Sweet and Soul-Persuading Inducements Leading Unto Christ, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
THe third thing is Motivum. Inducements to entertaine Chriſt joyfullyThe inducements perſwading to a ready and joyfull embracement and receiving of Chriſt comming in his Goſpell, and ſpirituall kingdome, and to move our ſelves to this let us wiſely conſider, and ſeriouſly looke upon,
1. The condition of the creature without Chriſt. 1 Condition of creature. 1. Empty.To him that receives not Chriſt, the creature, all earthly perfection and fulneſſe is 1. an empty thing, it never filleth, never ſatisfieth, never contenteth him that hath it; the more man drinks of this brooke, not drinking of Chriſt, the full and everliving fountaine, the more hee thirſteth; the more he feeds on this, not feeding on Chriſt, the true bread of life, the more his hunger increaſeth; The ſoule which receives not Chriſt, like the horſleaches daughters in Solomon, is ever crying, give, give, and can never have enough: The fulneſſe of the world without Chriſt is but a dry bone without marrow, an empty pit without water, a barren tree without fruit, like that in the Goſpell which had leafe but no fruit, promiſing much to him that beholds it afarre off, but miniſtring no ſatisfaction to them that draw neare unto it; emptineſſe ever attends their greateſt poſſeſſions who are ſtrangers to Chriſt Ieſus; the ſoule is a veſſell of that largeneſſe that none can fill it but Chriſt, in whom is all fulneſſe; the barren eares in Pharaohs dreame eat up the full, and the leane kine eat up the fat; and when they had eaten them up, it nGen 41.20, 21could not be knowne they had eaten them; but they were ſtill ill-favoured. Man that ſtayes upon the creature, and comes not to Chriſt, that entertaines the creature and not Chriſt, eats up the full and fat of the earth, and yet it cannot be knowne that he hath eaten, his deſires and his hunger after it, are as great as ever; he is nothing at all filled with it, his deſires grow as his poſſeſſeſſions grow, the creature hath a power to inflame, but not to ſatisfie mans deſire; ordinarily the greateſt worldly poſſeſſors are vexed with moſt inſatiable deſires; of ſuch the Lord ſaith, they ſhall not be ſatisfied, and their deſire is enlarged as hell, and they can never have enough: The emptineſſe of the creatures muſt make Chriſt the more precious in our apprehenſions. Hagar ſeeing the emptineſſe of her bottle, came readily for water to the fountaine; the emptineſſe of the creature ſhould make us ready in comming unto, and cheerfull in the entertainment of Chriſt Ieſus; the gracious and through receiving of the Lord Ieſus is the only way to ſatisfaction and fulneſſe.
2. Uncomfortable.2. The creature to him that receives not Chriſt is an uncomfortable thing. The world without the Sunne is an uncomfortable dwelling; the fulneſſe of the world without Chriſt is an unquiet poſſeſſion; the waters of Marah without the tree were oExod. 15.25.bitter, the children of Iſrael could not drinke of them; the greateſt rivers, the deepeſt flouds, and moſt pleaſant things of earthly abundance, are very bitter and diſtaſtefull without Chriſt; Chriſt is the ſweetner of mans earthly poſſeſſion, as the honey-combe ſweetned the Lyon unto Sampſon; the man that receives not Chriſt is in pIoh. 20.22.ſtraights, in perplexities, feares, doubtings, and great diſtractions; in the fulneſſe of his ſufficiency, in the plenitude and preſence of his greateſt worldly abundance, his path is a way of ſnares, and his bed is a bed of thornes; his abundance will not ſuffer him to qEcel. 5.12.ſleep, that doth not repoſe his ſoule on Chriſt; his bread is bread of rPſal. 127.2.ſorrowes, that doth not feaſt and feed his ſoule upon Chriſt. Worldly abundance is a ſ1 Tim. 6.9, 10ſnare entangling, an arrow piercing, a ſword wounding, a tempeſtuous ſea toſſing, ſhaking, drowning them that poſſeſſe it, and poſſeſſe not Chriſt with it; the greater poſſeſſion, the greater trouble to him that receives not Chriſt in the Goſpell; It is not the having of the creature in the houſe, but the having of Chriſt in the heart, that miniſters true peace and comfort.
3. The creature to him that receives not Chriſt,3. Enthralling. Gloria regnorū ſplendida ſervitus eſt. Antigonus Rex Macedonum. Iuſt. 16. is an inthralling and inbondaging thing; it takes away the liberty and freedome of the ſoule, it fetters and impriſons it, it makes a ſlave and ſervant of it; Sampſon doting upon, and inordinately applying himſelfe to Dalilah, ſhe cut off t his locks, delivered him into the hand of the Philiſtines, and made him their ſlave. Man that neglecteth Chriſt, that receives not Chriſt, that is not raviſhed with his beauties, is ſo enamoured with the creature, and ſo gives himſelfe to the creature, that the creature …obs him of the ſtrength of faith, and ſpirituall love, and makes him a ſlave to himſelfe and his owne luſts, the creature ever ſwayes in that ſoule like a tyrant, where Chriſt is not; he that refuſeth to be Chriſts Subject, makes himſelfe the creatures ſlave; therefore are they termed the uMat. 6.24.ſervants of Mammon, for their alienation from Chriſt and ſpirituall freedome, for their ſubjection and ſlavery under the world, and they are ſaid to wRom. 16.18.ſerve their owne belly and not Chriſt. Moſt miſerable and wretched is the ſoules bondage, which receives not the Lord Ieſus.
4. The creature to him that receives not Chriſt,4. Polluting. is a polluting and defiling thing, it makes the ſoule a very ſinke, and cage of uncleanneſſe, a very den and dungeon of filthineſſe; as the Temple before Chriſt entred into it, was made a den of theeves. Exclude the houſewife out of the houſe, and all the reſidue of goers and commers, and implements brought into the houſe make a foule houſe; exclude Chriſt out of the houſe of the ſoule, and their going, and comming, and travell of the creature will quickly make a very uncleane and filthy ſoule;Gen. 34 2. La…ro spiritualium honorum Baſil. Dinah went out from her fathers houſe to ſee the daughters of the land, and Shechem tooke her and defiled her; Man ſteps aſide, goes out from Chriſt, neglects and leaves Chriſt, abides not cloſe with Chriſt, but ſets his eye, his thought, his heart upon the creature, and the creature takes him, enſnares him, and ſhamefully defiles him; it defiles his underſtanding with errour, duſt blinds the eye of the body, the creature, the duſt of the world duls and blinds the eye of the mind: The love of x1 Tim 6 10.money (ſaith Paul) is the root of all evill, yIſa. 59.7.which while ſome have coveted after, they have erred from the faith: It defiles his thought, his thoughts are thoughts of iniquity, waſting and deſtruction, thoughts of injuſtice and oppreſſion, thoughts of fraud and treaſon,Pſal 10.6. thoughts of pride and ſelfe-admiration, thoughts of carnall confidence, and fleſhly contentments; it defiles the heart of man with covetouſneſſe: Thine eyes and thy heart (ſaith the Lord to Jehoiakim) are not but for thy covetouſneſſe, and for to ſhed innocent bloud, and for oppreſſion, and for violence to doe it; it defiles the affections with idolatry, and with ſpirituall fornication and adultery: the covetous man is an idolater (ſaith Saint Paul) and the adulterers and adultereſſes (ſaith Saint Iames to ſuch as embrace not Chriſt, but the creature) know you not that the love of the world is enmity with God, Fallax ſuavitas, & infructuoſus labor, & perpetuus timor, & periculoſa ſublimitas: initium ſine providentia finis cum paenitentia. Aug.and that he that is a friend to the world is an enemy to God. The world fils that mans ſoule with moſt ſhamefull uncleanneſſe, that embraceth not the Lord Ieſus; therefore as Hagar ſeeing the emptineſſe of her bottle, came readily to the fountaine; as the mariner feeling the tempeſt and troubleſomneſſe of the ſeas, comes willingly to the haven; as the Iſraelites feeling the cruelty of Pharaohs task-maſters, and the inſupportableneſſe of his burthens, willingly embraced Moſes; and as the diſeaſed woman feeling the loathſomneſſe of her bloudy iſſue, and having experience of the vanity of all Phyſitians came gladly unto Chriſt: ſo we ſeeing the emptineſſe, feeling the uncomfortableneſſe, and knowing the inthralling and defiling nature of the creature without Chriſt, let us readily, willingly, joyfully, and thankfully receive and embrace Chriſt, that our ſoules may be freed, ſanctified, and filled with all ſaving graces, and heavenly comforts. Experience of the vanity, trouble, bondage, and evils which attend the naked having of the creatures, ſhould marvellouſly endeare unto us the Lord Ieſus, and make his comming in the Goſpell ſurpaſſingly ſweet and welcome.
2. Let us throughly view and conſider the ſtate of man without Chriſt: Man not receiving Chriſt in the Goſpell,2 Throgh view of mans eſtate without Chriſt hath no spirituall life, but is dead in ſinnes, as the body is dead without the ſoule; he hath no ſaving knowledge, but is in ſpirituall blindneſſe, as he that is without the Sunne is in darkneſſe; he hath no heavenly gift or grace, but is empty of all the fruits of the Spirit, as the branch which is ſeparated from the vine, hath neither juice nor fruit; he hath no Chriſtian liberty, or freedome, but is a bondman to ſin, Satan, and the world, as Peter lay in Herods priſon, in fetters, and under the cuſtody of the ſouldiers before the Angell came and freed him; he hath no intereſt in Gods promiſes, but as Adam was ſhut out of the garden of Eden, ſo is man ſhut out of Gods Covenant,2 Cor 1.20. Gods promiſes are a ſealed well whereof his ſoule drinks not; he hath no garment of righteouſneſſe to cover him, no jewell of grace to adorne him, no spirituall treaſure to enrich him, but is poore, blind, naked, miſerable, and wretched: Rev. 3 17.As the Egyptians were led away by the King of Aſſyria, priſoners, captives, naked, zIſa. 20.4.barefoot with their buttocks uncovered to the ſhame of Egypt: ſo man without Chriſt is led away by the prince of darkneſſe, a ſpirituall priſoner, and captive, his ſoule bare, naked, uncovered to the ſhame of mankind; he hath no holy and heavenly peace, but as the Diſciples were toſſed upon the tempeſt till Chriſt calmed the waters, ſo is man like the troubled ſea, when it cannot reſt, whoſe aIſa 57.20.waters caſt up mire and dirt, untill Chriſt miniſters comfort. Man without Chriſt is like a blind traveller that hath no guide to leade him; like a dead man in the grave, putrifying in ſinne, having none to raiſe him; like an empty ciſterne having no fountaine to fill him; like a bondman having no ranſomer to free him, like a woman in travell, having no midwife to help her, lik a ſheep in the midſt of wolves, having no ſhepheard to conduct and defend it, and like a beſieged City in the midſt of many enemies, having no wall to protect it, no captaine to fight for it: Miſerable is mans condition that receives not Chriſt in the Goſpell; did man know and feele his unhappineſſe without Chriſt, he would never be ſo regardleſſe of Chriſt, never ſo careleſly let Chriſt paſſe, but would meet Chriſt where he commeth in his word, as the blind men went out, and ſtood by the high-way ſide where Chriſt was to paſſe, and cry after Chriſt as they did; as the woman of Shunem haſted to the Prophet for the raiſing of her dead ſon, and laid hold upon the Prophets feet, and would not let him goe, untill he came with her, and raiſed her ſonne againe to life: ſo would man haſten unto Chriſt, lay hold upon Chriſt in the Goſpell, and bring Chriſt home into his heart, he would be at no reſt untill Chriſt had raiſed, freed, purged, and comforted his dead, captived, polluted, and comfortleſſe ſoule: He would as joyfully entertaine Chriſts comming in his Goſpell to free him from the power of his corruptions, as ever the Gibeonites gladly entertained Ioſhuah comming to reſcue them from the Amoritiſh Princes; it is mans unſenſibleneſſe of the miſery of his owne condition, that cauſeth Chriſts comming to bee unwelcome.
Mans apprehenſion of God without Chriſt terrible.3. Meditate the ſoules apprehenſion of God without Chriſt: God, who to the ſoules of them that ſavingly embrace Chriſt, is looked on, rejoyced, and delighted in, as a father for his love, as a gracious King for his mercies, as a ſure and ſweet friend for his comforts, as a loving husband for his amiable and ſoule-refreſhing preſence, as a ſhield for the defence, as a rocke for the ſupportment, and as a full fountaine for the ſatisfaction which he miniſtreth: This thrice bleſſed and gracious God is apprehended, conſidered and lookt upon, by him that doth not embrace Chriſt in the Goſpell; as a ſevere Iudge to condemne him, as an enemy full of diſpleaſure againſt him, as a man of warre bending his bow, and whetting his ſword to deſtroy him, as a rocke ready to fall upon him, and grinde him to pouder, as a tempestuous ſea, ready to ſwallow him, and as conſuming fire, and everlaſting burning, ready for ever to conſume and to deſtroy him. Very dreadfull, and ſoule-amaſing, and frightening is mans meditation and apprehenſion of God, that doth not ſavingly apprehend him in Chriſt, ſuch a man flies from the thought of God, the voice of God, and the preſence of God, as Adam fled into the thicket, as a ſilly ſheep flies before the Lyon, a guilty malefactor before the hue and cry, or a Partridge before the Hawke. This makes them cry to the hils to bRev. 6.16.cover them, and to the rocks and the mountaines to fall upon them, to hide them from the day of the Lord, and the wrath of the Lambe. God lookt upon without Chriſt Ieſus, is the terrour of all terrours to a guilty ſoule, and accuſing conſcience. Were men truly apprehenſive and ſenſible of the wrath of God without Chriſt, their ſoules would be at no reſt untill they had aſſured intereſt in Chriſt; the fierceneſſe and terrour of God againſt ſinners, doth exceedingly endeare and ſweeten the Lord Ieſus to the ſoules of his faithfull ſervants, had we frequent and right conſideration of the terribleneſſe of God without Chriſt Ieſus, Chriſts comming in the Goſpell would be unſpeakably joyfull.
4. Looke upon the fruſtration of all the Ordinances of God, 4. Fruſtration of Gods Ordinances not entertaining Chriſt.and labours of Gods Miniſters by mens not receiving of Chriſt in the Gospell. He that doth not receive and embrace Chriſt preached in the Goſpell, annihilates all the labour of Gods meſſenger; had not Rebeckah received Iſaac to husband, ſhe had fruſtrated all the labour of Eleazar the ſervant of Abraham: If we receive not Chriſt to husband, we fruſtrate the labour of the Miniſters, the Lords ſervants. Should not c2 Sam. 3.17.Abner have brought about Iſrael unto David, he had loſt his labour, his communication with the Elders of Iſrael, and his speaking in the eares of Benjamin had been in vaine. Thus all our preaching, all our ſpeaking in the cares of men is in vaine, if they be not brought about to Chriſt; if they doe not truly ſubject themſelves to Chriſt, if they receive not Chriſt as their ſpirituall King; for what is the end of our preaching, but to d2 Cor. 11 2.espouſe you to Chriſt, to worke you to the receiving and embracing of Chriſt, as the husband of your ſoules; and to preſent you as a chaſte virgin unto Chriſt; beſides all your hearing, all your attendance upon the word is vaine, it is all hypocriſie and vaine oſtentation if you receive not Chriſt. eGen. 42.Iacobs ſonnes had gone to Egypt in vaine, if they had returned empty handed, and not carried home proviſion with them. You come to the Well in vaine, if you drinke not, if you carry home no water with you: you come to Gods houſe, to Gods treaſury, to the wels of ſalvation in vaine, if you returne empty hearted; if you receive not, if you carry not home Chriſt with you in your hearts, all your labour is loſt: The temporall curſe denounced on the people by the Prophet Haggai, is in a ſpirituall ſence fulfilled in ſuch: Ye fHag. 1.6.have ſowne much and bring in little, ye eat but ye have not enough, ye drinke but ye are not filled with drinke, ye cloath you but there is none warme, and he that earneth wages, earneth to put it in a broken bag with holes. Thus in this caſe, much is heard, much ſpirituall ſeed is ſowne, but little or no fruit is reaped; they eat much, they heare much, but there is no ſpirituall filling, their worldly thirſt is not quenched, their ſoule is not ſatisfied in Chriſt; there is no warmth, no love, no zeale for Chriſt, no burning of heart in hearing, no fervency in ſupplication; all that the Miniſter hath provided and diſpenſed for the ſoules enrichment, it is all put in a broken bag with holes, it is all loſt, it runnes out as faſt as it is powred in; if we recive not Chriſt in the Goſpell, all our hearing is worth nothing.
5. Excellency of receiving Chriſt. Chriſt received giveth 1. Life.5. Meditate upon the dignity, excellency, utility and comfort of receiving and embracing Chriſt in the Goſpell. 1. Chriſt received in the Goſpell, giveth life unto the ſoule: Hee quickned Lazarus by his corporall voice accompanied with the power of his God-head; he quickeneth the ſoule by his Evangelicall voice attended with the lively operation of his Spirit, the Goſpell is the externall inſtrument and meanes by which Chriſt liveth in the ſoule; therefore is the Goſpell called the word of gPhil. 2.16.life, revealing and effecting life in Gods choſen; Chriſt hath in himſelfe all life, our life is hid in Chriſt, as the life of the branch is hidden in the roote, and he that h1 Ioh. 5.11, 1….hath the ſonne hath life; hee that hath the Son in the Goſpell, as in the ſeed of his regeneration, as in the inſtrument of his converſion, as in the warlike weapon, by which are throwne downe all the ſtrong and mighty holds of Satan, as in the Scepter, by which Chriſt doth ſway within him, and bind, and bow his heart unto ſubjection; He that hath Chriſt in his heart by faith, and love, as a root of life living in him, as a fountaine filling him with his fulneſſe, as a King ſitting up his throne within him, as a bridegroome betrothing himſelfe unto him, he hath life; but he that hath not the ſonne hath not life: The evill of neglecting Chriſt in the Goſpell is no leſſe then eternall death and deſtruction.Iſa. 9.3. 2 Light.2. Chriſt received in the Goſpell giveth light, ſpirituall, heavenly, and comfortable light; the receiving of the Sunne giveth light to the body, the receiving of the Sun of Righteouſneſſe giveth light to the ſoule; he that doth not embrace Chriſt in the Goſpell hath no light but all darkneſſe within him. 3. Chriſt received in the Goſpell giveth health, 3 Health.health of ſoule: Here he commeth with iMal. 4.2.healing in his wings, the Angell in k1 Ioh. 5.5.Betheſda cured the bodily impotent, in the Goſpell Chriſt cureth them that are ſpiritually diſeaſed, here he openeth the eyes of the underſtandings which are blinded, ſtrengthens the hand of faith which is withered, rectifies the feet of the affections which are crooked, purgeth away the leproſie of the ſoule which is defiled, Chriſt by the Goſpell as by a ſpirituall Iordan, works many bleſſed cures upon the ſoules of Gods people.4. Honour. 4. Chriſt received in the Goſpell giveth honour. He makes them that receive him in the Goſpell, the lIoh. 1.1..ſonnes of God by adoption; the friends of God, by revelation of the will and mind of God unto them; heires of God for that incorruptible inheritance whereof he makes them partakers; the Lords free-men, free from the guilt and puniſhment of ſinne, free from the power and dominion of ſinne, free from the tyranny and captivity of Satan, free from the curſe and rigour of the Law, and free to ſerve God with an ingenuous and free ſpirit; Kings and Prieſts to God, for their dignity and dominion, and for their holy and gracious conſecration unto God; high and excellent is the honour which Chriſt communicates to them that truly receive him in the miniſtery of the Goſpell. 5. Chriſt received in the Goſpell giveth riches, 5. Riches.mEph. 3.8.unſearchable riches, riches which the wit of man cannot find out, incomparable riches, to which all the riches of the earth is not to be compared, that knowledge, faith, and love, which is farre more excellent then the gold that periſheth. The pooreſt Lazar receiving Chriſt in the Goſpell, is endowed with greater riches then the wealthieſt Dives in the world not embracing him. 6. Chriſt received in the Goſpell giveth prosperity, 6. Proſperity.the Arke received into Obed-Edoms houſe cauſed all that he had to proſper. Criſt received into the ſoule maketh the whole man proſperous; he makes him proſper in hearing, in prayer, in meditation, in the uſe of all Gods Ordinances; as the tree proſpers that is planted by the waters ſide; he makes him proſper in all his undertakings, whatſoever he doth ſhall proſper, all the affaires of ſoule and body are made ſucceſſefull and proſperous through the bleſſed preſence of Chriſt Ieſus: He makes him proſper in the inward man, making him victorious over all his corruptions, repleniſhing him with all heavenly fulneſſe, communicating to him peace and reconciliation with God, and tranquillity of conſcience:Ioh. 3.2. He that receives the Lord Ieſus, like Joſeph hath the Lord nGen. …9.2.with him, and is a prosperous man; Mans not embracing Chriſt Ieſus expoſeth him to all plagues and curſes, in his ſoule, in his body, in all his ſervices, all bleſſing attends the holy and gracious embracement of Chriſt, all curſes follow the prophane refuſall of Chriſt. 7. Chriſt received in the Goſpell ſweetens and ſanctifies all afflictions, 7. Sweetneſſe. Exod. 15.25.the tree ſweetened the waters of Marah, Chriſt takes away the bitterneſſe of affliction from the ſoule which beleevingly entertaines him, he makes them ſee light in darkneſſe, he ſends them water out of the hard and ſtony rocke, he gives them honey out of the belly of Lyons, Meat out of the Eater, and ſweet out of the ſowre, he makes them ſing in priſon, he makes them glory in tribulation, he turnes the fiery furnace into a Paradiſe, he ſo takes away the evill of affliction that it doth no more harme them, then Nebuchadnezzars fire did the three children; his affliction that enjoyes Chriſt in the Goſpell, is more pleaſant and joyous then the carnall mans peace that ſhuts his heart againſt Chriſt, peace without Chriſt is full of trouble, trouble with Chriſt is full of conſolation.8. Comfort. 8. Chriſt received in the Goſpell giveth comfort, holy, ſweet, and ſure comfort. In the Arke was the pot of Manna, in Chriſt is the treaſure of all true comfort. Chriſt in the Goſpell makes a feaſt for his faithfull receivers, a feaſt of oIſa. 25.6.fat things, of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined: Of all comforts ſuch have moſt fulneſſe and ſweetneſſe as are miniſtred by Chriſt Jeſus, all others like Iobs friends prove miſerable Comforters, if Chriſt doth not comfort us; Chriſt received in the Goſpell comforteth the ſoules of his ſervants, as a nurſe her children feeding them, as a Phyſitian his patients healing them, as a mercifull King his delinquent, and humbled ſubjects, pardoning them, as a teacher his ſchollers, filling them with heavenly wiſedome, as a Bridegroome his Bride, ſpeaking graciouſly to them, making them ſenſible of his love towards them, repleniſhing them with ſtrong pHeb. 6.15. 2. Theſ. 2.16.and everlaſting conſolation; his eſtate is of all mens the moſt joyfull, who hath the moſt full and ſweet enjoyment of Chriſt in the Goſpell. Perplexities, diſtractions, and convulſions of ſoule and conſcience are infallible attendants of the neglect and refuſall of Chriſt Ieſus, he that ſhuts his eyes againſt the Sun abides in darkneſſe, he that ſhuts his heart againſt Chriſt abides in heavineſſe.9. Satisfaction. 9. Chriſt received in the Goſpell giveth ſatisfaction: The Sunne ſatisfieth the eye with light, the fountaine ſatisfieth the thirſty with water, the pearle ſatisfied the Merchant in the parable with treaſure, Chriſt in the Goſpell ſatisfieth the ſoule with wiſedome in the underſtanding, with holy and ſweet meditations in the mind, with the ſence of his love in the heart, with the treaſure of ſpirituall gifts in the affections, with ſure and bleſſed peace in the conſcience. He that rightly poſſeſſeth Chriſt in the Goſpell, may ſay as Iacob did, I have enough. Chriſt in the Goſpell is a living ſpring, he that drinks of him ſhall thirſt no more: He is an al-ſufficient portion to them that enjoy him; he that ſeeks contentation with the neglect of Chriſt in his Goſpell, ſeekes for water to quench his thirſt in a broken ceſterne: The ſoule is reſtleſſe, and never truly contented untill Chriſt is enjoyed; the houſe without the husband ſeemes an empty place to the wife; the world without Chriſt proves an empty thing to the ſoule.10. Abiding ſubſtance. 10. Chriſt received in the Goſpell is an abiding ſubſtance to the ſoule, he is an qIſa. 9.6.everlaſting father, he will never forget us, he is a husband rHoſ 2.19.for ever, he will never ceaſe to love us, he is a faithfull friend loving ſIoh. 13.1. Rom. 11.19. Ioh. 3.9. Ioh.4.14.at all times; his love is a Sunne that knowes no ſetting, his gifts are t without repentance, his grace an immortall ſeed that never dyes, a well-ſpring ſpringing up to life everlaſting: All that is without Chriſt is full of vanity and changes, only Chriſt is a poſſeſſion of everlaſting continuance, the meditation of all which ſhould ſweetly allure and draw us, graciouſly diſpoſe and frame us, and mightily perſwade, and move us to give Chriſt a joyfull welcom comming to us in his Goſpell.
6. Faſtening thoughts upon brevity of life6. Faſtening our frequent and most ſerious thoughts upon the brevity and vanity of the life of man. Man hath no abiding City here, he flouriſheth like Ionahs gourd in an evening, and is ſmitten and withered in the morning; Death like the waters of the red ſea drownes all, onelyonly Chriſt makes a ſafe paſſage through death, for his Iſrael, for all that receive him; the Arke divided Iordan, and Iſrael went dry, and ſafe over to Canaan; Chriſt makes a ready way for all that beleevingly entertaine him, through the horrours of death, to the heavenly kingdome; death like the deluge ſpares none, as Noah therefore betooke himſelfe to the Arke, and was preſerved, ſo let us betake our ſelves to Chriſt, that we may be preſerved from the ſecond death; all they who were out of the Arke periſhed in the waters, all they that are out of Chriſt will periſh in the deluge of Gods vengeance, the Lord Jeſus is the ſoules onelyonly refuge and deliverance. uExod 9.19.Behold (ſaith the Lord by Moſes in another caſe) to morrow about this time, I will cauſe it to raine a very grievous hayle ſuch as hath not been in Egypt from the foundation thereof untill now. Send therefore now and gather thy cattell, and all that thou haſt in the field, for upon every man and beast that ſhall be found in the field, and ſhall not be brought home, the hayle ſhall come downe upon them and they ſhall dye: He that feared the word of the Lord among them made his ſervants and his cattell flee into the houſes, and he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his ſervants and his cattell in the field, and they were all ſmitten and died. Thus in this caſe behold to morrow, ere long, very ſhortly, the Lord will cauſe a mighty raine, he will raine downe ſnares, fire and brimſtone, and an horrible tempest, ſend therefore now and gather your ſoules, your ſelves, your friends, husbands, wives, children, ſervants, kindred, and neighbours unto Chriſt, get yee intereſt in Chriſt, hide your ſelves by faith, and love in Chriſt, for upon every ſoule of man that ſhall not be found in Chriſt, upon every parent and childe, husband and wife, maſter and ſervant, young and old, bond and free, that ſhall not be brought home to Chriſt, the haile, fire, and brimſtone of Gods wrath ſhall come downe upon them, and they ſhall dye, both the firſt, and the ſecond death; and now I know that he that feares the word of the Lord among you, will flee to Chriſt, give all diligence to receive and entertaine Chriſt, to get a ſure and bleſſed intereſt in Chriſt; but he that regards not the word of the Lord will ſtay in the field, abide in the ſervice, way, and practiſe of the prophane world, and be for ever deſtroyed, for there is no ſalvation out of Chriſt; He is the reſurrection and the life, and our life is hid with him in God; therefore let us ſay with Auguſtine, let all theſe things periſh, let us let paſſe all theſe vaine, and empty things, and let us betake our ſelves to the onelyonly inquiſition of thoſe things which have no end, let us betake our ſelves to Chriſt who is the ſame, yeſterday, to day, and for ever; He like Noahs Dove will bring us an Olive branch of peace, when all the comforts of the creature are drowned; he will ſtand by us, and defend us as Shamma, one of Davids worthies ſtood, and defended the field when all the reſidue fled from it. When all worldly ſtaffes, and ſtayes, pillars and ſupporters, leave us and ſtay behind us, then as Iſaac went up to the Mount with Abraham, ſo will Chriſt goe up with us, and preſent us with acceptance, with great joy and gladneſſe in God his fathers preſence; and let the remembrance and thought of theſe things ſweeten and make exceedingly joyous Chriſts comming among us.