THE STRENGTH OF THE SAINTS TO MAKE Jesus CHRIST Their STRENGTH. Which Heavenly Skill was briefly Commended and Prescribed in a Morning Exercise in WESTMINSTER ABBEY. the xixth. of April, 1648. By THOMAS HILL D, D. and Master of Trinity college in CAMBRIDGE. 1 COR. 15. 7, 10. By the Grace of God I am that I am. Gratia ipsa est boni in nobis creatrix. Prosper de lib. Arb. Hanc abundantiorem Gratiam ita credimus potentem, ut negemus vl●lentam. Prosper de Vocat. Gent. lib. 2. c. 26. LONDON, Printed for Peter Cole at the printing-press in Cornhill, near the Royal-exchange. 1648. To The Right Honourable the Lords, the Noble Knights, and other Honoured Gentlemen of the Committee for the Managing the affairs at WESTMINSTER. E. Northumberl. E. Pembroke. E. Nottingham. E. Denbigh. E. Manchester, L. Visc, Say & Seal, L. North. L. Montague. L. Roberts. L. Howard. S. Gilbert Gerard. S. John Dreydon. S. Robert Harley. S. Wil. Strickland. S. Hen. Vane, jun. S. Walt. Earl. S. Wil. Massam. S. Robert Pye. S. John Trevor. S. Anth. Irby. M. solicitor. M. Rous. M. Ashurst. M. Reynolds. Denis Bond. bolstered Whitlock M. Guorden. M. Maynard. M. Lisle. M. Salwey. M. Wheeler. M. Hoyle All fidelity and happy success in your High and Honourable Trusts, and the discharge of your manifold Stewardships. WHen I read over in my thoughts the pleasing story of Divine Providence, in guiding the Honourable Houses of Parliament, in committing to you the Managing of Westminster Affaires, both in reference to the abbey and school, and observe the happy fruits of your care (by God's good hand upon you therein) in both which I (though most unworthy) have been employed and entrusted by the favour of those who had power; I think it my duty to take the first opportunity publicly to acknowledge the mercy of God to many in your prudent zeal for the good of those Places, and with all thankfulness your most respective acceptance of my poor endeavours therein. O how many do bless God for the sweet change they find in their Morning Exercises; now they have rather the means of a heart and life Religion amongst them. Not Pompous Altars only to humour the Eyes, and taking music to please their ears. All such a Let the Bishops take care quod in Divino servitionon tam onerosa prolixitas quam devota & integra brevitas servetur saith Petrus de Alliaco consid. 3. v. Fast. Rerum 206. p. tedious b Ecclesia non assumit Musica instrumenta, sicut Cytharas & Psalteria, indivinasliudes ne vidiatur I●dizar●. Aq. secunda secundae. 9 21. Art. 2. chants with music and multiplied repetitions did little edify the mind of Hearers; had little saving influence upon their Hearts; which many will tell you to the Praise of God in these Morning Exercises they have found. Neither hath your industrious Love of Westminster school been fruitless, which is an high point of Wisdom in seeking the regulating and furnishing schools with able Masters (which will never be done without more encouraging Salaries) Good Ministers, good Magistrates, and good schoolmasters, are like to make that place happy where they meet. And what school calls for more vigilant superintendency than this of Westminster it being a most famous Nursery, subservient to inns of Court where many Parliament men, Nobles and Gentry in their tender years, may be either seasoned with good, or desperately leavened with evil, and not only supplying other colleges, but having a special subordinate reference to the two great colleges of both Universities. (if they come there with a Canker at the Root, they are not easily recovered. There is a sensible alteration Trinity Coll. in Cambridge. Christ's Church in Oxford. which two Col. ordinarily receive more scholars yearly from Westmin. ni fallor, than are sent from Eton and Winchester. Pueri Ingenui. Pueri Ingeniosi. (blessed be God) much more civility in the schools than formerly: (the care of Mr. Buzby in instructing the scholars, he being both very able and industrious, deserves encouragement) yet nonnulla desiderantur. I will confidently express my thoughts, were the morals, and spirituals in westminster-school answerable to the intellectuals, it would be inferior (to say no more) to none in England. Any that knows it will acknowledge that there is a kind of hereditary raised genius, entailed upon them: and were the scholars always as ingenuous, at they are ingenious, we should much more rejoice in their transplanting to us. Your Noble candour will allow me a wonted {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and encourage me to speak out, especially the Election being at hand Be pleased to accept of what plain hints follow from him who desires faithfully Humble Desires tendered to the Honourable Committee for Westmin. school. to serve you in your advancing the public. In your Elections its good to beware of Error in the first Concoction, I mean in your choice of youths into King's scholars places; it is expected then, that in time they should be elected to one of the colleges (for ordinarily the whole seventh Form, have been by desert or favour removed; if so, you will send some drones amongst us, which will hinder the Bees, or if they stay in the school still, they will be there as Slugs and Pull-back examples to others; they being habituated in After 18. years of age by Statute they should be turned out of the schools. infectious courses: And if you omit to elect them, they must (being superannuated) be most disgracefully thrown off, unless you will please to raise means to dispose of them in some other good callings; which were honourable indeed. 2. That there may be a Godly able Catechist to instruct them in the Principles of Religion, (such a one the Statutes of the college allowed and appointed an honourable yearly stipend for him) frequently, And withal that they (though but circularly by 3, or 4 in a morning) may have leave to come to the Morning Sermon in the Note. Abbey. I know one of the scholars of singular hopes now in the University, who hath punctually discovered unto me, how God was pleased powerfully to open his eyes, and to turn him from darkness to light in one of those Morning Sermons. 3. I humbly conceive the Statutes of Westminster Coll. need reviewing; there is such a form of Grace (as it is vulgarly called) before and after Meat prescribed therein, as at the first sight you will conclude savoures very much of the darkness of those Popish times wherein they were first penned. 4. If there were now and then an inspection, examination, and trial of their scholar's progress in Piety and Learning, with a visible encouragement of such as do well, it would be in stead of many Spurs, to such as are ingenious. Mr. Buzby hath often assured me, that any one coming in there, and putting them to versify, doth incredibly whet up, and raise their fancies, which would be much more prevailing if Persons of Quality would honour them with their presence. 5. There is I fear some corner in the school full of Leaven which spreals most unhappily: Your inquisition after, purgation of it, likewise Exod. 12. 7 Electors by Statute the Dean of Westminster and his Assistant: M. of Trin. Col. cam. & his Assistant; Dean of Christ's church. Oxf. with his Assistant, and the School Master. the removing it utterly, (as the Jews were wont to do all Leaven out of their houses, with burning and execration of it, would he of singular use. I take the boldness to tender this to all the other Electers, and would charge it conscientiously upon myself. I doubt there is much of this Leaven lurks amongst youths in the seventh form, (let the most vigilant Master do what he can. 1. When they are advanced thither, they are all (I think) Monitors, wherein divers of them show most Tyranni●●●●ride, making inferiors sell their Books sometimes to serve their Lusts, and humour their prodigality, (Which they will not forget at the University) else they must expect to be in the Black Bill. 2. The aull slugs stay longest there, and they being radicated in evil like rotten Apples upon an heap, too often make others putrid, remiss, negligent, learn to swear. Lie, &c. 3. There are others, being emproved in their Intellectuals, grow so full of self-confidence, that they shamefully degenerate when they come to the University. Hence ( c Monacho tepido Abbati calido Episcopo tepido Archiepiscopo pergidis as once the Pope wrote to Baldwin) when at Westminster, Golden scholars, afterwards when in the university, Leaden Sophisters, and most drossy bachelors, unprofitable Burdens in the place suckirg the fatness of the soil &c. 4. Their long continuance at school, especially of after elected to Cambridge or Oxford, makes them grow headstreng too often and {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} rebellious against the Master, and steel others as well as themselves, with impudence, which we find after by sad experience. In the last place, unless there be much circumspection in the choice of their Tutors, especially in these times when they come to the universities, all your former care may be lost. It is a lamentable spectacle to see goodly ships miscarry in the Haven for want of an able and vigilant Pilot. Many very hopeful youths miserably undone for want of learned, godly, grave, and prudent Tutors, and such as are hearty friends to a through Reformation, which makes many tender hearted Parents bleed with perpetual sorrow. I hope the Lord, who hath already done much by you, will make you yet more renowned Instruments of his service, as in many other things, so in your encouraging and promoting Piety and Learning in Westminster; If he please to honour you to purge schools and universities, you may with more encouragement raise feoffees to buy in Above 9000. Churches and chapels in England and Wales. I wish half so many Godly, Learned Ministers for the present. impropriations, you will soon (by God's blessing) have able men to send abroad as Evangelical Preachers till you have enough to fix in all places, and good lustices of Peace, as also solid, able, Parliament men all which my Lords and Gentlemen, is the earnest Prayer of Your most unworthy and humble Servant THOMAS HILL. Westminster, May, 3. 164● To the Right Reverend, Doct Stanton, Mr. Marshal, Mr. Herles, Mr. Nie, Mr. Whitaker, and Mr. Strong. Morning Lecturers in Westminster Abby, by the appointment of the Honourable Houses of PARLIAMENT, Abundance of the Spirit of JESUS CHRIST. YOu may justly wonder (and it may be will blameme) that I should be so forward to appear (especially at this time being weakened by a quartan Ague of above seven months' continuance) in so Dedecus Medicorum. public a dress, which, (what ever little warmth of Spirit may (by the good hand of God arise to myself in the preparation of it) yet will have very little beauty in the eyes of others, when it comes abroad. But (so far as I understand my own deceitful heart) I can truly say, I have reckoned this one of the most smarting twigs in this rod, They only live to the public who can act for the public. that by my long sickness, I have been so much dead to the public; and therefore whereas I might have preached many Sermons (had the Lord been pleased to continue my health, to one Congregation, I may now in this way communicate one plain Sermon to many Congregations. And withal I can ingeniously say, I have watched for an opportunity publicly to congratulate your most advantageous improvement for the church's service, in the continuance of your peaceable Gospel employment so happily begun in these Morning Exercises in Westminster Alii dolant lapides vos verò Architectos. Acts 19 23, 26. Abbey where you preach to Builders of Church and State, and the rather because I believe at first we all thought who were designed to that service, there would be no small stir about this way, as Paul said in the Acts, being Demetrius and his Company were like to have their Trade marred in preparing for their great Diana, by the light and power of Gospel Truth. But I hope we shall all the more confidently trust God whilst we live for the subduing of opposite Spirits, in the midst of any threatning Difficulties, when he leads us forth into his work, b●y the experience of his good hand upon us here. And I conceive I have as much reason with humble thankfulness to the God of Peace to congratulate that sweet, harmonious (I had almost Fronmarch 1643. till Febr. 1645, when I left it being sent down to Cambridge. 3 John 9 said unparalleled) Union amongst you, of which I was a joyful witness for well nigh two years together, whereas so many other Lectures have been shattered by Envy, and the spirit of Diotrephes some one amongst them affecting the pre-eminence. As also that visible success in the fruit of your pains, and the general acceptance you have, manifested by the numerous and almost uniform frequency of the auditors in Winter as well as Summer, whereas the people's coming with respect of persons hath broken the neck of many other good Lectures. Only herein my joy is somewhat damped, that I was not more useful a {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} when I was engaged in that honourable service with you: blessed be the Lord of the Harvest, who hath in mercy thrust forth such a faithful Labourer into this large Field, who may supply Mr. Strong. my defects in being more helpful unto you. The Lord Jesus who hath promised not only to drop but power out his Spirit as a precious fruit of his ascension, give you as able a Teacher in the place of that Man of God, Mr. Palmer, who now in Heaven inherits the sweet fruit of his sincere and indefatigable pains in the work of the Lord, whose Name will (I hope) be precious in Westminster for ever. The mighty Spirit of the Lord Jesus work in you, for you, and by you powerfully, and grant you may go forth conquering to conquer, rescuing many poor captive souls from under the power of the Devil: Be faithful in his service unto the death, and he will give you the Crown of life. Rev. 2. 10. Farewell in Him. Entertain this with your wonted candour from your weak Fellow soldier, for Christ, and most unworthy Brother in Him. Thomas Hill. From my lodging in Westminster, May. 1. 1648. The strength of the Saints to make Jesus Christ their strength. 2 Tim. 2. 1. Thou therefore my son be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. O Blessed Paul, what an happy improvement didst thou make of all thy glorious visions of Christ, and of thine heavenly rapture into such near communion with thy Saviour. Thereby thou didst gain such transcendent opinions of him, that as a man topful of him thou didst speak the greatest things of him. Witness the vast differeence between Saul & Paul. Act. 9 1. 2. There Saul like a furious Apparritor to the Jewish high Commission, breathes out threatenings and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord. And then Paul after Jesus Christ had met him so effectually, vers. 20 straight way Called Paul after his converting sergiva Paulus. he preached Christ in the Synagogues, that he is the son of God. O admirable power of grace! straightway after, being a persecuting Saul, is now become a gracious preaching Paul. he felt the happy influence of this grace in the Text. It's observed that you have Christ mentioned in Paul's Epistles 223 times, and Jesus at least 233 times. To make up this number, Paul contributes very much in his Epistles; His spirit was so brimful of Christ, that his Pen overflows with his Name; whom several times he mentions Christ in 10 verses in the beginning of the first Chapter of the first Epistle Note. to the Corinthians. Upon very good reason might Paul thank Christ that enabled him and counted him faithful, putting him into the Ministry. Fidelity and ability two great mercies when bestowed on a Minister Upon this stock of grace in Christ Non significat imbecillas vires a ugere, vel quasi collapsas sustinere, sed vire● ei endure cui ne voluntas quidem in sit, into verô qui in contrariam partem totus feratur Beza in lo cum. did the Martyrs spend when so victorious. Heb. 11. 33, 34, 35. Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, qnencheà the violence of fire, cscaped the edge of the sword, (a) out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to slight the Armies of aliens, women received their dead raised to life again; and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. What a full and rich expression is this, Out of weakness were made strong, nothing previously preparatory in them towards this strength, out of weakness made strong, they were first receptive of strength from Christ, before they could be active for Christ; This leads me to the second observation, the former having been handled in the foregoing Sermon, which was this, 1. There is a spring of strengthening Grace in Christ Jesus, for the advantage of Saints. The second observation, which is this followeth, naturally arising out of the words. It is the strength of Christians, their only strength, to learn Doct. 2. how to make the Lord Jesus their strength; You have an excellent place to confirm it in Eph. 6. 10. Finally my Brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of hus might: Be strong, good reason for it: but where lies the strength? in the Lord, that is the former point, and in the power of his might; Go not out in any strength of your own, any confidence of it, for all is but impotency; but in the power of his might: This is very significantly in the Text by the Apostle Paul: Possibly there may be such an Emphasis in the composition, some {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}. intention; he doth not say, there is a strength within thee: Three things for the explication. But where shall I have it? from Christ; it is the strength of Christ Jesus; in him is all thy strength: I shall branch this before I come to the Application, to three heads: First, I will endeavour as God shall please to enable, to demonstrate the wisdom of this course the wisdom of it, for a Christian to learn this heavenly skill, how to make the Lord Jesus his strength; 2. To show you the effectual purposes of it, what good ends it serves to: 3. The possibility of it; 1. The wisdom of it; and that will appear upon these 1. The wisdom of Saints making Christ their strength. four considerations. 1. If you do but think upon your own impotency, reflect upon yourselves when you have been at the best, when you have thought your mountain hath been immovable, and you have stood most sure, have not you sometimes soon after driven 1. Consider. very heavily in duties, as if your chariot wheels had been knocked off, & when you have thought to have done best, you come off most dryly? yea I am confident that divers Ministers understand this, and it may be others in part Est spiritualis ariditas. too, they have been preparing a sermon, and thought, O certainly, this passage will take, and it may be win souls, and when they in preaching or in praying have had some proud reflections upon such expressions, enlargements or hints from heaven, a little weed of pride hath begun to spring up, and Note. (men love to much to look upon their own seeming beauty, and their own flashes,) hath provoked God suddenly to withdraw his spirit, presently thy strength hath failed, and thou art at a loss; what doth this argue there is an impotency in thy 2. Consider. self. As there is an impotency in thyself, and therefore it is thy wisdom to make Jesus Christ thy strength, so there is an insufficiency in all the best of Ordinances, they are but created means at the most, and further than the Creator continues to be a Preserver, and a Governor, and an Actor of his own workmanship, it can do nothing: many that lived under the most pure and precious Ordinances, where Paul was a Preacher, yea where Jesus Christ preached so many powerful sermons upon earth, yet you know there were Scribes and Pharisees still that did imprison those precious Gospel truths, that not only for the excellency, but for the novelty of them, should have been entertained, (Men use to bid welcome new things;) yet all would not do, (not as to the Ordinances themselves for then all would have been converted) only as Jesus Christ came in and seized upon such a soul, so many and no more werewon upon to embrace him; but self and Ordinances, as is spoken as I remember in that of Job: the latter end, Job. 28, 12, 14. &c. concerning wisdom: c 28. v. 12, 14. &c. depth saith it is not in me and earth and sea, and all disclaim wisdom, it is not in me, we have heard of the fame thereof, but it is not in us; and so indeed may all the Ordinances say strength is not in me; and Ordinances indeed will speak great things of the strength of grace in Christ Jesus; but they will tell you, though it be set forth, it is not to be had in us, it is to be had only in Jesus Christ himself. 3. You may please to consider this, that Jesus Christ hath strength confined to him hath an office to that purpose, a commission 3. Consider. under the broad seal of Heaven; all things are put into his hand the Spirit of strength and all; God the Father loved him and hath put all things into his hand, He being Immanuel God man, and the only mediator to bring sinful man into a capacity to Joh. 3 34. receive grace and glory from God 2 Pet. 1. 3. And thus all this strength is concenterd in Jesus Christ, and so confined to him that there is not the least drop or dram of spiritual strength, but what comes derivatively and redundantly from him: Trust in the Lord Jehovah, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength; he was Abraham's rock to anchor upon, and though many waves may have beat upon it since, Isa 26. 4. yet it is not wasted; the same rock in David's time, the same rock in Paul's time, the same rock for his poor Saints in {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} In Jehovah petra seculorum. this time; blessed be his name, he is the rock of Ages, and therefore everlasting strength always to overflow to his people. Fourthly and lastly, It is a high point of wisdom, because a Christian will have so much need of this strengthening grace from Christ there is an hint to this purpose in, the 6. Ephes. 10. 4. Consider. a place I named before; there is a {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}: Finally my Brethren, as if Paul should have said, I have been leading you through the great and mysterious depths of the Gospel matters of speculation, in the Chap. 1, 2, and 3. I have been leading you through the practicals of Christianity; in the fourth I have been putting you upon the exercise of relative graces, in the fifth and sixth telling you what husbands should do to their wives, and wives to their husbands; parents to their children, and children to their parents: But there is another piece behind that must not be forgotten, you must make account to conflict with temptations, and therefore endeavour after conflicting graces; you must wrestle many a fall with the devil, before you go to heaven; a you must wrestle with God, so Conflicting graces very necessary to enable us to out wrestle the devil's temptation. Luk. 18 21, 22. you must wrestle against the devil; you will not be able to do this by any strength of your own, the devil is a strong man, and there must be one that is stronger than he, that must be able to bind him, and take away his armour from him, and that is only Jesus Christ; therefore a high point of wisdom it will be for all the Saints to learn this heavenly skill, how to make Jesus Christ their strength; the next thing I proposed was this. To what effectual purpose is this, for the Saints to be at cost and charges to learn this skill? 2. To what good purposes Saints should learn to make Christ their strength. 1. Hereby their spiritual and eternal estate will be much more confirmed and settled, being established in the faith, being rooted and grounded in Christ, in t e 2 Coloss. 6, 7. and you shall find all this is by being in Christ, for he wishes them in the 8. vers. take heed of vain Philosophy, or any thing which is not after Christ, any thing which should draw you from Christ; your rooting, your establishing lies in Christ, he is the root of your strength, and he it the foundation of your ability. 2. It will conduce to this purpose to enable you to perform good duties, and that with life and power; it is not enough for Christians to have a formality of godliness, an outward form, that is a pretty step, and very desirable; but you should have truth of godliness, that is a better step; and I will add this, there is a best step, not only truth, but strength; you must not have a form of godliness and deny the power thereof; in the 2. of Timoth. 3, 5. such persons are one of the Catalogue that shall help to make the last days perilous 2 Tim. 3. 1, 5. , and indeed the more dangerous, because the less discernible. 3. It will conduce much to this happy purpose, to fit you for variety of conditions; you may be led forth to prosperity, you may have sudden removes and changes from advesiry to prosperity, and from prosperity to adversity, and therein many lose themselves; It is clean water indeed, that when the glass is shaked, there is no filth appears: O they are rooted Christians in Christ, and have a great deal of strength, that walk unchangeably with God in changes, that are the same in all varieties; {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}. (Solomon and Ezekiah lost themselves therein;) this you cannot do but through Christ; Paul had learned particular lessons for particular estates, I have learned to want, I have learned to abound, and whence? I can do all things through Christ enabling me; Phil. 4. 12. And from the grace of Christ enabling him. You may be led forth to searching temptations; and then you'll be at great losses, and plunges, without this strengthening grace of Christ; A little temptation will prostrate a strong Saint, if he be left to himself; it must be the issuing So Moses {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, when a train for his Court preferment had been laying 40. years Heb. 11. 25. 26 Mal. 2. 4. of continual supplies, from the Lord Jesus Christ that must animate; As constancy of supply from the sun, doth quicken the plants here; when he withdraws the sap retires into the root, and trees look as if they were almust dead, when he returns, he brings a spring with him; so indeed doth the sun of righteousness, into poor and (seemingly at least) withered or dying souls: Fiftly and lastly, and that may add a very great Emphasis to all the rest. It will conduce much to this purpose; To have anhappy return of their prayers. If his words abide in you, and you abide in him in the 15 John 8. ask what you will and it shall be done unto you; Ask what you will, there is none in the world but are desirous, in some degree & often moved very inordinately, to have their wills the great controversy on foot upon earth from time to time Note and that that hath cost so much bloodshed in England, and in other placesis this, Who should have their will; now if you would have your will, I mean here a rectified will, a holy, a gratcious will, if you would have it fulfilled and gratified, let the words of Christ abide in you, and do you abide in him; get that strength from him, from his quickening word and quickening spirit that hereby you may be fruitful in the strength of his grace, and you shall have your wills, the third thing proposed, for explication follows. 3. possibility of obtaining this skill to make christ our strength. The possibility of this; how is it possible that Jesus Christ's strength should be conveyed to us, that we should make another's strength, our strength? The Papists have a great quarrel against justification by imputed righteousness, and they call it putative, and take upon them (at least) that they do not, or will not understand, how it is possible for a man to be justified by another's righteousness; Can a man be warmed by another's clothes, (say they) can a man be wise by another's wisdom? Note I answer, it is very easily possible, if that another man's wisdom be made ours, or another man's clothes be put upon us; so this is possible, if Jesus Christ's strength be made ours; that is the thing, the Apostle presses it here, be strong in the Grace in Jesus Christ, let this be your care, how to make the strength of Christ yours; and therefore (I say) this possibility will be reduced to act in these three particulars; First, by our Union with Christ, when once you are united unto Jesus Christ, what is Christ is yours, for union makes way It's possible upon a threefold account. to communion; If there be a Union with him, there is a Communion with him, and a Communication of what he hath to us; 1. By our union with Christ. As he communicates his righteousness for our justification, communicates his glory for our glorification so he communicates his spirit for our strength and holiness, and also conveys quickening grace to us first by our union with him. 2. By impressions from him; for when ever Jesus Christ draws us to union with him, he than draws us to communion with him in By impressions from his spirit. his Ordinances; If we indeed have communion with him, we go away with an Ordinance tincture, a Gospel impression upon our spirits, in some degree moulded into that word, that was made known 2 Cor. 2. 18. to us, and delivered to us, that you think, and speak, and act, in some conformity to that word that was delivered to you; and this is the blessed advantage of this morning's exercise, if people have hearts to make use of them, that before the devil hath Rom. 6. 17. taken possession, of your souls, the spirit of God shall prevent him, and here you shall have the gospel, come warm next your hearts, and that you may have something there, that may leave such a tincture that may fortify you against the incursions of temptations, & the ordinary invasions of the devil, O that Westminster Citizens would consider it, and know the day of their visitation. here is strengthening grace conveyed by these impressions: as when a man throws a stone out of his hands, Philosophers have very great disputes how it is possible that a stone should move, they tell you there is an impression of something upon it vis impressa. I am sure, here is an impression, when Jesus Christ comes into the soul, and draws nigh to it, and puts Fortit●r & suaviter movet. somewhat into it, and by a sweet and a loving violence, carries on the soul in duty. Thirdly, As by a union with him, as by an impression made 3. By influence from Christ. upon us, by him, so by a continued influence from him; It is not enough to have union with him, it is not enough to have an impression made upon our spirits from him, bulit is his continued influence that doth it; when there is an obstruction in the passages, either betwixt the Liver, and Heart, and the Vitals and other parts, or betwixt the head, and the parts whence sense and motion should be conveyed; in any of those passages when there is any obstruction, at what a loss are we presently because the continual influence is hindered when there is no such thing that doth obstruct, and hinder the sweet intercourse betwixt the soul and Christ, and illapses from the spirit of Christ into our spirits; O it is that that doth indeed strengthen and animate them; and so you see the possibility: Here is some seasonable use in the first place. I hope therefore, if it be so, you that are standers by (as Use I doubt there may be some here are still unacquainted with Jesus Christ, and at an unhappy distance from him, all this while (the Lord if it be his will discover so much of his goodness to you, that you may long after intimacy with him,) no such friend on this side heaven unto you) I say if there be such strength in him, and it be such a high point of wisdom for Christians to make him their strength, for all supplies, O think the better of him, I beseech you do not entertain any hard thoughts of Jesus Christ; let not either the weaknesses or impotencies of God's people, nor their failings, nor any prejudicate opinions that carnal men would scatter amongst you, any of your fellow drunkards, or Atheists, or Formalists, or what ever they are concerning Jesus Christ, let not them nourish in you a low opinion, it is the way to undo you; for all your strength lies in Him, you will never be able to overcome the least sin, or passion nor the least temptation without the powerful grace of Jesus him; (and then indeed you are everlastingly undone, if you cannot overcome the least evil;) Alas what will become of poor souls? it would grieve one to think of it, that it may be are under the greatest snares, as of bad company for 20 years together, so hedged in with carnal friends and acquaintance, poor children with carnal fathers and mothers, and it may be a very carnal wife, sometimes a most carnal husband, and here she is entangled, tyrannised over &c. Brethren, I beseeh you consider it well, and you that have got any acquaintance with Jesus Christ already, O pity poor souls that do not know where their strength lies, nor have learned how to make use of him, & use all the Art you can, how to breed such opinions in them, of Jesus Christ, and his grace, that they may fall in love with him; It may be when they come to die, than they will send for their Minister, and then they would hear something of Christ. O but there is a sad story of a mean person that made love to one that had some kind of height of Condition, who would not; when he was grown great, than she would have had him, than he would not, he returned her this Very dangerous to put off Christ. answer, you were wise, I am wise, you will not before, now I will not; what if Jesus Christ should return you this answer, when you are upon your sick beds, and you send for your Ministers, and nothing will satisfy you, but the Communion then, though Contemnere Sacramenta, damat non illa non habere. you cared not for Communion with Christ in your health neither can you make out upon any clear grounds of Scripture, why you should then so much desire it; and you would then it (may be) be absolved though you have no evidence at all in scripture for it, but what if Jesus Christ should return you this answer? I will lock up my Ministers Spirit, that it may be he shall not be able to pray for you, or at least lock up Heaven gates against Jer. 11. 14. & 14. 11. his prayers, that he will not hear; and so upon this ground you are for ever undone, if millions of Angels, if all the glorified Saints and Angels in Heaven, should join their prayers together, to beseige the Throne of grace for you, they could not prevail; and therefore let that be your care, I beseech you, to labour to gain good opinions of Jesus Christ, in them that they may heartily embrace him. If this be so, that it is the only strength of Christians, to make Jesus Christ their strength, give me leave to commend a friendly, Use 2. a brotherly caution to you at this time, Take heed of resting Caution. upon any thing below Jesus Christ, for so far as you fall short of Him, so far you fall short of strength; when you would attempt any thing, & you think to catch hold of such a rope, or lay hold of such a pole, if you be to go over a bridge, and you come short of it, down you may fall off the bridge, and break your neck; and truly so it is, with many thousand souls, they have wishings and wouldings, and some dull velleities, some lazy purposes, and promises, sick-bed-vows they have, but alas, all this falls short of Christ, and so far they shall fall short of heaven, & roar eternally in hellish torments, in a remediless estate, bewailing themselves, that they have no better improved Jesus Christ in the day of their Visitation, when He did with so much loving importunity and with so much unwearied patience stand Rev. 3. 20. and knock at the door, Oh than it will be too late, it may be then you'll weep over yourselves, as Jesus Christ did over Jerusalem, Oh that I had known the day of my Visitation, but now I see these things are hid from my eyes, and now eternal desolation in the depth of hellish torments will be my remediless portion; Oh! how sad will this be; therefore accept of this Caution, and these are four friendly Items under it. First, I beseech you beware, that you do not rest upon your own preparations for Ordinances: It is a very commendable thing, I 1. Friendly Item. 1 Rest not upon your own Preparations for ordinances would have you pray that you may pray, and I would have you draw nigh, and make use of secret Communion with God, before you are to come to a Communion, and when you come to seek Communion with Him in a Sermon, let that be your great care, but take heed you do not rest upon your own preparation when you have prepared; for if you advance them into the Throne of Jesus Christ, and rest upon them, when you should rest only upon Him, truly it is the way to make all your preparations miscarry, and in stead of fruit, you'll have dry breasts, and a miscarrying womb; you'll have nothing at all come to any perfection; let the Saints that are acquainted with such trading at the Throne of grace, (as I hope divers of you are) reflect and consult sometimes with their own experience, if it hath not been so; Have not you when you have prayed very much before a Sermon, (it may be) got little by the Sermon, though it was a very wholesome one? Have not you many times when you thought you had been prepared, and having kept a secret day of humiliation, (if there were no public opportunities) before a Communion, have not you found that sometimes you have had even then lesser comfort at communion? what is the reason of this? Though God doth ordinarily dispense mercy, according to our care to prepare, yet sometimes he will not do it, and then especially, when there is any little carnal dependence Note. upon what we have done, for we may be carnally dependent upon Spiritual preparations for Spiritual duties: when there is the least degree of carnal dependence upon our preparations, he will not bear any thing, to be a Corrival with Jesus Christ, and therefore he will let us see, that we shall fall short for that time of what we expected, and so do us good, and make us more fit another time. Secondly. As I would have you beware of resting in your preparations for an Ordinance, so do not rest upon your enlargments 2. Friendly Item. Rest not upon your enlargements in duty Jude 10. 20. in an Ordinance; It may be you have a springtide of assistance comes in, a Minister preaches with great presence of the Spirit of God, and a Saint prays (as we find it) in the holyghost, finds the holy Spirit of God leading him from Petition to Petition, and melting him with brokenness, when he is confessing sin, and filling him with rejoicing, when he is remembering mercy, and raising him with a high wing (as it were) of importunity, when he is begging of favour; as it was an admirable temper in holy Bradford, that he was not content, till he found God coming in to his spirit, with several dispensations, according to the several parts of his Prayer? Sometimes a Minister, and a Saint finds it thus: And so in other holy Ordinances, if you go away as soon as ever Duty is done, and stroke yourselves, Oh! what an admirable prayer was here: and surely I shall do well this day, now, and I shall be able to wrestle with all temptations, I have prayed well in the morning, and I have felt God with me; this is the way to miscarry, thousands have found it, and I am sure some Note. of us can seal to it, when they have thought they have prayed with most assistance from God, and have been warmed in the morning; but the weeds spring up even when the weather is dry, you that converse with gardens know it, you need never sow weeds; no more need you in your hearts, they will come up fast enough, an evil weed called Pride comes up, which grieves the Spirit of God, that when we come to pray next, it may be we pray most dully, and flatly, and can say little or nothing; and when we come to preach next, yea sometimes when we come to preach the same Sermon again; this is certain, Ministers find they have preached such a Sermon in such a place with very much enlargement, it may be God gave in some soul, and quickened some others by Mr. Richard Rogers of Weathers field in Essex, the Author of that admirable Book of 7. Treatises. it, and they hearing of it, do grow proud of it, come to preach the same Sermon and think this will do as much again, no such matter, they draw it out so heavily, and so dully as if it were not the same Sermon. As I could name you a most famous man, as any of his time in England (no dishonour to him) who having preached the same Sermon at his own Church with very much assistance, and going abroad, & one of his neighbours with him, hearing from him the same Sermon, saw him at some loss, coming home, talked together, Sir (saith he) did you find God's assistance this day as you were wont? I never heard you in my poor conceit so much out as to day; O it's true, (brother, saith he) yet I hope, though it were one of the worst Sermons I ever preached for others, God may make it one of the best Sermons that ever I preached for myself; and truly God doth so, often there is a wonderful wisdom in it: let every one of us take heed of resting upon any enlargements in Duties. Thirdly, Do not rest upon the Comforts you have in a Duty, or 3. Friendly Item. Rest not upon your comforts in or after Duty. after a Duty; It may be, when you have been at a Duty, and have had soul Ravishments, O now you think, my nest is built very high, and my rock is firm, and I shall go on vigorously: Chrysostom hath a good saying, Me thinks (saith he) a Saint, when he comes from a Sacrament, should be able to fly in the face of the Devil, and in every Temptation, and though he walk in the midst of snares, he will be able to encounter with them all. Comforts {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}. are very sweet things, and indeed strengthenning things, The joy of the Lord, is our strength, saith Nehemiah; nothing more animates souls than joy, and when they are in the most cheerful frame, Neh. 8. 10. then in the most praying frame; only here is the danger, If we rest upon those joys and comforts, we provoke God to withdraw them; for delicatissima, I'll not say only dilicata, but delicatissima, res est Spiritus sanctus, the most choice and tender thing in the world, you must deal most tenderly with it; it is the holy Spirit, the holy Ghost, and it delights to dwell in none but a clean, pure Temple, most cleanly swept: Christians should Note. not only have neat houses, but neat hearts, if they will delight to have the Spirit of God dwell in them; and therefore not any pride spring up even when they have most ravishing comforts. Fourthly. If we would have much strength of grace from 4. Friendly Item. Rest not upon your Grace received from an Ordinance Christ (the Lord set it upon us all, I desire to preach to myself in it as well as to you) As we should not rest upon Preparations for Ordinances, Enlargements in Ordinances, nor Comforts by Ordinances; so not in Grace received from Ordinance. You will say; This is a strange thing, Not in Grace received! What shall we rest upon then? What, the Text will tell you, not in Grace received, not in your habitual grace, you have intrinsically in yourselves, but {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, in that grace that is in Christ Jesus; there you must rest; And why so? because indeed that Grace is in him, not only Originally from him, but it is dependantly Note. upon him, and by a voluntary communication from him: It is true, he is a fire that warms you, but it is not by any natural necessity, though he hath promised to Baptise with the holy Ghost and with fire, yet it is by way of free promise, Mat. 3. 11. though he be a Sun, a Sun of righteousness, yet he doth not issue forth his beams naturally, but spontaneously, he can Eclipse himself, Mal. 4. 2. as to us, when he pleaseth; though he be a Fountain, a full Fountain, enough for Judah and Jerusalem, and for all the sinners in the world to bathe in, yet he is a Fountain that can lock Zach. 13. 1. up himself when he pleaseth, and with hold his own streams and choose whether he will overflow or no; therefore remember this still, you must not rest upon the grace received; It was Peter's case, and that exposed him to that danger, he was full of conceit, and self-confidence, and he had grace; Lord, Though all forsake thee, yet I will not, and soon after did Peter forsake, and deny Mat. 26. 33. his Master, forsake and deny him, yea and forswear him, though still there was so much grace in Jesus Christ as to pity him, and you do not find Peter so confident afterwards, when Christ said to him, in John, Peter, dost thou love me more than all these? No comparative words now, not a tittle, no more, then, Lord, Joh. 21. 15. 16. 17. thou knowest I love thee, Peter, dost thou love me? Lord thou knowest I love thee; Peter dost thou love me more than all these? still, Lord Peter confidently appeals to Christ, but no self confidence stirring. thou knowest all things, thou knowest I love thee; he had denied him thrice, Christ would put questions proportionably to him, but no such answers stirring, Peter was whipped with his self-confidence, and the woeful fruits of it, and in a good degree it was purged out of him; It was a lesson well worth the learning, though it cost the whipping, it made amends abundantly by the grace of Christ overflowing. It is observable amongst the Eclesiastical stories, that the primirive Christians were so Heavenly, so Spiritual, that when they met together, they would salute one another; Christ is risen from the dead; I would & were it the Lord's {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}: Some add {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}. will, we were more acquainted with it, one would reply again, of a truth he is risen, of a truth he is risen; Oh that we were better practised in this also, it may be when we meet, we say, Good-morrow, how do your wife and children? how do all at home? Come, shall we go drink our morning's draught? What will the Parliament do to day? What will the Army do? what will they disband? what shall we have Wars? And it may be such and such a question, till they do both talk one another into a passion, or into a prejudice, crying up this Party, or crying down another, and disparaging of one or the other, what then? And he was seen of Simon; here was the grace of Christ, he was seen of Simon; why, seen of Simon? I confess it is not in some that do relate that story, but others add this, seen of Simon, because Simon was weak, and Simon denied him, Simon was discouraged at it, and others prejudiced, yet as weak as he was, Christ would appear to him, & show him the glory of his strengthening grace; here was wonderful mercy, here was confirming grace: Oh therefore do not rest upon grace received, but on that fullness that redundancy of Grace, that is in Christ Jesus: A word of Exhortation, and I hope you'll welcome it, Who Use 3. Exhortation. would not embrace him who comes to tell people that are weak, how they should be strong, and where their strength lies? and all I add further is only this, How this strength may be made yours, Am I weak and impotent, and have I had so many falls, hath Satan out-wrestled me, and thrown me upon my back in the dirt, and broken my bones, and shattered my graces, and my hopes by temptation, tempting me to sin, one while Directions how to make Christ's strength yours by despair, and one while by presumption to sin? shall I have strength against all this? whence is it to be had? whence? I'll tell you (my brethren) as God shall enable me, First. 1. Keep one eye upon this, that you are weak, and need a strength, 1 Eye your own impotency. & that you must go out of yourself, for your strength, wholly out of yourselves; make account strength lies not within, but without you; He is made of God, to all those that are in him; wisdom, 1 Cor. 1. 30. righteousness, holiness, and redemption; 1 Cor. 1. 30. made all these glorious privileges, & advantages to whom? to those that are in him & only to them, not to those that have not these things in themselves; Saith Paul, when I am weak, I am strong; I do not so much bring it by way of confirmation, as by way of allusion: 2 Cor. 12. 10. though possibly there may be enough for confirmation in it, when I am weak, I am strong, how so? not only by an intrinsical disposition, that we are more inclined, to seek strength, but indeed by a Spiritual capacity Jesus Christ is more prepared, to bestow strength, when we are sensible of our own weakness, He fills the hungry with good things, and the rich be sends empty away. It is true in Philosophy, and as tive in Divinity, A full vessel pour In●●● existons prohibet alien●● the best wine in the world upon it, none will enter; but Secondly, 2. Learn to maintain believing apprehensions of Jesus Christ, 2 Maintain believing apprehensions of Christ your strength. get such a piercing eye, look up to the Lord for such a degree of irradation from heaven; (whatsoever it was) that Stephen had, which did uphold him when there was a volley of stones (as it were) about his ears, and when they ran upon him, and every way they were ready to stone him; Oh! he beheld Jesus Christ, sitting Act. 7. 55, 56, 57 at the right hand of God; nothing could so much cheer him. Heb. 11. 27. Moses saw him that was invisible? and Paul saw those things that were eternal, and saw them in the hands of Jesus Christ, and 2 Cor. 4. 18. 19 this did uphold him: maintain (therefore) believing apprehensions of the Lord Jesus Christ your Head, the Spring of your grace, sitting at the right hand of his Father, having taken up a heavenly Mansion there for you, and acting there for you. 3. Come to the Ordinances with desire, and Expectation of 3. Come to Ordinances with desires & expectations of grace from Christ. grace, as indeed they are the Canales gratiae; and to that end, do use them, (Brethren) Do not come to the Word of God with respect of persons, I bless the Lord, that I observed it to be so, some years together, when I had that happy opportunity to be one, (though the most unworthy) of the Preachers here, that the Auditory met so constantly with a great degree of Uniformity, (for aught I know, it is so still) I rejoice in it; O do not say, I'll go hear this man, and that man &c. I know there is an inequalitty of gifts, and people may sometimes be edified more, by one than another, and may have occasion sometimes to bless God more for one than another, yet sometimes for the Meanest as well as for the Greatest, and God will do so, because he will take us off Note. from dependency upon men and means; Yet (I say) it's good to come not with respect of persons, disrespecting any faithful Minister, but to say, I'll go to an Ordinance of Christ, I'll go to seek Jesus Christ, and his strengthening grace. If one should come and ask you, Wither are you going this morning, brother, or sister? I am going to a Sermon, Who preaches? it's no matter, I am going to an Ordinance of Christ, where grace and strength is offered, I'll go to seek that, I care not if I were blindfold, if I might hear the Voice of Christ: Oh this were an excellent temper: I am persuaded we should speed better, if we did come thus prepared and disposed. 3. As you should come first with an eye upon your own weakness. 2. With another eye upon Jesus Christ, where your strengt 3 Come to Ordinances to seek Grace from Christ in strength of a promise. lies: And then with your judgement rightly set, what to seek and expect, as you should come to Jesus Chrst, and to the Ordinances to seek the grace of Christ, so withal to come in the strength of the Promises of Christ, and by prayer put that bond in suit for grace at the Throne of Grace. The Promises, for there Deus sc debitorem ferret promi crudo. Aug. lies our strength, whereby are given unto us, those exceeding great and precious Promises, that we might be partakers of the Divine Nature: In 2 Pet. 1. 4. It is a blessed thing, when we come in the Authority of a Command to an Ordinance, and in the strength of a Promise, when we come Conscionably to comply with a Command, & when we come fiducially to close with a promise, what a sweet thing would this be, if a Gospel-promise should fall upon any of our hearts (God overlooking the unworthiness of the Preacher, and the unpreparedness of the Hearers,) and one beam of light fall upon your Spirits, and leave a heavenly tincture, that Parliament-men might go hence fitted for their work, more prepared for the service of Jesus Christ in all their public Transactions; and Ministers of the Assembly, more fit for their holy, and humble, and serious, and brotherly Debates, and with the Spirit of meekness, and calmness, and publicness of heart; and all private Christians in their places, in their several Spheres, and to say now, O blessed be the Lord, for this morning's opportunity next our hearts, that we might hear first of Jesus Christ, and get something upon our spirits that might habituate us to walk with Him all the day, yea in Him as we have received Him: And then let me add this in the next place; Col. 2. 6. 4. Beware (and I beseech you do not forget this, the want of which may mar all the rest) of soul obstructions, of an after-clap, 4 Be Frequent in the actings of Faith, for the prevention of growing obstructions. and of a backblow from the Devil, who will endeavour to take you on the blind side, to surprise you with incogitancy, or transport you with Passion: Remember what hath been said, do not applaud yourselves that you have heard such a Sermon, you had some delight in it, and may bless God for it; Oh but take heed now the Devil get not between you and your Sermon, by such or such a temptation; take heed of Pride, or any Carnal weeds, take heed of resting upon any thing on this side Jesus Christ, but be often putting forth new actings of Faith in Him and His Covenant sealed with His blood; remember this, to act this Truth: God grant, you and I may never forget this Gospellesson: It is a good Truth, let us learn to begin to make Jesus Christ our strength, in every duty, in little as well as in great. In the last place, I will be so bold with your patience, as to ad a word by way of Expostulation, which I heartily desire may 4. Use. Expostulation. be as pleasing to you, as it is seasonable for you. Why are you not more vigilantly jealous over any such things as would 1. Quere. draw you from intimate communion with Christ, and close dependence upon him; whether they be creature-comforts, or any other vain inventions of men; will you prefer those perishing things which are Isa. 55. 1. 2. not bread, before water, wine, and milk; It's good counsel the Lord gives by his Prophet. Remember the admirable caveat Paul gives to the Colossians: Beware lest any man spoil you through Philosophy Col. 2. 8. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}. Hostium more praedas abducere, Aret. and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, according to the world and not after Christ; spoil you putting you upon any thing which is not after Christ is to rob and undo you: Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or drink, or in respect of an holiday, Col. 2. 16, 17. or of the new moon, or of the Sabbaths, (as it is expressed in the Original) which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ. Mind not their judging or condemning of you, who would bring from Christ to Moses, care not to approve yourselves to them who will set up any thing against your Head, Why will you comply with any such carnal politicians, who cry down such a Reformation as Christ Jesus expects, & say, Let us make us a Captain and return back into Egypt; so that we may have our fleshpots there, let us have our old Prelacy, and Service-book; we like Egyptian fare, though but garlic and onions. Let no man beguile ver. 18. Debito bravio tamquam injustus iudex vos privet. Steph. Col. 2. 4. Ne quis vos falso ratio cinando salad. you by a voluntary humility not holding the Head; Abhor all such Opinions and Practices be they never so pompous and specious, that will take you off from your Head Christ; and forget not Paul's faithful intimation, And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words; But let Jonah's Oracle, Chap. 3. 8. ever live in peace though they who wait upon lying vanities forsake their own mercy: They which gain Him have something, they may call their own human inventions, and creatures will deceive, Christ is the True Treasure and everliving Spring. Whether have you made any 2. Quere. proportionable returns of thankfulness to God for your interest in 〈…〉 full and overflowing Spring of Grace? Where are your ingenuous reciprocations. It's God's highest Gospel design to display the freeness and fullness of his Grace; hence expressions to this purpose frequently, often in Ephe. 1. 6. To the praise of the glory of his grace v. 12. 14. Act, act rigorously I beseech you in a happy concurrence with God to magnify Jesus Christ; The more rich you are in faith, and all other Graces of his Spirit, Iam. 2. 5. the more rich in good works: 16. 18. The greater riches of assurance you may hope for, as Col. 2. 2. and that Arich entrance shall be ministered into the Kingdom of your Lord and saviour Jesus Christ: the great Gate of Heaven shall be set open to entertain you, where after you have here lived unto the praise of his Grace in a fruitful expression of the Graces of the Gospel, you shall eternally live with him, and enjoy the sweet comfort of the Gospel of Grace through the rich Grace that is in him. Amen Lord Jesus. FINIS.