Three Decades of Sermons, Decade 2 · Sermon 4
An Ingagement unto Holyneſs, from the conſideration of the Day of Iudgement.
Unfolded from 2 Pet. 3. 11.
Seeing then that all theſe things ſhall be diſſolved, what manner of perſons ought ye to be in all holy converſation and Godlineſs?
THat Chriſt ſhall come to Judgement, is an Article of our Ser. 4. at St. Maryes Oxon July 27 1651.Faith: We profeſs we believe it, yet how many deny it in their practices: Some put far from them the evil day, or think not of a day of account; like deſperate Bank-rupts, adding more to the ſcore, not conſidering an after reckoning. Hence multitudes live as they liſt, without God in the world, running into all exceſs of riot, frolicking it in all manner of Epicuriſm and Voluptuouſneſs, thus denying the Day of Judgement by the wickedneſs of their lives: Others are much offended becauſe the day is ſo long a coming, becauſe Chriſt ſtays ſo long; they are hot-ſpurs, and will not wait: If Gods clo…k ſtrike not according to their Dyal: If the Reſurrection, Day of Judgement, Chriſts ſecond coming, be not aſſoon as they expect, they call all in queſtion, and propoſe a queſtion full of Blaſphemy and Infidelity both, ver. 4. Where is the promiſe of his coming? Theſe blaſphemous Scoffers, ver. 4. Arg. 1. Ver. 5.the Apoſtle conſures by ſeveral Arguments: The world was created by the word of God, v. 5. It was not ab aeterno, (as Philoſophers dreamed) now the Argument is valid; The ſame God who by his word made the world, can by his word deſtroy it when he pleaſeth.
A ſecond Argument is drawn from experience, v. 6. By the Deluge Arg. 2. Ver. 6.the old world was deſtroyed: God bade the water over-flow, and deſtroy man and beaſt, and it did ſo: And the time will come, that he will bid the fire to deſtroy this viſible World wherein we no… live, and it ſhall be ſo, v. 7.
A third Argument is drawn from the Eternity of God: We Ver. 7. Arg. 3.poor Creatures meaſure things by time, we ſpeak of days, weeks, moneths, and years, of times paſt, preſent, and to come, thus we apprehend; but time paſt, preſent, and to come, are all one in God; His Decree delays not: He's not meaſured by time, Ver. 8.v. 8. If God ſeem to defer this day, yet this is an argument of ſingular patience, mercy, and loving kindneſs, not of any ſlackneſs, Ver. 9.v. 9. Gods long-ſuffering ſhould be our ſalvation; Gods patience and waiting upon us, roads us a Lecture of Repentance: O infinite forbearance! bowels of mercy opened; when as the Lord might cut us aſunder in the midſt of our rebellions, and ſend us to Hell immediately; yet he wooes, invites, and beſeecheth us to repent; and he waits, and trys us, whetting of his Sword, bending of his Bow, that whil'ſt the Sword is a whetting, and the Bow a bending, we ſhould prudently fore-ſee and take warning, that ſo we might eſcape the blow.
The fourth and laſt Argument, to confute thoſe ſcoffers, who Arg. 4 are over curiouſly inquiſitive, haſty, unbelieving, raſhly expoſtulating, Where is the promiſe of his coming? This, I ſay, is drawn Ver. 10.from the manner of Chriſts coming, v. 10. Hoc additum eſt (ſaith Calvin) ut ſemper ſint in excubiis fideles, nec craſtinum ſibi promittant.
This may be conſidered three manner of ways.
1. It's unexpected, as Thieves come unlook'd for, when men 1.are aſleep and moſt ſecure, then the Thief comes. When the old World was ſecure, in the midſt of their jollity, then came the Flood and ſwept them away.
2. There will be a change of the whole frame of the Univerſe, 2. Matth. 24. 38. 39. Beza. Eraſmus. foreign 3.v. 10. The heavens, &c.
Impetum veluti Sibillantis procella declarat: So Beza, In morem procellae, in manner of a ſtorm: So Eraſmus.
3. There ſhall be an utter conſlagration of all things, even of thoſe wherein worldlings place their happineſs, The Mannors, Lands, goodly Buildings, the Wonders and Idols of the World, ſhall be burnt up at that day. Now it will be our wiſdom, neither to queſtion the truth of theſe things (for Truth it ſelf, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, hath told us that theſe things ſhall come to paſs) neither ought we to be curiouſly inquiſitive after the particular time, when, (as ſome of the Jewiſh Rabbins have been too bold in this pa… ticular) neither ought we to be impatient or querulous, becauſe its not yet accompliſhed.
4. Our duty to wait and believe: And our main duty and wiſdom will conſiſt in this, to make preparation, to be in Procinctu, 4. Hab. 2. 3, 4.to have our Garments girt about us, to have our Lamps burning, and Oyl enough in them againſt that great day. Far be it from me to raiſe a duſt, or rake into the Dung-hill of thoſe ancient lately foreign… Hereticks, who deny the Reſurrection, the Day of Judgement: Hac fide vivo, the rule of the Scripture is clear and infallible, there ſhall be a day of Judgement: All this world ſhall be diſſolved: This is a Doctrine moſt true; My Text makes the Application, foreign, &c.Divis.
Which words contain a Suppoſition and an Inference.
1. Here's ſomething ſuppoſed, Seeing, &c. Its a Principle undoubtedly 1.to be believed, That the Heavens and Earth ſhall be diſſolved, and the Elements ſhall melt with fervent …eat: Compare this with Pſalme 102. 25, 26, 27. Let's not introduce, nor beleive vain Philoſophy which holds amongſt many other dotages, Quod coeli ſunt incorruptibiles. To me it's out of queſtion that he that made them by his word, will one day by his word deſtroy them: Now whether the heavens are ſo perfectly made as in their own nature uncap…ble of corruption, is not here to be diſputed of; or whether the coeleſtiall influences be as vigorous as at firſt (though a learned Dr. of our own holds the affirmative, in that excellent Dr. George Hackwill in his Apology.book entitled The Power and Providence of God in the government of the world) Yet I ſhall wave this Queſtion, being loath to intermixe any Philoſophicall diſpute, in matters of faith. We beleive it, We have ſure ground, plain ſcripture for our aſſertion, that all theſe things ſhall be diſſolved.
2. Heres an inference foreign, Jts infer'd by way of admiration, what manner of perſons (i. e.) we ſhould be eminent in holyneſs, we ſhould act in an extraordinary manner, we ſhould be rare, ſingular, even a non-ſuch for pietie; its Diodats obſervation upon the place. If heaven and Earth be purified by fire, what care ought Diod. in loc. Calvin in loc.we to take to be purged and clenſed from our corruptions? An ergo nos in terra demerſos eſſe convenit &c. ſaith Calvin on the place? The heavens & earth ſhall paſs away, and ſhall we be ſ…allowed up in the earth, and not rather meditate on a holy and a godly life? The argument I may thus frame; There ſhall at the day of judgment, be a diſsolution of this viſible Globe of heaven and earth, therefore we ought in an eſpeciall manner to labour after holyneſs: This is the argument of the Text of incomparable ſtrength. But why is it in the Plurall number foreign; This is an Hebraiſme; when the Scripture would expreſs a thing with a greater emphaſis, it uſeth the plurall number, ſo Cant. 1. 4: We will remember thy loves, thereby inhancing the greatneſs and multitudes of Chriſts loving kindneſs: Likewiſe we read Pſal. 20. He is the God of our Salvations (i. e.) that he is the God from whom all Pſal. 110. 3.ſalvations come in the moſt high and eminent way. And the Pſalmiſt further ſpecifies Pſal. 100. 3. Thy people ſhall be a people of willingneſſe, to ſhew their ſingular readineſſe and willingneſs, as if they were all made up of a willing mind and ready ſpirit for Jeſus Chriſt. Thus in the text in all holy converſations and Godlyneſſe: Which expreſſion, ſome referre to dutyes of both tables: its moſt true that a godly man reſpects both, and labours to keep a Good conſcience both towards God and men. For the genuine ſenſe of the text, Beza gives me full ſatisfaction: Ʋſurpatur numerus multitudinis ex Haebreorum more, ut pietas ſignificetur omnibus ſuis partibus conſtans, quam pro viribus ſectari nos oporteat. The ſcope of all I conceive to be this, as if the Apo…le ſhould thus inlarge himſelf. You are ſecure and careleſs, you ſhall be ſuddenly ſurpriſed: The day of the Lord will come as a theefe in the night: You commit Idolatry with the world, your hearts are married to theſe outward things, on a ſudden all ſhall be conſumed, all wherein you truſt ſhall be burnt up: …owever you put the day of judgment farre of, yet its a coming, its nigher then you are aware of, and the heavens and the earth ſhall be diſſolved: At that day none but holy perſons can hold up their heads with comfort. Therefore ſeriouſly bethinke your ſelves; anticipate the terrour and ſorrow of that day, by an holy converſation: Make timely proviſion for that day, Labour for holyneſſe, and then you need not fear, notwithſtanding the burning up of the preſent world, you that are holy here ſhall behold that day with comfort: Therefore now have that day in your eyes, in your thoughts, in your frequent meditations, in your prayers, that you may be found blameleſſe at that day.
The words thus divided and expounded, preſents unto you one entire, plain, and practicall Doctrine.
That the ſerious conſideration of the day of Iudgment ſhould in an eſpeciall Doct. manner ingage us unto an holy life and converſation.
For the unfolding of this excellent and practicall poynt, my work will be
1. To prove it by ſcripture teſtimonies.Method. 1. 2. 3. 1. For Scripture Teſtimony.
2. To confirme it by evidence of Reaſon.
3. To improve all to your conſciences by particular application.
1. For Scripture, it contributes abundant teſtimony to the proof hereof, I ſhall gather ſparingly from ſo great an heap, ſelecting only ſome more eminent proofes, leaving the reſt to be ſupplyed in your ſerious meditations: Peruſe v: 14 of this chap. foreign. But can any walk ſo? Yes Zechary and Elizabeth walk'd ſo, they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandements and ordinances of the Lord blamleſſe. It was Pauls exerciſe, Acts 24. 16. goe thou and doe likewiſe. Labour to make ſtrait paths. Labour to approve thy heart to God, always walking as in the preſence of God; Begge ſtrength from Chriſt, and thou canſt doe all things through Chriſt that ſtrengthneth thee. Another proof we have 1 Pet. 4. 7. The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore ſober, and watch unto prayer. The conſideration of our latter end, ſhould be a forcible argument to perſwade us unto ſobriety and watchfullneſs. That's a pregnant proofe of the Apoſtle Paul, 2 Cor. 5. 9, 10. VponUpon this conſideration he layeth down thoſe 3 adverbs, foreign, hopeing to gain them over to the practiſe of them, Tit. 2. 11, 12, 13. This was a motive to him and the reſt of the ſaints, to have their converſation in heaven, becauſe hence they look for the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. You read of a ſacred Irony Eccleſ. 11. 9. The meaning is, rejoyce in God, walk in the wayes of Gods commandements, that Ironicall ſpeech commands the contrary. Now what's uſed by the wiſe man, as a moveing conſideration? But know that there will be a day of judgment. Entertain frequent and ſerious thoughts concerning it, which through the grace of God, ſet home upon thy heart, may prevail with the circumſpect walking in all holy converſation and Godlyneſs. The conſideration hereof ſhould make us look better to our hearts and lives and keep ſtrict Luk. 16. 2.ſentinell over both. That ſaying give an account of thy ſtewardſhip, ſhould be ſtill ringing in the ears of Miniſters, Governours, and Tutors: We ſhall one day be called to an account, let's labour to be faithfull Stewards, that ſo we may give up our account with joy and not ſorrow. It's a known ſtory, that the young man committed by Euſeb. Hiſt.the Apoſtle to the Elders care, was diſſolute and a companion of Theives, and is there termed a dead man, (i. e.) dead to God and goodneſs. O let it not be our default, our negligence, that any under our charge are dead ſouls. As the Captain beſeeched, that his life, and the life of his fifty might be pretious in the Prophets eyes: 2 Kings 1. 13Whe her we have more or fewer, let their ſouls be pretious, and let us put forth our ſelves in all our places and capacityes to give one another a lift toward heaven: A day of judgment is coming, let that be a Frontlet before our eyes: upon this conſideration let Chriſtians doe brotherly offices, and manifeſt their love to the ſouls of their brethren. Hereupon we are exhorted, to avoid raſh judgment Rom. 14. 10. 1 Cor. 4. 5. Theres wiſdome, underſtanding, conſideration all joyned together. Deut. 32. 22. Its a patheticall ſpeech, and he's a wiſeman in the eſteem of the Holy Ghoſt, who conſiders his of latter end. We ſhould all of us fix this meditation upon our hearts, & entertain ſerious thoughts, what will become of our our precious ſouls to all Eternity? Will not a day of Judgement come? May not thou or I be ſummon'd forthwith at that impartial Tribunal? This being ſo, What manner of perſons ought we to be in all holy converſation and godlineſs?
In the ſecond place, to confirm the Point by evidence of Reaſon, why the conſideration of the Day of Judgement ſhould engage us unto holineſs.
1. Becauſe onelyonly holy perſons ſhall be able to ſtand in Judgement: Reaſ. 1. Becauſe only holy perſons ſhall ſtand in Judgement.When the wicked, the Goats that ſtand on the left hand, and ſhall wiſh that the Hills might …all on them, and that the mountains might cover them from the face of the Lamb: Then ſhall the godly lift up their heads, and behold Chriſt who is their Judge, their Redeemer: This comforted Job on the Dung-hill, Rev. 20. 6. Job 19. 25. Matth. 5. 8. Heb. 12. 14.I Know that my Redeemer liveth.
They that are holy here, ſhall be happy to all eternity. They onelyonly ſhall be partakers of the bleſſed Viſ…on.
Now its much controverted, whether the Saints ſhall have their ſins mentioned at all at the day of Judgement; ſome conceive, that their ſins ſhall be brought in onelyonly as a cancell'd …ond; others are of opinion that they ſhall be mentioned, that Gods mercy may the more be glorified in the greatneſs of the Pardon: And others ſay, they ſhall not be mentioned at all, becauſe in ſeveral Scriptures the Lord ſaith, He will remember their ſins no more; and that he will c…st all our ſins into the depth of the Sea; and that he caſteth Iſa. 43. 25. Mich. 7. 19. Iſa. 38. 17.our ſins behinde his back: without all controverſie that ſhall be done that conduceth moſt to …ods glory, and their happineſs: There's no condemnation to the Saints, the day of Judgement will be a day of refreſhing to them, an addition to their happineſs, ſoul and body being re-united, and made companions in bliſs unto all …ternity. Seeing then holy perſons ſhall be able to look the Judge in the face, ſince they onelyonly ſhall ſtand in judgement, the conſideration of this great day ſhould ſink deep into our hearts, and make deep impreſſion upon our ſpirits, exciting, alluring, and prevailing with us to a ſanctified life and converſation.
2. …ecauſe the time of this life, is the onelyonly Seaſon appointed 2 Reaſ. This is the preſent time.by God to labor after holyneſs: The Exhortation runs in the preſent …enſe, 1 Pet. 1. 15. 1 John 3. 3.
Q. 3. But can we be perfectly holy?
A. We muſt have perfection of parts (i. e.) Sincerity: In Heaven there will be perfection of degrees; we muſt have truth of holyneſs, we muſt begin here, and ſtrive after more: In Heaven we ſhall attain the complement thereof; we may not content our ſelves with what we have attained unto, but we muſt labor after perfection, preſſing forward toward the mark, for the price of the high calling that is in Jeſus Chriſt, as Id qui faciunt fructum colligent ſatione, ſua dignum, coacervabunt enim quod male diſpereat. Calv in loc. Gal. 6. 8.the Apoſtle did, Phil. 3. 14. Now then conſider, the time of this life is the Seed-time, the Harveſt is reſerved in Heaven: As you ſow, ſo you ſhall reap: If you ſow to the fleſh, you ſhall of the fleſh reap corruption; if you ſow to the ſpirit, you ſhall of the ſpirit reap life everlaſting: Therefore in your moſt ſerious thoughts, conſider that you deal for life and immortallity; your negotiations are for the great things of Eternity. In this World, in this preſent time of life, you muſt labor to be holy. Purgatory is a Blaſphemous Popiſh dream: No purgation left for another World: No Prayer, no Sermon will work upon thee after this life: Here then holyneſs is wrought, lay theſe things to heart.
3. Becauſe Judgement returns us juſt as death leaves us: As the 3. Reaſ. Becauſe judgment returns us, as death leſt us.Tree falls, ſo it lies; and as death leaves us, ſo judgement will finde us: He that is filthy, let him be filthy ſtill: He that dies unreconciled to Jeſus, ſhall be ſo returned: The day of Judgement is moſt impartially juſt in all proceedings: And Judgement returns none, neither better nor worſe, but as death leaves them. Now then, if thou liveſt and dieſt in an unregenerate eſtate, ſo thou wilt remain unto all Eternity. After death, no tears, no crys will prevail: There's no door of hope, the damned are without hope, and this heightens their miſery: Time is paſt, time is paſt; The Judge hath vail'd his face, having paſt a Sentence irrevo cable: No… whileſt you are alive, on this ſide Hell and Eternity, there's hope left, you are under the ſound of the Goſpel, and the Ambaſſado… are ſent, offering unto you terms of reconciliation, We pray you, in Chriſts ſtead, be ye reconciled to God. O follow after holyneſs! foreign, purſue it hard, give not over: This day is a working 2 Cor. 5. 20. Heb. 12. 14.day, and it's but ſhort; a day of Judgement (which is a day of reſtitution and recompenſe) is approaching: So live, as you deſire to die: Do you deſire to be happy in your deaths? Labor to live holy in your lives.
Thus much for the Doctrinal part: Now to ſet all home by particular Application: I have five Uſes to make of this Doctrine: for Terrour, Exhortation, Examination, Direction, and Conſolation.
1. This Doctrine breathes forth terrour and dreadful Judgement Uſe 1. For Terrour.unto all unholy perſons: If the righteous ſhall ſcarcely be ſaved, where ſhall all unholy perſons appear? If onelyonly holy perſons are bleſſed, ſurely then unholy perſons are curſed: If holy perſons ſhall be admitted into Gods preſence, and enjoy communion with God, and ſee God the Father reconciled, God the Son their Redeemer, God the Holy Ghoſt their Comforter, where ſhall unholy perſons appear? They ſhall ſtand without; they are the dogs whipt out of Gods preſence; they ſhall ſee God no otherwiſe then the Malefactor a Judge condemning of him: Then all the Attributes of God ſhall plead againſt prophane perſons; My mercy (ſaith God) my patience, my loving kindneſs, my goodneſs, have been deſpiſed: All the Sermons they have heard ſhall plead againſt them; ſo many Sermons of Repentance; ſo many Sermons of Reconciliation, of Holyneſs, bring in black Bills of Indictment againſt them: All the Meſſengers of God plead, We have ſpent our breath and ſtrength in vain; We have labored all night, and caught nothing: We have tendred Chriſt, offered to theſe prophane Wretches terms of peace and reconciliation, but they have ſcorned them all, and undervalued the glorious excellencies of the Lord Jeſus: All the paſſages of Providence will come in againſt unholy perſons. Providence will plead, I have cloath'd and fed thee, I gave thee the dew of Heaven, and fatneſs of the Earth; I ſuſtain'd, preſerv'd thee, but thou haſt abuſed all the Creatures, not eating for health, but for gluttony; not drinking for ſtrength, but drunkenneſs: All thy friends will plead againſt thee, ſuch as have been real friends to thy ſoul, as have ſpent their ſpirits in Exhortations, Counſels, Admonitions, all theſe are upon Record, and will cry out for vengeance againſt thee: O that God would ſmite the hearts of all unholy perſons, and looſen the joynts of their loyns, as Belſhazzars were, and make their knees ſmite one againſt another, that now, in this time of life, this ſhort day, they might be effectually wrought upon to a holy converſation!
This Uſe in an eſpecial manner reproves thoſe that ſcoff at holyneſs: Uſe 1 I would there were none ſuch in the Walls of Athens: That which is the true Believers honour to be a Saint, is caſt by ſome prophane perſons into the teeth of Profeſſors, as if it were a Character of infamy, Theſe are your Saints. In the Act; and Monuments, v Fox Acts Mon in Q. Maries dayesa Martyr reproved a proud Prelate for Swearing: He anſwered prophanely, I am no Saint: What was he then, ſurely an incarnate Devil? If you be no Saints here in the Militant Church, you ſhall never be Saints▪ in the Triumphant Church: What ſhall we ſay to ſuch as deride holyneſs, and exerciſe their wits to caſt a flam or a jeer upon Religion, and make a mock at praying by the Spirit: Let them read that dreadful Sentence, each word is a thunder-bolt, Rom. 8. 9. If any man hath not the ſpirit of Chriſt, he is none of his; whoſe are they then? the Devils queſtionleſs; either Chriſts or the Devils; If none of Chriſts Sheep, then ſurely of the Devils Goats: Of all others, a Scoffer is hardeſt to cure, ſeldom are ſuch brought home; if they are, it coſts them dear. If any ſuch be preſent (though I hope better things of you) let me tell you, when you come to die, holyneſs will be holyneſs indeed, then holy perſons will be holy perſons: Then when conſcience is awakened, you will wiſh you were in their ſtead whom you ſo much contemned, you wil wiſh your tongues had fallen out of your heads when you ſpake againſt holy perſons. You that make Gods children, even real Saints, your ſubject of obloquy, What will you ſay at the day of Judgement, when they ſhall be at the right hand, and the Judge ſhall ſay, Come ye bleſſed; and you ſhall be on the left hand, and the Judge ſhall ſay, Goe ye curſed; when you ſhall Luke 14. 28.ſee Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, and all the Saints in the kingdom of Heaven, and you your ſelves ſhut out of doors: Are any ſuch preſent, are any young wanton wits, that will rather looſe a friend then a jeſt, rather looſe the friendſhip of a good conſcience, then the frothy iſſue of a ſcurrilous wit? To ſuch let me ſpeak, with abundance of love to their ſouls: Non eſt tutum ludere cum ſanctis: It's not ſafe to make a jeſt of holy perſons, or holy things: If ever Qui ludit in Cathedra, lugebit in Gehenna.they belong to God, they will with Auſtin make Confeſſions and Retractations. Univerſity ſins, abuſe of wit and parts, contempt of holyneſs, neglect of ſeaſons of Grace, will cry loud, and make ſuch a gaſh in the conſcience, as may be a long time clawing off.
2. This Doctrine reproves Hypocrites: Theſe ſeem better then they are, and put on a Vizard of ſanctity; theſe are painted Sepulchres, rotten at the core, gilded rotten Nut-megs; and by how much they pretend to Religion, they are ſo much the worſe, becauſe they ſatisfie themſelves in a bare pretence. There ſhall be a day of Judgement, and that will be a day of terror and vengeance unto them: Seldom (as a Reverend Divine ſaith) an Hypocrite dies undiſcovered. It pleaſeth God to unmask him, and diſcover his Tor ſhell of Hypocriſie.counterfeit profeſſion before he dieth. ſo that uſually in this world a …ypocrite is diſcovered. However, in the world to come, all ſhall be laid open; his glozing formalities, outſide, glorious ſhews, all his painted dreſſes ſhall be made known to men and Angels: And what's the portion of Hypocrites? If there be one place in Hell lower then another, any torment greater, that's his portion, Matth. 14. 15.
3. This Doctrine reproves all ſecret ſinners, who by reaſon of their ſecret cunning conveyance, hope for impunity: They little think of the all-ſeeing eye of God: Could a Homer ſay, foreign Homer Il.foreign, and ſhall not Chriſtians believe that the God of Heaven knows all things? All thy Reſervations, Equivocations, ſubtile Diſtinctions and Evaſions, are obvious and naked to the Allſeeing eye of God. The Adulterer waits for the twy-light, he would fain eſcape the ſight of men, but he cannot eſcape the ſight of God: Speculative, as well as practical defilements, are all known to God: Thy Curtain, Cloſet-ſins, thy Imageries in the dark, the ſins that no man living knows of, are made manifeſt unto God: The Trades-mans Sophiſticated Wares, his falſe Lights, ſcant Meaſures, all his myſteries of Couſenings in the Trade, are apparent unto God; the Lyars obſtinate ſtanding in a lie, cannot eſcape Gods knowledge; all his tricks of wit and colluſions, to baffle his conſcience, will not ſerve his turn at the day of Judgement. The Popiſh diſtinctions of foreign, will not acquit them at Gods Tri…nal: The cheating of the Laborer in Gods Vineyard, upon pretence that his maintenance is J…wiſh or Anti-Chriſtian, will not be excuſed at the day of account, when as covotouſneſs and ſelf-intereſt is the uſual moving cauſe of defrauding the Miniſters: It plainly appears, that many, like Water-men, look one way, and row another; they ſerve the Miniſters in theſe days, as the Pagans did the Primitive Chriſtians: They put them firſt into Bears skins, and then they worryed them: For there are many who ſtigmatize their …alling and Maintenance, as Anti-Chriſtian, that ſo they may the more ſecurely run away with their maintenance. Juſt like Demetrius and the Crafts-men, who cryed up Diana, Great is Diana of the Epheſians; but he had more minde to Act. 19. 34. ver. 25.the Silver Shrines, By this craft (ſaith he) we get our living: Now all theſe things one day ſhall come to light, even the moſt hidden things of darkneſs: All the Machivialian politick juglings of men; all the ſecret deſigns men drive at for advantage; all the Hypocritical defalkations and reſervations, ſuch as were in Ananias and Saphyra; all the Meanders, Windings, Diverticles, ſhall all be made naked at the day of Judgement; then unjuſt perſons, Hypocrites, Time-ſerving Politicians, falſe-hearted perſons, ſhall appear pourtrayed forth in their proper colours, and be the aſtoniſhment and open diſgrace … men and Angels.
But I proceed to a ſecond Uſe, and that is for Exhortation: I Uſe 2. For Exhortation.beſeech you, in the fear of God, in the Bowels of Jeſus Chriſt, to labour after holyneſs, foreign, &c. Let the motive of the Text be ſet home upon your hearts, What manner of perſons ought we to be, in all holy converſation and godlineſs; You that are young, vigorous, and have marrow in your bones, labor to be holy, Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth: God loves the Eccleſ. 12. 1. Mich. 7. 1.firſt ripe fruits, our beſt ſervice, away with that wicked Proverb,—Angelicus juvenis ſenibus ſatanizat in annis: The Sun cannot riſe too early, unleſs it be to a ſluggard: You cannot begin too ſoon. Defer not a day, not a moment longer: O that in this Garden of Learning there might be a great increaſe of Plants of Righteouſneſs, that as Plants, planted in Gods garden, they may bring forth more fruit in their elder age: It's uſually ſaid, Spes Eccleſiae eſt in juve…tute: Far be it from me to envy, but I deſire to be thankful, and rejoyce to ſee a ſprinkling of holy young men, who are grave, ſerious, and ſtudious, and breath after God, and bend their ſtudies to attain to the ſaving knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt: The Lord of heaven adde unto their number an hundred-fold. Its oftentimes obſerved, that the Univerſitie proves the marring or making of many; inſomuch as a Scholar hath a cenſure given him, like that of Origen, Ʋbi bonus nemo melior, ubi malus nemo pejor. Look to it, you are in your prime and freſh green years: O conſecrate your ſelves unto the ſervice of God. It was the exhortation of Joſhuah, Joſh. 3. 4.Sanctifie your ſelves; for the Lord will do wonders amongſt you. The Lord may imploy you in great ſervices, and make you inſtruments of great good; What a wonder is it for a young Timothy to be able to grapple with the old Leviathan, and throw him on his back. Conſider with your ſelves all your Philoſophical learning (though I diſcard not, but …commend in its due place and diſtance) will doe you no good at the great day. It's holyneſſe, an holy life that will comfort you when you come to dye. It's the knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt that will ſtand you in ſtead, when all vain Philoſophy will Mat. 27 3.doe you no more good than the High Prieſts did Judas, They ſaid, what's that to us, ſee thou to that, Mat. 27. 3. O therefore now in your youth labour to be holy: Happy is it for any of you, with whom God begins betime. And to you that are old I addreſſe my Exhortation, you ſhould be examples of holyneſs; you are Beacons Job 32. 7.ſet upon a hill, the eyes of thouſands of young ones are upon you: Let daies ſpeak, and multitude of years teach wiſdom. You have one foot in the grave, would you have comfort in your death, O labour to lead holy lives: Would you die the death of the righteous, O labour to live the life of the righteous: your riches, your dignities, your learning will doe you no good when you come to dye; you ſhall then be degra…ed, levelled, ſtript naked of all, and if you have not the robes of Chriſts righteouſneſſe for your cover, you had better never have been born. What was that which comforted Hezechiah when he received the ſentence of death, you may read it to be the walking before the Lord in truth, and with a perfect heart. This 2 King. 20, 3is that which will give you comfort, and this alone, even the remembrance of an holy liſe. The aſſurance of a God reconciled in Chriſt, will cauſe you to bid welcome to the King of terrours. That which the Philoſopher accounts foreign, will be your Marriage day, the welcome… day that ever your eyes beheld: And becauſe I love from myheart plain dealing, give me leave yet a litle more plainly & particularly to ſet home a ſeaſonable word of Exhortation.
You Fathers and Brethren whom God hath made …ulers in Iſrael, Govern: in the Univerſity, O labour for holyneſs your ſelves, and to plant holyneſſe in your ſocieties: Root out ſcoſſing Iſhmaels, prophane Eſaus, ſuffer not a ſcoffer at holyneſſe to be within your walls: Let Joſhuahs reſolution be your continual Monitor, I and my houſe will ſerve the Lord: Set up holy Ordinances, Preaching, Divinity Lectures, and a plain way of Catechizing; what abundance of good may this doe? Some doe give good examples in this kind, I hope the reſt will follow after, that all our ſocieties may be called Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there: In your Elections principally look after holyneſſe; Incourage ſuch as have the Image of Chriſt ſtampt on them, and are willing to receive Inſtruction. You that are Tutors have great prices put into your hands; you have young, tender twigs, flexible, tractable, they are ſome of them inſtar tabulae raſae, in ſome ſenſe; pray with your Scholars, Catechize them, ground them in the Principles of Religion, and ſeaſon them with grace betimes—Quo ſemel eſt imbuta recens ſervabit odorem teſta diu: Trouble not young heads with diſciplinarie Controſies and doubtful Diſputations: Inſtruct them in the myſtery of Regeneration, in the Doctrines of Holyneſſe, Faith, and Repentance and Self-denial, theſe are the moſt needfull things. In doing good to one Scholar, you may do good to a whole City or Pariſh; if you quit your truſt and be faithfull, and play the men, thouſands may have cauſe to praiſe God, and riſe up and call you bleſſed. You that are Maſters of Families, be exhorted to ſet up Holyneſſe in your Families: Teach your children and ſervants to know God, keep up your authority, give not liberty to them under your roofe to live as they liſt; Abraham gave no toleration, he commanded his houſhold to keep the way of the Lord. Let all ſorts and ſexes, old and Gen. 18. 19.young, learned and unlearned, lay this Exhortation to heart: I preſſe holyneſſe upon you all. O that the Prieſts Motto were writ upon your hearts and lives, Holyneſſe unto the Lord. You cannot ſay as Sheba the Son of Bichri ſaid, We have no portion in David, &c. as if this concerns not us, but holyneſſe concerns you all, you muſt all follow after holyneſſe.
To excite you to your duty, I'll lay down ſome moving conſiderations.Conſid. 1. We are elected unto holineſſe. 2 Theſ. 2. 13.
1. Conſider you are elected unto holyneſſe; not for holyneſſe, nor through praeviſion of holyneſs, that's a falſe Arminian gloſſe, but unto holyneſſe.
2. We are created unto holyneſſe. All the members of our bodies Conſid. 2. We are created in holyneſſe. Epheſ. 4. 24.and faculties of our ſoules ſhould be inſtruments of holyneſſe: The tongue ſhould ſpeak holily, holy communication ſhould drop from the tongue; the heart and hand both ſhould be clean, as James ſpecifies c. 4. 8. The feet muſt keep the wayes of Gods commandements; Conſid. …. We are redeemed to be holy. Luk. 1. 74. 75.the underſtanding, will, affections, the whole man, all muſt be holy; to this purpoſe they were created.
3. Conſider we are redeemed for this end and purpoſe, that we may be holy.
4. It's Gods will that we ſhould be holy, 1 Theſ. 4. 3. Now our Conſid. 4. Its Gods will that we ſhould be holy:wils muſt be ſubject unto Gods will: He commands us to be holy, we ſhould pray for his grace to enable us to perform his command: Holyneſſe is ſuitable to Gods will, and wee have an encouraging promiſe, 1 Joh. 5. 14.
5. …olyneſſe is our calling, 1 Pet. 1. 15. 1 Theſ. 4. 7. Wee can Conſid. 5. Holyneſs is our calling.have no comfort, but when we are in a lawfull calling; when our wayes are according to Gods wayes, wee may hope for Gods gracious protection according to the promiſe, Pſal. 91. 11. When any commit wickedneſſe, are unclean, drunk, aſſociate themſelves with wicked perſons, they are out of their calling, and ſo out of Gods ſpecial p…ovidence. Conſider this ſeriouſly when you are tempted to Whoredom, or any o…her ſin, God hath not called you unto un…eanneſſe, but unto holyneſſe.
6. Heaven is an holy place only appointed for holy perſons: Nothing Conſid. 6. Heaven is a holy place.thats defiled ſhall enter there, Rev. 21. 27. OnelyOnly holy perſons ſhall be acquitted before Chriſts Judgement-ſeat: They only ſhall enter into the new Jeruſalem.
7. In heaven there ſhall bee no other but holy employment, Conſid 7. In Heaven there is holy employment.ſinging Hoſannahs and Hallelujahs to him that ſitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb for evermore. A prophane perſon hates holy Ordinances and holy employments here on earth: Were it poſſible for him to be in heaven, hee would be weary of the employment; whereas the Saints ſhall have their hearts put into ſuch an high and excellent frame, as they ſhall without moleſtation, wearineſs, or intermiſſion, be ever ſetting forth the praiſes of the Lord.
8. And there will be in heaven the moſt holy company, the holy Conſid. 8. In heaven there is holy company.Trinitie, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghoſt, the moſt holy, bleſſed, and glorious Trinity. There will be holy Angels, the ſpirits of juſt men made perfect, holy Martyrs, holy Miniſters, holy people: No company there but all holy company.
9. And laſtly, to cloſe up all: Now whilſt we live on earth is Conſid. 9. The preſent time is the time to labor after holynes.the time or never to labour after holyneſſe: now I mean in this time of life we muſt make proviſion for eternity: This is Gods ſummons, to day if you will hear his voice. Delay not a minute longer: Reſiſt not the movings of the Spirit; great is the danger of reſiſting the Spirits movings. The Lord ſet home all theſe conſiderations upon your hearts; and if hereby the Lord ſhould be pleaſed to gaine any ſoul to the love and practiſe of holyneſſe, I ſhould never be enough thankful for the mercies of this day.
The third Uſe is for Examination and Tryal: Every one will Uſe 3. For Examination.plead for himſelf, and pretend to an holy converſation: As it was ſaid, When the Son of man comes ſhall he finde faith on the earth? So ſhall he find an holy converſation; a formal Profeſſor, a Chriſtian at large, are every where to be found, like Sycamo…es in the valley for abundance; but the power of holyneſſe, an holy, circumſpect walking are rarely found. Now then, becauſe its the grand Miniſterial duty to diſtinguiſh the precious from the vile; according to that high commendation and priviledge given, as to be the mouthes of God, Jer. 15. 19. And becauſe God hath gone forth in a ſignal exemplary bleſſing upon this way, which hath been ſo frequently uſed by old Diſciples, faithful, labouring Miniſters (whoſe plain Preaching would it were more revived now adaies) It ſhall therefore be my task to lay forth ſome diſtinguiſhing characters and ſigns of a gracious, ſincere heart, whoſe life is accordingly ordered in an holy converſation, and by them you may put your ſelves upon the teſt and tryal, as in the preſence of God, whether you are ſuch manner of perſons, in all holy converſation and godlineſſe.
The firſt ſign is ſpiritual poverty; and this conſiſts in the emptying Charact. 1. Spiritual Poverty.of the heart of ſelf-confidence, ſelf-opinion, ſelf-ſufficiency, and ſelf-righteouſneſſe; whereby a Chriſtian becomes nothing in himſelf, altogether loſt, undone, blind, miſerable, poor and naked: He is thoroughly ſenſible of his own miſery and wretchedneſſe: He is apprehenſive of his own undone condition, and what need he hath of a Saviour; ſuch an one Chriſt pronounceth to be in the ſtate Mat. 5. 3.of bleſſedneſſe.
2. There followeth the higheſt prizing and eſtimate of Jeſus Charact. 2. High prizing of Jeſus Chr.Chriſt: That ſoul which is ſpiritually poor, accounts Chriſt the greateſt treaſure; it apprehends it ſelf blind, that Chriſt may give it eye-ſalve; miſerable and loſt, that Chriſt may ſave it; naked, that Chriſt may cloath it with his righteouſneſſe: See what an high price the Spo…ſe puts upon Jeſus Chriſt, Cant. 5. 10, 11, 12, &c. He is precious, 1 Pet. 2. 7. a plant of renown, Ezek. 34 29. Such an high price had the wiſe Merchant, to ſell all for him, Mat. 13. 45, 46. So Moſes, who preferred the reproach of Chriſt before Egypts treaſure: Bradford wept often, even at meales, becauſe he could not bring his dul heart to love Jeſus Chriſt; ſo the Martyr in the flames cried out, None but Chriſt: Thus highly did John Baptiſt teſtifie of Chriſt, Joh. 3. 30. ſo Chriſt may be exalted, hee cares not what becomes o… himſelf: So every faithful Miniſter puts the higheſt value upon Jeſus Chriſt; ſo Chriſts honour may be advanced, Chriſts cauſe and intereſt promoted, he cares not what ſufferings, what perſecutions he mee…s withall: Though he encounter with Beaſts at Epheſus, Sons of Anak, and frie at a ſtake, none of theſe things move him, ſo Chriſt may be glorified in him, and by him. It's a ſigne of true grace to prize Chriſt highly, and enhaunce his eſteem and honour above all things beſides.
3. The heart is in love with holyneſſe for it ſelf. …olyneſſe is Charact. 3. The heart is in love with holyneſs.the image of God, Epheſ. 4. 24. and there is beauty in Gods im…ge to enamour the ſoul. What was ſaid of Moral virtue, may be much more ſaid of Theological, Si …erreno oculo poſſit cerni, admirabile ſui deſiderium excitaret. Could we diſcern by a ſpiritual eye the luſtre and excellency of Holyneſſe, O how would our hearts bee in love with it! Multitudes followed Chriſt for the Loaves, and accounted gain their godlyneſſe. Self-ſeeking intereſts, covetouſneſſe is that Maſter-wheele that ſets many on working; but a true Beleever accounts Godlyneſſe his gain, Chriſt his honour, …eligion his preferment: His eye is ſingle, his heart ſincere: He'l do his duty, do his work faithfully, and truſt God for his wages: Nay Jſa. 49. 4. Pſal. 119. 7the work is a reward: O how I love thy law, ſaith David: It was his delight: he loved the Commandements above ſine gold: And what was the Law? it was holy, juſt, and good: Holyneſſe was the object of his love. To love God for himſelf, Holyneſſe for it ſelf, is a good ſign.
4. There muſt an ingenuous ſorrow for ſinne: I call it ingenuous, Charact. 4. An ingenuous ſorrow for ſinne.in oppoſition to all ſlaviſh howling under the rod. There is a vaſt difference between Ahab and Paul, between that ſorrow which is foreign, and that which is foreign, 2 Cor. 7. 10. and you have there ſeven Apoſtolical characters of godly ſorrow, 2 Cor. 7. 11. There's a vaſt difference between the howling of dogges and crying of children; between the crying of wicked perſons, as Pharaoh, Ahab, Cain, under a heavy judgement, for the puniſhment and ſmart upon them, and the crying of Paul, Peter, and Mary Magdalen: Pharaoh ſaid, Take away this plague; the plague of Locuſts, Caterpillars, &c. he never was affected with the plague of his heart, which was the greateſt plague of all: But take away my ſinnes, cries David: Waſh me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanſe me from my ſinnes, heres a foreign of godly ſorrow; it mourns for ſinne more than the puniſhment; it mourns for ſin becauſe it is ſinne, becauſe it is a breach of Gods holy Law, becauſe thereby God is diſhonoured; this ſorrow is kindly, ingenuous, when the heart is melted and mourns, and is broken for diſpleaſing ſo good and gracious a Lord God.
5. There wil be a cordial mourning for others ſinnes: This affection Charact. 5. Thheres mourning for others ſins. Pſal. 119. 136was ſingular in David, Rivers of water run down mine eyes, becauſe men keep not thy Law. A godly man layes to heart the ſins of the times and the place where he lives. It grieves him at the heart to ſee God diſhonoured by any. Bradford, that rare ſpirited man grieved at the miſcarriages of one of his Scholars, and laid the fault upon himſelf for not looking better to him. If he ſo charged himſelf, ſurely our faces will gather blackneſſe, and a great deal of guilt will lye at our do…es for not diſcharging our truſt as we ought to doe, concerning ſo many Scholars, as ſo many Depoſitums committed to our charge: But let's doe our duties, and mourn over them that are refractory, and keep them ſtrict to diſcipline: Lets pray for them, and mourn over them, and queſtionleſſe praiers and tears are prevalent weapons. When thou heareſt a man ſwear, feeſt him drunk, break Sabbaths, & takes no heed, nor makes any conſcience to walk in the way of the Lord, O mourn for him, and weep that God is diſhonoured, and reflect upon thy ſelf, thy nature is as bad as his: Who art thou that differs from thy brother? What difference there is, it is not of thy making, it's Grace, free Grace that makes all the difference.
6. The heart approves it ſelf to God, ſo did David, put himſelf Charact. 6. The hearts approving it ſelf to God.upon Gods Examination: Such a one walks alwaies as in the preſence of God; knowing that God is all eye to ſee, all ear to hear, all hand to write down all: He ſtands not to mans day, and mans judgement, he appeales to God the ſearcher of all hearts, whoſe eyes are ten thouſand times brighter than the Sun. Hereupon Job raiſed a ground of comfort and confidence, becauſe his Redeemer was his Judge; he that was his Saviour ſhould acquit him, his Witneſſe was on high: See his excellent proteſtation, that his heart ſhould not reproach him, Job 27. 4, 5, 6. Now when a Chriſtian is hardly cenſured and condemned by the world, yet if he can approve his heart to God, that hee hath walkt before God with an upright heart, here's ground of abundant comfort; If God be for us, who can bee againſt us? If God ſpeake peace, who can ſpeak trouble? It's God that juſtifieth, who's he then that condemneth? Let's all then labour to tread even paths, to keep cloſe to the rule of the Word, alwaies Rom. 8. 31.to ſet the fear of God before our eyes, that whatſoever evil entreaties we may meet withall from abroad, wee may have comfort at home, having approved our hearts to God, who ſearcheth all hearts, and tryeth the reins, and rendereth unto every one according to the fruits of their doings.
7. There wil be a preſſing forward toward perfection. A heart Charact. 7. There will be a preſſing forward towards perfection.that approves it ſelf to God, as it labours for truth of every grace, ſo it labours for growth of them: Joſhuahs Sun ſtood ſtil, Hezechiahs Sun went back: Neither of theſe are for their imitation; but they are like Davids Sun, which like a Giant refreſht with wine runnes its courſe. I wel know, that there are Lambs as wel as Sheep, weak as well as ſtrong Chriſtians, Chriſtians of the Lower and of the Vpper Form, and that Faith admits degrees; yet every true Beleever contents not himſelf with that meaſure of grace whereunto he hath attained, but labours after perfection, as you may ſee Phil. 3. 12, 13, 14. Pſal. 48. 6, 7. 2 Pet. 1. 5, 6, 7, 8. There are many things which a godly man finds lacking in his Faith, Love, Humility; and therefore he deſires and endeavours after the encreaſe of every grace, more Faith, more Love, more Humility; thus hee cries as the Horſleach's daughter give, give.
8. Theres a careful ſtrict watch ſet upon the heart & life againſt Charact. 8. Ther's a care. full watch ov…r the heart and life.boſom ſins: Be they ancient cuſtomary conſtitution, complexion ſins as dear as a right hand, and a right eye, they muſt be cut off, pluckt out; David profeſt, I kept my ſelf from mine iniquity, Pſal. 18. 23. Be it peccatum in deliciis, an Herodias, a Delilah, away with them; be it a Gibeonite, a pretending ſinne, m…ke no league with it, be it a Benhadad, an Agag, give no quarter to them, bid adieu to every ſin, though delightful and pleaſing to fleſh and blood, ſay to it as to a menſtruous cloath, get thee hence. Let Joſephs reſolution be as a Monitor, and as a Frontlet before thine eyes, How can I doe this great wickedneſſe, and ſin againſt God?
9. Yet further, the deſire and endeavour muſt be univerſally extenſive as to hate and turn from every ſinne, ſo to have reſpect to Charact. 9. The deſi…er & …ndeavour muſt be vniverſall.every commandement, Pſal. 119. 101. It is an argument of a gracious heart, neither to divide in duties nor commands; neither to pleade a diſpenſation in the firſt nor in the ſecond Table: This was Pauls exerciſe, he as it were drove that trade foreign. And this is conſonant to the doctrine of the Goſpel. Univerſality is a diviſive difference, it diſtinguiſheth a Sheep from a …oat, a true from a formal Profeſſour; and a conſtitutive difference, to conſtitute Act. 24. 16. Ti…. 2. 11, 12 Pſal. 119. 6.a child of God. The univerſality reſpects (as I now mentioned) the object, the whole Law, all Gods Commandements; the ſubject, the whole man, at all places, and in all companies, to walk cloſely with God all the daies of our lives.
10. The Spirit is without guile: Heres an Iſraelite indeed without Charact. 10. A ſpirit without guile. Pſal. 32. 2. Joh. 1. 17.guile, ſuch was that excellent commendation that Chriſt gave Nathaniel. There are three words whereof a godly man is compounded foreign ſingleneſſe of heart, foreign ſimplicity, and foreign, ſincerity: You have two of them in one verſe, and thence was matter enough of rejoycing, 2 Cor. 1. 12. This we muſt labour for, even ſingleneſs, ſimplicity, and ſincerity, and acting upon theſe principles, wee may with comfort look the King of terrours in the face, when all carnal Machiavilian policies wil prove Phyſitians of no value.
11. There wil bee the practiſe of Mortification and Viviſication, Charact. 11. The practice of mortification.The mortifying of the deeds of the body, and the quickning of the graces of the Spirit, theſe are fruits of Regeneration and Repentance, Col. 3. 5. Rom. 8. 13. Never dream of a ſhorter cut to h…aven than the rule of the Word preſcribes. Mr. Perkins ſaith, He that was never truly humbled, never truly believed. O ſet upon the practiſe of Mortification, put to death theſe br…ts of Babylon, crucifie, ſlay, mortifie thy corruptions: …et this day be a ſlaughter day for thy ſins; ſpare not an an…ient ſinne; let not thine eye pity thy moſt delightful ſinne, butlet thy …ow be like the Bow of Jonathan, that never returned empty without the blood of the ſlaine: This is a ſevere way, but theres comfort in it. The Apoſtle uſeth two words, foreign (i. e.) the making of the body black and blew, and the bringing it into ſubjection. There may be no toleration of any ſinne. Take heed of eaſie, lazy wayes, pleaſing to thy corrupt nature, they are dangerous wayes. Follow the old light of the Word, that preſſeth Repentance, Humiliation, Mortification, that's Gods Law: Take heed of any Antinomian Ignes fatuos, which decrie ſo row for ſin; if thou followeſt them, thou wilt follow a blinde guide, and if the blinde lead the blinde, both will fall into the ditch.
12. And laſtly, there wil be a burning in love to Jeſus Chriſt; Charact. 12. There wil be a burning in love to Jeſus Chriſt.ſuch a love as many waters cannot quench, nor ſtood-gates drown it, Cant. 8. 7. The love of Chriſt wil con…rain him, 2 Cor. 5. 14. He wil doe and ſuffer out of a principle of love to Jeſus Chriſt: This man loves Chriſts image, holyneſſe, Chriſts Members, Joh. 13. 35. Chriſts …rdinances they are his delight and counſellors, Chriſts Meſſengers, the appearance of Jeſus Chriſt, 2 Cor. 4. 8. Tit. 2. 13. He longs for Chriſts comming, Rev. 22. 20. By all theſe ſignes and diſcriminating characters, we may judge of the Tree by the fruit, and conclude that heart to be a gracious heart that can produce theſe evidences; and where the heart is upright and holy, the converſation cannot but be ſuitable; when the heart is inlarged, the feet wil runne the wayes of Gods commandements. Put your ſelves to theſe Tryals proved to you from the Word of God, and your own conſciences.
The fo…rah Vſe ſhall be for Direction, how we ſhall make the beſt Uſe 4. For direction.uſe of this day of Judgement: In purſuance of this conſideration, what rules of directions muſt we obſerve, that from hence we may be engaged to a holy converſation? amongſt many I ſhall preſſe ſix Rules to be reduced to point of practiſe.
1. Pray for the Spirit of Sanctification: It's Gods will our Sanctification, we muſt pray that his will may be done in us, and by Rule. 1. Pray for the Spirit of Sanctificatiō.us; that Chriſts kingdome may be within us, that Chriſt would love and waſh us, and make us Kings and Prieſts unto God. This is a new creation, and requires an omnipotent hand, Pſal. 51. 10. This is the Apoſtles prayer for the Theſſalonians, that the God of peace would ſanctifie them. This is the prayer ſuitable to Gods will, and if …e… ask any thing according to Gods will he heareth us. We read of a ſpirit of holyneſſe, Rom. 1. 4. and ſanctification of the ſpirit. Pray hard for holyneſſe, wreſtle with God, be importunate for Grace, and when it's begunne pray for the conſummation of it, that hee that hath begun a good work will not leave it unfiniſhed till the day of Jeſus Chriſt.
2. Be much employed in waſhing and cleanſing thy heart. This Rule 2. Be much employed in waſhing thy heart.God calls for, Jer. 4. 14. There's a great deal of filthineſſe that lyes lurking in thy heart, many foul corners, O waſh and rinſe thy heart: there are many vain and wicked thoughts, theres in thy heart a ſtye, a ſink of filthineſſe, a cage of uncleane birds: Many naſty rotten thoughts, and wicked imaginations doth this womb conceive: Try thy heart throughly, be better acquainted at home; doeſt thou hope to have benefit by Chriſt, ſee to thy duty to purifie 1 Joh, 3 3. Jam. 14 8thy ſelf, to cleanſe thy hands, and purifie thy heart; this is a needfull ſtudy, its time well imployed in ſearching our hearts, in waſhing and purifying of the inward man.
3. Be much exerciſed in divine meditation: Meditate frequently Rule 3. Be exerciſed the divine in art of meditation.of the four laſt things, Death, Judgement, Hell, and Heaven Entertain frequent, and ſerious thoughts of …ternity. It's a poynt: of underſtanding and wiſdome to conſider our latter end. Meditate what a holy place heaven is, what holy company, and what holy employments aret here. Nothing that defileth ſhall ever come there Get up into the Mount with Moſes; let thy affections ſoare aloft, being carried aloft with the wings of heavenly meditation. This was Iſaacs practiſe, Davids, and Pauls: Were you acquainted with the ſingular benefit of Meditation, you would not lye groveling here below; your words, thoughts, whole converſations would bee in heaven.
4. Conſider the omnipreſence and omniſcience of God; whither Rule 4. Conſider Gods omnipreſence.canſt thou goe from his preſence? how canſt thou eſcape his knowledge? If I ſinne, (ſaith Job) he marketh me, Job 10. 14, 15. God ſeeth thy ſecret ſinnes, hee knoweth all thy reſervations and cunning conveyances. All things are naked unto him with whom thou haſt to deale, and without holyneſſe thou ſhalt never ſee the face of God with comfort. The ſerious conſideration of the Omnipreſence and Omniſcience of God, through the grace of God may prevaile with us to a circumſpect, and holy converſation.
5. Set an high eſtimate upon, and frequent diligently the holy Rule 5, Conſider Gods Ordinances.Ordinances of God: They are called, The beauties of Holyneſſe, Pſal. 110. 3. There is a cleanſing virtue in the Word of God, Pſal. 119. 9. Gods face is beautifull, his holyneſſe is his beauty. Now by the face of God, Calvin underſtands the Ordinances of God, Pſal. 27. 8. Wait then, O▪ Chriſtian, at the poſts of Wiſdoms gate; lye in the way where Chriſt comes by; tarry at theſe Betheſdaes. The Ordinances are the golden Pipes to conveigh the golden Oyle; take heed of ſitting looſe from them: Bleſſe God that your eyes behold your Teachers, and that your Goſpel is not driven into corners: Improve theſe prices and ſpiritual advantages for the good of your precious ſouls.
6. And laſtly, aſſociate your ſelves with holy company: Love Rule 6. Aſſocia…e your ſelves with holy company.where God loves; now the Lord loveth his Saints: It was Davids profeſſion, that his delight was in the Saints, Pſal. 16. 2, 3. Bee a companion to thoſe that fear God. If a dead coale be neare a live co…le, it may be inkindled by it; but if two live coales be together, what abundance of heate will they give? We read, Mal. 3. 16. That they that feared the Lord ſpake often one to another. Let not Chriſtians be ſtrange and ſhie of one anothers company: But let's unite as one man to conſerre all our intereſts to give each other a lift to heaven: Make them thy companions on earth whom thou hopeſt to enjoy in heaven to all eternity.
The laſt Uſe (and ſo in a few words to conclude) is a word of Uſe 5. For Conſolation.Conſolation, unto holy perſons, true beleevers, the adopted ſonnes and daughters of God, when the day of Judgement comes, and the whole world is in a flame, they ſhall bee of good comfort: That day which will be a day of terrour and revenge to the wicked, ſhall be a day of refreſhing and reſtitution unto them. The Saints that ſleep in the grave ſhall be awakned at the ſound of the Trumpet, and their bodies and ſoules ſhall bee reunited, and they ſh…ll receive the conſummation of their happyneſſe: The Saints that are alive ſhall be caught up together with thoſe that are dead in Chriſt in the cloudes to meet the …ord in the air, and ſo ſhall be ever with the Lord. The inference the Apoſtle makes ſhould be ours; wherefore 1 Theſ. 4. 18.comfort one another with theſe words.
O but I cannot ſee this in me, I would be holy, yet I cannot find this growth of holyneſſe in me. Is this thy caſe? goe thy way to God, challenge him with his promiſe; put his bond in ſuit: Hee commands, make you a clean heart, but doth he not promiſe to give it, Ezek. 36. 25. Comfort thy ſelf with Chriſts praier to the Father: He prayes, Father ſanctifie them through thy truth. And know, there may be grace where feeling may be wanting. Its an excellent Joh. 17. 17. Eph. 1. 13.ſaying of Mr. Greenham, We hold Chriſt by faith and not by feeling: Feeling is an after thing: After ye beleeved ye were ſealed with that holy ſpirit of promiſe. Is it the deſire and endeavour of thy ſoule to be holy? Notwithſtanding infirmities, yet is thy heart ſingle and without guile, be of good comfort thou ſhalt hold up thy head with comfort at that great day of accompt, when the wicked ſhall wiſh that the mountains might fall upon them, and the hills cover them from the face of the Lamb, thou ſhalt behold Chriſt in the face with comfort, when all theſe viſible things ſhall be diſſolved, and the elements ſhall melt with fervent heat, thou ſhalt be glad and rejoice at that day, and enjoy eternall felloſhip with the bleſſed Trinity, in whoſe preſence there is fulneſs of joy, and at whoſe right hand there are pleaſures for evermore. Did we but ſeriouſly conſider of Pſal. 16. 11.theſe things, wee ſhould deſire to bee diſſolved, and to be with Chriſt; we ſhould cry, Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly: we ſhould have the Moon under our feet, we ſhould negotiate for the great things of eternity. May all things that have been ſaid, make deep impreſſion upon our ſpirits, and prevaile with us to the love and practiſe of holyneſſe, looking for, and haſting unto the comming of God. Though at that day the world be on fire, we ſhall be ſafe, though there ſhall be a general Aſſize wee ſhall be acquitted, and that day of Judgement will be the Saints refreſhing day; Chriſt is their Redeemer and Interceſſour. VVho would not now be in love with holyneſs? holyneſs will be holyneſs indeed at that day. Only holy perſons ſhall hold up their heads with comfort, they only ſhall be able to ſtand in judgement: God onelyonly that made the heart can cleanſe it; Chriſt doth love and waſh his people: Lets therefore pray for holyneſſe, follow after holyneſſe. Thus our fruit being unto holyneſſe, our end will be happyneſſe.