Sermon Preached Several Times, Dedication 2
TO My very kind and Loving Vncles, Mr. NICHOLAS CRISPE And Mr. ELLIS CRISPE, with Theirs.
BEloved in Chriſt Ieſus; that which was preached ſometime at the requeſt of the one of you, untoaA meeting of the Worſhipfull Company of Skinners. a ſolemne Aſſembly, whereof hee then was Chiefe, is now further preſented joyntly to you both, (and well to you both, bybforeign. Chryſoſt. in Rom. hom. 19. Fratres in ſeculo; fratres in Domino; quae poſterior major eſt & melior fraternitas: uti Autor Ambr. nom. Serm. 9. & 79. Aug. de verb. Apoſt. 25. & Max. de diverſ. 4. a double bond, as well of Nature as Grace, Brethren) together with the reſt of yours, as all Branches of one Stock, through Gods gracious proviſion, neither farre ſevered in aboad, and combined ſweetly in the holy band of true Love. The maine ſubject Matter of it is nothing in effect, but a Motive or incitement unto that, which it ſtandeth us all upon, in the firſt place, and with our beſt care and endevour, as well to ſeeke after, as to ſeeke into: To ſeek into, that wee may know it, and learne it; to ſeeke after, that wee may be poſſeſſed and ſeized of it. Since it is that alone whereincPſal. 84.4, 5, 10, 11, 12. Matth 5.3. Luke 14.15. & 22.29, 30. Act. 20.6. &. 22.7. Mans Happineſſe wholly conſiſteth: and it isdAliud eſt divitias multas noſſe, & aliud poſſidere: nec notitia divitem facit, ſed poſſeſſio, Bern. in Can. 23. not the bare notice of it, but the owning and enjoying of it, that can make men truly and eternally happie. That wee may therefore know and underſtand what it is, wherein it conſiſteth, and by what meanes it may be attained (and*Praeparatio enim rorum cognitio eſt, Bern. ibid. till wee be thus acquainted with it, wee can never come to be poſſeſſed of it) wee muſt make diligenteforeign, Ioh. 5.39. ſearch and enquirie into Gods Word, for it is that alone that canf2 Tim. 3.16, 17. In iis quae apertè poſita ſunt in Scripturis, inveniuntur illa omnia, quae continent ſidem, moreſ que vivendi, Aug. Doctr. Chriſt. l. 2. c. 9. fully andgIoh. 17.17. Iames 1.18. 2 Pet. 1.19. Ego ſolis Scripturatum libris Canonicis didici hunc honorem timoremque deferre, ut nullum eorum Autorem ſcribendo aliquid erraſſe firmisſimè credam. Alios autem ita lego, ut quantalibet ſanctitate doctrinaque praepolleant, non ideò verumputem, quia ipſi ita ſenſerunt, ſed quia mihi vel per illos autores Canonicos, vel probabili ratione, quod a vero non abhorreat, perſuadere potuerunt, Aug. epiſt. 19. & apud Grat. diſt. 9. infallibly informe us of it: Other writings only ſo farre forth as they are drawne out of it, agree with it, and are grounded thereupon. This Word therefore ought to behPſal. 1.2. & 119.47, 48, 97. the conſtant Matter of our daily Meditation; (as containing the fundamentall Lawes and Conſtitutions of the Kingdome here propounded; together with the Conditions and Capitulations required on the part of all thoſe that are to partake in it, and the royall Privileges and Prerogatives annexed thereunto;) if wee deſire or expect ever to have part and portion therein. But becauſeiArsnulla abſ que Magiſtro diſcitur, Hieron. ad ruſtic. no Art is eaſily without a Teacher attained: and, in this more ſpecially, allk1 Cor. 3.7. 1 Iob. 2.20.27. Spiritus Sanctus neceſſe eſt operetur intrinſecus, ut valeat medicina quae adhibetur extrinſecus, Auguſt. in 1 Ioan. tr. 3. Meliuſque dicit & docet; qui intus habitat, quam qui foris clamat, Idem in Ioan. tr. 3. Nolite putare quen quam hominem quicquam diſcere ab homine. Sonus verborum noſtrorum aures percutit; Magiſter qui docet, intus eſt. Inaniſque fit ſtrepitus ſermonis noſtri, niſi qui doceat, intus ſit, Idem ubi ſup. foreign. Plut. de Socr. dam. outward teaching without the inward is uneffectuall: AslColoſſ. 3.16. all holy helpes are to be uſed, them1 Theſſ. 5.20. publike Miniſterie eſpecially to be diligently frequented; (nforeign. the Church isoChriſti docentis Auditorium, Bern. in Cant. 23. 2 Cor. 13.3. the place wherein hee ordinarily teacheth, who hathpMagiſter unus qui co…da docet, ſcholam habet in te …ris, cathedram in coelis, Auguſt. in 1. Ioan. 3. & de diverſ 12. & 41. & de Sanct. 23. his Schoole on earth, thoughqEſai. 66.1. Hebr. 12.25. his Chaire in Heaven:) ſo earneſt prayer is to be uſed for a bleſſing from God on all ſuch our courſes and endevours either publike or private, that he will be pleaſed with his good Spirit to ſecond and aſſiſt his owne Ordinances, that therebyrPſal. 119.18. the eyes of our mindes may be opened, andſEpheſ. 1.18. Luke 24.45. our underſtandings ſo illightned, that wee may be able in ſome due meaſure to ſee and diſcerne this eſtate what it is, and to conceive and apprehend the Myſteries appertaining unto it. Againe, becauſe it will little availe us to know it, unleſſe wee have our ſhare in it, to be well ſeene in the Statutes and Ordinances of it, unleſſe wee have part in the Immunities and Royalties that are therein to be enjoyed: (It is but a double miſery for a man to know what is to be had, if he have it not himſelfe:) Our next endevour therefore muſt be (for the effecting whereof alſotPſal. 86.11. & 119.33, 34, 35, 36. Epheſ. 3.14— 19. the aſsistance of Gods Spirit is humbly and inſtantly to be craved) to have that which wee have learned, or doe learne, out of Gods word, concerning this Royall and bleſſed estate, to be effectuallyuIam. 1.21, 22. 1 Pet. 1.23. wrought into us: (and indeed till it be ſo wrought into us, it isxIoh. 6.45. Epheſ. 4, 20, 21, 22, 23. Vide not. Bez. ibid. 1 Ioh. 2.3, 4. & 4.7, 8. never truly, ſoundly, or effectually learned of us:) That is, wee muſt ſtrive and labour to have true faith, repentance, and other ſpirituall graces ſurelyyIames 2.21. Epheſ. 3.…. ſetled in our ſoules; whereby wee may both have a right and title to this Kingdome, and be in ſome good ſort and meaſure alſo poſſeſſed and ſeized of it. The rather ſince thatzApoc. 20.6. Matth. 19.2 Iohn 3.3, 5. after this life none ſhall partake in it, but thoſe only that in ſome degree or other were poſſeſſed of it, while they lived here. As it is with us therefore in regard of worldly poſſeſſions: ſo ſhould it be in regard of this heavenly Inheritance. For worldly poſſeſsions, wee will get, if wee can, a title to them; when wee have it, wee will be ſure that our title be good, and uſe all meanes to make it ſure: and when wee have ſo done, wee are not yet then at reſt neither; wee cannot bee quiet, till wee be ſeized and poſſeſſed of it, yea till wee be in an abſolute, quiet, and peaceable poſſeſsion, not of ſome part of it, but of the whole. In like manner ſhould it be with us for thisaHebr. 3.1. 1 Pet. 1.4. heavenly Inheritance: wee muſt firſt labour to get abforeign, Ius, Bez. Iohn 1.12. right and title unto it: which bycIbidem. faith muſt be procured: for it is that alone on our part, that bydRom. 3.23, 24, 28. & 5.1, 2. Juſtification and freeeGalat. 3.26. Adoption giveth us a title thereunto. In the next place wee muſt endevour to get ſomef2 Pet. 1.10. good aſſurance that this our title to it is good: that which muſt by theg2 Cor. 13.5. triall of our faith be effected: ForhSee the Signes of Sinceritie on Pſal. 97.1…. (to omit, that by ſeeming titles many oft are deluded) though our title to it be never ſo good, yet wee may not be aware of it, and ſo miſſe may wee of much comfort, untill wee have taken ſome due triall of it. And laſtly, wee muſt ſtrive and contend to get our ſelves more and more poſſeſſed of it: which muſt be donei2 Pet. 1.4.—8. by thek2 Tim. 1.6. exerciſe andlLuke 17.5. 1 Theſſ. 4.1, 10. growth of our faith, and other the graces of God in us, and bym1 Theſſ. 5.19, 20. a conſtant uſage of all good meanes whereby the ſame may ben2 Pet. 2.1, 2. nouriſhed, oEpheſ. 3.16.corroborated, andpEpheſ. 4.15, 16. increaſed. ForqRom. 6.6.14. Col. 3.5, 8, 9, 10. the more ſpirituall grace ſpreadeth and groweth powerfull in us, the more ground get wee of our corrupt nature: AndrRom. 6.11, 12. the more conqueſt wee make of this our inward corruption, the further proceed wee in poſſeſsion of this ourſEpheſ. 2.5, 6. Philip. 3.20. heavenly Inheritance. Now becauſe ſo long as wee live here intPhilip. 3.12. an eſtate of Imperfection, (foruPhilip. 3.13. 1 Cor. 13.9, 10, 11. no perfection is to be had, or to be hoped for of us while wee are here) wee can never fully be acquainted with the Rules and Rights of this Kingdome, or the parts and parcels of this Inheritance: For ſo long as*1 Cor. 13.9, 11. wee know theſe, aso1 Cor. 8.1, 2. all other things, but in part, pMaxima pars eorum quae ſcimus, eſt minima eorum quae ignoramus. Aug.wee cannot but of ſome part of them remaine ignorant ſtill: Nor can wee attaine to ſuch a full and plenary aſſurance of our right to it, but that ſome doubt and ſcruple about it will be ſometime troubling us: For ſince that as our other parts, ſoqMatth. 6.30. & 8.26. & 14.31. & 16.8. Luke 17.3, 4. our faith alſo is imperfect; and our notice of it as weake ordinarily, as our faith it ſelfe is; and that where faith is ſo imperfect, there muſt needs be ſomerMark. 9.24. Idem ſimul, qui nondum perfectè crediderat, & credebat, & incredulus erat; Greg. in Ezech. 15. infidelity more or leſſe mixt with it; it can hardly be avoyded but that ſome*Fides vera cum dubietatis aura, Idem Mor. l. 10. c. 8. wavering ſhould be: eſpecially conſidering that we have to deale with a moſt wily Adverſary, that is wont oft to be queſtioning of this our right and title, & by many ſubtill quirkes, and fallacies, and colourable pretences, endevouring to ſhake this our aſſurance: And much leſſe can wee attaine to any full and abſolute, (while butſRom. 8.23. & 7.25. in part as yet wee are ſanctified, and buttRom. 5.2. & 8.24. in hope only glorified;) yea or quiet and peaceable poſſeſsion of it;uRom. 7.17, 20. the enemy being & abiding yet within our gates, andxRom. 7.23. Gal. 5.17. daily working our diſturbance: For this cauſe therefore, and in regard hereof, is our Seeking of this Kingdome, not to be practiſed for a ſpurt, or taken up for ſome time, and then to be let fall and laid downe againe, as if no further need were of it, butyPſalm. 24.6. & 27.8. & 105.3, 4. laſt it muſt, & continuezApoc. 2.10, 26. ſo long as this life laſteth. StillaProv. 2.3, 4. Rom 12.2. ſearching wee muſt be into it, that wee mayb2 Pet. 3.18. grow better acquainted with it: and ſtillcApoc. 3.2. ſtrengthning our aſſurance, that we may takedApoc. 3.10, 11, 12. 2 Theſſ. 2.15. faſter hold of it: and ſtill ſtriving toePhil. 1.9, 10, 11. 2 Pet. 3.18. grow in grace, that wee mayf2 Pet. 1.11. get further poſſeſsion of it: And a principall part muſt it be of our daily Prayer, thatgMatth. 6.10. This Kingdome may come; that not only it mayhLuk. 17.21. Vt in nos veniat, Ambr. Dion. de Sacr. l. 5. c. 4. Et in nobis maneat, Tertul. ad Marc. l. 4. come into us to take poſſeſsion of us, but thatiMatth. 25.34. Ne forte veniat, & nobis non veniat. Multis enim non eſt obventurum, quod eſt tamen venturum, Aug. hom. 42. we may come at length alſo to a full fruition of it,k1 Pet. 1.9. attaining to the lRom. 8.22.end of our faith, and hope, and ſanctification, the eternall m2 Theſſ. 2.13.ſalvation of our ſoules andnRom. 8.23, 24. Phil. 3 21. bodies. This is the courſe that in this diſcourſe you are encited unto; which I doubt not but that you have alſo made both an happy entrance into, yea and good progreſſe in already: yet if any ſpurre may be found therein, that may helpe to prick you on (or any of you, or any other that have more need than you) to a more eageroforeign, Phil. 3.13, 14. purſuing, putting on, and preſſing hard (with the Apoſtle) to the marke-ward, for the prize of the high calling of God in Chriſt Ieſus; or if any rub may thereby be removed, that either hath been, or hereafter may be caſt into your way, either by the World, orpIoh. 12.31. & 16.11. the Prince of it, or any homebred confederate of his, whereby you might bee (as the people were byq2 Sam. 20.12. Amaſa's corps) either ſtayed, or turned aſide, or diſheartned, or ſlacked in this your religious courſe; a plentifull recompence I ſhall eſteeme it of my paines therein taken, and I beſeech God to that purpoſe to give his bleſſing thereupon. I have unto the Sermon annexed a ſhort Catecheticall Summe, which may help, though not your ſelves, being now paſt ſuch helps, yet your younger ones, that arer1 Cor. 3.1, 2. Hebr. 5.12, 13. not paſt the breaſt yet, (for which ſort in mine owne Family at firſt I contrived it;) in the enquiry after, and diſcovery of the way to this Kingdome: wherein from the grounds of ſacred Scripture is briefly declared, how at firſt wee wereſConſtituti. poſſeſſed of it, how wee came to betDeſtituti. deprived of it, and by what means wee may beuReſtitui. reſtored againe to it: As alſo it may help to fit and prepare them for the participation of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper. Commending both to Gods Bleſſing, and my ſelfe to your Prayers, I take leave, and reſt
Yours in the Lord Jeſus, THOMAS GATAKER.