Faith. Page 77
FINIS.