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 PRINCETON, N. J. 
 
 Collection of Puritan Literature. 
 
 Division ■*—/%»—- >»— ■ > - 
 
 £? 
 
 im 
 
 Number 
 

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liiiltllllUIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIU V 
 
 LIFE 
 
 ETERNALL 
 
 A T RE AT IS E 
 
 Of the knowledge of the DjU 
 <vine Essence and 
 
 Attruvtes, 
 Delivered in XVIII. Sermons. 
 
 By the Ltefathfull and worthy Minifier 
 
 of I E S V S C H R I S T, 
 
 I o h n Preston, 
 
 D, in Divinity, Chaplaine in ordinary to 
 
 his Majeftie, Mafter of Emmanuel Colledge in 
 
 Cambridge and (bmctimes Preacher 
 
 of LINCOLN S inne. 
 
 The Second EDITION, corrected. 
 
 loh. 17.3. This is Life EternaU to foow tbee, the only 
 true God, and hfui Cbrifi rohom thou hift fenu 
 
 Imprinted at London by R, B. and are 10 be fold by 
 Nicholas Bourne ac the Royall Exchange, and by 
 Kapha Harfordjn Pater-nofler Row, 
 •a in Quecnes-head Alley, at the fignc 
 [JEfl of the guile Bible. 1 63 1 . 
 
 PMKiniyiiww!* -.v ; 4 
 
 ia;nii«iiiwiriiu!iiui!ii«imr 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2013 
 
 http://archive.org/details/llortrOOpres 
 
THE RIGHT 
 
 H 0*NJ)F<B < A c BLE > 
 WILLIAM; 
 
 VISCOVNT SAY AtiO 
 
 SEALE, ENCREASE 
 
 OF \A C E. 
 
 Right Honovrable: 
 
 O wakingandom- 
 nipotenthathever 
 beene the eye and 
 hand of Cjod, that 
 nothing by him- 
 fdfc defigied to 
 worth and ufe , could wholly be 
 
 A 5 deba- 
 
The Epiflle 
 
 debafed or layd afide. t5\/fofes 
 and Cyrus dtx oted in their infan- 
 cie to fume and obfcurity , were 
 by that eye and hand kept and ad- 
 vanced to higheft honours and 
 imployments for his Church. 
 
 Some footfteps of which care 
 and power, we have obferved,up- 
 on lie birth and bringing forth 
 to light of this Orphane : which, 
 in relation to the painfull labour 
 of him, who ("as the Mother) 
 brought it forth , and dyed in tra- 
 veil with it, wee thought might 
 well be ftiled Bennoni, Sonne 
 ofmyforrowes ; But, when wee faw 
 the ftrength and holinefle imprin- 
 ted on the child by God die father 
 of it, wee doubted not to call it 
 Beniamin, Sonne of the right 
 
 hand. 
 
'Dedicatorie. 
 
 band. For, as dying Jacob laid his 
 right hand upon the youngefl ion 
 otfojepb : So (yWdid ftretch forth 
 his on this, the laft ifliie of the dy- 
 ing (t/luthor-^ when out bfatoontbe 
 ( as then) Jo dead and dryed, hee 
 brought forth a z5\ / fan~child fo 
 ftrong and vigorous : As alfo, 
 when by the Parents immature 
 departure , it feemed to be adjud- 
 ged to death and darknefle , that 
 yet by the fame hand it was pre- 
 ferved, and at laft through many 
 hazards delivered unto us , who 
 by the dying "P^ratf, were appoin- 
 ted to the Mid- wives Office, in 
 bringing it forth to the publike 
 view. 
 
 And, if we may eftimate the 
 writings of men, by the fame rule 
 
 A 4. where- 
 
 
The EpiBle 
 
 whereby wee are to judge of the 
 works of (^Whimfelfe; and thofe 
 workes of (jod excell the reft, 
 which doe moft cleeriy fhew forth 
 him the Author of them : and ther- 
 fore Grace, though but an acci- 
 dent in the foule, is of farre more 
 price with (jod , than all mens 
 foules devoid of it, becaufe it is the 
 lively Image of his Holinefle, 
 which is his beautie . V Ve could 
 not imagin,how this work mould 
 not bee valued when it came a- 
 broad , that prefents to all mens 
 underftandingsfocleare, evident 
 I and immediat exprcfsions of (jod, 
 hi s ZWame and Attributes, And in- 
 deed what vaft and boundlefs vo- 
 lumes ofheaven,earth &hel,hath 
 (jod bin pleafedto publim to make 
 
 known 
 
T>edicatorie. 
 
 known his wrath, eternal! power and 
 (jod-head ? and how long hath he 
 continued that expenfive worke 
 I of governing the world , to {hew 
 | forth the riches ofhtsgoodnejje^pati^ 
 ence& forbearance? Yet when all 
 were bound together^ little /^nen> 
 v>e of him , that he fet forth his Son, 
 the expreffe fmageofhisTerfon, as 
 the Laft, and beft Edition, that 
 could be hoped for. 
 
 And, it being much more true 
 of (joi which is ufually fayd of ! 
 knowledge in the generall, J\(on 
 habet inimicum nifi ignorantem, 
 that being fbgood , he hath no e- 
 nemies nor ftrangers to him , but 
 thofe that know him not ; » furely 
 then the knowledge of him is a moft 
 neceflary and effecluall means to 
 friendftiip with him. And 
 
The Epittle 
 
 And mdecd,As,tbat (jod fyioiat' 
 eth uf,is the firll Foundation of his 
 Covenant of Mercie with us , 
 z Jim . i . 19. So, our true and fa- 
 voury knowledge of him, is made 
 the firft entrance into covenant, 
 continuing of acquaintance , and 
 encreafing of communion with 
 him , ferem .31.33,34. Yea fur- 
 ther , as to make knowne himfelfe 
 was the utmoft end of all his 
 workes; ^R^m. 1. 19. So rightly to 
 know him , is the beil reward at- 
 tainable by us for allourworkes. 
 fob. ij. 3. This is eternal! Life to 
 /{now thee, the onely true God, and 
 I e s v s Christ, whom thou 
 hajlfent. 
 Which great reward we doubt 
 not, but thisjervant ofCjoct attai- 
 ned. 
 
Dedicatorie. 
 
 ned. Who, after he had fpent 
 the moft of his living, thoughts 
 and breath in unfolding and ap- 
 plying,the moil proper and pecu~ 
 liar Characters of Grace, which 
 is Qods fmage • whereby Belee- 
 vers came to be allured , that God 
 is their Cjod t and they in covenant 
 with him • was in the end admit- 
 ted to exercife his laft and dying 
 thoughts, about the EfTence, At- 
 tributes and GreatneflTe of (jOT> 
 Himfelfe, who is their portion 
 and exceeding great reward. 
 
 In the very entrance almoft in- 
 to which , hee was carried up fo 
 nigh to Heaven, that he came not 
 downe againe , but dyed in the 
 zSXtfount into which (by Cjods ap- 
 pointment)!^ was afcended ; and 
 
 before 
 
The EpiHle 
 
 before many of (jods glorious bacl^ 
 parts were paffed by bim, he was ta- 
 ken up to view the reft more fully 
 Face to face. So that, as he was of 
 ten in his ficknes wont to fay, f 
 Jhall but change my place, and not my 
 companies we may alfo truly fay, 
 he did but change his ftudying 
 place, not his thoughts nor itu- 
 dies. (jod being the only imme- 
 diate fubject. about which the 
 ftudies of men and Angells are 
 wholly taken up for all eternity. 
 
 Which change, though to 
 him full of gaine , had been to us 
 more grievous, had not this little 
 peece, like to E l i a h s mantle 
 falne from him,^ he was ajcending. 
 Wherein wee have thofe lofty 
 {peculations of the fchools(which 
 
 like 
 
( Dedicatorie. 
 
 like emptie clouds flie often high, 
 but drop no fatneue) digefted in- 
 to ufefull applications, anddiftil- 
 led into Spirit-full and quickning 
 cordiaUs,to comfort and continue 
 the inward Man. 
 
 Not onely {hewing ( as o- 
 thers) what (fOTHs-, but alfo 
 what wee therefore ought to bee. 
 At once , emblazoning the Di- 
 vine EJJence, and glorious <zAttri^ 
 butes of (jod- and withall delinea- 
 ting the moft noble difpofitions of 
 the T)ivine Mature in us , which 
 are the prints and imitations of 
 thofe his Attributes, applying as a 
 skilfull builder , the patterne to 
 the peece he was to frame. So, as 
 by thisunfinimt draught, it may 
 be gathered, what inlarged and 
 
 working 
 
The Epittle 
 
 working apprehenfions , and im- 
 prefsions of the Deitie pofTeft his 
 heart. He fpeakesof Cjod t not as 
 one that had onely heard of him, 
 by the hearing of the earei butrpbofe 
 eye of faith hadfeene him. 
 
 But needeth hee, orthisrelicT: 
 of his , EpiUles of commendation 
 from m unto your Honour, who 
 knew him fo well $ Or unto o- 
 thers, befides this Infcription of, 
 and Dedication to your Name ? 
 which wee account our onely 
 choice , and belt Epiitle to the 
 Reader ,• You, are mr Spittle >&c; 
 Seeing in your Honour^hok more 
 Heroicall Graces , and Nobleft 
 parts of Cpds fmage\ which in 
 thefe Sermons the Authour 
 endevoured to raife his hearers to. 
 
 are 
 
'Dedicatorie. 
 
 are found already written, andim- 
 Printed not with inke, but with the 
 Sprit of the Living Cjod: yea, and 
 not onely written , but alfo by 
 reafon of the greatnefle of your 
 birth, the noblenefle of your de- 
 portment in your countrie, kgown 
 and read of all men. Such.inge- 
 nuous fimplicitie lodged in depth 
 ofwiiedome : HoIinefTe of life fo 
 fetin honour and efteeme, and 
 immoveably fettled with even- 
 nefle of walking in midft of all 
 varieties: Such humility in height 
 of parts : gratioufnefle of heart in 
 greatnefle of minde. So rare, flxt 
 and happy a conjunction , in an 
 houfe fo eminent, doth not fall 
 out, without agenerall obferva- 
 tion. 
 
 To 
 
The Epittle 
 
 To your 3\(ame and Honour, 
 therefore, wee prefentit (moft 
 Noble Lord) as the Iaft Le- 
 gacie bequeathed by him to the 
 Church, as a pledge of ourfer- 
 vice , and a counterpane of your 
 Lordjhips moll rayfed thoughts 
 and refolutions. 
 
 And likewife unto others , as 
 honoured with your Lordjhips 
 name; that thofe vvho fludie , 
 either men or bookes, may reade 
 thefe Sermons together with 
 your Lordjhips Vertves, each 
 as the coppie of the other , to in- 
 vite them to the imitation of the 
 fame. 
 
 And that the World, which 
 ( like that fndian o5\£onarch ) 
 accounts fuch true Pictures of 
 
 the 
 
T)cdicatorie. 
 
 ithe beauty of HolinefTe as this, to 
 bee but counterfeit , becaufe not 
 tawnie, like their owne • and Iooke 
 upon fo high Principles of Godli- 
 nefle, as emptie notions raifed up 
 by art and fancie to make a fhew, 
 may fee and know in you,the true, 
 reall, uniform fubfiftence of them j 
 and that Cjod hath indeede fome 
 fuch living, walking Patternes of 
 his owne Great Holinefle > and 
 moretranfcendent Graces. 
 
 Which Graces, Hee, who is 
 the Cjfod of all (jrace, increafe and | 
 perfect in your Lordjhip here, that 
 hereafter you may bejilled mth all 
 thefulnejfe of him • So pray 
 
 Tour Honours ever to be commanded^ 
 
 Thomas Goodwin, 
 
 Thomas Ball. 
 a 
 
THE 
 
 CONTENTS- 
 
 Page 
 
 THat there is a God proved : 5 
 
 1 (By the Creation. Ibid. 
 
 (By the law, Written in mens hearts. 13 
 ©y the Soule of man. 1 5 
 
 VSE 1. 
 
 Tojlrengthenfaithin this Principle. 11 
 
 VSE 2. 
 
 Wlnt consequences to draw hence. 28 
 
 Objections against this Principle. 3 o 
 
 2 Tl?at there is a God proved by faith, ip.45 
 Tin Scripture proved true by foiire things, 48 
 
 VSE 3. 
 Toconfirme us in this Principle. 
 
 a 2 
 
 61 
 Viffi- 
 
The Contents 
 
 "Difference in the affcnt of men to this, 6z 
 4 Meanes to confirme our Faith in this. d>8 
 Tf?ree Ejfetts of a firme ajjhit to this Prin- 
 ciple. 70 
 7 Tlmt there is no other God, but GOD. 75 
 Five Arguments to prove that there is no 0- 
 ther God. 76 
 T7;e gods and religion of the Heathens falfe, 
 proved three ^Vayes. 80 
 Religion of Mahomet falfe. 81 
 
 VSE 1. 
 
 To beleeVe that our God is God alone 7 and to 
 cleave to him. 85 
 
 VSE 2. 
 To comfort us in this, that God *toilipiew him- 
 felfe the true G D, in raifing the Chur- 
 
 ches. 
 
 VSE 3. 
 
 To keepe our hearts from Idolatrie, 
 I Three grounds of Idolatrie. 
 W\iat God is. 
 
 Do&rine, 
 
 God only and properly hath beingln him. 97 
 
 What 
 
 87 
 
 88 
 8 9 
 
 94 
 
The Contents. 
 
 What the being of God is , explained in five 
 things. Ibid. 
 
 VSE i 
 
 There is f$mething in GodsEffena not to be 
 inquired into. 100 
 
 VSE 2. 
 
 To Hrengthen our faith and incourage us in 
 yants and croffes. 1 03 
 
 VSE 3. 
 To give God the praife of his being. 
 
 m 
 
 VSE 4. 
 
 To learnt the vanitie of the creatures > and the 
 
 remedie againfi it. 1 1 6 
 
 Attributes of God of two forts. 1 \p 
 
 ThcFirft Attribvte. 
 
 TheperfeBion of God. no 
 
 Five differ eces between the perfeElion of God, 
 
 and the creatures. 121 
 
 *F-y— »••■ 
 
 a ? 
 
 VSE 1. 
 
The Contents. 
 
 VSE i. 
 All that "free doe cannot reach to God to me- 
 rit, nz 
 VSE 2. 
 
 To fee the freenejfe of Gods grace. 125 
 
 VSE 3. 
 
 To goe to God Tbith faith though "Wee have no 
 Toorth in us. Ibid. 
 
 VSE 4. 
 
 God hath no need of any creature. \i6 
 
 VSE 5. 
 Though many perifl) it is nothing to God,he is 
 
 perfett. 117 
 
 VSE 6. 
 
 Gods commands are for $ur good, heevsper- 
 
 feB. Ibid. 
 
 VSE 7. 
 
 Togive God the honour ofhisperfetlion. 129 
 
 Voure Jtgnes of exalting Gods perfeition. 
 
 Ibid. 
 
 Tk creatures ofthemfehes can doe nothing 
 
 for us in three refpecls. \p 
 
 Tin 
 
The Contents. 
 
 The Second Attribvte, 
 
 140 
 
 God without all caufes, 
 
 Reafon 1. 
 Elfe [omething JJiould bee before him. Ibid. 
 
 Reafon 2. 
 
 That Tbhich hath, apart receiveth it from the 
 
 Tfrhok. 141 
 
 Reafon 3, 
 
 All other things have a fofsibility not te 
 
 bee. 142 
 
 VSE u 
 
 God loiUs not things kcaufe they arejuft, but 
 
 they arejujl becaufe he Trills thm. 143 
 
 VSE 2. 
 
 God may doe all things for himfelfe and his 
 
 owneglorie. 144 
 
 VSE 3. 
 
 We fhould doe nothing for our owne ends but 
 
 for God. 146 
 
 Eight ftgnes to know Mvhetlxr a manmake God 
 
 W himfelfe his end. 148 
 
 a 4 The 
 
The Contents. 
 
 i 
 
 The Third AttribvTE. 
 
 Do&rine. - 
 
 God is eternall- 156 
 
 Five things required in Etemitie. 157 
 
 ^afonsTbhy God muH be Eternall. 158 
 
 Foure differences hetweene the Etemitie of 
 God, and the duration of the creatures. 159 
 
 Confe<5t i. 
 God pojfeffeth all things together. 159 
 
 Confe<5t 2. 
 
 Etemitie maketh things infinitely good or e- 
 
 vill 160 
 
 VSE 1. 
 
 To minde more things Eterndl \6\ 
 
 Motives to conjider Eternity. 1 67 
 
 VSE 2. 
 Not to be offended "frith Gods delaying, he hath 
 time enough to performehis promifes , be- 
 ingEternalL 168 
 
 VSE 5. 
 To conjider Gods love and entnitiz^ctre eter- 
 nall 171 
 
 VSE 4. 
 
The Contents, 
 
 VSE 4. 
 To comfort us againH mutabilitie of things 
 
 below. 171 
 
 VSE j. 
 
 God is Lord of time. 174 
 
 PART II. 
 
 The Fourth Attribvte* 
 
 God is a S p 1 r 1 t. 2 
 
 Foure properties of a Spirit Ibid- 
 
 VSE r. 
 
 Gods eye chiefly on ourfpirits 7 therefore they 
 muH be kept fit for communion 7t>ith bim.A 
 
 How to ft our fpirits for communion Ifiith 
 God. 6 
 
 Directions for cleaning thefpirit- 1 o 
 
 VSE 2. 
 Gods government chiefly on the fpirits of 
 
 men. 
 (proved by 3 Demotts~trtttions. 
 
 *5 
 28 
 
 VSE 3. 
 To TborfiipGod in faint. 
 Which confiHs in three things, 
 
 3? 
 
 What 
 
The Contents. 
 
 What necefsity of the geHures of thebodiein 
 
 GodsferVice. 38 
 
 How to concern of God in prayer. 44 
 
 The Simplicitie ofGoo. 
 Gods jimplicity proved byjtxe reafons. 48 
 
 Confec. 1. 
 To fee V>hat a Jlable foundation faith hath. 51 
 
 Confec. 2. 
 God cannot be hindred in his "toorkts. 52 
 
 Confec. 3. 
 
 Tlie Attributes of God are equall 53 
 
 VSE 1. 
 To labour to bee content in a fmfle condi- 
 tion. 54 
 VSE 2. 
 To labour for Jingleneffe of heart, 59 
 : Two things injimpliatie. 60 
 
 VSE 3 
 Togoe to God rather than to the creatures. 67 
 
 The 
 
The Contents. 
 
 The Fifth Attribvte. 
 
 Gods immutability. yx 
 
 Five %eafons of Gods immutability. 73 
 
 Two Objections against Gods immutability .7 6 
 
 Confec. 1. 
 How to under jiand feVerall places of Scrip- 
 ture. 78 
 
 ' Confec. 2. 
 Love and hatred in God eternall. Ibid. 
 
 VSE 1. 
 
 Takelmde of provoking him to cast us off. 80 
 
 The time of Gods cafting off a man , un- 
 
 knowne. 83 
 
 VSE 2. 
 
 Gods gifts and calling without repentance. 84 
 
 How to know Wee are in Covenant with 
 God. 8j 
 
 Tl?e unchangeableneffe of God takes no,t away 
 endevour. 93 
 
 The occafion, end, and ufe of revealing the do- 
 Brine of Gods unchangeableneffe in Scrip- 
 ture. 96 
 
 VSE 3. 
 
The Contents. 
 
 VSE 3 . 
 
 God difpenceth mercies and judgements , now 
 06 informer times. 98 
 
 Two cafes therein God punifheth his owne 
 Children. 99 
 
 GODS lodgements different in time and 
 
 meanes. 101 
 
 VSE 4. 
 To fee a difference betweene God and the crea- 
 ture. 103 
 Forgetting the creatures to he mutable 7 three 
 inconveniences of it. Ibid. 
 VSE 5. 
 Toejleem things by their unchangeablenes.\o6 
 
 VSE 6. 
 To judge our ownefpirits by conflancie in^ell 
 doing. 111 
 
 VSE 7. 
 Togoe to God to get it 1 13 
 
 Twocaufes ofinconttancie. 115 
 
 3 Helps to ftrengthen pur pofes. 117 
 
 Meanes to helpe rcfolutions. up 
 
 The Sixth Attribvte 
 TJ?egreatneJfe of God. 
 
 123 
 
 Tl>e 
 
The Contents. 
 
 TherreatneJJe of God in fixe things. Ibid. 
 
 Tl?e greatneffe of God proved by four c^a- 
 
 fons. My 
 
 VSE i. 
 
 [ To know our intereH in God, and to get an 
 
 anfwerable greatneffe ofminde. \ 29 
 
 ; Why men are led ajlde by outward things. 1 30 
 
 How to come to true greatneffe of minde. 137 
 
 'VSE 2. 
 To fcarehimfor his greatneffe. 1 40 
 
 VSE 3. 
 To thinke no ajfettion or obedience enough for 
 him, and therefore not tolimitourfelves. 
 
 142 
 VSE 4. 
 To reverence before him. 145 
 
 The Seventh Attribvte. 
 
 Gods immenfetfl. 147 
 
 3 ^eafons of Gods infinite pre fence. 148 
 
 VSE 1. 
 GodgoVernes theTborldimmcdiatly, a remedy 
 againfl complaint ofiU GoVernours. 1 50 
 
 VSE i, 
 
The Contents. 
 
 VSE 2. 
 To choofe God, and rejoyce in him, as a friend 
 
 in all places. 152 
 
 VSE 3. 
 
 To fee a ground of Gods particular Provi- 
 dence in thefmalleH things. \ 54 
 
 VSE 4. 
 
 To be patient and meeke in injuries offered by 
 men. 156 
 
 VSE j. 
 
 To^alkeVtth God. \ty 
 
 How we areprefent with God. 160 
 
 How to make Godprefentlpith m. 161 
 
 Wiry men dejtre companie. 1 66 
 
 VSE 6. 
 
 God obferveth all the eVill and goodie do. 168 
 
 VSE 7. 
 Terrour to kicked men, God is an enemy they 
 cannot flee from. 174 
 
 The Eighth Attribyte. 
 
 God is Omnipotent. 176 
 
 Omnipotence of God, therein. *77 
 
 4 %eafons 
 
The Contents. 
 
 4 ^eafons of Gods Omnipotency. 178 
 
 Objections again ft the OmnipotencieofGod. 
 
 181 
 VSE 1. 
 
 To rejoice in our God, tbbo is Almighty. 1 86 
 
 VSE 2. 
 To make ufe of Gods Tower, in all "bants and 
 fir aits. 191 
 
 VSE 3. 
 
 To beleeVe the Omnipotencie of God. 194 
 
 Men doubt <ts much of the power of God, m of 
 
 his 7oitt. Ibid. 
 
 VSE 4. 
 
 To feeke and pray to God in all fir aits Ttith 
 
 confidence. 198 
 
 z Instances of Gods Power. 201 
 
 GODS 
 
GODS NAME 
 
 AND 
 
 ATTRIBVTES. 
 THE FIRSTSermon. 
 
 Hebrewes 1 1. 6. 
 He that commeth to God, mutt beleeVe that 
 God is, and that he is a rewarder of them 
 
 that feeke Mm. 
 
 • 
 A v i n g undertaken to goc 
 thorow the whole body of 
 Theologie, Iwillfirftgiveyou 
 a briefe definition of the thing 
 it felfe, which wc call Divini- 
 r/V, it is this • 
 
 It is that heavenly wifdome y 
 orformeofwholefome words, revealed by the Holy 
 j Chojly in the Scripture, touching the knowledge of 
 I B God J 
 
 What Thco. 
 logk-is. 
 
That God is. 
 
 Cor.z.x^. 
 Tim.i.i^. 
 
 God, and of our [elves, whereby wee are taught the 
 waytoeterna/lltfe. 
 
 1 call it {heavenly wifdome"] for, fo it is called, 
 i Cor. 2 .13. The wifdome, which we teach, is not in 
 the words, which mans wifdome teacheth> but which 
 the Holy Ghofl teacheth. So, likewifethe Apoftlc 
 in another place calls it, The forme of whole fome 
 words-fax. is,That fyfteme,or comprehenfion of 
 wholefome Do&rine delivered in the Scripture. 
 
 Now it differs from other fyftemes, and bo- 
 dies of Sciences. 
 
 1 Becaufe it is revealed from above- all other 
 knowledge is gathered from things below. 
 
 2 Againe,all other fciences are taught by men, 
 but this is taught by the Holy Ghofl. 
 
 3 All other knowledge is delivered in the 
 writings of men, but this is revealed to us in the 
 holy Word of God, which was written by God 
 himfelfe, though men were the mediate pen men 
 of it ; therefore, I adde that,to diftinguim it from 
 all other Sciences ; that, It is not revealed by men, 
 but by the Holy GhoH, not in boohs written by men, 
 but in the holy Scriptures . m 
 
 In the next place I adde the obje&,about which 
 this wifdome is converfant, it is, the knowledge of 
 God, and of our felves. And fo it is likewife diftin- 
 guifhed from all other knowledge, which hath 
 lbme other obje&s. It is the knowledge of God, 
 that is, of God, not limply confidered, or abfo- 
 lutdy,inh is E(Tence,butas he is in refcrencc,and | 
 relation to us. 
 
 And againe, it is not limply the knowledge of 
 
 our 
 
Tlwt God is. 
 
 our (elves, ( for many things in us belong to o" 
 ther arts and fcienccs ) but as wee ftand in refe- 
 rence to God 5 fo that thefe are the two parts of it 5 
 the knowledge of God, in reference to us • and of 
 our ielves,in reference to him. 
 
 Laft of all, it is diftinguiflied by the end, to 
 which it tends, which it aymes at, which is to 
 teach us the way to et email lift : And therein it dif- 
 fers from all other fciences whatfoe vcr • for they 
 oftely helpe fome defers of underftanding here 
 in this prefent life : for where there is fome fai- 
 ling or defeat, which common reafon doth not 
 helpe, there arts are invented to fupply and redi- 
 iie thofe defects ; but this dothfomewhat more, 
 it leads us the way to eternall life : for, as it hath 
 ink a principle above all others, fo it hath an 
 higher end than others : for as the well-head is 
 higher, fo the ftreams afcend higher than others. 
 And fo much for this defcription, what this 
 fumme of the doctrine of Theologie is. 
 
 The parts of it are two: 
 
 1 Concerning God. 
 
 2 Concerning our felves. 
 
 Now concerning r God, two things are to be 
 knowne : 
 
 1 That he is . 1 both thefe are fet downe in 
 
 2 What he is : jt he Text. 
 
 1 That God is, we fhallfinde that there are 
 two wayes to prove it, or to make it good to us : 
 
 1 By the ftrength of naturall reafon. 
 
 2 By faith. That we doenot deliver this with- 
 out gr ound,looke into Rom. 1.20. Torthinvi- 
 
 B 2 ftbk 
 
 Parts of Theo- 
 logie. 
 
 1 Concerning 
 God. 
 
 Things 
 
 1 That Ced is. 
 1 Whatsis. 
 Rontfi.ao. 
 
A cr. 17. 
 
 A&SI4 x 7« 
 
 That God is. 
 
 fible things of him, that is, his ctemall power, and 
 God-head, are feene by the creation of the world, be- 
 ing considered m his workes, fo that they are with- 
 out ex cufe. Sohkewifc, .^#.17.27,28. you (hall; 
 fee there what the Apoftle faith, that they fhould j 
 fetke after the Lord, if happily they might grope of 
 ter him, andfnde him : for he is not farre from eve- 
 ry one oj us : for in him wee live, move, and have 
 our heing : That is, by the very things that wee 
 handle and touch, we may know that there is a 
 GW; and alfo,by our owne life,motion,and be- 
 ing, we may learne that there is a Dehie, from 
 whence thefe proceed : For the Apoftlefpeaketh 
 this to them,that had no Scripture to teach them . j 
 Solikewife, ^#.14.17. Nevertheleffe r hee hathl 
 not left himfelfe without witnejfe, in giving us fruit. \ 
 fullfeafons : As if thofe did beare witncflcof him,, 
 that is, thofe workes of his in the creatures . So 
 that you fee, there are two wayes to come to the 
 knowledge of this, that God is ; One, I fay, is by 
 naturall reafon : Orelfe,tomakeit moreplaine, 
 we /hall fee this in thefe two things : 
 
 1 There is enough in the very creation of the 
 world, tadeclare him unto us. 
 
 2 There is a light of the undcrftanding, or 
 reafon, put into us, whereby we are able to dif- 
 cerne thofe chara&ers of God ftamped in the 
 creatures, whereby we may difcerne the invifible 
 things of God, his infinite power and wifdome 5 and 
 when thefe are put together, that which is writ- 
 ten in the creature, there are arguments enough 
 in them, and in us there is reafon enough, to lee 
 
 the 
 
Tl?at God is. 
 
 the force of thofe arguments,and thence we may 
 conclude, that there is a God, befides the argu- 
 ments of Scripture, that wee have to revealc it. 
 For, though I laid before, that Divinity was re- 
 vealed by the Holy Ghost, yet there is this diffe- 
 rence in the points of Theologie : Some truths are 
 wholly revealed, and have no foot-fteps in the 
 creaturcs,no printsin the creation,or in the works 
 ofC^todifcernethcmby, andfuch are all the 
 myfteries of the Gofpef/, and of the Trinitit : o- 
 ther truths there are, that have fome vefttgia, 
 fome chara&ere ftamped upon the creature, 
 whereby we may difcernethem, and fuch is this 
 which we now have in hand, that, There is a God. 
 Therefore we will fhew you thefe two things : 
 i How it is manifeft from the creation • 
 
 2 How this point is evident to you by faith. 
 
 3 A third thing 1 willadde, that this God 
 whom we worflup, is the only true God. 
 
 Now for the fir ft, to explicate this, that, The 
 
 power & Godhead U feen in the creation of the world. 
 
 Befides thofe Demonftrations elfe-where 
 
 handled, drawne from theCreation in generall, 
 
 as from : 
 
 i The fweet confent and harmony the crea- 
 tures have among themfelves. 
 
 i The fitnefle and proportion of one unto 
 another. 
 
 3 From the reafonable a&ions of creature^ 
 in themfelves unreafonable. 
 
 4 The great and o/derly provifion, that is 
 made for all things. 
 
 | B$ 5 The 
 
 x That there 
 is a Cod. 
 
 See thefirfbU 
 Demon/tratton 
 of tbc Dcitk in 
 the btginnii'g 
 
That God is. 
 
 The considera- 
 tion ot the ori- 
 ginall of all 
 things, proved 
 
 i By the ma- 
 king of man. 
 
 Thatrnanwas 
 made* 
 
 5 The combination and dependance that is 
 among them. 
 
 6 The impreflions of skill and workmanfhip 
 that is upon the creatures . All which argue that 
 there is a God. 
 
 There remaine three other principall argu- 
 ments to demonftrate this : 
 
 The confideration of the Original of ^ all things, 
 which argues that they muft needs be made by 
 God, the Maker of Heaven and Earth- which 
 we will make good to you by thefe three parti- 
 culars : 
 
 If man was made by him,for whom all things 
 are made, then it iscertaine that they are made 
 alfo. For the argument holds • If the beft things 
 in the world muft have a beginning, then furely 
 thofe things that are fubferving, and fubordinate 
 to them, muft much more have a beginning. 
 
 Now that man was made by him, confider 
 but this reafon. 
 
 The father that begets,knowes not the making 
 of him 5 the mother that conceives,knowes it not 
 neither doth the formative vertue, (as we call it) 
 that is, that vigour, that is in the materials that 
 fliapes, and fafhions, and articulates the body in 
 the wombe, that knowes not what it doth. Now 
 it iscertaine- that he that makes any thing, muft 
 needs know it perfe&ly, and all the parts of; it, 
 though the ftander by may be ignorant of it. As 
 for example 5 he that makes a ftatue,knowes how 
 every particle is made 5 he that makes a Watch, 
 or any ordinary worke of art, he knowes all the 
 
 jundures, 
 
 y 
 
Tliat G o d is. 
 
 jun<ftures,all the wheeles, and commiifures of it, 
 or elfe it is impoflible that hefhould make it: 
 now all thefe that have a hand in making of man, 
 know not the making of him, not the father,nor 
 the mother, nor that which we call the forma- 
 tive vertue, that is, that vigour which is in the 
 materials, which workes and fafhions the bodic, 
 as the work-man doth a ftatue, and gives feverall 
 limbes to it, all thefe know it not : therefore hee 
 muft needs be made by God, and not by man: 
 and therefore fee how the Wife-man reafons, 
 Pfal. 9^*9. He that made the eye, jhall he not fee ? 
 he that made the eare, [liallnot he heare ? &c. that 
 is,he that is the maker of the engines,or organes, 
 or fenfes, or limbes of the body, or hee that is 
 maker of the foule, and faculties of it, it is cer- 
 taine that he muft know, though others doe not, 
 the making of the body and foule,the turnings of 
 the will, and the windings of the underftanding . 
 none of thofe three know it, neither the father 
 nor mother, nor that formative vcrtuc : for they 
 are but as penfils in the hand of him that doth all 5 
 the penfill knowes not what it doth, though it 
 drawes all, it is guided by the hand of a skilfull 
 Painter, elfe it could doe nothing ; the Painter 
 only knowcth what he doth; fo that formative 
 vertue, that vigour that formes the bodie of a 
 man, that knowes no more what it doth,than the 
 penfill doth, but he in whofe hand it is, who fets 
 it on worke, it is he that gives vigour, and vertue 
 to that feed in the wombe, from whence the bo- 
 die is raifed;, it is he that knowes ir, for it is hee 
 
 B 4 that 
 
 pfai.94, 
 
8 
 
 That Goo is. 
 
 i 
 
 BccaiTe clfe 
 the creatures 
 (hould bee 
 Gods. 
 
 3 
 
 Elfc the crea- 
 tures flvuld be 
 without Catt- 
 ies. 
 
 that makes it. And this is the firft particular by 
 which wee prove that things were made, and 
 had not their originall from themfelves. The fe- 
 cond is : 
 
 If thhgs were not made, then, it is certaine. 
 that they muft have a being from themfelves 
 Now to have a being from it felfcys nothing eh 
 but to be God: for it is an infeparable poputif 
 of God, to have his being from himfelfe. Now 
 if you will acknowledge, that the creatures hac 
 a being of themfelves, they muft needs be Cods ; 
 for it belongs to him alone, to have a being of 
 himfel£,and from himfelfe. The third followes, 
 which I would have you chiefly to marke. 
 
 If things have a being from themfelves, it is 
 certaine then that they are without caufes s as for 
 example - That which hath no efficient caufe, 
 (that is) no maker, that hath no end. Looke up- 
 on all the workes made by man(that we may ex- 
 preffe it to you • ) take an houfc,or any worke,or 
 inftrument that man makes ; therefore it hath an 
 end, becaufe he that made it,propounded fuch ar 
 end to himfelfe • but if it have no maker, it can 
 have no end : for the end of any thing is that 
 which the maker aymes at 5 now if things have 
 noeud,they could have no forme : for the forme 
 and fafhion of every thing arifeth only from the 
 end, which the maker propounds to himfelfe- as 
 for example, the reafon, why a knife hath fuch a 
 fafhion 3 is 5 becaufe it was the end of the maker,to 
 have it an inftrument to cut with: the reafon why 
 an axe or hatchet hath another fa(hion,is,bccaufi 
 
That God is. 
 
 it might be an inftrument to chop with j and the 
 rcafon, why a key hath another fafliion different 
 fiom theie,is 5 becaufe the maker propounded to 
 himfelfe another end, in making uf it, namely, to 
 open lockes with ; thefe are all made of the fame 
 matter, that is, of iron, but thejrhave divers fa- 
 fhions, becaufe they have feverall ends, which 
 the maker.propounds to himfelfe. So that, if there 
 be no ends of things, there is no forme, nor fa- 
 fhion of them, becaufe the ground of all their fa- 
 il ions, is their feverall ends. So then, we will 
 put them all together • if there be no efficient, no 
 maker of them,' then there is no end, and if then 
 i be no end,then there is no forme nor fafhion,and 
 if there be no forme ^ then there is no matter, and 
 fo confequcntly, they have no caufe j and that 
 which is without any caufe, muft needs be Cody 
 which I am fure none dares to affirme ; and there- 
 fore they have not their being of themfelves. 
 But befides that negative argument, by bringing 
 it to an impoffibilitie,that the creatures fhould be 
 Gods, we will make it plame by an affirmative 
 argument, that all the creatures have an end. 
 
 For looke upon all the creatures, and we fhall 
 fee that they have an end • the end of the Sunne, 
 Moone andStarres is, to ferve the Earth; and 
 the end of the Earth is,to bring forch Plants,and 
 the end of Plants is, to feed the beafts : and fo 1 
 you looke to all particular things elfc, you lbal 
 fee that they have an end,and if they have an end, 
 it is ccrtaine, there is one did ay me at it, and die 
 give thofe creatures,thofe feveral rafhions,whic! 
 
 thofe i 
 
 Ail rrcatures 
 have a»i cod. 
 
10 
 
 That God is. 
 
 thofe fcverall ends did require : As,for example, 
 Whatisthereafon 5 why ahorfe hath one fafhi- 
 on, a dog another, iheepe another, and oxen ano- 
 ther i The realon is plaine, a horfe was made to 
 runne 5 and to carry men- the oxen to plow ^ a 
 dog to hunt> and fo of the reft. Now this can- 
 not be without an author, without a maker,from 
 whom they have their beginning. So likewife 
 this is plaine by the eff ; £is : for this is a fure rule : 
 Whatsoever it is, that hath no other end, but it 
 felfe, thatfeekes to provide for ifs ownehappi- 
 nefTe, in looking no further than it felfe • and this 
 is only in God, blefled for ever • he hath no end 
 but himfelfe, no caufe above himfelfe, therefore 
 he lookes only to himfelfe, and therein doth his 
 happineffc confift. Take any thing that will not 
 goe out of its owne fphere, but dwels within its 
 ownecompafle, ftands upon its owne bottome 
 to feek its happineffe D that thing deftroyes it felfe$ 
 looke to any of the creatures, and let them not 
 ftirreout of their owne Ihell, they perifh there. 
 So,take a man that hath no further end than him 
 felfe 3 let him feeke himfelfe, make himfelfe his 
 end in all things he doth, looke only to his owne 
 profit and commodity , fuch a man deftroyes 
 himfelfe : for he is made to ferve God, and men, 
 and therein doth his happinefle confift, becaufe 
 that he is made for fuch an end: take thofe that 
 have becne ferviceable to God,znd men,that have 
 fpentthemfelvesinferving God, with a perfect 
 heart, we fee that fuch men are happie men; and 
 doe we not finde it by experience, that thofe 
 
 that 
 
That God *V. 
 
 that have gone a contrary way, have deftroyed 
 themfelvcs i And this is the third particular. 
 
 If things had no beginning, if the world was 
 frometernitie; what is the reafon there are no 
 monuments of more ancient times, than there 
 are? For, if weconfider what eternity is, and 
 what the vaftneffe of it is, that when you have 
 thought of millions of millions ofyeares, yet 
 (till there is more bey ond:if the world hath been 
 of fo long continuance, what is the reafon, that 
 things are but, as it were, newly ripened * what 
 is the reafon, that things are of no greater anti- 
 quity than they are? Take all the Writers that 
 ever wrote, (befides the Scripture) and they all 
 exceed not above foure thoufand yeares- for they 
 almoftall agree in this, that thefirft man, that 
 had ever any hiftory written of him, was Nwus, 
 who lived about Abrahams time, or a little be- 
 fore ; Trogus PomfeiuSy and Diodorus Sicukts a- 
 greeinthis. Plutarch faith, that The feus was the 
 firft, before him there was no hiftory of truth, 
 nothing credible h and this is his expreiTion:Take 
 the Hiftories of times before Thefeus, and you 
 (hall finde them to be but like skirts, in the maps, 
 wherein you (hall finde nothing but vaft Seas. 
 Varroy one of the moft learned of their Writers, 
 profeffeth, that before thg I£ingdome of the Si. 
 cyonians, which begun after Nt nus time, that be- 
 fore that time nothing was certaine, and the be- 
 ginning of that was doubtfull,and uncertain. And 
 their ufuall divifion of all hiftory, into fabulous, 
 and certaine, by Hiftorians, is well knowne, to 
 
 tnofel 
 
 u 
 
 r 4 
 
 Elfc, where be 
 any monu- 
 ments of times 
 before thofe 
 ruentioned in 
 theScriptine? 
 
n 
 
 That God is. 
 
 thofe that are converfant in them 5 and yet the "Hi- 
 ftorians, that are of any truth, began long aftei 
 the Captivitiein J&4^/0#; for Herodotus, that li- 
 ved after Etfhers time, is counted the firft that 
 ever wrote in Profe,and he was above eight hun 
 dred yeares after Mofes \ ime. For conclufion oi 
 this, we will only fay, that which one of the an- 
 cienteft of the Roman Poets, drawing this con 
 clufion from the argument we have h hand,faith, 
 If things were fiomecernuie, and had not a be- 
 ginning 3 
 
 Curfuprabellum Theranurn ejrfancra Trojx 
 Non alias alu quoquert- cecinere Poet a ? 
 
 if things were fir em etern t?c, what is the reafon,that 
 it fire the iheban and Tro] an warte, all the ancien> 
 Poets, and ancient Writers dd not make mention of 
 any thing ? Doe you thinke, if things had beetle 
 from-eternitie, there would be no monuments of 
 them, if you confider the vaftnefie of eternitic, 
 what it is t So likewifefor the beginning of A. ts 
 and Sciences ^ what is the reafon that the origi- 
 nal! of them is knowne < why were they nofoo 
 ner found out t why are they not fooner perfe- 
 1 ded f Printing, you know, is a late invention • 
 I and fo is the invention of Letters : take all Scien- 
 ces^the ancienteft, as Afirolcgie and Philofophy, as 
 well as iheMathematicks • why are their Authors 
 yet knowne, and we fee them in the blade, and in 
 the fruit •? So for the Genealogies of men (for that 
 I touch , becaufe it is an argument insinuated 
 by ?4»/,whenhee difputed with the Heathens, 
 
 I *& * 
 
 —, — ^ — — —....,. -* - . - — 
 
That G o d is. 
 
 A Els 17. z6. That Cod hath made of one b loud all 
 mankinde)you fee evidently how one man begets 
 another, and hee another, &c. and lb goe and 
 take all the Genealogies in the Scripture, and in all 
 other hiftoriographers, we fhall fee, that they all 
 come to one Well-head. Now, I aske, if thej 
 world was from cternitic,whatis the reafon,thatj 
 there is but one fountaine, one bloud whereofj 
 we are all made < Why fhould they not be made | 
 all together < Why was not the earth peopled 
 together, and in every Land a multitude of in- 
 habitants together, if they had beene from eter- 
 nitie, and had no beginning i 
 
 The fecond principalfHcad, by which wee 
 will make this good to yon, that there is a Cod, 
 that made Heaven and Earth, is, the teftimony 
 of CWhimfelfe. There is a double teftimony . 
 one is the written teftimony, which we have in 
 the Scripture -the other is,that teftimony, which 
 is written in the hearts of men. 
 
 Now,you know that all Nations do acknow- 
 ledge a God, (this we take for granted) yea, even 
 thole that have beene lately difcovered, that live, 
 as it were, disjoyned from the reft of the world, 
 yettheyallhave,and-worfhipa<7<?^; thofe Na- 
 tions difcovered lately by the Spantards, in the 
 Weft Indies, and thofe that have beene difcovered 
 fince • all of them, without exception, have it 
 written in their hearts, that there is a God. Now 
 the ftrength of the argument lies in thefetwo 
 things: 
 
 1 Iobfervethatphrafeufed 3 Jto;#.2.i5. Itis 
 
 called 
 
 Thauhere is a 
 God, proved by 
 the Law writ- 
 ten in mens 
 hearts. 
 
I ]± 
 
 Rom.1.15 
 
 That God is. 
 
 caWcda law written in their hearts. Every mans 
 fouleisbut, as it were, the table or paper, upon 
 which the writing is • the thing written is this 
 principle that we are now upon, xhdX there is a 
 God ? that made Heaven and Earth : but now who 
 is the Writer < furely it is God, which is evident 
 by this • becaufe it is a generall effed in the heart 
 of every man living, and therefore it muft come 
 from a generall caufe : from whence elie fhall h 
 proceed < no particular caufe can produce it • if it 
 were, or had beene taught by fome particular 
 man, by fome fc&,in fome one Nation or King- 
 dome, in one age, then, knowing the caufe, wee 
 (hould fee that the effed would not exceed it, but 
 when you finde it in the hearts of all men, in all 
 Nations and ages • then you muft conclude, it 
 was an univerfall effeft, written by the generall 
 Author of all things, which is GWalone ; and fo 
 confequently , the argument hath this ftrength in 
 it, that it is the teftimony of God. 
 
 2 Befides, when you fee every man looking 
 
 after a God, and feekhg him, it is an argument 
 
 that there is one,though they doe not finde him ; 
 
 it is true, they pitch upon a falfe God y and goe the 
 
 wrong way to feeke him, yet it fliewes that there 
 
 is fuch a Deity . For as in other things 5 when we 
 
 fee one affeft that thing which another doth not; 
 
 as to the eye of one,that is beautifull which is not 
 
 to another, yet all affecting fome beauty 5 it is an 
 
 I argument that beautie is the general objeft of all, 
 
 1 and fo in tafte & other fenfes .So when we fee men 
 
 going different wayes, one worfliipping one God, 
 
 one 
 
That God is* 
 
 one another, yet all confpiring in this, to wor- 
 fhip a God, it muft needs argue that there is one : 
 for this law ingraven in every mans heart, you 
 will grant that it is a work of Nature at leaft,and 
 the workes of Nature are not in vaine j even as, 
 when you fee the fire to afcend above the aire, it 
 argues that there is a place where it would reft, 
 though you never law it $ and as, in winter,when 
 you fee the Swallowes flying to a place, though 
 you never faw the place, yet you muft needs ga- 
 ther that there is one which Nature hath appoin- 
 ted them, and hath given them an inftinft to flye 
 unto, and there to be at reft ; fo when you fee in 
 every mans foule fuch an inftigation to feeke Cod, 
 though men never faw him,and the moft goe the 
 wrong way to feeke him, and take that for God 
 which is not, yet this argues there is a Deitie 
 whichthey intend. And this is the third. 
 
 The laft argument is taken from the foule of 
 man, the fajhwnof it, and the immortality of it. 
 
 Fiift, Cod isfaidto have made man after his 
 owne Image • hee doth not meane his bodie, for 
 that is not made after the Image of God 5 neither 
 is it only that holinefle which was created in us, 
 and now loft : for then he would not have faid, 
 Gen.9 •&• Hcthat'Jheds mans blond, by man fhall his 
 bloudbe/hed, for in the Image of G o d made hee 
 man. The principal! intent of that place, is (for 
 ought I can fee or judge) of that Scripture (fpea- 
 king of thenaturall faihion of things, and not of 
 the fupernatu-rall- graces) it is, to expreffethat 
 God hath given a foule toman, that carries the 
 
 Image 
 
 *5 
 
 The fame truth 
 is proved dv 
 the foule ot 
 man. 
 
 Gen.p .6. 
 
\6 
 
 Tlmt God is. 
 
 Image of God, a likenefTe to the Effence of God, 
 immateriall, immortall, invifible^ for there is a 
 double Image of God in the foule, one in the fub- 
 ftance of it,which is never loft • another is the fu- 
 pernaturall grace , which is an Image of the 
 knowledge, holineflc, and righteoufneffe of God : 
 and this is utterly loft .But the foule is the Image 
 of the Effence of God, ( as I may fo fpeake ) that 
 is, it is a fpirit immaterially immortall, invifible, 
 as he is, hath underftanding and will, as he hath; 
 he underftands all things,and wils whatfoever he 
 •pleafeth. And you fee an expreflion of him in 
 your owne foule, which is an argument of the 
 Deitie. 
 
 Secondly, befides, the immortalitie of the 
 foule, which argues it came not from any thing 
 here below, but that it hath its originalf from 
 God i it came from G o D^andto God it mutt re- 
 turned that is, it had not any beginning here, it 
 had it from him, and to him againe it muft re- 
 turns For what is this body, wherein the foule 
 is? it is but the cafe of the foule, the (hell, and 
 fheath of it ; therefore the foule ufeth it but for 
 a time, and dwels in it,asa man dwels in a houfe, 
 while it is habitable, but when it is growne rui- 
 nous, he departeth : the foule ufeth the body, as 
 a man doth a veflell, when it is broken he layes it 
 afide ; or as a man doth an inftrument, whileft it 
 will be fer vkeable to him • but when it is no lon- 
 ger fit to play upon, he cafts it afide • fo doth the 
 foule, as it were, lay afide the body : for it is but 
 as a garment that a man ufeth 3 when it is worne 
 
 out. 
 
That God is 
 
 *7 
 
 our, and threed-barc, hce cafts it off: fo doth the ' 
 foule with the body . And for the further proofe 
 of this, and that it depends not on the body, nor 
 hath its originall of it, or by it- confider the; 
 great a&s of the foule, which are iuch, as cannot j 
 arifc from the temper ofthe matter, bee it never, 
 fo curious : As the difcourfe of the foule from j 
 one generall to another ; the apprehenfion of; 
 fo high things, as God y and Angells ; the devifing 
 of fuchthings,as never came into thefenfes^For, 
 though it be true,that founds and colours be car- 
 ried into the underftanding by the fenfes 3 yet to | 
 make pictures of thefe colours , and mufike of 
 thefe founds 3 this is from the underftanding with- 
 in:) So the remembrance of things part; obfer- 
 ving the condition of things 5 by comparing one 
 with another. Now, looke upon bruit beafts,we j 
 fee no actions but may arife from the temper of, 
 the matter 3 according to which their fancie and 
 appetite are fafhioned ; though fome adions are 
 ftronger than others, yet they arife not above 
 the Well-head offenfc: all thofe extraordinary 
 things, which they aretaught to doe, it is but for 
 their food; as Hawkes,andlbme Pigeons, it is re- 
 ported, in Affyria. that they carry Letters from 
 one place to another, where they ufe to have 
 food- fo other beafts that aft dancing, and fuch 
 like motions, it is done by working on their fen- 
 fes : but come to man, there are other aftions of 
 his underftanding and will in the foule : It is true 
 indeed,in a man there are fancie and appetite, and 
 thefe arife from the temper of the body • there- 
 
 C m fore\ 
 
I _! 
 
 Tliat God is, 
 
 fore as the body hath a different temper, fo there 
 are feverall appetites,difpofitions and affe&ions 5 j 
 fome man longs after one thing, foine after ano- ! 
 ther, but thefe are but the feverall turnings of the j 
 fenfuall appetite, (which is alio fcene in beafts) 
 but come to the higher part of the foule, the j 
 a&ions of the will, and underftanding of man, 
 and they are of an higher nature 5 the ads which 
 they doe, have no dependence upon the body 
 at all. Befides, come to the motions of the 
 body ; the foule guides and moves the body, as 
 a Pilot doth a lliip, (now the Pilot may be fafe, 
 though the fhip bee fplit upon the rockc.) 
 Looke on bcafts,they are led wholly as their ap- 
 petite carries them, and they muft goe that way • 
 therefore they are not ruled, as a Pilot governes 
 a (hip: but in men, their appetites would cany 
 them hither, or thither, but the will faith no, and 
 chat hath the underftanding for its counfellcr. So 
 that the motions of the body arife not froip the 
 diverfity of the lenfuall appetites, as in all other 
 creatures, but of the will arid underftanding -for 
 the foule depends not upon the body,but the ads 
 of the body depend upon it : therefore, when the 
 | body perifheth, the loule dies not ; but, as a man 
 that dwells in a houfe- if the houfe fall, he hath 
 no dependence on it, but may goe away to ano- 
 ther houfe 5 fo the foule hath no dependence up- 
 on the body at all ; therefore y eta muft not think 
 that it doth die when the body perifheth. 
 
 Befidcs,the foule is not worne,it is not weary, 
 
 as other things are ; the body is weary, and the 
 
 * . . ^rits 
 
Tliat God is. 
 
 *9 
 
 fpirits are weary : the body weares, as doth a 
 garment, till it be wholly worne out: now, any 
 thing that is not weary, it cannot perifh; and, in 
 the very adions of the foule itfelfethereisno 
 wearineffe, but whatfoever comes into the foule 
 perfcds it,with a perfection naturall to it, and it is 
 the ftrongerforit. therefore it cannot be fubjed 
 to decay ,tt cannot weare out,as other things doe, 
 but the more notions it hath, the more per fed it 
 is ; the body, indeed, is weary with labour, and 
 the fpirits are weary, but the foule is not weary, 
 but in the immediate ads of it,the foule it workes 
 ftill, even when the body fleepeth : Looke upon 
 the adions of the foule, and they are indepen- 
 dent, and as their independencie growes 5 fo the 
 foule growes younger and younger, and ftronger 
 and ftronger, finefiewjuvcnefat, and is not fub- 
 jed to decay, or mortality : as you fee in a Chic- 
 ken, it growes ftill, andfothefhellbreakes, and 
 Jails oft': fo is it with the foule, the body hangs 
 on it, but as a fhell,and when the foule is growne 
 to perfedlon, it falls away, and the foule returncs 
 to the Maker. 
 
 The next thing that I fhould come to, is to fliew 
 you how this is made evident by foith. When a 
 man hath fomc rude thoughts of a thing, and 
 hath fomc reafon for it, he then begins to have 
 fome perfwafion of it • but when, belides, a man 
 wife and true, fhall comc,and tell him it is fo,this 
 addes much ftrength to his confidence : for «\vhen 1 
 you come to difcerne this God-head } znd to know 
 it by reafons from the creatures, this may give 
 
 C 2 you 
 
 Thcfecond 
 way to prove, 
 that God is /is 
 by faith. 
 
 =T=^ 
 
20 
 
 That God is. 
 
 you fomc perfwafion • but when one fball come, I 
 and tell you out of the Scripture, made by a wife 
 and true God, that it is fo indeed 3 this makes you 
 confirmed in it. Therefore the ftrength of the 
 argument by faith, you may gather after this 
 manner: Yee beleeve the Scriptures to be true, 
 and that they arethe Word of God s now this is 
 contained in the Scripturcs,that Godmadc Heaven I 
 and Earth - therefor c,beleeving the Scriptures to 
 be the Word of God, and whatfoevcr is contai- 
 ned in them 5 hence faith layes hold upon it alfo, 
 and fo our confent growes ftrong and firme^that 
 there is a God: After this manner you come to 
 conclude it by faith. For what is faith? Faith 
 is but whena thing is propounded to you, even 
 as an objedt fet before the eye, there is an habit 
 j of faith within, that fees it what it is • for faith is 
 nothing elfe, but a feeing of that which is: for 
 though a thing is not true, becaufe I beleeve it is 
 fo, yet things fir ft are, and then I beleeve them. 
 Faith doth not beleeve things imaginary > and 
 fuch as have no ground^ but whatfoevcr faith be- 
 leeves, it hath a being, and the things we beleeve, 
 doe lye before thceyeofreafon, fan&ifiedand 
 elevated by the eye of faith . therefore CMofes y 
 when he goes about to fet downe the Scripture, 
 hee doth not prove things by reafon, but pro- 
 pounds them, as, In the beginning Go 9 made the 
 Heavtn and Earth ^ he propounds the objeft, and 
 leaves it to the eye of faith to looke upon. For 
 the nature of faith is this : cWhath given to man 
 anunderftandingfacultie, (which we call, Rea- 
 fon) 
 
That G O D is. 
 
 ti 
 
 Con) the objed of this is all the truths that are de- 
 livered in the world, & whatsoever hath a being. 
 Now take all things that we are faid to beleeve, 
 and they alfo arc things that are y and which are 
 the true objects of the underftanding and rcafon. 
 But the underftanding hath obje&s of two forts : 
 
 i Such as we may eafily perceive,as the eye 
 of man doth the obje<5l that is before him. 
 
 2 Such as we fee with more difficulty ,and can- 
 not doe it, without fomething above the eye to 
 elevate it: As the candle and the bignefle of it, 
 the eye canfce- but to know the bignefle of the 
 Sunne, in the latitude of it, you muft have inftru- 
 ments of art to lee it, and you muft meafure it by 
 degrees, and fo fee it: So is it here, fome things 
 wee may fully fee by reafon alone, and thofe are 
 fuch as lye before us, and them wee may eafi- 
 ly fee: but other things there are, that though 
 they are true, yet they are more remote, and 
 further off; therefore they are harder to bee 
 feene ; and therefore wee muft have fomething 
 to helpe our underftanding to fee them. So that 
 indeed, Faith, it is but the lifting up of the un- 
 derftanding, by adding a new light to them and 
 it • and therefore they are faid to be revealed, not 
 becaufe they were not before, as if the revealing 
 of them gave a being unto them ; but, even as a 
 new light in the night difcovers to us that which 
 we did not fee before, and as a profpedlive glafle 
 reveales to the eye, that which we could not fee 
 before, and by its owne power, the eye could not 
 reach unto. So that the way to ftrengthen our 
 
 C 3 felves 
 
21 
 
 Tlmt God is, 
 
 Vfe. i 
 
 To ftren«then 
 this principle* 
 that therc/isa 
 God, more in 
 ourjicarcs. 
 
 Hcber.11.a7. 
 
 Ier.13.14. 
 
 felves by this argument, is to belceve the Scrip- 
 tures, and the things contained in them . 
 
 Now you fhall fee, why we are tobeleevc 
 the Scriptures; but this wee muft leave till the 
 nexttime. We will now come to fome ufe of the 
 point, for wee are not to difmiffe you without 
 fome application, but wee muft infert fome ufes 
 here and there. 
 
 When you heare thefe arguments, proving 
 this conclufion that there is a God, the ufe you 
 fhouldmakeofthem,is,to labour daily to ftreng- 
 | then our faith in this principle,and to have an eye 
 I at cWin all our a&ions,for this is the reafon given 
 in the Text, why one man comes to God, becauie 
 he bdeeves that he is, and another doth not, be- 
 caufe he beleeves it but by halves s if they did be- 
 lceve this fully, they would ferve God with a 
 perfeft heart/ What is the reafon, that CMofes 
 breakesthorow all impediments.^ had temptati- 
 ons on both fides ^ Profperitieand preferment on 
 the one fide, and adverfitie and affli&ions on the 
 other, yet he paffeth thorow wealth and pover- 
 tie, honour and difhonour, and goes ftraight on 
 in the way to heaven, and the reafon is adaed in 
 the Text, becaukhec faxv him that was invisible • 
 even fo, if you did fee him that was invifible,the 
 God wee now fpeake of, as you fee a man that 
 (lands before you, your wayes would bee more 
 even, and wee fhouldwalke with him more up- 
 rightly than we doe, if we did but beleeve, that 
 it is he that//// the heaven and earthy as he faith of 
 himfelfc,/<r.23.24. 
 
 Some 
 
TW God is. 
 
 Anfoi 
 
 Godinihe 
 world, as the 
 fbuJc in the 
 body. 
 
 Some may here fay ; How can we fee him that ) Otjeff 
 is invifible i here is oppofitum in adjecio^o fee him ( 
 thatisinvifible. 
 
 Come to the body of a man, you can fee no- 
 thing but theoutfide,the outward bulke and hide 
 of the creature, yetthereisanimmateriall, invi- 
 fible fubftance within,that fills the body ; fo come 
 to the body of the world, there is a God that fills 
 Heaven and Earth, as the foule doth the body. 
 Now to draw this a little nearer, that invifible, 
 immateriall fubftance, the foule of man which 
 ftands at the doores of the body, and lookes out 
 at the windowes of the eyes,and of the eares,both 
 to fee andhearc, which yet we fee not • yet it is 
 this foule that doth all thefe ; for if the foule be 
 once gone outofthehoufeofthebody, the eye 
 fees no more, the eare hcares no more, than an 
 houfe or chamber can fee, when there is no body 
 in it j and as it is the fpirituall fubftance within 
 the body that fees, and heares, and und-erftands 
 all- fo apply this to God that dwells in Heauen 
 and Earth; that as, though you fee not the foule, 
 yet every part of the body is full of it • foif we 
 looke into the world, we fee that it is filled, and 
 yet God (like as the foule) is in every place, and 
 fills it with his prefence •, he is prefent with every 
 creature, he is in the aire, and in your felves, and 
 feeth all your a<3ions,andhearethall your words ; 
 and if we could bringourfelvestoafetledper- 
 fwafion of this, it would caufe us to walke more 
 evenly with Godthan we do,and to converfc with 
 him after another manner; when a man is pre- 
 
 C 4 lent. 
 
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 xherbe- 
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 -;r T'f "-.;. : :.:::: r f:-. :rv: k v:.:.- ;".:.-;: 
 
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 :.::_\.': Zi2 z'z • .: _:r: zziz z*zz\zz .zzztzzz : z'S: - 
 
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 r..t :: r.te.:. :.>: i:c: :: i:.!i'-:r:r.. :.s: p:- 
 
 r;_-:.r.: " ;::__ :.±_.~ -.:. zzzzz zzz^rz is 2. Zu£ ' 
 
 : 
 7 
 
 i • . ' :._: A.:r^- : .5 ±is r v: = : sir: : : 
 
 
 - . :--.: 
 
i6 
 
 That God is. 
 
 lob 2 2. 
 
 What is the reafon that men arefofenfible 
 of outward fhame, more than of fecret finnes . 
 and care fo much what men thinke of them, and 
 fpeakeof them,and not what Godkcs or knows * 
 Doth not this declare that men thinke as thofe A- 
 thiefts of whom lob fpcakes, lob 2 2 . and doe they 
 not conceive in fome degree, as thofe doe, as if 
 God did not defcend beneath the circle of the hea- 
 vens to the earth, and his eyes were barred by the 
 curtaines of the nighty that he did not take notice 
 of the wayes of men ; and looke how men doe ' 
 this in a greater meafure, fo much greater A- 
 theifme they have. 
 
 Againe, if you doebeleeve that there is fuch a 
 Gody what is the reafon when you have any thin^ 
 to doe, that you runne to creatures, and feek help 
 from them, and bufie your felves wholly about 
 outward meanes, and fceke not to God by prayer 
 and renewing of your repentance? if you did 
 fully beleeve that there is a Gody you would ra- 
 ther doe this, 
 
 Againe, W hat is the reafon that men are car. 
 ried away with the prefent, as Arijlotle cals it 
 ™ »<&, this fame very (nunc) doth tranfport a man 
 from the wayes of vertue to vice, that they are 
 to bufie about the body, and are carelefle of the 
 immortall foule,that they fuffer that to lye,like a 
 forlorne prifoner, and to fterve within them ? 
 Would you doe fo, if you did beleeve that there 
 is fuch a God, that made thefoule, to whom it 
 muft returne and give an account, and live with 
 him forever? 
 
 Again, 
 
 ■'ifi' w 
 
 'J** 
 
 ^ 
 
That God is. 
 
 *7 
 
 Againe, what is the reafon that men doe feeke 
 fo for the things of this life, are fo carefullin 
 building houfes, gathering eftates, and preparing 
 for themfelves here iuch goodly manfions for 
 their bodies, and fpend no time toadornethe 
 foule i (when yet thefe doe but grace us amongft 
 men, and are only for prefent ufe) andlookenot 
 for thofe things which commend the foule to 
 God, and regard not eternity in which the foule 
 muft live:* I fay, what is the reafon of this, if 
 there be not fome grounds of fecrct Atheifmein 
 men? 
 
 What is the reafon that there is fuch ftupidity 
 in men, that the threatnings will not move them 3 
 they will be moved with nothing, like beads, but 
 prefent ftrokes, that they doe not fore-fee the 
 plague to prevent it,but goe on,and are punifhed i 
 And fo for Gods promifes and rewards 5 Why 
 will you not forbcare finne^that you may receive 
 the promifes, and the rewards ? Whence is this 
 ftupiditie both wayesf Why are we as beafts, 
 led with fenfnality, that we will not bee drawnc 
 to that which belongs to God, and hiskingdome? 
 Is not this an argument of fecret Athcifme, and 
 impiety in the heart of every maa> more or 
 lefTec 
 
 Againe, what is the reafon that when men 
 come into the prefence of God, they carry them- 
 felves fo negligently, not caring how their foules 
 are clad,and what the behaviour of their fpirits is 
 before him * If you fhould come before men, 
 you would looke that your cloaths be neat and 
 
 decent 
 
 % 
 
z8 
 
 Tint God is. 
 
 rfti. 
 
 Drawfuch 
 confluences 
 as may atifc 
 fiomfuch a 
 conclufion. 
 
 decent, and you will carry your felves with iixh 
 reverence, as becomes him, in whofe prefence 
 you ftand • this proceeds from Acheifme , in the 
 heans of men 3 not beleeving the Lord to be hee j 
 that filh the Heaven , and the Earth : Therefore, j 
 as you findethefe things in you , more or lefle,(o | 
 labour to confirme this principle more and more j 
 to your felves • and you fhould fay, when you j 
 heare thefe arguments, certainly I will beleeve it 
 more firmely, furely I will hover no more about i 
 it. To what end are more lights brought, but 
 that you fhould fee things moreclearely , which 
 yon did not before ? So that this double ufe you 
 {hall make oF it : 
 
 One is , to fix this conclufion in your hearts, 
 and to faften it daily upon your foules . 
 
 The fecond is, if there be fuch a mightie God, 
 then labour to draw fuch confequences as may a- 
 rife from fuch a conclufion. 
 
 As, if there be fuch a one that fils Heaven and 
 Earth ; then looke upon him , as one that fees all 
 youdoe,andheareswhatfoeveryoufpeake : As 
 when you fee a (hip pafle thorow the fea, and fee 
 the failes applied to the wind, and taken do wne, 
 and hoy fed up againe, as the wind requires , and 
 fhall fee it keepefuch a conftant courfe , to fuch a 
 haven , avoiding the rockes and fands , you will 
 fay, furely there is one within that guides it; for it 
 could not do this of it felfe ; or as when y6u look 
 upon the body of man, and fee it live and move, 
 and doe the aftions of a living man j you muft 
 needs fay, the bodie could not doe this of it felfe p 
 
 but 
 
Tliat God is. 
 
 but there muft bee fomething within that quic- 
 kens it, and caufeth all the anions 5 even fo when 
 you looke upon the creatures, and fee them to 
 doQ inch things, which of themielves they are no 
 more able to doe, than the body can doe the ani- 
 ons that it doth, without the foule : therefore 
 hence you may gather that there is a God> that 
 fils Heaven and Earth, anddothwhatfoeverhe 
 pleafcth •, and if this be fo, then draw nigh to 
 him, converfe with him, and walke with him 
 from day to day ; obferve him in all his dealings 
 with us, and our dealings with him,and one with 
 another • be thankfull to him for all the 
 blcflings we enjoy, and flye to him 
 for fuccour in all dangers, and 
 
 upon all occafions. 
 * *• 
 
 (v; 
 
 THE 
 
 *9 
 
|o 
 
 •. P'r 
 
 
 THE 
 
 SECOND 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 Heuewzs ik 6. 
 
 He that commeth to God, mujl MeeVc 
 God is ore 
 
 fj Efore wee come to the fece n d 
 I fort of argumete to prove 
 ^ ^nociple, that Go: 
 by&i:h s werhinkekr. c 
 ne to anfwer fome objections 
 of Atheiime, which mav arife 1 
 J and trouble the. 
 
 •ie -mH/S - the Sunne rife, 
 
 ----- K, and fee the r:vers runne ic a circle 
 
 into 
 
That God is. 
 
 into the fea, the day followes the night, &c. the 
 winds runne in their compares, and they have 
 done fo continually, and their is no alteration • 
 therefore they doubt whether there be fuch a God, 
 that hath given a beginning to thefe things, and 
 ihall give an end * 
 
 For anfwer to this, confider that thefe bodies 
 of ours, which wee carry about with us, which 
 wc know had a beginning, and fhall have an end, 
 thai there is fomething in them, that is as con- 
 stant as any of the former ^ as the beating of the 
 pulfe, the breathing of the lungs, and themotion 
 of the heart, and yet the body had a beginning, 
 a flail have an end: Nov; what is thediffe- 
 ^etwecne thefe two ^ Itisbutfmall,this 
 continueth only for fome tithes of yeares, but 
 - world for'thoufands; the difference is no: 
 \ great 5 and therefore why fhould you not thinke 
 it bad a beginning, as well as your body,and like- 
 wife iliall have an ending. 
 
 Vc what the Apoftie faith in this place,thc 
 all things continue alike- yet there are two rea- 
 Ions, whereby hee proves that God made the 
 world, and that the world frail have an end : 
 
 i The firft is laid downe in verfe 5 . lor this 
 they are willingly ignorant of, that by the Word of 
 G o n the heavens were of old, and the earth fan- 
 ding out of the waters, and in the waters. That is, 
 naturally the waters would cover the earth, as it 
 did at the beginning . for the naturall place of the 
 waters is above the earth, even as of the aire a- 
 bovc the waters : Now who is it that hath drawn 
 
 thefe 
 
 Anftv, 1 
 
 Verfc. f 
 
3* 
 
 Tlmt God is, 
 
 Vcrf.£ 
 
 Artfhu 
 
 thcfe waters out of the earth, and caufed ittoj 
 (land out of the waters, and made it habitable for ! 
 men and beafts,faith he, was it not ALord^ ! 
 
 2 And was not this proved by the FlouJJ 
 verf. 6. whereby the World, that then was , being 1 
 overflowed with watfrs, perified; that is , the wa- ! 
 ters , when C7^tooke away his hand,returned to ' 
 their place , and covered the face of the earth. 
 Now , who was it that did drie the earth againe, 
 and now referveth it to the day of Iudgement to 
 be deftroyed by fire i And this hee proveth by 
 the famous ftory of the Floud ; You have heard 
 of it(faith he) but of this you are willingly igno- 
 rant , that is , they are fuch things as may bee 
 knowne; but by reafon of your lufts, which ob- 
 fcure your knowledge , and hide thofe parts of 
 nature and reafon, which Godhx&i planted in 
 your hearts; therefore, of thefe things you are 
 willingly ignorant. 
 
 And therefore , befides, wee will give this fe- 
 cond anfwer to thofe that make this objection. 
 That things are not alike fince the^reation. For, 
 
 i The courfe of Nature hath beene turned 
 many times, as thofe miracles that the Lord 
 wrought in flopping the courfe of the Sunne,and 
 making of it goe backward$he made the waters to 
 runne a contrary courfe, and flopped the l^at of 
 the fire,and the efficacieof it,fo that it could doe 
 thethree children no harmc. 
 
 2 Befides thole mirades,look upon the things 
 done amongft us, and you (hall fee, though they 
 are not contrary to Nature, yet nature is turned 
 
 off 
 
7bat God is. 
 
 of its courfe, as in our bodies there be ficknefles 
 and diftempers, fo there are in the great bodie of 
 the World, ftrange inundations, ftirres and alte- 
 rations 5 now if there were not a free Agent, that 
 governes thefe, why are thefethings fo, and why 
 no more * why doe thefe things go fo far, and no 
 further? why arethere any alterations at all:' and 
 when any alterations cometopaffe, whoishee 
 that ftoppeth them i why doth the fea over-flow 
 fome places, and goe no further f who is he that 
 fets bounds to them,but only the Lord? Therfore 
 this we may learne from it,the conftancie of thefe 
 things fhewes the wifedome of God ^ (as it is wif. 
 dome in us to doc things conftantly) andagaine, 
 the variety of things fhewes the liberty of the A- 
 gent • for the a&ions of Nature are determined to 
 onc,but God ihewes his liberty in this, that he can 
 and doth change and alter them at his pleafure. 
 
 Befides, the things that arc ordinary amongft 
 us, wherein there is no fuch fwarving, but they 
 are conftant in their courfe h doth not God guide 
 them and difpofe of them as he pleafeth { as the 
 former and latter raine : doth not God give more 
 or lefle, according to his good pleafure t which 
 fliewes, that all things have not continued alike, 
 but that there is a (7<?;/, that governes the world 
 And as it is thus with natural! things, fo in other 
 things alfo j you (hall fee fome judgements and 
 rewards upon fome, and not upon others. 
 
 Oh but, you fay, the world hath continued very 
 long, and there is a fromfe of his ccmming> but we 
 
 \\ 
 
 Diftempers in 
 the bodie of 
 the world. 
 
 fee no fuch thing? 
 
 D 
 
 But 
 
 objeft* 
 
I 4 
 
 I Anjrv. 
 
 That God is, 
 
 Object, 
 Anfw, 
 
 Objeff.< 
 
 Anfo. 
 
 Ezck. i. 
 
 Bur, faith the L o r d, ^A thoufandy cores atc t@ 
 me but as me day, and one day as a thou find yeares ^ 
 As if hec fliould fay, itmnyfeemelongtoyou, 
 who meafure time by motion and revolution, to 
 your narrow underfianding it may feeme long ; 
 but to God it doth not : A thoufartd yeares with | 
 him, is but as one day. Whcre,by the way, wee ! 
 (fall anfwer that fond objc&ion : . . - \ 
 
 How the Lord imployed himfclfc before the! 
 creation of the W orld 1 ' i 
 
 A thoufand yeares to him is but as one day . j 
 and againe, one day is as the longeft time, that is, j 
 there is no difference of time with him . To which, i 
 I may adde this ; that, who knoweth what the j 
 Lordhdxh. done t Indeed he made but one world! 
 to our knowledge,but who knoweth what he did j 
 before, and what he will doe after i who knowesj 
 his counfels < and who is able to judge of him, or j 
 of his a&ions * we can know no more, nor judge 
 no otherwife than he hath revealed, We have no 
 other booke to looke into, but the bookc of his 
 Word, and the booke of this Woild- and there- 
 fore to feeke any further, is to be wife above fo- 1 
 brietie, and above that which is written. 
 
 But whence then comes this promifcuous ad- * 
 miniftration of things, which feemes to make 
 things runneupon wheeles,they have no certaine 
 courfe, but are turned upiide downe : whence 
 comes this to pafle, if there bee a God thar rules 
 heaven and earth * 
 
 For anfwer of this, lookcin^^. i. where 
 you have an expreffion of this, of things running 
 
 upon 
 
Tl?at God is. 
 
 upon whccles : wherein you may obierve thefe 
 things : 
 
 i That all things here below are exceeding 
 mutable^ and therefore compared to Wheeles, 
 and they are turned about aseafieawhecle, fo 
 that a man may wonder at their variety and tur- 
 ning. 
 
 2 But yer, thefe wheeles have eyes in them, 
 that is, though we fee not the reafon of things in 
 them, yet they have eyes in them, they have 
 fomething to be difeerned • the fpeech is a meta- 
 phor, and a metony mie too, {hewing that there is 
 
 I fomething in their events, that may fliew the rea- 
 
 : ion of their Turning, if we could difcerne it, but 
 
 . it is oft hidden from us. 
 
 j »3 And thefe Wheeles are fir red, but as the 
 ieafs fine them. . that is, there is nothing done 
 
 i here below, but they are done by the inftruments 
 
 ) of God, namely, the Angels. 
 
 4 And thefe Angels, firft, have faces like men, 
 that is,the wifdome of men ; and fecondly,on the 
 other fide, a face like a lion, for their ftrength ; 
 
 1 thirdly, there is fervice, and laborioufnefle in 
 ; thcmasin<9*f» : fourthly, thereisfwiitneflein 
 1 them, as in Eagles ^ and this is meant of the An- 
 jgels, that order and guide the courfe of things, 
 I and change them, as we fee continually. 
 
 5 Againe, as thefe Wheeles move not, but as 
 they are guided by them, fo both move by the 
 Sfirtt 5 that is, what God commands them, they 
 execute ; they goe,when he would have them go, 
 and ftand (till, when he would have them. 
 
 D 2 6 Againe, 
 
 35 
 
 Obfervacicm 
 trom the , 
 whccles in 
 Ezck.i, 
 
 ThcAngcJs I 
 ufed as inftru- 
 ments in gui- 
 ding the courle 
 of thins* , 
 
?<* 
 
 That God is. 
 
 ob\t£l\ 
 
 ssfnfa* 
 
 God bfings hit 
 purpofes to 
 pafle by waycs 
 we tbmkenor 
 of. 
 
 6 Againe, for the manner of their motion $ 
 every one of them had four e faces -that is^thcy could 
 looke every way from Eaflto Weft, and from 
 North to South, when as man can fee but one 
 way before him, hee cannot looke on the right 
 fide, or the left, or bchinde him, and therefore 
 he may be deceived • but thefe looke everie way. 
 So alfo the/m, on which they goe, are not like 
 mens feet, to goe forward only, but like calves 
 feet, that is, they were round feet, which goe ei- 
 ther forward or backward, fo, as they are eafily 
 turned- and as they fee everyway, fo they are 
 apt to goe every way, and this with the greateft 
 facilitie that can be. Let a man fet any thing on 
 worke,and it muft needs runne in fuch a channell, 
 in fuch a way, he cannot change it fuddenly : But 
 it is not fo with God, he can alter a thing as eafi- 
 ly to the left hand, as to the right, and that in an 
 inftant. 
 
 But what dependance is there between things • 
 doe we not fee ftrange things come to pafle, that 
 we can fee no reafon for, as the Churches over- 
 throwen, the godly afflicted, the wicked exal- 
 ted i 
 
 Well, faith the ZW, this is to bee confide- 
 red further, that one wheele is within another, and 
 the wings of the ^Angels are one within another • 
 there is a futablenefle, and an agreeablenefie 
 betweene them : fo that take the changes of a 
 thoufand y eares, and,if y ou fumme them up,you 
 (hall finde them, as wheeles, one within another. 
 Therefore I would fumme up the anfwer thus . 
 
 this 
 
That G o D is. 
 
 V 
 
 this deceives us,we look upon Gods providence,in 
 fome few particulars only 3 that we looke but up- 
 on a wheele or two,and not as they are one with- 
 in another • for then, indced,we fliould fee things 
 that might caufe us to wonder : as we fee lofepb, 
 an innocent man, lying in difgiace and imprifon- 
 ment; and David, though innocent, yet a long 
 time difgraced in the Court of .SW^and after- 
 wards Shiwei curfing him • yea, wee fee Iefus 
 Chrifi himfelfe delivered and condemned for an 
 impoftor, and that by witneffe., and in a legall 
 manner: fowefeePW, one that was a man, full 
 of zeale, yet accounted one of the worft men, 
 that lived in his time: znd Naboth, an innocent 
 man condemned to death by witneffes, & (toned, 
 and who (hall rife againe to (hew his innocencie t 
 If you looke but upon a wheele or two, you (hall 
 finde the Church ready to be fwallowed up in 
 Efiers time • but if you looke upon them all at 
 once, then you will fee, that thefepaflages have 
 eyes in them, and that they have Angels, and the 
 Spirit to guide them. As for example, looke on 
 all the wheeles oi'lofephs life, you fhall fee the en- 1 
 vie of his brethren, felling him to the fteward of ! 
 Pharaohs houfe, and there his falling out with his j 
 miftreffe, his calling into prifon, and there mee- 
 ting with Pharaohs officers^ he was thereby made 
 knowne to Pharaoh . and fo he became great in 
 Pharaohs Court • and then you fee it is a goodly 
 worke. So in David, take all the wheeles toge- 
 ther, and you fhall fee a glorious work • how God 
 brought him along to theKingdome; God was 
 
 D 3 with 
 
38 
 
 That God is. 
 
 Oh\tft+y 
 
 with him, and wrought his works for him 5 when 
 he did fit ftill $ and when his hand was not upon 
 Sauly then he lent the Philifiinesto vex hin^ and 
 to end his dayes: and firft hee gave D avid the 
 Kingdome of Iudah ; and then afterwards Abner 
 and iMofieth fill out about a word, and one of 
 them was flaine s and then alfo came two wicked 
 men, and tookeoffthe others head, and fo came 
 home the whole Kingdome of Ifrael into his 
 hand. So alfo in Efihers time, take all the whcelcs 
 together, and you fhall fee an excellent ad of 
 Gods providence, when the Church was ready to 
 be deftroyed,when the neck was upon the block, 
 and the Avoid drawne out ready to ftrike, and 
 that that night the King fhould not flecpc,but 
 that abooke muft bee brought, and rather that 
 than another, and that the place fhould bee opc- 
 ned,where he fhould finde Hordecji his revealing 
 of the treafon againft him, and thereupon the de- 
 cree was revoked, and the Church delivered : I 
 fey, take all thefe together, and we fhall plainly 
 fee, that in this ftrange adminiftration of things, 
 there is ftill a providence, and that there are eyes 
 in the wheeles, and a fpirit to guide them . 
 
 If there bee fuch a God that made the Heaven 
 and the Earth - y what is the reafon then, that wee 
 fee things are brought to pafle by naturall caufes^ 
 If there be a caufe for fucha thing,thc effeft doth 
 follow 5 when there is no caufe, then the effed 
 doth not, as a wife man doth bring, a thing to 
 paffe, but the foolifh mifcarry in them^ve fee the 
 diligent hand maketh rich, andJiec that labours 
 
 not. 
 
Jbat God is. 
 
 w 
 
 not, hath nothing; and things that arc ftrong pre 
 vaile againft thole that are wcakc^ andfbGWis 
 forgotten in the world, and his wifedome and 
 power is not fcene t 
 
 It isnotfo: GWdoth carry it often another 
 way, as it is, Ecelcfg.n. Alrvay the battel! is not 
 to the flrongjbut chance and accident befall them all^ 
 that is, f/^ Lord of purpofe doth often change 
 them, that his power and might may be feene. 
 We fee often, that Princes rvalke on foot, likefcr- 
 vants, and fervants ride like Princes , as in Chap. 
 i o. that is, things doe not alwaies come to paiTe 
 according to their caufes^ forwhenthecaufeis 
 exceeding faire to bring forth fuch an effect, yet 
 we fee it is an abortive birth, andfich things come 
 to fajfe that we looked not for ; as he that was dili- 
 gent, many times comes to povertie 5 the wife 
 doe often mifcarry in bringing their enterprifes 
 to pa(Te. 
 
 Though the immediate caufe produceth the 
 effed • yet, who is the firft caufe t As for exam- 
 ple,though folly be the caufe,that fuch a bufineffc 
 doth mifcarry,yet who is the caufe of that folly < 
 It is fin that bringeth deftru&ion, and doth pre- 
 cipitate a man thereunto; but who is it thatlea- 
 veth men to their finnes and lufts i You fee,what 
 was the immediate caufe of the loffe of Rebo- 
 boams Kingdome, the ill counfell that was given 
 him by the young men • but who was it, that fit- 
 ted the caufe thereunto < was it not the Lord? So 
 on the contrary, wee fee that godlineffe is the 
 caufe of goodfucce(fe,and makes men to profper, 
 D 4 but 
 
 Anfw 
 
 w>i 
 
 Ecclcf.a II. 
 Events are 
 fornetimes 
 contrarie 
 to mans pre- 
 parations. 
 
 Ecdes.io, 
 
 Anfw.i* 
 
 God the firft 
 caufe, 
 
4 o f 
 
 Tl?at God tf . 
 
 object. 4, 
 
 Anjw. 
 
 Gods difpo- 
 fing of the af- 
 flictions of the 
 godly, and the 
 profperitie ofc 
 the wicked. 
 
 but who is the caufe of that caufeds ic not the Lord 
 himfelfe f 
 
 But, ofcentimes it is ill with thofc that are 
 good, and well with thofe that are wicked- the 
 wicked profper, many times, when it goes ill 
 with thofe that feare the Lord* oftentimes it 
 commeth to the wicked according to the rvorke of the 
 righteous, andcontrarily. IfthcrebeaG^ what 
 is the reafon that this comes to paffe < 
 
 It is certaine,thatwhenfoever, any wicked 
 man doth an evill aft, and a good man doth well, 
 and ferveththe Lordw'nh a perfefl heart, that 
 there is a fentence of good and evill goes with it . 
 but God doth often fufpend the reward to the 
 godly ,and of puniihment to the wicked * the exe- 
 cution of them is deferred. Befides., wee are of- 
 ten miftaken ; for that which wee thinke to be ill 
 to us, is many times for our good 3 and that 
 which we thinke is very happie and profperous, 
 may be hurtfull to us. As for example, when la- 
 cob came from Laban, God faid to him 3 Be not 
 
 I afraid, lam with thee y and I will doe thee good. You 
 kc^Iacob was no foonergone, but Laban followes 
 him, and would have done him much hurt, had 
 not the Lord taken him off: Nofooner was La- 
 ban gone from him, but Efau comes againft him, 
 and when the Lord had refcued him from him . 
 when he was come neerer home, when he might 
 ' have expe&ed fome reft after his weary journey 5 
 yet then his daughter was ravifhed, and his two 
 (bnnes were rebcliious,and committed murther • 
 after that Rachel died, and Deborah, who was Re* 
 
 bcccah*s 
 
Tl?at G o d is. 
 
 4 l 
 
 beccatis nurfe, who was a good wouian,and thcr- 
 forc a great lofle to his family 5 afi er all this, a fa- 
 mine fell upon him ; yet for all this, God faid that 
 he would doe hiin good • and doubtlcfTe,6W was 
 as good as his word, and he did him good: for 
 that medicine is good, that doth us good, though 
 it be bitter, and fo was it with thefc afflictions. 
 So Paul, he prayed that he might have an happie 
 journey to Rome, and no doubt,*^ Lord heard 
 his prayer, as appearethby the Lords appearing 
 to him 5 yet fee what a kinde of profperous jour- 
 ney he had •, what a deale of trouble did he meet 
 with*? Being in great afflictions, he went to Ic- 
 rufalem, thinking there to bee comforted by the 
 Saints • and when he came thither hee went into 
 the Temple, thinking he had well provided for 
 himfelfe ; but then he was hardly entertaincd 5 put 
 into prifon, and fent bound to C&farea, and after- 
 wards, was in many perills upon the fed. And 
 this was the profperous journey that Paul had, 
 and furely it was happie, and did much good to 
 his owne foule, whereby hce did good to others ; 
 a journey that led him into many experiments of 
 Gods providence, and goodnefle towards him: 
 therefore wee muft not judge according to the 
 outfide, or that which the world accounts of, and 
 appeares to bee cvill, for they may be caufes of 
 much good to us : therefore Simx. lames wills us, 
 lames 1.2,3. t0 re j°j^ when wee faU into divers 
 temptations, 077 7* Jbuuiov tk *k*»*i becaufe it is but 
 a triall of your faith. Thefe varieties of afflictions 
 are as fire to cleanfe your faith, and make it fhinc 
 
 more, 
 
 Cod doth his 
 children good 
 by erode s. 
 
 lames i.i, 1 
 
4* 
 
 J bat God is, 
 
 Things are 
 not alway good 
 or evill to us 
 that we ihiflke 
 arc. 
 
 Object. 5, 
 
 He that be- 
 leeves not 
 Chr.ft,v*ould 
 not btlceve 
 though one 
 , {liottld rife 
 fi cm the dead 
 
 more, and grow more: therefore, faith he, re- 
 joyce, when you fall into variety of them s for 
 the variety of them will cure that variety of evils 
 and dilcalcs ia us ; as poverty may do that which 
 ficknefle cannot do, and imprifonment may hcale 
 that which povertie or difgrace cannot doe, &c 
 So on the contrary, thofe good things arc not al- 
 wayes good, which we account good . as when 2 
 
 man goes on fr.om one good bleifing to another 
 and is carried with a proiperous wind, and findes 
 no change in any thing • this may alfo tend to his 
 hurt and dcftru<ftion,as the other to his falvation • 
 thefe flay the foolifli, even as the other favc the 
 godly: for thefe often-times doe make the foule 
 fouler and fouler, and make it to be more ruftie. 
 This want of changes makes men to depart from 
 God, and fall into evill 5 whereas the other makes 
 us the more carefully to clcanfe our wayes, and 
 to cleave more firmely to him: Therefore, let 
 us take heed that we be not deceived about thefe 
 evils. 
 
 What is the reafon then, that as dies the beaft 
 fo doth man die, to our appearance, there are 
 nonethat rife from the dead 3 indeed,if one ftiould 
 come from heaven or hell, and bring us word 
 what is done there,we fhould beleeve it,but when 
 did any ever heareof fuch a thing { 
 
 You have more, than if a man {hould come 
 from the dead, from either of thefe two places : 
 for you have Chnfi come into the world, from 
 the bofome of the Father, and he hath brought us 
 newes, what is done there. Befides, we have God 
 
 him- 
 
That G o d is. 
 
 il 
 
 himfelfe, who is, as it were, come from heaven, 
 and hath revealed many things unto us, and hath 
 declared his will, what he would have us to doe, 
 as to Mofes upon Mount Sinai, and hce would 
 have done it to this day, but that our weaknefle 
 cannot endure the mightinefle and greatnefle of 
 his Majeftie,but we would fay,as the people did . 
 Let Mt the Lordfpeake to us any more left rve die, but 
 let Mo s e s, let him fend his meiTengcrs, let 
 him fpeake no more. Againe, the Spirit whereby 
 the Prophets and Apoftles fpake to us, Was it not 
 fent from heaven t 
 
 Againe, fuppofe one fhould come from either 
 of thofe two places, would you beleeve him i It 
 might be a falfe relation, would you beleeve him 
 without further ground i But it is a direft anfwer 
 which our Saviour giveth to this queftion, Lake 
 16. the two lad vcrfes, it was theobje<5tionof 
 Dives, if there came one from the dead againe, 
 they would beleeve ; Abraham anfwers, They have 
 Mofes and the Prophets, and if they will not beleeve 
 them, they will not beleeve, though one (Iwuld come 
 from the dead: as if he fhould fay ,thefe carry grca. 
 tcr evidence in them, they have more power to 
 confirme the truth that they delivered, that it 
 came from the great God of heaven and earth, 
 than if a man fhould arife from the dead, if wee 
 confider the many miracles which they did, and 
 holy life which they led. 
 
 But, if you will fay, that, indeed for the decla- 
 ring of things, and for the confirming of truths, 
 there is more evidence in thefe, than if one did 
 
 arifc 
 
 Lukei4. 
 
 Object t 
 
44 
 
 T)m Gobii. 
 
 arife from the dead j hut if one ftould come from 
 
 the dead, this would be much to fhew the eterni- 
 
 tic of things, and the immortality of the foule. 
 
 If this be fo . you fee, that men have rifen 
 
 from the dead s as when ChriH did a- 
 
 rife, then many arofe from 
 
 the dead. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 THIRD 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 He b re wes u. 6. 
 
 He that cotnmeth to God, mufl beleeVe that 
 God is y t<rc. 
 
 Ow we proceed tothat which 
 remaincs ; wee will fliew you 
 how this point is made.mani- 
 feft to you by faith,thatG o d 
 made the Heavens , and the 
 Earth. It is done after this 
 manner; 
 
 When youbcleeve the Scriptures to bee true, 
 and finde this let downc in the Scripture^that God 
 made Heaven and earth, then youbeleevethat 
 there is aneternall Deity, that is the Author and 
 Maker ofallthefe things: and thus faith gathers 
 theconcluiion: 
 
 If 
 
 45 
 
 The fecond 
 fort of argu- 
 ments. 
 
 How this is 
 proved by 
 Faith. 
 
A 6 
 
 Object. 
 
 i Afll-M double 
 I 
 
 Tlmt God is* 
 
 Biff rence be- 
 twecne faith 
 and reafon. , 
 
 Realbn for 
 chat that faith 
 beleeveth. 
 
 If you aske me, how faith differs from reafon, 
 and how this fccond proofe differs from the for- 
 mer. 
 
 I anfwer, after this manner : There is a double 
 afifent: One is adoubtfullaiTent, which wee call 
 Opinion, that is, when weafTent to the one part, 
 fo as we feare the contrary to be true. 
 
 The other is, a firmeaflent, and this is two- 
 fold : Either it is grounded upon rcafon, which 
 wee call Kmnvledge.-orelfeis grounded upon the 
 authoritie of him that reveales it 5 and this wee 
 call Faith. And the difference of them (lands in 
 this : The objeft of the firft, which wee call 
 Knowledge, are naturall things, fuchasCWdid 
 not reveale bimfelfe, but rhcy lye before us, and 
 reafon can finde them out : but Faith beleeveth 
 things that are revealed by Cod, yet fo, as that 
 there is reafon for them, as well as for the other. 
 For if one come and tell you any thing, and if 
 you beleeve it, you can give a reafon of it, and 
 why you beleeve it, afwell as of any other natu- 
 rall conclufion 5 as that he is a wife man, and one 
 that I know will tell the truth, I have had expe- 
 rience of him heretofore,&c. Even fo, when you 
 beleeve the Scriptures, you can give a reafon feu* 
 
 it • it is, becaufe God delivered it, and he cannot 
 lye : but now, how doe yee know that <W deli- 
 vered it < Becaufe the men that delivered it, 
 in his Name, did confirme it by workes, and mi- 
 racles, and prediftions of times ; fo that reafon 
 runnes along together with Faith : Only there 
 is this difference betweene them • Faith addcth 
 
 to 
 
Tliat God is, 
 
 47 
 
 to the eye of reafon, and raifeth it higher; for 
 the underfhinding is converfant, asaboutthings 
 of reafon, fo alio about things of Faith 3 for they 
 are propounded to the underftanding, only they 
 arc above it, and muft have faith to reveale them . 
 as when Mofes faith, In the beginning, God made 
 the Heaven and the Earth : whenwehearefucha 
 propofition, reafon doth but looke upon it, and 
 cannot fee it at firfr, but Faith helpeth reafon to 
 goe further : therefore Faith is but an addition to 
 the ftrength of reafon \ when it could goe no 
 further, Faith makes it to goe further : as one that 
 hath dimme eyes, he can lee better with the help 
 of fpcdhcles : even fo doth the eye of reafon, byj 
 a fupcrnaturall faith infufed.So that all the things > 
 which wcebeleeve, have a credibility and entity | 
 in them, and they are the objefts of the under-: 1 
 Handing, but we cannot finde them out, without! 
 fome fupcrnaturall help. As if you would choofc 
 a right jewell • (you know there are many coun- 
 terfeit ones) how (Lould you know a true one? 
 The ftander by cannot tell, but brings it to a'La- 
 pidary,or a Iewcller,and he knowes it,becaufc he 
 is skilled in it. Now as, as there are the Iewels, 
 and they are to bz difcerned and differenced, but! 
 all lyes in the skill: So is it in the things that are 
 revealed by God, and by naturall reafon, to know 
 which are of God, which not-there are the things, 
 and they are tobefeene, yea, the things them- 
 felves have charafters, by which they may bee | 
 difcerned- but let two men looke upon them ,j 
 onebeleeves,and the other doth not 5 the reafoa 
 
 is 
 
 Faith raiftth 
 leafoi higher. 
 
4 8 
 
 Tliat God is. 
 
 Three wayes, 
 whereby Faith 
 gathers that 
 the Scriptures 
 are true, and 
 confequentiy 
 that there i* a 
 (7od,that made 
 the World. 
 
 Proofes that 
 Mofss ando- 
 -ther Penmen 
 of Scripture, 
 fpake by the 
 Holy Ghoft. 
 
 I 
 
 The miracles 
 which were : 
 i Vifibfc. 
 
 is one man goes no further than reaf on,but the o- 
 ther doth- one is helped from above , and the o- 
 ther is not, he wants that light, that habit of skill 
 which the other hath. 
 
 Now this being premifed in generall, let us 
 fee how faith gathers, that the Scriptures are 
 true, and that all that is in them is true . and con- 
 fequentiy, that ther is a God that made the world. 
 It gathers it by thefe three heads : 
 
 When a man lookes into the Scriptures, and 
 fees the phrafes of the Prophets and Apoftles, 
 faying, Thus faith the Lord [y he confiders, if this 
 be from GW,then it muft needs be true. But now 
 the queftion is, whether it was delivered truly, 
 and therefore hee lookes upon the men that did 
 deliver it, as upon Mofes, &c. and if he can finde 
 any evidence in them, that they delivered it tru- 
 ly, without collufion, then he beleeveth that it is 
 lb, and fo faith layes hold and pitches upon it 5 
 and gives folide alTent unto it. 
 
 Now the proofes, whereby we {hew that thefe 
 men have fpokenby the Holy Ghoft s are thefe 
 three : 
 
 The miracleSjWhich they wrought: wherin this 
 is firft to be confidered •, that they were fuch mi- 
 racles as were done before many witneffes, they 
 were not done in a corner, where only two or 
 three were, and fo related to the people, as many 
 falfe miracles are s but they were done before ma- 
 ny thoufand; as the (landing (till of die to, the 
 plagues otALgypt, the dividing of the waters, the 
 Mamah, that came downe from Heaven, the wa- 
 tt r 
 
7hat God k, 
 
 tcr flowing out of the rocks, the miracles tha r 
 were wrought by Eliah, and Elijha, they were all 
 openly done in the view of all the people. 
 
 They were fuch miracles, as had a reality in 
 them- falfe miracles ftand onely in appearance, 
 they have onelyafhadowandnotthefubftance, 
 they have no folidity in them, as the miracles 
 that Inchanters doe, they are but wfam**, as wee 
 call them; they are onely appearances, and no 
 more, as, if they give money, it will afterwards 
 prove but drie leaves s and fuch were the mira- 
 cles of the Inchanters in JEgypt : but looke upon 
 the miracles of CMofes, they were folide, as the 
 CMannah fed the people many yeares 5 the water 
 that came out ot the rocks did refrefh them, the 
 plagues of Mgypt were reall ; the miracles of 
 ChriH were allofufetomankinde, aswhenhee 
 turned water into wine, it was fuch as they were 
 refrefhed by . fo, when he healed the people, 
 when hee gave fight to the blinde, they were all 
 ufefull, and had a reality in them. 
 
 Befides, confider the miracles which wefe 
 wrought at the delivery of the Law,EW. 19. as 
 the thunder, the lightning,the found of trumpets, 
 &c. whatioever was done then, all the people 
 faw it, and their fenfes were taken up about it, fo 
 that they could not be deceived . T he lawes t h 2t 
 Numa Pompiliusbxought from the gods, he rela- 
 ted to the people, but they faw and heard no- 
 thing; but thefe miracles the people all faw, the 
 Mount burnt with fire, and thick darknefle round 
 about it • and there was thunder and lightning, 
 E and 
 
 49 
 
 1 RgalJ. 
 
 Exodi?, 
 
5° 
 
 The propfce- 
 cies which 
 were. 
 
 Tlmt G o d is, 
 
 5 Particular, 
 a Perlpicuous. 
 
 3 Limited to a 
 fct time* 
 
 w 
 
 ExcAk 
 
 and the Mount trembled . And as their eyes did 
 fee things, fo akb their eares were bufied in hea- 
 ring the voice of the trumpet founding louder 
 and louder, a great while, and hearing the voice 
 of Cod himfelfe-. And this was not done only in 
 the fight of the Elder sof Jfrael, but all the people 
 law it, and heard the voice of the Lord. And fuch 
 were all the piracies of the Apoftles,and of al the 
 Prophets. And this argues that they came from 
 God himfelfe -becaule they could not be done,but 
 by a fupernaturall power. 
 
 Againe, I will adde to this the prophecies, for 
 that is one of the wayes by which the Lord con- 
 firmes his word unto the fonnes of men, ifa. 4 j . 
 22, 23 . Shew to tit the things to come, that wee may 
 know that you are Cods, &c. As if hee fhould fay • 
 If any man be able to foretell things to come, he 
 is Cod: for it is the proper.tie of God alone - 3 and 
 therefore he can doe ir. 
 
 Now 1 will name fome prophecies 5 to inftance 
 in ; and I will (hew the difference betweene them 
 and the predictions of Soothfaycrs • for you (hall 
 finde thatthefe prophecies were Particular, and 
 not gcnerall • they were Perfpicuous and plaine, 
 and not obfeure- and they had fixed times fet, 
 and not left at randome : As in the prophecie de- 
 livered to \ylbraham, that the Children of Ifrael, 
 fhould bee ftrangers, and in bondage in ALgypt 
 foure hundred yeares : now, faith the Text that 
 very night they went forth ofALgypt, the fbure 
 hundred yeares were expired. 
 
 Moreover, that prophecie,. that Iudah fhould 
 
 have 
 
Tliat G o d is 
 
 have the Scepter,it was a thing could not be fore- 
 feene 5 Iudah was not the elder brother ,and it was 
 long firft before it was broughttopaffe: there- 
 fore Mofes could not fee it by any thing at the pre- 
 fent; and befides that, he fliould not only have 
 the Scepter, but he fliould have it tillShiloh come, 
 that is, Christ Iesys, which was about 
 two thoufand yeares after • which was not like to 
 the prophecies of other Nations. 
 
 Moreover, the prophecie of Iericho, that hee 
 that dkd begin to but Id it again e,jhould lay the foun- 
 dation of it in his eidejlfonne, and fet up the gates cf 
 it in the youngeft, which was fulfilled, i King. 
 16. laft. 
 
 So likewife, the prophecie o?loftah, it was a 
 diftind prophecie, you have it in 1 King. 13.1,2, 
 3. where the Prophet comes from the Lord, and 
 cryeth,0hi^4lur, Altar, behold a Child* Jhall bee 
 borne, lofiah, by name, &c. he names the very man 
 that fliould per forme it. 
 
 The like is the prophecie o?Cyrus, long before 
 Cyrus was borne,that he fhould deliver the Ierves, 
 and take off the yoke of their captivitie,&c. 
 
 So likewife, come to the prophecies of Daniel, 
 the prophecie of the foure Monarchies you fee, 
 how particular it was : Daniel, he lived but in the 
 two firft, which were the Chaldean and Perfian 
 Monarchic, it was not poflfible,by any thing that 
 was then done, that he (honld havebecne able to 
 fee the fucceifion ; yet then ahcr them was the 
 Grecian, and then the Roman Monarchic 
 
 So likewife the prophecie of the captivitic, 
 E 2 feventic 
 
 5 l 
 
 1 King, itf.ulc 
 
 1 King. 
 
 13.1, 
 
5* 
 
 That God is. 
 
 Ob\eB. 
 
 \Anfw. 
 
 Tho'agi ce- 
 ment of pro- 
 phecies in 
 Scripture 
 prove them 
 true, 
 
 The holineflc 
 in the writing! 
 of Scriptures 
 prove them 
 ttue. 
 
 feventie yeares, and of thdr deliverance, you fee, 
 how diftinft and particular it is. 
 
 But the time of miofes is very<ancient,it is out 
 
 of memory, and it might be fome fained ftorie, 
 
 1 thofe things were done long agoe, they that faw 
 
 them are all fwept away, and who can fay that 
 
 they were done fo i 
 
 Herein lyes the ftrengthof theargum?: • If 
 you could thinke it poflible, that CM* r 
 the people fhould confent together to leave a falfe 
 monument behinde them, (which was impoffi- 
 | ble)yet confider that many hundred yeares after 
 the fame was confirmed by all the Prophets, 
 who had miracles to confirme the fame,and they 
 all agreed in one • and it is unpoffible that fuch an 
 impoflure and falfliood fhould be compa&ed to- 
 1 gether, and carried downe fo ftrongly, for they 
 ' differ not a jot : all the Prophets repeating that 
 which was delivered by Mofes. Confider the 
 ftrength of this argument, for it admits of no am- 
 biguitie. If you will adde to this the holincffe 
 which appears in their writing,and of the men,as 
 1 in Mofes ^ looke upon the holinefle in his do&iinc 
 and Law : Looke upon Paul, fee with what Spirit 
 he wrote his Epiftles 5 fo confider the Spirits of 
 them all in their writings, they did, as it were, 
 tranferibere animas, they did not forbeare to pub- 
 li(h their owne faults :jfee how they were hand. 
 led, they fuffercd perfecution, and in this, what 
 end could they have C Mofes fought not his owne 
 glory, he doth not deliver the Scepter to his own 
 Tribe, but in his prophecies he fpeakes worfe of 
 
 that 
 
Tlmt G o d is. 
 
 that Tribe than of any other, of Reuben, Simeon, 
 and Levi, and this will confirme it,and take away 
 all doubts of it. And this is the firft proofe. 
 
 Thefccond Argument,by which we confirme 
 the truth of the Scriptures,is taken from the tefti- 
 monies that arc given to them by our enemies . 
 the Gentiles tbcmf elves being Iudges : As, toin- 
 ftance in the Floud, there are many that have 
 made mention of it. Thofe Flouds that are rela- 
 ted by the ancient Greek Hiftorians come fo neare 
 it, that they niuft needs have the relation of it 
 from the /Although they have mingled it with 
 many falfhoods, wee have not the Writings of 
 them, but fragments in the Writings of others,as 
 of Alexander Poly hi ft or, in IoJephusandCyrtl : 
 They fay that there was a great Floud, and that 
 there was one Nifirus, to whom Saturne revealed 
 it, and bade him make an Arke • and he did fo, 
 and gathered fome of ail beafts into it, and that 
 the Arke was in Armenia, & that the fragments of 
 it are in Heliopolis. And Abidenus faith, thatit was 
 a common opinion, that the men, whom the 
 Earth brought forth, gathered themfelves toge- 
 ther and builded a great Tower, which was Babel ^ 
 and the gods being angry with it, threw it downe 
 with a great wind, and thence came the confufion 
 oftongues. And for the pillar of Salt, Iofephus 
 faith, that fome of it was remaining in his time. 
 And for Abraham, many fpeake of him ^andalfo 
 of Mofes, there arc many that agree in their ftory 
 of him but the Chaldee Hiftorians efpecially, and 
 fome of the ancienteft Greek Hiftorians. Diodorus 
 
 E 3 Skulus 
 
 51 
 
 Arg. 2. 
 
 The ccftimo- 
 nies that arc 
 given to the 
 Scriptures by 
 adverfaries. 
 
 Many paffages 
 of Scripture 
 
 acknowledged 
 by the heathen 
 
54 
 
 That God is. 
 
 siculus relates the hiftory of him, though ming- 
 led with falfhoods, of what he did in Mgypt, and 
 what lawes he gave the people, andhowhecaft 
 out the Canaanites,znd that he faid he received his 
 lawes from a God called lab, and that they were 
 fuch lawes as feparated that people from all'o- 
 thers, and that his God 'was fuch an one, as could 
 not be feene, &c. And Strabo faith, that he re- 
 proved the Egyptians for worfhipping vifible 
 gods, and therefo re he wascaft out, and his peo- 
 ple with him. After this, when Cyrus did re- 
 ftore the Kingdome of the lews, and had over- 
 come Darius, Zenophon reports this, that when 
 he came into Babylon, hegavecommandement; 
 that no Syrian fhould be hurt: now Syria lyes up- 
 on ludea, even as one Shire doth upon another, 
 fo tha t they were all called Syrians . Moreover, 
 Mcgajlhenes, the CbaldeanWRorian, relates, that 
 Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Mgypt,Pbcenicia, 
 and Syria, and all thofe parts he brought into cap- 
 tivitie s and after that hce made him a great Pa- 
 lace, which is fpoken of by Daniel the Prophet, 
 and how he ordered the people of the captivitie. 
 Moreover, Berofus faith, that afterward hee was 
 ftrucken with madneffe, and Evanuit, he vanifhed 
 (for that is his word) he departed from amongft 
 men. (Indeed one Annius, a Mojike, hath put 
 forth fome books under the name otMegafthenes, 
 but they are but fuppofititious.) So likewife, of 
 Senacberib and Salmanazar s warre > and of the buil- 
 ding of Salomons Temple, they are recorded in 
 the Kyinnals of the Tyrians. This is related by 
 
 thofe 
 
That God is, 
 
 thole that arc neither Iewes nor Chnjlians , and 
 theie teftimonies are fetched from thofe that are 
 our enemies, which are more fitforthePrefTe, 
 than for the Pulpit, and to be written, than deli- 
 vered in a popular congregation. 
 
 I will adde to this but this one; confiderthe 
 exacl Chronologie, which is found in all the 
 Scriptures, and the agreement of them with the 
 Heathen Hiftories. 
 
 In latter times there have beene great confufi- 
 ons, but the greateft evidence,that is to be fonnd, 
 is the Table ofPtolomy, lately found, which doth 
 exactly agree with the Scripture h he exactly fets 
 downe the time that Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus 
 reigned; compare them with the Scripture, and 
 you (hall finde thefe agree with Daniel and Iere- 
 mie, otherwife Chronologers differ very much : 
 for in Iofeph Scaligersximc^ that Table they had 
 not, but it was found fince : So in the time when 
 Ierufalem was taken, they agree exactly ; and this 
 is the greateft teftimony that the Scripture can 
 have from Heathen men. 
 
 But this Queftion may now bee made ; How 
 fhould we know that thefe bookes, which wee 
 ha ve,as written by Mofes,xhat thefe are they 5 that 
 there is no alteration inthem,orfuppofititious 
 prophecies put in i 
 
 You have the Iewes agreeing with the Chrifiu 
 amy who were enemies, and the Iewes kept it ex- 
 actly, yet their bookes agree with ours. 
 
 But how fhould wee know that thofe of the 
 Iewes are true < 
 
 E 4 They 
 
 55 
 
 Thcexaft 
 Chronologie 
 in the Scrip- 
 tures. 
 
 SSfft* 
 
 Anfw» 
 
 Objeft. 
 
^ 
 
 T\->at G o d is. 
 
 From the 
 Scripture i 
 themfelves. 
 i Their ma- 
 jeftie. 
 
 Iwum conver- 
 ted from A - 
 theifme= 
 
 % Purititt 
 
 They have teftimony from the Samaritans, 
 and they were enemies to the Ietves, and there be- 
 ing once a rent made, were never reconciled a- 
 jgaine : yet in the Samaritan Bible, there is no dif- 
 ference at all, to any purpofe. Now addcto this 
 the teftimony of the Churches from chrifls time 
 downward, ftill it hath continued . fo as in Eufe- 
 bius and Baranius you fhall fee plentifull teftimo- 
 nies thereof. 
 
 The third Argument is from the Scriptures 
 themfel ves,if y ou confider but thefe three things . 
 i The majeftie and plainncfle of the ftile,and the 
 manner of the expreflions, a meere relation, and 
 no more. In the beginning was the Word, &c. 
 Where doth any booke expreffe it fdfe,in fuch a 
 manner, in the relation of any ftories i So that 
 it carries evidence it is from God-, fo that I urn us 
 reading the firft Chapter of lobn, wasftricken 
 with an amazement, by a kinde of divine and ftu- 
 pendious authorise, and fo hee was converted 
 from Atheifme, as himfelfe faies in his life. 
 
 2 If you confider the purity of the dodrine. 
 If a man would deceive the world,then the things 
 that he teaches, muft needs be to pleafe men ; but 
 the Scripture is quite contrary,it ties men to ftri& 
 rules, and therefore fee how it is entertained, and 
 how hard it is for men to keepe it in the purity of 
 the dodrine, which is an argument it came from 
 God. If the Scriptures were delivered by men, 
 then either by good men or by bad • if by holy 
 men, then they would fpeake the truth, and not 
 lye 3 if by bad men, then they would never have 
 
 fc 
 
Tl?at Goo is. 
 
 57 
 
 fct downe fuch ftri& rules ofdotfnne that they 
 muft Jive by, and which condemnexhemfelves. 
 
 3 Confider the antiquitie of them, they were 
 before all orher Heathen (lories, which will an- 
 Iwer an objcdion,namely, why there is no more 
 tcftimony from them of the Scriptures : The an 
 fwer is, that when the Scriptures were ended 
 their writings did but begin, there being little ufc 
 and trading of learning in thofe dayes, but it 
 fecmes the Grecians were the firft, or rather the 
 chaldccs but there were not fo n^any books writ- 
 ten then, as afterward. 
 
 Now when all thefe things are confidered, we 
 arc brought tobeleeve the Scriptures are the 
 Word of God 7 md you can finde this in the Scrip- 
 tures, that there is a God, that made Heaven and 
 Earth, then this begets faith ; and fo, By faith we 
 beleevt (as heare faith the Apoftle ) that there u 
 one G o d .Iconfefle all this which hath been faid 
 is not enough, unleffe<Winfufeth an inward 
 light by his Spirit to worke this faith, 
 but yet there is enough left in 
 the Scriptures to give evi- 
 dence of them- 
 felves. 
 
 THE 
 
 5 Antiquitie. 
 
5* 
 
 The fourth ar- 
 gument, from 
 the teftimony 
 of the Church. 
 
 THE 
 
 FOVRTH 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 He B R EWES 11. 6. 
 
 He that commeth to God, mujl heleCVe that 
 God is, ire. 
 
 Here is one reafbn more 
 remains, & that is from 
 the teftimony of the 
 Churchy doubtlefle, it 
 is an argument of great 
 ftrength- that fo ma- 
 ny generations fince 
 Christs time,and 
 before,have .from hand 
 to hand, delivered it un t0 us, and that fo many 
 holy men, as the Martyrs were, and, as the Fa- 
 thers were, when they lived, that thefe all gave 
 teftimony to this Scripture in all ages. 
 
 But 
 
Tl?at G od is. 
 
 59 
 
 But yet we will adde iomething to it, becaufc 
 the Papifts have abufed this, and fay, they would 
 have the truth of the Scriptures to depend upon 
 the authoritie of the Church, and not fo much up. 
 on the teftimony it hath received from all ages 
 and generations ; they would have it to be fuch a 
 teftimony as the prefent Church gives of it . be- 
 caufe fay they, that can erre in nothing s there- 
 fore not in this : and therefore they fay, This is 
 the Bible, and the very Dictate of the Pope, in ca- 
 thedra, with his Councell ((omefay, ) makes it 
 fo, and you muft receive it for Scripture, upon 
 thisground^ithout any further inquiry -though 
 with us who doe not receive that conclufion, I 
 that the Church cannot erre ; this is out ofquefti- 
 on, that the Scripture doth not depend on 
 the authoritie of the Church, yet wee will 
 give you this reafcn againft it. A{ke that 
 Church, that Synode of men, what is that 
 which makes the Church to beleeve that the 
 Scripture is the Word otGod? Surely, they will 
 give the fameanfwer, that we (hall deliver unto 
 you 5 that it could be nothing elfe, but the Scrip, 
 ture it felfe, which therefore muft needs bee of 
 greater authoritie than the Church it felfe, for the 
 deckrarion of themfelves,and the Scriptures ma- 
 nifeftation of themfelves, bee of more force 
 than the authority of the Church, asthecaufe 
 hath much more ftrength,thanthe eflfe&.Againe, 
 the Church hath no authoritie to judge of the 
 Scripture, till it be knowen to be the Church, 
 which cannot bee but by the Scripture, More- 
 1 over 
 
6o 
 
 TW God is. 
 
 A difference 
 betweene the 
 Writings of 
 ibe Pen-men 
 of Scripture, 
 and other holy 
 men. 
 
 over, the Scripture hath a teftimony more anci- 
 ent, than the authoritie of the Church, and there- 
 fore cannot receive its authoritie from any . the 
 Scripture being the firft truth, it cannot be pro. 
 ved by any other ; it is the confeflion of their 
 owne Writers, tYtixThcologianoneliargumema- 
 tivA' 3 Theologie is not argumentative, to prove 
 its owne principles, but only our dedu&ions out 
 of it: As alfo,they fay,\ve cannot prove the Scrip- 
 tures, probanda, fed folvendo, but by anfvvering, 
 and refolving objections made againft it. In all 
 other things, you fee, it is fo; as the Standard, 
 that being the rule of all, cannot be knowne but 
 by it felfe s the Sunne that fhewes light to all 
 things clfc,cannot bee knowne by any other light 
 but its owne : fo the Scripture, tfaat is the ground 
 of all other truths, cannot be knowne, but by 
 the evidence of thofe truths, that it carries in it 
 felfe. 
 
 Wee have only this word to bee added more 
 concerning the Scriptures. You (hallobferve 
 this difference betweene the Writings of the 
 Scripture, that were written by holy man infpi- 
 red by the Holy Ghoft, and all mens Writings 
 in the world. In mens Writings, you (hall fee 
 that men are praifed and extolled,fomething fpo- 
 , ken of their wifedome, and of their courage, and 
 what ads they have done . there is no (lory of 
 any man, but you (hall finde fomething of his 
 praife in it : but you (hall finde the quite contrary 
 in the Booke of God, there is nothing given to 
 Jmen 3 but all to Ga/himfelft; asMofes, David, 
 
Tloat G od is. 
 
 Paul, and all the Worthies in the Scripture, you 
 fli3ll finde nothing given to them : But of David, 
 it is faid,that he walked wifely ,becaufe the L o r d 
 was with him, it was not his owne ftrcngth . fo, 
 when they had any victory, it was not through 
 their owne courage,or ftratagems, that they ufed, 
 but the Lor d did give their enemies into their 
 hands. And Paul, that was the meanesofxon- 
 vcrting fo many thoufands,he afcribes nothing to 
 himfelfe, but faies it was the grace of Go d, that 
 was with him. So^Samfen wasftrong, but yet it 
 is faid that he had his ftrength from Gad^md ther- 
 fore this is an argument, that the Scriptures were 
 written by holy men infpired by the Holy Gho/f. 
 
 Seeing wee have fuchjuft ground to beleeve, 
 that there isaGo D^that made Heaven and Earth, 
 and that this word, which teftifies (f him, is indeed 
 the word ofG o d . This ufe we are to make of it, 
 that it might not be in vaine tous; it fhould teach 
 us to confirme this firft principle, and make it 
 fure ; feeing all the reft are built upon it,therefore 
 we have reafon to weigh it, that we may give full 
 confent to it, and not a weake one. 
 
 But, you will fay, this is a principle, that needs 
 not to be thus urged, or made queftion of 5 there- 
 fore, what need fo many reafons to prove it t 
 
 Even the ftrongeftamongft us have ftill need 
 to increafe our faith in this point • and therefore 
 wee have caufetoartendtoit, and that for thefe 
 two reafons : 
 
 Becaufe thefe principles, though they bee fo 
 common,yet there is a great difference in the be- 
 
 lcefe 
 
 6x 
 
 Ffi. 
 
 To confi me 
 our faith in 
 this firft prin- 
 ciple. 
 
 Objeft. 
 
 Anfw. 
 For two rea- 
 fons* 
 
 neafon 1 
 
6i 
 
 Tl?at God is. 
 
 BecaiTe there 
 is a great dif- 
 ference bc- 
 tweeac com- 
 mon faith and 
 thotof thes- 
 led in thefe 
 principles. 
 
 D,f. I. 
 The affent of 
 the eleel ftron- 
 gcr. 
 
 Diff. 2. 
 | In that which 
 breeds alTent. 
 
 leefe of the Saints, and that with which common 
 men be i :cve them • the difference is in thefe foure 
 things : both of them doe bcleeve,and they fpeak 
 as they thinke, yet you fhall find this difference : 
 A regenerate man hath a farther and a deeper 
 infight into thefe truths, he gives a more through 
 and a ftronger aflent to them ; but another man 
 gives a more Height and overly aflent - 3 that faith, 
 with which they beleeve them, is a faith that 
 wants depth of earth 5 therfore, if any ftrong temp- 
 tation comes upon them, asfeare of being put to 
 death, &c. they are foone fliaken off, and doe of- 
 ten fall away,when they are put to it 5 they flirink j 
 away in time of persecution : for their faith wants 
 depth $f earth , that is the aflent, they give to the 
 Scripture, is but an overly ,and fupei ficiall aflent, 
 it doth not take deep root in their foule,and thcr- 
 fore it withers in time of temptation, they doe 
 not fo ponder them as others doe • and therefore 
 they are not fo grounded in thefe nrft principles, 
 as others are • though they have fome hold, even 
 yet not fo great an hold, as the godly have : Soas 
 they are not fo firmely ejlabltfied, fo grounded in 
 the prefent truth, they are not fo rooted, as the! 
 Saints are. 
 
 That which breeds this aflent in them, is, but 
 a common gift of the Holy GhoJl- } but that with 
 which the Saints beleeve them, is a fpeciall grace 
 infufed, wrought by the Holy Ghoft : now, that 
 which hath a weaker caufe, muft needs have a 
 weaker effeftj that which is wrought by a com- 
 mon, cannot be fo ftrong an aflent, as that which 
 
 is 
 
Tl?at God is, 
 
 is wrought by an infufed habit of the Holj Chofl ; 
 therefore the faith of the Saints is ftrongcr than 
 the faith of the wicked. 
 
 The Saints, the regenerate men build their 
 
 *3 
 
 DifT, 
 
 
 hope, comfort and happinelle upon the truth of Th« 
 
 thefc principles.as that there u a G o d , that rules : V;; : : JS 
 
 Heaven and Earth, and that the Scriptures are bu \ pr^^ail*. 
 
 Word, and whatfoever isintbem, is truth, they 
 
 build all upon theie-therefore,if any doubts ari(e, 
 
 they can never be at reft, till faith hath refolved 
 
 them, and wrought them out : with another man ; 
 
 .it is not Co-, betakes thefc things upon truft, and 
 
 bcleeves them,as others do,but he doth no: much 
 
 trouble him felfe about them 5 and therfore, if any 
 
 doubts comeagainft them, he fuffers them tolye 
 
 thcre,and goes on in a carelefie manner But wich 
 
 the Saints 1: is not fo- they building their hope 
 
 upon them , doe therefore refolve to Gifier ar>y 
 
 thing for God, they will be content to lofe all for 
 
 #/>/:, if occafion requires, and therefore they are 
 
 upon fure ground; but the other, they doe but 
 
 receive upon trufr, and therefore they doe not 
 
 cleave to him m that manner that the Saints 
 
 Regenerate men have a lively and experimen- 2>^! 4, 
 tall knowledge, that there iriGoD, and that tkt 
 Scnpturts art his Word, from the communion 
 that they have had with this Cod, and from the 
 experience they have had of the truths delivered 
 in the Scripture. Thev know very wdLand that 
 experimentally, what difference there was be- 
 tweene what they were once, and what they arc 
 
 now : . 
 
 They have es 
 per:m*nadl 
 •:-c f 
 ths&duiss. 
 
($4 
 
 That God is 
 
 Motive 2. 
 
 Bccaufc thcfc 
 principles 
 have a gi cat 
 influence into 
 mens lives. 
 
 now- what it is to envie the Saints, and what it 
 is to have an affe&ion of love to them ; they 
 know the time, when they flighted finne, when 
 they made no reckoning of it 5 they know againe 
 the bitternefleandforrowoffin, when the com- 
 mandement came and fhewedituntotheminits 
 colours : they know a time when they judged 
 peruerfely of the waies of Gtd, when they had 
 a bad opinion of them, and how now they are 
 changed : befides, they know, how that once 
 they did admire, and magnifie worldly excellen- 
 cie and preferment; but fince they were inlight- 
 ned, their opinion is otherwife • 1 fay , rhey know 
 all this experimentally. Take the whole worke 
 of regeneration, they know it in themfclves . and 
 fo for God himfelfe, as hee is defcribed in the 
 Scriptures, fuch have they found him to them- 
 felves : Now when a man doth know things 
 thus experimentally, it is another kinde of know. 
 ledge, than that which is by heare-fay : fothat 
 though thereisabeleefeinthemboth, yet there 
 is a great difference betweene them . 
 
 We muft labour to confirme our faith in thefe 
 principles, becaufethey are of exceeding great 
 moment, and confequence, in the lives of men - 
 though they feeme to be remote, yet they are of 
 more moment than any other ; as ofa houfe, you 
 fee a fairetop, but yet the foundation is of more 
 moment, and yet cannot be fcene . the fheames 
 are feene,but the Well- head cannot : fo all the 
 a&ions of the lives of men are built upon thefe 
 principles, and as they are more ftrongly, or 
 
 weakly 
 
That God is, 
 
 weakly beleeved ; fo have they more or iefle in- 
 fluence into the hearts and lives of men. As take 
 a man that beleeves fully, that there /^God ; 
 and that, the Scriptures are his Word : . this breeds 
 an unrefiftable refolution to fcrve, and plcafe 
 him, notwithftanding all oppofitions hee meets 
 with : Take the grcateft things that ufe to daunt 
 men, as take a man that is to die, if he confiders 
 that there is a God, with whom hee is to live for 
 ever, what is death then i no more than the ftones 
 flying about Stevens eares, when hebeheldthe 
 heavens opened; fo when men fpeake agaift 
 him and flander him 5 when they fcoffe, and re- 
 vile him, and trample upon him ^ yet, if <7tfibee 
 with him, hee can boldly fay., / care not for mans 
 day, nor for the freaking againft of (inner s ± hee is 
 not moved a whit with them • they paffe away as 
 a vapour, that moves him not, io when hee fees 
 the current of the times to runne againft him, yet, 
 when he fees that there is an ^Almightie God 
 that takes notice of him,he is able to ftand againft 
 and defpife them all, and is not ftirred an haires 
 breadth out of the way for them, they are as wa- 
 ters beating againft a rocke. 
 
 Confider the CMartyrs, that dyed in the fire,if 
 you had flood by when one of them fuffered,you 
 would have faid ; Surely, that man hatha ftrong 
 faith, that can goe out of this life, and fuffer fuch 
 a kinde of death • but why doth he doe it i be- 
 caufe hee beleeves that there is a G o d, that is a 
 rervarder of them that fceke him . So every regene- 
 rate man, whatfoever he doth,he doth it with the 
 
 F fame 
 
 ^ 
 
 Hebr.ix.6. 
 
66 
 
 Anjw. 
 
 Mortification 
 of lufh a dying 
 daylie. 
 
 That God is. 
 
 The rootc oi 
 all fin, what. 
 
 fame faith that they did, only here is the diffe- 
 rence- the Martyrs fpent all at once, andthefe 
 doe it but drop by drop : as when a man for- 
 beares all prefent joyes, which this life confifts 
 in • it is, as it were.a dying by peece-meales, a dy- 
 ing drop by drop, as i y aid faid, / dye daily. If one 
 of us were to fuffer,asthe Mtrtyrs did, what is it 
 that would eftablifh ourfouks f itisthebeleefe 
 ofthefe principles, thatinablestheS4/>?tttodoe 
 all this : you live by your faith in thefe princi- 
 ples, though you obferve it not • for this is a 
 thing that is to bee marked to this purpofe, that 
 the opinions of men, their imaginations and 
 thoughts, they all proceed from fuch notions as 
 lye more overly in their hearts, but their adions 
 proceed from the ftrong fetled notions, and prin- 
 ciples that are riveted in their inward heart. And 
 therefore, obferve the lives of men ; fuch as their 
 principles in them are,fuch are their adions I For 
 as it is true, on the one fide where men beleeve, 
 there they come to GW; fo it is true on the other 
 fide, if men be not grounded in thefe firft princi- 
 ples, if they doe not beleeve, they doe not come 
 to him • but goe on unevenly in their wayes, and 
 forfake their profeflion. 
 
 Now, whence comes this uneven walking, 
 this exorbitance of the wheeles, but from the 
 weakneffe of themaine fpring,that fets all on mo- 
 tion < becaufe thefe are the firft fprings, thatfet 
 all the reft on worke. For,could a man be car- 
 ried away by thepraifeofmen, by the voice and 
 breath of man, on the one fide 5 or could hee bee 
 
 difcoura°ed< 
 
That God is. 
 
 \~67 \ 
 
 difcouraged by the fcoffers of men on the other- 
 fide, if hee did fully belecve this principle i it is 
 impoffible he fliould, as Efay 51.12,13. Who art 
 thott that f ear eft man that jhall die } and for gettefi the 
 Lord thy UMaker ? As if he fliould fay, It is im- 
 poflible that men fliould ftirinke fo, at the face of 
 man, if they did not forget the Lord their Maker. 
 Hence it is, (although you doe not obferve from 
 whence it comes) yet hence doe come all thofe 
 fruits of Atheifme in the lives of men. all that 
 unthankfulnefle, that men can take bleflings at 
 G o d s hands, and never give him thanks, nay 
 rather, they render evill for good; hence it is, 
 that men truft in meanes more than in God . hence 
 it is, that men are fo unholy when they come in- 
 to his prefence, they are not ftruck with feare and 
 reverence of his Majeftie, when they come be- 
 fore him; hence alfo comes that carelelfeaefle 
 in the lives of men that feare not his Word, but 
 walke on inacarelefieandremifiemanner- and 
 hence alfo is that halting after honours and pro- 
 fits, with the negleft of better things- they all 
 arife from hence,even the weaknefle of the aflent 
 to thefe maine principles : for there is a double 
 kinde of ^Atheifme in the heart; there isadi- 
 red thought of Atheifme, when a man doubts of 
 the truth of thefe principles, and knowes he doth 
 fo. Secondly, when a man doubts, and knowes 
 not that he doubts. But, you will fay, If it be of 
 fo much moment , then what is the way to 
 ftrengthen our faith in them $ 
 
 It is exceeding profitable to fearch and exa- 
 F 2 mine 
 
 Eray.*x.n 3 i3. 
 
 Suefl. 
 Anfw. 
 
68 
 
 I. M earns. 
 
 To confirmc 
 our faith in 
 thefe princi- 
 ples. 
 
 i Search and 
 examine them 
 to the full* 
 
 Tlmt God is. 
 
 2 Meatus, 
 
 Prayer, 
 
 mine thefe truths to the ful, not to give over pon- 
 dering of them j till your hearts be eftablifhed in 
 the prefent truth. It is good to doe with your 
 (elves, as JLliah did in the cafe of Baal, Why halt 
 you between* two religions? come to that disjuncti- 
 on, if Baal be god, follow him : So I fay to you 
 in this cafe 5 examine it to the full, if thefe princi- 
 ples be not true, walke according to your liberty 
 and lufts, take no paines, but live as your nature 
 would have you ; but if they be true, then walke 
 fo as if thou dicift throughly beleeve them fo to 
 be 5 the beleefe of them is that which will carry 
 us through all lolTes and {landers, through good 
 report and ill report y if thou didfl throughly be- 
 leeve them, they would make thee doe any thins 
 £ovGod- I fay, it is very profitable to come to 
 this disjunction, and it ftrengthens our faith 
 much • and this being laid, then draw the conclu- 
 fion from it,, that we thus here mull live and that 
 it is herebeft for us to doe fo. 
 
 To pray to Godxo ftrengthen our faith in thefe 
 common principles • to fay as the Difciples did. 
 Lord increafe our faith : you fee that Chrijl did 
 ir, when Peters faith failed him, he prayed that it 
 might bee {lengthened ; and when you have 
 found any weakneffe or doubting, you muft re- 
 member that faith,in thefe principles, is the gift 
 o£God. There is indeed a common faith, which 
 others may have, and thou may eft have, but the 
 ftrong . faith arifeth from the Spirit, Goddifpcn- 
 feth it where he plcafeth • this infufed faith is not 
 gotten by ftrength of argument, or perfpicuitie 
 
 of 
 
That God is. 
 
 of the underftanding ; it is not brought in by cu- 
 ftomc, but God doth workc it ; it is not all the an- 
 tecedent preparation that will doe it,but Godmuft 
 'firft worke it, and then you are able to beleeve 
 thefc principles of faith, and able to beleeve them 
 topurpofe. 
 
 When thou haft fuch a habit lying in thy foule, 
 the more thou readeft the Word,and acquainteft 
 thy felfe with it, day by day, the more (tronger 
 doth thy faith grow, £00*. 10. Faith comes by bea- 
 ring, and hearing by the Word of Q o d, that is 3 it 
 is a meanes, by which God workes it, both in the 
 beginning and increafe of it. Therefore take that 
 exhortation,which is in Colojf.}. 16. Let the Word 
 dwell in you f lent eoufly, &c.that is, let it not come 
 as a ftranger, looking to it now and then, (as it is 
 the fafhion of moft men) but let it be familiar 
 with you, let it dwell with you, and let it dwell with 
 you plentifully . that is, reade not a Chapter or 
 two, but all the Word ^ be not content to know 
 one part of it, butknowitthorowout. Laftly, 
 let it be In wifedome ; A man may reade much and 
 underftand little, becaufe he knowes not the mea- 
 ning of it; a childc may be able to fay much by 
 heart, and yet not have it in wifedome : therefore 
 let the Word dwell plentifully in you, in all wif- 
 dome. 
 
 It is profitable to coiwerfe with faithfull men : 
 As it is faid o£ Barnabas, hee was a man full of 
 faith t therefore it is laid, he converted many : It 
 is not in vaine, that phraie of the Scripture ; hec 
 was a man full of faith, and therefore many were 
 
 F 3 added 
 
 6 9 
 
 3 Meanes. 
 
 Acquaint thy 
 Iclfc with the 
 VV«rd more 
 and mere. 
 Rom.iot 
 
 Colof^.i 6, 
 opened. 
 
 4 Meanes. 
 
 Converfe with 
 faithfull men. 
 
70 
 
 TW God is. 
 
 ag.m.1. 
 
 3 Effe&sofa 
 firme affent to 
 thefe piinci- , 
 pks. 
 
 To take the 
 judgement of 
 the Scripture 
 rather than 
 mens fancies* 
 
 i added to the Lord. And you (hall finde it by ex. 
 J per iencc, when you converfe with worldly men . 
 they willbereadie, on everie occafion, to attri- 
 bute the event of things to naturall caufes, but the 
 godly they afcribe it to God. Now good words 
 ftrengthen our faith, but the m#nw*fr of natu- 
 rall men, they ctrrupt good manners . And not on- 
 ly the words of the godly worke fo, but the very 
 manner of the deliverie of it, is emphatically for 
 they doebeleeve it themfelves : now if a man de- 
 liver an hiftory that he beleeves,he will deliver it 
 in fuch a manner, that he will make others be- 
 leeve it alfo : AB. 1 4. 1 . Theyfo ftake, that a great 
 multitude of the IewesMeeved • that is, in fuch a 
 manner, that many were turned to the faith. lu- 
 nias profeffeth in his life, that the very fi rft thing 
 that turned him from his Atheifme, was the tal- 
 king with a country-man of his, not farrefrdm' 
 Florence, and his manner of exprefling himfelfl : 
 The next was the majefty ofthe Scripture,which 
 hee obferved in Ioh. 1 . but the other was the be- 
 ginning of it. 
 
 So it will ftill be true, that walking with god- 
 ly men will increafe our faith, but with worldly 
 men, it will weaken it. Therefore ufe all thefe 
 meanes to ftrengthen thefe principles in y cu • for 
 they will have many excellent effeds in your 
 lives. As; 
 
 When a man beleeves this throughly, he will 
 
 take the judgement ofthe Scripture againfthis 
 
 owne fancy, and the opinions of men(with which 
 
 we are ftill ready to be mifled ;) fo that when the 
 
 • ■ Scripture 
 
7bat God is. 
 
 7i 
 
 Scripture faith of riches, that they are nothings 
 whereas before thou thoughteft them to bee a 
 ftrong tower,now you willthinke them to be but 
 a ftaffe of reed 5 fo of finfull lufts,that are fo plea- 
 fant to us, the Scripture faith of them, that they 
 fight againft the foule, though they are fweet for 
 the prefent, yet they are fovvreinthe latter end 3 
 fo that thou takeft the judgement of the Scripture 
 againft thine own refon.So for the praife of men, 
 fee what the Scripture faith - he is praife- worthy 
 whom God praifeth ; fo thou judged vaine-glory 
 to bee but a bubble • I fay, if you could beleeve ' 
 this throughly, you would fet the judgement of 
 the Scripture againft your owne reafons, and the 
 opinions of men. 
 
 Befides this, it will breed notable fervencie 
 in prayer, when a man knoweth that there are 
 fuch promifes, it will make him never give over, 
 it will make him watch and pray continually 
 with all perfeverance, though many times hee 
 prayeth, and hath no anfwer, as the woman of 
 Canaan, yea, though he hath fometimes a contra- 
 ry anfwer and efffed to what he asketh ; yet when 
 he hath layd hold on the promifes ,he will not let 
 goe, hee will never give over • hee knowes, Hee, 
 who hath promifed, is faithfull ; therefore hee is 
 not like a wave ofthefea, tofTed up and downe 
 with every winde. 
 
 But it is not onely a ground of all this, but it 
 brings forth this efteft 1 it doth exceedingly 
 ftrengthen our faith in matters bfjuftification. 
 for it is certaine, thatthe famefaith, whereby- we 
 
 F 4 beleeve 
 
 2 
 
 To be fer- 
 vent in 
 prayer. 
 
 Itftrcngtbneth 
 faich in mat* 
 tersof* iu- 
 ftificationt 
 
7* 
 
 That G o d is. 
 
 The fame faith 
 both bsJeeues 
 tha: there is a 
 Cod, and ap- 
 plies the pro 
 miles in Chrift* 
 
 beleeve, and apply the promifes of falvation, 
 through Chrift, it is the lame faith whereby we 
 beleevethe Scripture, and that there is a G^that 
 made both Heaven and Earth . T here is no diffe- 
 rence in the faith s yea, that juftifying faith, by 
 which thou art faved, karifeth from the bcleefe 
 of thefe principles; as it was the fame eye,where- 
 by the Ifraelites did fee the mountaines and trees, 
 and other obje&s, and by which they faw the 
 brazen Serpent • No man beleeves justification I 
 by ChriS, but his faith is mainly grounded upon 
 this Word of C^ for whereas in Scripture wee 
 finde that hsvs Chri si-is come in the 
 flefh, and thatheeisaLambeflaine forforgive- 
 nefle of finnes ; that he is offered to every crea- 
 ture, that a man muftthirft after him, and then 
 take up his Croffe and follow him. Now come 
 to a beleever going out of the world, andaske 
 him what hope hee hath to be fa ved, and what 
 ground for it i he will bee ready to fay, I know 
 that Chritt is come into the world, and that he is 
 offered, and I know that I am one of them that 
 have a part in him • I know that I have fulfilled 
 the conditions, as that I fhould not continue wil- 
 lingly in any knowne finne,that I fhould love the 
 Lord hsvs, and defire toferve him above 
 all 5 1 know that I have fulfilled thefe conditions^, 
 and for all this I have the word for my ground,if 
 the ground whereon our faith isbuilcfedbethe 
 Word, then it is builded on a fure rocke, and the 
 gates of hell, Satan, and all his temptations fhall 
 not prevaile againft it, but againft a ftrong fancie 
 may. Therefore 
 
 I; 
 
TW God is. 
 
 7; 
 
 Therefore let us labour to ftrengtben our faith 
 in thefe principles, that there isaG o d that made 
 Heaven and Earth . and that the Scripture is his 
 Word, whereby his minde is revealed to us, that 
 fo you may know what his will is,and what to ex- 
 ped of him, upon all occafions. 
 
 There is one thing which rcmaines in this 
 
 point, which we added in the third place • That, 
 
 that Cod which we worjhij) is this God: for either 
 
 it is that God, whom we worfhip, or elfe there is 
 
 ' no true (Will the world* we are to propound it 
 
 negatively, to take away all other falfe religions : 
 
 For,if there was ever a God revealed in the world, 
 
 he was the God of the lewes, and if he was the God 
 
 of the lewes , then of the Chrijlians, and if of the 
 
 Chrifiiansy then furcly of the Protectants y and not 
 
 the Papifts . (for they doe in moft points adde to 
 
 the garment ofchrifi, and the Protectants doe but 
 
 cut off what they have added before) and if of the j 
 
 Protectants, then furely of thofe that doe 
 
 make confeience of their wayes, that 
 
 doe not live loofely, but doe 
 
 labour to pleafe him in 
 
 all things. 
 
 THE 
 
75 
 
 :*^>, -*CA 
 
 
 S' . "-; - 
 
 - 
 
 v , ^r^f^E 
 
 THE 
 
 FIFTH 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 I S A I. 46. 9. 
 
 Remember the former thing* turn 
 
 God, and there is none elje ■ lam God. 
 m none If kern; 
 
 he cfaii 
 
 is i ** 
 
 G d ; and i: is an afgrnnc 
 which is often ttfed ft Sa 
 
 MIC, to & <ii> 
 
 6fc£ tecaorfc 
 
 tides h :eto 
 
 under ihnj i: : / am G o d • beca. 
 
 tffor • 
 
 Tber^isnoo- 
 
7 6 
 
 Efay 4?.zs. 
 
 Voctr. 
 
 Tl?at God is. 
 
 5' 
 
 Arguments 
 that there is 
 no other God. 
 
 The greatnefle 
 ofhisMajtflie 
 and wotkes. 
 Efay^.f- 
 
 other • this particle is foufed many times, Efay 
 45. 2?.. I am God, and there is none elfe, there 
 is none befide me • and this fhewes the f alfeneffe of 
 all other gods, and all other religions ; and the 
 argument ftands thus ; that if you looke to all 
 former times, you fhall fee that there was never ' 
 any other God, or any other religion but this, 
 which iveprofeffe. There are two arguments fet j 
 downeintheText: j 
 
 1 Remember the former times, and you fliall I 
 alwayes finde it thus, that there is none befides 
 mee. 
 
 2 There is none like me, faith the Lord^ take 
 all other gods and there is a wonderfull great 
 difference betweencthem and the God whom we 
 profefle- there is none like him. So that the point 
 to be delivered hence is this • 
 
 It is a great argument to prove the Deity, that 
 there is none befides the Lord. 
 
 To open this to you 3 1 will fhew you ; 
 
 1 What reafons the Scripture ufeth to prove, 
 that there is none befides him. 
 
 2 We will give you fome inftances of it. 
 
 3 We will make fome ules of it. 
 From the firft, yoirfliall finde in the Scripture 
 
 thefe five arguments, - to fhew that there is no o- 
 ther Cod, but that the L o r d is G o d alonc,and 
 that there is none befides him. 
 
 From the greatneffe of Gods Majcfty,and the 
 immenfitie of hisworkes, and that is the rcafon 
 of the words here annexed ; there is none like 
 him : as jn vcrfe 5 . of this Chapter you fhall fee 
 
 it 
 
is theTrueG od. 
 
 77 
 
 ThesreatneflTc 
 
 ofGo^Ma- 
 
 jeftie. 
 
 Efay 40.15,1 6. 
 
 opened. 
 
 it more plainly. So, ^Among the gods .there is none \ 
 like to thee, O Lord, neither are there any rvorkes like 
 thy works. Where you fee that they arc both put 
 together ; there is none like to him for the great- 
 j'nefle of his Majeftie, nor for the immenfity of his 
 workes. More particularly,firft, in regard of the 
 greatnefle of his Majeftic, there is none like him . 
 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are 
 counted as thefmalldujl oft he ha/lance: behold, he t a- 
 keth up the lies as a very little thing • and Lebanon is 
 notfufficient to bur ne, nor the beafis thereof fit jficient 
 for a burnt offering • All nations before him are as no- 
 thing, and they are counted to him lejfe than no- 
 thing, andvamtie : that is, let a man looke on the 
 greatnefle of God, and compare him with all the 
 things that are in the world, and you fhall finde a 
 great difproportionbetweenethem ; they are but 
 as the drop of the bucket. A bucket ,of it felfe,holds 
 but little water, but yet that is for fome ufe 3 but 
 the drops that fall from the bucket, when it com- 
 mcrh out of the Well, they are fof mall, as wee 
 make no account of them • and yet all the world 
 is notfomuchtothe£0ri, as thefefmall drops. 
 And if that fimilitude will not ferve, there is an- 
 other^ They are as the dufi of the ballance : if it were 
 but as the duft of the earth, it were but fmall, but 
 as for the duft of the ballance, it is lb fmall, that 
 it cannot weigh the ballance this way, or that 
 way ; and yet the whole world is not fo much to 
 the Lord, as the duft of the ballance. 
 
 Againe, a third expreflion he ufeth,and that is 
 taken from the manner of his worfhip : for fome 
 
 might 
 
78 
 
 Tliat our God 
 
 Verfe if. 
 Thegreat- 
 neffe ot his 
 woikes. 
 Verfe.n. 
 
 Verfe 1 8. 
 
 might here object 5 If heebe fo great, how ftiort 
 then doc wee come of wor (hipping him, and of 
 giving him that honour which we owe unto him f 
 iaith he • it is true, for all the beajls of Lebanon are 
 not Efficient for a burnt offering : nay, all the wood 
 of Lebanon is not enough to kindle the burnt offering. 
 And take all the gods of the Gentiles, they were 
 but men, and their Temples, and all the glory of 
 them , they are nothing to the Lord : See another 
 defcriptionofthisin^r/2.25. 
 
 And as,thus in regard of the greatneffe of him, 
 there is none like him ; fo likewife in regard of the 
 grcatnefle of his w or kes ; verfe . 1 2 Who hath mea- 
 sured out the waters in the hollow of his hand, and 
 meted out heaven with the ffanne, and comprehen- 
 ded the dufi of the earth in a meafure, and weighed 
 the mount aines in fiales, and the hils in a ballance f 
 That is, looke upon the great building of Hea- 
 ven and Earth, and confider what went to thefe 
 buildings,what might and power he muft have to 
 handle fuch things as thefe-as the vaft mountains, 
 the huge earth,the wind,and the feas* & confider, 
 what an hand and arme he muft have , that muft 
 doe fuch things. And alfo confider the wifedome 
 of G^,that went to this work,and he did it alone 5 
 he had none to helpehim^ take a man, let him 
 fet up a building,and he cannot doe it of himfelfe, 
 but he needs fome body to help him • but the 
 Lord did all this alone : therefore he concludes, 
 verf. 1 8 . that there is none like to him 5 as if it were 
 his fcope and intention in that place. 
 
 It appeares hence, that they are not gods from 
 
 their 
 
Is the True God. 
 
 79 
 
 their newncs, they had a beginning, and they 
 have an end • but God is from everlafting,7 am the 
 firft and Lift, Efay 41. 4. and 44. 6. and 43. 10 
 The meaning is, all the other gods had a begin- 
 ning, we know when they began, and their owne 
 Hiftorians have related it • but I was before them 
 all, iaith the Lord, and they have all vanifhed a- 
 way, even in your owne fight. 
 
 Their ignorance and want of knowledge, and 
 his Omnifcience,is another argument,which you 
 have ufed in Efay 41. 22,23. 31^44.7, 8. Let 
 them bring them forth, and f\)ew what will happen, 
 let them jhew the former things , what they be, &c. 
 that we may know that you are gods. The meaning 
 is this • that there are none other gods, that doe 
 declare former things, that tell of the beginning 
 of the world, or of the creation, nor can declare 
 things to come ; I only can doe it, I have not fpo- 
 ken in fecret, but my prophecies are plaineand 
 open, I have fpoken ir,and I will bring it to paffe. 
 Therefore, I fay, his omnifcience and fhewmg 
 future things, doth teftific,that there are no other 
 gods befides him, feeing no other hath beene able 
 fo to doe. 
 
 The greatnefle of his power put forth in the 
 continuall paiTages of his providence, and their 
 want of power 3 which is another argument ufed 
 in 7/2*', 41. 23. Behold y you arenothmg, and your 
 workes are of nought ; that is, you are not able t&aoe 
 any things either good or hurt to the fonnes of men, 
 and therefore you are no gods, you are but vani- 
 
 which argument you have 
 often 
 
 tie, and of no value 
 
 All other gods 
 are but new, 
 Hefromcvcr- 
 laftin;. 
 Efay 4 r 4. 
 and 446. 
 and 43.10. 
 
 ? 
 
 He onely 
 k owes things 
 to come. 
 E:a 4 41.22,23. 
 and 44 7,8. 
 
 4 
 
 By the great- 
 n'-ife of his 
 power and 
 providence, 
 working chan- 
 ges in the 
 world. 
 Efay. 41.23, 24. 
 
8o 
 
 U?at our God 
 
 Efay 40'*3> i 4* 
 
 Pfal. 107.33, 
 34« 
 
 5 
 
 He only die li- 
 ving God ; o- 
 ther gods but 
 dead Vanities. 
 Aa.14.1J. 
 Pial.ixj. 
 
 1 More parti, 
 fwlarly. 
 
 x The gods of 
 the Gentiles 
 and their reli- 
 gion was f alfe. 
 
 often repeated • as alio the great changes, that 
 God workes among the fons of men, which idols 
 cannot doe ,lfai. 40.23,24. He brings the Princes 
 to nothing, &c. that is, he is able to fet up, whom 
 hee will, and pull themdowneagaine ; andhee 
 gives inftanceinthe greateftPrinccs,that thought 
 themfelves beft rooted, faith he, when I doe but 
 blow upon them, when I blaft them, they are, as 
 if they never had beene planted, as if they had 
 i beene never fowen, they are as if they had 
 tooke no root in all the earth. 'SoPfal. toy. 33, 
 34. Hee turneth a defart into afiuitfull land '• and a 
 fruitfull land hee turneth into barrennejfe, for the 
 wickednejfe of them that dwell therein * making 
 changes of men,and things,which no Idols could 
 doe. 
 
 They are fuch as are dead men, and have no 
 life in them. This is an argument that the Apo- 
 ftle Paul ufeth, Kjitt. 14^ iy. that they llwuld 
 tnrne to the living God; PfaL 115. It is true of 
 all other gods, they are dead vanities, they are 
 idols, and have no life in them-only Cod is living, 
 he only hath life in himfelfe, and gives life to all 
 other things in the world. Therefore, there is 
 none other god befides him . 
 
 Now we come to particulars. As,Take all the 
 religions that ever have beene in the world, be- 
 fides that which we prof efTe^take all the gods,that 
 have beene fet up by others • they are divided in- 
 to two times, either before or finceCV&jv/?; be- 
 fore, and they are either thofe gods that were 
 worshipped by the Grecians and the Romans, the 
 
 wiieft 
 
is the True Go d. 
 
 8* 
 
 wifeft of the Heathens, or elfe thofe that were 
 worfliipped by the Barbarians. Now, they wor- 
 (liippcd the Sunne and CMoone, and foure-footed 
 beafts y Rom. i . If there be queftion of any, it is of 
 thofe among the Romans $ fuch as were Saturtte, 
 and Iupiter, and lttno, &c. which are now alto- 
 gether exploded -,and there is enough faid againft 
 them, even by their owne Writers, As j 
 
 1 They were men, and therefore not gods j 
 this was the argument that Tertullian and Iufiin 
 Martyr ufed to convince thofe, amongftwhom 
 they lived, that luno, Iupiter, Neptune, &c. were 
 Saturnes off-fpring,and therefore they were men ; 
 and if men, then borne of men, and their Genealo- 
 gies ^rc recorded by their owne Writers. 
 
 2 And as they were men, fo they were the 
 worft of men, given to the groflfeft vices, as adul- 
 tery, theft, murther, &c. 
 
 And if it be obje&ed, as it was to Laciantws, 
 that thefe are only fi&ions of Poets: 
 
 I anfwer, that the Poets were their Prophets,as 
 the Apofile faith, One of jour Prophets faith fo 5 and 
 they did but give light to the pi&urc; and all 
 their other Writers agree, as Cicero and Varro, 
 that they were fubjeft to thofe vices that wee na- 
 med. 
 
 3 They did dye, and therefore were not gods • 
 and therefore they would in one place (hew you 
 a fepulchre,and in another place a temple ereded 
 to the fame god, which is an extreme contradi- 
 ction • yet this was acknowledged even by them 
 that worfliipped them : and as for Tully, we can- 
 
 G not' 
 
 Rom. i» 
 
 iBecau p c their 
 gods were men. 
 
 2, The worft 
 of men. 
 
 ObjeSi. 
 
 Anfo. ' 
 The p§ets 
 were the Gen« 
 tiles prophets* 
 
 They did 
 die. 
 
82 
 
 71)dt our God 
 
 The religion 
 
 of Mabemtt'is 
 falfe. 
 
 not have more againft him, than he himfelfe con- 
 fefleth in his Tra&ate, De natura deorum • as one 
 faith- Re to/lit deos 7 fedoratione reliqmt s He tooke 
 away their gods in deed ,though not in word : and 
 himfelfe faith, Vtinam tarn facile veram religionem 
 invenire pofiim> qua?n falfam convincere : I would 
 I could as well finde out the truth of true religi- 
 on, as the falfenefie of the other. All which are 
 difputed at large by Tertu/lian, and Augufline De 
 civitate Dei y and Clemens Alexandrinus, who li- 
 ved in thofedayes- which we fpeake the more of, 
 becaufe it was that, which did fpread it felfc even 
 over the whole world for many ages together. 
 And as for the gods that are worfhipped by the 
 Chald&ans, and the Syrians, as the Sunne and 
 Moone,they are not w r orth the naming. 
 
 There is another religion that is growenu 
 
 ath 
 
 ] i He gives te- 
 J ftimony to the 
 
 I Tcftamenr, 
 I and yet is con- 
 Scrary to both. 
 
 finceG&w/,thc religion of Mahomet, which hat 
 fpread over the moll part of the world,for if that 
 computation be true, that is lately given, they 
 have foureteene times as much as any other hath $ 
 and they arofe about fix hundred yeares after 
 dm]}, and therefore they have continued a long 
 time. I fpeake not this, becaufe I thinke that any 
 here had need to be difl waded from it,but to flic w 
 that there was never any veri-fimilitude of it, but 
 that GW was alwayes C^ alone.Thcrforc againft 
 it, I will ufe foure arguments : 
 
 1 CMahomet did fully acknowledge the truth 
 of the Old Tcftamcnt, and of the New - yet the 
 things which he delivers, are contrary to both • 
 which confirmes our religion, and fhewesthe 
 
 falfe- 
 
is thcTrueG o d. 
 
 »$ 
 
 falfenefle of theirs ; for he did acknowledge, that 
 Mofes received the Oid Tcftament from God,znd 
 fo did the Prophets \ and he repeats raoft of jthe 
 ftory • he acknovvledgcth the creation oiAdam, 
 and the eating of the forbidden fruit, and the 
 whole ftory of Abraham, md his calling, and the 
 offering of his fonne Ifaac - y and alio , he acknow- 
 ledgeth the whole Hiftory o£ Mofes, how GWap- 
 peared to him, and how he went into Agypt, and 
 of the ten Plagues that he fent upon the Egypti- 
 ans, and the wonders that hee wrought going 
 downe into Canaan ; and fo of all the reft, naming 
 the booke of Pfalmcs, and quoting things out of 
 it- and of Deuteronomy , acknowledging many of 
 the Prophets, as Ehah, Samuel, lob and lonah 5 and 
 he confeffeth that there were many more, which 
 he did not name : and fo hee acknowledged the 
 New Teftament likcwife 5 hee acknowledged 
 that Chr'tfi was borne of a Virgin,and that by the 
 mighty power of God, without man ; that he hea- 
 led dileafes ; and that he received the Gojpe/I from 
 Cod himfelfe 3 and that God gave power to him 
 more than to all the Prophets that were before 
 him, and that hee was the word and power of 
 God, and that all, that doe beleeve in him,fhall be 
 faved 5 and they (hall follow him in white gar- 
 ments, and that he, whichbeleevesitnot, fhall 
 be damned 5 and hee acknowledged! the New 
 Teftament to bcarewitnefletotheOld; and he 
 acknowledgeth the refurre&ion, the commingof 
 lohn Baptifti and he fpeakes very honourably of 
 Chrifi, except only in two things : 
 
 G2 
 
 1 He 
 
«4 
 
 That our God 
 
 Mahomet deni- 
 ed 1. thii^s to 
 Chriti. 
 
 z His new re- 
 ligion wanted 
 miracles to 
 
 confirmed. 
 
 3 His Alcoran 
 is barbarous, 
 nd without 
 a cnfc. 
 
 4 
 
 4 His doctrine 
 
 is impure, and 
 fo his life. 
 
 1 _ 
 
 i He tooke up the opinion of the Arr/ans, to 
 deny his Divinitie. 
 
 2 And alfo, he denied that he was crucified, 
 but that fome body was crucified for him . 
 
 He brought in a new religion, and yet he pro- 
 feffeth, that heehad no miracles, or predictions 
 of things to come. Now, when religion is not 
 confirmed by miracles , or predictions of things 
 to come,or holinefs of life, it is a token that there 
 is no truth in it. 
 
 We may perceive it by the writing of the Al- 
 coran 3 It is fo barbarous, that there is no fenfe in 
 it- and they fay, that he could neither write nor 
 reade 5 and fo the writing fhewes, that it was by 
 one, that was an ignorant man that had no skill - 
 and thofe (lories that are alleaged out of the 
 Scripture,have much falfhood mixed with them; 
 which is a figne that he never read them himfelfe, 
 but that he had them by relation . but onely he 
 fpeaking to a very ignorant people, they received 
 it of him 5 and having inlarged themfelves by the II 
 [ fword- fothey continue to this day. 
 
 Theimpuritie of hisdo&rine, He cutoffwhat 
 was hard to be beleeved,and whatfoever was dif- 
 ficult to pra&ife , and he propounded that to the 
 people, wherein there was no hardnefTe, no diffi- 
 cultie, promifing them a paradife, wherein they 
 fhould have all pfcafures , and fliould enjoy wo- 
 men 5 and alfo they (hould have meat,drinke,ap- 
 parell, and fruits of all forts • as alfo, they fliould 
 have filken, and purple carpets to lye upon, &c. 
 and alfo he profefifeth that he had a licence given 
 
 him I 
 
istbeTrueGoD 
 
 «5 
 
 Vfe 1. 
 
 TobelscVc 
 that our God is 
 C7orfalonc>and 
 
 to cleave to 
 him, 
 
 him ixomGod, to know what women he would;, 
 and to put them away when he would- which li- 
 cence was given to him and to no other. All 
 which arguments are enough to fhew the vanitie 
 and falfliood of this their religion. 
 
 Seeing there is none other God befides the 
 Lord,WQ fhould fix this principle in us,and labour 
 to ftrengthen it by this other medium alfo. When 
 more candles are brought into a place, the light 
 is greater, and you may fee the objeds the better. 
 Therefore, adde this to the other, that there is no 
 other god % for this expreffeth not only that the 
 Lord is God, but that itishewhomweworfhip: 
 for if there be a God that made Heaven and Earth, 
 he would have revealed himfelfe to the fonnes of 
 men, but there hath never beene any other revea- 
 led. Remember the former things, and you fhall 
 fee that there was never any other. Make this 
 chaine, and every linke of it is exceeding ftrong : 
 fee if ever there hath beene any god befides him : 
 For,if there was ever any God revealed to the fons 
 of tiien, kwastheGtfrfoftheJVTW, that was re- 
 vealed by UWofes, and the Prophets. For all the 
 dunghill gods of the Gentiles, they were but vani- 
 * tie, and they appeared to be fo ; and if it was the 
 God of the lewes, then oi 'the Chriftians, (becaufe 
 the New Teftament is buikkdupontheOld • ) 
 and then fureiy, he is that God, whom the Protc- 
 jlants worfhep, and nor whom the Papifts wor- 
 fhip. For,if you take all thofe things, wherein 
 they differ from us • as in their worlhipping of 
 I Images,their Purgatory, their Indulgences,their 
 \ G 3 Prayers 
 
86 
 
 T)W our G o d 
 
 Iohn 6.6%. 
 
 Two things 
 make us cleave 
 to any thing. 
 
 Prayers to, and for the dead ^ their Prayers in an 
 unknowne tonguc,and foall other points of diffe- 
 rence, and you fhallfindc that they were added, 
 and taken in, in continuance of time, now one, 
 then another 3 and there are many that haye taken 
 paines to fliew the pedegree of thcn>, when they 
 came in, and therefore they that have not fedu- 
 ced hearts ,whofe eyes the god of this world hath 
 not blinded, may fee that what our Divines cut 
 off, is nothing but that which they have added 
 before . the Papifts agree with us in all that wee 
 teach, only the difference is betweene the additi- 
 ons which have come in from time to timc.Thcr- 
 fore you muft learne from hence to confirme 
 your faith, by that argument which Peter ufeth, 
 Ioh.6 .68 .Whither fta/I we goe, thou haft the words 
 of eternal! life 
 us cleave to any thing : 
 
 1 
 
 2 When we can goe no whither elfe. So that 
 looke to any time or place, and confider that all 
 other gods they are but vanitte. For looke upon 
 the world, and the creatures, and they have no 
 bottom to ftand on,they have no ftatc to hold by. 
 Therefore,let this teach us to cleave to him with- 
 out feparation : looke upon every fide, as David 
 did to the right hand, and to thelefr, and you 
 fhall fee that there was no other god. Only here 
 the foule hath fure footing, therefore fay ,that if 
 the diflblution of all things (hould come, as death 
 and martyrdome, (as wee know not how foone 
 they may) yet GWfhall be our God, we will for- 
 
 fake 
 
 There are two things which make 
 
 The firmenefle of the thing. 
 
is the True G o d 
 
 fake all to follow him. Confidcr the prefent tiir.e 
 of the Churchy confidcr how foone the times 
 may come upon us, when wee {hall be put to it • 
 for now things arc inprjcipitio^ haftingdowne 
 to the bottome of the hill 5 and we know not how 
 neere we are to that boure of temptation, fpoken of 
 in the Revelations • when it fhall bee as it was in 
 Aja's time, 2 Chron. 1 5. 6. Nationfoallrife againfl 
 I Nation. Thefe times are growing, and gathering 
 ftrength more and more < therefore let us ftreng- 
 ! then our faith, and prepare for a triall. Hithcr- 
 ! to religion and peace have walked together in one 
 path 5 but when they fhall goc in different paths, 
 I it will appearethen, whole fervants we are. So 
 when the times of triall come, it will be a great 
 matter to have this principle laid. Ifyoufhould 
 come to fuffer dcath,and to lofe your lives,it will 
 • be a greater matter, to be rooted and grounded in 
 i the faith : for there is a great difference betweene 
 thofe that have much earthy and betweene thofe 
 that arc not well rooted, that have not received 
 this anointing, thatteacheth m thefe things. 
 
 Only this I will fay to you in the fecond place 
 to comfort you, though you fee the Lord laying 
 the Churches wafte, fo that they are wallowing 
 in their bloud,.and yet that you might hold up 
 your heads; confider that he is G<W alone, and 
 therefore will rowfe up himfelfein due time • for, 
 Hee rviU not give his glory to another ; therefore 
 though you fee all the Churches in Chriften- 
 dome laid wafte, yet the Lord will raife them up 
 againe, and the ground of it is in jq/Sy 48. u. 
 
 G 4 For 
 
 
 iCbron.:? 6 f 
 
 - 
 
 Vfe 2. 
 
 For comfort ■ 
 Th3t he will 
 lhcw himfdfe 
 co be the true 
 Ged 9 in raifiry? 
 up his Chur- 
 ches. 
 
That our God 
 
 . 1 For mine owne fake % even for mine owne fake will I 
 doe it : fir, how jhould my name be polluted ? and I 
 will not give my glory to another^ fpeaking there 
 ro the Churches in that time, faith theL or d, 
 lhaverefinedthem, but not with fdver y I have c ho- 
 fen them in the furnace ofafflittion • that is, I have 
 thus and thus dealt with them, yet will I not caft 
 them off, though they be finfull, yet will I not 
 put them away, for mine owne fake ; for my 
 name fhould bee polluted, iflfhouldfufFcrthem 
 to lye thus : It fhould be thought that the other 
 religion was true, and fo I fhould lofe my glory. 
 And againe, will Cod now fay, I will not doe fo 5 
 for, fhould Antichrift prevaile, it would bee an 
 argument that they had the truth, and not we. So 
 Efay 4 1,8. £f d y 42 . 8 . lam the L o r d, that is my name ; and 
 my glory will not I give to another, neither my praife 
 to graven images. As the graven images there 
 fhould have had the praife, fo fhould the Papijls 
 now, if Cod fhould fuffer his Church to be fo, but 
 for his owne fake he will not fuffer it. Let this 
 encourage you then to be earneft with him in 
 prayer; for the time will come, when hee will 
 turne his hand, when the juft period is come, he 
 will be fcene in the Mount. 
 
 If there be no other Cod, then let us be care- 
 full to keep our hearts from all kinde of idolatry, 
 not to fet up any other in our heart or affedions. 
 For there are two kindes of Idolatry : 
 
 1 One is grofle, as the worfliipping of £</*/, 
 Mahomet, &c. and that you are free from, becaufe 
 . there is light enough in the Church to fee the va- 
 Inityofthem. 2 There 
 
 rfi s- 
 
 To kecpeour 
 
 hearts from 
 
 tdolatry,andto 
 
 fct up no otber 
 
 god. 
 
 Tw© kindes of 
 
 Idolatry. 
 
is the True God. 
 
 2 There is another kinde of Idolatry, which 
 Saint lames fpeakes of, lames 4. Tee adulterers, 
 and adulter effes, you make riches your god, and 
 honour, and your belly your jarf. and when 
 you facrifce to your otvne nets, that is, to out- 
 ward and fecondary meanes, or when we joyne 
 any other thing with God ; now this is Idolatrie, 
 which is common amongft us. Our nature is as 
 prone to Idolatry as any,though in another kind : 
 for man is a weake creature, and therefore hee 
 feekes fomething to repofehimfelfeupon; and 
 becaufe they finde not any one thing fufficient j 
 therefore they put their confidence in many, 
 Rom. 1. For all Idolatry is upon one of thefe three 
 grounds : 
 
 1 They worfhip them for gods, whom they 
 faw excellent men, that had fomething in them 
 above themfelves ; fuch as were flrong men, as 
 Hercules ; and thofe that were Law-givers, and 
 Princes, as Saturne, and lufiter j and they did 
 worfhip Vertues likewife 5 and they did build a 
 Temple to Vertue it felfe . znd to lupce, and?4- 
 Uence. 
 
 2 Thofe, that brought any fpeciall helpe D and 
 comfort to the lives of men- as they that did in- 
 vent ufefull Arts, as Bacchus, Ceres, Vulcan,JEfcu* 
 lapius- y and alfo they worfhipped the creatures 
 themfelves, as the Sunnc, and CMoone, and Oxen, 
 and the like. 
 
 3 They wor (hipped for god, that which was 
 ftronger than themfelves • therefore Tally faith, 
 We build a Temple to leavers, to difeafes, bc- 
 
 caufe 
 
 89 
 
 lanes 4. 
 
 Rora.s. 
 
 Threc'grounds 
 ofUofctrte. 
 
9° 
 
 Tlmt our God 
 
 1 What the a- 
 fefrioro arc in- 
 ordrnatty fct 
 on we make a 
 god. 
 
 I 
 
 caufe they were ftronger than they, they could 
 kill men when they did feaze upon them : fothey 
 did build a Temple to Fortune. Now to trans- 
 late this to our fclvcs, fee if wc have not the fame 
 ground with us - fee if the things that have any 
 excellcncie amongft men- if the things that arc 
 profitable to us, and things that exceed us in 
 ftrength, and over-power us, whether they are 
 not ready to fet be up as gods . when men {pend 
 thcmfelves "upon their pleafure, and are afraid of 
 men, what is this, but to fet up another god? We 
 doe the fame,though not in the fame manner that 
 the Heathens did. Now, for worshipping the 
 creatures • we are not to doe it : there is no crea- 
 ture in the world that can do either good or hurt, 
 as it was faid of Idols. But when our affe&ions 
 ars fo inordinately carried to them, we fet them 
 up for gods, though we obferve it not. It is Gods 
 prerogative royall, and it belongs only to him, 
 to doe good or evill • whatfoevcr is either good 
 or evill, he is the Author of it; he makes mens 
 lives comfortable, or uncomfortable, at his plea- 
 fure; for hce difpofeth of things, giving them, 
 | and taking them from whom he will. Therefore, 
 why is he forgotten £ and why doe men joync 
 other things with him i fo farre, as men fee not 
 the vanity of all things, and fo farre, as their af- 
 fe&ions are taken up with thefc outward things, 
 fo much Idolatry there is in their hearts. There- 
 fore you mud take heed that you give not Cods 
 glory to another. 
 
 Take heed of Idolatry in your opinions • give 
 
 not 
 
is the True G o d. 
 
 9 l 
 
 not the glory of God to riches- for that which a 
 mans mindc is fee moft upon,and which he looks 
 for comfort from, in time of need, this they 
 count as God : fo that, whatfoever it be, riches 
 or the favour of men, if you fct your minde upon 
 it, you make has God, and it is to give the glory 
 of God to another. 
 
 Wc muft not truft in them, PfiL 1 15. p. but 
 truft inGoDjO ifrael truft thou in the L o r d, 
 he is thy helpe andthy fhield. Now then, wee ex- 
 alt him,when we truft only in him,when we truft 
 not in any ofthefe outward things,when we think 
 not our felves any whit the better, the more ri- 
 ches or friends wee have : for fo farre as we truft 
 in the creatures, fo far we commit idolatry with 
 them : but he that thinkes himfelfe fafe becaufe 
 he hath the Lordiot his God, and becaufe he 
 is his Shield,he doth exalt the Lord, and 
 this is to put this in practice which 
 is here fpokenof; IamGed, 
 and there is none 
 like mee. 
 
 THE 
 
 2 
 Pfal.ii 7.9. 
 

91 
 
 THE 
 
 SIXTH 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 Exod vs. 3. 13,14, 15. 
 
 13 And Mofesfaid unto God- Behold^hen 
 I come unto the children of lfrael ? and flail 
 fay unto them . T7;e God of your Fathers 
 hath fent me unto you, and they ft all fay 
 untomee, What is his Name ? ^hat flail 
 I fay unto them $ 
 
 14 And God {aid unto Mofes, I Am 
 that I Am. Andhe faid, Thus flak 
 thou fay unto the children of Ifrael jl Am 
 hath fort me unto you. 
 
 15 And God faid moreover unto Mofes, 
 T\:usflalt thou fay unto the children of If- 
 rael $ The LordGod of your Fa- \ 
 
 thersj i 
 
94 
 
 What God is 
 
 The fecond 
 thin^ to be 
 knowne con- 
 cerning God- 
 What Goi is. 
 
 is. 
 
 £XOd£.$ 
 
 What the Ei- 
 ftn c ol Goi 
 
 thers, theGoo of Abraham, the God 
 of 1 feme, and thcG od of Jacob hath fent 
 me unto you : this ismyl>{ameforeVer ? 
 and this is my memorial! unto all genera- 
 tions. 
 
 Ow wee come to this, What 
 God is. God is I e h o v a h 
 Elohim;^ abfolute Ef- 
 fence, in three Per fins. 
 
 But we willfirftfpeakeof 
 I the Deitie, then of the Per- 
 fons. 
 ""Tslow God'is knowncto us two wayes : 
 i By his Effence • and7 
 2 By his Attributes, j 
 Now the great queft ion is 3 what this effence 
 of God is.Be!oved 3 you need more than the tongue 
 of man to declare this to you ; yet we will fhew 
 it to you, as the Scripture reveales it. 
 
 Now, if we fhould define it 3 (though it is ca- 
 pable properly of no definition) we would fay, 
 God is 4nincomprehenJib/e,frJl y and abfolute Be- 
 ing. Thefe words in this place,fet out the Effence 
 of God moft clearely of any place in Scripture, 
 that I know. This is the firft expreflion, where- 
 by God did ever fhew himfelfc in his Effence. God 
 hath before made himfelfe knowne by his c^f//- 
 fufficienae y Chap. 6.3. 1 appeared to Abraham 5 to 
 lfaac y andunto Jacob, by the name o/God Almigh- 
 tiejbutlj my name Iehovah, rvas I not knowne 
 
 unto 
 
Gods Name, I Am 
 
 95 
 
 unto them. This name Iehova h, was knowne 
 to Abrabam,andlfiac, and Iacob, as appcarcs in di- 
 vers places ; but the meaning is,it was not opened 
 to them, they did not underftand it : The Lord 
 faith, Gen. 17. 1. J am the AlmighiieQ o D^walke Gen.17.1, 
 before me* and be thou perfeff. Ton (hall finde that 
 Name ufed on every occafion, by Abraham, by 
 ?faac,md by Jacob. El-fiaddai 5 Go d all-fufficient • 
 but not I e h ov a H.Thefirft time that ever God 
 made himfelfe knowne by this name, was here to 
 Mofes, Jam that Jam. There are two things to be 
 obierved in this expreffion : 
 
 TheincoinprehenfibleneflTc of 'Almighty God, 
 as it is ufually faid by us ; when wee are asked a wh 
 thing,that we will not reveale any furthcr,or that b f tochaformc 
 we would not have another to prie any further I °}**X>tTi' 
 into, we fay, It is, what it is - Co God faith to Mo- 1 ««*. 
 Jes, Jam, what Jam. 
 
 Such a kindc offpeech is alfo ufed to fliew the 
 immutabilitie of a thing-as Pilat faid, What J have \ 2 
 written, J have written ; 1 will not change it : fo 
 men ufe to fay • I have done, what I have done,to 
 fliew the conftancie of a thing, that it fhall not be 
 altered : therefore, when God would fliew "the 
 conftancie of his Nature, he addes further. Jam, 
 without any other word : as if hee fhould fay s 
 Mofes, if they inquire of thee, what my name is y 
 tell them only this 3 He #,hath fent me unto you y 
 as the Septuagints wanttaze it,° "*y, that is, if I 
 fliould deliver the moftexprefling name, where- 
 by I would bee knowne to all ages, this is that 
 which I will pitch upon , J am, orhHOVAH^ 
 
 which 
 
9 6 
 
 Go DsNme,lAM. 
 
 which comes from the fame root. And ifMofes 
 fliould yet further inquire of his Name, he leads 
 him into a further exprefllon : The LordGod 
 of your Fathers, the God of Abraham, the G o d 
 oflfaac,andthe God oflacob hathfent me unto youy 
 this is my Name for ever , and this is my memoriall 
 unto all generations. As if he fliould lay ^lf yet they 
 cannot underftand what this Name is , it is the 
 fame that I was knowne by to Abraham, to Ifaac, 
 and to Iacob 5 what i was to them, the fame will I 
 be to you. I was knowne to them by my Word, 
 | and by my workes, and by my miracles, and the 
 fame fhallyou finde me, it is that God which hath 
 fent me unto you. This is my Name ; which \vords 
 are to be referred, not onely to the latter words 
 but to the former, / am, that lam. The words in 
 the originall are in the future tenfe ; yet it is fitly 
 tranflated, Iam ; for the future tenfe in Hebrew is 
 often put for the prefent tenfe 5 and the words are 
 put in the future tenfe, to fhew his immutabilitie • 
 which tranflation Chrijls words doe warrant 5 
 Before Abraham was, I am : therefore the Septua- 
 gints do well tranflateit ° "»v» fignifying no more, 
 but he which is • fo that, that which we are to 
 learne from hence is this 5 That lam, or Jehovah, 
 lam, that lam, isthepropcrandeftcntiallname 
 j of God, (all Divines agree in this, Iknownonc 
 that differ) becaufe it expreffeth him in his Ef- 
 i Cencc^ without any limitation, or modification. 
 I Bcfides, you fhall finde, that this name is never 
 attributed to any other. The K^ihar, indeed, was 
 called Iehovah ; but the meaning was \ to Iehovah . 
 
 his 
 
Gods TSfamCy I Am 
 
 97 
 
 his other names indeed arc given to the creatures, 
 but this is given only to him ; Whence I gather 
 this point: That, 
 
 To bee, or to fay this, He is, or I am , is prefer to 
 God albne. 
 
 It is common to no creature with him • you 
 cannot fay of any creature It is • and if it be the 
 only property of God to be, then you mud fay of 
 every creature, It is not; andonely the Lord is ^ 
 which is a ftrange fpeech, but yet k is true,or elfe 
 it is not proper to G^only. 
 
 But you will fay ; What is the meaning oft hat 1 
 for creatures have a being, though not fo excel- 
 lent a being, as he hath . 
 
 In comparifon of him, they have no being at 
 all, they cannot reach to his being. And there- 
 fore, what this being is we will explaine to you 
 by thefe five things: 
 
 It is an immenfe being, fuch as hath all the de- 
 grees 5 and kindes, and extents of being in it. The 
 creatures have not fo,- they have fo little of this 
 being, that it is nothing : it is not fo much, as the 
 drop of a bucket, ifii.^o. that is,it is of fo fmall a 
 being, that it is no being : therefore that place is 
 to be marked, If i. 4.0. 17. All nations before him 
 are as nothing, and they are counted to him leffe than 
 nothings or vanity . Which place fhewes, that this 
 phrafe of being doth not agree to the crcaturcs/or 
 having laid before, they were as the drop of a 
 bucket, hee addes, nay, they arc lefle than no- 
 thing. But you will fay, how can they bee leffe 
 than nothing * That is, if I (hould exprcife it to j 
 ' H you, 
 
 Dotir. 
 
 God only and 
 properly hath 
 Being in him. 
 
 Objett. 
 
 Anfrv. 
 What this Be- 
 ing is, explai- 
 ned in five 
 things. 
 
 I 
 immwfe. 
 
 Ifai. 40. 
 Veife. 17 > 
 
S>8 
 
 Of himfelfe. 
 
 A&S17. 18. 
 Rom. ii. 36. 
 
 3 
 
 Everlafting. 
 
 4 
 
 Without fuc- 
 ceffion. 
 
 Gods l>{ame,l Am. 
 
 you, as it is, they arc leiTc than that which you 
 reckon as nothing • as you doe a duft of the bal- 
 lance • fo that in refpeft of the largeneiTe of his 
 being, they are nothing to him : there are divers 
 degrees, and extents of being, and he hath them 
 all in him • as,there is a being of Angels, another 
 of men, and fo of every creature « for they are 
 defined, and you know that definitions doe limit \ 
 the being of a thing. The Angels have a large 
 and glorious being ; men have a good and excel- 
 lent being, but they are nothing in refpe<ft of the 
 being of God. 
 
 It is a being of himfelfe, he is a fpring of be- 
 ing, whereas all the creatures are but cifternes of 
 being ; wliich they have but by participation 
 
 *£>> 
 
 from him, Acl. 17. 28 . In him we live, move, and 
 
 have our being : Rom.ii.Inbim^ndfor him, and \ 
 
 through him y are all things 3 he only is of himfelfe. J 
 
 It is not only for himfelfe, but it is an ever- 
 lafting being: I am the fir ft and the lasi : that is, I 
 am before any thing was ,and I am the laft • every 
 thing hath dependance on me. 
 
 It is a being without fucceffion: the creatures 
 have not this • there is fomething to them, which 
 was not before ; and fomething (hall be, which 
 is not for the prefent: this is true of every crea- 
 ture ; of men and Angels 5 but with God there is 
 no fucceffion : and therefore it is that thefe words 
 ' are ukdj am hathfent me unto you : which ihewes 
 that there is no time part with him, there is no 
 diftin&ion of time with him, all things arc alike 
 to him-but with the creature there is flux of time, 
 
 the 
 
Gods "b{ame,\ Am. 
 
 99 
 
 the creatures enjoy one thing one minute, which 
 they doe not another; but God enjoyes all at once, 
 and that is one part of his bleffedncffe, which the 
 creature is not partaker of. And againe, his a<3s 
 are all done at once ; but the creatures doe all 
 theirs by fucceffion. 
 
 It is fuch a being, as gives a being to all things j 5 
 elfe. And this is a great difference betweene him : G ivmq Being 
 and the creatures: The Angels have an excellent j co al l jrgs * 
 being, yet they cannot give the lea ft being to any 
 thing. So that by thefe we may plainly fee, that 
 he only is, that is,he only is of an immenfe being, 
 that is, he is like a mightie fea of being, that hath 
 neither bankes nor bottom, he only is a fpring of 
 being, he only is ever lading, hee only is without 
 fucceilion, of time prefcnt,paft,or to come. Laft- 
 ly, he only gives a being to every thing. Such an 
 one* he is, all this implyed, where he bids Mofes 
 goc, and tell the people- lam that lam, is hee 
 that hath fent me unto you. But we will ftand no 
 longer hereon, onely wee will labour to reduce 
 thefe fpeculations to ufe, as it is faid of Socrates, 
 he did Devocare pbilofephiam de coe\is, bring phi- 
 lofophy downetobe pradifedin private houfes. 
 
 If we fliould inquire the reafon, why Cod did 
 reveale his Name to Mofes ^ was ir/hat he,and the 
 ifraelites fhould onely findeout argute (pecu- 
 lations in his name, as many of the Rabbins have 
 done < and our Divines follow them too far re ^ 
 no furely, the end of names is to make things 
 knowne. But yet he fets bounds to our apprehen- 
 fions, in faying, I am that I am $ as if there were 
 
 H 2 more 
 
lOO 
 
 rfi i. 
 
 There is fome- 
 thingin(Wf 
 Eflcnce not to 
 be inquired 
 into. 
 Rom. 1.18. 
 
 Exod.33. 
 
 R*om.2o> 
 
 Simile, 
 
 Gods Ts^ame, I A M 
 
 more ink, as if there were fome greater immen- 
 fitie in his nature : therefore the ufe is this . 
 
 That there is fomethingof the Eflence of God, 
 that may not be inquired into, but to be content 
 with that which is revealed. Rom. 1. 1 8 . For that 
 which may he knowne ofG o d, is manifejl inthem^ 
 for God hathfljewneit unto them : there is fome- 
 thing that may be knowne, and fomething there 
 is that may not be knowen : therefore, Beloved, 
 looke not for a full knowledge of him, but only 
 for a fmall degree of it 5 as Exo.33.My face (faith 
 Cod to Mofes)thou can [I not fee 5 which place com- 
 pared with that, Ro. 1 .2 o.the meaning is this-that 
 it is very little of God, that we can know : even as 
 when a great traine, or glorious fhew, flull paflc 
 before us, and all is gone, we onely fee the latter 
 end ofit. So (Wpaffcdby Mojes, and hefawbut 
 a little of him : even as when you hearc the latter 
 end of afentence, onlythat which the eccho re- 
 founds 5 the mainc we cannot know. Therefore 
 we fhouldlcarnc from hence, not to be fcarehing 
 and prying into the counfels of God • as, why fo 
 many are damned,and fo few faved -to ask, how 
 the infallibilitie of Gods will and thelibertieof 
 mans will can ftand together : to aske the reafon, 
 why he fuffercd the Gentiles to walke in the vani- 
 tie of their owne mindes fo long a time 5 why he 
 differs the Church to lye, as it doth at this time : 
 for we might fay as Gedcon did, if the Lord^ 
 with us, why are wet thus and thus ? Why the 
 Church of the Grecians, thok famous Churches • 
 why the golden Candlefticks were removed 
 
 from 
 
GoDsl>{ame, I Am, 
 
 ioi 
 
 from them i Thefe, and all other fuch, wcmuft) 
 be content to be ignorant of- he doth not reveale 
 himfelfe fully in this life, ihou canjl not fee me, 
 and live, faith God to Mofes : the meaning is this, 
 the vale of mortality doth cover us, it hides God 
 from us : when that mall be laid afide, wee mall 
 know all thefe things i and therefore we mud: be 
 content to ftay the time- and till then, we are as 
 narrow. mouthed vcflels, wee are not able to re- 
 ceive much knowledge, but a great deale will fall 
 befide s and God will do nothing in vaine 3 as Chrift 
 laid to his Difciples, There an many things that I 
 Jhould reveale unto you, but you are not able to beare 
 them : and therefore it fliould content us rather 5 
 as a weake eye is not able to behold the Sunne, as 
 the SchQole-men well fay , we cannot fee it in rota- y 
 we cannot fee the circle wherein the Sunne doth 
 runne, but onely thebeamesofit; no more can 
 you fee God in his effencej you may fee him in 
 his Word, in his effects: and therefore let us be 
 content to bee ignorant of thefe things. Who 
 mould aske, why deales God thus with his 
 Church-? why are fo many damned? Remem- 
 ber that in Ifii. 45.9. Woe unto him that fir iveth 
 with his Maker • let the fotjheardjlrive with thept- 
 Jheards of the earth : Shall the clay fay to him that 
 maketh it ; what makefi thou ? The meaning of it 
 is this - we mould be content to let God alone, not 
 to inquire into all his a&ions, into the ground 
 and rcafon of all hisworkes; let the podhear ds 
 ftrive with the potfheards of the earth: if thou 
 hadft to doe with man, one like thy felfe, then 
 
 H 3 thou 
 
 Simile. 
 
 I&.4* 9' 
 
I ox 
 
 Go DsNme,l Am. 
 
 Simile. 
 
 Rom. xi 
 
 .->- .-»- 1 »■<. 
 
 thou mightft murmure againft him, and aske him, 
 why doeft thou fo < but what haft thou to doe 
 with the Lord ? Shall the clay fay to him that 
 maketh it, why doeft thou fo * This fimilkude of 
 clay doth not, by a thoufand parts, cxprefle that 
 diftance that is betweene God and us • and there- 
 fore we fhould doe thus, ftand upon the fhore, as 
 it were, and behold his infinite Effence : / am that 
 lam-, and goe no further; as a man that ftands 
 upon the fea-fhore, and fees the vaftneffeof the 
 fea, and dares goc no further, if he goes into the 
 deepe,he is drowned : You may looke into Gods 
 Effence, and fee and admire it ; but to thinke that 
 thou couldeft comprehend Cod, is, as if a man 
 (hould thinke to hold the whole fea in the hollow 
 of his hand; yea, there is a greater difproporti- 
 on between them : therfore you (hall fce,that the 
 Apoftle doth thus expreffe it, Ro.u. Oh the depth 
 of the riches both of the wifdome, and knowledge of 
 God; how unfearchable are his judgements, and his 
 wayes paji finding out ! Onely remember this,and 
 make thus much ufe of it : 
 
 When you heare this name, J am that lam . 
 that it is the Lords will to fet limits to us. When 
 the Lord camedowne from the Mount, he fet li- 
 mits to the people, and he gave this reafon of it • I 
 I will not have them Ji and and gaze 5 fo is it in this 
 cafe, it is a dangerous thing to goe too farre 5 you 
 know what did come to the Bethjhemites, becaufe 
 they would be gazing : Remember that fpeech of 
 God to Manoah j Why doeft thou aske my name that 
 isfecret? Thercis fomethingthatis fecretin God 
 
 But, 
 
Gods l^ame, I A M, 
 
 103 
 
 But, you will fay $ 1 would but fee a rcafon of 
 things. 
 
 But thou mud (lay for this till mortality be 
 put off; and in the meane while (land afarrc off, 
 and lookc on God : And when thou feeft the vaft 
 workes of God, when thou feeft him to (pan the 
 winds in his fift, and meafure the waters in the 
 hollow of his hand 5 and to weigh the mountaines 
 in fcales,and the hils in a ballance,&c.It will be no 
 great thing to thee if thou art ignorant of his coun- 
 iels. It is made an argument why we fhould not 
 fearch into his fecTetStProv.30.4Who hath afcen- 
 dedup to heaven y or defiendedtwho hath gathered the 
 winds in his fift ? who hath bounded the waters in a 
 garment ? who hath efiablifhed all the ends of the 
 earth ? What is his name, or what is his Sonnes name, 
 if thou canft tell? As if he (hould fay 5 it is im- 
 pofltble that this mightie Worke-man 3 he that did 
 all this, that thou fhouldeft know him, or know 
 the ground of his counfels; you can fee but his 
 back-parts, you can fee no more and live,and you 
 need fee no more, that you may live. 
 
 Secondly , that which is the very fcope and drift 
 of the Lords revealing his name to Mofes ; Goe and 
 tell the people -I Am that I Am hathfentme 
 untoyou } that is,tt iliould ftrengthen our faith,and 
 incouragc us,it fliould raife our mindes,and ftir up 
 hope in us, in all wants, and in all diftrefles, that 
 we fall into, upon any occafion : for this is the 
 fcope why the ZWreveales it here j he revealcs 
 it in a very feafonable time. A man would have 
 thought it impoffible, that they fliould be delivc- 
 
 H 4 red I 
 
 Objetf. 
 Anfw. 
 
 Wee cannot 
 area'bnoftra- 
 ny things con- 
 cerning God 
 till death. 
 
 Prov.30.4. 
 
 Vfe 
 
 e 2. 
 
 To ftrengthen 
 
 our faith, and 
 encourage us 
 in our wants 
 and croflcs. 
 
 In watts 
 
104 
 
 Gods Name, I Am. 
 
 Whence all 
 grief es and 
 complaints 
 arife. 
 
 Hcb.li, 
 
 red from Pharaoh, he being fo mighty, yet God 
 bids Mofes goe, and tell them, that hee that I S, 
 hath fent him unto them . Hee that I S, he that 
 can make things to be, when they have no rudi- 
 ments of being, he hath fent me. 
 
 Confider all the griefes and complaints that 
 we have,they all arife from hence ♦ there is fome- 
 thing we would have, which is not - } as it was the 
 complaint of Rachel, jhee weft for her Children Jbe- 
 caufe the) were not : now, confider what the Lord 
 faith here, I amthatlam : he is the Lord of be- 
 ing ; hee giveth being to whatfoever pleafeth him: 
 As take y our expreflions of your ordinary wants, 
 you ufe to fay • oh,if that fuch a thing tvere^ if an 
 houfe had fuch and fuch a thing, it would be a 
 goodly houfe 5 fo in an inftrument, as a Watch, 
 if it had fuch and fuch a being, it were a perfeft 
 Watch: foisit in the complaints that we make 
 for our foules, or the foules of others ; if you fee 
 a man that you would have reclaimed, you lay if 
 there were a {lability of minde inhim,a confede- 
 ration of death, a right knowledge of things, a 
 fenfe offinne, if there were grace in his heart to 
 cftablifh him, then he would be thus, and thus. 
 Confider that he who is the Lordol being,is able 
 to make up thefe wants : fo if our complaints be 
 for our felves,. they all come from fome wants; 
 but know that he who is the K^ilrmghtie God, that 
 makes all things to be, he can give thee conftan- 
 cie,he can enable thee to doe all things,and/w*£- 
 then the rveake hands and rceble knees, Hebr. 1 2 . He 
 that is full of being, as*' he Sunne is of light, and 
 
 the 
 
Gods 7s[ame, I Am. 
 
 105 
 
 the Sea of water, thinke with thy felfe that hee 
 alone is able to eive being to every grace, and to 
 make up every dcfe<3,and give that to thee which 
 thou haft not, and to all whom thou haft to doe 
 with, as thy wife, children, friends, &c. he can 
 make things that were bad, good and ufefull, and 
 fo make thy friend good alfo, as he did Oneftmus 
 for Paul- y thinke with thy felfe that the Lord of 
 being can doe it, andheeoncly can doe it: here 
 every creature is at a ftand to make a being 3 ther- 
 fore goe to him, and give him the praife and glo- 
 ry of this his Name. 
 
 And as it (hould move us to doe this in our 
 wants ; fo it fhould helpe thee in all thofe great 
 crofTes that afflift thee: For every croflTe is in 
 I that which is not; as Rachel wep for her children > 
 that were not : You (hall fee in Abraham, he belce- \ 
 ved in God, even in God, who quickeneth the ' 
 dead, and calleth thofe things which be not, as though 
 they were, Rom. 4.17. This was Abrahams cafe, 
 he was to lofe his fonne, for ought that he knew, 
 yet he comforted himfelfe in this, that Iehovah, 
 the mighty God* that is the Lord of being, he that 
 calleth things that arc not, as if they were, hee 
 could either give him his fonne againe, or one 
 that was as good as hee. Thus hee did comfort 
 himfelfe • and fo may we upon all occasions: Cod 
 can make things to bee that are not. Take lob, 
 when his houfes, his children, eftate, all were 
 gone, and all were not, yet Iehovah, he that makes 
 things that are not, did not he make all things to 
 returne againec' So David,\vhcn things were not, 
 
 when 
 
 2 
 
 In croflc^ 
 
 Hom,4.i7. 
 
\o6 
 
 Gods P^ame, I Am 
 
 Ex<xU.rf. 
 
 when his Kingdome was not, when his good 
 name was gone, as wee fee by Shimet's curfing, 
 what a name he had,yct God did make all to come 
 againe. Naomi, when all was gone, her husband 
 and her fonnesgone, and they were not, yethee 
 thct was the Lord of being gave her a fonne, and 
 a daughter, that brought her in more comfort 
 than her owne fonnes would. And this is the ufe 
 that I would have you to make of it. 
 
 W hen thou haft loft any thing,when thy fons 
 or thy goods are gone, he can make up all: Hee 
 who could make up the abfence of Cbrijl to the 
 Difciples, as he did by his Spirit, fo that it was 
 better with them than before, they had more 
 comfort and knowledge, and could doe greater 
 miracles, that God can furely make good any o- 
 ther lofle the moft pinching. For you muft re- 
 member that he is Ibhovahj you {hall finde 
 that name often ufed on this occafion ; ftill it is 
 added, lam Iehovah. But to take the pre- 
 fent Scripture, there you (hall fee, what ground 
 there is for this ufe we now make of it^cbap. 6 . 6. 
 Wherefore, fay unto the children of Jfrael, I am the 
 Lord, and I mil bring you out from under the 
 burthens of the Agyptians, &c. The meaning of 
 it is this : many objections might be made by Mo- 
 fes, (and this is the reafon, why God reveales this 
 Name to Mo fes.) Alas, faith Mo fes, who am I r 
 Shall I go unto Pharaoh, and bid him let the chil- 
 d ren of Jfrael goe i What am I to be fent on this 
 errand? Sahh the Lord, Goe^ tell him •/<*/», or 
 Iehovah, hath fent thee unto him: and thofe ob- 
 jections 
 
Gods l>{ame, I A M 
 
 107 
 
 je<3ions are obfci vable that Mofes makes : 
 Jamofafow mouth, andof a jlow fpeech. 
 Why * faith the Lor d, / made the moutfi 
 goe therefore, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach 
 thee what thou ft alt Jay . 
 
 Againe, / am of uncircumcifed lips, and how 
 flail Pharaoh hearktn unto me ? 
 
 Saith the L o r njhave made thee a God to Pha- 
 raoh, and Aaron thy brother flail be thy Prophet . 
 
 Where obferve this, by the way : A man 
 would wonder why Mofes, that went to fuch an 
 one as Pharaoh, fhould complaine, that he was a 
 man of uncircumcifed lips. One would thinke 
 that Pharaoh being a carnall man, that uncircum- 
 cifed words would pleafe him better ; but it is 5 as 
 if he fhould fay; Lord, when there is any circum- 
 cifedncfle in my lips,then there is no authority in 
 my fpeech. The lefle circumcifion there is in any 
 mans lippes, the lefle authority there is in his 
 fpeech : as it is faid oichrijl, that hcejpake with 
 author it ie, for his lips were circumcifed. But to 
 take this objc&ion away 3 faith the L o r D,Iam 
 lehovahy I will be with thee ,1 will cir cum cife thy lips. 
 
 Yea, but will Pharaoh be moved with words < 
 
 I am lehovah, faith the Lor d, / will make 
 that to be, which is not • I will fend plagues among them 
 and then he will let them goe. 
 
 But when they are gone,they arc a weake and a 
 naked people, how (hall they doe to live * 
 
 Saith God,/ will give them favour in the eyes 
 of the Egyptians > and not fend them empite? and I 
 will provide food for them. 
 
 So 
 
 Objetf. 
 
 sAnfw. 
 
 Object. 
 Anfw. 
 
 object. 
 Anfiv. 
 
 Object, 
 Anfw t 
 
io8 
 
 Gods !S[ame,l Am 
 
 Ifa : .fc.io. 
 opened. 
 
 Gcn.i. 
 i Cor. 44, 
 
 So Mofes went. A ftrange kinde of errand 5 as 
 if one fhould goe and tell the great Tur ke,thzt the 
 Cod of the cbrijlians hath fent to let them goe : 
 but yet 3/0j?5 goeth 3 and all that comforted him, 
 was the revealing of his Name. 
 
 Now apply this to your f elves ^ when you are 
 in any diftrefie, know that he that made the hea- 1 
 vens and the earth, can give a being to all thefe ! 
 things : Bfay 50.10. Who is among you that fear eth \ 
 the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of htsfervants, that \ 
 rvalketh in darkenejfe, and hath no light ? let him I 
 trufi in the name of the Lord, and fiay upon his j 
 God. He that walketh in darkeneffe, and hath 
 no light 5 let that bee thy cafe, that every thing 
 is defperate,thou feeft not a jot of light,nor fpark 
 of hope, yet truft in the name of Iehovah, hee 
 can make light, when there is none $ a man that 
 hath no grace in his heart, let him truft in ieho- 
 vah^ that faith in his heart,I would I could be rid 
 of ftich a luft,and that I could keep holy the Sab- 
 bath, but I have nothing in me,my heart is emp- 
 tie of all; (this is the complaint often even of 
 thofe that have grace :) why, if there be no light, 
 no grace, yet he can work it $ and fo Paul apply es 
 that in Gen.i. there was darkeneffe and no light, 
 to himfelfe and them, in 2 Cor .4. 5 . He that com- 
 mandeth light tojhine out of darkenejfe, &c. I, fayes 
 i he,and we Gentiles were in darkeneffe,and had no 
 light ; yet God commanded light to fhine into 
 our hearts, and into mine, thedarkeftof all the 
 reft. So learne to apply the fame to thy felfe ; he 
 that is in darkeneffe,and hath no light,yet let him 
 
 truft 
 
Gods Name, I Am 
 
 109 
 
 truft in the Name of lehovab 5 beloved, that is 
 faith. If you fhould expc<5i no more of God, than 
 a man can doe, or a creature can doe, it is nor 
 worthy the name of faith: as this is proper onely 
 to Cod, to give being to things that are not • fo ir 
 is the propertie of faith, when things are not, to 
 beleeve in the name of Iehovah : therefore, there 
 would thy faith be fecne 3 
 
 And as for thy felfe, fo for the Churches al- 
 fo, you fee now, to how low an ebbe they are 
 brought, and yet they cannot bee lower than the 
 eftate of the ifraelites was in ALgypt jind when they 
 were in captivitie ; yet confider,that that Jehovah, 
 ' who is the lWofbeing,is able to raife the Chur- 
 ches, and to give a new being to them : But jet in 
 it flail be a tenth, And it flail returne, and flail be ea- 
 ten yz* a Tcile-tree,anda4 an Oke,whofefubjlance u in 
 them when they cajl their leaves - fi the holy feed [ball 
 beethefubflance thereof: That is, when you fee the 
 Churches goe to wracke, when you fee them cut 
 -dbivne like a mightie wood that is cut dovvne, or 
 that is fpoiled of its glory in the Autumnc : So 
 when you fee the glory of the Churches thus ta- 
 ken away, yet there is a holy feed, which fhall be 
 like arootorbulkeofatree. So fhould you fee! 
 the Churches overthrowne, laid under feet, foj 
 that there were no hope of thern, fofar as ivej 
 could fee -yet be affured,that there is a holy feecL 
 that fhall rife, and fpread it felfe againe, even as a 
 little root fpreads it felfe into a great tree- & how 
 fhalltheydoeit < faith the Lord, I am lehovafj, I 
 can give a being, I can inlarge their being. 
 
 But, 
 
 Net to faint in 
 the Churches 
 Bii'eiie. 
 
 Efai.6, 
 
no 
 
 Gods Name, I Am 
 
 bkje0< 
 
 Anfw, 
 
 Ifai. 4 
 
 * 3>*4- 
 
 But you will lay, why then is it that they are 
 brought f o low < 
 
 Coniider, that it is the Lords ufuall courfe to fit 
 as a man in jWpe,but faith he in //<*/. 42. 13, 14. 
 The Lor b full goe forth as a might ie man, he Jlia/l 
 ftirre up jealoufic like a man of war re . heejhall crie, 
 yea roare ^hee Jla/l prevail? again ft his enemies : I 
 have long time holden my peace J have refrained my 
 fife, now will I cry like atravelling\voman > I will 
 defiroy and devour c at once. Heufeth three expref- 
 fions there, to fliew what hee will doe for his 
 Church in extremitie 3 I will raife my felft like a 
 Giant > &c. and when he comcs,he will come fud- 
 denly 5 as paines on a woman with childe come fud- 
 denly, fo faith the L o r d 5 When you looke not 
 for me, then will 1 come, there Jhallgoe nothing be- 
 fore me, I will come on afudden • and not.only fo 
 but he will cry as a Giant, he will doe it ftrongly 5 
 and he willdoeiteffe&ually- fo as he will bring 
 it to paffe as a man ofwarre^ and fo he will doe for 
 his Church againe, he that hath raifed it in for- 
 mer times, he will doeitnow^ therefore let us 
 not faint and give over hoping, for he that is Al- 
 mightie, hee is able to doe all thefe things : Hee 
 who could in Joel deftroy thearmie of Catter- 
 pillars, and leave ableffing behinde him 5 can 
 doe the fame as well to men, (though 
 never fo many) who are 
 the enemies of his 
 Church, 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 SEVENTH 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 Exod vs. 3.13,14, 15. 
 
 13 And Mofesfaid unto God^ 'Behold^hen 
 I come unto the children of Ifrael,and frail 
 fay unto them . Tl)e God of your Fathers 
 hath fent me unto you, and they frail fay 
 unto mee, Wliat is his Name ? ivhatfball 
 I fay unto them ? 
 
 14 And God faid unto Mofes, I Am 
 thatI Am. Andhe faid, Thusfbalt 
 thou fay unto the children oflfrael • I A M 
 hath fent me unto you. 
 
 15 And God faid moreover unto Mofes, 
 Tlmsfhdt thou fay unto the children of If 
 raeh y Tl?e Lord God of your Fa- 
 thers, 
 
in 
 
 Gods TS{ame y \ Am. 
 
 Vfe 3. 
 
 To give him 
 ther^ifeof 
 his Being. 
 
 To fay I will 
 doe fuch a 
 thing, what a 
 
 I finnckis. 
 
 It is IdolitrU. 
 Ifai.41.8. 
 
 thers } the God of Abraham, the God 
 oflfaac, and the God of Iacob hath fent 
 me unto you : this is my T>{ame forever ? 
 and this is my memoriall unto all genera- 
 tions. 
 
 S§<||||F God be the Lord tf being, full 
 of being in himfelfe, and giving be- 
 ing to every thing; leame then to 
 give him his praile, Pfil.60.4.. Tee 
 \ *&*&&&& ^w fhall praife the Lor d, andyeefl)a/l 
 extoll him by his Name Iah. For he only brings 
 cnterprifes to palfc^ as hee gives being to every 
 thing, fo he gives being to all the workes that are 
 wrought by the creatures. If our being be from 
 hinij much more all our works are wrought by 
 him, becaufe they are but dependants on our be- 
 ing. Now this God takes to himfclfe , as mod 
 proper to himfelfe , and that from his Name, 
 lehovah* there be many places for this s I will doe 
 it, for lam I e hovah, &C 
 
 Now if the creature (hall fay s I have fuch a 
 purpofe , fuch a projeft in my heart, and I will 
 doe it, I will bring it to pafle ; what is it but to 
 arrogate that to himfelfe, which is proper to Ie- 
 hovah ? which is a greater finnc, than we are a- 
 ware of- for it is no lefle than Idolatry ; and the 
 Lordfo takes it • lfai.4.2. S.lamtheLoR d, that 
 is my Name, and my glory will not I give to another, 
 neither my yrafe to graven images ; that is, I wilj 
 take a fpeciall care, that you fhall not fay, tha 
 
 you 
 
 1 
 
Gods lS{ame I Am 
 
 ii; 
 
 your images doe bring things to pafle, for then 
 they fhould be called leho-jah, it being proper a- 
 lone tome, to bring any thing to pafle. 
 
 So a man may apply it to any thing elfe; if a 
 man (hall fay, that his owne wit, or worth, or in- 
 duftrie, &c. doth bring things to pafle- he takes 
 that praife which peculiarly belongs to Cod, and 
 gives is to the creature ; whereas the Lord fayes, 
 Jehovah is my name, and there is not the leaft 
 thing, but I bring it to pafle. Take heed thcrfore 
 of that fecret idolatry, God hates it 3 it is a place 
 which you know, Hah. 1. 16. Therefore they fi- 
 crijice unto their net, and hurne mcenfe unto their 
 Dragge^ becattfe by them their portion is fat, and 
 their meat plenteous. Sacrifice is due onelyto 
 Cod : now to goe about any thing,and to fay,that 
 thy wealth brings it to pafle, is to facrifice to 
 thine owne net^that is,to attribute that to thy felfe : 
 which is pvoperonlytohim. 
 
 Againe, as it is Idolatry, fo it is a vaine thing 
 to doe it : for we are not able to do any thing; PfaL 
 37. He will bring it topajfe ; there the Lord takes it 
 as peculiar to him only; therefore in Ifai. 26.12. 
 (you may compare them both together) it is faid 
 there, Lord, thou wilt ordaine peace for us, for thou 
 alfo haft wrought all our workes mus. The fcopeof 
 this place is this : Other men (faith he) they for- 
 get God, they carry themfelves aloft, but it is hce 
 that will ordaine us peace, though none elfe {hall 
 put his hand to it ; it is he that doth all our works 
 for us, not our fpeciall workes only, but all j it is 
 not any man, or any creature that doth them, it 
 
 1 
 
 Hab.:.xl, 
 
 It is a vanity. 
 Ifai.i6.i2. 
 
 IS 
 
ii4 
 
 Gods Name>l Am. 
 
 I is he that vvorkesallourworkcforus. And if we 
 did beleeve this, we fhould looke upon him with 
 another ey e,and ferve him after another manner • 
 we (hould be more dependent on him, we fhould 
 bee more fervent in prayer- and not when Wee 
 would do any thing, turne every ftone,and knock I 
 at every creatures doore, to fee what he] pc they 
 could give us - y but our eye would bee towards 
 him ^ for it is in vaine to runne to them ; no crea- 
 ture can doe it, there is no cnterprife but hath 
 many "wheeles, and the flopping of one wheele 
 hinders the whole enterprise j and it is hee, that 
 turnes all thofe wheeles, commands all, muft 
 bring it to pafle, or elfe the lcaft thing will hinder 
 our greateft enterprifcs s therefore you fee that 
 the faireft bloflbmes of ourendevours doe often 
 wither, and the unprobableft things doc come to 
 pafle. 
 
 See it in David, to give you an example of it . 
 when he would truft G o d, he had a promife of 
 the Kingdome, but not byhimfclfe; hisowne 
 power (hould not doe it 3 and yetthewheelesof 
 Gods providencedid bring it to pafle. So when he 
 (laid his hand from killing Nabal, did not the 
 Lord bring it to pafle in a better manner than hee 
 could have done { And when he had the King- 
 domc>Afaer was his great enemic,but yet David 
 did nothing, but that which was right • and you 
 fee how God did bring it to pafle, hee tooke away 
 his life without any hand of his. Solfibajheth 
 \ was his enemie, yet when D avid fate flill, and 
 did nothing, his head was brought to him . 
 
 (though 
 
God s1S(ame, I Am. 
 
 11 
 
 (though they that did it, did it wickedly) yet it! 
 was an a (ft or G o d s providence to him. Thus 
 things are done for the beft, when wee commit 
 them to him • but if wee doe them our felves, we 
 are as they that fiflied all the night long, and caught 
 nothing, but when Chrifl came, and bade them to 
 caft in the net,then they inclofed a great multitude 
 of fifties : So it is with us,when we goc about any 
 enterprife, it is in vaine, we are not able to doe it. 
 There is a double going about any enterprife ; 
 when wee goe about an enterprife without God, 
 and when wegoe about it with him. When we 
 goe about it without Go d, IconfefTe, that yet 
 Tome things are brought to pafle * and that will 
 ferve to anfwer an obje&ion which you have ful- 
 ly expreffed in IfaL 37.7. Reft inthe Lor d, and 
 wait patiently for him ; fret not thy felfe hecaufe of 
 him, who frofpereth in his way, hecaufe of the man 
 who hringeth wicked devices to fdffe, &c. There is 
 theobje&ion. 
 
 For when we teach this do&rine of trufting in 
 God, as David had before, verfe%. The objection 
 then is ; there are many that doe not truft in God, 
 and yet they bring their things to pafle t 
 
 1 To this we anfwer, thateithertheydoeit 
 not, it withers under their hand ; 
 
 2 Or elfe, if they doe it, it is to no purpofe, 
 they receive no comfort from it. Therefore hee 
 addes ; the evill doerjljall be cut off, that is, though 
 they doe goe farre in an enterprife, yet they ne- 
 ver come to the end, they reape not the fruit 
 of it, hee cuts them off^ fo that, if you looke 
 
 I 2 to 
 
 Pral.37.7. 
 
 Object. 
 
 Anfiv. 
 Ofthofethac 
 truft not in 
 God y andyce 
 doc profptr. 
 
Gods T^ame, I A m. 
 
 Vfe 4. 
 
 Lcarnc the va- 
 nity of all crea- 
 tures, and the 
 rcmedic a- 
 gainft it. 
 
 Ads 17.2.S. 
 
 to the iiTue, it is as good as nothing. 
 
 3 It tends to their owne hurt, to their owne 
 ruine • if they get wealth,favour with great men, 
 credit, &c. the fword turnes into their owne 
 bowels, their eafeflayes them, and it turnes to their ! 
 owne deftr u&ion. Therefore take heed of it • if 
 thou doeft goe about it with God, hee will give 
 thee the comfort of it. One thing brought to 
 pafle by him, isbetterthanathoufandbythem- 
 felvcs without him. 
 
 Learne from hence the onely remedy againft 
 the vanity that all creatures are fubjeft to 3 that we 
 have to doe withall • for what is the reafon of 
 that mutabilitie, we finde in all things i Is it not 
 from hence, that they have no being of their 
 owne i If you looke to the rocke, to the foun- 
 dation- from whence they were hewen, and 
 to the hole of the pit, from whence they were 
 digged, they were made of nothing, and are 
 readie to 1 eturne to nothing. Take a glafle, 
 or an earthen veflell, they are brittle; if you 
 aske the reafon, they are made of brittle ma- 
 terialls : plate is not fo • fo that this is the reafon 
 of all the vanity under theSunne, becaufethey 
 are made of nothing. Therefore there is no way 
 to remedie this, but to looke up to God, Atts 1 7. 
 28. For in htm we live , move , and have our being. 
 This is the meaning of it 5 They have not onely 
 had their beingfrom him at the fir ft,but their be- 
 ing is in him. We have our being in him,as the 
 beames in the Sunne, and an accident in the 
 fubjedh 
 
 Then, 
 
Gods 2>(ame, I A m 
 
 "7 
 
 Then if thou wouldeft have conftancieinany 
 thing,thou muft lookc up to Cod. Every creature 
 is mutable 5 it is fo far unchangeable, as conftan- 
 cie is communicated to it from the unchangeable 
 God. 
 
 Coniider this for matter of grace. W hen 
 thou haft got any good defires, or good purpo- 
 fes, at any time 9 remember that the being of them 
 comes from God. Hence it comes to pafle, that 
 good purpofes oft-times doe come to nothing, 
 and like fparkes goe out againe • becaufe wee re- 
 member not that they are from God-, wee thinke 
 that if wee have good purpofes today, if wee 
 bee fpiritually minded to day, wee {hall be fo to 
 morrow • and thus you deceive your felves, you 
 muft confider that the being of them comes from 
 God: that place is rcmarkeable, 1Chron.29.1S. 
 when David had rejoyced that the people had 
 offered willingly, hee prayesthat God would 
 keepe it in the imagination of the thoughts of their 
 hearts : If we would thus hang upon him, and de- 
 pend on him, when the Spirit hath breathed in 
 us at any time,when we have any fparks of truth, 
 and are warmed with any holy affe&ions, if wee 
 would give him the glory of this, that he gives 
 being, if we would make this prayer that David 
 doth, you would finde it a meanes to make you 
 more equall, and more even in grace. And what 
 I fay- of this, I fay of all other things. It is the 
 fault of us all, we arc fubjeft to that which is faid 
 of wicked men, //*/. 56.12 Comeyee (fay they)/ 
 will fetch wine, and we will 'fi 'Hour [elves withftrong 
 
 I 3 drinke, 
 
 1 Chro. 2$.i8. 
 
 Ifai.55.IJ, 
 
u8 
 
 Gods Name, I A w . 
 
 Not to boaft 
 of fd morrow. 
 
 lames 4-i£>H 
 
 dnnke, and to morrow [lull be as this day , And much 
 more abundant. 
 
 Now, whence comes this ^ let a man have 
 health today, he thinkes he fhall have it to mor- 
 row- let him have peace and friends to day 3 hce 
 thinkes it will bee fo ftill. This is every mans 
 thought- and it arifeth from hence, that we for- 
 get Ithovahy he that continues the being of every 
 thing. If we did remember this, we fhould fay j 
 I doe not know whether itbeehispleafurethat 
 gives being to them : I know, that if he withdraw 
 his hand, they will come to nothing. It is a great 
 fault to boaft of to morrow ; hereby you detract 
 from God, and difhonour him exceedingly, you 
 fee how he complains of hylam.q.i 3 ,1 4»you en- 
 ter upon his royall prerogatives. It is,as if a man 
 fhould challenge many 100. acres of ground,and 
 hath not one foot -for future times are properly 
 the Lords. Now, when we will anticipate things 
 in our thoughts, and rejoyce in our proje&s be- 
 fore-hand,as if they were come to pafle s this is a 
 finfull rejoycing. And thence it is, that pride goes 
 before a fa/l h becaufe that when a man begins to 
 lift himfelfe upon a creature, and to build upon 
 that which is but vanity, then the Lord begins to 
 take away our foundation,and hinder our purpo- 
 fes, and then he falls and perifheth. Why doeft 
 thou boaft of to morrow i Knoweft thou what 
 is in the wombe of the day < thou knoweft no 
 more, than they know,, what is in the wombe of 
 a woman, till they fee it. 
 
 II 
 thefe. 
 
 Now, God hath an over-ruling hand in 
 
God is pcrfecl, 
 
 thefe,and therefore hce doth difappoint us, be 
 caufe wee are rcadie to give to the creature thar 
 which belongs to himfelfe ^ therefore, if thou 
 wouldeft have any thing to continue, depend up. 
 on him, becaufe all things elfe are fubjc<3 to va 
 nity, and he only gives being, and continuance to 
 them all* 
 
 The Attributes of God in general!. 
 
 NOw wee come to declare to you, how this 
 Ejfenet of GWismadeknowne. It is by his 
 ^Attributes ; and they are of two forts : 
 f i Either fuch as defcribe God in himfelfe. 
 2 Or elfe fuch as declare <7<?</asheeis to us 
 
 119 
 
 Other divifions there are, but this is the beft that 
 I can finde- becaufe it agrees with the fcope of all 
 the Scripture. 
 
 For the firft, thofe Attributes that fhew GWin 
 himfelfe, as when the Scripture faith, that God is 
 per/eft^ as. Be yee perfect, as I am perfect. So when 
 the Scripture faith, xh^zhec is unchangeable, aL 
 might ie, eternally thefe fhe w what he is in himfelfe : 
 then his other Attributes ftiew what he is to you, 
 as that he is mercifully patient , abundant in mercie 
 and truth, and that he is all-fufftciem to you, &c. 
 
 I 4 
 
 Tte .Attri- 
 butes of God, 
 are of two 
 forts. 
 
 The 
 
120 
 
 GodisperfeU 
 
 jlmperfe&ion 
 and perfc&ion 
 what. 
 
 Cod before all 
 things. 
 
 God is perfeSi, 
 
 "The first Attribute o/G o d. 
 
 Fir ft then, wee will take this out of the Text, I 
 A m bath fent me unto you. 
 That God isperfett • he hath all the kindes,de- 
 grees, and extents of being in him. There be di- 
 vers kindes of being in the world 3 fome have 
 more, fome leffe • fome have a more excellent 
 being, fome have a leffe excellent ; fome have a 
 larger being, fome a lellcr, and yet all arc in him \ 
 and this is his perfection . Imperfe&ion is a want 
 of fome being s Perfe&ion is to have all the de- 
 grees of being, that belong to a thing in his kind, 
 but all is in £W. 
 
 Now God is faid to be perfed : 
 
 Becaufe hce being before any thing was 5 
 therfore, he muft needs be full,\vithout than and 
 whatfoever they have, they receive it from him. 
 You fliall fee this in Aft. 17.25. Neither is he rvor- 
 fitpped with mens hands > as though hec needed any 
 thingy feeing hegiveth to all life and bre^tj y and all 
 things. He proves there, that God is perfed • be- 
 caufe he needs nothing, feeing hec gives to all life, 
 and breathy and allthings. That which is faid of 
 man, may be faid of every thing elfe^ What hall 
 thou, that thou hafl not received ? Therefore hec 
 that gives it, muft needs bee full of it. It is faid 
 that he made man after his owne Image ; and fo 
 he makes every thing elfe, he is the life of them 
 all. Now the (ampler and the life hath more in 
 
 ir. 
 
God is pcrfeB. 
 
 it, than the image ; and therefore the life, and fir ft 
 originall^the realty s and firft beginning muft needs 
 be pci fed in himfelfe. 
 
 There is none that can fet limits to God, that 
 can fet land-markes or bounds to hiscntiticor be- 
 ing. Every creature hath his feverall bounds and 
 limits, thus farrc (hall they goe, and no further ; 
 but who hath fet bounds to him * When he had 
 fet forth his EfTencein lfai./\o.\\c addes,Ttf whom 
 will you liken God t or what likenejfe will you com- 
 pare unto him ? 
 
 There be thefc differences betvvcene the perfe- 
 dion that is in God, and that which is in any crea- 
 ture: 
 
 All creatures have perfedion within their own 
 kindc only, and in fuch a degree • but he is limply 
 and abfolutely perfect, without all refped, with- 
 out all companion, he is a mighty fca of being, 
 wichout banke and bottomc ; 
 
 They have all fome imperfedion mingled 
 with it • as, take all the creatures,thc Angels- take 
 all the Saints, when they are in the higheft top, 
 and full of all their bleitedneflc, yet they have 
 fome imperfedion, as lob faith- hec hath charged 
 them with folly. 
 
 But you will fay ; they are perfed in their kind, 
 how then are they imperfed i 
 
 Thev have a negative imperfedion, though 
 not a privative^ they are not deprived of that 
 which fhould bee in them 5 yet there is a negative 
 imperfedion, that is, there be many pcrfedions, 
 which they have not 3 it cannot belaid of any 
 
 creature, 
 
 121 
 
 oW Without 
 limits. 
 
 Ifai.40, 
 
 Five 'differen- 
 ces bctweenc 
 the pdfe&ion 
 that is in God 
 and which is in 
 the creatures. 
 
 Gods\>ciU&i- 
 on is ablbjute. 
 
 2 
 Vnmixeda 
 
 Ob\cci. 
 Anfv. 
 
 Negative im- 
 psifedjon in 
 theiaints. 
 
12Z 
 
 ilohni. 
 
 Vncapable. 
 of fin and mi- 
 
 fciic, 
 
 4 
 
 SuLftantiall. 
 
 5 1 
 
 Without 
 want. 
 
 God is perfect, 
 
 creature, as, iloh.i. That in it there is light, and 
 there is no darkemffe at all: Of him only can it be 
 faid, there is no creature fo pei fed, but it hath 
 fome imperfedion. 
 
 The creature though it be perfed, yet i: is ca- 
 pable of finne and mifery , and it is in poffibilitic 
 to lofe that perfedion it is in • but God is not in 
 poflibility to lofe that perfedion he hath, neither 
 can he be capable of finne. 
 
 Take thebeft, and moft exquifitco eatures,the 
 Angells ; their perfedion is made up by fome 
 things, that are no fabftances, by circumftances, 
 which are not fubftances, which may befepara- 
 ted, (though they are not •) there is fomething in 
 them which is better, fomething which is worfe 5 
 a fubftance and an accident, and every accident is 
 feparable, it may bee loft- you fee the evill An- 
 gels, they fell, they loft that they had : but God 
 is a perfed fubftance, wholly fubftance- there is 
 nothing in him, by reafon of which it may bee 
 faid, there is fomething in him that is beft, fome- 
 thing that is worfe. 
 
 Though they have perfedion, yet they have 
 alwayes need of fomething j now God hath need 
 of nothing. The creatures though full of per- 
 fedion in their kinde, yet ftill they have excee- 
 ding great need of fomething. As you fay of a 
 river, you Will fey it hath need, though it be full, 
 it hath need of the fountainc to maintained fo 
 may I fay of the creatures, though they be foil of 
 perfedion in their kinde, yet they have need of 
 that fountaine, from whence their perfedion 
 
 cofnmetb. 
 
Godw perfeB. 
 
 I2 3 
 
 | commeth, which if it beftopr,they will come to 
 I nothing. 
 
 Thus Cod is infinitely perfe <5tand immenfe, Reafon. 
 having no limits: For all limits are cither from | 
 the matter or from the forme 5 the forme is limi- 
 ; ted, becaufe it wants matter to carry it to a fur- 
 ' thcr extent; and the matter is limited, becaufe it 
 • is bounded with fuch a forme- but in God there 
 is neither matter nor forme- as there is nothing 
 without him, fo there is nothing within him to 
 bound that largenefTe of him which he hath. 
 
 But now to apply this : 
 
 If Cod be thus full of being,as the fea is full of 
 water, and a thoufand times fuller 5 then all that 
 you can doe, reacheth not to him 5 Pfal.i6.$.It 
 extends not to bim^ the finnes that you commit 
 hurt him not- all the righteoufnefle you jrer- 
 foi me, doth not pleafurc or benefit him : and if it 
 be fo, thenconfider what little caufe you have to 
 murmure againft him at any time, upon any oc- 
 cafion. For all difcontentment among the crea- 
 tures comes from hence, that their expe&ation is 
 not fatisfied* and what is the reafon, why it is 
 not fatisfied < but becaufe they thinke that there 
 is iome reafon why they fhouldbeerefpe&cd. 
 Therefore examine your owne hearts, whether 
 there be not a fecret popery in your hearts, that 
 you think,that you can do fomthing that reacheth 
 to God, that he fliould refped you for : but if God 
 be thus full,thou canft doe nothing,that can reach 
 to him. But you (hall fee how prone men are to 
 this 5 are we not ready to fay ; Why am I not in . 
 
 fo* 
 
 Vfc 1. 
 
 Then all we 
 can doCj reach- 
 eth not to him, 
 to aerie any 
 thing. 
 Pfal.itf.4. 
 
 Difconrent- 
 ment whence 
 it is. . 
 
124 
 
 God is perfeft. 
 
 We muft be 
 content with 
 Gods dtfpofing 
 of us. 
 
 Simile, 
 
 Ffe 2. 
 
 fo great a place as another:' Why have not I 
 more gifts ^ Why have I not greater imploy- 
 ments * Why have I fnch imperFe&ions * Why 
 am I thus fubjeft to difcafes and croflesc W hence j 
 comes this c" Becaufe wcexpe&fomething; be- 
 canfe wee thinke we are not well dealt with • and i 
 why doe we thinke fo < becaufe men thinke, that 
 there is fomethinginthem, why they (hould be j 
 lookt after, they thinke that they have carried 
 themfelves fo, that they thinke there is fomething 
 , in juftice due to them. But if thou canft fay with 
 1 David, and lob, and as Christ faith to his 
 difciples- When you have done all, that you can, 
 fay that you are unprofitable ferv ants . W hat if God 
 will not have David to build a Temple, , but his 
 fonnemuft doe it < Or Mofis to lead the children 
 of Jfrael into the Land of Canaan, but Iojlma muft 
 have the glory of it * They muft be content -yet 
 they did more for God, than ever thou canft doe • 
 therefore thou muft labour to bee content alfo. 
 The creature doth but take of him whatfoever it 
 hath, and therefore it can give nothing to him • 
 and fhall the River bee beholding to him that 
 drinkes of it, becaufe hee comes and quencheth 
 his thirft i Or fhall the Sunne bee beholding to 
 hijn that hath the ufe of his light i When thou 
 haft done all that thou canft, fay thou art an un- 
 profitable fervant, thou canft doe nothing that 
 reacheth to God ; therefore labour to be vile, and 
 low in thine owne eyes, and willing to be difpo- 
 fed of, as it pleafcth him. 
 
 Againe, if this bee fo, then confider the fi ce- 
 
 nefle 
 
God is perfect. 
 
 ne/Tc of his grace, in all goodneffe which hec 
 I beftowes: for to have done any thing for a man 
 ' before-hand, doth lefien the benefit beftowed. 
 Now confider, that thou haft done nothingto 
 the Lord^ therefore labour to magnifie the Lord, 
 that hath beftowed it upon thee : For this caufe 
 the Lord will have juftification by faith, and not 
 by workes, that he might be magnified : And fo 
 he will have fanflification, not by the power of 
 free-will, but by the infufed grace of his Spi- 
 rit, that no flefh might boaft. It is the Lord that 
 is full, it is hee that gives it to thee,thou canft doe 
 nothing to him; itow.11.35, $6. Who hath firft 
 given to him, anditjhallberecompencedhim agame^ 
 for of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all 
 things, &c. As if he fhould fay, the Lord owt of 
 his free grace had fliewed mercy to the Ierves,(?ox 
 of them he there fpeakes) they were wet,like Gc- 
 deons fleece, when all the world was drie. After- 
 wards it pleafed him to bedew the Gentiles, when 
 the Ifraelttes were dry; wcll,hee hath done this, 
 fayes Paul, and what haft thou to fay to him t 
 Did he any wrong t Is hec not free * May not he 
 doe what he will 1 This is one life. Another is, 
 that you fhould bee content with his difpofing ; 
 he owes nothing to any ; for of him, and through 
 him, and for him are all things ; to him be glory for 
 ever ; <^Amen. 
 
 If hee be thus full, that the creature doth no- 
 thing to promeritathishand, then thou mayeft 
 goe to God, though thou haft no worth in thee; 
 though thou haft done little fervice to God, yet 
 
 goe 
 
 This perfecti- 
 on of his (hews 
 the frecnefTc 
 of bis grace 
 and goodnefle 
 in all he gives. 
 
 Rom. n.3^35 
 
 Vfe 3. 
 
 To goe to God 
 with faith, 
 though wee 
 have no worth 
 in us to move 
 him. 
 
126 
 
 Vfe 4. 
 
 God hath no 
 need of any 
 man or crea- 
 ture. 
 
 Go 
 
 D iS 
 
 perfeEi. 
 
 goe to him, and fay 5 Lord, I have done nothing . 
 jif I had done much, yet it would not reach to' 
 thee ; thou art full of perfection, and bleflcd for 
 ever: therefore a man may goe to him with great 
 faith, and aske great things of him, though he be 
 little worth, and hath done little fervice for him. 
 For, if thoudidft God any good, thou mighteft 
 goe to him and fay, I have done this and that for 
 thee., therefore recompence me. But feeing it is 
 not fo, therefore labour to goe to G o d in faith 
 and when thou goeft, rhinke with thy ielfe • why 
 may I not have it afwell as another? Doe not fay, 
 I am not fo holy, and I cannot doe as Paul and 
 Mofes, their workes did nothing to him. Thinke 
 with thy felfe,that when he full choofeth a man 
 he doth it freely 5 and thinkeft thou that he is not 
 the fame afterwards? Therefore, now thou 
 mayeft go to him on this ground with boldnefie, 
 becaufe whatfoever thou doeft it is nothing to 
 him. 
 
 Moreover, if the Lordbe thus full in himfelfe, 
 then he hath need of nothing. He therefore faith 
 to all the men in the world and to all things -he 
 faith to Princes, I have no need of you • to rich 
 men, I have no need of you, or of your wealth . 
 he faith to Schollers, that have excellent parts, I 
 have no need-of you : therefore fay not, I am un- 
 done, or the Churches are undone, becaufe Prin- 
 ces are not for you $ becaufe men helpe you not, 
 for God can helpe them alone • hee doth not need 
 Princes: When there was none, faith the Lor b, 
 Jjlirredupmy felfe like a might ie Giant, hee needs 
 
 no 
 
Godw perfect. 
 
 no hclpe, he is mod per fed, full of being, able to 
 doe wbatfoevcrhepleafcth. 
 
 Againc, confider with thy felfe, thatifthou- 
 fand thoulands perifh , it is nothing to him ; hec 
 cares no more for the deftrudion of the whole 
 world, than thou doeft for the throwing away of 
 a little duft 5 he is full of cxcellencie and perfecti- 
 on ; you fee how often heefwecpes away whole 
 
 kingdomes with the bcfomc of dcftru&ion. 
 
 nay. 
 
 117 
 
 he 1 wept away the whole world by the Floud, as 
 you doe fweepc a little duft out of yourhoufes. 
 Therefore do not thou difpute with GW,andaske 
 why are fo many damned? why are fo many 
 fvvept away 1 thinke with thy fclfc, that hee, that 
 was before all things wcrc,willbe when they are 
 gone : therefore lcarne with Paul,to reverence his 
 judgements, to feare and tremble before him. He 
 is full of being, and though thou perifb, what is 
 that to him i W ilt thou difpute with God ? thou 
 art but a particle of duft. What art thou that con- 
 tended with him < let the Pot (heard ftrive with 
 potflieards of the earth, but not with God. Shall 
 the clay fay to him that fafhions it, what makeft 
 thou i 
 
 Againc, if Goaf be thus full, then confider why 
 hce hath laid fuch a commandement on thec, to 
 doe fuch and fuch things. Is it for himfelfe i no, 
 for thy righteoufneffc, thy keeping of his Law 
 rcacheth not to him . What is it foiy hen t Sure- 
 ly it is for thy felfe, and for thy good. If for thec 
 he hath commanded, and every commandement 
 is for thy wealth 3 then confider what reafon 
 
 thou 
 
 Vfe 5. 
 
 That many 
 perifh is no- 
 thing to him 
 
 Vfe 6. 
 
 His CoiTirnan- 
 dements arc 
 for thy good. 
 
iz8 
 
 God is perfett. 
 
 Deut.6.44. 
 
 thcu haft to walkc in his waics ; he faith,as kindc 
 parents to their children,when they exhort them j 
 to good courfes 5 it will bee for your owne good ; \ 
 and if you doe it not, it will bee for your hurt : as 
 it is faid of the Sabbath, It has made for man, and \ 
 not man for the Sabbath ; that is, CWappointed the j 
 Sabbath for mans advantage, he would be undone 
 clfc; he would grow wild, and forget God: and 
 as it is faid of the Sabbath, fo it is true of every 
 Commandement • therefore that is put to every 
 Commandement • The Commandement, which I 
 command you for your wealth, Deut. 6.24. that is, 
 when ever I command you any thing,it is not for 
 mine owne fake, not, that I might be ferved and 
 worfhipped,(though that is joyned with it)but it 
 is for your profit, whatfoever I command. This 
 then fhould ftirre us up to goe about holy duties 
 willingly ,after another manner than we doe. No 
 man will ferve himfelfe unwillingly, (though, it 
 may be, he will other men.) Now,allthe Com- 
 mandements of God doe tend to our owne ad- 
 vantage : for to that end hath he appointed them. 
 Keepe the Commandements, and live in them : you 
 live in them , as fire doth by wood, and the crea- 
 tures by their food. If a man did confiderthis 
 hce would doe this in another manner; wee goe 
 about our owne bufinefle with intention, becaufe 
 it is our owne; fo if wee were perfwaded, that 
 what G o d did command, it were for our owne 
 good, you would doe it with all diligence; you 
 would not only goe , but runne the wayes of his 
 Commandements ; you would not only take hea- 
 ven, 
 
Go 
 
 D U 
 
 perfeft. 
 
 129 
 
 ven, but you would take tn with vtclcnce, and with 
 all your might and fl#ength, you would do what- 
 foever he commands/or it is for your owne pro- 
 fit, and not for his. 
 
 If Godbc thus ful,thcn you fliould give him the 
 praife of hisperfe&ion, and (lay your thoughts 
 upon him. It as a thing that we come fhort of, for 
 themoft part, for we are ready to as ke, what is 
 God to use' what profit, what good is it to us? 
 (for that is the bafe nature of ours:) but grace 
 teacheth us otherwifc , wee mud learne to know 
 God, to honour and magnifie him in our thoughts 
 for himfelfe. Some men have a greater know- 
 ledge of God, fomeleffe; he that hath more, he 
 is able to fet him up higher in his apprehenfion, 
 and to give him the more praife, PfaL 68.1. Ex- 
 alt him in his name I a h • that is, confider that he 
 alone is ful of being,and gives being to all things, 
 therefore(faith he) praife him, and extoll him for 
 this, and let your thoughts be upon him . 
 
 But muft it be a bare and empty thought of 
 him onely { 
 
 No,you (hall know it by thefe fourc things,if 
 you thinke aright of God indeed : 
 
 Thou wilt eftecme his enmitieand friendfliip 
 above all things- thou wilt not regardthe crea- 
 tures at all, either in the good, or hurt that they 
 can doe thee: ifthoucanft fee the fulnefie of be- 
 ing that is in him, and the emptineiTe that is in 
 every creature 5 then,ifhebethyfriend,heisall 
 in all to thee ; and if he be thine encmie,thou wilt 
 confider that hee that is full of all ftrength, and 
 
 K power 
 
 rfi 7 . 
 
 To praife Cod 
 fov hiaifcifc, 
 give bim the 
 honour ot his 
 perfection* 
 
 Pfa!.*8. 1. 
 
 SSfft* 
 
 Anfrv* 
 
 Fourefjgnesof 
 entitling Cods 
 pcrfedicn, 
 
God^ perfeEl. 
 
 Dcut. i8« 
 
 Nahum I. 
 
 Signd 
 
 power,andbeing,that he is thine encmie,and that 
 | his enmity is heavy, for \^ which is, is againft J 
 ! thee. If the creature be let againft thee, it is but as I 
 | a little clay or duft, they cannot hurt thee,unleffe 
 his arme goe along with it • and then it is not that \ 
 creature, but his arme that doth it : As when they 
 came to take Chrijt, it is faid, hee faffed thorow the 
 midfl of thew^ they were to him as a little ditft, 
 and as the armie that came againft David, It/hut,. ' 
 J and Eli fha, they were to them as a little water 3 
 but when God comes againft a man, then every 
 little thing, if he pleafeth to extend and joyne his 
 power, he is able therewith to quell the ftrongeft 
 man . Then, one man fiall chafe a thoufand, and &. 
 thoufand flail pit ten thonfand to flight, Deut. % 2$. 
 He is a mighty river, that caries all before it, 
 Nahum 1 . Therefore regard the enmity of the 
 creature, as fmall things, his enmity is only to be 
 refpe&ed. 
 
 If thou thinkeft of him thus, then thou wilt be 
 fatisfied with him- forthou haft him that is, and 
 thou wanteft only the thing that is not«and there- 
 fore thou muft fay, when thou haft loft any 
 thing, I have loft that which is nothing ; when 
 thou haft gained any thing, fay, that thou haft 
 gotten that which is nothing: it is a hard thing to 
 fay fo, but yet it is fo ; as it is faid of riches in the 
 Prov.13.5So it is true of honour, pleafure, pro- 
 fit,^. Indeed riches to men are their fubftanec- 
 fo they call them, but to GWthey are nothing, 
 andfohe cals thcm:riches 5 honour,&c.they have 
 but a little diminutive being, as if they were no- 
 thing. 
 
God is perfect. 
 
 thing. And they are nothing in two refpe&s : 
 
 i In companion of <W,thcy are nothing. 
 
 2 Becaufe they are able to doe nothing. 
 
 So other com par ifons argue, as that they are 
 flowers, and falfe treafures, and fhadowes : now 
 doth any man grieve, if his fhaddowdoth difap- 
 peare- or that he hath loft a flower. Therefore 
 learne to magnifie God$oi he is all ; thou wanteft 
 nothing > if thou haft him • he is all in heaven, and 
 why fhould hee not be fo here i Becaufe when 
 Peter laid they had left all ; Chrtfi tels them 
 they fhould have an hundred fold^and why i be- 
 caufe they had a full communion with God • and 
 therefor^, they had all the comfort that friends 
 or lands, could afford 5 hee was in ftead of all to 
 them, as Paul, when hee w r as in prifon, was not 
 GWall to him * and what need had he of riches, 
 or lands, or friends i for friends are but'to com 
 fort a man • and money, it can doe no more than, 
 man can doe • and praife, and honour doe but 
 knit mens hearts to us 5 now if we have the light 
 of Gods countenance, we need not mans helpe ; if 
 God will put forth his power for us, what need 
 we any thing elfe * if he will heale us,what needs 
 the Phyfitianc ifheewillcloathus, and give us 
 meat and drinke, then what needs wealth * 
 
 Therefore labour to be fatisfied with 
 
 him, to prize and efteeme him, 
 
 and to thinke him to be 
 
 all in all. 
 
 K 2 
 
 THE 
 
-" 
 
m 
 
 THE 
 
 EIGHTH 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 Exodvs. 3.13,14, 15. 
 
 13 jin d Mojesfaid unto God; (Behold^hen 
 I come unto the children oflfrael^ndjJmll 
 
 fay unto them . T7;e God of your Bathers 
 hath fent me unto you, and they fhallfay 
 unto mee, Wliat is his TSlame ? ffrhatfhall 
 I fay unto them ? 
 
 14 And God faid unto Mofes, I Am 
 thatIAm. Jndhe [aid, Tl?usjhalt 
 thou fay unto the children oflfrael; 1 Am 
 hath fent me unto you. 
 
 15 And God faid moreover unto Mofes, 
 
 ________ K \ ^ m 
 
! J4 
 
 God is perfeSl. 
 
 Tims jh alt thoujsy unto the children of If- 
 rael; The LoudGod of your Fa- 
 thers, the God of Abraham, the God 
 ofJfaac, and the God oflacob hathfent j 
 me unto you : this is my 2s[ame for e^er, \ 
 and this is my memorial I unto all genera- ! 
 tions. I 
 
 3 
 
 Signc. 
 
 Aholymagnr; 
 nimitie in en- 
 joying God, 
 
 Falfe magnam» 
 otitic* 
 
 Onfider, whether your minds ga- 
 ther an holy magnanimitie even 
 from hence, that you have the Lord 
 for your God: for,if he be moft per- 
 fect, if hee hath the fulnefleof all 
 things in him ; then if you have him, the miade is 
 ready to grow to an holy kind of grcatneiTe^ for 
 it is the greatneffe of the objed, that makes the 
 minde great : and the greatnelTe of the minde ap- 
 pears in this,that it doth not efleeme final things. 
 K^Animo magno nihil eft magnum-^ When a man 
 can, out of this confederation, that the Lord 
 is my Sunne, andjhield, and exceeding great reward, 
 contemne and reckon all things elfe as matters of 
 fmall moment • it is an argument that he hath, in 
 truth, apprehended God, as hee ought to appre- 
 hend him . I fay, this is true holy magnanimity : 
 there is a falfe magnanimity 5 when as mens 
 mindes are great, becaufe they grow great with 
 men,becaufe of their great hopes,and riches ,and 
 great learning • this is a falfe greatnefle,bccaufe it 
 drawes men from God- it isfuch a greatnelTe as 
 
 the! 
 
God is perfeSi. 
 
 35 
 
 the arme hath, whenitisfwellcd, which rifeth \ 
 not from the ftrength and truegreatneficof it., 
 but from the weakncfle of it. This is of an ill 
 kinde- but there is another kinde of grcatncfTe, 
 when the minde growes therefore to an holy 
 magnanimity ,becaufc it is fct upon the great God; 
 as David, he had fuch a magnanimity 3 PfhL 27. 
 1.3. The Lord is my light, and my falvation, 
 whomfljalll feare? The Lord tithe flrcngth of 
 my life, of whom fl) all I be afraid '? Though an ho ft 
 of men flwuldincampe again f mee, my heart flwuld 
 not fear e, &c. 
 
 If there bee any thing in this w or Id to bee re- 
 garded, it is an hoft of men ; becaufe it is the 
 powerfulleft thing amongftmen ; but I will not 
 regard it. Why? not becaufe hee wasftron- 
 ger than they, but becaufe God was his life and 
 ftrength; when his minde raifedupitfelfe to 
 fuch agreatneffe,uponthisconfideration,thcn he 
 was abletocontemnethcfe things,, that were to 
 be contemned. Such was thegreatnefle of minde, 
 which was found in Mofes, Hebr. 1 1 . he cared not 
 for the favour, or disfavour of the King, becaufe 
 heefaw,tn joyed, and bore himfelfe upon him, who 
 was invifible. 
 
 Confider, whether you exalt him as Cod, you 
 fhall know it by this, by feeking to him to fill up 
 all thofc defe&s and imperfe&ions, that we meet 
 with in our lives, from day to day. Beloved, 
 there are many things that we want; as if we lofe 
 a friend, we complaineof a want; if we lofe fa- 
 ther or mother, it is a want • yea, if we lofe no- 
 
 K 4 thing, \ 
 
 Trucmagna- 
 nimitic. 
 
 Hebr.11, 
 
 4 
 
 Signe. 
 
 Exiltirg him 
 as Cod. 
 
l,tf 
 
 coioir.j. 
 
 objetl. 
 Anfw. 
 
 lfai.55 a. 
 
 How ro know 
 whether we 
 fecke to Gsd. 
 
 God tV perfeft. 
 
 thing, yet wc find many defers which we would 
 have made up : now, what is the way to doe it i 
 If thou thinkeft to make them up by the creature, 
 thou wilt finde it to bee but a fmall bufh that will 
 not flop the gap; but if thou goeft to him that is 
 all in all, Colof.3. ifthoufeekeft to make it up in 
 him, when any thing is loft: when the bucket is 
 broken,if thou goeft to the fountaine ; if a beame 
 bee cut off that was given and (hined thorow the 
 creature, if thou goelt to the Sunne,that can give 
 the like beame thorow another creature ; if thou 
 feekeft to have communion with him, then it is 
 that thou efteemeft him as thou 
 
 an 
 
 argument 
 
 oughteft to doc. 
 
 Every man will fay • I fceketo the Lord, I 
 looke for all my comfort from him 
 
 Yea, but how doeft thou beftow thy labour t 
 Ifai .55.2 Wherefore doe yon ft end wonyfor that, 
 which is not bread ? and your labour for that, which 
 fatisfieth not? hearken diligently untomee, and eat 
 that which is good, and let your fouU delight it felfe in 
 fatneffe. Let a man confider in this cafe, how he 
 beftoweth his paines : if hee thinke to have all in 
 God, he will fave his paines, and not lay it out up- 
 on vanitic,buthe will beftow it to fome purpole- 
 that is, hee will take much paines to feeke his fa- 
 vour in all things,and looke to him for a fupply of 
 all, and not to the creatures, becaufe they can doc 
 but little, they have no power,no ftrcngth to doe 
 anything, they are of no moment; but if God be 
 pleafed to make up the defe&,then if he have but 
 little wealth, he will make it to ferve his turne ; if 
 
 he 
 
God « perfeB. 
 
 IV 
 
 he have but one friend, ir fhall be to him, as if he 
 had many; if he have but a little credit^it fhall be 
 to him,as it he had a great name,&c. all things elfe 
 will be but of a little bulkc without him. 
 
 But the creatures arc of great moment, expe- 
 rience fliewes them to bee fomcthing : for, w 7 ho 
 lives without them < Apaine, are not w r ec com- 
 manded to pray for outward bleflings i and wee 
 are not to pray for that which is nothing. Again, 
 doth not the Scripture reckon them fo r they are 
 things for which wee mutt be thankefull, and the 
 w r ant of them doth afflift us,and we muft efteemc 
 it as achaftifement. Now, no man will be thank - 
 full, or afflid himfelfe for that which is nothing 
 and therefore there is fomething in the creature, 
 they are not altogether nothing or vaniric. 
 To this we will give a threefold anfwer : 
 Though they be fomcthing 5 yet their efficacy 
 is not from themfelves, but from the Lord. An 
 horfi is able to doe fomcthing, but to lave a man, 
 it is a vaim thing • the builder builds, but it is no- 
 thing, and the watch-men watch in vaine, with- 
 out the Lord-j thcefficacie that they have to do us 
 hurt: or good, is from him, and not from them- 
 felves: If God will fay to the creature; Goe, and 
 do: fuch a man good, it will doe it, becaufe there 
 
 goes a concourfe of efficacie from him to doe 
 So, if hce fay to a creature, Goe to fuch a man, 
 andaffli&him, it will doe it, though it bee never 
 lo fmall and meane a creature »t her fore <- £ them- 
 felves they neither doe good nor htttfc, the rf&su 
 cie that they have is from him, aftd net from 
 
 them- 
 
 Object. 
 
 Th;t the crea- 
 tures ia them, 
 lekcs arc of 
 no mcroentto 
 us,are nothing 
 in three re- 
 fpctfs. 
 
 Anfiv. i. 
 
 Their efficacie 
 is from God. 
 
i ? 8 
 
 God isperfeB. 
 
 Anjw.2. 
 
 Thtyareat 
 his comn and. 
 
 proy 23. 
 
 Simile, 
 
 Anfw. 3. 
 
 They can doe 
 little good ac 
 beftj and that 
 which they doc 
 is of no conti- 
 nuance. 
 
 thcmfelves.: they arc mccre inftrumentS; and if 
 God withdraw his blcfllngand curlings they can 
 doe us neither good nor hurt. 
 
 We fay that they are nothing,becaufe they are 
 at his command . if he would doe us good, hee 
 never wants one to fend of his errand • if he will 
 make a man rich, he wants not wealth, it is at his 
 command 3 if he will give amanfriends,, hee can 
 fetch them againe • if all thy friends hee prefent, 
 yet they ftirre not, unlcfle he command . The rich 
 and the pore, they meet together, hut the Lor d 
 makes them both. And in this regard, riches are \ 
 laid to be nothing, Prov.23. Riches take to them- \ 
 [elves wings, and fly away 3 And, why doe ft thou fit \ 
 thy heart upon that which is nothing ? That is,thcy 
 goe and come at his command- and therefore they 
 are to bee counted as nothing. If a man fee a 
 flocke of the beft fowle on his land, yet he looks 
 upon them as nothing to him, becaufe they have 
 wings and will fly away- and you fhouldthinkc 
 fo of all things elfe 5 that they have wings, that 
 they goe and come at his command,that they are 
 nothing, becaufe they arc nothing to you. 
 
 They are nothing, becaufe as they can doe but 
 little good ; fo that which they doe, is of no con- 
 tinuance • and therefore they are faid to bee vani- 
 tie. So that put the cafe that they have fome effi- 
 cacie in them, (when yet they are adted by the 
 Lord 3 ) yea, put the cafe that they were at their 
 owne command (as they were not) yet they can 
 doe but little good, and that is of fo fhort conti- 
 nuance, that thereiore they are vanity, they are 
 
 nothing. 
 
God is perfett, 
 
 nothing ; becaufe they are little more than no- 
 thing; as Salomon calleth them; all things under 
 the Sttnne are vanities they are emptie things ; and 
 that which is under the Sun cannot reach above 
 the Sunne 3 and therefore they are laid to bee va- 
 nitie. 
 
 But if you fay that they are great things, and 
 therefore you fee how the Prophets did magni- 
 fie them, and did fet forth the greatnefle of affli- 
 ctions in the want of them. 
 
 Ianfwer, that they are of ufe indeed, in re- 
 gard of the weakeneffe of the creature, and the 
 continuance of this life; but if they be compared 
 toeternitie, they are nothing; andagaine, if the 
 Lord be with us in the want of them,they are no- 
 thing ; if the Lord lend us affli&ions, and give us 
 his favour and the light of his countenance, all is 
 nothing • if he fend us into prifon, if hee be with 
 
 us,it will be nothing : As,on the contrary ,if 
 a man had a brave Palace, and Cod was 
 not with him,if he did withdraw 
 his favour from him, ic 
 
 were nothing, 
 
 c 
 
 ' - ■ _! • 
 
 1h 
 
 l l9 
 
 object. 
 
 Anfrv. 
 
140 
 
 The Ti-tord 
 Attribute ut 
 
 God. 
 
 GOP« the 
 fir fi without rtl 
 canfe* 
 Rcv.«8'. 
 
 God without all Caufes, 
 
 Rev-3.14- 
 
 Ifai.44 ^« 
 
 RomJi.36. 
 
 Reafin 1 
 
 Elfcforac thing 
 {houldbc be- 
 iose the Lord* 
 
 fficfecond Attribute^ God. 
 
 THc next Attribute, which likcwifc may bee I 
 drawnc from this place, is this : 
 That God is the fv ft without all c ah fes, having 
 his bcmg,and beginning from himfelfe. This I finde 
 fet dovvne in Rev. 1.8. /4/// Alpha and O- 
 m ega, the beginning and the ending, faith the 
 Lord, which is, which was, and which is to come, 
 tire Almightk ; that is, what Alpha and Omega arc 
 in the letters, tfeat I am to the creatures ; 1 am the 
 firft, and the laft; that is, if T fhould fuffer the 
 creatures to fall, then I fhould be the laft, and I 
 am He they would returneunto,/?*^. 14.(^7/?, 
 according to his God-head,is laid tobethe begin- 
 ningof the creation of G o d, //S/.44. 6. 1 am the 
 fir ft, and laft : The meaning of it is,thathceis 
 without all caufes, that he is from himfelfe, and by 
 himfelfe y and of himfelfe, and for himfelfe, Rom. 
 11.36. that is, hce is the firft, hee never had any 
 efficient caufe, as all the creatures have • that 
 which hath no efficient caufe, hath no end - that 
 which hath no end,hath no forme;(for the forme 
 doth but ferve to carry a thing to fuch an end) 
 that which hath no forme, hath no matter, for 
 the matter is dependent on the forme ; and fo con- 
 fequently, he is without all caufe. But wee will 
 fhew you the grounds of this, they are thefe 
 three: 
 
 He is without all caufe : for, if there were any 
 
 caufe of him, that caufe mutt needs bee caufed, 
 
 I cither 
 
God Tbi thout all Caufes, 
 
 141 
 
 either from fome other,or from it fclfe,not from 
 any other 3 for then there fliould be iomething 
 that is before the Lord,that is better than he,from | 
 whom he receives all things ; but that cannot be: 
 for, then it fliould be Cod, and nqt the Lord^ and 
 it is not from it felfe, becaufe nothing is the caufe 
 of it felfe, for then it fhould be before it felfe,and 
 it fliould bee better than it felfe; for the caufe, 
 though it give the fame that is in it felfe , to the 
 effeft, as the father to the fonne • yet the caufe is 
 better, becaufe that which gives , is better than 
 that which receives. 
 
 Againe, it fliould be different from k felfe,for 
 the caufe is different from theeffeft : therefore it 
 muft needs bc,that he is without all caufe,and the 
 firft, and the beginning of all the creatures of I 
 God. 
 
 Wherefoever you fee any thing,that hath but 
 a part of another , it muft needs receive it from 
 fome whole 5 and if it doth receive it from that 
 which is but a part 5 yet by degrees it muft come 
 to fome whole 3 as to the fountaine • as for exam- 
 ple, if iron or wood be on fire,&c.they have but 
 a part of that element, which argues that there is 
 fome whole. 
 
 But it maybefaid, it hath that part of it felfe 
 originally. 
 
 That cannot bej becaufe whatfoever hath any 
 thing originally, muft have the whole, and not a 
 part • as the Sunne,bccaufe it hath the light origi- 
 nally ^therefore it hath not a part, but the whole, 
 though afterward it gives light to many- foa 
 
 fountaine^ 
 
 Rpafoni 
 
 Objetf. 
 
 Aw(h 
 
 n\ 
 
14* 
 
 RcafdH.^. 
 
 God without all Qaujes. 
 
 fountaine, that hath water originally, hath not 
 the part, but the whole, though afterwards it 
 runnes into many brookes ^ and if there were but 
 one fountaine, as there is but one Sunne, then all 
 the water would be in that fountaine, as the light 
 is in the Sunne. 
 
 Now to apply this, looke upon all thecrea- 
 tures,and you fhal find that they have all but part 
 of being; the Angels have one part,men another, 
 and other creatures another part,&c. which is an 
 argument that there is a whole, which is G o d 
 blejfcd for ever. 
 
 Befides,it argues that he hath that wholnefle 
 of being from himfelfe^ for he that hath but part 
 of a thing, both borrow it, and therefore mu(t 
 com e to theoriginall 5 for nothing is borrowed 
 but it isfrom another ,and not from it felfe ; ther- 
 fore,feeing the creatures have .but a part of being, 
 it pre iuppofeth that there is a whole,that therels 
 an immenfe being, that is of himfelfe, and from 
 himfelfe, and hath it not from any creature. 
 
 Laftly,there is nothing that the eye hath Cccnc y 
 or that the eare hath heard, but it is poflible not 
 to be ^ there is almoft nothing but is fubjeft to 
 corruption 5 but if it benotfo, yet th'cy have a 
 poflibility not to be • as the heavens,though they 
 arenotco r rupted, yet they may be : nowwhat- 
 foever ha l ha poflibility not to be, itiscertaine 
 that it was nor, & that which was not,is brought 
 to a being by h*m that is, fo that you muft come 
 to fomething which is > that is the caufe, that is 
 the beginning and ending, that is without caufe, 
 
 that 
 
God without all Qanfes, 
 
 that is * and » , he that was, and that is to come. 
 
 Now we come to application. 
 
 If the Lord be without all caufe, this we may 
 gather then, that he doth not will any thing, be- 
 caufe it is juft, ordefircit, becaufe it is good, or 
 love any thing, becaufe it is pleafant ; for their is 
 no caufe without him,all perfe<5Uonis in him ori- 
 ginally. 
 
 The creatures indeed defire things,becaufethey 
 aicgood^ and love them, becaufe they are plea- 
 fant 5 becaufe they feeke for perfe&ion out of 
 themfelves, becaufe they are caufed by that 
 which is out of themfelves : but this is not fo in 
 God, who isthe firft caufe, becaufe, of the firft 
 caufe there is no caufe s and of the firft reafon 
 there is no reafon to be given. Looke whatfoever 
 is in the creature, whatjufticeorexcellencie,it 
 comes from God • and if he fhould will any thing 
 for this caufe 5 becaufe it is good, there fhould be 
 a reciprocation, which is iinpoffible. I fpeakc 
 this for this end • that in our judging of the waies 
 of God, w r ee fhould take heed of framing a mo- 
 dell of our ownc, as to thinke, becaufe fuch a 
 thing is juft • therefore the Lord wils it: the rea- 
 fon of this conceit is, becaufe we thinke that God 
 muft goe by our rule • we forget this, that every 
 thing is juft becaufe he wils it ; it is not that God 
 wils it, becaufe it is good or juft. But we fhould 
 proceed, after another manner, wee fhould finde 
 out what the will of God is ; for in that is the rule 
 of juftice and equity • for otherwife it was poffi- 
 ble that the Lord could er re, though he did never 
 
 crre 
 
 141 
 
 Vft 
 
 u 1. 
 
 G 0</ therefore 
 wils not things 
 becaufe they 
 arc juft j but 
 they are juft 
 becaufe he wils 
 them. 
 
144 
 
 Vfe 2. 
 
 God may doe 
 all things for 
 himfelfe, and 
 his ovrne glory 
 
 God without all Qaujes. 
 
 erre : that which goes by a rule, though it doth 
 not fwarve, yet it may; but if it be the rule it 
 felfe, it is impoliible to erre. As, if the Carpen- 
 ters hand be the rule, he (hikes a right line. The 
 Angells and creatures have a rule, and therefore 
 may erre • but it is not fo with God, and therefore 
 what God wills is juft,be caufe he is the rule it fdfe 5 
 therefore in th&fnyfteries of predeftmation, wee 
 are to fay thus with our felves . Thus I findethe 
 Lord hath fet it downe, thus he hath expreffed 
 himfelfe in his Word, fuch is his pleafure • and 
 thcrfore it is reafon, and juft fuch againft which 
 there can be no exception. 
 
 If GWbe without all caufe, when he may doe 
 all things for himfelfe, and for his owne glory • 
 becaufe he that hath no caufe above, or without' 
 himfclfe,he needs not/doe any thing but for him- 
 felfe. The Angells,they have a caufe above,and 
 without themfelves, therefore they muft doe 
 nothing for themfelves, but for another, Rom. 
 ii. laft, Of him are all things^ therefore to him be 
 glory : that place (hewes us a ground of this,why 
 wee muft not expeft, that God fhould doe any 
 thing for any other end,for any other creature in 
 the world; for having no end above himfelfe, it 
 is impoflible that he fhould have any end but him- 
 felfe, Prdv.16.4. The Lor d hath made a// 
 things for himfelfe -^yea, even the rvi eked for the day 
 ofevill. Whereas this objection might be made s 
 Will he caft men to hell < will hcedamnethem 
 for his owne glory < Yes (faith hee) all his ani- 
 ons even that alfo is for his own fake s Kom.9.22 . 
 
 there 
 
f 
 
 God TfritbeHtall Qaufes. 
 
 145 
 
 there it is more large : What tf God willing to 
 jhew his wrath, And to make his power knowne, endu- 
 red with much long-fuffermg the vejfels of wrath fil- 
 led to deft ruction ? Sec. This is enough,he hath no 
 end, no caufe above himfelfe • and therefore it is 
 reafon enough, he doth it becaufe he will doe it. 
 And this is a thing to be obferved out of the 19, 1 
 and 20. verfes, where the fame reafon is given 
 thatwenowfpeakeof,*^/^/^ &c. faith the 
 Apoftle, if youlooke on God, and the creatures, 
 you fliall finde this difference bet weene them 5 all 
 the creatures are made, as pots are made by the 
 potters • and therefore, *s they have an author of 
 their being, fo they doe ferve for another end ^ fo 
 that the potter he may appoint what end hee will, 
 and no man can fay, why doeft thou it < So God, 
 becaufe hee is the firft caufe, hee may have what 
 end he will, and no man can fay, why docft thou 
 fo i hee may make fome veflels of honour, and 
 fome of diflionour, and all for himfelfe, and his 
 owne glory : therefore, when you fee that he did 
 notfparethe Angels, but caftthemdownc into 
 hell, there to be referved in chaines of darknefle 
 till the laft day 5 when you fee him not fparing 
 the old world, when you fee him fuffering the 
 Gentiles to vvalke in their owne wayesjwhen you 
 fee him to fuffer a great part of the world to Le 
 damned, and to perifli • when you fee him let the 
 Churches to be made havocke of, you fhould be 
 ready to fay thus 3 T0 him be glory for ever : that is, 
 you fhould not munmire againlt him, bur glori- 
 fie him, and reverence him for ever : for he may 
 
 L doc 
 
1- 
 
 146 
 
 God without all Caufes. 
 
 Matth.ao.i j, 
 
 1$. 
 
 ^3- , 
 
 Wc fliould 00 
 nothing for 
 our owne ends 
 but for God. 
 
 doe all things for himlclfe. And this is the reafbn 
 that is rendred, Mattb.20.1^16. May not I doe 
 what I will with mint owne f He gives it there as 
 the reaibn, why many are called and few chofen, 
 why the lewes were firft, and the Gentiles laft : 
 why he lets goe many probable men, and choo- 
 fetn the worft ; faith he, May not I doe with mine 
 owne what I will I Beloved,this difference is to be 
 obferved betweene the creatures and God : there 
 is no creature can lay of any thing, that this is 
 mine owne, becaufe he made it not, they are not 
 the mafters of them • but God may doe what hec 
 1 will, what he pleafeth,becaufe they are his owne. 
 If God will take a few out of a Nation, and de- 
 ftroy all the reft,who can fay any thing to him * 
 they are his owne • as he is without all caufc fo 
 he is without all end. Now, as this is of life to 
 juftifieG^, in that it is his property to be with- 
 out all caufe ^ fo it may teach us • 
 
 That man may not doe any thing for his owne 
 end, but he is bound to doe all for an higher end, 
 as hee that made us hath appointed, for the effi- 
 cient can make a thing to what end he pleafe. You 
 fee it is fo with men, as a knife is made to cut, a 
 key to open, &c. and yet they are all of one ma- 
 teriall : 10 the Z^looking downe from heaven, 
 he made of one heape of clay fevcrall creatures, 
 and appointed to every one his feveral end,which 
 end they muft obferve and aime at • and if they 
 doe not, they wrong him that made them • and 
 therefore it is hee deftroyes them. And fo it is 
 with every thing that is made for an end • as fire, 
 
 that 
 
God without all Caufes, 
 
 H7 
 
 that is made to warme a man, if it doeburne the 
 houfe,we put it out ; a veffcll that is made to keep 
 wine or bcare, if it doe corrupt it, we lay it afide, 
 and put it into one more wholefome : fo doth 
 God, he puts to every man his feverall end, and 
 therefore he gives them feverall gifcs,and feverall 
 callings : himfelfe, indeed, is the generall end,but 
 
 Ibefides the generall, he appoints to every calling 
 a particular end • to a Minifter he faith, Goe,and 
 feed my fheepe 5 if he goes, and feeds himfelfe, 
 and not the people ; it he feed them with ftubble, 
 and not with hay, hee doth not attaine his end • 
 and fo may I fay of every thing elfe j of a Ichol- 
 ler, aMagiftratc, a husband; they have feverall 
 places, and divers gifts given them, and all for 
 their feverall end, and if they aime not at their 
 end, but worke for themfelves, they are worthy 
 to be deftroyed : as a man, if hee hath an inftru- 
 ment that is crooked, and unfit for ufe, then hee 
 cafts it away, and taketh another ; but if it be fit, 
 he will lay it up for ufe, and he will fay, let it not 
 be loft: fo doth the Lord with men, if they be 
 pliable to him, if they will worke for the end 
 that he hath appointed them, then he faves and 
 preferves them • but if they will doe things for 
 their owrie end, it is the next way to deftru&ion. 
 For obferve this ; for any man to do any thing 
 for his owne end, is to arrogate that to himfelfe, 
 which is the Lords, who is without caufe, which 
 is an high kindc of idolatry. Let them confidcr 
 this therefore, that labour that they may be rich, 
 that labour that they might have outward excel- 
 
 L 2 lencie, 
 
L'4* i 
 
 God without all Caujes. 
 
 Objeti. 
 Anfiv. 
 
 Signcs, where- 
 by a man 
 may know 
 whether bee 
 maketh God 
 or himfelfe his 
 end. 
 
 I 
 
 jlencie, and to befomethingmtheflefh, that la- 
 bour only for outward honour, for places of im- 
 ploy ment, and credit in all things s fo a fcholler 
 that is negligent, he faith, I fhall make a fliift to 
 live • but haft thou not another end ? art thou not 
 made? art thou not a creature i is it enough for 
 thee to live,and no more i fo they that have their 
 eftates provided for them, they care not for lear- 
 ning, they fay, they can live without it; but art 
 not thou made ? and is not this thine end,to fer ve 
 Godmd men i So he that /hall choofe a calling or 
 courfe of life, according to his owne fancie,"not 
 that which fhall be ferviceable to men, but that 
 which pleafeth himfelfe, let him aske himfelfe 
 this queftion • Am I not made? Am I not a crea- 
 ture i have I no other end, but my felfe 1 There- 
 fore let men confider this, and looke to it • have 
 I not chofen this courfe of life, and have I not an 
 end appointed to me i That end is to be fervice- 
 able to God \ and profit men: But if a man fhall 
 thinke with himfelfe,what is the beft way to live 
 and provide for my felfe, and to get profit and 
 wealth 5 thefe are idolatrous and finful thoughts. 
 Godmay doe all things for himfelfe, becaufe he 
 hath nothing above himfelfe ; but if thou doft fo, 
 thou provokeft him to wrath exceedingly. 
 
 But you will fay, I doe all for this end,to ferve 
 God and men? 
 
 Thou that doeft pretend this, that thou doeft 
 things to be ferviceable to God and mea, and not 
 to thy felfe, thou flialt know it by this-: 
 
 i If thou putteft thy felfe to things that are 
 
 above 
 
God without all Qaufes. 
 
 above thee, it is a figne that thou doeft it not for 
 his fake, that hath appointed thee, but for thine 
 owne. 
 
 2 If thou art fit for an higher place, if thou 
 refteft in things that arc bencatluhee, for thy 
 greater profit, thou feekeft thy felfe, and not the 
 Lord. 
 
 3 If- thou doeft refift the providence of God, 
 that when thou haft a calling, and art put in it,and 
 thou putted thy felfe out again for thy advantage, 
 then thine end is thine owne felfe. Paul when he 
 went to Macedonia, hee found but bad entertain- 
 ment there, but he went, becaufe he was fent. So 
 Iohn, he went to Patkmos, where the people were 
 but few, and barbarous, yet he obeyed God, and 
 went. So Eliah, when he was lent to Ahab,znd to 
 prophefie to the Ifraelites, among whom, for all 
 thnt hee knew, there was not one foule, that did 
 not bow his knee to Baal. Ezcheland Ifaiah P whcn 
 they went to harden the people to deftrudion,yet 
 they went willingly, becaufe the Lord fent them j 
 it was an argument that they did it not for them- 
 felves. A fervant is not to doe his owne worke, 
 he doth it as his mafter will have him to doe i^ if 
 he doth the things that his mafter bids him, and 
 faith, lam his fervant • and if he bid me to goe, I 
 will goe, or if he bid me come, I will come; if he 
 bid mec to keepe within doore, and to doe the 
 meaneft works, I will doe them 5 this is an argu- 
 ment that he doth not feeke himfelfe. W hen a 
 man is thus dependent upon God, willing to take 
 imployment, not above him, nor below him,nor 
 
 L 3 refift 
 
 H9_ 
 
 things too 
 high 
 
 Refting in 
 things too low. 
 
 In putting a 
 mans felfe 
 from Gods in> 
 ploymcnt for 
 his owne ad- 
 vantage 
 
150 
 
 4 
 
 In minding 
 too much 
 hispwncim- 
 •ilojmcnc neg- 
 leclin^ Gods 
 fervice. 
 
 God without all Qiufes. 
 
 Ads 6. 4. 
 
 In grieving 
 moft for the 
 loflc or that 
 I that concemes 
 
 Ihimielfe. 
 
 refift his providence, but willing to be guided by 
 him, it is a fignc that he feekes the Lord, and not 
 himfelfe. 
 
 4 Bcfides, let a man confider what he doth in 
 thefe fcrvices that immediatly concernc the Lord 
 himfelfe. If a man (hall ftudy much 3 and pray lit- 
 tle • if a man fhall fpend all his time in his calling 
 about worldly bufineiTe, and little time for duties 
 to build up himfelfe in knowledge, as in prayer 
 and reading, &c. it is a figne that he doth it, not 
 for the Lord, but for himfelfe 5 for he that feekes 
 not the Lord, in that which is done to his perfon, 
 he doth it not in that which is done in outward 
 
 workes; he that will not be faithfull in the grea- 
 ter, and that which God doth immediately com- 
 mand in his worfhip, he will never be faithfull in 
 thofe things which are further oft!, that are of 
 Ieffe confequence, Att.6.^. It was an argument 
 they gave themfelves in integrity to the miniftry 
 of the Word, becaufe they gave themfelves to 
 prayer as well as it- they did, as it were,divide 
 the time between both 3 if we were to preach on- 
 ly,fay the Apoftles, we could then wait upon Ta- 
 bles, but one halfe of our time is to be taken up in 
 prayer, the other in preaching: and if you thus 
 divide the time, it is a figne you look to the Lord. 
 5 Befides, confider what it is that troubles 
 thee «? what a man aimes at,if he lofe his end, that 
 grieves him, when his worke is done 5 if this bee 
 thy trouble that thou haft loft fome credit, or 
 profit, then thine end is thy felfe $ but if this bee 
 thy griefe, that thou haft not done it in fuch a 
 
 man- 
 
God without all Caufes. 
 
 15* 
 
 nianner,that others may receive profit and advan- 
 tage by it, it is a fignc that thou diddeft it not for 
 thy felfe, but for Gods glory .- 
 
 6 Befides, if a man confiders what it is that 
 doth make things pleafant, and gives amabihtie 
 to that,which is harfh in it felfe. Labour in it felfe 
 is fweet to no man, unlefle there be fomething in 
 it that fvveetens it : now confider what that is^if in 
 it thy eye is upon thy wealth, that comes by it • if 
 thou ftudicft hard, and if thou preacheft much, 
 and it is for the praife of men, thou feckeft thy 
 j felfe, and thy reward is in it • but if thou lookeft 
 up to the Lord, if thou doeft it 5 becaufe he fees it, 
 and knowes it, and that he may fay . I know thy 
 worke&ndthy labour 3 it is a fignc that thy end in it, 
 was the Lord, and not thy felfe. 
 
 7 
 from God or from men * Whence come thofe 
 complaints of the unthankefulneiTe of friends and 
 pupils, and thofe wee doe good to i but becaufe 
 we looke to men, and not to God. For if wc did 
 looke to God for our reward, their thankfulncfle 
 or unthankfulnefle would be of fmall moment to 
 us : for doth the Nurfe nurfethe child for it own 
 fake only * doth fhee looke for reward from the 
 child,or from the mother that putteth it to nurfe ; 
 if you looke for your reward from men$ they are 
 your end • but if you looke for it from the Lord, 
 their encouragements or difcouragements will 
 not much move you . 
 
 8 Againe, confider wherin thy minde reftcth, 
 for that which a man makes his end, therein his 
 
 L 4 minde 
 
 From whence doeft thou looke for wages < 
 
 6 
 
 In fweetning 
 his labour by 
 fomewhat that 
 concern es 
 
 himfeUe. 
 
 In looking for 
 
 iewardfiom 
 
 men. 
 
 Simile. 
 
 Inrcftin^in 
 that which 
 conccrnes 
 himfelfe. 
 
»5* 
 
 7 
 
 God without all Caufes, 
 
 minde rcfteth,and in nothing befides : a husband- 
 man, though he doth plow and iow, &c. yet he 
 refts not til he comes to the harveft : he that hews 
 ftone,and fquares timber, doth it, and refteth not 
 tilhhehoufe bee built: therefore, doe thou con- 
 fider with thy felfe, in all thy workes, what it is 
 that gives reft to thy thoughts • if thou doeft fay, 
 I have now wealth and r iches enough, and means 
 enough, I have gotten what I aimed at, and now 
 my foule is at reft j if thou fayeft, I have now ho- 
 nour and name enough, my children be well pro- 
 vided for ; and therefore your foules reft in this ; 
 then this was your end, and not the Lord . wheras 
 you ought to fay,though I have provided for my 
 children, yet doe they feate the Lord? are they 
 brought home to him * My trade hath brought 
 mee in much, but howferviceablehavelbcene 
 with it < I have much credit and eftate, but what 
 glory hath it brought tohsvs Christ? 
 So he that is a Minifter • it is true, I have enough, 
 enough credit,enough for eftate-but what is this? 
 have I brought any glory to the Lord ? have I 
 converted any i if thy heart can have no reft, but 
 in the Lord, and in the things that belong to the 
 Lord, it is an argument that thine eye was upon 
 him. 
 
 Remember this,that feeing weare made,feeing 
 we have an higher caufe, and that to be without 
 caufe belongs to GWalone- therefore wecmuft 
 carry our felves asfervantSj asitisfaidof Da- 
 vid, hee ferved his time • hee did nothing for his 
 owne end., but he carried himfelfe as a fervant,he 
 
 did 
 
God Without all Caufes. 
 
 did not fay; I will have fo much pleafure., and 
 then ferve God . he did not cut the Lord fhort, but 
 hee ferved his time, hee gave the Lord the whole 
 day. It was the comfort that IesvsChrist 
 had, when he was to goe out of the world, John 
 17.4. I have glorified thee on earth, lhavejinifhed 
 the rvorke that thou gave ft me to doe 3 that is, I was 
 as a fervant, and I chofe not my worke, but it is 
 that which thou gaveft me, and I have not done 
 it by halves, but I have finifhed it- therefore glo- 
 rifie thou me. So if thou canft fay it, when thou 
 goeft out of the world, that will be thy comfort 
 at that day j but if nor, remember that it is the 
 Lords manner of dealing, when men will feeke 
 themfelves, and their owne end 5 hee Iayes them 
 afide, as wee doe broken veflels, fit for no more 
 life, and he takes another. If there be any here, 
 that can fay fo, that the zWhath laid thee afide, 
 and taken thy gifts from thee 3 remember, confi- 
 der with thy felfe, that had ft thou ufed them to 
 his glory, and made him thy end, be furc that he 
 would not have laid thee afide, but that he would 
 have ufed thee. Belovcd,we fee it by experience, 
 that men of fmall parts, yet if they had humble 
 hearts, and did ufe them in the fimplicitie of their 
 fpirits to Gods glory ,then he hath enlarged them, 
 andufedthem ingreateftimployments. Againe, 
 on the contrary fide; men of excellent parts ,they 
 have withered, becaufe they did not ufe them to 
 Gods glory, therefore he hath laydthem afide as 
 broken veffels. 
 
 THE 
 
 53 
 
 ioh.17.4, 
 
>55 
 
 THE 
 
 NINTH 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 Exod vs. 3.13,14, 15. 
 
 13 And Mofesfaid unto GoDj (Behold^hen 
 I come unto the children of lfrael,andfhall 
 fay unto them ; Hie God of your Bathers 
 
 hath fent me unto you, and they (hall fay 
 unto mee 7 Wliat is his Name ? ^ohatfball 
 I fay unto them ? 
 
 14 And God [aid unto Mofes, I Am 
 thatIAm. Andhe faid, Tliusjbak 
 thou fay unto the children oflfrael ; I A M 
 hath fent me unto you. 
 
 15 And G o d faid moreover unto Mofes, 
 
 Tim 
 
l5 6 
 
 A third Attri- 
 bute of God* 
 Hii Eternity* 
 
 Dotlr. 
 Cod is eternal! 
 1 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 Tl?e Eternity of G od. 
 
 Tlmsjhalt thou [ay unto the children oflj- 
 rael; The LordGod of your Fa- 
 thers, the God of jfbraham, the God 
 oflfaac, and the G o d of Jacob hath fent 
 me unto you : this is my TS^ame for e\er y 
 and this is my mwioriall unto all genera- 
 tions, 
 
 The third Attribute of G o d. 
 
 E come now to a third Attri5ute,and 
 that is the Eternity of God ; for 
 God doth not fay, He that was, but 
 He that is, hath fern me unto you. He 
 that is without all caufe, the effi- 
 cient and finall,he muft needs be eternall ■- he that 
 hath no beginning nor end, muft needs bee eter- 
 nall: andbefktes, in that he faith, lamthatlam, 
 not I am that I was, it muft needs be that heeis 
 without fucceffion. 
 
 Therefore from hence we may gather, that 
 
 God^ Eternall* 
 
 In handling of this point, we will jfhew you, 
 
 Firft, wherein this confifts. 
 
 The reafon, why it muft be fo. 
 
 The differences. 
 
 The 
 
The Eternity of G O d. 
 
 *J7 
 
 The confe&aries, that flow from thefediftin- 
 5 <2ions of eternitic. 
 
 For the firft,you mnft know, that to eternitie 
 thefe five things are required : Five things re- 
 
 It muft not only have a fimple,but a living and ^ uircd in ecer - 
 mod pcrfecft being. For eternity is a tranfeendent 
 property, and therefore can be in none,but in the ; 
 moft excellent and perfe<5t being,and therefore it ; 
 muft be a living being. This we have exprefTed \ 
 mlfai.jj .15 .Thus jaith the high and loftte one,that irai.j7.1j. 
 inhabit eth eternitie, whofe name is Holy, I dwell in, 
 the high and hoi) flace, &c. As if he fhould fay • 
 there is no houfe fit for him to dwell in, that is 
 high and excellent, but only the houfe of eterni- 
 tie. Where eternity is compared to an houfe or 
 habitation,to which none can enter,but GWhim- 
 felfe, becaufe he onely is high and excellent • all 
 the creatures are excluded out of this habitation. 
 It is required to eternity 5 that there be no be- 
 I ginning • which defcription you dull fee of it in 
 I Pfal. 5?o.2. Lord, thou hafi beene our dwelling pfcl $»&. 
 K f place in all generations 5 before the mount aines were 
 I brought forth, or ever thou h ad ft formed the earth ,or 
 \ the world '• even from everlajlwg to everlajlmg thou 
 art G o d . 
 
 And here alfo you have the third expreflion : 
 and that is,to have no ending,he is not only from 
 everlafting, but to everlafting. 
 
 There is no fucceflion : as, fuppofe all the plea- 
 fures that are in a long banquet, were drawne to- 
 gether into- one moment \ fuppofe all thea&s of 
 itnans underftanding, and will, from the begin- 
 ning 
 
1,8 
 
 The Eternity of God, 
 
 Iohn 8.58. 
 
 pfai.90. i) 3. 
 
 2 
 
 The reafbns 
 why f/^nauft 
 be cvcrnali. 
 
 ning of his life to the end, could be found in him 
 in one inftant • fuch is eternity. God poffeilethall 
 things altogether, he hath all at once, Ioh.8^8. 
 pertly, verily I fay unto you, before Abraham was, I 
 am : As if hee fhould lay,, there is no time pad, 
 prefent, or to come with me 5 he doth not fay be- 
 fore Abraham was, I was,but I am,a*id therefore 
 he is eternall. 
 
 He is the difpenfer of all time to others 5 he is 
 £0ra?of alltime,al times do but iffueout ofhim,as j 
 rivers from the fea- he difpenfeth them as it plea- 
 feth him, PfaLg o. compare vcrfe 2. and 3. toge- 
 ther, Before the Mountames were brought forth ,&c. 
 even from everlajling to everlajling, thou art God . 
 Thou turneftman to deflruclwn, andfayefi - y returne 
 yee chi Idren of men. He fets time to the fonnes of 
 men ; where we fhall fee that this is the property 
 of him, that is eternall, to fet times and feafons to 
 men,&c. 
 
 The reafon why Cod muft be eternall, is this, 
 becaufe he is what he is of himfelfc, he is with- 
 out all caufe,and therefore canh~ve no beginning 
 or ending ; and therefore he mult of neceflltie be 
 without all motion, and without all fucceffion, 
 for all fucceffion prefuppofeth motion, and all 
 motion prefuppofeth a caufe and efieft; for what- 
 foever is moved, is either moved from no being 
 toa being, or fromanimperfed, toamorcper- 
 fe£l being- that is, to be moved to an higher de- 
 gree : now God that hath nothing in him to be 
 perfe&ed, is not capable of a further and higher 
 degree, 
 f The 
 
TJw Eternity ofGou. 
 
 The third thing is the difference betwecne the 
 eternitie of 6W,arid the duration of all creatures, 
 which confifts in thefe particulars : 
 
 They, even the bed of thcm,have but an halfe 
 eternitie, they are not from everlafting, though 
 they are to everlafting. 
 
 That eternall duration that they have, is not 
 intrinfccall to them, it is dependent, they receive 
 it from another. 
 
 They cannot communicate it to another, nor 
 extend it beyond thcmfelves- 3 the Angels,though 
 they bee eternall, y^ they cannot make other 
 things to be eternall • God onely can doe this. 
 
 All the ads of the creatures, all their pleafures 
 and thoughts, and whatfoever is in them doe ad- 
 mit a fucceifton, a continuall flux and motion 3 
 but in God it is nor fo- he is as a rocke in the wa- 
 ter that (lands fad though the waves move about 
 it ; (ois it with God: and though the creatures ad- 
 mit of a continuall flux and fuccemon about him, 
 as the waves doe j yet there is none in him. And 
 thefe are the differences betwecne the eternity of 
 God, and the duration of all the creatures. Now 
 followes the fourth thing. 
 
 The confe&arics that flow from hence, they 
 are thefe two : * 
 
 If this be the eternity of God, then to him all 
 time, that is to come, is, as it were, pad, Pfal.90. 
 4. A thoufand ye ares in his fight are but as yefter- 
 day, when it is pajl : that is, a thoufand yeares that 
 are to come,they are to him as pad 5 they are no- 
 thing to him . And againe, a thoufand yeeres that 
 
 Foarc diffe- 
 rences between 
 the ecerniry of 
 God, and the 
 duration of all 
 creatures. 
 
 are 
 
 ConfeCi, 1 . 
 
 He pofTctfeth 
 a 1 things to- 
 g-thef; and all 
 time is prefent 
 and as it were 
 pad with him* 
 Pfal.90.4. 
 
x6o 
 
 To Cod no 
 time Neither 
 long or ihort. 
 
 iTim.x.i7» 
 
 Tloe Eternity ofG o d. 
 
 Conjett.z- 
 
 Ecsrnitic 
 makes good 
 things infinite- 
 ly go*d, evil] 
 things inSnitc- 
 ly cviiJ. 
 
 are paft,are as it were,prefent to him,as we heard 
 before: Before Abraham was, I am. For hepof- 
 feflcth all things together ; by reafon of the vaft- 
 neffe of his being, to him all things areprefent. 
 As he that (lands upon an high mountaine, and 
 lookes downe(it is a ft mile that the Schoole-men 
 often ufe; ) though to the paflenger that goes by, 
 fome are before, fome behinde, yet to him they 
 are allprefent. So though one generation pal- 
 feth, and another commeth • yet to God, that in- 
 habits and ftands upon eternity, they are the 
 fame, they are all prefent,«there is no difference. 
 And then this followes from hence, that to God 
 no time is either long or fhort, but all times are 
 alike to him; therefore he is not fubjecft to any 
 delay es or expectances ; he is not fubjed to any 
 feares, for they are of things tocome ; nor to the 
 tranflationofgriefe, orplcafurc, or the lofleof 
 any excellencie, that before bee had not, as all 
 creatures are $ therfore wefhould confider of the 
 excellencie of God, to give him the praife of it: 
 this ule is made of it, in 1 Tim.1.17.. Now unto the 
 King eternally immortall,'mviftble, and the only wife 
 God, be honour, and glory for ever and ever, A- 
 men ; As if he fhould fay • this very co'nfidera- 
 tion, that God is eternall, fhould caufeustogive 
 him praife : and fo is that in ifiij 7. 1 5 . 
 
 Eternitie makes that which is good,to be infi- 
 nitely more good than it is, and that which is 
 evill, to be much more evill - y and that not onely 
 in refpeft of duration (that which is good for a 
 weeke, is better for a yeare • and an evill, when it 
 
 con- 
 
The Eternity of G o d. 
 
 i »<*i j 
 
 Vft I. 
 
 To mind more 
 tfcofe things 
 which art 
 eicrnaJL 
 
 continues an infinite time, it is infinitely more 
 evill, ) butalfoin regard of that colle&ion into 
 one, which is found in thofe things that continue 
 toeternitie: as when all joyes are colle&ed into 
 oneheape, and all griefe into one center ; fo that 
 you (hall joy as much in one inftant,as ever here- 
 after s fo that though the thing be ftill but the 
 fame, yet the continuance makes ir infinitely 
 more good. 
 
 Seeing eternitie is a propertie of God$ wee 
 fliould learne hence, to minde moft the things 
 that arc eternall, for they are, of all other things, 
 of the greateft moment, becaufc they doe moft 
 participate of this tranfeendent propertie of the 
 almightie. God is eternall, the foule is eternall, 
 heaven and hell are eternall . therefore they are 
 more to be regarded of us. You (hall fee this in 
 i Ioh.z. 1 7. as a reafon why wefhould not minde 
 the things of the world 5 becaufe the world va~ 
 nifieth, itpajjeth away, and the lujls thereof (faith 
 the Apoftle ; ) that is, looke upon all the things 
 below, and both the things paffe, and your affe- 
 ftions and defires pafTe, that which you love to 
 day, to morrow you will not love ; therefore 
 love them not, regard them not, for they are of a 
 flitting and palling nature, but he that doth the mil 
 of the Lord abides for ever ; and therefore we 
 are to minde fuch things moft : fuch as the King 
 is, fuch are his fubjc&s, and fuch are the rewards 
 and punifhments that he gives. Now God y hee is 
 eternall, 1 Tim . 1 . 1 7 . To the King eternall, immor- j 
 tall,wvijtl>le, and only rvtfe God, be honour and tTim.1.17. 
 
 M glory I 
 
 1 Ioh.x.i?, 
 
Tk Eternity o/God, 
 
 glory for ever. And as he is an etemall King, fo 
 he hath given to us, his fubje<Ss,to be etemall, as 
 the foule is 5 and he hath given punifhments, and 
 rewards eternall- hell is an everlafting prifon, 
 and heaven is an eternall Palace ; therefore thefe 
 are the things mod to be regarded of us. And if 
 J wee would but throughly confider that thefe 
 J things are eternall, it would effeftually draw our 
 mindes to the things that are above . A man that 
 comes to an Inne, if he can get a better roome,he 
 will 3 if not, hee can be content with it, for hee 
 faith, it is but for a night 3 fo your habitation 
 here is but for a night : if you can have a better 
 condition, ufe it rather, but if not, be not much 
 moved,for it is but for a night.In worldly things 
 the fhortneffe of them makes us to undergoe 
 them cheerefully . An apprentifhip that is hard, 
 a man will indureit, for hee faith it is but for a 
 time j fo things that are pleafant, if they be but 
 of fhort continuance,, wee regard them the leffe. 
 Now our time that we have here, inrefped of 
 eternity,is fliorter than an apprentifhip,nay,than 
 a night, nay, fhorter than an houre. Now put 
 the cafe, that a man fhould have an houre given 
 him • and it fhould be faid to him ; as thou fpen- 
 I deft this houre, fo thou fhalt live all thy dayes 5 
 what would not a man doe,or what would he not 
 fuffer * how carefull would he be to fpend this 
 houre well i Now this life is not fo much as 
 an houre to eternitie • and therefore why fhould 
 we not be careftill how we fpend this houre, fee- 
 ing it fhall be with us for ever according as wee 
 ■ L_ *P cn ^ 
 
T7;e Eternity of God 
 
 fpcnd it < i Cor. 9.25. Every one that Jiriveth 
 for the mattery is temperate ; now they doe it to ob- 
 taine a corruptible crowne, but we an incorruptible. 
 Thus he rcafoneth, If men that life thefe olymp- 
 \ an games, if they will endure fo much hard ftiip 
 and abftinence, accuilome their bodies to heat 
 and cold for the race bcfore-hand,and doe all but 
 for a crowne, that will laft but this life at the 
 moft 5 and (hall not we (faith he) for an incor- 
 ruptible crowne < Beloved . If wee would fit 
 downe but one halfe houre, and confider feriouf- 
 ly what eternity is, it would make us to negled 
 all temporary things, which now we are ibafle- 
 (Sed with. It is eternitie, my brethren, and the 
 confideration of it, that doth fet an high price 
 upon grace, and gives the juft weight to finne, 
 but it makes all other things exceeding light • for 
 this is a true rule • that untill we come to appre- 
 hend finne, asthegreateftevillinthe world, we 
 are not truly humbled, and it is eternitie that 
 makes it to be fo ; for (as was faid before) eter- 
 nitie makes an evill infinitely the greater. Now 
 if you looke upon all other things, as honour, 
 and difgrace, and the favour of men, they reach 
 but a little way, but to the end of this life, at the 
 ucmoft; but if you looke to the reach of grace 
 and fin, they reach (as it were) a thoufand thou- 
 fand miles beyond it. Grace reacheth to eterni- 
 tie, and finne reaches to eternitie, and therefore 
 thefe are the things that a man fhould be bufied 
 about. What afhame is it for a man to grieve 
 for fome outward croffes, and to 1 e joy ce much 
 
 M 2 for 
 
 -! ^ 
 
 1 Cor, 
 
 9 .iS, 
 
Tlie Eternity of God. 
 
 , 
 
 lob. 6. *7, 
 
 for fome preferment herc ; and not to regard or 
 be afFe&ed with eternity : It is the phrafe that the 
 Apoftle Paul ufcth, he cals it mans day ; / care not 
 to be judged by mans day ; and indeed it is but a 
 fhort day • and what is it to that eternitie I looke 
 for < What is it to that God, with whom I muft 
 live for ever < therefore I care not what men fay 
 of me, but I rather thinke what the eternall God 
 thinkes of me, and what will be thought of mec 
 in that Kingdome where I muft live for ever. If 
 amanw T erein Turkie, or in fome other remote 
 place, to trafficke there a while, hee would not 
 care what the men of that place thought of him, 
 for hee faith, this is not the place where I muft 
 live: fo doe you but confider, that thisis not the 
 place where you muft live,and then of what mo- 
 ment will it appeare to you, what men fay of 
 you < Beloved, if the foule w r ere mortall, there 
 were fome rcafon that you fhould make pro vifion 
 for it here -but feeing it is immortally you ought 
 to make a proportionable provifion for it, even 
 for ever : for the body you are apt to make pro- 
 vifion, a viaticum beyond the journey ; but con. 
 fider, that you have an immortall foule, which 
 muft live for ever,and you muft make fome pro- 
 vifion for it, to carry it fo long a journey. It is 
 our Saviours exhortation, lob. 6. 27. Labour not 
 for the meat that peri fret h, but for the meat that en- 
 dures to. everlajling life, &c. As if he fhould fay j 
 if you had no other life to live but this, then you 
 might feeke the things of this life, as glory, ho- 
 nour, pleafure, &c, but thefe things perifb, and 
 
 the 
 
Tlie Eternity of G o d< 
 
 thetafteof them perifhccl^ as the fwcetnefie of 
 meat in the eating • but (faith our Saviour) feeke 
 thofe things th at v: ill abide for ever : you have an 
 everlafting life to live, therefore you mud make 
 fome provifion anfwerable thereunto : As for the 
 body, the foule wearcs it but as a garment, and 
 when it is worne out, the foule muft have a new 
 fuit of apparell one day. 
 
 Well, feeing God hath brought this point to 
 our hands this day, let me but prevaile with you 
 fofarre, astofetfome time apart the following 
 weekc, where you may enter into a ferious consi- 
 deration of eternitie, the very thinking of it, will 
 be of great moment to you • for looke what the 
 obje<ft is, fuch is the foule, about which it is con- 
 verfant; high obje&s lift up the foule to the Lord, 
 and make the minde anfwerable tothem^andlow 
 objc&s make the minde like to them. Now eter- 
 nitie is an high objed:, and it will worke in men 
 high mindes • and hence it is,for the want of this 
 confidcration,that when a man comes to die,and 
 fees eternitie before him, how it doth then fo 
 amaze the foule of man ? I have feene it by ex- 
 perience : I knew one who faid, if it were but for 
 a thcufandyeares, I could beare it, but feeing it is to 
 eternitie, this amazetb me. Behold, if you would 
 confider, that after many thoufands of yeares are 
 paft,yet you are to begin as at the firft-if men did 
 confider this ferioufly , would they let their cter- 
 nallcftate depend fo upon uncertainties. And let 
 them confider this, that are yet ftrangers to the 
 life of God, that if death fhould comc,they fhould 
 
 M 2 not?' 
 
 165 
 
r \66 \ 
 
 Tloe "Eternity of G o d. 
 
 3°>3 X 
 
 not efcapceter nail death: it is good to keepe our 
 thoughts upon this, and it would make us not to 
 "ftaften after the things of the world, as we doe 5 
 and for thy finne thou doteft on fo,there are three 
 things to be confidered in it : Firft,the plcafure of 
 it; is as the fpeckled skin of the Serpent : Second- 
 ly y the fting of finne : and thirdly, the eternity of 
 that fling. Now looke not thou upon the fka- 
 fure of finne, that endures but for afeafizjbm con- 
 fider the hurt that comes from finne, and then 
 confider the eternity of it: a candle inadarke 
 night makes a great fhew, but when the Sunne 
 comes, it vanifheth, and is nothing s fo would all 
 thefe things that wee doe fo affeft now, if they 
 come before eternity in our thoughts : it is great 
 wifdomein thiskindeto husband our thoughts 
 well, r Cor."j, 2P, 30, 31. Vfi this wor Id, as not 
 ufing it, for the fafyion of this world paffeth away : 
 that is, mindc them not much, be not much affe- 
 <3ed with them, one way or other, either in joy 
 or griefe,let them befuch as if they were not ; for 
 why i they are temporall things, palling things, 
 things that continue not : for that is the thing I 
 gather out of that place, that the Lord would not 
 have our thoughts to be beftowed upon them, 
 but fo remifTely, as if not at all, becaufe there are 
 eternall things, and let your minde upon them, 
 for the time is port ; As if he fliould fay, thou haft 
 not fo much time to lpare 5 the time is fhorr, and 
 you have bufinefle enough another way ; there is 
 water little enough to r unnc in the right channel, 
 therefore let none runne befidej and the things 
 \ that 
 
The Eternity of God. 
 
 that ihould take up your minds,are fin, and giacc 
 things that are ctcrnall. It is a pitiful! thing that 
 the noble intentions of cternall mindes fhould be 
 beftowed fo ill upon thefe flitting things, which 
 are nothing to eternity i A man that hath not 
 much mony in his purfe,but onely for to provide 
 neceflaries- when one comes and askcs him to 
 J borrow any, he will fay . I have no more than to 
 j buy me food and rayment, or if he hath his rent 
 to pay, and no more - if one fhould come to bor- 
 row any of him, he faith, no,I have no more than 
 to pay my rents. So faith the Apoftle there ; you 
 have no fuch fpare time, no fuch fpare affe&ions, 
 that you can beftow them elfe-where,but beftow 
 them upon things that endure to eternal! li&. 
 
 And further to move you to this, confider 
 the fliortneffeand vanity of this life,how all man- 
 kinde are hurried and rapt with a fudden motion 
 to the weft of their day es. Our fathers went be- 
 fore us, we follow them,and our children follow 
 us at theheeles, as one wave followes another, 
 and at laft we are all dafhed on the fhore of death : 
 and withal,confider the vanity that al conditions 
 are fubje<ft unto • whether they be mountaines or 
 valleycs;if mountaines,they are fubjeft to blafts, 
 to be envied 5 or if vallcyes, to be ovcr-drow- 
 ncd, opprefled, and contemned; yea, the things 
 that we prize moft, honour and pleafure- what 
 doe they but weary us, and then whet our appc- ; 
 tite to a new edge < Confider the men that have / 
 becne before us 5 mahy men that have beene like j 
 a greenetrce,but now the floud of their wealth is ! 
 M 4 ___ d r ^d j 
 
 ~^7 / 
 
 Mocivcihcrc 
 unto. 
 
 ate?* 
 
I 168 
 
 77?e Eternity of God. 
 
 Vfe 2. 
 
 God then hath 
 time enough to 
 fulfill his : pro- 
 mifes,andhb 
 threat nings 5 
 therefore not 
 to be offended 
 though he flay 
 long. ■ 
 
 I dried up, they and their goods have perifhed ccr 
 I gether. 
 
 Coftfider in the fecond place,what eternity is- 
 here the body is corrupted with difeafes, and the 
 foule fubjed: to vexation • but that life is fure, 
 compofed and conftant, and there is novaria- 
 blenefle in it 5 and if we dclire life fo much, why 
 doe we efteeme this life that is but a fpan long, 
 and negled that which is fo fpacious. 
 
 Confider the crraad,upon which you are fent 
 into this world, and be not put afide from it, by 
 any needleffe occafions(as they are all when they 
 come into competition with this) which hinder 
 our thoughts,and our a<5fcions,as facte as they be- 
 long to eternity : and indeed all the world fpend 
 too much of their time upon by-bufinelTes, and 
 they are hampered with them before they are 
 aware, ftill making our felves new worke ; fo that 
 wc make this life, which is fhort enough of it 
 felfe, fliarter than it is, wearying our felves with 
 anxious griefes, labour and care: thus men did 
 before us, and thus we are ready to doe, there- 
 fore we had the more need to take heed unto it. 
 
 If God be eternall, then be not you offended, 
 becaufe you fee that he ftayes long, either in gi- 
 ving reward, or in executing judgement on men 
 for their finnes • for with him no time is long, 
 there is no fucceflion with him • therefore fay 
 not, becaufe you feele nothing for the prefent, 
 there arc great promifes made, but you findc no 
 performance • and there bee many judgements 
 threatned,but none executed - doe not you there- 
 fore 
 
The Eternity of God. 
 
 169 
 
 fore fay, chat your rewards are ncglecfted, 01; 
 judgement paffed over, and that God hath forgot- 
 ten. For here you fee, that with God no time is 
 long or fhort, there is no fucceflion with him: 
 you have the fame ufemade of it, 7/47.40.27,2 8. 
 Why fay eft thou Iacob, and fteakeft O ifrael 5 My 
 way is hid from, the Lor d, and my judgement ts 
 faffed over from my Go d < There is the objecti- 
 on, that which is in the hearts of men : Now you 
 (hall fee what anfwer is made to it in the follow- 
 ing verfe,#4/? thou not knowne ? haft thou not heard 
 that the ever lofting GodALord } the Creator 
 of the ends of the earth fainteth not, neither is wea- 
 ry t there is no fe arching of his underftandmg. The 
 meaning is this; To us indeed the time is long, 
 either when reward is deferred, or when the pu- 
 nifliment,'or the execution of fentence againft 
 evili works is deferred • but with GWit is not fo. 
 Now that which makes it feemelongto us, is, 
 1 Partly the paffions, and reftlefneffe of the 
 mind/for that is motion)butGW,heis without al 
 motion or paffion,and therefore nothing is long. 
 • 2 Againe, not only we are fubjed to motion, 
 but the things that we have to doc with, they are 
 fubjedt to motion, and paffe away, and therefore 
 they feeme long to us : for time, you know is no- 
 thing clfc but the meafure of motion - and there- 
 fore where there is motion, there is time,and no 
 while elfe. Now to us that are in motion, and to 
 the thyigs that we have to doew r ith, athouiand 
 yeares are a thoufand yeares 5 but in God there is 
 no motion, nor flux- and therefore a thoufand 
 
 yeares 
 
 ifai.40.27,28. 
 
170 
 
 77;e Eternity o/God, 
 
 i Pec. $.4. with 
 
 y cares with him, are but as one day : God is nei- 
 ther in motion himfelfe, nor are other things as 
 in motion to him ; but wee arc moved, and the 
 things we have to doe with,are moved ; and if ei- 
 ther,there muft be motion, for if the (hip moves : 
 though the waters ftand ftill . or if the waters 
 move,though the fliip ftand ftill,there is motion 5 
 but God ftands ftill, and all things ftand ftill to 
 him likewife. Doe not wonder therefore that 
 the Churches lye fo long in mifery, that the in- 
 juries of the Saints are to long unrevenged, doe 
 not accufe God, doe not miftake him, doe not 
 thinke amiffe of him, doe not thinke that hee is 
 forgetfull, and doth not remember, that hee is 
 flacke, and doth not regard, that hee cannot, or 
 will not helpe. Beloved, it is not fo ; you ihall fee 
 the very fame ufe made of it, 2 Pet: 3. if you 
 compare verf.4, and 8, p. together : In the latter 
 dajes there fiall come [coffers, &c. faying, where is 
 the fromife of his comming f for fence the Fathers 
 fell afeeepe, all things continue as they were from the 
 creation, verf.8,9. Mt be not ignorant of this one 
 thing, that one day is with thcLoK d as a thou f and 
 year es, and a thoujandyeares as one day. The Lord 
 is not Jlacke concerning his promt fe (as feme men 
 count feackneffe) but is long-fuffermg to us-ward,not 
 willing that any feouldperife, but that allfeiould come 
 to repentance. It is not flacknefie in God: For (faith 
 the Apoftlc) athoufand y cares with him are as one 
 day.Wc thinke it a great matter,that the C^hurch 
 fliould lye fo long, and cry^ How long Lord J 
 and yet no reraedle, faith the Apoftle, thinke not 
 
 much 
 
The Eternity of Go d< 
 
 much at it; For a thoufind yeares mth him are but 
 atone day. 
 
 If God be eternall, then confider with whom 
 you have to doe, even with him whofe love and 
 enmity are eternall-with him,whofe foveraignty 
 and power is eternall : if a man be angry, we re- 
 gard it the leffe, if we know it is but for a fit 5 but 
 confider what it is to have to do with him whofe 
 love and enmitie are eternall. Therefore learnc, 
 not to regard men as wee doe, but to regard the 
 Lord only^ and that in thefe three refpects : 
 
 i LcarnetotrufttheZ^, and not man, for 
 God is an everlafting refuge,?/*/. 146.354. Put not 
 your trufcin Princes, nor tn the fin of man y in whom 
 there is no helpe, &c. that which they can doc for 
 you, is but for this life at mod 5 truft in him that 
 is able to defend you for all eternicie * for he that 
 made heaven and earth, hee continues for ever. 
 This ufe you have made of it in Pfa.90. 1 .Lor d, 
 thou baft btene our habitation for ever and ever : as 
 if hec ihould fay, Lord, thou waft an habitation 
 (that is,a refugees our houfe is)to the Churches, 
 thou waft k in Abrahams time, in Pharaohs time. 
 Confider, that God is not onely an habitation to 
 his Church from generation to generation, but 
 alfo from everlafting to everlafting. 
 
 2 Learne from hence Hkewife to feare him • 
 feare him that can caft body and foule into hell 
 for ever -his eternity ihould make us to feare him. 
 Feare not wan, ifai . 5 . 1 3 , 1 4 Why ? becaufe he is oj 
 jlwrt continuance: and if he can do you any hurt,it 
 is but for a ihort time, for he fhall be made as the 
 
 171 
 
 Vfe 
 
 Confider you 
 have to doc 
 with a God, 
 whofe love 
 and enoiuic 
 arc eternal]. 
 
 And therefore, 
 
 ruft, to truft in 
 
 God, and not 
 
 man. 
 
 Pfal. 14*3,4. 
 
 F.aI.OO.1; 
 
 Secondly, to 
 feare hiai. 
 
 Ifai.3M3,i4. 
 
 orafTc ; 
 
172 
 
 Tl?e Eternity of God, 
 
 1I0I12.17. 
 
 To fetve God, 
 and to doe bis 
 will. 
 
 
 ^4. 
 To comfort 
 our felves a- 
 gainft the mu- 
 tabilitie of 
 things here 
 below. 
 
 Pra<i©2.ii,i2. 
 
 
 grafle • but feare the almighty God, who laid the 
 heavens, and fir etched the foundations of the earth. 
 Vfe the Lords arguments, they are the arguments 
 that can work on the fouk 5 it is the holy Ghofts 
 argument why we fliouldfeare him,becaufehe is 
 eternall, astheoppofition in that place fhewes. 
 
 •3 Labour to ierve him, 1 Ioh.i.iy. The world 
 pajfahaway, and the lujls thereof but hee that doth 
 the will aft he Lord abides fer ever . that is, the 
 world cannot make you to abide for ever, it paf- 
 , feth away • if you fulfill the lufts thereof, if you 
 fulfill your owne will, you are not able to conti- 
 nue your felves, but you will' paffe away : what 
 fhould wee doc then:' why, fulfill the will of 
 the Lord, confider what he would have you doe, 
 and fo you fhall abide for ever. 
 
 If God be eternall,then we fhould learne hence 
 to comfort our felves, when we looke upon the 
 mutabilitiethatwe and all creatures are fubjeft 
 unto in this vale of mifery, it is a thing that may 
 comfort us exceeding much ; if wee fcrve him 
 who is conftant, without change,who is eternal], 
 that can make up the changes that we are fubjedt 
 unto ; it is the ufe that is made of it, in Pfal. 102. 
 11,12. My dayes are like a fhadow that declineth, 
 and I am withered like graffe ^ but thou> oLor b, 
 (l)alt endure for ever, and thy \ remembrance unto all 
 generations. Why doth he put thefc two together 
 thus ^ my fhadow, and cW/ enduring for ever, 
 &c. as if he4hould fay, this is my comfort, that 
 though Lam of fhort continuance, yet cWwith 
 I whom' I ■■(hall live forever, hee is eternall, and 
 I ' • • abides} 
 
The Eternity of God. 
 
 abides for ever. It is as if the beame fliould rea- 
 fon thus . though I am brickie and fading, yet the ■ 
 Sun that maintaines me,abides for ever : or,if the 
 ftreame fliould reafon thus ^though I may be dried 
 up in Summer, yet the fountaine that maintaines 
 me continues for ever : So, thouch men be fub- 
 je<3to change,yet the Lord, that maintains them, 
 is immutable, and abides for ever. You that have 
 the life ofchrifiin you, have the beginning of 
 this eternity j and though the old building be 
 pulled downe, yet you have a building not made 
 with hands >et email in the heavens ; even as when 
 one skin fals off, another comes on : and what 
 though the outward man perilh { yet the inward 
 man growes daily more and more, till it come to 
 perfedion. This is not only a comfort to us, but 
 alfo it is a great motive, and we fliould ufe it as a 
 great argument to <Jod- } thatbecaufe we are fub- 
 je<fl to change, yet becaufe hec is immutable, 
 therefore he fliould helpe us, Pfal. 102.26,27. 
 The heavens Jliall wax old, as doth a garment , but 
 thou endurejlfor ever and ever t therefore caft me 
 not off in the niidft of my dayes : as if he fliould 
 fay,£m/,thou haft Time enough to beftow,thou 
 art full of cternitie • the heavens that feeme to be 
 of long continuance, yet are nothing to thee 5 
 therefore I pray thee to fill up my wants, and 
 make me eternall with thee • fo becaufe thou in- 
 habited eternity, therefore comfort mee, ifai. 
 57. 1 5. Seeing God is eternall; learne hence to 
 know that he is the Lordot all Time. 
 
 Doe not thou lookc upon Time as belonging 
 
 to 
 
 Zi 
 
 PiJUoi. 2^,17. 
 
 Ifai.j7.1y. 
 
 rfi 
 
'74 
 
 Godis the Lord 
 of all time, ap 
 points fcafons, 
 and we are not 
 to looke en 
 time to come 
 as oars. 
 P42}.?o.?. 
 
 77;e Eternity o/God. 
 
 lames 4. 13/4 
 
 to thee, but to him, he overflowes all- it is the 
 phrafe ufed in Pjal.p 0.5. Thou carrieft them awaj 
 as with a flottd, they are as fheepe, &c. that is, all 
 times arc fubjeft to him, he over-reaches them, 
 and makes them long or {hort,as it pleafeth him 5 
 heisnotonlyinhimfclfeetcrnall, but hee is the 
 lord of all, and hee difpofeth all times, and ap- 
 points the feafons to every thing i if hee be thus, 
 then take heed of looking upon future times, as 
 thine owne ; thou breakeft in now upon the Lords 
 prerogative, if thou looke upon future times as 
 thine,and fayeftwith the rich man in the Gofpel, 
 now foule take thy reft • this is faci ilege againft God. 
 It is,as if a man ihould fay, I have three thoufand 
 acres of land, when he hath not three foot, or if a 
 man Ihould fay ,1 have three thoufand pound,and 
 hath not three p^nce. It is the ufe made of it in 
 lames 4. 1 3 , 1 4. Goe to now yee that fay, to day, or 
 to morrow, we will goe into fuch a Citie^&tc. Where- 
 as yee ought to fay, if the Lord will, we (hall live, 
 and doe this or that, if hee will give us leave to 
 come in upon his ground. This phrafe is out of 
 ufe with many men,as clothes that are out ofuft, 
 we are unwilling towearethem- but chriftians 
 fhould bring them into ufe againe, and fay, if the 
 Lord pleafe ; let them labour to doe this in feare 
 and trembling. Thou (houldft thus thinke of 
 time, thou fhouldft looke upon it, as on a large 
 field, given by God, and nothing of k belonging 
 otherwife unto thee • and looke what ground the 
 Lord God gives thee,thou art to fow feed in it,and 
 apply it to feeke him, that thoumayeft receive an 
 
 harveft 
 
The Eternity of God. 
 
 l 75 
 
 harveft in future time ; and let men not fay, I wil* 
 repent and turne to Cod hereafter s but doe it pre- 
 sently in feare and trembling. "Boaft not of time ; 
 why doeft thou dcferre the time * thou breakelt 
 iato the Lords right, and oftentimes he cuts 
 thee off for it, becaufe thou breakeft 
 into that, which doth nothing 
 belong unto thee. 
 
 (V) 
 
 THE 
 
 «y» * 
 
God a Spirit, 
 
 THE 
 
 TENTH 
 
 SERAdON. 
 
 E X O D. 3. 13, 14. 
 
 <^sf nd Mo fcs fit d unto God y Behold when I come 
 unto the children of ifrael, and frail fay unto 
 them, the God of jour fathers hath fent mce unto 
 you,and they frail fay unto mejvhat is his name^ 
 what (ball I fay unto them f 
 
 i^And Godfaidunto Moils, / ^A M, T H AT I 
 ^A M : \_y4ndhefaidjhM thoujhaltfiy unto the 
 children oflfraelj AM hath fent me unto you. 
 
 E come now to the nextAt. 
 \0/^f/Z tribute-and that is the Sim. 
 \l^J§jk pl* ctt y of GW.heis without 
 \^/£$& allcompofition, without 
 'A any pjns 3 not having foule 
 ^» and body, as wee have, 
 'y$m, not being compounded of 
 fubftance and accident, as wee are, but hee is 
 
 A a fimplc, 
 
 The fourth At- 
 tribute of God, 
 His Simplicity. 
 
The Simplicity of God, 
 
 God a Spirit, 
 
 Iohnf24. 
 
 Whatkindc of 
 
 4 Properties of 
 2fpi:it. 
 
 I- 
 InvifiUc* 
 
 fimple, without all composition. Which I ga- 
 ther out of thcfe words; I Am, What I Am: 
 that is, whatfoevcrisinmce, it is my fettc. I 
 amapurea&,all being, a whole, entire,fimple, 
 and uniforme being, without parts, not like to 
 the creature: for the beft of them is compoun- 
 ded of adtions,and qualities, but whatsoever is 
 in me,it is my felfe. 
 
 Now in this fimplicity, and immixture of 
 God, wee will firft fall upon that which the 
 Scripture fets downe in plaine words/^.4.24. 
 God is a Spirit : that is, bee is not mixr, hee is 
 not compounded of body and foule,as men are, 
 but he is a Spirit, The word Spirit,bothinthe 
 j Hebrew, Greeke, and Latine tongue, doth fig- 
 nifie, breath. A breath is indeede a body, but 
 becaufe it is the fined body , the moft fubtile,. 
 andmoft invifible, therefore immateriallfub- 
 ftanccs , which we cannot otherwife conceive, 
 are reprefented to us under the name fpirit , or 
 breath. 
 
 Befides, this is to be added, though Godbc 
 faid to be a fpirit, yet he is not properly a fpirit 
 as Angells arc 5 for an Angell is a crcature,and 
 though it want a body , and be a fpirit, yet it is a 
 created fubftance: but yet becaufe that is nee- 
 reft to the pure, and incompounded nature of 
 God, therefore he calls himfelfe a fpirit, as An- 
 gells arc, and our foules are. 
 
 To (hew you what a fpirit is, thefe foure 
 things aretobeconfidered. 
 
 1 . It is proper to a fpirit to be invifible, im- 
 palpable, I 
 
r 
 
 God ^ Spirit. 
 
 Luke 24.39. 
 
 palpable, not to be difcerned by any fenfe. 
 Therefore Chrift bids his Difciples to feele 
 him: Behold my hands and my feet ,(Smh he) that it 
 is I my felfe y handle and fee 5 for a Sprit hath not 
 flejl) and bones as I have. A Spirit is that which is 
 withdrawne from the perceivance of any cor- 
 poreall fenfe whatfoevcr,and in this fenfe GWis 
 called a Spirit,bccaufe he is invifiblerand there- 
 fore Mofes is fa id to fee, him that isinvfble, not 
 by any bodily eyc,but by the eye of faith. 
 
 2. Every Spirit moves it felfe, and other 
 things alfo : The body is but an earthy piece, 
 that is not able to ftirre it felfe at all, as you fee 
 it is when the foule is gone out of it , it is the 
 fpirit, tjiat both moves it felfe , and carries the 
 body up and downe where it lifteth , and it 
 moves it felfe with all fpeede, and agility, be- 
 caufe it findes no refiftance. Bodies,befide their 
 elementary motion upward and downeward, 
 have no voluntary motion, they cannot move 
 themfclves whither they will, as fpirits doe: 
 And this I gather out ot'Ioh. 3 . 8 . the holy Ghort 
 is compared to the rvinde , that blowes where it 
 lifteth. 
 
 3 . It is the property of every Spirit to move 
 with exceeding great force and ftrength, and itmovcs wkh 
 
 It moves it felfe 
 and other 
 things. 
 
 Iohn.3 8. 
 
 with much vehemency, fothac it farre exeeedes 
 the ftrength of any body. Therefore in I fay 3 1 . 
 3 . fpeaking of the ftrength of the Egyptians, hee 
 faith , that they are fteft, and not fpirit : as if ( 
 hee fliould fay s all flelh is weake, but a fpirit 
 isftrong. Therefore you fee, the Divclls,tkat 
 
 A a 2 are 
 
 force and 
 
 ftrength. 
 
 irayji.3, 
 
Ihe Simplicity of God. 
 
 4- 
 
 It is not held 
 in any place, 
 
 Kfiu< 
 
 Gods eye is. 
 chicly upon 
 the (pjfits of 
 
 men;andour 
 care thereto* 
 
 , istokeepeour 
 
 fj Iritsfit for 
 
 comniunion 
 
 | with God, 
 
 ' ; 
 
 /are fpirits, what flrcngth they have- as the man 
 in the Gofpell, that was poffefled, it is Gud that 
 he could breake the ftrongtft bands, and y ou fee it 
 commonly in thofe that are poffefled, and yon 
 reade,how he threw downe the houfe over lobs 
 children. This is the ftrength of a fpirit,cxcee- 
 ding the ftrength of any body. 
 
 4. Itinfinuatcs it felfe, and enters into any 
 
 bodily fubftance, without all penetration of di- 
 
 menfion ^ that is,it is not held out of any place, 
 
 by reafon of a body that is in it • it may be in 
 
 ir, though the place be otherwife full : as, you 
 
 fee, the foule is in the body, you fliall finde no 
 
 i where an empty place, the body is eueiy where 
 
 whole^yet the fpirit infinuates it felfe into every 
 
 parr, and no body can keepe it out. And fo 
 
 God, hee is invifible, not feenc by any eye, hee 
 
 moves himfelfe, and all things in the world, as 
 
 I he lifts- and he doth what he doth with excee- 
 
 I ding great ftrength 5 and, he fills every place, 
 
 I both heaven and earth ; what bodies foever be 
 
 I there , yet hee may be there notwithftanding. 
 
 And thus you fee in what fenfe this is to be un- 
 
 derftood, God is aSp:rit. 
 
 Now we will come to apply this. 
 If Godbc a Spirit, firft then this we may ga- 
 ther from it : 
 
 1. That his eye is chiefly upsnthe fpirits of 
 men. There are many things in the world, 
 which his hand hath made : but that which he 
 'chiefly lookes to, istheminde, '»nd ipirit of 
 man. Whereas amanconfiftsof two parts, a 
 
 body I 
 
God a Spirit. 
 
 body and a fpirit, it is the fpirit that is like to 
 God: and in regard of the fpirituall fubftanceof 
 the foule, it is laid to be made after his Image, 
 and therefore in Heb. 1 2. tiod is called D the Father 
 offririis: He is the Father of the body alfo, he 
 made that , bur the meaning is , that hee is 
 
 -ytcLT ;;yv!i'/, Father over fpirits , becaufe hee 
 guides and nurtures them , being moft like to 
 himfelfe : as the i bane is like the fathcr,fo they 
 I are like to him, and therefore he moft regards 
 thcTpiritsof men. As you may fee when &*- 
 mtiel went to anoint David King , and all the 
 fonncs of Tefficzmt before him,thofe that were 
 much more proper than David, God tells him, 
 that he did not looke upon the perfons of men, 
 nor upon their outward appearance , heeheedes 
 them nor- what then? he fees the fouleand fpirit 
 of man^the Lordlooketh upon the heart ,and accor- 
 ding to that he judgeth of them- 1 Sam. 16.7. 
 
 Now, if his eye be chiefly upon the fpirit, 
 thou fhouldeft labour to let thine eye be chiefly 
 ftiilupon thy fpirit, and fo thou {halt moft 
 pleafehim. Let thy eye be upon thy foule, to 
 keepe it clcane, that it may be fit for commu- 
 nion with him,who is a fpirit.This fliould teach 
 you to look to the fafhion of your foules with- 
 in, becaufe they are likeft to him, and carry his 
 image in them- he is a father of them in a fpeci- 
 all manner, and they are that whereby you 
 may have communion with him, in that which 
 is moft proper unto him, in fpirituall exereifes 
 and performances. 
 
 A a 3 But 
 
 Hcb:i*. 
 
 x Sam, 1 67, 
 
The S i mpli c i ty of God. 
 
 object \ 
 
 How that is to 
 bcdonct 
 
 i^Anfxv. 
 
 aCor:7,i, 
 
 Cfoject; 
 
 2 Pet: 1.4. 
 Luft defiles 
 the fpirit. 
 
 Titti; 15. 
 
 But,you will fay, what is it that you would 
 have us to doc to our fpirits , to have them fit 
 J for the Lord,thzt he may regard them, and that 
 ' they may be like to him 1 
 
 1. Thou muftfcoiu*e and <r/^#/£ them from all 
 flthinejje. zCor.j.i. Having therefore tbefe pro- 
 I mifes , ( dearely beloved,) let m cleanfe our [elves 
 \ from allflthinefe of the flejh, and fpirit y perfecting 
 i bolwejfe in the feare ef God. There is a pollution, 
 I which the Apoftle fpeakes of, which pollution 
 he divides into two kindes, of the fleih, and of 
 the fpirit : both of thefe thou muft labour to be 
 cleanfed from, but fpecially that of the fpirit, 
 if thou wouldefthaveit fit to have the Lord to 
 delight in : for he being a fpirit, doth mod re- 
 gard thofcattions which are done by the fpi- 
 rit -and therefore that is the thing that mainely 
 thou fhouldeft looke to. 
 
 But what is that pollution of fpirit, or what 
 is that which doth defile it? 
 
 Every thing in the world defiles the fpirit, 
 when it is luftcd after. 2 Pet. 1.4. Having efca- 
 peci the corruption that is in the world through luft : 
 thatis,the world, and all things in the world, 
 and all the parts ofit,they doe then corrupt the 
 fpirit, defile,and foile it, when the foulc of man 
 hath a luft after them. You might meddle with 
 all things in the world , and not be defiled by 
 them, if you had pure aife&ions, but when you 
 have an inordinate luft after any thing , then it 
 defiles your fpirit- therefore in Turn 1 . 1 5 . the 
 Apoftle fpeakes of a conference defied. And in 
 
 Mat, 
 
_, . * ~ 
 
 God a Spirit. 
 
 Mat. 1 5. 19. faith our Saviour, Out cftheheart 
 proceed evili thoughts, murtbers, adulteries fornic*- 
 tionsjhcftSyfilfcmtneff'Cjbldfthemiesi thefeare the 
 things which defile a man. Hee doth not fpeake 
 oncly of aduall adultery,or murther, but even 
 of the finfull difpofitions of the foule; even 
 thefeare things that defile the fpirit in Gods 
 fight, who lookes upon them as you doe upon 
 outward filthinefle with the eyes of your body: 
 So that every inordinate lufting of the foule, 
 doth defile the foule. 
 
 But is not this rule too ftrait t We are com- 
 manded not to muvther, nor tocommit adulte- 
 ry: this is the commandement : and why fhould 
 you fay , that every difordered affedion doth 
 defile the foule, and that it is more regarded by 
 God than the outward adions 1 
 
 You muft know that the tenth commande- 
 ment doth ftrike againft thefe abominations 5 
 Thoufbalt not lujt : and fo it is tranflated , Rom: 
 7. fo that thefe luftings of the fpirit, arethofe 
 that defile the foule. You fee that GWhath fpent 
 a whole commandement againft them. And 
 indeede, all the aduall finnes committed by us 
 fimply confidered in themfelves, as committed 
 by the body,are not fo hated ofGod^as the pol- 
 lution of the fpirit is. Nay , I dare be bolde to 
 fay,that the ad: of adultery, and murther, is not 
 fo abominable in Gods eyes, as the filthincfle of 
 the fpirit • this is more abominable in the fight 
 of God, who is a fpirit, than the ad of the bo- 
 dy 5 for it is the fpirit that he mainly lookes to. 
 
 A 34 Indeede 
 
 Mat:f J.I? 
 
 Object. 
 
 Anfw. 
 
 The tenth corn* 
 mandement a- 
 gainft luft, 
 Rom:7. 
 
 A&ual! finnes 
 I committed by 
 1 the body are 
 not Co hated of 
 God as the 
 pollution of 
 the fpirit. 
 
The Simplicity of God. 
 
 lames 4.;. 
 
 Indeed the aft contrafts the guilt; becaufe the 
 luft is then growne up to an height , fo that 
 it is come to an abfolute will and execution. 
 I Therefore, if thefeluftings doe preffe into the 
 j foule, wee fhould put them out againe, and re- 
 J jeft them with fliame and griefs : for God is a 
 I Spirit, and beholdes the continuall behaviour 
 j of thy fpirit. 
 
 Againe,the injury which you offer to others > 
 though initfelfe it be a great finrie, yet that 
 inward brooding of it in thy heart, plotting 
 mifchiefc,that boiles within thee, while it hat- 
 chcth rancour and revenge, this is that which 
 he hates, though thou fhouldeft never commit 
 any aft uallfinne this way. lam. 4.. 5. you have 
 thisphrafeufed, Thelnftofthe jfcir'rt to envie : 
 that is, the bent of the fpirit, and inclination of 
 themindc, which lookes upon the gifts of o- 
 theis, that outfhine them , fo that they luft to 
 , have that light put out, that their candle might 
 appeare above it $ though they aft nothiog,yet 
 , this is abominable to him. 
 
 And that I might nor deliver this -without 
 1 ground, confider; 
 
 There is nothing foplcafingto GWasabro- 
 A broken fpirit j ken heart, ifa. 57. Now the breaking of the 
 heart is nothing elfc 5 but the fevering betweene 
 the heart and fin. As when you fee an artificers 
 worke, wherein many parts are glued toge- 
 ther 5 if it fhould fall dovvne, qx the glue be dif- 
 fol ved, then they all breake to pieces- fo when 
 the lulls that are in our foules are thus fevered, 
 
 this 
 
 jReafonsor 
 confederations 
 proving it. 
 I 
 
 pl^afcth God 
 *fry 57.. 
 
God a Spirit. 
 
 this pleafcth the Lord, not that the affliction of a 
 mans fpirit is pleafing to the Lord, but the repa- 
 ration of finne from his foule, when the foder 
 that joynCs a finfull action and the heart toge- 
 ther, when this is difTolved,this dothplcafc the 
 Lord. And by the rule of contraries, if this be 
 true, then it is true, on the other fide, that when 
 the fpirit is glued by any luft to any inordinate 
 thing,it is moft hatefull to GW.-and the ftrongcr 
 the luft is,the ftronger is the glue-and therefore 
 a man the more he is tyed to this world , and 
 hath fucn ftrong lufts,thc more he hath this un- 
 cleanneflc and pollution of fpirit in him. And 
 therefore as a broken heart is moft acceptable 
 to God: fo a fpirit that is knit to any inordinate 
 objeft, by the thing that it cleaves to, it be- 
 comes moft hatefull and abominable to him. 
 
 2.Conlider, that although a luft left at liber- 
 ty ,when GWhatfrtakcnofFthechaine, andfuf- 
 fers it to doe what it will , doth contra& more 
 guilt,and doth indeede more hurt to mankinde^ 
 yet he that hath a heart as full of luft and filthi- 
 ne(Te,is no lefle abominable,and odious in Gods 
 ! fight. Take a wolfe,that runnes upand downc, 
 : and Jails the (heepe , that wolfe is abominable, 
 [ and every one cries out againft him; but a wife 
 man that fees a wolfe tyed up in a chaiae, hates 
 that as much as he did the other: for he knowes 
 that he hath the fame nature, and would doc as 
 much hurt if he were let loofc. So we may fay 
 of men,whofe hearts are fullof Iufts,cWit may 
 be,hath tyed them up, fo that they breake not 
 
 forth 5 
 
 Luffo retrai- 
 ned as hateful! 
 toGodaslufts 
 that have liber- 
 ty. 
 
 Simile. 
 
IO 
 
 The Simplicity*?/ God. 
 
 Lufts of the 
 fpiritfullofthe 
 fpawne of fin. 
 lames 4.x* 
 
 lames i.if. 
 
 Dire&ions for 
 cleaning the 
 (pint. 
 
 I. 
 
 Pindeoutthc 
 pollution. 
 
 I forth 5 yet thefc lufts are abominable and hate- 
 full in his fight, though they doe no: fomuch 
 hurt, nor breake fo many commandements. 
 Therefore let them confider this,that live under 
 good families, or goodTutours, or in good 
 company, commonly they are as wolves tyed 
 up, they cannot breake forth fo into out- 
 ward a<5is, it may be,they are reftrained by rea- 
 fon of fome bodies favour that they would not 
 lofe, or the like, but yet they give way to the 
 fpirit within , that rangeth and lufteth up and 
 downe-and this is therfore defiled in Gods fight. 
 
 3 . Confider,that thefe lufts of the Spirit,are 
 full of the fpawne,and egges of fimthat is, they 
 are the mother fin: they are very pregnant with 
 a&uall finne. lam. 4. 1 . From whence come wanes 
 and fightings among you? come they not hence, even 
 of your lufts that wane in your members ? Concu- 
 pifcenceisbutas theluft of the Spirit, which 
 concupifcence is full of a&uall finnes , and 
 brings them forth when occafion is given- lam. 
 1. 15. And therefore it is more hated than an 
 aft is, which is but one , which hath not fo 
 much fpawne in it : and therefore you ought to 
 cleanfe your fpirit from this pollution. 
 
 But how {hall we doe this? toget our fpirits 
 thuscleanfed t 
 
 You muft fearch out the pollution of the fpi- 
 rit. For the fpirit of a man is a deepe thing,and 
 hidden, full of corners and crannies,a luft and 
 pollution will eafily hide it felfe in it; therefore 
 thou rauft finde it out and confefle it. Doe as 
 
 David 
 
God a Spir it. 
 
 ii 
 
 D avid 'did,goe to God, and fay, Lord fearch, and^ 
 try mc fee if there be any mckednefje in me : as if he 
 fliould fay, if I could, I would fearch my owne 
 heart,but I cannot doe it enough, it istoodeepe 
 for me,therefore doe thou come and doe it j I 
 will open the doores , as a man ufeth to fay to 
 the officers that come to looke for a traytour. 
 Do you come in,and fearch if there be any here, 
 I will fet open my deoresj fo faith David here. 
 So,whena man would cleanfehis heart from 
 the pollutions of his fpirit, let him doe on that 
 manner- remember,that to hide a tray tor is to be 
 a traytor thy felfe-iherfore labour to find it-and 
 when it is found, confefle it to the Lord,znd lay 
 ajuft weight upon it. What though it never 
 breakes forth into outward aftionsr fay to the 
 Lord, O Lord, I know that thou lookeft to the 
 fpirit,and art converfant about ir- to have a pol- 
 luted fpirit,, is an abomination to thee. This is 
 a thing that wee fliould doe, and wee are often- 
 times to blame in this, in our prayer* : for wee 
 confefle our acluall (innes,and doe not confefTe 
 the pollution of our fpirits to the L o r d . 
 
 But you will fay, we would faine have fom€ 
 diretfions to finde out this uncleannefle of our 
 fpirits, 
 
 Confider what arifeth in thy fpirit, when it 
 is ftirred at any time,and there thou ihalt finde 
 what the pollution of the fpirit is. Set a pot on 
 the fire, & put flefli into it-while it is cold,there 
 is nothing but water and meat, but fet it a boy- 
 ling,and then the fcum arifeth. It is a fimilitude 
 
 ufed 
 
 £&& 
 
 Anfw. 
 
 How to finde 
 out the unclca- 
 nefle of fpirit, 
 
 Simile. 
 
12 
 
 T7:e Simplicity*?/ God. \ 
 
 12. 
 
 ; ufed in £^.24.11,12. 1 fay,obferve what ari- j 
 
 I feth in thy fpirit,at any time, when there is fome j 
 
 : eommotion,whenthy fpiritis (lined more than j 
 
 ordinary ,now every temptation is 3 as it were, a ! 
 
 fire to make the pot boyle,any injury that is of- ; 
 
 ; fered to us .this makes the leum toarife,now fee 
 
 j what arifeth out there, and when any object j 
 
 j comes to allure thee to fin,fce what thoughts a- j 
 
 j rife in thy heart, as the thoughts of profit or : 
 
 preferment, fo that when luch an opportunity 
 
 comes, it ftirres the fpirit , and fets it on boy- 
 
 ling-confider what then arifeth in thy heart,and 
 
 thou (halt fee what thy fpirit is. And that which 
 
 thou art to doe, when thou ficdeft it, is to con- 
 
 feffe it to the Lord,and fuffer it not to come into 
 
 outward a# 5 caft it our,fuffer it not to boyle in : 
 
 -Esflfr.24.13. 
 
 When thou haft done this, thoumuft not 
 ftay here : but thou muft labour to loathe and 
 hate that pollution of fpirit. There are two 
 things to be hated by us $ thefin, that we looke 
 upon as a pleafant thing-but there isbefides,thy 
 inclination to that thing, and that is the pollu- 
 tion of thy fpirit, and that thou muft hate and 
 loath; thou muft not only hate the ob jc& that is 
 offered to thee, but above all thy felfe alfo, and 
 theuncleannefle of thy fpirit. Thus it is with 
 every one, whofe heart is right, Ezek. 36.21. 
 Ton jball loathe your [elves in your oxvne fight for 
 your iniquities : that is, when a man begins to 
 looke upon himfclfe,and fee the pollution of the 
 fpirit in him, he begins to grow to an indigna- 
 tion 
 
 Hate the pollu 
 tion of fpirit. 
 
 E2ck:3^,jit 
 
God a Spir it. 
 
 *i 
 
 rion againft himfelfe,(as that is the fruit of god- 
 ly forrow,2 Cor. j.) he findes his heart fo difpo- 
 fed, that he begins to quarrell with his heart, 
 and to fall out with it- and to fayjWhat? have I 
 fuch a heart that will carry me to finne i that 
 will not oncly carry mee to finne, but to hell * 
 Hee begins to loathe himfelfe, hee would not 
 o wnc his owne felfe, if he could- he would goe 
 out of himfelfe, he is weary of his owne heart : 
 fuch a hatred and loathing thou muft have of 
 this pollution offpirit that is in thee. 
 
 And this thou (halt doe, if thou wilt but 
 corrfidcr, what evill this pollution doth bring 
 thee, and what hurt filthinefTe hath done to 
 thce:aman can hate a difeafeof thebody,and 
 cry o.utofit-and why fhould not men doe foof 
 the fouled It is our finn;* that is the caufe of all e- 
 vill, it is not poverty, or difgrace, or ficknefte, 
 but it is finne in thy poverty, finne in thy dif- 
 grace, finne in thy fickneile : fo that if a man 
 could looke upon finne as the grcatcft cvill,and 
 that doth him the greateft mifchiefe, he would 
 hate that above nil things. And here remember 
 not onely todoe it in generall, but to pitch.thy 
 hatred chiefly upon thy beloved finne.Be ready 
 to fay of that,as Hainan oiMordecai^ whatavai- 
 leth it mc,\t CM ordeca; yet livec'If wc could doe 
 fo with our beloved lufts , and come to fuch a 
 
 hatred of them as Hainan had of aJMordecai , to 
 
 j * 
 
 hate that beloved pollution, which cleaves fo 
 fafttothy fpirit, this wereablefled thing, and 
 all is nothing without it. 
 
 Thou 
 
 * Cor 17 
 
 How to loathe 
 this pollution. 
 
*4 
 
 Tk Simplicity*?/ God, 
 
 Thou muft yet goe a ftcp further, that is, to J 
 get it mortified, to get it utterly caft out, flaine 
 and killed,not to fuffer it to live with thee: thou 
 muft doe with fuch a pollution of thy fpifit, as 
 thou doeft with thine utter enemie,whom thou 
 followed to death, and wilt have the law upon 
 him, and wilt be content with nothing but his 
 life : So when thou haft found out thy fia, then 
 goethisftepfurther,tohaveit out before the 
 Lord,and cry againft it,and fay,that it is his ene- 
 my,and thy enemy, and an enemy to his grace- 
 it hath fought thy life,& thou wilt have the life 
 of it before thou haft done : and give not over 
 till thou getteft it utterly caft out, and an utter 
 fcparation bet weene thy foule and it ; fo that it 
 there ihould come a temptation to it againe , if 
 there fhould be pleafure prefented on the one 
 hand,and threatnings on the other,that yet then 
 thou mighteft be able to fay , rather any thing 
 than this fin,than this luft, it is my greateft ene- 
 my,'that hath done me thus much mifchiefe; fo 
 that thy foule not only loathes it, but thou wilt 
 not fuffer it to live in thee$this is that which we 
 ought to doe,if we would cleanfe our fpirits. 
 
 When a man hath done all this , thou muft 
 goe to God 9 and befeech him that hee would 
 melt that fodcr, as it were, that he would make 
 a diftblutipn, that he would fever thy foule,and 
 the luft that cleaves fo faft to it. That whicJi^, 
 made the foule, and the obje<3 to cleave fo faft 
 together, is luft, that isthefoder; which like 1 
 unto foder muft be melted with fire: Jjffy'4.. 4. 
 
 When 
 
 3. 
 
 Kill the pollii' 
 donoffpirit. 
 
 Simile 
 
 Pray againfl 
 it. 
 
 Ifay4-4. 
 
God d Spirit. 
 
 When the Lord fiullhave wafted away the filth of[ 
 the daughters of Sion, and ft all have purged the blood 
 oflerufalemfrom the midjl thereof, by the (p/nt of 
 wife dome, and by thejftirit of burning: that is, the 
 holy Ghofl, who is as jFrf ,that melts th^foder, and 
 loofcns itj& alfo the word,/^r.2 3 .24.8c fo alfo 
 in Mai. 3 Xhrift there is compared 10 fir e,zwd to 
 Fullers fope 3 znd all to expreiTe the divers wayes 
 that the Lord hath to cleanfe our fpirits from 
 fin. Sin cleaves to the foule as droffe to the gold: 
 now the Jpirit of burning clean feth and purifies it ; 
 yea it doth it violently^ and thcrf ore it is faid to 
 be a hammer alfo in /mw). Againe,fin finks in as 
 a deep ftain,therfore Chrift is as fope to cleanfe 
 it. And therfore goe,and fay to GW,Rather than 
 I fhould not be cleanfcd, Lord cleanfe me with 
 the fire of affliftion: as it is alfo called, Z^£. \ 3 . 
 9 . And I will bring the third part, faith the Lord, 
 through the fire, and will refine them, as filver is rcfi- 
 ned,andwill try them,asgoldistryed. It were beft 
 (my beloved) if you would yeeld to the Spirit, 
 and the Word,thzt they may cleanfe you before 
 his fight:For if they will not do it,he will come 
 with the fire of affli<5Uon,& it is better that you 
 fhould be fo dealt with, than that your foulcs , 
 being ftill uncleane,fhould perifh for ever. 
 
 To fit thy fpirit for the Lord, that is a fpirit, 
 and the father of fpirits, thou muftgoc yet one 
 ftcp further- thou muft labour to beautifie it, to 
 feek to adorne it with allipirituall excellencies . 
 N o w if thou wouldeft beatify it by any thing, 
 feeke not for outward excellencies, as clothes, 
 
 fine 
 
 «5 
 
 Mai. 1. 
 The fpirit as 
 fire: 
 
 Zach:i3,^ 
 
 Adorne the fpi- 
 rit with fpirit 
 tuall excellen- 
 cies 
 

 Ike SiMPLiciTYd/Goo. 
 
 Ifay 66, z i 
 
 iPet:$.j. 
 
 Prov^Ui 
 
 fine apparell, or adorning in the fight of met , 
 but feeke fuch an excellency as is futabie to the 
 fpirit: feeke not other things, for they arc fuch 
 things that God regards not. So that, as every 
 manfeeks fome excellency or other,vhat whi< h 
 thou art to feeke is,to get fpirituMl excellency 
 fuch as may beautihe i Wy heart; for that which 
 is outward, GWregardeth not. You fhall fee an 
 excellent place for this^lfiy 66.i.Jtitf>e(e things 
 hath my handmade, faith the Lo id'jk'ui to this man 
 Willi looke, event* him that is poore, and of a con- 
 trite fjtir it, andtremblethat my word. When the 
 L^lookes upon ail things here below , lMj 
 hand hath made thi'm, faith he, and Icandifpolc 
 of them as I will: but what is it,of all them,that 
 I doe eftcemc < a fpirit that is fafhione-d , and 
 beautified with inward ornaments, fo that it 
 trembles at my word , that is the thing which I 
 regard. So 1 Pet. 3.3. you have a companion 
 there of outward excellencies, and of the fpiri- 
 tuall decking of the inward man, which the 
 Aportleprcferrcth, becaufe that is a thing that 
 is eftecmed of by God. Whofe adorning, faith 
 the Apoftle, let it net be that outward 'adorning, of 
 plaiting the ha? re, and of wearing golde, or of put- 
 ting on of apparell : But let it be the hidden man 
 of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even 
 the ornament of a meeke and 'quiet fpirit , which is in 
 the fight of God of great price .So it isfaid of wife- 
 dome, Prov. 3 . 22. It fhall be life to thyfoule, and 
 grace to thy necke .* that is, wifidome adorncs the 
 foulc in the fight of G o d, therefore that is the 
 
 excellency 
 
God a Spirit 
 
 l 7 
 
 excellency that is chiefly to be fought by us., e- 
 ven thus to adorne thy foule. 
 
 And there is good reafon for it: for if thou 
 confider what thy body is, and what thy fpirit 
 is,thou (halt fee, that all thefe things that doe 
 adorne the outward man, are not the excellen- 
 cies to be fought after. Indeed there are divers 
 kindesofthofe excellencies 5 they are of three 
 forts.Firft,cxcellency o£clothes,znd building,znd 
 fuch gaudy things, which children and vaine 
 men and women are fenfible of.Secondly,great 
 titles, iwd honours, and great rewards, which a 
 higher fort of men are capable of. Thirdly, the 
 excellency of learning ,znd knowledge, mdskillm 
 Arts and faences 5 and this alfo is but an outward 
 excellency : for though it be feated in the fpi- 
 rit, yet it inables onely to outward things. 
 Thefe are not the excellencies that thou fhoul- 
 deft feeke for: but it is an excellency of the fpi- 
 rit thou art to regard : looke to thy fpirit what 
 that is : for as the fpirit is,fuch is the man. Per- 
 feflio mentis ejlperfeffio hominis, this is the proper 
 excellency:the body is but,as it were,the {heath 
 for the foule ; a man is faid to be more excel- 
 lent, as his foule is excellent : the excellency 
 thereof is a mans proper excellency, and every 
 one fhould labour to excell in his proper excel- 
 lency. Other excellency is but an outward ex- 
 cellency, this excellency is that which is intrin- 
 fecall to a man • the other are but adventitious, 
 they are not proper, and are not that which 
 makes the difference, as this doxh.Thc righteous 
 
 Bb is 
 
 Outward ex* 
 
 celfencicsnot 
 to be (ought 
 after. 
 
 Outward ex. 
 cellency of $ 
 forts 
 
 .1 
 
iS 
 
 Ihe Simplicity of God. 
 
 Simile. 
 
 Nothing but 
 t'uc adorning 
 of the /pint 
 commends u> 
 to Codt 
 
 lam:*,?. 
 
 is more excellent than bis neighbour : as if hee 
 faid-there is a difference of honoui,but all thefe 
 are but accidenrall differences, as men differing 
 in cloath : the eflcnriall difference is the fpirir, 
 and that is it which God regards, and by this 
 thou excelled thy neighbour. All other excel- 
 lencies are but as when a mule or an affe having 
 goodly trappings, fhouldboaft itfelfc againft 
 the horfe, which is a goodly creature,becaufe it 
 hath goodly trappings; or as if a mud-wall, 
 that the Sunnc rtiines upon, fliould boaft it felfe 
 againft a wall of marble that (lands in the fha- 
 dow. Therefore confider of this, that fo thou 
 maift labour to beautifie thy fpirit ; if there 
 were noother reafon, butthat he is a Spirit,and 
 that he beholds the excellency of the fpirit,this 
 were fufficicnt. Take all other excellencies in 
 the world, they make thee onely excellent in 
 the fight of man- but this makes thee excellent 
 before Go J 3 this is a folid thing, all the glory of 
 the world is but aevjj Jb;*i, empty glory , as being 
 efteemed vaine and empty men; but that which 
 makes thee excellent before GW,is this. As it is, 
 lam. 2.5. Hath not God c ho fen the poore of this world 
 rich infaith^ andheires of the kingdome which hee 
 hath prom; fed to them that love him f As if hee 
 fliould fay, that which makes men glorious, is 
 their faith and holineflc within, that is the thing 
 jthat makes us excellent in Gods fight > and ina- 
 jbles us to doe higher workes: all other things 
 habilitate us but to the things of this life 5 but 
 grace makes thee ftrong , and makes thee to 
 
 ferve { 
 
<^Bfc 
 
 God a Spirit. 
 
 *S> 
 
 ferve the L ord with fear e and reverence y Heb . 1 2 . 
 28. And therefore fayes the Apoftle, If there 
 be any vertue or praife, thinke ofthefe things: Phil. 
 4.8 . though the world feekes other things after 
 their ovvnc fancie , yet feeke you after thefc 
 things ; this is the excellency that wee fhould 
 feeke, for this adorncs thy fpirit. And now if I 
 fliould aske any man, whether is it not better to 
 have Gods image renewed in him,and to be like 
 to him,than to have the excellency of humane 
 knowledge? every one would fay, that to have 
 Gods image renewed in them,were the beft: but 
 then why doeft thou not bufie thy felfe about 
 it? why doeft thou not labour for it ? why doe 
 you ftudie much, and pray fo little i So if I 
 fliould aske another, whether grace,or outward 
 excellency were better? he would fay, grace : 
 but then why doe you not beftow fome time 
 about it,to get it ? It is a great figne that the( 
 heart is righr, when wee can judge aright of 
 things as Go d judgeth of them, and of the ex- 
 cellency that is to be fought by us. 2 Cor.$ .It is 
 made a figne of a nerv creature, thathee doth 
 judge aright of 'fyirituall things. lam. 1 . 1 o . It is 
 made a figne of a man converted to G o d, 
 vihcnhcc is brougat low, that is, heeisdrawne 
 from that high efteeme of outward excellency, 
 which before he had ; when hee fees that they 
 are but fading flowers,tbings of no worth: and 
 thus the foule gets ftrength to it felfe. 
 
 When thou haft cleanfedthy (pirit, when thou, 
 haft adorned it with fuch fpirituall beauty y fo 
 
 Bb z that 
 
 Heb:i&.i*. 
 
 PhH:4.«. 
 
 2 Cor: j. 
 
 lames I.Jo. 
 
 Let the fpirit 
 rul«. 
 
20 
 
 The Simplicity of God. 
 
 aCor.6:ii 3 ij 
 
 that GWisdelightedinthee: then thou muft 
 goeyet further : thou muft let it have rule, and 
 dominion; thou muft let it have the upper hand 
 of the body in all things. Let thy fpirit be ftill 
 advanced, that is, let it not be drowned with 
 the body, but be emergent ftill above it, kept 
 from all bafe affe£Hons,let it be cleare from all 
 thofe mifts andcorporcalldroffe, that is, from 
 thofe bodily affeftions ofmeat^drinkjUncIean- 
 nes,fports,paftime,&c. wherewith the body is 
 delighted: for this fpirit is the moft excellent 
 thing in thee,thcrfore it is meet that it fhould 
 have dominion, that it fhould not be brought 
 into fubje<5tion,no not by any fpiritual luft,that 
 arifcthfrom thefpirir, that the body is not ca- 
 pable of 3 much more then a fhame is it to be 
 brought into fubjedion by any bodily luft,that 
 wrongs the Father of Jpirits. 1 Cor .6. 12,13.0*7/ 
 things are lawfufl to w,faith the Apoftlc, but I will 
 not be brought under the power of any thing. Meat is 
 for the belly, and the belly for meat, but Godjhall de- 
 stroy both it andthem.His meaning is this, I fee 
 that it is not convenient for me to eatc fiefh ; I 
 doe not deny but that I have a defire to eate 
 fk(h as well as others , but becaufe it is not 
 convenient, therefore I will bridle that -appe- 
 tite : for, CM eat is for the belly, and the belly for 
 meat, but GodJhalldeHroy both it andthem. If that 
 . appetite fhould prevaile , the body would rule 
 over the Joule: but that I will not fu ffer, that 
 my fpirit fhould be brought into fubjedion by 
 any bodily appetite. And confider, what an 
 
 unrca- 
 
God a Spirit, 
 
 21 
 
 unreafonablc thing it is , that the fpirit fhould 
 be brought under the body. There are but two 
 parts of a man, and they draw us two wayes : 
 the fpirit drawes us upward to the Father of/pi- 
 rits y ( as it is a fpirit: ) and the body drawes us 
 downeward.Now confider which fhould have 
 the upper hand , they will not goe both toge- 
 ther. Now know thiSjthat if the fpirit be under 
 the body, it will breede confufion, and be thy 
 deftru&ionintheend. It is fo in other things- 
 looke into the Common-wealth, if you fhould 
 kefervants riding^and Princes going on foot .-looke 
 intonature,if the fire and aire fliould be below, 
 and the water and earth above, what confufion 
 would there be? So is it in this cafe. The Apo- 
 ftle compares them to bruite beafts,2 Pet. 2 .12. 
 ( and the wife man compares them to a City, 
 whofe watts are broken downefo that there is an ut- 
 ter ruine. ) Saith the Apoftle Peter, in the place 
 fo renamed, that they as natural! bruite beajls made 
 to betaken and to be dejtroyed, who fyeake evill of 
 the things the) understand not, and jhall utterly pe- 
 rijhin their otvne corruption : that is,ifa man will 
 cometothis, to fufferfuch a confufion as this, 
 they (hall even be ferved as bruite beafts are: 
 Indeed,if it were with us,as it is with beafts, we 
 might give liberty for thefe corporall appetites 
 to rule over the foule: as,take a horfe,if he hath 
 no rider, then you blame him not, though hec 
 runne,and kicke up and downe,for he is a beaft, 
 and hath no rider to fit him j but when he is un- 
 der the bridle, then, ifhee doth not doe that 
 
 Bb 3 which 
 
 Confufion 
 when the body 
 rules the fpirit. 
 
 iPet.2,ix: 
 
 \ 
 
22 
 
 The Simplicity of God, 
 
 Iohn 4. $4* 
 
 ofyVtf. 
 
 / which he (hould doc,you blame him. But a man 
 
 1 hath reafonto guide him, and he hath grace to 
 
 I guide reafon.-now to caft off both thefe is more 
 
 j than brutifli. Confider alfo, that all things , the 
 
 J more refined they are, the better they arc - for 
 
 1 they come neerer to the nature of a fpirit. So 
 
 then doe thou looke upon thy felfe- and fay 
 
 with thy (elfe • the more that the fpirit within 
 
 me is advanced, the more it is fuffered to rule, 
 
 without impediment, it is the better formec. 
 
 To give you an inftance or two, that you may 
 
 fee the pra&ife of the Saints in this cafe: 7<?£,hee 
 
 faith, Ietfeemedthywordas my appointed meales, 
 
 &c. I will rather reftraine my body in this, 
 
 than I will fuffer my foule to want that which 
 
 belongs to it; as he faith for eating and drinking^ 
 
 fo faith David for (leepey Mine eyes prevent the 
 
 morning watch J hat I might be ex ere fed in thy ft a- 
 
 tutes : that is, rather than my foule fliouldnot 
 
 doe its duty, I will deprive my body ofjleepe: 
 
 So lefes Chrijl John 4.3 jl. lefts faith 'unto themjny 
 
 meate is to doe the will of my Father, and to finifh 
 
 bis works : (this he faid when the time of eating 
 
 was paft,and they brought him meateto eate:) 
 
 his meaning is, I will be content to ncglcfr my 
 
 body , to doe that which is the worke of my 
 
 fpirit, the worke of my Father. And fuch is his 
 
 owne a<ivicc;feeke nor the loaves,faith he, not 1 - 
 
 rifli not your bodies ^kboumotfor the meate that 
 
 $>eri(l)etb: but looke that thy foule get the better 
 
 in all things. 
 
 But how /hall I know this, whether my foule 
 
 doth rule or no! 
 
 When I 
 
God a Spiri t. 
 
 *? 
 
 when the fpirit 
 ruleth. t 
 
 When the bodily appetite, and inclination I o^>;/fr. 
 (hall arifefo high , as'to rule the fterne of the Howto knov 
 foule, and the sdions of it, then thebody gets 
 rule over the foule : but when thefe (hall bee 
 fubducd, and ruled , and guided by the foule, 
 when they (hall be brought to that fquare, 
 which the fpirit within (lull fet downeyhen the 
 fpirit rules over the body. 
 
 But inclinations of my body are ftrong, in- 
 ceflant and prevailing, and I cannot rule them ; 
 what muft I doe then < 
 
 Thou mud dc/c in this cafe as Saint iWdid, 
 who kept under his body by violence, as men ufe 
 
 ObjeS. 
 
 Anfw. 
 
 The bodv 
 
 too much. 
 
 to tamehorfes ; wee mould keepe tt dgwne, wee j J wnc,v«n 
 muft take heed of carnall lufts, they will keepe 
 the body too high,as a horfe may be too luftie 
 for his rider : yet fo, as on the other fide it muft 
 not be kept too low, but onely thefoule muft 
 have dominion over it, fork is theinftrumenr 
 of the foule, and therefore it fhould alwayes be j 
 fubjeft to the principall agent: As it is fcid of a 
 fervant, that hee mould not be fupra negotium, 
 nor mfrancgotium^bViXpar negotio , not above, 
 nor below, but fit for his btifineffe : fo ought 
 the body to be the foules fervant. Beloved, 
 coniidcr this, doe but thinke what your foules 
 are, that you (houldfuffer them to be thus in 
 fubjeSion; thinke whatafliameit is,tlvttthcfe 
 bodily affe&ions (hould fo overrule the fpirit 
 that is made like to GW,the foule,that (hall live 
 for ever, the foule for which Chrift dyed, that 
 is better than all the world befide; thinke I fay, 
 
 Bb4 withj 
 
 not 
 
H 
 
 The Simplicity of God. 
 
 with your felves, what a fenceletfc and unrea- 
 
 fonable thing it is, that this heavenly borne 
 
 foule (hould be fub je& to a little walking earth, 
 
 and that a peece of clay fhould rule over it < Are 
 
 not men,in this kinde, like to beafts, fubjed to 
 
 fenfuality,thateateth,atthcy may play ,and play 
 
 that they may eate I and the foule is not confi- 
 
 dcred all this while,how it is a fpirit,that is like 
 
 toG^himfelfe,whoisaSpirit. Alas, what is 
 
 the body to it 1 It is in it as in a piifon : fuch is 
 
 the body to the foule, not to be regarded in 
 
 comparifonof it. Therefore adde this to the 
 
 other, that the foule may (till be advanced, and 
 
 that it fufFer not bodily anions to bring it 
 
 into fubjedion,left you be as bruit 
 
 bealts, fubjeft to fenfuality, 
 
 made to be taken>andto 
 
 be deftrojed. 
 
 FJNJ8. 
 
 THE 
 
God a Spirit. 
 
 *5 
 
 THE 
 
 ELEVENTH 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 E x O D.3. I3> 14. 
 
 u^^Mofes faid unto God, Behold when I come 
 unto the children of ifrael, and flail fay unto 
 them, the God of your fathers hath fent mee unto 
 you, and they fb all fay unto mejvhat is his name^ 
 whatjhall I fa) unto them f 
 
 ^ind God faid unto Mofes, / ^iM, THAT I 
 
 Second ufe from this point is 
 this : If God be zfpirit, then his 
 dominion igovemment, and provi- 
 dence is chiefly exercifedon the 
 fpirits of men. It is true, his 
 providence is over all things that 
 belong to us : but, as he is in himfelfe a Spirit, 
 fo he puts forth, and exercifeth this power of 
 his principally in guiding the fpirits of men,and 
 
 in 
 
 Ffez. 
 
 His govern* 
 ment chiefly 
 cxerciled oa 
 thcfpiiitsof 
 men. 
 
z6 
 
 The Simpli city of God, 
 
 Rom: 14-17* 
 
 Pfel,l*.i4*if 
 
 Spirituall 
 
 iudgemems 
 
 thegrcateft* 
 
 in that you 2re chiefly to obfcrvc his provi- 
 dence toward you. And that you ihall fee in 
 Rom. 14.17. The kingddme ofGod,ihd£ is,his rule 
 and government, isnotinmeateanddrinke , for 
 they are outward things, and hee that is a fpirit, 
 regards them not 5 but it is in rightcoufnejfe and 
 peace, and joy in the holy Ghoft : that is, in the 
 things that belong to the fpirit , therein is his 
 kingdome,and dominion chiefly exercifed. So 
 alfo,P/^/. 33.14,15- From the place of his habita- 
 tion hee looketh downe upon all the inhabitants of 
 the earth : hee fafnoneth their hearts alike Jieeconfi- 
 dercth all their workcs. Marke it,when God looks 
 downe from heaven, and beheldes the children of 
 mnjhz chiefeft thing that he doth, wherein his 
 government is exercifed,is,inthat hee fafhions 
 their hearts and fpirits : and therefore thofce- 
 tcrnall fubje&s of his that live with him for 
 ever, are fpirits, as the Angels, and the foules 
 of men. Therefore if thou wouldeft obferve 
 the will of the Z^toward thee, and wouldeft ) 
 fee, wherein his providence is chiefly exerci- 
 fed, looke upon thy fpirit upon all occasions 5 
 that is, what bents, what inclinations , \vhat 
 hopes, and defires hee hath put into thy foule. 
 If you looke upon me*n in the world, you fhall 
 fee them divers in their fpirits^ one man lufts 
 after riches, honour and preferment j another 
 after gaming, fporting and drinking : now 
 looke upon this temper of fpirit as the grea- 
 teft judgement of all others. Againe,looke upon 
 the fpims of other men, they are fafhioned a 
 
 contrary 
 
 — . -^-. n 
 
God a Spirit. 
 
 27 
 
 contrary way , to deny themfelvcs , to fecke j 
 grace, and avoid finne^ to be content to have 
 GWalone,to doc his worke, to leave their wa- 
 ges to GW, to live a painfull life, ferving God^ 
 and men with their fweetneffe: this is a quite 
 contrary fpirit, and this is the grearcft blcffing. 
 as the other the greateft judgement. Therefore 
 youihallfec^thatwhcnthelor^is angty with 
 a man, fo that his anger is wound up to the 
 higheft peg 5 then he gives him over to thisjudg- 
 ment:as it is, Pf. 8 1 . 1 2 . So I gave the over to their 
 o.vne hearts luHs,and they walked in their own conn- 
 fells : that is, my judgement (hall be executed 
 upK>n their fpirits,to leave them to an injudicious 
 mhidc. Againe,on the other fide, when the Lord 
 would doe a man the greatefl kindneiTe,then he 
 fafhions his fpirit another way. Deut.$o. 6. And 
 the- Lord thy Godwtli circurncife thine heart, and? 
 the heart of thy feed^ to love the Lord with all thine 
 heart, and with all thy fouls >that thou, mat ft live : as 
 if he fliouJd fay , when I mind to doe you a kind- 
 ne(Te,then I will thus fafliian your hearts aright. 
 So Ezek. 56.16. A new lie art alfo will I give unto 
 you^andanew ftirit will I put within ytu 3 and I will 
 takeaway theftony heart out of your bodies^ and will 
 give you an heart offlejh. r Thz Scripture is plenti- 
 ful in this. Therefore if thou wouldeft obferve 
 what the Lord is to thee, looke how he fafhions 
 thy. fpirit: if thou findeft that hee leaves thee 
 to unruly affections and lufts, and leaves thee to 
 be glued f to that from which thou fiiouldeft be 
 divorced • or that he hath left thee in bondage 
 
 to 
 
 Pfai.8i.12, 
 
 Dcut, 30.$. 
 
 Ezch.$6.i6i 
 
28 
 
 iTim.4>i%. 
 
 Proved by 3 
 
 Demonftratis 
 
 ons* 
 
 I 
 Outward 
 things difpcn- 
 fcd promifcu- 
 oufly. 
 Ecclcf:o.r f 
 
 2 
 ,, The guiding 
 jtUefpirit be- 
 ll on£sontly 
 to Ood. 
 
 T/tf SlMPLICITYo/GoD. \ 
 
 to the fcarc of men, as a fnare to thee, there is 
 
 no greater judgement in the world than this , 
 
 as the contrary isthegreateft mercy.Thcreforc 
 
 i in 2 Tim: 4. 22. Paul prayes , The Lord Iefus 
 
 I ChriU be with thyfpirit : as if he fhould fay D this 
 
 I is the greateft mercy that I can wifli thee, and 
 
 j the greateft good that G o d can doe thee, and 
 
 f therefore hee wifheth God to be with his fpi- 
 
 rit. 
 
 Now to fet on this point a little further, and 
 tomakethisplainetoyou: you fhallfec it in 
 thefe three things. 
 
 i.Becaufe all other things,2s riches, pover- 
 ty,health,ficknefle 3 &c.hedifpenfeth thefe pro- 
 mifcuoufly,fo he gives riches to wicked men, 
 &c. becaufe as it is Ecclef. p. i . His love, or ha- 
 tred, cannot be knowne by thefe things* Whence I 
 reafon thus : That wherein the love and hatred 
 of G o d is mod feene, therein his providence 
 chiefly exercifeth it felfe : but in the f afliioning 
 of thefpirits of men, there,and there chiefly, is 
 his love and hatred mod feene- for other things 
 come alike to men, to him thatfacrifceth, and to 
 him thatfacrifceth not. 
 
 2. The difpoflng of other things is much in 
 the power of men. A Prince, or a man hath 
 power to kill, or to fave, hee can give riches, 
 and honor,and take them away at his pleafure : 
 But to rule the fpirits , to compofe, and guide 
 the apprehenfions, and aflfe&ions of the foulc, 
 that belongs coGod alone* a man is no more 
 able to doe it, than to rule the raging fea. For 
 
 as 
 
God ^Spirit. 
 
 29 
 
 as it is proper to G o d alone, to compofe the | 
 winde,and to rule the waves : fo it is proper to 
 him alone to rule the turbulent affeftions , to 
 compofc 5 and guide them. If there beany difor- 
 dered affe&ion in the heart, as an immoderate 
 love of any thing, or an impatient defire to any 
 thing, who is able to remove it, but the Lord 
 who is a Spirit ?So y \vho can implant holy affe- 
 ftions in thee,but he alone? as, for example/*? 
 thinke a good thought, a man cannot doe it with- 
 out him,who is the Father tf$irits\: fo to per- 
 fwade a man,no man can doe it, it muft be the 
 Lord, as ?ioab faith • Godjhallperfrvade Iaphet to 
 dwell in the Tents ofSem.So to fee the hainoufnes 
 of fin,and the evill of ir,no man can do it but by 
 the fpirit of God: as it is faid,/^.i6.9,T^ Spi- 
 rit convinceth men ofSin.So to will this, or that, 
 which is good, it is he that works boththe will and 
 the deed. A man cannot raourne for fin without 
 the Spirit of Go D,and he cannot choofe but be 
 fwallo wed up with worldly griefe for worldly 
 loflcs except God keepe him, he cannot feare 
 G o D,and he cannot choofe but fearc men, ex- 
 cept God guides his fpirit-for this is one of Gods 
 prerogatives royall, to rule in the affeftions, and 
 apprchenfions of men. 
 
 3 . Becaufc the guiding of a mans fpirit,is of 
 the gicateft confequence of all other things clfc. 
 Now God is a wife commander,and therfore he 
 will not exert, and put forth his power 3 butin' 
 things of greateft moment: and indeed the gui- 
 ding of our affe&ions is all in all to us.For,in a 
 
 mans 
 
 Iohn 16.9 f 
 
 The guiding of 
 the fpirit of 
 greateft confe 
 quence. 
 
i° 
 
 ll?e Simplicityo/God, 
 
 The apprehen- 
 fion makes c- 
 vcry thing hea* 
 vicorplcaiant. 
 
 Lam, j.*j. 
 
 mans outward eftate,what things focver befall 
 him^all are nothing-, but what his apprehenfion 
 is of them , and how hee is affe&ed with them, 
 makes them croffes or comfortsrif a mans fpirit 
 be whole 5 the greateft croffe is nothings and the 
 leaft is intolerable, if his fpirit be broken. As D 
 againe,what arc all pleafant things,if a man hath 
 not a heart to apprehend them? As to /W,what 
 was all his persecution? as long as his fpirit was 
 whole within him,he carried it out wel:& what 
 was Pdrddfc to Adam^nd a kingdomc to Ah.xb, 
 when their fpirit was broken? It is the apprehen- 
 fion that makes every thing to a man heavie, or 
 unheavie,pleafant or unpleafant, fweet or fow- 
 cr: & therefore this is the ufe to be made of it,to 
 behold Gods providence chiefly on our fpirits, 
 and not onely on our owne fpirits 3 but what he 
 doth upon the fpirits of others alfo.lt is a thing 
 we {tumble at 5 when we fee a wicked man prof- 
 per , and carry all tilings in the world before \ 
 hiinj weefhouldnotfay, where is <W.f provi- 
 dence,and the truth of his promifefbut fee what 
 he doth upon the fpirit of that man. If thoufeeft 
 fuch a man more malicious to the Church, and 
 children of God,znd growing more carnall,and 
 abominable in his courfes, therein is Godscuvk 
 feene more,than in all the difpenfation of out- 
 ward curfes: for that treafure of finne which he 
 layesup for himfelfe, will draw on a treafure 
 ot wrath, which will be expended upon them in. 
 due feafo.Therfore beholdyour fpirits alwaies 
 and Gods providence upon them. i^w.3.65. 
 
 Give 
 
God a Spirit. 
 
 Give tbanforrow^ or obftinacy of heart, thy curfe 
 upon them.tht words fignifie,which is thy curie 
 upon them. Therefore if you fee an obftinate 
 heart in a man, that is the greateft: curfe of all. 
 As in receiving the Sacrament,thcre we do pro- 
 nounce a curfe to him that receives it unworthily y 
 and profanes the Lords body : but, it may be, he 
 goes on and fees ic not$but now looke upon his 
 fpirir,and fee how GWdeales with that,whcther 
 his heart doth not grow harder, and more obdu- 
 rate, which is the greateft curfe. You may ob- 
 ferve this every where* If thou feeft one that 
 hath a vaine and idle fpirit, that cannot ftudie, 
 that cannot pray,that cannot choofe but be car. 
 ried away by an unruly lull to this or that thing, 
 beleeve it,this is a greater judgment than all the 
 difeafes in the world, than all fhame and dif- 
 grace,that we account fo much of, than pover- 
 ty and crofles: as it is the greateft mercy on the 
 other fide, when a man is able to ferve God with 
 an upright heart,& to be fincere in all his carri- 
 age. Thus it is with men,and this thou (houldeft 
 obferve in thy felfe alfo from day to day. Let 
 us not obferve fo much, what accidents befall 
 us,what good is done to us, or what croffes wc 
 have, (it is true indeed God isfecne in all thefe 
 things:)but chiefly looke what God hath done 
 to our fpirit,vvhat compofing of minde,or what 
 turbulencyof affc&ions > or what quietnefie, 
 what patiencc,or what impatience- and for this 
 be chiefly humblcd,or be chiefly thankfull : for 
 to take away from Chrift the praife of fan<ftifi- 
 
 cation, 
 
 ■dbwQp — b i " i ■! 
 
I 2 - 
 
 1 be Simpli city of God. \ 
 
 Iohn4- 14. 
 Worfhiphim 
 in fpirit- 
 
 Rom 19. 
 
 What it is to 
 fervcGod in 
 
 the fpirit, 
 
 Co1.j«i6, 
 
 cation,is as much as to take away the praifc of 
 his redemption. Herein thou fhak fee his love 
 or haired manifefted to thee 3 his greateft judge- 
 mentor his greateft mercies. 
 
 The third Vfe is that which the Scripture 
 makes of it, Iohn 4. 24. If GWbea Sprit, then 
 worjhif him in faint and truth. What it is to wor- 
 Jhip G o d in fair it and truth ^ you fhall fee if you 
 compare this place with that in Rom. 1.9. Tor 
 God is my witnes^ whom iferve with myjpint in the 
 Co [pel of his Sonne ? that without ceafwg I make men- 
 tion ofyoualwayesin my prayers. The meaning of 
 it is this.When Paulhzd taken this folemne af- 
 feveration,GoD is my witnes^&c. doe not think, 
 faith he,that I have done this feignedly , I am 
 no fuch man-for in preaching the Gofpel of /<*- 
 fus ChriB, Iferve God in my faint .-that is,I doe it 
 not for by-ends, not in appearance and fight of 1 
 J men,or the like, but I doe it in my faint , that is, 
 I plainly 5 heartily,and fincevely .So that to worjhif 
 Godi»ftirit,\sjLO have a pIainne(Te 3 and fincerity 
 in our worfhipping him, that is,to doe it hear- 
 tily what we doe to him, in our praying, and 
 worfhipping him$when it is not formally, and 
 cuftomarily done , but our fpirit feconds it 
 within,this it is to worfhip him in fpirit.So that 
 the fcope of our exhortation is,that you woulu 
 worfliip GWchiefly in your fpirits. As it is faid 
 offinging Pfalmes, C0/.3 .16. Admonijh oneano- 
 ther in p films $> hymnes \& fair it mil fongs ', fwging 
 with gr act in your hearts ,&c .that is,let your fpirit 
 joyne with the outward performance. And the? 
 
 ground; 
 
God ^Spirit, 
 
 ?J 
 
 gVound of it is , becaufe Go d is a fpini , and 
 therefore hee beholds at any fuch time , when 
 you come before him 3 the inward behaviour 
 of your f pirits : that is, he obferves when you 
 come to preach, or pray, what fquint-eyed 
 ends,what vainc glory , what refped to men 
 you have. Y ea,he obferves how tarre naturall 
 conicience leades you, fo that you doe it as a 
 taske, out ofcuftome, dec. hee obferves what 
 worldly-mindednefle , and carnall affedions 
 creepe into the foule, at that time , that makes 
 you either to poft ofifthe duty, or clfe to doe it 
 in a cuftomary manner. All this doth he behold, 
 he lookes to the inward carriage of the fpirit ; 
 and therfore do you look chiefly to the inward 
 carriage,to the inward frame of your minde. 
 But what is that more particularly * 
 I will (hew it to you in thefe three things, 
 i .See that thy fpirit be as neare him as thy 
 ilippesare. ifay 29. i$. Hee complaines of a 
 fort of people,that draw nigh unto God with' their 
 mouth 3 and wah their lips doe honour him y hut have 
 removed their heart jar re from him \an 'd 'their feat e 
 towards him is taught by the precepts of men. So Ier. 
 1 2 .2 i Thou oh Lord art neare in their mouthy 'and 
 farre from their reines. Now if thou wouldeft 
 WQtjhip htm in fpirit fee that thy fpirit be as neare 
 him as thy words arc. As, for example, in 
 prayer thou confefTeft thy linneS, andprofef- 
 feft that thou docft hate them, thou prayeft fof 
 mortification,and gracc,&for weanedncs from 
 < the world- herein thy words and Gods will doe 
 * C c agree, 
 
 Particularly in 
 three things, 
 
 <^Anfw. 
 1 
 
 The fpirit rauft 
 be as neare 
 God as the lips 
 Ifay 29.13. 
 
 Ier. I J. 1. 
 
34 
 
 The Simplicity of God, 
 
 Inftancesof 
 drawing ncare 
 with the lips 
 oncly. 
 
 /agree,they are confonant,when yet, it may be, 
 the inward inclination of thy heart is farre e- 
 nough off from thefe expreffionsjtherfore bring 
 thy fpirit neare to God^s thy lips are, and then 
 thou worftiippeft him infpirit. To fhew you 
 more plainly what this farneffe off of the fpirit 
 is^take a covetous man,&put him upon the rack 
 of any exigent,where hee mud part with all to 
 fave his life,he wil fay as much as need to be in 
 this cafe,that hee is willing to part with all -but 
 his heart is fet as clofe to his wealth , as ever it 
 was before, fo that he is loath to part with any 
 thing. And take athiefe that comes before the 
 Iudge,he confefleth his fault,and begs pardon, 
 and faith that he will do fo no more:but yet his 
 heart fits as neare to his theft,hc is as farre from 
 honefty as ever he was before. So take a man, 
 when he comes into fome exigent, (for that u- 
 fually is the time) as at the receiving of the Sa- 
 crament, or at his day of death , he comes and 
 profeffeth to the Lord, that hee will follow no 
 more his wicked courfes*, but he will become a 
 new manjhere his words draw neare: but looke 
 to the bent and inclination of his heart , to the 
 radicall conftitution of it, and that is farre from 
 holineffe, there hee fits as clofe to his finne 
 as he did before. Therefore, if thou wouldeft 
 wrfhip Godin fyirit, take care that thy fpirit 
 draw neare to him upon all fuch occafions , as 
 thy words doe. A man in his ordinary courfc, 
 it may be, prayes , and his prayers are good • 
 but how farre his heart is from GW,that his life 
 
 (hewes. 
 
God a Spiri t. 
 
 ?5 
 
 flicwcs. It is a ftrange thing, that at the Sacra- 
 menr, men come and make confeflion of their 
 fins 3 and yet their fpirits arc far from it, and that 
 their pra&ife flicwcs. Confider this,if any fuch 
 be hercj you are the men that the Prophet doth 
 fpeake to 3 you draw necre to God with jour lipsjtut 
 your heart is fane from him. And this is the firft 
 particular. 
 
 When you worfliip God with all the might 
 and ftrength,and indcavour of your minde,and 
 all the faculties of them, this is to worjhipQ o d 
 inftirit. 2 Sam.6.i4..ItishidoFDavid , that 
 hee dancedbefore the Lord with a&hti might : it 
 was a worfliip of G o d, a fpirituall worfliip of 
 God, wherein David, by his outward a<ft of 
 dancing, did exprefle his exultation , and re- 
 joy cing in the L o r b. Now the text faith,that 
 he did this with all his might,with al the might 
 of his fpirit : ( for fo you mud underftand it. ) 
 It is a Metaphor taken from the body, when a 
 man ufeth all his iftrength and might to doe 
 any thing, hee unites all the forces of his body 
 to it : fo a man worjhipfeth Godinfyirit, when all 
 the faculties of the foule are concentrated and 
 united together in the performance of fuch a 
 dutie. And therefore it is called a rvrafiling with 
 the Lord, as Iacob did : and it is called zftriving 
 with God, as Paul faith, xhziy owfirive together 
 with me in prayer, Rom. 15.30. that is, when the 
 fcule, andtheminde arejoyned all together, 
 when he bends the whole foule to the worke, 
 as a man when he wraftleth , puts forth all his 
 
 Cc 2 ftrength, 
 
 To worfliip 
 God with all 
 the flrcngth of 
 the minde. 
 z Sam. 6, 1 4, 
 
 Rom:iy.3o. 
 
The Simplicity of God. 
 
 Cohj.22, 
 
 ftrength,this is to worfliip G o d in fpirit.Such 
 [ Arts 10. an expreffion you have, myitis 20. where Paul 
 
 went bound in thejpirit to Ierufakm : that is , his 
 fpirit did not hang loofe, but it was girt up in a 
 refolution to goe through with the vvorke , 
 whatfoever came of it, his fpirit was bound. 
 Now,whenthy fpirit hangs loofe upon the du- 
 tie, halfeon, and halfe off, when a man cares 
 not whether hee doth it or no, this is not to 
 worfliip God with thy fpirit ; but when thy 
 minde is girt up, and thou doeft it with all the 
 intention of thy foule^whcn thou doft it hearti- 
 ly:as it is Col. 3 .22. Servants obey in all things your 
 Matters according to the flejh 5 not with eye- fir vice, 
 as menpleafen, but infingleneff'e of heart fearing 
 God: where eye-fervice , and heartily are op- 
 pofed. Eye-fervice is, when a man doth it in 
 the outward (hew, and appearance onely , and 
 what is the other,to doe a thing heartily? That 
 is, when a mans ftrength and his foule doth 
 goe with the duty : and the contrary to this is 5 
 theloofeneffcofthe minde, and the wandring 
 of it about other things, when the body, and 
 the words are well imployed, but the minde 
 doth not goe with them 5 this is not to worfhip 
 God in fpirit, when the fpirit fits thus loofe to 
 God. And this is the fe£ohd thing,wherein this 
 worfliipping of G o d in fpirit doth confift. 
 
 The third which hath not much , but yet 
 fome difference from the former, is this, when 
 the fpirit of a man beholds G o d alone 5 when 
 his eye is upon him when hee comes to wor- 
 fliip 
 
 Whenfthe fpi- 
 rit Lehoides 
 God alpae. 
 
God a Spirit. 
 
 57 A 
 
 Col -.3. 12 ^ 
 
 Singlencfle of. I 
 hearty what. 
 
 fliiphim,andupon nothing befidcs. If a man 
 will have an eye to men, to the praifc, or dif- 
 praife that fliall follow the performance of the 
 duty, hee doth fofarre worfliip men. But hee 
 ferves GWand worfliips him in fpirir, when his 
 heart is left naked, and ftripped of all other re- 
 fpefts in the world , and fo filled , and over- 
 awed with the prefence of G o D,that all other 
 refpefts doe vanifh.This it is to worfliip God 
 in finglencflc of hearty and this is oppofed to 
 outward performance, Col. 3-22. for cye-fer- 
 vice is but onely a bodily and outward worfliip: 
 1 but when a man doth it with finglenes of heart, 
 ' then itisnoteye-fervice, that is, itisnot out- 
 ward onely. Now, finglenefle of heart is this , 
 when the minde hath but onefingle objeft to 
 looke upon-fo that to looke,not upon any crea- 
 | ture,but upon God, and none befides ; this is to 
 • worfliip God in finglenefle of heart, which is the 
 ) fame with holineflc. As the holineife of the vef- | Holineffcwhat 
 1 fcrl in the old law was w hen it was fet apart from 
 all other fcrvices to GWalone, fo the holines of 
 a mans fpirit is,when it is feparared from all by- 
 refpe&s and aimes^ and is wholly devoted to 
 him- (w hence our \voY<\^Devotiondot\\ fpring:) 
 and when a man worfhips (Wwith this naked- 
 nes, with this finglenes and holines of fpirit, 
 then he worfliips Godm fpirit. But when thou 
 commeft to pcrforaic any duty, as to preach a 
 Sermon,or to pray,and thou looked what men 
 will thinke of thee, and what praife and credit 
 thou (halt get by it, this pollutes your fpirir- fo 
 
 Cc 3 farre 
 
8 
 
 The S i mpl i c i ty of God. 
 
 £«eft.u 
 
 Whatncceffity 
 there is of fit 
 geftures of the 
 body in Gods 
 worfhip. 
 
 I Cor. 6. zo, 
 
 farreas you doe this,there is not finglenes,but 
 doublenefle of fpirk,and here is eye-fervice in 
 Gods account. 
 
 Therefore looke alwayes to worfhiphim in 
 fpirit, remember the argument here ufed, God 
 is a Spirit: that is, looke how the corporealll 
 eye of man beholds thy body,when thou com- ; 
 meftto Church, and can fee the negligence of j 
 thy behaviour, and uncomely gefture; fo Ged^ \ 
 that is a fpirit, he beholds the vanity and loofe- * 
 nes of thy fpirit within,the turning and rouling 
 of it this way,or that wayjtherfore take diligent 
 heed to thy fpirit-labour to approve thy fclfe to 
 him,care not what any creature faith or think- 
 eth of thee 5 and this is to worfhlp him in thy 
 fpirit. 
 Now here are two Queftions to be anfwered: 
 
 If G o d muft thus be worfhipped in fpirit, 
 and it is the behaviour of that which he looks 
 to , what neceflity is there then of a bodily, 
 comely, and outward gefture? how farre is 
 this required in his worfhip < 
 
 The fpirituall worfhip of God is never 
 well performed, but when it is fignified by the 
 comely geftureof thebady, as farre as wee 
 may. I fay ,t hey muft concurre,the body muft 
 goe with the fpirit , ( though indeed he chiefly 
 lookes to the fpirit )for they are both his,i C»r. 
 6.20. he muft be ferved in both.Befides,the bo- 
 dy ck>th exceedingly helpethefpirir,and it doth 
 teftifie,when you come before others, that ho- 
 lincffc and reverence , which you have of Gods 
 
 g J ° r y 
 
God a Spirit. 
 
 ?9 
 
 glory and majefty. Therefore to perfwadeyou 
 to this, .you muft know , that when ever you 
 come to worfhip God, there ought to be a great 
 folcmnity in every part of his worfhip, which 
 cannot be without the concurrence of the body 
 and fpirit of man 3 they cannot be disjoyned : 
 And you fliali fee the neceflity of this, in thefe 
 3 things. 
 
 i . Becaufe, though holinefle be feated in the 
 fpirit, yet it doth and will appeare in the body 
 at the fame time. You know, the light of the 
 candle is feated in the candle , yet it fhines 
 through the lanthorne,if it be there $fo,though 
 holines be feated in the fpirir,yet it wil appeare 
 inthebody, if it be there. It is fo in all other 
 things, and therefore muft needes be fo in this: 
 As,take any affe&ions that are in us,as a blufh- 
 ing affe&ion, whenoccafionis , will appeare 
 inthebody,whetherwewilIorno; foan im- 
 pudent face is difcerned and perceived aIfo 5 fo 
 awefulne(Te 3 and feare,and reverence, they will 
 (hew themfelves,and looke out at the windowes 
 of the eyes, and appeare in the face, except we 
 willingly fupprerfe them. Now, if thefe will 
 doe fo, furely ic holdes in this alfo. If there be 
 a reverence of the minde, it will be feene in the 
 behaviour of the body. Therefore you fee 5 
 Eliah, when he prayed earneftly, thedifpofiti- 
 on of the body went with it fa put his face downe 
 betweenehislegges. So Iefas Chritt , when hee 
 prayed for Lazarm , hee groaned in his ftirit and 
 weft. Now if he didfo, (who might be exemp- 
 Cc 4 ted. 
 
 Therein ho- 
 mines appearcs, 
 
 Simile. 
 
4° 
 
 The Simplicity o/God. I 
 
 The outward 
 man ftirs up 
 the inwaid. 
 
 Our perfor- 
 mances arc 
 Same elfc... 
 
 ted,if any might) then doc not thou thinke that 
 thou canft have aholy, reverent difp^fition of 
 theminde, and it not appeare in the body , it 
 cannot be.Therfore you fhall find that it is cal- 
 led the heart every where, becaufe the affections 
 are fcated there,and what affeftions a man hath, 
 fuch is his heart $ and the body is accordingly 
 affe<3ed,asthe heart is affe&ed. 
 
 2.Confiderthis; If thou findeft thy felfe apt 
 toacarelefte, negligent behaviour,and carriage 
 of the body, when thou commeft to God, and 
 pretended this, that hce is a fpirit , and muft be 
 worfhipped in fpirit 5 I fay, confider whether 
 this be not an excufe that thy fiefh makes to 
 this end,that it may belazic,and have fome eafe 
 to it felfe, from a falfc application of that prin- 
 ciple, God is a Spirit , which makes thee give 
 way to an outward lazinefle of thy body. 
 Therefore looke narrowly to it, thou fhouldeft 
 ftirreup the outward man , that thou thereby 
 maift ftirrc up the inward man 5 when thou com- 
 meft before GWin any worfhip. 
 
 3 . Confider, that to make any thing an or- 
 dinance , there muft be an application of the 
 whole man to it 5 otherwife, it is but a lame 
 performance, and God will not reckon it as the 
 obc dience of an ordinance. For this truth muft 
 be remembred $ That an ordinance of unper- 
 formed as it ought to be, doth ufually carry a 
 blefling with it, A prayer made,a Sacrament re- 
 ceived as it ought,a faft kept as it (hould,moves 
 the Lord to giue ableffing,and if thou doeft not 
 
 Tonere 
 
f 
 
 God a Spirit. 
 
 4* 
 
 Ponere obicem^ thou (hale not goe away empty 5 
 for it is alwayes accompanied with a blefling: 
 as it is faid to Anamat.Acts 9 . Goe to Paulfor be- I 
 holde he pray es: when it is a prayer indeed, GWcan 
 hojd no longer. Doe you think, that Paul never 
 prayed before, when hce was a Pharife < who 
 made long prayers. Yes- but it was not as hee 
 ought, he never prayed indeed till now 5 now 
 confider, when thou commeft before the Lord 
 to performe any duty to him, thou wilt fay, it 
 may be,that my fpirit is well difpofed, though 
 the gefture of my body be not anfwerable : but 
 I fay,deceive not thy felfe with this, but looke 
 that it be a thorow performance. For as it was 
 in the olde law,a lame facrifice was accepted as 
 none:fo a lame prayer,alame hearing the word, 
 a lame performance of any exercife God rec- 
 kons as none. Therefore in thefe things God 
 fends them away empty as they came. What 
 better are theye'doe their hearts get any thing? 
 Beloved, Go d is a fountaine, and if he meete simile. 
 with a fit pipe, (as is an ordinance rightly per- 
 formed) there he ufually convey es his grace: 
 but if he meet with a foule pipe,and obftru&ed, 
 there he doth not conferre any blefling. 
 
 Now, if thou faift, I have thus behaved my 
 felfe, and have not beene anfwered ? Doe not 
 deceive thy felfe • for if it be truly performed, 
 you (hall beanfwered: fo that looke, if it be 
 truly done, expect a bleffing , God will not 
 fufFer his ordinance 3 at that time, to be a pen 
 without inke, or a pipe without water. I hope 
 
 . there 
 
42 
 
 The Simplicityo/God. 
 
 Men may pray 
 much, and not 
 aiightt 
 
 Pfal:fi.i$,i7 
 
 there be none of us here thatnegled prayer to 
 God morning, and evening, that live as if there 
 were no God in the world, as if they were not 
 his fubjeds : if there be, God will wound the 
 hairy fia/pe of fuch. But thefe are not the men 
 I fpeake to$ but they are thofe that doe it from 
 day to day,they pray from time to time,and o- 
 mit it not s thefe are the men , whom wee are 
 toadvertifeinthiscafe. Takeheede, though 
 you pray every day,yet it may be thou haft not 
 made a prayer all thy life yet, and this is the 
 cafe of many. For,if thou confidereft what an 
 ordinance is indeed, thou (halt know that the 
 Lord doth not reckon all petitioning as a pray- 
 er, norfetit downe for the ordinance. And it 
 may bee the cafe of the Saints fometimes, 
 (though we fpake not now to them-) they may 
 pray often, and yet theZ^notregifter, nor 
 j fet it downe for a prayer , and therefore it may 
 never come into remembrance before him. 
 And this I take to be Davids cafe in the time of 
 his impenitency for his adultery; the ground of 
 which you fhall fee, PfaL 51.16,17. Of en thou 
 my lips y (O Lord) and my mouth jhatlfet forth thy 
 praife:&t.David,befovc he came to repentance, 
 had,as it were,miftaken himfelfe , hee thought 
 that he had prayed, and offered a facrifice, but, 
 faith he,I was deceived all this while, I was not 
 able to open my mouth to any purpofe $ there- 
 fore, Lord,o$cn thou my mouth • I brought fa- 
 crifice in,but thou regardeft it not,till my heart 
 was humbled : And then, a broken mda contrite 
 I heart, 
 
God a Spirit. 
 
 45 
 
 heart, O God,thou wilt not dejpife. Therefore you 
 deceive your fel ves, that goe on in a cuftomary 
 performance ofholyduties,andthinke that you I 
 pray, orthatthinkethis worfhip to be in the! 
 fpirit onely, when your outward man carries it I 
 felfe negligently < both are but a lame perfor- j 
 mance,they muft goe both together. Therefore 
 looke that it be the obedience of an ordinance, 
 which then it is, when not onely the fpirit of a 
 man is well fet,but the whole man is applied to 
 the duty, that is,when all the ftrengthofa man 
 goes to it. 
 
 If you fay, May not a man pray fometimes, 
 when he is walking, or lying, or riding by the 
 way,or the like? 
 
 I anfwer, There be two times of prayer, one 
 is ordinary,and in private, when you may have 
 all opportunity to doe it in a holy,and folemne 
 manner, and then you ought to doe it folemn- 
 ly. The other is, when you pray occafionally . 
 and there the occafion and difpofition doth not 
 admit fuch outward folemnity : as when a mao 
 gives thankes at meate, or prayeth when hee^ 
 rides, here the Lord accepts the will for the 
 deed: God requires not this upon all occafi- 
 onsj yet when you may, you ought todoe it, 
 in a reverent manner,not onely of fpirit, but of 
 the body alfo. You may gather it from Christ, 
 he felt on his face and prayed, Luke 22 .42 .and Da- 
 niel, and (Jkbraham, itisfaidthat they bowed 
 themfelves to the ground : And it is faid of 
 Chrift, that hee lifted up his eyes to heaven, 
 
 Tvhen 
 
 objett. 
 
 i^Anpv. 
 
 Two times of 
 prayer. 
 
 Luke 12.4*. 
 
The S i mpl i c i ty of God. \ 
 
 Luke 4 
 
 guefl.z. 
 
 How to con- 
 ceive of God 
 in prayer. 
 
 Anfrv. 
 
 when he blefTed the loaves. Why are thefe fet 
 downe^If any man might be freed, Iefus Chrifi 
 might; but it pleafeth the holy Gkoft to fet 
 downe that circumftance of him,that he fell on 
 his face,and that he lift up his eyes to heaven. 
 
 Indeed, in this cafe when it is hurtfull to the 
 body, there it may be omitted • the Lord will 
 have mercie rather than facrifice, even mercy 
 upon your bodies, So alfo, when you finde that 
 ir hurts the inward man, and hinders it , when 
 the heart doth it without deceit,that it may per- 
 forme it the better, then there is a liberty left 
 unto you to difpenfe with it. 
 
 As I fay for praycr,fofor other duties:when 
 
 a man comes to heare the word, hee faith, my 
 
 mindeis intent enough, though I make not 
 
 jfiich afhewj yet notwithftanding know this, 
 
 j that thou muft behave thy felf reverently when j 
 
 thou commeft before God. You (hall fee in Luke 
 
 \ 4. when Chrift preached,it is faid, that the eyes 
 
 I of all the people were fajlened upon him. Why is 
 
 1 fuch a corporeall gefture noted in the text? is it 
 
 [invaine? No, becaufc it is a comely gefture, 
 
 I therefore it is to be regarded. 
 
 How fhould we conceive of God in prayer, 
 
 I feeing hee isa fpirit, and a Spirit we never faw : 
 
 what conceit and apprchenfion of God fhould 
 
 we have then when wee come to call upon his 
 
 name? 
 
 Wee may not conceive him under any cor- 
 poreall fhape, for he is a Spirit : and therefore 
 j they that thinkc they may worfhip the huma- 
 nity 
 
i 
 
 God a Spirit. 
 
 45 
 
 nity of Chrift disjoyned,are deceived : we are 
 notto worfhip it as feparated from his Deity, 
 for we are to worfhip the Trinity in the Vnity, 
 and the Vnuy in Trinity,which we cannot doe, 
 if we worfhip his humanity as feparated from 
 his Deity. Therefore when you come to pray 
 before God, you muft remember * that he is a 
 Spirit, filling heaven and earth, fir ong y gracious, 
 mercifully full of goodnef'e and truth, &c* concer- 
 ning whom three things are to bee conside- 
 red. 
 
 Firft, That he is a Spirit. 
 
 But how (hall I conceive of a Spirit f 
 
 How doeft thou conceive of the foule of an- 
 other man when thou fpeakeft ,to him i thou 
 never didft fee it 5 yet thou knoweft that there is 
 fuch a fpirit that fills the body , and that doth 
 underftand what thou faift,and fpeakesto thee 
 againe^fo remember this of the Lord,that he »s a 
 Spirit: and remember that lexpreflion concer- 
 ning him,/^r.2 3 .24. with this: Can any man hide 
 himfelfe mfecret places, that I \h all not fee him, faith 
 the Lord? Doe not I fill heaven and earth, faith the 
 Lord? 
 
 Secondly, therefore, the Lord (Ming heaven 
 and earth,as the foule fills the body- thou muft 
 thinkeof him as one that fees all things, and 
 hcares all things,. Indeed the Lord is not in the 
 world, as the foule is in the body, but in an in- 
 comprehenfiblc manner, which we cannot ex- 
 prefietoyou- yet this is an expreflion which 
 we mayhelpeourfelvesby,aadis ufed every 
 where in Scripture. Thirdly, 
 
 The humanity 
 of Chrift a- 
 lonc not to be 
 worshipped. 
 
 % How God 
 defcribes him- 
 felfe to Mo/es : 
 Exod: 34. 6, 
 andalfbelfe- 
 where, 
 
 I 
 
 Ob]tft. 
 
 ^Anfxv. 
 
 How to con- 
 ceive of a fpirit. 
 
 Ier:aj.i4- 
 
 Tbe Lord fills 
 heaven and 
 earth. 
 
4* 
 
 The Simplicityo/God. 
 
 He is power- 
 ful!, gracious, 
 
 fcCa 
 
 Deut X4. 
 Exod, J4A 
 
 Thirdly 3 fixe thy minde chiefly on his Attri- 
 butes,that he is aSpirit filling heaven and earth, 
 and hee is exceeding fearefull, powerfull, all- 
 mighty,exceeding gracious and long-fuffcring, 
 abundant in mercy and truth, that he hath pure 
 eyes 5 and cannot fee any iniquity : Deut.z^.. So 
 Exod. 34.6. As CMofes could not fee him, God 
 would flievv him nofliape, but his Attributes, 
 his backe parts jfo thou muft conceive of him,as 
 a Spirit, that is exceeding ftrong, potent, and 
 fearef ulI,one that will not holde the wicked in- 
 | nocent.but (hewes mercy to thoufands of them 
 that feare him ; and to finners,if they will 
 come in unto him : And thus you 
 muft conceive of him,when 
 you come before 
 him. 
 
 VJKJS. 
 
 THE 
 
T H R 
 
 TWELFTH 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 E x o D.3. 13, 14. 
 
 L^^Mofcs faid unto God, Behold when I come 
 unto the children of ifrael, and fh all fay unto 
 them, the God of your fathers hath fent mee unto 
 you,andthey jhatlfay unto mejvhat is his name$ 
 what (hall I fa) unto them ? 
 
 ^4nd God faid unto Mofes, I k^AM, T H AT I 
 
 A v 1 n g finished that point, 
 that God is a Spirit, w hich 
 is a particular expreffion 
 of the Simplicity of G o d> 
 we come to fpeake of the 
 Simplicity it felfe: which 
 w is that A.ttribute,by which 
 he is one moft pure and entire eflence,onc moft 
 
 jimplc^ 
 
4§ 
 
 Tk Simplicity*?/ God, 
 
 Jiwple,being without all composition-^ fo that there \ 
 is no fub fiance , 2nd accident, matter, and forme, 
 body andfoule- but hee is every way moft fim- 
 ple,nothing in him, but what is Cod, *vhat is 
 I himfelfe. The rife that it hath from hence, we 
 I (hall fee hereafter. All thofe phrafes of Scrip- 
 I ture, where GWis laid to be love, truth, light, 
 and rvifedome it felfe, all thefe fhew the Simpli- 
 city olGod: for of no creature can you fay fo. 
 The creature is wife, and juft, and holy, and 
 true : but to fay, it is truth it felfe, love it felfe, 
 light it felfe, or wifedome it felfe, that cannot 
 be attributed to any creature. So that this you 
 muft know, that G o d is one moft pure, intire, 
 and uniforme being or eflence: 1 Am, fhewes 
 
 The Simplicity 
 of God proved 
 by 6 Rcafons. 
 Reaf. i. 
 There aie not 
 many,nordi£= 
 fere nt things 
 in him. 
 
 Reaj.2* 
 
 There is no 
 multiplication 
 
 that hee is a being; and if we fhould aske, what 
 kinde of being he is; he is a moft fimple and un- 
 compounded being. And that hee is fo, wee 
 will make it cleare by thefe reafons. 
 
 Becaufe,if there be many things in him,they 
 
 \ muft not be the fame,but different • if differenr, 
 
 ! one hath fome perfe&ion which the other 
 
 j wants; if fo,there muft be fomething imperfeft 
 
 in GW.for if the defed of that were made up, it 
 
 would be more perfeft. 
 
 Iftherebe two things in God, then there is 
 multiplication ; now all multiplication arifeth 
 from fome imperfedion , from fome want and 
 defeft: for if one would ferve, two would not 
 be required. As if one could draw a fhip or 
 boatcuptheftreame, two were needlefTe 5 if 
 one medecine would cure, two would be unne- 
 
 ceflary; 
 
77;e Simplicity of God. 
 
 49 
 
 Reaf 3 . 
 
 God is love, 
 and wifedomc, 
 &c.originaliy 5 
 notcfcrivativc- 
 
 cefTary ; fo in all things elfc : fo that the rcafon 
 of multiplication is, becaufe one will not ferve 
 the turne. Therefore God being all-fufficient, 
 it is not needfull, yea it cannot be, that a brea- 
 king into two (hould be admitted in him, and 
 confequentljr, he muft be moft fimple, without 
 allcorwpofition, a pure and intire eflence, full 
 ofhimfdfe, and nothing befidcs. 
 
 If Go d fliould have love in him,or juBtce, or 
 wifdome, or life, or any other quality different 
 from his eflence 5 as the creatures have them, he 
 (hould be what he is,not originally of himfelfe, 
 but derivatively, and by participation, and fo 
 imperfe<5tly : astobefiered is more imperfed 
 than to be fire it felfc , to be gilded is more im- 
 perfed than to be golde it feife : So to be wife, 
 loving, holy, that is, to beindewedwith the 
 qualities of wife dome Jove, holine(fe, is more im- 
 perfe<5t,thantobem/y^0/#£, and Aw, and^//- 
 nejfe it felfe. Therefore there is not a fubftance 
 and a quality in G o D,as in the creature:but he 
 is love ,znd light, and wifedome, and truth, andfo 
 the Scripture exprefleth him. 
 
 Wherefoever there is any compofition, there 
 muft be two or three things, fo that there may 
 be adivifio^ they are feparable, though not fe- 
 parated ; but where divifion may be, there may 
 be a ciijfolution, and fo deftru<ftion,though it ne- 
 ver be : But of God, we cannot fay,that this may 
 be , and confequently , there cannot be two 
 things in him,but what he is, he is^ one moft/w- 
 V> moft fare, and moft mire being , without 
 
 Dd all 
 
 \fli 
 
 Reaf., 
 
 God without 
 composition. 
 
5° 
 
 The Simplicity of God. 
 
 Reaf. s . 
 
 God without 
 parts. 
 
 I 
 
 Reaj.6. 
 
 Godthefiifl 
 being. 
 
 all composition and multiplication. 
 
 1/ Go d be not fimple, there muft be parts of 
 
 ( which he is compounded: But in G o d bleffed 
 
 for over, there are no parts , becaufe then there 
 
 fhould be imperfc&ion^for every part is imper- 
 
 fea. 
 
 Againe, Parts are in order of nature before 
 the whole, but in God there is nothing firft or 
 fecond, becaufe he is fimply firft. 
 
 Againe, Part* cannot be united and knit, and 
 compounded together, without caufes to doe 
 it 5 but here is no caufetoknit and unite any 
 part together , becaufe he is without all caufe, 
 as hathbecne fhewed before. 
 
 I will conclude this with a reafon out of the 
 text, Heh a being. I AM bath fent meeuntoyou. 
 If hee be a being, then either the firft or fecond 
 being. A fecond being he cannot be, for then 
 there iliould be foipe thing before him > and a- 
 bove him,upon which he fhouldbe dependent: 
 but this cannot be ; therefore hee is abfolutely 
 the firft being. Adam was the first man,but God 
 onely is the firft abfolute being. Now the firft 
 being was never in pofTibility to be : and therc- 
 
 [ fore he is a pure aft in regard of his ciTence. A- 
 gaine, there are no qualities fpringing from 
 him- for if there were, they fhould have had 
 fometimesno being, and fo inpoflibility to be, 
 andconfequently havea beginning , and be a 
 creature : Therefore there is neither Potentia 
 [ubltantialis, nor accidentalis in him , and (o hee 
 muft bcpurusactw,as the Schoolemen fay; and 
 
 I therefore ^ 
 
The Simplicity*?/ God. 
 
 5* 
 
 therefore he is moRJimp/e, without all compofi- 
 tton. This I fpeakc to fchollcrs- for it is a mixt 
 auditory: and therefore you muft give raeea 
 little liberty. 
 
 Now I come to thofe ConfecSaries which 
 flow from hence- and they are thefe three. 
 
 liGodbziuchafimplCjfirJljure, and ahfolute 
 being, then hence you may fee, what a ftable 
 foundation our faith hath to reft upon • we are 
 buile upon the loweft foundation in all the 
 world, that is, upon the firft,moftabfolute,and 
 fimple, and pun, and intire being . which I fay 
 is the loweft foundation, that depends upon no 
 othcr,but all upon it; and this is the happy con- 
 dition of all Chriftians,and of them alone. An- 
 gels, men, heaven and earth are foundations to 
 fome things which are built upon them: but 
 they are all built upon this, and therefore de- 
 pendent. For if this foundation (hake it fclfe, 
 Cfor fo he hath power to doe) they all fall to ru- 
 ine : But God is ihcfrjlfimple, and loweft foun- 
 dation, being the firft, ablblute, and Ample be- 
 therefore he that is built upon him, hath 
 
 in° • 
 
 the greateft (lability , which is the tranfeendent 
 happineffe of Chriftians } above all men in the 
 world. And this is a great priviledge of theirs, 
 which you (hall finde upon this ground magni- 
 fied and fct forth in FfiL 46.1,2. God is our hope, 
 andftrcngth ± therefore will we not fear e,t hough the 
 tart h be removed, and though the mount awes he 
 carried into the midfl of the fea, &c. As if hee 
 ihoitld fay, Though there were a fubverfion of 
 
 Con feci. 1. 
 
 See what a 
 ftable founda- 
 tion faith hath 
 to reft upon. 
 
 Pial, 4 5 i i ii . 
 
 Dd 2 
 
 King. 
 
5* 
 
 The Simplicity of God. 
 
 Confctf.z. 
 
 God cannot be 
 hindrcd in any 
 workehc goes 
 about. 
 
 Kingdoraes,and an overthrow of all the Chur- 
 ches,yea a confufion of heaven and earth , ( as 
 there (hall beat the laft day:) though the monn- 
 taines were rent from their foundations , and 
 c<tft into the middle oftbefea, yet Chriftians 
 fhouldbefureall the while, becaufe<W, who 
 is the firJl,abfolute, and Jimp/e being, and fothe 
 loweft foundation, is their hope md ftrength^ 
 that is, he is a foundation lower than all thefe, 
 that when all thefe things fhall corae to mine, 
 yet God on whom we truft,fhall be a fure helpe, 
 and comfort. 
 
 Beloved, this is to be confidered , that you 
 may know what your comfort is , and upon 
 what foundation you are builr. 
 
 If God be mod Jimple^ without all compofi- 
 tion y then this will follow, that hee cannot be 
 hindred in any thing that he goes about to doe, 
 but is moft independent as in beings fo in working y 
 by reafon of his fimplicity. There is no creature 
 but may be hindered: for in the beft of the crea- 
 urcs, to wit,in the Angels,there is an effence, & 
 arv executive power by which they worke:Even 
 as you fee it in thej5W, there is the fubftance of 
 fire y which heateth not by it fclfe,& the quality 
 oiheate by which it worksmow where there are 
 two things,an effence and a faculty by which it 
 workes, fomething may come betweene, and 
 hinder the working and operation. As in the 
 Babyhmfb furnace, God feparatcd betweene the 
 fire, and the heate, that it could not burne the 
 men that were caft into it, Dan. 3 . So hee doth 
 
 with 
 
I The Simplicity of God. 
 
 with the Angells,hee comes betvvecne the fub- 
 ftance,and the executive power, and often hin- 
 ders them from doing what they would: But in 
 God, feeing hee is moft Jimp/e, and intire, there 
 is not an c0ence, and executive power, ( as the 
 Schoolemencall it:)thercfore there can nothing 
 comebetweeneto bean impediment 5 there is 
 not any a&ion that hee intends, but hee workcs 
 it abfolutely and of himfelfe. Therefore we are 
 toconfider, that that God which wee have to 
 worfhip and fcrve, that nothing can come be- 
 tweene^ and hinder him in working, but what 
 he will doe, he doth: and therefore we fhould 
 learne to feare before him, and to truft in him, 
 and to acknowledge the greatnefTe of his pow- 
 er,and to know the grounds of it. 
 
 Hence like wife it followes, that all the At- 
 tributes of God are equall among themfelves, 
 not one higher than another, or larger than an- 
 other 5 for if he beftmple, and there are not two 
 things in in him,then his Attributes, and his ef- 
 fence,and himfelfe are the fame • and if fo, one 
 cannot exceede another 5 his mercy is not be- 
 yondhis;##/Ve, nor his jujlice beyond his wife- 
 dome. Therefore though he doth put forth one 
 Attribute now, another then, yet wee muft not 
 thinke that his mercy is greater than all his At- 
 tributes: uierefore that place in the Pfalmift, 
 His mercy is above alibis workes y is commonly 
 mifunuerftood. The meaning is not, that his 
 mercy execedes all his other Attributes , but 
 thathis mercy is over-, and upon all his workes. As 
 
 Dd3 the 
 
 5? 
 
 Confecl. 3 . 
 
 Thatthc Attri- 
 butes of God 
 arc equall in 
 hisiufticcjand 
 his mercy, &c. 
 
54 
 
 Ihe Simplicity of God, 
 
 Simile. 
 How the mer- 
 cy of God is 0' 
 ver all his 
 workes. 
 
 Vfeu 
 
 To labour for 
 contcntednefTe 
 with the fim- 
 piicityofour 
 condition. 
 
 the warmth of the hen is over all the egges, to 
 warm?, andcherifh, and hatch them: io Gods 
 mercy is over atlhis workes, tocherifli, andnou- 
 rifli,and perfeft them- that is, it is (hewed forth 
 upon them all. For it is not a comparative 
 fpeech, as if his mercy did exceed all his other 
 Attributes: for if all his Attributes are himfclfc, 
 they muft be equally there is no difference in 
 regard of height or largeneffe betweene them. 
 And thusthe place is to be underftood , for fo 
 the word iignifies in the original!, and not ac- 
 cording to the common acception.So much for 
 the Confedaries, now we will come to ufes of 
 praftife. 
 
 i .UJimplicity be one of G o d s excellencies, 
 then let us labour to come as neere to it as wee 
 can,by bringing our hearts to be content with 
 a fi m plicity of condition : for this is a fure rule, 
 ! The more compofition ejr divifion> the more weaknes, 
 the more impediment 3 and w khzW J he more expo fed- 
 nes to diffolution and decay. Therefore God is not 
 fubje&to wcakneffc and impediment in wor- 
 king, becaufe hee is mod fimple,not having ef- 
 fence, and faculty, fothat any thing fhould 
 come betweene and hinder him ; and therefore 
 alfo is he not capable of diffolution: and there- 
 fore the nearer any come to this fimpltcity, they 
 aretes 1 fay)leffe weake,lefle fubjeft to impedi- 
 ment and deftruftion s and the fafer,and Wron- 
 ger, and happier they be. As for example, the 
 Angells , io farre as they fallfliort of the fim- 
 piicity of the eternall God, who is blcfedfir 
 
 ever, 
 
The Simplicity^/ God. 
 
 55 
 
 ever, fo farre they arefubjeft to all this; they 
 have faculties different froin their effenccs, and 
 one from another, as understanding, will, and 
 their executive power $ hence they arefubjed to 
 vveakneflfe. For they may fall into finne, as you 
 know the fiift Angels did , and their faculties 
 jarred one with another, and fell out of tune : 
 and having an executive power , they are alfo 
 fubjed to impediment- whence neither thegood 
 Angels,nor the bad,can doe what they would, 
 but they are and may be hindred. 
 
 In the next place confider man, and as he is 
 milch more compounded than the Angels , fo j 
 he is more weake,more fubjed to impediment, I 
 more liable to decay and ruine, as ficknefle,di- ! 
 ftemper,crofIes,death : for he hath not onely a ! 
 rational/faculty as the Angels havc^but fenftive^ 
 a fen fit iv } e memory ,a fenfit iv } e fancy , and afenjitive \ 
 appetite • hee hath alfo a body confiding of di- : 
 vers members, needing many externall helpes, 
 as aire,diet, houfes, exercifes, and fo hee is fub- 
 jc&tomany weakneffes, many hurts, many im- 
 pedimcnts,and lofles of: all forts. 
 
 You will fay,this is a mans naturall condition, I object 
 which cannot bechanged,and how {hall this be 
 helped:' 
 
 A naturall condition cannot be changed,but it 
 may be exceedingly helped; if wee bring our 
 hearts to be content with a fimplicity of condi- 
 tion 5 that is, if thedifpofitio of the mind be fuch, : 
 that it be not dependent upon many things, but 
 upon few • this is done when the thoughts and 
 
 Anfxv* 
 
 Dd 
 
 affeft 
 
 ions 
 
5* 
 
 The Simplicity o/God. 
 
 To be content 
 with God a- 
 lone,and not 
 depend on ma- 
 ny things* 
 
 affe&ions of the minde doe not lie fcattered, 
 hanging or lying upon this or that thing fo, that 
 you cannot live without it ; but when the mind 
 is recolle&ed and gathered up, fo that you can 
 be content with a fimplicity of condition, with 
 God alone for your portion $ fo that you can 
 live with exceeding little, not requiring a mul- 
 titude of things, upon which the contentment, 
 and fatiffa&ion of the minde doth depend. As 
 for example; fome men cannot live without 
 fports and pleafure, and a great living to main- 
 tainethem: another muft have great learning 
 and gifts, and eminency , and praife that fol- 
 lowesit: Another hath his heart fo wedded 
 to a convenient houfe, wife, children, compa- 
 nions, &c. that if any of thefe be taken away,he 
 is dead in the neft:Not to fpeake of their vaine, 
 bafe, diftempered affe<ftions,who muft have an 
 hundred things, their fancy is infinite, and all 
 muft be to their minde, or elfe they are ftill 
 complaining. Now the more things a man 
 necdes, the more compound, andleflefimple 
 hee is, (as I may fo fay) and confequently, the 
 weaker he is, and more apt to be hindred,more 
 apt to be hurt and difquietcd 5 becaufe tf you 
 touch any of that multitude of things, upon 
 which his heart is fet, he is prefently troubled^ 
 which is more cafily done , as the things are 
 more, upon which his affeftions are placed : 
 but he is beft, who is come to that felfe-fuffici- 
 ency of minde, and to be content with that fim- 
 plicity of condition, that he can fay of any of 
 
 thefe 
 
7be Simplicity of God. 
 
 57 
 
 Ol'y 
 
 ect. 
 
 To ufe out- 
 ward things 
 with weaned 
 heaits. 
 
 thefethings; lean livebythem and without! 
 them, I can live without liberty, I can live 
 without friends , I can live without fports and 
 pleafure, without worldly credit, and efteerae, 
 without wife, and children, without riches, 
 without conveniency ofaire,garden, orchards. 
 This is the condition that wee (hould labour to 
 grow up to : and the necrer wee grow up to it, 
 the better we are,and the fafer is our condition. 
 But will you not have us to ufe fuch things:' 
 Yes, but not to be wedded to them, but fo 
 weaned from them, that you may ufe them, as 
 ifyouufed them not ; whereas there are fome 
 that have their hearts fo glued to them , that it 
 breakes their hearts, when they have their 
 friends, or children, oreftates, or credit faile 
 them, or if they be hundred from their livings, 
 pleafureand conveniences : but he is inthehap- 
 pieft and bed condition,who can live alone,and 
 can be content with God alone- that can fetch 
 fo much comfort and helpe from him, that hee 
 can be without friends and companions, with- 
 out wife, and children; and if he be put into a 
 Country towne farre from all futablc acquain- 
 tance, ycaifhebefhutupinaclofeprifon, yet 
 hee can walkc withGW, and doc as Paul and 
 Silas y have his heart filled with joy and peace 
 through beleeving. This is the fafety and 
 ftrengthofaman. For even as the body, the 
 more ficke it is , the more helpes it needes 5 
 and the lamer it is,the more props it muft have, 
 one for his arme, another for his legges , ano- 
 ther 
 
58 
 
 77;*SiMPLICITY0/XjOD. 
 
 Smile 
 
 Phil. 4, 
 
 Objett. 
 ^Anfw. 
 
 Godlines brcc- 
 dcth content. 
 
 ther for his backer whereas a ftrong man can 
 vvalke upon his ownelegges, hce needes no 
 other Iielpe : even fo the foule, the more ficke 
 and lame it is, the more it needes; but he which 
 hath a ftrong inward man which is in health, 
 let him have God, and fhift him from veflell to 
 vefTell/rom condition to condition, let him be 
 ftripped of all , yet he can goe upon his owne 
 iegges, and can live without all. So faith the 
 Apoftle Paulj Phil. 4.. I have learned 'in what cHate 
 foever I am,t herewith to be content : that is, riches 
 or not riches, honour or not honour, yet his 
 minde had a bottome of his owne,that he could 
 ftand upon, and be happy without them. Thus 
 I fay, the more a mans affediion is inlargcd to 
 a multitude of things, the weaker hee is , and 
 more fub )c£t to be dilquieted by any thing: but 
 the more his minde is contracted, and gathered 
 into a narrow compafte , and content with a 
 greater fimplicity of condition, the fafer, and 
 ftronger he is,and lefTe fnbjed to be difquietcd 
 by any creature j becaufe let come what will 
 comc,whatfoever condition he is put into , hce 
 hatha bottome to ftand upon, heehathfome- 
 thing to comfort his heart. 
 
 But how flialla man get his minde toftich a 
 frame < 
 
 You ftiall have a meancs prefcribed in 1 Tim. 
 6.6. God/inejfe with content is great gaine : that is, ; 
 godlinejfe is alwayes joyned with contentment, 
 it is alwayes the caufe of 'contentment, and there- 
 fore great gaine. So then, be a godly man, that 
 
 is. 
 
The S i mp l i c x ty of God. 
 
 59 
 
 is, make thy heart perfett with God, ferve and 
 fearehim alone, be content with him alone 
 for your portion j heisall-fufficienr, his com- 
 munion will breede contentment and fatiffa- 
 (flion enough to thy heart, fo that thou ihalt be 
 able to live with a very {lender outward condi- 
 tion. And this is the onelymeanesto have the 
 minde drawne from thefe things that other men 
 arefogiuedto$ to labour to be content with 
 GWalone, to ferve, and feare him , to grow 
 up to him more and aiore: for hee is all-fuffi- 
 cient, there is no fuch way in the world to con- 
 trad the minde , as to have God to be knir to 
 him, to ferve and fearehim, and to be affured 
 of his favour and love in all conditions. Be- 
 Ioved,what a miferable thing is it,to have fuch 
 changeable happinefle , for a man to be fo de- 
 pendent upon many things .which are fo excee- 
 ding mutable i Therefore it fliould bee our 
 vvifedome to bring our mindes to be content 
 with a narrowneffeor fcantncfTe, or Simplicity 
 of condition, to let the minde be drawne into 
 as narrow a compafle as may be^and fo to come 
 as neereto this excellency of God, as our pre- 
 fent humane condition wil well permit us. 
 
 2.Seeingitisfaid, Be perfect as your heavenly 
 Father is perfect* holy as he is hoi) ,and good or kind 
 to the evilly as hee is, causing the raise to fall upon 
 them, and his Sunn* to fhine up$n them : So upon 
 the fame ground we may fay, Be fimple as he is 
 fimple : that is,you muft labour to grow up to a 
 fimplicity of minde • and fuch a fimplicity as 
 
 is 
 
 Ffez. 
 
 Labour for 
 fimplicity and 
 /inglenefle of 
 heart. 
 
Two things in 
 fimplicicy, 
 
 I. 
 
 60 77;e Simplicity*?/ God. 
 
 is in almighty Coayou cannot leach to: but to 
 have a heart immixed , to be cleanfed from 
 drofle, as the golde is, you fhould labour to get 
 fuch z Simplicity of minder thing often commen- 
 ded in Scripture. What this Simplicity is , wee 
 have briefly touched heretofore , and wee will 
 now open it to you more fully. 
 
 There are two things required to fimplicity 
 or finglenefje of heart. 
 
 1. That the heart looke but upon one fingle 
 obje&. 
 
 2 . That it be fo cleanfed from all admixture 
 of finfull affc&ions,as gold is faid to be fimple, 
 when it is cleanfed from dro(Te,& the ay re from 
 darkneffe, that fo the frame of it may be fitted 
 to doe fo. 
 
 For the firft,I pray you mark that in Iam.i.s. 
 A double-minded man is unjlable in all his xvayes : 
 
 av^p J^^%os,<i?tcLTa9aro^By a double- minded man 
 there is meant, one whofe mind hangs between 
 a double ob je&, fo that hee knowes not which 
 ofthe two is more eligible 5 his mindeisinan 
 even ballance,where neither fcale doth praepon- 
 derate:On the contrary,he is a finnple or fingle- 
 hearted man, who is not thus divided bctweene 
 two obje&s, but he fo refolveth and pitcheth 
 upon one,that he fubordinates all the other to it. 
 As for example,a double-minded man, hath an 
 eye to God and his credit , to God and his plea- 
 fure 5 to GWand his friend $,he would faine grafp 
 both, and is willing to part with neither : fuch 
 a man goes not ftraight on, but he walkes une- 
 venly 
 
 The heart muft 
 looke but upon 
 oneobiett. 
 Iam.1.8. 
 Double- min- 
 ded man^who. 
 
The Simplicity of God. 
 
 61 
 
 vcnly in his courfcs; ijcctTot^To^ fomctimes it 
 may be , while hee is quiet and no temptation 
 doth aflaile him, then he walkes with Cod by a 
 ftrait rule, but let a temptation come, and put 
 him to ir, then he fteps out of the way, he will 
 not let his credit or his profit go. As a weather- Simile. 
 cocke, let there be no winde at all,and it ftands 
 ftill like a fixt thing : but as foone as the winde 
 comes it turnes about.So is it with fuch a man, 
 while he is quiet, while religion cofts him no- 
 thing , hee walkes on in an even way, but let a 
 temptation come and aflault him, and then be- 
 cause he hath not a (ingle obje<5i,upon which he 
 is refolved, therefore he goes out, and walkes 
 unevenly. The contrary to this doth hee that 
 hath pitched upon one ob je<ft , upon G o d a- 
 lone • hee faith , let mee have the Lord alone , 
 and heaven alone , though I have no more , 
 thus I have pitched, thus I have refolved, that 
 let what will come, I will part with all, when 
 it comes into compofition with this. Beloved, 
 you never have a fingle heart till now. This 
 finglenefie of heart Dovid exprefleth in himfelfe, 
 Pfal. 27.4. O ne thing have I defsred, that I will 
 require , that I may dwell in the houfe of the lord 
 all my day es^and behold thy beauty : that is,this one 
 thing have I chofen , I have pitched upon it, 
 I care for nothing befides^if other things come, 
 fo it is , but this I require , that I may walkc 
 with the Lord , that I may be in his houfe all my 
 dayes : that is, that I may injoy theufe of Gods 
 ordinances , and walke with him 5 and beholde I 
 
 his\ 
 
6z 
 
 TJ?e Si mpli c i tyg/God. 
 
 The heart muft 
 be cleanfed 
 from {Infuli 
 affe&ions. 
 
 Simile, 
 
 Sinfull afFe&i- 
 ons make the 
 heart double. 
 
 his beauty in them. And fuch a fpeech was that 
 oichrijl to Martha-fine thing is necejpiry; that is, 
 if you looke to any thing elfe,your heart is not 
 fingle : you ought to take him alone , as a wife 
 takes a husband , that muft have none befides , 
 (for f o it muft be.) And th is is the firft thing re- 
 quired to jimpltcity and finglenejje oj % $irit. The 
 fecondis this. 
 
 Let the heart be cleanfed from all admixture 
 of finfull affe&ions, and fo brought into fuch a 
 frame, tint it may be apt to looke onely upon 
 one objed, upon God alone. And this I take 
 ouioi Matth.6.zz.Theligbt of the body is the eye^ 
 if then the eye be fingle y the whole body fball be light , 
 <&c even as the eye guides all the members of 
 the body,the hands,teete,&c. fo doth the heart 
 or minde guide all the aftionsofaman. Now 
 as the eye, if it be vitiated or diftempered with 
 drunkennefte, or furfeit, or the like, it doth not 
 reprefent things fingle, but double, and treble, 
 and fo makes a man to walke unevenly : (o fin- 
 full affedions , which are contrary to the fim- 
 flicity of the minde , doe fo diftemper it that it 
 cannot looke upon G o d alone, as upon one 
 fingle obje&,but it hath an eye to other objedte 
 with him, and he is diftempered between them, 
 andfohe walkes unevenly. As for example, 
 feare will make a man to walke in a. double 
 way- all diflemblingand double-dealing car- 
 riage comes from feare; were it not for feare, 
 men would be pIaine 5 andfimple:thercforefcare 
 of men, or any creature, lode of credit, life or 
 
 liberty, 
 
The Simplicity of God. 
 
 ** 
 
 liberty, this is a (hare, and diftcmpers the eye 5 
 and till the heart be cleanfed of thefe , you will 
 never walke evenly. And fo doth covetouf- 
 neflTe diftemper us, and volt\ptuoufncffe, or any 
 
 crAgovg^/cc inanykinde, any over-eager defire, 
 or too much hafte to accomplish the end which 
 a man propounds to himfelfe. So Jacobs too 
 much hading after the blcffihg made him not 
 to looke fingly upon GeJ$ but to goe a double 
 and uneven way inufing unlawfull meanes to 
 obtaineit. And [Jeroboanis too greedy defire of 
 the Kingdome, made him to joy ne God and the 
 Calves together: for two feverall principles 
 cauie two feverall motions. And fo is it when 
 there is any inordinate affeft ion, be it what it 
 will be, there is not ■zfimplicitj-oi heart ; and if 
 there be not, you will never looke upon Goda- 
 lone, but upon fome creature, upon fome ob- 
 ject or other. Therefore, 74^^4.8 . Clean fc your 
 beartsyou wavering-minded. As if when the heart 
 was cleanfed from corruption, the mind would 
 be freed from wavering, and brought to fim- 
 plicity : were the heart purged, there would be 
 a con(kncy and evenneffe in our mouth, and in 
 all our wayes. 
 
 This exprctfion of fimplicity you fhall find in 
 Matth. 10. 16. BeholdeJ fend you as (heepe among 
 wolves :be wife therefore as ferpents^and innocent as 
 doves.Tte meaning is this: I fend you (faith our 
 Saviour )among men ascruell as nWi^y, that will 
 perfecute,and hurt,and devoure you- wherefore 
 I give you leave,nay exhort you to be wife as 
 
 frpents, 
 
 lames 4.8, 
 
 Matth io. 
 opened. 
 
6 4 
 
 The S i mpl i city of God. \ 
 
 ferpents, that is, asfervents have many wiles,doe 
 winde and turnc to (helter offa ftroke, and de- 
 fend their head, fo doe you : but on the other 
 fidc,take heed of being toofearefull of this per- 
 fccutioft,fo that when to endure it comes to be a 
 duty, you doe not ftirinkebacke and withdraw 
 your felves,but in fuch a cafe let your hearts be 
 fimple, cleanfedfrom fuch an inordinate affe- 
 &ion,as that feare island even take that blow,as 
 the doves doe, which have no wiles as the (er- 
 pents have to defend themfelves, but ftand ftill 
 and take the blow. So that in any fuch cafe when 
 a duty is to be done , as the profeffing of my 
 name, or the like, here you muft take the blow 
 as willingly as a dove doth,there is no avoiding 
 in fuch a cafe-therfore take heed that your hearts 
 be fimple, that there be no feare there. And this 
 is the very meaning and fcope of the words.//*- 
 nocent as doves , fimple as doves in the original!: 
 th^tis, letnofinfuli inordinate temptation ad- 
 mixe it felfe,and fo deprive you oithisjimplietty 
 of heart,becaufe you doe not like my fervice. 
 This you (hall fee lively exemplified in Saint 
 i Com, i*.o- Paul, 2 Cor. i . i z . For our rejoycing is this, the te- 
 pencd. JUmony of our sonfeience , that in fimplicity and 
 
 godly fincerity, not withfiejhly wifedome, but by the 
 grace of God, wee have had our converfation in the 
 world, and more abundantly to you wards. St.Paui 
 was a very prudent man, and therefore hated 
 above all the Apoftles, even as Saul was angry 
 with David, becaufe he walked wifely, he was fo 
 fubtle to efcape out of his hands, which is as if 
 
 the 
 
The Simplicity of God. 
 
 the hounds fhould complaine of the hare , that 
 (he hath fo many trickcs to efcapc from them : 
 but,as I faid, hee was a very prudent man, and 
 he ufed thefcrpents wifedome to fave himfelfe, as 
 he did when the affembly confiftcd of Sadduces 
 and Pharifts, hee put adivifion betweene them, 
 and fo efcaped himfelfe, as it were through the 
 middeft of them. So the firft part was true in 
 him, hee was asrvifettsaferpcnt, to keepe the 
 blow off from himfelfe. But now (faith the A- 
 poftle) if cainall wifedome (hall come in, that 
 is, if my underftanding (hallfuggeft an inordi- 
 nate meanes,and (hall fay,Goe and give a bribe 
 to Ftlix, and thou (halt efcape imprifonment, 
 as by this meanes at another time hee might 5 
 or goe and take a gift of thefe Corinthians, and 
 thou flialt have fomething of thine owne , and 
 {halt not be fo dependent on the almes of o- 
 thers-now,faith he,when carnall wifdome {hall 
 fuggeft any fuch thing to tne 3 I never would ad- 
 mit of it,but I have walked mfimplicity and god- 
 ly pureneffe toward all men, but efpecially to- 
 ward yo^Connthians^ here was in him the fim- 
 plicity of the Doves. 
 
 That wee might draw it to a little more par- 
 ticulars, you fhall fee an other expreflion of 
 this, Ephef 6.5. Servants be obedient to them that 
 are your majlers in the flefh, with fear e and t rem. 
 bling, in fingknejfe of your heart as unto Chriji : 
 that is, fetvantSy take heede even withfeare and 
 tremblings that you admit not by and finfull rc- 
 fpe&sin performing your duty, as there are 
 \ E e many 
 
 61 
 
 Carnall wife- 
 dome oppofite 
 to finccrity. 
 
 EphA * . 
 
66 
 
 The Simplicity of God. 
 
 R0.1M&.8, 
 
 A&si;4$. 
 
 many motives, as feare,hope,reward, and a nc- 
 ceffity to doe it,but keepe your hearts fngle,that 
 you may looke onely upon Chrift and his com- 
 mandement, and then you fiiall be faithfull in 
 your fervice- but if other refpe&s mingle them- 
 felves with xhisjimplicitj, you will doe but eye- 
 fervice, you will doe it in a double and difiem- 
 bling manner, not plainely, and heartily, and 
 [imply. Therefore let us put in pra&ife this 
 fimpltcity upon all occafions, in all other things 
 whatfoever. Rom.ii.%. Heethat diftributeth, 
 let him doe itinfimplicity: that is,men are fubje& 
 to by-ends in their good workes- as in giving 
 almes, or {hewing a kindnefle to men, there 
 may be many by-refpe<fts , as that they may 
 make ufe of them hereafter , or the like, but, 
 faith hee,kcepeyou your hearts fmple> to looke 
 upon Go D alone in them. So in converging 
 with men, when you profcfle love and kinde- 
 nefle, you are fubje^t to by-ends in doing ir, 
 but they are commended,^^ .46 . that they 
 did eate their meat with gladneffe and fngleneffe of 
 heart : that is, what love they profefied one to 
 another, they were Jimple and plaine in it , not 
 double. Compare this place with that in 2 Pet. 
 1 .22. Seeing you have fun fed your fives in obeying 
 the truth through the Spirit , unto unfained love ef 
 the brethren-^ fee that ye love one another with a pure 
 love fervently .-that is,when there is nothing elfe, 
 when the heart is-fimple and plaine, when there 
 is nothing but love, no mixture, no by-ends 
 ink. So iikcwife when you come to preach 
 
 thej 
 
The Simplicity of God 
 
 *7 
 
 theGofpell, doc hinfimplicityof heart, that 
 is , let there be nothing befides : as the Apoftle 
 faith of himfelfe , hec preached Chrttt and not 
 himfelfe, fo we ihould doe every thing in fim- 
 fliaty of heart. And fo you fhould behave your 
 felves inyourele&ions, to lookewithafingle 
 eye to the oath by which you ought to be gui- 
 ded; doe nothing for feare or favour of men, or 
 forany finifterrcfpe&. I wifh I could fpcake 
 and give this rule to all the kingdome at Parlia- 
 ment times. For it is an errour among men" to 
 thinkethat in ele&ionof Burgefles or any o- 
 thers,they may pleafure their friends, orthem- 
 felvcs,by having this or that eye to their owne 
 advantage or difadvantage that may arife from 
 it: whereas they ought to keepe their minder 
 fingle and free from all refpects ; fo that when 
 they come to choofe , they might choofe him, 
 whom in their own confeiences , and in the fight 
 of cJ^they thinke fitted for the place, and that 
 you may doe fo, you are to get a {ingle and a 
 fimple heart to doe it. 
 
 3 . If there be in God this Jimplicity that wee 
 have declared to you, thengoe to him upon 
 alloccafions^ goe not to the ftreame, goe not 
 to the creatures , which have what they have, 
 but by derivation and participation : but goe to 
 him, that hath all that he hath naturally , and 
 abundantly 5 not fparingly, as they have, that 
 have it by participation. As when a man is in 
 anymiferablcconduion,whereinhedcfires pit- 
 ty,and would be refpeftcd and relieved, what 
 
 Ee 2 wilt 
 
 Vfei. 
 
 Goe to God 
 
 rather than the 
 creatures 3 hee 
 being mercy, 
 wifedomeit 
 felfe,&c.by 
 reafon ofthe 
 fimplicity that 
 isinhim. 
 
68 
 
 I 
 For mercy. 
 
 Mat,7. x ». 
 
 2 
 
 Wifedome. 
 
 Proiu 8. 
 
 The Simplicity o/God, 
 
 wilt thou doe in this cafe: Wilt thou goe to a 
 vveafce man,and have him to pitty thee? No ; goe 
 to the great God , in whom there is mercy it 
 fclfe. Amongft men, he that is the fulleft of 
 pitty, he hath but a ftreameofit, a drop ofir, 
 therefore feeke not fo much to him • no not to 
 parents,their pitty falls infinitely fhort of what 
 is in God i remember that hee is mercy it felfe, 
 that is, thou (halt finde infinitely more mercy 
 in him,than can be faid to be in man ; the moft 
 that can be faid of man, is, that he is mercifull, 
 but that which can be faid of GWis, that the ve- 
 ry thing it felfe is there.If you have a firebrand, 
 and light it by the fire,it is fomething, but fire 
 it felfe is another thing : man hee hath a little 
 mercy, but if you goe to God, hee hath a fea of 
 mercy,and he is never dry. Therefore whatfo- 
 ever thy mifery or diftrelfe be, whether of con- 
 science or eftate, be fure, that thou goe to God, 
 and fay to him,If evill parents can be fo merci- 
 full to their children when they aske it of them, 
 what then fhall I have of him that is mercy it 
 felfe? Mat. 7. n. Solikewife forwifedome^ if 
 thou haft a doubtfull cafe, and knoweft not 
 what to doe, thou goeft to thy friends, (which 
 indeede is a good meanes, and ought not to be 
 ncgle&ed , for in the multitude of counfeli there 
 is peace : ) but remember this , that there is but 
 a little wifedome in them, and therefore they 
 will counfeli thee but a little 5 but goe to God> 
 that is wifedome it felfe, Prov. 8 . Goe to him, 
 for hee will give thee wifedome liber -attend 'with- 
 
 out 
 
The Simplicity of God. 
 
 outreproacb,Iam.i,$. thinkcofhim, that hcc 
 is the fountaine of wifedome, and fulneffe it 
 felfe. So ihhou nee deft grace, thou wouldeft 
 faine have more, thou wouldeft have thy faith 
 ftrengthened, and thy love and zeale more fer- 
 vent,goe to Chrift then, from whom wereccive 
 grace for grace, who is m.ide to m w>fedome,fan£ii- 
 fication, and redemption ; goe to God that is grace 
 it felfe. Goe no- to men, for what they have, 
 they have it from him-therefore looke upon all 
 occafions, that thou goeft to the Lord, when 
 thou wanted comfort, goe not to thy pleafure, 
 and fports,and friends, and acquaintance , but 
 goe to God that is the great God of heaven and 
 earth, that hath it in him abundantly 5 and 
 in him thou (halt finde more abun- 
 dance, that in any man or 
 creature in the 
 world. 
 
 FjfKfS. 
 
 Ee$ 
 
 THE 
 
 6 9 
 
 Iacrui.J. 
 
 Grace. 
 
The Immvtab i li ty of God. 
 
 ■*rr '- 
 
 THE 
 
 THIRTEENTH 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 ExO D.3. 13, 14. 
 i^ArtdlAoks fad unto God, Behold when I come 
 unto the children of ifrael, and fbaS fay unto 
 them, the God of your fathers hath fent wee unto 
 you, and they Jbaufdy unto me^wbat ishis name$ 
 what (had I fay unto them ? 
 <^ind God faid unto Mofes, / Uf M, TH AT I 
 K^i U : x^indhefoid^htu thou Jhalt fay unto the 
 children oflfracljJM hath fent me untoytu. 
 **■. 
 N thcfe words, as you 
 ktiow, God defcribes him- 
 fclfe to Mofes by his eter- 
 nall being-/ \^i U hath fent 
 me unto you. Now our bu- 
 finefle is to make this ef- 
 fence and being of God 
 more fully knowne to you: This is done by 
 
 declaring \ 
 
r* 
 
 The ]muvt ability of God, 
 
 The fifth Attri- 
 butcof God j 
 His Immuta- 
 bility, 
 
 lam. 1. 17« 
 
 declaring to you the feverall Attributcs,which 
 are given to him in Scripture, wee have palled 
 through divers : The laft Attribute was his 
 Simplicity. 
 
 That which followes next in order is his Im- 
 mutability oxVncbangeableneff'e. Now that hee 
 takes this property to himielfe, you (hall fee in 
 Num. 23,19. G o d is not as man that he Jhould 
 lie y neither the fonne of man that hee jhould repent. 
 Rcpenting,you know, is a figne of change • he 
 will not repent , that is, hee is not fubjedi toa- 
 ny change: whatfoever purpofe or decree, or 
 counfcll hee takes to him, hee is immutable m it. 
 Shall he 'fay , and not doe it f fl)a'{ he fpeake, and net 
 make it good ? So lames 1 . 1 7 . "Every good and 
 perfect gift is from above, andcommeth downefrom 
 the father of lights, with whom there is no variable- 
 nejfe^norfiadow of turning. When the queftion 
 was, whence temptations fhould arife. faith 
 the Apoftle, God tempts no man, for he is in 
 himfelfe juft, good, and full of goodneflc, and 
 hee can never be otherwife , and therefore no 
 temptation to evill can arife from him : and fee- 
 ing he is fo, he muft al wayes be fo, for he is not 
 changed, nay there is no liiadow of change in 
 him. So iJMal. 5.6. I am the Lord, I change not. 
 So that in this body of Divinity wee doe but 
 fumme up divers heads, and fo open them to 
 you. This is an Attribute that he takes to him- 
 felfe, and therefore wewillexplaine it to you. 
 Firft, I will fhew you the reafons why^ fc- 
 condly, an objection or two againftit- and 
 
 thirdly, [ 
 
 Mfll. 3 .*o 
 
7/# Immvtability of God. 
 
 7? 
 
 thirdly, I will (hew you the confequcnces or 
 ufes that arife from it. 
 
 Now to convince us fully of this poinr,con- 
 fiderthefcrcafons. 
 
 Becaufe whercfoevcr there is any change , 
 there muft be fome vanity and imperfection; 
 that all the creatures are iub )c£t to change, it a- 
 rifeth from hence, that they arefubjeCt to fome 
 imperfection. Now that which is moft per- 
 fect, cannot be fub j?ft to change^ becaufe in c- 
 very change, either there is fome perfection 
 added that before was wanting , or elfe fome- 
 thing is taken away which before was enjoy- 
 ed. Now neither of thefe can befall our G o d, 
 who is moftperfed, nothing can be added or 
 taken away from him ; for if any thing could, 
 he were not perfect : whence it muft needes fol- 
 low,that he is unchangeable. 
 
 Whatfoever is changeable, muft be in a pof- 
 fibility either to receive fome new being, or 
 fome other being that it had not before , either 
 in fubftance or incircumftance,orelfe it cannot 
 be changeable: now that which is capable of 
 no new being in any refped, cannot be chan- 
 ged. Now God isexceeding full of being, as 
 the fea is of water, and the Sunne of light, that 
 is, he hath all the degrees and extensions of be- 
 ing in him: therefore hee is not in poflibility of 
 receiving any other being, than hee hath 5 hee is 
 not fub jed to receive any other being, for fub- 
 ftance, and no other being for quantity , and 
 therefore nothing can be added to his time or 
 
 place 
 
 5 Reafonswhy 
 God muft be 
 immutable. 
 
 Reaf. i. 
 
 Where there is 
 change , there 
 is imperfection 
 
 Reaj.2. 
 
 God is capable 
 of no new be- 
 
74 
 
 T)x Immvtab i li ty of God. 
 
 Re*f. 3 . 
 
 Hccis Cmplc 
 without quan- 
 tity and quali- 
 *7- 
 
 Ruf.4. 
 lie is infinite. 
 
 place where he is $ neither can he receive any 
 orher being for quality, no new habits, no new 
 powers can be added to him; for if there could 
 be, hee fliould not be full of being , but there 
 fhould be fopie defe£ in him ^ if there were any 
 poffibility in him of having any more : but fee- 
 ing hee is full ofbeing , and conftantly full , it 
 cannot be that hee mould be fubjed to any 
 change ; fome other being muft be added to 
 him, or elie taken from him j but feeing that 
 cannot be, therefore fee muft needes be*wA**- 
 getblt. 
 
 In regard of his fimplicity ; becaufe, if there 
 be nothing in him but what is himfelfc, but 
 what is his efTcnce,unkfle his cflence fhould be 
 annihilated,( which is impoffible) he is not fub- 
 je£ to change. Now allthe creatures, befides 
 their eflence, have quantity in them, and that 
 may be greater or lefle in the creature • and be- 
 fides, they have quality, and therefore they 
 may be better or worfe : but GWis great with- 
 out quantity, and good without quality * and 
 therefore in regard cf his firaplicity , feeing 
 there is nothing in him, but what is himfelfe, 
 he cannot admit of any JW** cf turning. 
 
 Becaufehce is infinite 5 you know, an in- 
 finite thing is that which extends it felfe, 
 which fills all things, to which nothing can 
 be added: and therefore feeing he is infinite at 
 the utmoft extent , hee cannot extend him- 
 felfe any further. Againc, nothing can beej 
 ca^en from him, whereby bee fhould be chan- 
 ges 
 
^ I I 111 I 
 
 Tike Immvtab i LiTYof God. 75 
 
 1 a U 
 
 crearure 
 whence :C 
 
 gcd; for 3 Infinitum est, <ui nee xddi , nee admit I 
 poteji : arid therefore feeing he is moft infinite, . 
 hee isalfo unchangeable. For whatfoever is in- 
 finite, cannot be greater or leifer, nothing can 
 be added or taken from it: and therefore nucfun. ; 
 gtdUe. 
 
 If you obferve it among the creatures , you Betf.j* 
 /feall finde, that all change arifeth from one of cfeagc 
 thefe two things^ either from fomething with 
 out, orelfefromfome difpofition within tbej^aht 
 creature: But in God there can be no change in 
 either of thefe refpe&s. Not from any thing 
 without him,becaufe he is the firft and i upremc . 
 being, and therefore there is no being before 
 him,thathe fhould borrow any thing oT-nei;her j 
 is there any berng above him, or ftronger than ; 
 he, that fhould make any imprefiion upon him. ' 
 Againe, not from any thing within him- for; 
 when there is in any creature any change that 
 arifeth from a principle within, there moft 
 needes be fomething to move, and to be mo- 
 ved j fomething to alft and to fuffcr in the crea- 
 ture, elfe there can be no change: as mans bo- 
 die is fubje<ftto change, becaufe there be di- 
 vers principles within, of which fome doc ift, 
 andfomcdoefuffer,and fo the body is fubjecfr 
 to change, and moulders away : but in God 
 there are not two things , there is not in him 
 fomething to aft, and fomething to fuffcr , and\ 
 therefore he is not made up of fuch principles, 
 as can admit any change within him* So then [ 
 /theconclufion {lands fure, that hee can admit 
 I of, 
 
7<* 
 
 T/^lMMVTABILITYfl/GOD. \ 
 
 Objeft. i . 
 
 i Sam. i MI, 
 Gcn,6 .6, 
 
 <^4nftv. 
 
 How repen- 
 tance is attr is' 
 
 buted to Ggd* 
 
 Objec7.2 
 
 of no change or variation within or without 
 him ; and necdes rnuft be unchangeable. 
 
 The obje&ions againft this are but two. 
 Thcfirft is,T hat which is taken from thofepla-' 
 cesofScripture,where6Wisfaid to repent • as 
 that Hee repented that he made Saul King, i Sam. 
 1 5 . 1 1 . and Gen.6.6. It grieved him at the heart, 
 that he made man t now thofe that repent, feeme 
 to change their minde. 
 
 This is attributed to God, as many other fpee- 
 chesare, onely after the manner of men : as 
 man, when he alters any thing that he did be- 
 fore,is faid to repent : fothat it is but a figura- 
 tive fpeech , and a Metaphor, ufed, when he 
 doth make any change in the world: as he made 
 ^/*/King, 9 andputhimdowneagaine: he puts 
 meninhigheftates, and pulls them downe a 
 iagaine, this is onely in regard of the aftions 
 I done ; as when he fhewes favour to any man, 
 I and takes it away againe. So that it is but a fi- 
 gurative kinde of fpeech: not that there is any 
 change in himfelfe, but becaufe what he did be- 
 fore, he undoes it now : in regard of his a&ions 
 he is faid to change,not in regard of himfelfe. 
 
 What is the reafon that hee is faid to draw 
 neere to us at one time, and at another time to 
 depart from us,why doth the holy Ghoft come 
 into one mans heart, and fan&ifie him, when 
 before hee was an unregenerate man 5 what is 
 the reafon that Chrift which was in heaven, 
 came downe and tooke our nature upon him, 
 andlivedamongftusj I fay,what is the reafon 
 
 of 
 
The Immvtabiitvo/'God. 
 
 77 
 
 God comes 
 and goes in his 
 favour, how* 
 
 Simile. 
 
 of all this, if there be no change in the Lord. i 
 G o d is faid to doe all this, to come to us, 
 and to goe from us , and to fandifie them that 
 were void of fan&ification : even as you fay of 
 the Sunne . you fay, that the Sunne comes into 
 thehoufe, when it fills it with light, but when 
 the windowes are (hut , you fay, the Sunne is 
 gone . yet the Sunne alters not, but the change 
 is in regard of the houfe : It is faid to come in- 
 to the houfe , becaufeof the light that comes 
 into it, which before did not , but the Sunne it 
 felfe is not altered : So in this cafe, the Holy 
 Ghoft fanftifies a man, God drawes neere to 
 him in his comfortable prefence, becaufe there 
 are fome workes wrought in the heart, that be- 
 fore were not : G o d is not changed, but it is 
 the man that fuffcrs the change; hee fees light 
 now, that before was in darkneffe and in thejha. 
 dow of death ± he is faid to be changed by reafon 
 of thofe operations that now are there, which 
 before were not. So is it in Chrifts comming ; 
 there was a change in the humane nature that 
 was afl'umed, which before was not • there was 
 a worke done on the earth, which was not be- 
 fore^he put forth his power in his humiliation 
 and exaltation, which before hee did not : but 
 yet he was thefame, the change was in the crea- 
 ture, and not in him. 
 
 Now wee come to the confequencesj which 
 are two. 
 
 Hence wee may learne then how to under- 
 ftand all thofe places which wee meete with in 
 
 Scripture, 
 
 Confecl.i* 
 
 +m—*mmm» 
 
78 
 
 77;e Immvtab i l i ty of God, 
 
 How to under- 
 
 fhndfeverall 
 
 Scriptures. 
 
 Con feel. 2 
 
 That all his 
 lore, hatred , 
 ioy,&cwere 
 in him froui 
 eternity. 
 
 Scripture, wherein the Lord expreffeth fuch a 
 follicitude for the death of finners : as,JFify will 
 you diefi houfe oflfraelfwhy will you not hear- 
 ken, and obey i And, ^As I live, faith the Lord, 
 I defire not the death of a fmner . And, how am / 
 preB under your abominations y ev en as a cart ispref- 
 fedwith {heaves f And it is is faid,GVtf.6.6.T/W 
 the Lord was grieved at the heart, or it pained him 
 at the heart, that bee had made man. All thefe J 
 kind of cxpreffions (as it is evident from hence) 
 are but attributed to G o d after the manner of 
 men : not that hee is moved , for it cannot be, 
 feeing he is unchangeable : whatfoever new ac- 
 cidents fall out in the world , hee is not (lined 
 with them, he is not moved with any new affe- 
 ction: for if he were, he fhould be , as man is, 
 changeable. But the meaning of thofe places 
 is,tofhew the infinite goodnefleof his nature, 
 and the greatnefle of our finnes: fo that as men 
 grieve much,when their wills are crofted , and 
 when their worke is brought to nothing, how 
 weary are they, when they drive long, and 
 doe no good < So the Lord would expreffe 
 it to us thus, that wee might take notice, what 
 the great provocations ai e, what the finnes and 
 faults are, wherewith we offend him from day 
 to day, that wee may know what they be, and 
 what price tofet upon thofe finnes whereby 
 we weary him from time to time. 
 
 That all the love and hatred , that hee hath 
 now fince the world was made, all the com- 
 placency and difphcency,all the happineffe and 
 
 joy 
 
The Immvt ab i l i ty of Goo. 
 
 79 
 
 joy which he hath from any thing, done either 
 by the Angels or men, that hee had it from all 
 eternity, for if any thing were new in him,! 
 there fhould be a change : but now there being 
 none, youmuft needes grant this, that they 
 were in him from all eternity. So that all the 
 workes of men and Angels be nothing to him, 
 all the joy that hec hath from them, hee had it 
 from eternity. 
 
 Againe, all the finnes whereby evill men 
 provoke him, and all the punifhments that they 
 fuffer for finne, it mooves not him; but as 
 when a glaffe ruflieth againft a wall , the glafle 
 is broken 5 but the wall is not mooved:fo wicked 
 men, they hurt themfelves,but hee is not moo- 
 vcd. 
 
 Therefore hence obferve, that God mud 
 needes be moftholy, and righteous, and jttjl in all 
 hisrvayes, becaufe there is neither love, nor ha- 
 tred, nor griefe in him, nor joy, which fhould 
 make crooked,or bend the rule of his wilI,or al- 
 ter it in any adion. Men are therefore unjuft, 
 becaufe in all that they doe, there is fomething 
 that bends their wills thisway,or that way,and 
 makes them crooked, they are capable of love, 
 joy,griefe: but GW,fceing he is capable of none 
 of thefe^therfore he muft needs be raoft juft and 
 righteous in all his workes. Therefore whatfoe- 
 ver he doth, though thou feeft no reafon for it, 
 yet juftifie thou him in all- when thou feeft him 
 overthrowing the Churches, denying his grace 
 to many thoufands, and the like, yet doe thou 
 
 juftifie 
 
 Simile. 
 
 Whence I. 
 He mult needs 
 be righteous in 
 
 ailhiswayes. 
 
So 
 
 The Immvt ab i l i ty of God. 
 
 a. All his de- 
 crees and coun- 
 sel!* were from 
 eternity. 
 
 juftific him in all his wayes : becaufe there is 
 no griefe or trouble can come to him, as to the 
 creature, therefore hemuft needes be holy in all 
 his way es ,and righteous in all his workes. 
 
 If this be fo, then this will alfo follow, that 
 
 all the decrees , all the counfells , and all the 
 
 ads of his will,that ever were in him 5 t hey were 
 
 in him from all eternity : that is, there is not a 
 
 viciflitude of counfells , thoughts and defires 
 
 upon the paflages of things in the world , as 
 
 there is in men 5 for then heefliould be fubjeft 
 
 to change: For this is a furerule, Whatfoever 
 
 is under different termes, there is a change in it • he 
 
 is now, that which hee was not before : and if 
 
 there were any inftant,in which (Wfhould will 
 
 one thing which hee did not another time, hee 
 
 fhould be fubjeft to change. Therefore lookc 
 
 backe to all times , in your imaginations and 
 
 thoughts, as to the making of the world 5 all 
 
 thofe adls,thofecounfels that have bin executed 
 
 upon mcn,they were in him from everlafting. 
 
 Now I come to ufes for pra&ifeand we will 
 make fuch ufes as the Scripture doth make of 
 this point. The firft is this. 
 
 In i Sam. 15 .28,29. \^ind Samuel faid unto 
 Take heedeof I Saul, The Lord hath rent the kingdome of Ifrael 
 provoking him from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour 
 of thine, that is better than thee: and alfo theftrength 
 of Ifrael will not lie, nor recent: for hee is not as man 
 that hee jhonld repent. If G o d be unchangeable, 
 take hecde then, left hee come to this, that hee 
 caft thee off,as hee did Saul : for if ever hee doe 
 
 Vfc 1 
 
 tocaftthecoff. 
 
The Iumvt ability of God, 
 
 81 
 
 it, he will neuer repent , never alter , neuer re- 
 traft his decree. Sanl lived , you know , many 
 yearcs after , for it was in the beginning of his 
 reigne-and yet becaufe the will of God was 
 revealed clearely to him, he was bid by a cleare 
 command y Goe and kill all the <^Amalekites , and 
 
 leave not any of them alive : Saul now had a heart 
 contemning God in this commandement, 
 therefore alfo God came to a refolution and 
 decree , to caft him off: though Saul lived ma- 
 ny yeares after, yet you could fee no change in 
 him , there was no alteration in his outward 
 behauiour • But , faith he , and it is moft feare- 
 full , God doth not repent : it is not with him as 
 it is with man, for he may be intreated,and may 
 repent ; but the Lord is not as man that hefhauld 
 repent. Confider this , you that have cleare 
 eommandements from God, you that have 
 beene toldc that you ought to be confcionable 
 in your calling , that you ought to pray in your 
 families , if you will be ft ill breaking the Lords 
 will, and live idly in your calling, and rebelli- 
 oufly finne againft G o Driving as if there were 
 no God in the world ; take heede left the 
 Lord reje& you 5 for when hec hath done it, 
 confider that he is an vnchangeable GW, and 
 that all his decrees are immutable. Confider 
 that place , Bee fwore in his wrath that thcyjhould 
 not enter into his reft. It was not long after the 
 children of Ifrael came out of Egypt , yet ten 
 times they provoked him , before hce declared 
 this refolution, and many of them lived forty 
 
 Ff yeares 
 
Sz 
 
 Ier.7.16. 
 
 Ier.ii. 14. 
 
 The Immvtabilityo/God. 
 
 Id. 14.11,12, 
 
 yenres after : but becaufe many of them did fee 
 cleardy that it was the will of Go d , they did 
 fee his miracles <and his workes that hee had 
 done amot>gft them , and yet hecaufe they ftill 
 rebelled , he [wore in his wrath , that theyjhould 
 never enter into his reji.lt is a fearefull cafe,when 
 GWfhall doe this,(as<loubtles he doth it now as 
 well as then ) ( Evitn all you that heare me this 
 day,)thcrc is a time, I am perfwaded, when the 
 Lord pronounceth fuch a decree upon fuch a 
 man,faying-I have reje&ed him:yet no man fees 
 k,nonot he himfelfe, but he comes to Church, 
 and heares the word from day. But yet remem- 
 ber that God i$ unchangeable 5 for , you fee, the 
 lewes in Ierermes time , they lived vnder leremies 
 Miniftery aJmoft twenty yeares, but God had 
 rejedgd them , and hee would not be intreated, 
 though leremy and the people did pray to him: 
 There are three places fork: Ier* 7. 16. There, 
 fore pray not thou for this people, neither lift thou vp 
 cry nor prayer from them , neither make inter cefsion 
 to me for I will not heare thee. But what ifthe lews 
 being moved with the calamity when ir came, 
 fhould cry, and be importunate with the Lord, 
 would not their teares move him i No, faith 
 he : Ierem. 11. 14. Therefore pray not thou for 
 
 this people , neither lift vp a cry or prayer for ihem: 
 for I will not heare them in the time that they cry 
 vnto me for their trouble. 
 
 But what,if they fad and pray < No ; if they 
 doe that, I will not heare them. /<^. 14. 11,12, 
 Then God faid vnto me, pray not for this people 
 
 for 
 
 \ 
 
r 
 
 77;elMMVTABlLlTY of GOD. 
 
 »5 
 
 for their good: when t hey, f aft I will not heare their 
 cry . when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, 
 I will not accept them 3 but I will con fume them by 
 thefword^ and by the famine 3 and by thepefti- 
 lence.. When the day of death comes,when the 
 timeoffickene0eand extremitie comes 5 then 
 you will cry , and cry earneftly : but God (hall 
 fay to you then , the time was , when I cryed 
 to you by the Minifters, and you would not 
 heare ; nay^you flighted and mocked them, and 
 you would not heare them , I will alfo mocke & 
 laugh at y our dejlruclion. Prov : 1. 26. Doe not 
 thinke this is a cafe that feldome comes , it is 
 done every day, continually uponfome. There 
 is a double time : a time of preparing and try- 
 ing before this unchangeable decree come forth. 
 Zep. 2. i 5 2. Gather your felves together, yeaga- 
 ther together, nation not defired^ before the decree 
 come forth, before the day paffe, as the chaffe^ before 
 the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the 
 day of the Lords anger come upon you. And there is 
 a time , when the decree is paft ; and when this 
 is not pad, there is a doorc of hope opened: but 
 when the decree is come forth , then you are 
 paft hope. 
 
 But how (hall I doe to know this? 
 
 Beloved,never an Angel,nor I,nor any crea- 
 ture can tell you ; you fee that he tooke<SWat 
 the beginning of the kingdome , when hee was 
 young and ftrong • he tooke the Iewes at the 
 beginning of Ieremtes preaching 5 onely theufe 
 that you are to make of it is this : Take hcede 
 
 Ff 2 of 
 
 WtanGod 
 hath caftaman* 
 off,ailhisins 
 dcauourshclp 
 hot. 
 
 Pro.l. 26. 
 
 A drubletimc. 
 Zcph. 2.1.2. 
 
 Object. 
 Anfwi 
 
 The time of 
 Gods calling 
 off a man vn 
 knowne. 
 
 * 
 
84 
 
 Tfx Immvtabilityo/God. 
 
 of neglecting God, or good admonitions , take 
 contemning the word from 
 
 heede of 
 
 rfcz. 
 
 Gods gifts and 
 jailing arc 
 
 i 
 tamce to his 
 i z& 
 Rom.ilti^c, 
 
 day to 
 day, and faying, that I will repent hereafter; 
 for the ZW perhaps will not give thee a heart' 
 r to repent,he will not heare y ou,(as was faid be- 1 
 1 fore,) though you cry never fo much to him,as 
 in time of extremity you are likeft to doe. 
 
 Thefecondufe I take out ofRom.i 1.28, 20. 
 t^fs concerning the Go}} ell > thy arc enemies for your 
 fake: but as touching the election ,' they are beloved 
 without rep y or tf?e Fathers fah. For the rifts and cal&wrof 
 God are without repentance. The mean-ing or it 
 is this;faith the Lord J, have caflr away the Ierves, 
 and they are now enemies for the Gofpcls fake, 
 that is j that the Gofpell might come fooner to 
 you • they have rejected iyhat upon their refu- 
 fell,it might came to you Gentiles^ they are ene- 
 mies and caft off, yet they are beloved for their 
 fathers fake^that is,in regard ofthc promife that 
 \ I made to their father Graham, 1 faac, and Jacob, 
 ; and in regard of that covenant I made with the, 
 which I wil notalter 5 not,faith he,toalkhe/o^, 
 but thofe who I have ele&ed/o farrcas my co- 
 venant reacheth^with whom I have made it. Do 
 not thinke that there is any change of the Lord 
 \ toward them, For the gifts and calling of the Lord, 
 thatis,thc calling of them by the worke ofthc 
 : Spirit,and the gifts of faving grace,that he hath 
 beftovved upon the cleft Icrves , they are without 
 J all repentance, there is no change in them. Then 
 I if ever thou art in covenant with God, and haft 
 this feale in thy foulc , that there is a change 
 
 wrought \ 
 
The Immvtabilityo/God. 
 
 S5 
 
 Hcb.6.i3, 
 
 wrought in thee by the covenant, then thy de- ; 
 dionisfurc: and befureGW will never alter ! 
 it, for he \smnchdnguMe± This thou muft confi- 
 der,thatthou matft \\zvq fining confoUtion. Belo- 
 ved, our confolation,if it be upon any thing , 
 but upon G o d that is unchangeable, it is weake, 
 and twenty things may batter it,and overthrow 
 it: but when it is grounded upon the immutabi- 
 lity of his cotcnceU.iz is called in Heb.-6.i s./frong 
 confolation, fothat all the Divelh in hell, Ml 
 temptations ofthe world, and all the objedi- 
 ons that our owne hearts can make-cannot bat- 
 ter ir-for it is built upon the lowed foundation, 
 even upon the unchangeable Cod. So that this 
 dodtrineis for comfort to all the Snints of God. 
 | Therefore confidcr thou, whether thou art in 
 the ft ate of grace, whether thou haft made the 
 match with Icfus Chrifl, if ever there was a 
 covenant betweene Chrift, and thy foule. 
 
 But how (ruin know ir, you will fay i Did 
 you ever come to this, as to fay, I am content Anfw. 
 to be divorced from,and to psrt with all things, Howto know 
 with every luft , and to be content to follow 
 him through all his wayes, andtobeare every 
 croiTef yec this is not enough • Did there fol- 
 low hereupon a generall change within th) 
 heart, and a new heart, and a newfpirit given 
 rheer otherwife it is butlip-labour,a thought 
 onely that pafTeth through the mind,and then - 
 fore was never any fjcha&uall agreement be- 
 tweene Chrift and thee. But if there were any 
 fuch change.then thou maift comfort thy fclle- 
 
 Ffs for; 
 
 
 'ec ar c 
 vcn^Jit ivithl 
 Cod. 
 
86 
 
 The Immvt ab i l i ty q/G o d. 
 
 flay f5.3. 
 
 Covenant 
 twofold. 
 
 ( for God is unchangeable, and this covenant , it is 
 an ever lofting covenant. Confider that it is every 
 where called fo : I fay 55.3. it is faid to be an e- 
 verlajiing covenant, becaufe it is founded upon 
 the furc mercies of B avid: GWgave Saul mercies 
 as well as Vavidfiod tells him that he fhall have 
 the kin^domc, if hee will vvalkcin his wayes; 
 i but Saul ftarted out of the wayes of God, and fo. 
 I GWpeiformed his part , but yet the covenant 
 was broke,becaufe.SW performed not his part. 
 And as it was with S aul, fo it was with the peo- 
 ple of ifrael^ becaufe they broke the covenant 
 on their parts, G^aifo broke his. David ftar- 
 ted out of the way, as well as Saul: but they 
 were fure mercies that were promifed him ,. 
 for it was an ever latting covenant of mercy. Ther- 
 fore you muft know this , that there is a two- 
 fold covenant: Tnfc^z fingle covenant , fuchas 
 God makes with children when they are bap- 
 tifed,which is this • If you will believe and re- 
 pent , and walkeinmy wayes, you (hall be fa- 
 I ved: now if they breake the condition 3 G o d is 
 : freed, he is not bound any further. Secondly, 
 J a double covenant ,to performe both parts* which 
 ! is this ; If you will believe ,zr\d repent, you {hall 
 be faved, and,I will give you an heart,and you 
 fball repent, and beheve, and be faved - I began 
 : the worke, and I will finifh it : here is not one- 
 1 ly a covenant on Gods part , to be our Father, 
 butonoui parts alio, as in the othcr 3 but God 
 doth not onely promifc for his part, but makes 
 a covenant to to inable us to pcif oime the con- 
 ditions 
 
The luuvr ability of God. 
 
 h I 
 
 ditions on our part: and therefore it is called a 
 
 double covenant. And it is impoflible that this 
 
 covenant fhouldbe broken, for then God 
 
 fhould brcake it himfclfc,tfor he is ingaged for 
 
 both parts- )and fo be changeable, if hec fliould 
 
 I not give thee a new hearty and keepe thee from 
 
 the firft day of thy regeneration till death, j 
 
 Therefore it is an everlasting covenant, and the 
 
 fruites of it arc fare merctes • it is a double cove- 
 
 \nant ,and therefore cannot be changed. And it is 
 
 j called, Compa(T>om that fade not : why are they 
 
 | called fo i to (hew the unchwgeablenefc of this 
 
 covenant. 
 
 But you will fay, what if I fall into an? I will 
 forgive them, faith the Lord. Oh, but lufts doe 
 rebcll, old lufts, and new: but, faith the Lord, \ 
 will mortifie them,and give you grace to over- 
 come them. Oh, but grace is iubjed to decay : 
 but I will renew it,f aith Go p . If thy iinncs and 
 lufts fliould cscecdc his mercies , then they 
 fliould failej but they cannot: and therefore! 
 they are called cowp.i( : r cm tfutfiUc not. 
 
 Befides, confidcr this , that the covenant is 
 made in lefiu ChrijK There are two ^Adams, he 
 made a covenant with both : with xhcfrji kA 
 darn, he made acovenant, as with the common 
 roote of all mankindc^out K^Adam brake the co- 
 venant, and fo did all his members. But there 
 is a Jecond^Ada** , and all that are faved , are I 
 members of him as truely as wee are of the prjl 
 ^Adam: and he kept the covenanted therefore • 
 if he (land, they fhallftand alfo. 
 
 F f 4 Befides, I 
 
 Cbjetl. 
 
 Atifw. 
 
 Falling into 
 
 finaecaanoc 
 
 finftrateGods 
 
 covenant. 
 
\ ss 
 
 TfelMMVTABILITY o/God. 
 
 Objeci. 
 
 Gods. Immu- 
 tability makes 
 vis love him. 
 
 Why men 
 leave their 
 
 prof cH ion. 
 
 ^cb. io ij. 
 
 Befides,coniider that he makes -this Gove- 
 nam as to fonncs, and not as to fervants.To the 
 fervant the Matter faith- Doe my worke. faith- 
 fully ,and thou fhalt have thy wages, if nor, I 
 willturne thee out of my dorcs: but with his 
 Sonne it is not fo y hee dbideth in the houfe for c* 
 fa^if hefallintoiinne,. hce corre&sand nur- 
 tures hirn^ but yet heeiecpes him in his houfe 
 for ever. 
 
 But what ufe is there of this Do&rine.f 
 
 There is this end for it $ were it not for this 
 Do&rinc,thoucouldcft never love God with a 
 iinccrc and perfedi love : For I aske thee this-/ 
 qucftion, canft thou love him with a perfect j 
 love, whom thou thinkeft may fometime be-.[. 
 come thine enemy i Ic is a fay ing, Amare tan- \ 
 qti&maliquandtofurusyis the very poyfonof trucj 
 friendfliip. But now, when thou knoweft thaol 
 God is knit ta thee by anunebangedJebond y that 
 hee isa friend whom thou maift build upon for 
 ever, whom tboumaift truft: this makes thy j 
 heart to cleave to him,as Paul faith,/ know whom f 
 / have trusted, this makes thy heart to faften up- [ 
 on him, end there isnofcruple of love, which • 
 would be,if there were a poflibility of change. 
 
 Befidcs, what makes a man to depart from. | 
 his profeffion i Bccaufe he thinkes to get a bet- 
 ter portion: but when thou haft this portion 
 fure ; chrifiy and heaven furc > why fhouldeft. 
 thoulcr it goe. Heb. 10.23. 
 
 B fides, endeavours never faile, till hope 
 railes : And therefore when thouart fuic that , 
 
 thy 
 
The Immvtabilityo/ God. 
 
 89 ] 
 
 thy woike is not in vainc in the Lord, it is that 
 which makes thee conftant, and immovable in 
 \ mil-doing*. And therefore the ufe is , to make 
 us have firing confolationm the Lord > and to 
 doe bis worke abundantly, to doe that which wee j Co jj.$8. 
 are exhorted to doe 5 to cleave to the Lord 
 without fepavation. And this wee cannot 
 doe, except we were fure of him : and 
 that you may know by this, that 
 he is an unchangeable G»d> and 
 the gifts of his calling arc 
 without remittance. - 
 
 KJK3& 
 
 THE 
 
The Immvtabilityo/God. 
 
 5>* 
 
 THE 
 
 FOVRTEENTH 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 E xo d, 3. 13, 14. 
 U^Mofes faid unto God, Behold when I come 1 
 unto the children of ifrael , and Jha/I fay unto \ 
 them, the God of your fathers hath fentmee unto \ 
 you, and they fhadfay unto mejvhat is his name •• 
 
 o*W God faid unto Mofes, 7 c^ ii/, THAT I 
 \^i M, &c. 
 
 Hen men hcare that 
 GoDisthus unchange- 
 able, that when he hath 
 rejected any, he never 
 retrafts hisdecree 5 this 
 obje&io maybe n>ade. 
 For what end is it then 
 to pray, to endeavour 
 achange^of littjO 10 iepem,for it there be fuch 
 
 an 
 
 Object. 
 
 ctV-lltU 
 
That the tm- 
 changeablenes 
 of Gods De- 
 crees takes not 
 away endea- 
 vours. 
 
 Simile. 
 
 pz The Immvt abiliiy of Go d. 
 
 , an unrefiftablc decree paft agai&ft mee, what 
 * hope is there? 
 
 Before I come to a particular anfwere to 
 this, I will premife thefe two things in gene- 
 ral!, 
 
 Firft,you know, that in other things there is 
 an unchangeable Decree, as there is an unaltera- 
 ble Decree concerning the time of mens death, 
 and yet no man for this doth ceafetoeate, or 
 to take Phyfickeifo there is an umh&ngtabh&z- 
 cree concerning the.fuccelTe of every bufinefTe 
 under the Stmne , yet wee doe norfoi bcare to 
 take counfell , and to ufe the beft meanes to 
 bring our entcrprifes to pafle : And fo there 
 is an unchangeable Decree concerning the fal- 
 vation of men, concerning giving grace, 
 or denying grace to them ; - and you can no 
 more take an argument from hence, to give 
 over endeavours , than you can an the for- 
 mer. 
 
 2. Though there be an unchangeable Decree 
 part upon mcn,w r hen God hath rejefledthc m, 
 this I and God will not alter it 5 yet this Decree is 
 keprfecret, and no man knowesit: therefore 
 there is a dore of hope opened, to ftirreup men 
 to-endeavour. Indeed if the Decree were made 
 knowne, and revealed to us , then it were in 
 vaine,then there were no place for endeavours : 
 but feeing it is not fo , therefore there is place 
 for hope, and for endeavours which arife from 
 hope. 
 
 Thefe things being premifed , we will now 
 
 come 
 
 2 
 
 No man 
 
 knowes 
 
 Decree. 
 
The Immvtability of God. 
 
 9% 
 
 he cannot pray 
 Rom.i. 
 
 come to a particular anfwer of this objedhon. | 
 
 Firft , that i( thou doeft pray , thou (halt j i 
 change God and his carriage toward thee, iFamanbe 
 though hee be vnchangeable. For if a man be vttcr! y rcicftcd 
 rejected as Saul was, and as the laves were , and 
 asthofcin Rom.i. who were given up to a repro- 
 bate mtnde ; if he be fo rejected , he is not able 
 to pray , or repent , or to fceke to God, or 
 to defire to go about in good earneft any 
 change of life : for if he were able to doe it , he 
 was fure to fpeed. Therefore if thou doeft 
 pray in truth, thou (halt prevaile , thou art fure 
 to have mercy at his hand-for it is a great figne 
 that he hath not giuen thee over, that no fuch 
 vnchangeable decree is paftagainft thee: there- 
 fore it is no do&rine of difcouragement. In- 
 deed it is a do&rine of great terrour to thofe, 
 
 whofe hearts doe not tremble at it, that let fuch 
 
 a doftrine Aide a way as water doth oflFa ftone, 
 
 and not finke into their hearts at all : but to 
 
 a man that faith, I would repent, and pray , and 
 
 ' change the courfe of my life , if there were any 
 
 : hope • I can^fay this to thee , that if thou doeft 
 
 I pray thou flialt be accepted •, for G o d hath 
 
 ftiled himfelfe,that he is a G o d hearing praters* 
 
 and except he were changeable , he muft needs 
 
 be ready to heare tjiec,if thou feekeft to him:For 
 
 the Lord >is vnchangeable in his promifes,& thou 
 
 flialt findehim vnchangeable toward* thee : bur 
 
 'to a man that will not pray , that is fet upon e- 
 
 I v ill, and will not be wrought upon , to fuch a 
 
 man this is a fearefull and a terrible doftrine. 
 
 Secondly, 
 
94 
 
 The ImmvTab ility of God. | 
 
 2 
 If there be a 
 change in vs it 
 ftwll^goe well 
 with vs. 
 
 Simile. 
 
 Simile* 
 
 Secondly ^though Gods decree be unchangeable^ 
 yet if thou canft iind a change in thy felfe , it 
 (hall go well with thee: as if a father fhould take 
 up an unchangeable refolution to difinhcrit a 
 ftubborne and ungracious child , becaufe he is 
 fo^if the child fhould change and alter his cour- 
 fes , and grow fober , the father may now re- 
 ceiuehim to mercy a and yet no change in his 
 refolution,but the change is onely in the fonne. 
 ,Or,if a Prince fhould fet downe in a law, ( as a 
 law of the Medes & Perjiansjhat alters not) fay. 
 ing,I will not receive to favour fuch a rebellious 
 fubjeft, becaufe he isforyet if hisfubjeft be 
 changed,he may receive him,& yet his Decree 
 may be unchangeable , becaufe the change was 
 in the fubjeft, and the decree was grounded up- 
 on this 5 it hec did remainc fo rebellious and 
 ftubborne:So I fay to thee:., if G o d hath there- 
 fore threatned to vc)c£t thee., becaufe thou art 
 i a ftubborne and rebellious wretch, if now thou 
 j ilialt finde a change in thy felfe, that thy ftub- 
 I borne heart is broken , (landing in awe of him, 
 i fearing to offend him , or to commit any finne 
 that thou knoweft to be a finne, I fay, notwith-' 
 Handing that vnchangeailenejje of his, he cannot 
 but receive the to mercy. As if a Phyfitian 
 fhould take up an unchangeable refolution , not 
 to give his patient fuch reftorative phyficke,be- 
 caufe his ftomacke is foule , fo that it will not 
 worke,and becaufe he will not receive fuch pur- 
 gations whereby he fhould be prepared for it: 
 But if there be a change in him / if hisftomacke 
 
 be 
 
The Immvtability of God. 
 
 95 
 
 be cleane & fie for it,fo that it will woi k,and he ; 
 become willing to receive it, if hce give it him, 
 the change is not in the Phy fitian, but in the pa- 
 tient. Therefore when you heare this, fit not 
 downe difcouraged, but rather goe and fit a- 
 lone, and confider of thy finnes , and give not 
 over till thy heart be broken for them : and 
 when this is done , be fure that he will receive 
 thee to mercy,for he may rcmaine unchangeable 
 in his decree, if the change be in thee. And there- 
 fore this Doftrine doth not difcouragc , but ra- 
 ther ftirre vp , and incite men to change their 
 courfes, yea it is the very fcope of it. 
 
 Againe , I addethis further ; he that faiffi , to 
 what purpofe is it to endeavour, whofoever it 
 is that fay es fo,I would aske that man this que- 
 ftion- Didft thou ever goe about any holy du- 
 tie, and yet didft findethis ftoppe in it, that 
 though thou wouldeft doe them, thou couldeft 
 not be accepted i hadft thou everaferiousre- 
 folution to forfake fuch & fuch a finne, and the 
 occasions of it, and yet thou didft findefucha 
 barre as this, that thou couldeft not alter Gods 
 decree thereby , and for that oncly reafon haft 
 gone on in it < Did ever any man upon his 
 death-bed fayfo i No man will fay fo: but it 
 is becaufe he would not. Therefore complaine 
 not of the vnchangeaUe decree of G o d , but of 
 die ftubborneffe of thy heart,thatthou wilt not 
 buckle,and come in unto him. 
 
 The beft way in this Dodrine of the vnchAn- 
 geablenejfe of Gods decree of cleftion , is this : 
 
 to 
 
 It is but an cx- 
 cufetofayGod 
 isvnchangca- 
 ble, therefore 
 there is no 
 hope. 
 
 \ 
 
9 6 
 
 The IMMVT AB I L I TY Of GOD. 
 
 Vponwhatoc- 
 caflon the do- 
 ctrine of Gods 
 vnchangeable- 
 nefleis revea- 
 led in Scripture 
 Rorao. 18,19. 
 
 The end of this 
 doctrine. 
 
 co confider in what manner it is delivered in ! 
 the Scripture, and to what purpofe, and to 
 make that ufe of it , and then thou (halt be fure 
 not to abufe it. As for example ; to what end, 
 and for what occafion is this Do&rineof ele- 
 <5iion delivered < You (hall findethat it is on 
 this occafion. Rom. 9. 18,19. When many of 
 xhzletves did not come in 5 to whom did belong 
 the covenant , and the lawe , And the leftimonies, 
 this was an obje&ion that was made againft the 
 DovfhineoftheGofpell 5 what wasthercafon 
 that the Iewes did not come in 3 and that his 
 owne people were not wrought upon < To an- 
 fvvere this obje&ion , the Apoftle tells them, 
 that this was not againft Cods good \vill,hee was 
 able to doe it, if it were his pleafure, but , faith 
 he,fomc hath hee chofen , and fome not b fome 
 he -loves, and fome hee hates 5 fome hee hath 
 mercy upon 5 and fome he hardens • So that the 
 icopeof that Dodlrine is, that God might be 
 magnified , that no objetf ion might be made a- 
 gainft the almighty power of G o d , as if hee 
 was not able to bring them in, that men might 
 • notfay that they have refifted his will : and the 
 J Apoftle reveales it for that purpofe , that men 
 might be anfwered. So that fuch Dodrinesas 
 this, you muft confider for what end they are 
 revealed. So for this Dodrine of Gods vn- 
 change.dblenejje, what is the end, why it is revea- 
 led 1 You(halifceini\T/*w£.2 3.i9. He is not (is 
 manlhat he flwuld repent : Therefore I haveblejfed 
 ifraely And hejhall be blejjed. The end is, to fhew 
 
 that 
 
The Immvtab i li ty of God. 
 
 97 
 
 chat his favour is an unchangeable favour: So hce j 
 hath curfed Saul y and he ihall be curfed, i Sam, , s 
 i$ .29. his decrees are unalterable. So likewife 
 lam. 1 . \-].God\% good,and cannot be otherwife, 
 therefore he can tempt no man. Out of all thefe 
 places it is apparant, that the ufe of this Do- 
 ctrine is, that wee might tremble at his judge- 
 ments, and that we might rejoyce in his favour 
 with joy unfpeakablc and glorious : In a word, 
 that men might know the excellency of the Al- 
 mighty 5 and might know and magnifie God, be- 
 caufe conftancyand unchangeablenefj'eisz pro- 
 perty of wiiedome. This being the end why it 
 1$ revealed, it ought to be applied onely to thefe 
 ufes:As,(tofhew it in thofe particulars which 
 before wee did mention) when weehearc that 
 God reje&ed Saul, and will not repent of it , and { 
 the lewesj&cc.thc ufe that we fhould make of it is • 
 thisjto thinke with thy felfc,If GW fhould paffe 
 fuch a decree of reje&ion upon me } it cannot be 
 changed^ therefore I will feare before him, and 
 take heed of that flubborneffe and courfe of dif- 
 obedience, that may bring that curfe upon me, 
 and fuch a ftroke upon my foule 5 and for this 
 purpofe is this doftrine revealed to us. And this 
 ufe the Apoftle makes of it^Heb. 3 .when he had 
 delivered Gods unchangeable decree, declared by 
 hisfwearingtn his wrath, that they Jbould never en- 
 ter into his reH ; therefore deferre not, faith he, 
 while tt is called to day ,. left that you continuing 
 in a courfe of rebellion, the doore of mercy be 
 fhut upon you , and God doe fweare in hu 
 
 G g wrath, \ 
 
 am, xf.i9. 
 
 Iam:x.i7. 
 
 The ufe of this 
 doctrine, 
 
\ 93 
 
 Vfc 3. 
 Wefliallfinic 
 God the lame 
 indifpenfing 
 indgements 
 and mercies in 
 theft times to 
 usthat he hath 
 becne in for- 
 mer times to 
 them. 
 
 The Immvtarillty of God. 
 
 wrath, as he did to thenv&tf yeujhal! never enter 
 into his reB. Beloved, there is a double time : 
 a time of the comraing forth ot this decree, and 
 a time of preparing and trying, while thedoore 
 (lands open. Therefore take heed that that ac- 
 ceptabletiwedocnoiipaffe away, left thou be 
 hardened through the deceit fulnejfe offtnne. 
 
 If Go Dbe unchangeable , then looke what- 
 foevcr hec hath done in former times, what 
 judgements hee hath inflided, and for what, 
 what mercies hee hath ihewen, and upon what 
 ground y and thou maift expeft the fame, be- 
 caufe there is no change in him : therefore goe 
 over all the Scripture, and beholde what hee 
 hath done there, looke through all thine owne 
 experience, and fee what he hath done to thee, 
 and to others, and know that hee will doc the 
 fame againe to thee, for he is unchangeable. As 
 for example,looke what he did to Ioab, Shimei, 
 and the houfc of Saul. You know the finnes that 
 they committed- Ioab had committed murther, 
 and Shimei reviled David,znd Saul (lew the Gi- 
 beon'ttes againft his oath: though they went on a 
 long time in peace and profperity, yet becaufe 
 their pardon was not fued out, therefore after 
 many yeares God called them to an account. As 
 Ioab went not to the grave in peace, and Shimei 
 deferved death , and therefore it was brought 
 upon him •. and Saul was puniflied in the blood 
 of his fonnes, and he was flaine himfelfe, as he 
 had (laine others in battcll. So be thou afiurcd, 
 if there be any (inne which thou haft foimerly 
 
 com- 
 
The Imm vtab i l i ty of God. 99 
 
 committed, unrepented of, though it be long 
 fincc, God will waken it in due time. So, looke 
 what hee did to David ^ he had committed a 
 finncin fecret, but the Lord faith, that he will 
 make his punifliment to be open, he will doe it 
 before the Sunne : So if thou haft committed a 
 finne in fecret, take heede left hec bring it to 
 light, hee will doe to thee, as hee did to David; 
 and I fay unto thee, that though thou be rege- 
 nerace,and ait one of his ele<ft,yet if thy cafe be 
 the fame with Davids , hee will doe fo to thee, 
 for hee is unchangeable. There be two cafes 
 wherein the L$rd vt\\\ not fpare, but bring 
 judgement upon his owne children. 
 
 Firft,inthecafeoffcandall, as Davids was: 
 for though his firft finne was fecret, yet his fe- 
 cond was publickc , and made the fuft fo too. 
 Therfore though his fin was forgiven him, God 
 tells him that his punifliment (hould be open,:' 
 and that the ftvordfyouldnot depart from his houfe. \ 
 
 Secondly , if their finne be not fcandalous, j 2 
 yet if it be unrepented of, GWwill even pu- Impcnfcea 
 nifti his owne children. And as G^dealcs witn 
 fecret finnes to bring them to light : fo hee 
 will doe with fecret innocency, on the other 
 fidealfo. As lofeph 9 whofe uprightnefie was 
 in fecret, for none did fee it but himfelfe, as for 
 his Miftrefie, (he accufedhim, and was belie- 
 ved: yet the Lord brought it to light in due fea- 
 foa. So he will doe thine. Let men keepe their 
 credit with God, and hee will keepe their cre- 
 dit wich men, let them raife (landers , or what 
 
 Gg2 they 
 
 Two cafes 
 wherein God 
 will punifh his 
 owne. 
 
 I. 
 
 In cafe of 
 fcandall. 
 
I OO The T M M VTAB I LLT Y ofGOD, 
 
 they will : looke how he did with Iofeph, fo he 
 will deale with thee, for he changcth not. 
 
 So looke how the Lordhath dealt with wic- 
 | ked men ; looke how the Lord did deale with 
 them that did meddle with holy things, as Na- 
 ' dab, and Abihu,zvid Vzzah, and the Bethfiem/tes ; 
 you know that he deftroyedthem all, and that 
 with a prefent deftrudion : fo if thou.wilt abufe 
 his name,abufe his holy things, and come unto 
 the Sacraments with anuncircHmci fed heart, hz\s 
 the fame GWftill, he is as much offended now, 
 and hee is as ready to execute his wrath upon 
 thee, as he was then. 
 
 So looke hovy hee dealt with Saul , with the 
 Ierves that came out of Egypt , hee fwore in hi* 
 wrath J hat they fhouldnot enter into his reft: if thou 
 wilt doe the fame that they did, rebell againft 
 him as they did, he vriW fweare in his rvrath, that 
 thoujhalt never enter into his reft. As hee pafled 
 his fentence upon Saul , and as hee pafleth his 
 fentence upon any : fo he wi!l bring it pafTe, if 
 thy cafe be the fame, for he is unchangeable. 
 
 So looke how hee did deale in Iohn Baptifts 
 time, and as it was with them, Now the axe is 
 laid to the rooteofthe tree,whcn the Gofpell, and 
 the meanes of grace, and thefpring-timcofthe 
 word began 5 becaufe they did nut regard it 
 then, 7 they were caft off: the time of their igno- 
 rance God regarded not fo much > y but then hee 
 called upon every one to repent, and becaufe 
 they did not come in then, he deferred not his 
 judgement. That upon which I ground this 5 you 
 
 (hall 
 
The Immvtab i li ty of God. 
 
 ioi 
 
 a Cor- io. 
 
 (hall findeia two places of Scripture. 2 Pet. 2. ^Pai 
 4. If the Lor d did fo with ihc Angels ^Jpared 
 notthewfiuth hc,he is the fame G o D,and there- 
 fore hee knowes how to referve the unjujl to the 
 day of judgement , and efpecially thofe that are 
 uncleane : the ground of it is bis unchangeable^ 
 neffe. The other place is in 2 Cor. 10 - You know 
 what he did to the Ifraelites, faith hee, hee will 
 doe the fame to you: therefore doe you take 
 heede,that you doe not commit fornication, as fome 
 ofthemcommitted y anddiedin the mldemefte^&c. 
 
 Onely here is this caution diligently to be 
 remembredjWhich we muft adde to all this that 
 hath beene fpoken. It is fure, that whenfoever 
 it is the fame cafe, hee will doe the fame thing : 
 though his judgements are different, the time 
 ditferent,the wayes and meanes are different. 
 
 As for example b he ftroke Vzzah prefently, 
 and fo he did Gehazi, and Nadab , and ^Jbth^ 
 yet to others there may be difference in time: to 
 thefe he did it prefently, to others it may be he 
 will doe it many yeares after. Againe, he ftroke 
 them with death,but it may be there is another 
 kindc of judgement referved for thee^as it may 
 be he will give thee up to hardncfle of heart, or 
 the like. 
 
 Againe, fo it is in (hewing mercy , for the 
 rule is as true therein alfo:For he fhewes mercy 
 tQ fome this way,and to others that way, and he 
 humbles men after divers manners^and fo fome 
 men hee punilheth for their finnes in this life, 
 fome hee referves for another world : Againe, 
 Gg 3 fome J 
 
 A Caution 
 added. 
 
 Gods iudge- 
 mentsdifferent 
 in the time, 
 and meanes. 
 
102 
 
 Tie Immvt ability of God. 
 
 Simile . 
 
 Qljtit. 
 
 Anfrv. 
 
 lome heeftrikes prefently, and fomeheefor- 
 bcares with much patience. 
 
 And this you muft remember inboth thefe, 
 that though hec cloth the fame things , yet hee 
 doth them in a different manner,time, and way: 
 he hath divers judgements, and afflictions, and 
 as there are divers meanes to attaine to the fame 
 end,as fomC may ride,fome go on foot,and yet 
 all come to one journeys end : So the judge- 
 ments and affliAions may be different, yet the 
 end the fame- and that this caution being taken 
 in, thou maiit be fure , that the fame judge- 
 ments that he did execute in former time, he is 
 ready to execute them (till. As he hath given 
 them up to open finnes, that did negleft him in 
 fecrer, fo he will doe to thee ; as he hath ftric- 
 ken fome men in their finnes,fo the fame wrath 
 is gone out againft and remaines for thee,if thou 
 doe not repent and turne to him:for the kindes, 
 as whether by iicknefTe, or death, &c. thefe we 
 cannot determine ofyhc wayesof G o d are in- 
 finite, and exceding divers, unfearchable, and 
 paft finding out: but though in regard or his 
 particular wayes it doth not follow,hedio thus 
 to this man,thcrforc he will doc the very fame 
 to thee- yet becaufe he did this to them, he will 
 doe the fame thin^ to thee in the fame or in a 
 different manner. 
 
 So looke what he hath done to all his Saints, 
 hee hath bleffed them, and heard them. But 
 thou wilt fay, I have prayed, and I am not 
 heard. I fay to thee, if thy cafe be the fame, 
 
 thou i 
 
II ■I__,_J1_U- hum ' I ■»» Mfc>MT»MM^— ' - " — -~^~— — — — — ~- 
 
 7^Immvtabiliiyo/God. io$ 
 
 thou (halt be heard. To this end are thofc pla- 
 ces : "The L ords hand is not jhortened, that hee can- 
 notfave,nor his eare heavy , that it cannot heare: 
 This is the fcope of the Prophet; as if he fhould 
 fay, you wonder why you are not heard, that 
 you have not the fame iuccefle in prayer that 
 the Saints have had,but the cafe is not the fame, 
 faith he : they repented, bnt you doe not 5 you 
 are mi(taken,for you are yet in your finnes^I am 
 as ftrongtohelpeyou, ard as ready, and if I 
 doe it not,it is becaufe the cafe is different : Tour 
 finnes have made a Reparation betvoeene me and yw. 
 Which implieSjthat GodwiW heare if the cafe be 
 thefame. Onely remember this, that God may 
 deferre it fomcthing long before he heares you, 
 yet he will doe it in the end, 
 
 if unchangeablenejfe be proper to Cod, ( for fo 
 you muft underftand improper to him,and com- 
 mon to no other ) then learne to know the diffe- 
 rence betweene him and the creatures. 
 There be divers branches of this ufe: As, 
 Firft,if this be fo,chen every creature is, and 
 muft be changeable, and if fo,then take hcede, 
 that you doe not expedl more of the creature, 
 than is in it, for this will raifc your affe&ions to 
 the creature, andfocaufegriefe and vexation 
 in the end : and indeed the torgctfulneffe of this 
 changeable nefle in the creature, and unchange- 
 ablenefle in God, is the caufe of all our crofles 
 and furrow in outward things wc meetc with. 
 There be thefe degrees to it. 
 For,firft, TheforgetfulnefTcofthe mutabi- 
 G g 4 lity 
 
 God heares 
 prayer now as 
 in former time 
 if our cafe be 
 thefame. 
 Efay 50.1, 
 
 Ffe 
 
 f 4« 
 
 To fee the dif- 
 ference be- 
 tweene God 
 and the crea- 
 tures. 
 Containes 
 two branches* 
 
 I. 
 Lookc on the 
 creatures as 
 murable,and 
 cxped not 
 much from 
 them. 
 
 Forgetting the 
 creatures to be 
 mutable: 
 
 Makes us ex- i 
 pec"t much 
 from them. j 
 
104 7folMMVTABILLTY0/GoD. \ 
 
 Rftifeth our af- 
 fections 
 them. 
 
 to 
 
 THefe ftrong 
 nfFe&ions 
 breed ih'ong 
 affii&ions. 
 
 lity of the creature caufeth us to exped more 
 from it than is in it. Secondly, This expectati- 
 on raifeth our affections unto the creature : 
 hence it is, that we fct our affections too much 
 upon them, and delight too much in them. 
 Thirdly, Strong affeCt ions, when they arefet 
 upon the creature , doe ahvayes bring forth 
 ftrong afflictions : for what is the reafon of all 
 the griefe, that we undergoe from day to day? 
 Is it not 5 becaufe ouraffe&ions arc fct upon 
 changeable objects, upon the creatures ? And 
 therefore when they arc changed, then there 
 is a change in the minde alfo : whereas if thou 
 didft Iooke alone upon the unchangeable God,this 
 would keepe thee from worldly care and for- 
 roWj this would prefer ve intheeevennefleand 
 equability of minde. Therefore take heedc 
 of forgetting this,that tobc unchangeable^ pro- 
 per to <70;/alonejtherefore fet thy affedions up- 
 on none but him: and if thou wilt doe fo, thou 
 (haltalwayes injoy aconftantferenity and fe- 
 curity of minde, as if a man were in the upper 
 region, where there is no change of weather , 
 when as below here^there is one day foulc, an- 
 other faire-fo that if a man could live with GW, 
 and walkewith him, and have his conventi- 
 on in heaven, he {hould not be fub jeCt to fuch 
 changes : whereas if *a man fct his mind upon 
 earthly things, hefhallbeftillfubjeft to per- 
 turbations and unevennefTe. All griefe of mind 
 comes from hence, that thou lookeft for tin- 
 \ cbangeabkneffe from the creature, where it is not 
 
 to 
 
The Immvtab ilityo/ God. 
 
 105 
 
 to be had. If thou wouldefi: looke up to God, 
 thou (halt find all things alike there, there is no 
 change with him. When an earthen pot is bro- 
 ken^ doth not much trouble you, for you re- 
 member it to be but an earthen pot : now every 
 thing here below, all your friends, wife, chil- 
 dren,they are but earthen ve(Tels,and the consi- 
 deration of this would exceedingly help you,if 
 you would fettle it on your heart. Therfore fay, 
 wiiat a foole was 1 i I did not remember, they 
 were but aflower,a vapour,anda fhadow : for 
 lo the Scripture calls them. And (hall a man take 
 on,becaufe a vapour is fcattered, and a flower 
 withered, and a fhadow vanifhed i Therefore 
 remember, that to be unchangeable is proper to 
 GWalone : and to be changeable is as proper to 
 the creature,as to him to be immutable. 
 
 Secondly, You may fee from hence, how to 
 hclpe that vanity to which the creature is fub- 
 je<5t: for if iwchangeablenejfe be the property of 
 GW, thoumuftnotfeekea (lability from the 
 creature, butconfider that it hath no further 
 conftancy in it,than6Wis pleafed to communi- 
 cate the fame to k.Therfore go to him to whom 
 mcbangeablenejJebz\QX\vs£ot as mutable as they 
 be, yet if he will make thy friends to be (tabic, 
 or thy wealth Jt (ball be fo. Therefore the one- 
 ly way is, to goe to him , to make thofe things 
 firmc, which otherwife are unconftant. The 
 love ofa friend is unconftant, for hee may die, 
 the breath Is in his nosf rills , and if hee doe live, 
 jet his thoughts way perijh ,and his affections alter: 
 
 So 
 
 All outward 
 things as cjr- 
 then vcHells* 
 
 2. 
 Goe to Gad to 
 put a (lability 
 into the things 
 tbou cnioyeft. 
 
A dependent 
 felicity to truft 
 in creatures, 
 
 Vfe 5. 
 
 ILearne to prize 
 things by their 
 unchangeablc- 
 neflcjasGracC; 
 
 \q6 ^he ImmvtabiLity of God. | 
 
 So that they (hall faile thee as a Lnd-floud doth 
 tn fummer , as lob faith. It dries up in fummcr 
 time, and yet that is the time of third • and fo 
 will they faile the in time of neede : and the like 
 may be faid of all things elfe, fo that he whofe 
 comfort doth depend upon them,hath but a de- 
 pendent felicity, which is like the motion of 
 mills, and (hips , which ceafe when the water 
 or wind failes them. But yet as mutable as they 
 are,<7<?*/can put a conftancy unto them. Apply 
 this therefore to thy felfe. Thou lived now,and 
 art in health and wealth , in fuch and fuch a 
 place,and fuch circumftances, as may continue 
 it : the onely way to eftablifh thee in all this is, 
 togoeto(7^,andtobefeechhimtoput a liabi- 
 lity into thy condition. For the creature, as it is 
 made of nothing, and is built upon a foundati- 
 on of nothing: So it is apt to returne to nothing. 
 And remember this, that the more retired, and 
 weaned , and fearefull thy aft'e&ions are a- 
 bout any thing , fo that thou canft fay in good 
 earned : If (Wwill, I (hall enjoy them to day, 
 and next day, but his will I know not, I know 
 not how long I (hall enjoy them j if thou canft 
 fay thus, thou (halt holde them longer, and the 
 fafter: for that is a figne that thou depended up- 
 on Go djmd not on the creature,that thou trufttft 
 him, and art not faftened to it. 
 
 If this be fo, then unchdngeAblenejfe is an ex- 
 cellency in him: for all his Attributes are ex- 
 ceeding excellent. Then if thou wouldeft judge 
 of any thing in the world, thou mud take this 
 
 as 
 
Ihe Immvtability of Goo. 
 
 107 
 
 as a meafureby which thou maift prize and e-j 
 fteemc it : lookc how changeable it is, fo much 
 the vvorfe it is- if it be good, the more immuta- 
 table, the better it is , for all changeablenefle 
 commcth from weaknefle. Therefore learne 
 to value it fo : and you (hall finde this of much 
 ufe. As wee may fee in the heavens : it is faid 
 that they arc vaine, becaufe they voaxe olde as doth 
 a gar?nent,but thou art the fame, Pfal. 102.26327. 
 Go through every thing glorious in the world, 
 glorious Churches, they are fubje& to change; 
 as Ierufalem, the glory of all the earth , it is ruina- 
 ted,and brought to nothing. Take men thatare 
 moft eminent, yet becaufe they are fubjeft to 
 change,by death or by paffions,there is a vanity 
 in them : though they live here like Gods in 
 their glory: and when they come to die , and 
 their change comes, they appeare to be but men. 
 Therefore magnifie no man , but labour to be 
 perfwaded of thy felfe, as a man. I neede not 
 fpeake to you of riches,they take to themfelves 
 wings and fly away 5 nor of credit and honour, 
 they are in the power ot them that give them : 
 whatfocver is changeable,according to the mu- 
 tability ofit,fo value it. But I preffe the con- 
 trary. Looke upon the things that are not chan- 
 geable, and labour to prize them. Thou fhalt 
 finde faving grace to be unchangeable, though it 
 may be impaired in degree, and may recoyle to 
 the root , and may not bud forth as at other 
 times, yet it is unchangeable , it (hall never be 
 
 1 taken away : So fpirituall life is unchangeable, 
 when 
 
 Pfal f ioi,%6, 
 *7. 
 
 Grace unchan- 
 geable. 
 
C 108 
 
 TJie Immvtabilityo/God. 
 
 the word un. 
 changeable. 
 Ifay4o.8. 
 Mat. J. 
 
 Coed workes 
 unchangeable. 
 
 when that begins,then the other (hales off,even 
 as old nailes doe, when new grow under them: 
 therefore t his lhould teach us to value it much. 
 
 So the word of God is an nnchangeable thing, 
 Ifiy 40.8 . Tbegrajfewitheretb, the flower fideth : 
 but tbc word of the Lord [hall Jl and for ever. So 
 Otfatth.$. Heaven and earth Jhatfpajfi an>ay } but 
 my word frail not pajfe. Now what ufe mould 
 we make of this i Then ftudy the word more 
 than any thing in the world befides. There is 
 much learning in the world, and there are 
 many creatures: now all other knowledge is 
 but ofthercreature, and the knowledgeof them 
 cannot be more excellent than the thing 
 knownc, and itvanifhethaway with them, but 
 ■the word of God frail not fd/fe> the word tndures for 
 ever. Therefore looke what truthes thou canft 
 get out of the word, which may build up the 
 inward man, looke what profit thou canft get 
 from it, that (hall retnaine for ever : therefore 
 thou (houldeft prize it much, get it plentcoufly 
 into thy hcair,in the wifedome and power of it. ' 
 We have many imployments in this life : but 
 that whichisbeftowed upon unchangeable things 
 which (hall never alter, that is the beft time 
 fpent. 
 
 Laftly, all the good workes thou doeft, and 
 all the evill workes of unregenerate men unre- 
 pented of, (hall rcmaine for ever, Looke what 
 good workes thou doeft in the world,they (hall 
 rcmaine with thee for ever, they (hall be had in 
 continuall remembrance. Therefore thou (houl- 
 deft 
 
The IMMVT AB I L I TY 0/ God. 1 09 
 
 deft labour to be abundant in good works,that 
 is, to befuretoferve God whatfoever tkou do- 
 eft. This is the happy condition of the Saints, 
 that their finnes (hall be blotted out, and their 
 good workes fhall rcmaine to eternity, they are 
 jpirituall feed fowne, which fhall bring forth a 
 fure harveft.If thou be a fervant or a labouring 
 man-when thou doeft thy works out of obedi- 
 ence to him,even thofe works (hall remaine.So 
 lookc upon any thing that thou haft done for 
 ChriB, all thefe things {hall remaine forever: 
 what faithfull praiers foever thou haft made,or 
 whatfoever thou haft luffercd for ChriB, what 
 paines thou haft taken in preaching,or in repen- 
 ting,or in advancing the caufe of Chrifi , thefe 
 fhall be had in everlaftmg remembrance. So 
 looke what finnes unrepented of thou haft com- 
 mittcd.Thefinnesofunregenerate men fhall al- 
 fo remaine. All the praife that comes from any 
 a<5lion,andthepleafure of it, that pafTeth away, 
 and comes to nothing : but lookc what finful- 
 neffe there is in any worke, that remaines , and 
 if thou repent not of it, thatfinne fhall be rec- 
 koned upon thy fcore- and what uprightnefle 
 foever there is in any worke , that alfo (hall 
 remaine. Therefore learne from hence to 
 prize and value oncly thofe good 
 things that are immutable,and 
 propoi tionably to feare 
 and fhunne the 
 evill. 
 
 •FJHJS. 
 
The Immvtabi i.iTtef God. 
 
 hi 
 
 THE 
 
 FIFTEENTH 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 ExO D.3. 13, 14. 
 
 ^ndMoksfazd unto God, Behold when I come 
 unto the children of ifrael, and fh all fay unto 
 them, the God of your fathers hath fent mee unto 
 yott,and they fhallfay unto mejvhat is his name$ 
 what fiall rfaj unto them ? 
 
 Kjind Godfaidunto Mofes,./ k^A M, T H AT I 
 
 S wee are to judge of other 
 things by the mutability of 
 them: folearneto judge of thy 
 felfe, of thine ownefpirit, by 
 thac conftancy that thou findeft 
 in well-doing 3 or that muta- 
 bility and unconftancy that thou art fubjeft to. 
 If a man would make a cenfure of himfelfe, let 
 him confider, that the nearer hee comes to vn- 
 changeailenejfe in well-doing, the better hee is , 
 
 and 
 
 Vfe6. 
 
 To iudge of 
 our ownc (pi- 
 nts by confta«« 
 cj in well- do* 
 
U2 
 
 The Imm vt ab i l i ty of God. 
 
 To be humbled 
 for our uncon« 
 ftancy. 
 
 A^s 11,23, 
 
 and the ftrongcr he is:againe,the more mutable, 
 1 the weaker. Thou art to judge of thy felfe, as 
 wee ufe to efteemeone of another. Now let a 
 man be unconftant,one that we can have no hold 
 of, that is as fickle as the weather, that will re- 
 folve upon fuch a thing to day, and change his 
 mind to morrow : what ever learning or excel- 
 lency^ what kindncfle foever is in this man, 
 we regard him not, becaufe he is an unconftant 
 man. Now learne thou to doe fo with thy felfe, 
 toaskethy felfethat queft ion: Haft thou not 
 had many refolutions, that never came to any 
 endeavours? Haft thou not begun many good 
 workes,and broke off in the middle , and never 
 finifhed them? Haft thou not found that proper- 
 ty of folly in thee,To begin ftilltolive? Stulti- 
 tiafemfer inapit<vivere?Ha(i thou not often be- 
 gun and ended,and begun again,& ftill brought 
 no fruit to perfection:' If this be thy cafe,lcarne 
 to abhorre thy felfe for ir,and to be a(hamed:for 
 all is nothing, till wee come to a conftant and 
 unchangeable refolution : So that we come to fct 
 it downe with our felves as an inviolable law : 
 this is a duty, and I will doe it, whatfoeverit 
 coftmee; this is a finne, and I will avoid it, 
 whatfoever come of it. This is a refolution that 
 Darnel takes up, Dan. 1.8. He determined in his 
 hearty that he would not be defiled with the Kings 
 meate : and fuch a refolution they were exhor- 
 ted to in K^itts 11.25. With full pirfofe ofleart 
 to cleave unto God. It is translated, full purpofe : 
 but the words are, with a decree and full refo- 
 lution 
 
The Im m vtab i L i ty of God. 
 
 ii 
 
 lution of heart 
 
 Trpocr' 
 
 (Apett t5 xvcav : That is , when a man doth not 
 lightly put himfelfc upon an holy courfe$but 
 takes up a ftrong refolution togoe through with 
 it • fuch a refolution as Pauls was , Acts 20. 22 . 
 he knew what bands did waite for him as for 
 theev^by the way,it was no tnaucv^hcrva^boud 
 inthejpirit, All is nothing : I care not, fayes he, 
 f$ that I may fulfil the UMimftery committed to me. 
 Such a refolution we fhould have. And accor- 
 ding as thou findeft thy felfe able to doe this, 
 fo thou fliouldeft judge of thy felfe. A man 
 that is on and off in his wayes, Salomon com- 
 pares him to a City whofe walls are broken 
 downe , that is , if a temptation come , and fet 
 upon him , it hath free entrance , and the temp- 
 tation comes in , becaufe his fouk was without 
 guard and ward. But on the other fide , a man 
 that doth not ftand trifling with the Lord^to fay, 
 onely I wifli Icould, and I am forry that I can- 
 not, but that will goe through a good com fe, 
 fuch a man is like to City which hath walls 
 round about it ; that if a temptation come,there 
 isfomethingtokecpe it out. I fay, as thou art 
 to judge of other things by the mutability of 
 them :fo of thy felfe. There is nothing bet- 
 ter than to have a peremptory refolution in 
 well-doing , to be conftant therein, and there is 
 nothing worfe than to bee peremptory in e- 
 vill. 
 
 If GWbe immutable^ then thou knoweft whi- 
 ther to goe to get this conftancy, tomafce thy 
 
 Hh felfe 
 
 A&. ao.it, 
 
 Simile. 
 
 Con ft ancle in 
 euill nothing 
 worfe. 
 
 rfe 1 . 
 
 1 o goe to Ood 
 
 to get conftan- 
 cy in wells 
 doinj». 
 
 \ 
 
II 4 
 
 TT^Immvtability of God, 
 
 lam. i.f. 
 
 /felfe unchangeable^^ immutable and conftant in 
 well-doing. For,for what end hath he revealed 
 to us that he is unchangeable', is it not for our ufc? 
 Sure it is,even to teach us , that when wefinde 
 our felves fubjeft to mutability,wee fhould goe 
 ; to the unchangeable <W,and befecch him.to efta- 
 blifli our hearts. No creature is able to doe it. 
 Every creature is mutable, onelyfofarre Un- 
 changeable^ as he makcth it to be fo 5 he onely is 
 originally unchangeable • all friends and all o- 
 thcr things in the world arc no further unchan- 
 geable than he communicates it to them, (as was 
 faid before:) and the fame is true of thine owne 
 heart , and of thy purpofes. Therefore thou 
 muft thinke with thy felfe, and make this ufe of 
 the unchangeablenejfe oiGod^ that hee onely can 
 make thee unchangeable. Therefore as when a 
 man wants dire&ion , hee muft goe to G o d: 
 lam. i . 5 . he is onely wife, 'and can (hew a man 
 what to doe, when he is in a ftrait. So upon the 
 fame ground when thou feeft that thou art un- 
 conftant, goe to him that is unchangeable ^ that 
 can make thee conftant; and defire him to fixe 
 thy quicke-filver , toballance thy lightnefle, 
 and that he would fettle and fill that vaine and 
 empty heart of thine with fomething that may 
 ftayandeftablifliit. There is no other way:all 
 the meanesthat can beufed, all the motives that 
 can be put to a man, all the reafons that can 
 be brought, are not able to make us conftant, 
 till God workeitinus, and for us. Therefore 
 the onely way is to give G o d the glory of his 
 
 immutallitj^ \ 
 
77?e Im m vt a b i L i x y o/God. 
 
 "5 
 
 immutability , to goc to him in a fenfc of thine J 
 owneunconftancy, andfiy j Lord, thou haft 
 revealed thy felfe to be unchangeable , that wee 
 may feeke it of thee , and finde it in thee , thou 
 alone art originally and cffcntially fo: no crea- 
 ture is any futher than thoudocft communicate 
 ittoic. Thereforedoethou, Lord^ makemee 
 ftable and conftant in well-doing. Grace it felfe 
 of it felfe is not immutable^ for it isfubieftto 
 ebbing and flowing : and the reafon why we 
 doe not quite lofe it, is not from the nature of 
 grace, as if it were immutable^ but becaufe it 
 comes from and ftickes clofe to Chrift. There- 
 fore goe to him • he is the roote that communi- 
 cates fappe and life to thee,becaufe thou abUeft 
 ingrafted in him. 
 
 But the Z<Wdoth this by meanes: it is not 
 enough to pray,and to ft eke to him,ro make me 
 unchangeable , ( fo much as humane infirmity 
 can reach) but I muft ufe the meanes alfo. 
 
 It is true , he doth it by meanes : and if you 
 fay , what are thofe meanes i I will fhew it you 
 briefly. 
 
 You (hall finde rhit there two caufes ofvn- 
 conftancy , or mutability , or fickleneflte : and 
 if you finde ouc what the caufes are, you will 
 eafily fee the way to helpe it. 
 
 Firft , Strength of luft : that caufeth men to 
 be unconftant. lames 4.8. Cleanfeyour hands ,ye 
 [inner s, and purge your heart you wavering-minded: 
 what is the reafon , that the Apoftle bids them 
 Xo purge their hearts, that were wavering-minded, 
 I Hh 2 but 
 
 Grace in it fclf 
 
 notimmuta* 
 
 blc. 
 
 Object. 
 
 K^Anfw. 
 
 Two caufes of 
 I inconftancy, 
 and two means 
 to procure con- 
 ftancy, 
 
 I 
 Lufts: get them 
 mortified. 
 Iam.4,8. 
 
1 u6 
 
 Simile. 
 
 Pfil. w 
 
 The Immvtabilityo/God. 
 
 Stfong lufh 
 break off llrong 
 purpolcs. 
 
 but becaufe that corruprion,and thofe vnruly af- 
 fections that are within , caufe us to be vncon- 
 ftant,& to waver, even as an arrow though (hot 
 with a ftrong hand > which yet the winde makes 
 to fly unconftantly: fo a man that refolucs upon 
 a good courfe 9 and takes to himfelfe good pur- 
 pofes & defires, yet he having fomeluft in him, 
 thefe thruft in , & make .him vnftable j therefore 
 purge your hearts you wavering-minded. As 
 if he (hould fay,the reafon why you are not (fa- 
 blers, becaufe yon are not cleanfed from thefe 
 corruptions, which are the caufe of this uncon- 
 ftancy. So Pjal. 5.9. There is no faith fttlnejfe in 
 then mouth jheir inward part is very fitthinejje^&c. 
 The reafon why there is noconftancieintheir 
 fpeech,Iife, and anions is , becaufe within they 
 are very corruption:that is the fin that is within, 
 is the caufe of all the wavering that is in the lite 
 I of manj were it not for ir,otir actions would not 
 I bee of fuch different colours,therc would be no 
 I fuch vneuenefleinour lives. Thcrfore if this be 
 the caufe of it 3 there is no way to helpe it,but to 
 get this corruption mortified,to be cleanfed fro 
 al pollution of flefh & fpirit,as much as may be. 
 Take a man that fayes hee will amend his 
 courfe, that intends to be diligent in his calling, 
 andthinkes never to turne to fuch evill courfes, 
 buttoferve 6Wwith a perfeft heart: obferve 
 now what is the reafon that this man breakes 
 his purpofes, and falls off againe . it is , becaufe 
 there is fome ftrong luft, that comes like a guft 
 of a cortrary winde , and breakes him off from 
 
 his 
 
' ' 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 .'.-. r;-: 
 
 
 pat* &mbecmlehci*mt&k&*t&k xbtxL 
 
 Ax - : V"- ' - ' '•-- '• - v > '*" : . :; "*? 
 
 .\— /:x- V. -v- : .:.',> v : .— , '•-.. :r 
 W. f*r yen iuB Jh«p& fimfcttgfe- 
 
 r ./" v.i:**: ;i.-.. • -•:': ..""'*:.*'.::•".* 
 
 • 
 
 -.'-.: - -. 'it.: =.:r. "^T rri,; •:. 
 
 T: *:/ .■"•....•".!'..'."" ":•*.«*-- r: 7 . r .* 
 % 9 a«»lbtfaKBrfa daenrfs.. 
 
 ' 
 
 H ' : 
 
u8 
 
 The Imm vtab i L i ty of God. 
 
 Purpofcsprcus 
 dcd on rcafbn. 
 
 therefore hee muft have an inclination of the 
 will to it ^ both thefe, when they concurre,they 
 make the refolution vp : when the vnderftand- 
 ing is conuinced 3 and the will inclined , the un- 
 demanding faith there is reafon for it , and the 
 will faith, it is good,then this makes vp the re- 
 folution. As firft, when a man hath any reafon 
 to move him to any action, and it is a ftrong 
 reafon , fo that hee anfwers all obje&ions that 
 hee meets with , now the refolution continues 
 firme : but if his reafonsbe not fufficient,but he 
 meets with objedions that are ftronger, then 
 the firft principle being taken away , the refo- 
 lution growes flaggy and weake. And fo is it in 
 the other alfo,whena man hath a defire to any 
 thing, ifit be fo ftrong, that no other defire is 
 ftronger then »it , that can overtop , and over- 
 rule it, then he goes on without any impedi- 
 ment: but if it bee weake, fo that a ftronger 
 defire can come , and overbalance it, then the 
 fecond principle is demolifhed alfo , & there is 
 an end of this refolution. So that let the reafon 
 on which wee fixe it bee ftrong , and let the in- 
 clination (which muft concurre, )befix , tand 
 
 2 
 Inclination*. 
 
 Renewing of 
 
 purpofes. 
 
 ftrong, and then the refolution will be accor- 
 ding. 
 
 But I adde the third , that there muft be a- re- 
 newing ot this : for though the refolution bee 
 well built , yet to make it conftant , it muft ftill 
 be renewed^For there are fome workes, which 
 muft have a third and fourth hand to goe over 
 them, orelfc they will failc,and moulder.away: 
 
 And 
 
\ 
 
 The Immvtab i l i ty o/God, 
 
 119 
 
 Mcanes to help 
 rcfolutioa*. 
 
 I. 
 
 Getftrong 
 
 reafonsfor 
 them, 
 
 And this is the nature of our refolutions alfo , ir 
 is not the refolution of a day or two , that will 
 fcruetheturne, for the nature of man is fubjed 
 to fuch weakene(Te,that except our refolutions 
 bee gone over and over againe , they (hrinkc '& 
 come to nothing.Thereforethe thing that cai- 
 feth vnconftancy, is oncofthefc three: cither 
 weakenefle of reafon that fets thee or. wbrkc,or 
 weakenefle of the inclination and dctire,or elfe, 
 not renewing of this. Now when you have 
 found out thecaufes of wcakene(Tc,you may ea- 
 fily findeoutthc meancs to make you rcfolure 
 in welldoing. As. 
 
 Firft, Labour to get ft rong reafons for what 
 you refolve on. The want of this was the caufe 
 of the mutability of the fecond ground. It wan- 
 ted depth of earth : that is, the feed was good,and 
 the earth was good , but it was not deepe en- 
 ough, and fo the ftrength of the Sunne caufed it 
 to wither away. So when we (hall have good 
 purpofes and refolutions, & they have not root 
 inough , that is b when a man hath not well ex- 
 amined the thing , fo as to bee fully convinced 
 of the thing that he vndertakes, he is apt to be 
 inconftant in it. And this was the reafon of 
 Eves inconftancy , becaufe fliee considered not 
 the bottome that (lie was built vpon. On theo- 
 ther fide, the Woman of Canaan when (lie had 
 fixed her faith vpon a good ground, (he would 
 not be beaten off: though (lie could not anfwer 
 the objedion , yet (lie would not bee plucked 
 off. Thou art the o1f*j/V, and therefore thou 
 
 H h 4 wilt 
 
120 
 
 Outbid Sa tans 
 temptations. 
 
 Tl?e Immvtab i li ty of God. j 
 
 wilt (hew mercy : and then (he had necde of 
 mercy, for her daughter was fickc , and weakc, 
 and therefore (he would not be driuen off, fhee 
 would take no deniall. So is it with all our rc- 
 folutions when they have this depth of earth. 
 Therefore the beft way is , to confider , and 
 forecaft the worft. So our Saviour counfelleth 
 to expeft the worft : How canfi thou that haft but 
 two hundred , got agawft him that hath a thou- 
 fand y (o\s it in this cafe. When you fhallvn- 
 dcrtake a good coui fe , and you goe out but 
 with weake reafons : ifSathanoraluft come 
 and objeft ftrongcr reafons , this will make 
 thee give out. Therefore the beft way is to 
 forecaft the worft y and to outbid the Devill in 
 every temptation. Therefore when hce (hull 
 come and fay y that thou (halt have favour with 
 men y fay to him that the favour of G o d is bet- 
 ter j if he (hall tell thee of riches,and wealth,fay 
 that thou (halt have a treafure in heaven : if hee 
 fay to thee that thou fhalt have reft and plea- 
 furc in finne , fay to him, that the peace of con- 
 fidence, and joy in the Holy Ghoft, is farre be- 
 yond that reft , and pleafure , whatsoever it be; 
 Soinallthc temptations on the other hand, it 
 is good to ponder them well , that wee may 
 bee able to outbid him therein. Whatsoe- 
 ver he doth object, it is one of thefe two: ei- 
 ther fome good that thou fhalt have, or fomc e- 
 vill. Now confider, ihat as theloveand fa- 
 vour of God, is a greater good then all the 
 world can give thee : So his wrath is a greater 
 i evil 
 
The Immvtab i Li tyo/"God, 
 
 121 
 
 evill, than any the world can inflict upon thee. 
 
 Secondly , If thou v.ouldcft haue thy refo- 
 lution itrong , tobrcake through all impedi- 
 ments, labour to get vehement defires to over- 
 toppe all other : that whatfoever comes , yet 
 they may overballanec them. 
 
 But how (hall I come to get fuch a defire? 
 
 There is no way in the world but this : La- 
 bour to be humbled for thy finnes , to get a 
 broken heart for them : for then a nvm conies 
 to prize grace exceeding much, and worldly 
 things as nothing. For this is a fure rule, When 
 thoufeelcfl thyfinnes to lie heav:c vpon thee , then 
 all the things in the world will bee exceeding light: 
 therforc labour to know the bitternefle of finne; 
 it is that which fets air edge vpo al our fpirituall 
 defires :without this a man doth but cheapen 
 the kingdome of heaven , he doth as the people 
 did with Rehoboam , they expoftulated with him 
 about their ferving him : fo wee doe capitulate 
 with the Lord, as it were,and ftand vpon termes 
 with him , untill we are humbled . and then we 
 are ready to take heaven vpon any condition. 
 Till a man be thus humbled , his defires are re- 
 miffe, and weake, and flaggy defires ; they raife 
 up great buildings upon no foundation • fhe 
 foundation is weake and crazie , and fo the 
 building comes downe. And hence is it, that 
 men put their hand to the plough , and looke backe 
 againe. A fc holler will ferve the Lord, ifhee 
 may have eminency in gifts , and outward ex- 
 cellency^ fome honour in the flelh $ but other- 
 wife 
 
 2. 
 Getftrom* de- 
 fires. 
 
 gueft. 
 i^dnfw. 
 
 How to get 
 
 {Iron g defires. 
 
 A humble man 
 takes heaven 
 vpon any con- 
 ditions* 
 
122 
 
 The Immvtab i li ty of God, 
 
 1 
 
 3- 
 
 Renew our fc- 
 
 folutions. 
 
 wife his dcfircs toGods worke are remiflerbut 
 when he is once humbled,thcn he will fay with 
 Saint Patil^Lordfvhat wilt thou have we to doc?6>c I 
 will doe it, whatfoever it is, & whatsoever thou 
 wotildeft haue me to fuffer , I will fuffer ir. He 
 will take tie kingd$me of heaven by violence : and 
 then his refolutions continue conftant that way. 
 For what can the world and Satandotohim? 
 will they take away his pleafure from him , his 
 wealth, or his credit < they are things that hec 
 hath defpifed beforerthey can take nothing from 
 him, but what he cares not for. Ic is the bitter- 
 nefTe of finne,that makes him now to prize Gods 
 love and favour aboue all things. 
 
 Thirdly,thou muft renew thy refolution oft: 
 it is not enough tofetthe heart in good frame 
 of grace for a day,or two,or for a moneth , but 
 thou muft have a conftant courle in doing of ir, 
 ever and anon:as the Butch men vfe to doe with 
 their bankes, that keepe them with little coft, 
 becaufe.they looke narrowly to them ; if there 
 be but the leaft breach, they make ituppre- 
 fently, otherwife the water makes a breach up- 
 on them. So thou fhouldeft doc with thy heart, 
 obferve it from day today,marke what obje- 
 ctions come that thou canft not anfwer, what 
 luftsanddefires doe overbalance thee , and 
 learne ftill to renew thy reafons and refolutions 
 againft them : and this will make thee conftant 
 and firme, and peremptory in well-doing. 
 
 Now 
 
 \ 
 
I 
 
 Tl>e Greataes of God. 
 
 "J 
 
 NO w I come to the next Attribute, and that 
 is, The Greatneffe ofGod,or his Infiniteneffe: 
 We follow in this rather the rule of the Scrip- 
 cure, than the trait of the Schoolemen, and wee 
 in£ft upon thofc that 6fc/dothe(pecially take 
 to him in Scripture. 
 
 Now that God takes this Attribute to him- 
 felfe , you fliall fee in z Chron^z . 5 . Fer great is 
 ear God above all Gods. Pfal. 135.5. For 1 know 
 that the Lord is great , and that our Lord is above 
 allGods&utthz place that I would chiefly com- 
 mend to you is this : Pp/. 145. 3. Great is the 
 Lord , and mott worthy to be prat fed : and his great- 
 neffe is unfearchable. Where you fee,that it is an 
 infinite, and incomprehenfible greatnejje that 
 the Lord takes to himfelfe. So Pfal. 147.5 .Great 
 is our God ', and of great power ,: and his vnder ft an- 
 ting is infinite.. 
 
 In handling of this, Twill (hew you thefe 
 two things. 
 
 Firft, I will (hew you how this greatnefTe of 
 G o d is gathered from the Scriptures. 
 
 Secondly , I will (hew you the reafon of it, 
 as I have done in the reft. 
 
 The greatnefTe of God is declared to us in 
 the Scripture by thefe fixe things . 
 
 Firft, By the workes of his creation. The 
 great ne/fe of the workes doe (hew the greatne(Te 
 of the maker. I fay 40. 12 JVho hath me fur ed the 
 heavens in the ho/low of his hand -.and meted out the 
 heavens with a jpanne^ and comprehended the duff 
 of the earth in ameafire , sgj weighed themoun. 
 \ taines 
 
 Tr^fixth At- 
 tribute of God j 
 hi grentnetfe 
 and Infinite- 
 neffe. 
 
 x.Chro.*«j. 
 
 Pfal. 1 3 5. J. 
 
 PfaVMM. 
 Pfal. X47.*. 
 
 TheGreatnes 
 ofGoddecla. 
 red in 6 things. I 
 
 By the workes 
 of Creation, 
 
U4 
 
 The Infinitenes,W 
 
 BythcEnfigns 
 of his Grcat- 
 nefTc. 
 
 Dcut.4.36. 
 
 tainestnfcales , and the hills inaballance? that is, 
 If you would looke upon any worke , you may 
 judge of the workemanby it 5 if you fee a great 
 buildiftg, you conceive it to be made by a man 
 of fome power : now when you looke vpon the 
 great building of heauen and earth , you may 
 think that he that did handle the materials thcr- 
 of,as an Archited doth handle the ftones,& lay 
 them in their placets great : now the Lord doxh 
 put the waters rogether,as if he held them in bis 
 hand; and hee meafuresoutthe heavens, as a 
 workeman meafures out the roofe : Againe, e- 
 very workeman muft worke by plummet ahd 
 by weight,now confider the great mountaines, 
 faith he,he weighes them in fcales, and the hills 
 in a ballance : as this building doth goe beyond 
 mans, fo doth t he greatnejje of God exceed the 
 greatnejfe o£ man : and by this you may take a 
 glimpfe ohhQ great nejfeof the Lord. 
 
 Secondly, by the enfignes of his greatnejfe: 
 Thegrata^ofPrincesisfetoutby their en- 
 fignes, which are the declaration of it. Now 
 when the Lord wsuld fhew his greatnejfe, 
 you (hall fee how he exprefleth it. Dent. 4. 36. 
 When he came out of the CMount, they heard a great 
 voice , and on the earth there was a great fre: by 
 that you may knowthe^ra/tf^of G o d. For 
 why doth hee come forth with thofe enfignes, 
 clothed with them, as it were, but that by this 
 you might have a crevice opened to ihew you 
 the greatnejfe of G o d < So when he appeared 
 to Eltts , and in his apparitions to CMofes ,to the 
 
 Prophets,, 
 
Greatnes of God. 
 
 I2 5 
 
 Prophets, ifaiah, and Ezckiel.lt is faid alfo,that 
 his voice was as the found of many waters • and he 
 was fo terrible , that it was a vfuall faying a- 
 mong the Iewes 5 Who can fee God and l-ve ? why 
 foc'Becaufc when he appeared, when he flic wed 
 any fhadowofhis^/r^w/^weak flefh could not 
 behold him , bar was fwJlowed up as it were, 
 with the greatneffe of his Majefty . 
 
 ThirdTy, Bytheworkes of his providence. 
 Ezek. 36. 23 . And I will fancl fie my great Name 
 which was prophaned among the heathen, which yee 
 have prohane din the middeflofthem y and the hea- 
 then frail know that I am the Lord, fnh the Lord 
 G o D y when ijha/l befincfifiedm you before their 
 eyes. As if heefliould fay 5 They make no ac- 
 count of me now, but when they ihall fee me to 
 bring downe great Babel, then they (hall know 
 aridbelceve, that I am a great God. So elfe 
 where in Ezech-ie/l hee compareth t^jhur , and 
 Tyre , to a Lyon and Eagle, and a Cedar : and hec 
 faith, that hee will put a hookeinto the Lyon, and 
 deplume the Eagle, and overtop the Cedar . that is, 
 hee will (h?w forth his greatnejfe , atthattime, 
 when he (hali bring downe thofe great nations. 
 So the greatnep ot G o d is feene in his provi- 
 dence over every thing elferwhen he (hall over- 
 throw a whole kingdome,and a great battell by 
 a litle accident , as great (hips are turned about 
 by alitlerudder, then his might appeares. So 
 his ruling the winds and feas, and weather, all 
 which (hewes the greatnejfe oihis excellency. 
 Therefore look vpan his judgements , and like- 
 wife 
 
 3. 
 
 By the workes 
 of his provi- 
 dence. 
 
126 
 
 The Infinitbnes,W 
 
 4* 
 
 By comparing 
 him with the 
 grcatert things. 
 
 Ifay40«s?< 
 
 I%5f. 
 
 wife upon his mercyes , when you fee , how he 
 raifcth men out ofthedufi &c. All this lhewes the 
 greatnefJeoiGod. 
 
 Fourthly , It isfetout comparatively. To 
 compare him, with the greateft of men, Kings 
 what are they unto him, who is the King of 
 Kings ? Nay , take Nations which are greater, 
 nay take all Nations, you Ihall fee what they 
 are to him. Jfa.+o. i 5 . Behold the Nations are as 
 a drop of a bucket , and are counted as the fmall duft 
 of the hallance: Behold he taketh up the lies as a very 
 little thing, ey' Lebanon is net fuffi tent to burn for a 
 burntoffering. All Nations before h m are as nothing, 
 and they are counted to htm lejje then nothing and 
 vanjy. The very fcope of this place is, to (hew 
 the greatnejje olGod by comparifon. A bucket 
 of water is but a fmall thing , but the dropps that 
 fall from it , they are no ufe : Againe , the duH 
 of the earth is but a fmall thing , but the dujl of 
 thefcales , that will not fo much as turne them, 
 that muft neeedes be exceeding little : but all rhe 
 world is not fo much to him, as a little dull. An- 
 other comparifon you ihall finde in lfa. $$.My 
 thoughts are above your t houghs , as the heaven is a- 
 bouetheearth.Rcyondall things are the thoughts 
 ofmanjfor though Nations bee great, yeta 
 mans thoughts goe beyond them : notwithstan- 
 ding the Lord is as much beyond the fcant- 
 ling, and modell that we draw of him in our 
 thoughts, as the heavens art above the earth. 
 When you have thought upon meeasmuch 
 as you can thinke- when you have thought 
 
 me 
 
Gp.EATENES cfGoD. 12- 
 
 me; 
 
 fpe. etlam 
 
 fiill, then you c t^mtbcbatuem in 
 
 abczethe earth. 
 
 Fifthly, The Im |Sroi ex- his 
 
 being. Ur. 23. 24. Di n and earth, *■ 
 
 ■ 
 
 6. 
 
 faith th: Lor if \' . thxtkfcd- 
 
 vert ofi. - ; : - 
 
 ofltisefiencc ptefemed to our . 
 hisgrcJttuJJitoas. 
 
 Sixthly, His foli* : wes his gru?MtJfc m 
 
 Lookeasmenkeepc a greater diftance from o- ";'-^ '"""" 
 thcrs 3 • as Princes doe j fo wee eftceme them 
 greater: Now his holinefft is dft , I 
 
 his fcpaiation and diftance from : cry creature. 
 Everything isboly,becaal >m 
 
 imon ufes-itis common,bcca. I I 
 
 queftred : now the holmes of G§d nd 
 
 .ohnes of all other tbingSytot Coiis fo I 
 rated as none may come neerc him 5 the c/^™- 
 £/«H c#rw flSwr &;<?; before him -anc 
 
 lount, none might approach nearero 
 him • if they did :e to be thru gh 
 
 wkhadzrtlflcdiVzBs inbghtinaceTble^ thete- 
 fore the great k$U*cffc of Go Dinewes the .-:.'- 
 neffeoi Ma efty. 
 
 The reafo s of this Infinitenejfe are thefe. J J 
 
 Firft, from this very place, 1 ^4Mhathfent to 
 mc<utnoj$u?lKj£Mi (bewesthathehatha beii 1, 
 
 from bim(elfc,iffo,then lie had no caufe. Now h- « tab- 
 from hence , as in that he bid no ef.cierr. nc: ' sm *\ 
 
 f nail caufe , he is eternal! , fo in that he hath nei- 
 ther 
 
128 
 
 77;elNFlNITENES,<*H</ 
 
 ■\ 
 
 thcr matter not forme , hee is infinite and incom- 
 prehenfible. And that is the reafon that hee hath 
 an vnlimitcd e(Tence,becaufe all limitation pro- 
 cccdes either from the matter or from the forme: 
 the forme is contrafted by the wdfnrragainc, the 
 matter would he indefinite, but it is cotrafted & 
 bounded by the forme , and (hut up into fuch a 
 compafTe. Now God hath neither matter nor 
 formepot nothing like it; therfore he is infinite. 
 Al the creatures they have their feverall kindes: 
 the Angels they have no matter , yet they have 
 fomething in them anfwerable to matter&cforme^ 
 wherein they agree,& difagree with other crea- 
 tures : and therefore they are one kinde of crea- 
 tures^and man another • which ihewes that they 
 have formes to bound and limit them,in that the 
 eflence of the Angels goes fo farre , and no far- 
 ther^ fo the effence of man, &c. But in G o d 
 there is no fimilitude of any fuch thing, there is 
 no Ejfe recepttijhcxezve no limits in hiro,nothing 
 to bounde his eflfencciwhereas they are Entia in 
 a certaine kinde,he is fimfliciter £w,& therefore 
 without all limitation , and fo muft be immenfe. 
 
 Secondly , He is omnipotent and almighty, 
 he can doe whatfoever he will : Whence I rea- 
 fon. If he haue an infinite power , it cannot bee 
 but in an infinite effence -for as a thing is inwr- 
 k/ngy fo it is in being : an infinite effed: fuppofeth 
 an infinite caufectherefore w her* his power is in. 
 finite , that muft needs be infinite in which it is 
 rooted, and from whence it proceedes. 
 
 Thirdly, That which is beyond all that wee 
 
 can 
 
 Reaf.z. 
 
 He is almighty 
 
 Reaf. 
 
Greatneso/ God. 
 
 ll 9 
 
 can conceive is infinite : but God is fo, for if 
 any thing could be imagined more perfed than 
 he is,that fliould be God and no: he : and there- 
 fore whatfoever we can conceive of him , he is 
 in Scripture faid to be beyond it. Rom, 1 1 . His 
 tvajes are fafi finding out -fit it is faid,that he dwels 
 in light inacceffible. 
 
 Fourthly, Confider it from his workes: you 
 fee that hee hath made the world of nothing. 
 Whence I reafon : If you would heate the aire, 
 it is more cafily heated than water, becaufe the 
 paflive power is neerer the a&ive 5 and if you 
 would heate water, you may more eafily heate 
 it than the earth: Now according to therefi- 
 ftance,according to the paflive power , fuch is 
 the a<5Hvc : if the paflive power lie open, the 
 atfive power is lefle, that workes upon it; now 
 when the paflive power is infinitely low, then 
 the a&ive power muft be infinitely high , aad 
 anfwerabletoit. Therefore when (W comes 
 to make fomething of nothing, thcaftivepo- 
 wer muft be exceeding high, becaufe the paf- 
 five power is infinitely low : and therefore re- 
 quires an infinite attivc power to make fome- 
 thing of nothing, and confequently, hee muft 
 be infinite, in whom this power is feated. 
 
 If he be fo great a God, hee that is our God, 
 the God, who is our Father, if hee be thus great ^ 
 and incomprehenfible , learne you to know 
 what you are then : that you have an infinite 
 God to maintaine, defend and uphold you,in all 
 all that you have to doe, or fuffer for his will, 
 
 Ii This 
 
 He is beyond 
 
 alltnatwcean 
 
 conceive, 
 
 Rom. 1 i. 
 
 Reafiq. 
 From his 
 workes. 
 
 Vfe 1. 
 
 To know our 
 intereftin this 
 great God, and 
 to take up a 
 grcatccfle of 
 minde anfwe- 
 rable. 
 
I 5° 
 
 T^Infinitenes, and 
 
 What makes 
 the naind great. 
 
 Why men are 
 led a fide by 
 outward great. 
 nelTe. 
 
 This will caufe you to take great mindes to 
 your felves to have a holy magnanimity in you.* 
 And theconfidcration of this Attribute is of 
 great ufe, to make Chriftians come to have 
 I great mindes. For what is it that makes the 
 minde great? It is the greatneffe of the object: 
 whence it is, that Kings have great mindes, be- 
 caufe of x\\z\x great Kingdomes ; and great men 
 have great thoughts, becaufe of the great objects 
 that they have to lookc upon. Now therefore, 
 if thou wouldeft looke upon the great God, if 
 thou wouldeftconfider that hecisthy Father, 
 and that all thathee hath is thine, this would 
 likewife make thy minde exceeding great ;. it 
 ' would take from us that pufillammity and nar- 
 rowneffe of mind, which we are fubjedi to; and 
 it is of great moment it fliould doe fo. A little 
 mind though it be good, yet becaufe it is a little 
 vefleil, it can be and receive but a little good; 
 whereas when the minde is great, it is capable of 
 great grace, great aft ions , and^^indeavours: 
 ; therefore we (hould get our mindes tobc inlar- 
 I ged,by confidering the greatnejfe of Go d, and 
 i our intereft in it. For want of this it is, that 
 Chriftiansare fo apt to be led afidc into by- 
 wayes by the power of great men ; becaufe 
 they thinke that they are greatly graced when 
 they arc look't after by great men; when as if 
 they did know their owne greatnejfe , that they 
 are fonnesof God, and fains of heaven, this 
 goes beyond all,and would raife their thoughts. 
 Hence likewife it is, that men are fo eafily 
 
 wrought 
 
Greatnes of God. 
 
 *$ 
 
 wrought upon by pIeafurc,profit, and the like, 
 that they are ready to tranfgreiTc for a little: why 
 is it? It is,becaufc rhey doe not know what they 
 arc borne to, that the great G o d of heaven is 
 theirs,and all the treafures there are theirs. 
 
 So what is the reafon, that the praife , and 
 credit of men,doe fo much affe<ft you i but bc- 
 caufe we have fo little mindes 1 whereas, if God 
 were knowne in his great nejfe, what would the 
 praife of great men be to the praife of the great 
 God? This would give us much (trength a- 
 gainftthcic temptations. And hence it is that 
 young ftudentsthat are provided for, have their 
 mindes lift up to vanities : whereas if their 
 mindes were great , they would defpife them , 
 and labour to lerve the great God with their 
 ftrength 2nd parts in their callings. 
 
 And fameiuhat are growne up, if they have 
 eftate inough, they leave the high and honoura- 
 ble calling of the Miniftery • the reafon is, be- 
 caufe they overvalue thefe outward things: 
 whereas, if a man had a great minde , nothing 
 would ht great to him. 
 
 Hence alfo it is, that men are fo ftirred with 
 variety of conditions-wheri profperity comes D it 
 puffs them up one way- when erodes & adver- 
 (ity comes 3 it troubles and (hakes them on the 
 other fide: and what is the reafon , but becaufe 
 they feemegratf to them? which appeares from 
 hence, becaufe they ftirre up great ?&£t\om. 
 Therefore the way to walkeeven in both con- 
 ditions, is, to get this greatneJJ'c ofmmde : for it 
 Ii 2 is 
 
 By pleafurei. 
 
 By praife of 
 men. 
 
 Why men ace 
 ftirred with 
 variety of 
 conditions. 
 
il« 
 
 7?^ISFINITENES, 
 
 .>.-;.'.';. 
 
 ; r-.".J in 
 
 - : : _ • : : 
 
 * is the weaknelle of the mind, which cauicth a 
 man to be 91 ei affcdcdwiththcfc things, to re- 
 ioyce too much in the one, and to be too much 
 afieAed with the other. Even as, wee fee, a 
 real : eye, as ::?e eyes of Owles and Bacs,can- 
 not indui c 1 gicat lighr*and 1 weake brime can- 
 not beare ftrong dl mkeibuta ftroog eye, as the 
 
 the greateft light: fo 
 -:, it will indurc neat grace and 
 difgraccowith the iame temper, it will beare aO 
 well enough, itknowes/wf* vsut, Asdb$wU 
 d$nr.:. . iereas c then have their eyes dai. 
 :. ruJ their bra ines Buck giuoy as it were with 
 the * or diicounrenancc of great men. 
 
 Hence alio it is that we are To buiie about 
 worldly things, dignity, and riches, &c. I: is 
 true we thou Id ieeke after theie things,bu: why 
 doc we doe ktjntocona:* f It was P suits grau- 
 neffeofmindt. that made him md 10 prcaci 
 
 thcGofpeS-^ to ferve tables, and fbch like, were 
 fmall matters, he would not iookc aftec them : 
 . we had grcsitm;;^a y we {hould feeke for 
 grace,and how to increase m i: , how to live an 
 ufefull,and painefuli and profitable life. World- 
 ly things are too little for the minde to beftow 
 it Cdfc upon 5 which would be lb to us, if wee 
 man d fee CtJinh'isgrcttncjjt, and ourinrereft 
 in it. Men offo$bmumks,*MidfmjU[dr,:wcxj y \\hh 
 the 5 reckon it as agrcM matter to ttigm 
 
 run :he trees : whereas the Vim and the Figtree 
 c (1 1 : med it not fo,but chofe rather to fer\e God 
 4r,Jm~* with their frveetnefic Andfjtnejfc. 
 
 Henee 
 
Greatneso/ God. 
 
 l U 
 
 Why men a re 
 affc&ed with 
 inmric6ofmcn 
 
 Gai.r. it: 
 
 Hence it is that men are fo much affe&cd 
 wirh the injuries of men on the one fide, and the 
 favours of men on the other fidcrallthis arifeth 
 from the littlenefle of their mindes. Saint Paul, 
 Gal. 5.12. when the Galathians had done him 
 great injury y yet faith he, Brtthrenybe as I am, for 
 lam as you are: you havedone me great injury, 
 but I cfteeme it not , you have not hurt mee at all. 
 For, a man inlarged to a holy greatnejfe ofmindy 
 all the injuries put upon him by men, feeme 
 fmallto him: when men are full of complaints, 
 and fay, they cannot beare fuch difgrace and 
 flander, and reproach 5 this doth not proceede 
 from the greatnejfe, but from the weakneffe of 
 their mindes. Men thinke it indeede greatnejfe of 
 tnmde y not to parte over thefe things, not to put 
 up an injury : but furely it is a note of a great 
 rnindey tooverlookethemall. So it is true on 
 the other fide, not to regard the praife of men : 
 The P hilofopher could fay , that the magnani- 
 mous man did not regard the praife of common 
 men, becaufe hec was above them^ as is not hee praifeof men. 
 a weake man, that would regard the praife of 
 children,becaufe they are not able to judge? fo 
 hee hath but a weake minde , that regards the 
 praife of worldly men- for they are too little 
 for him to regard , if hee did fee God in his 
 greatnejfe. This made Paul to fay, that hee did 
 not care for mans day, let them fay what they 
 will by me, better or worfe, I regard it not. 
 ( There is indeede a mecte regard to be had of 
 them 5 but if they come into competition j 
 
 Ii 3 with 
 
 Weakneflc to 
 regard the 
 
**4 
 
 TMnfinitenes, and 
 
 Fcarfulneflcin 
 profeffion 
 whence it is. 
 
 with God, then they muft bcare no weight at 
 all : ) and thusbecaaufe difgrace and difparage- 
 menr,&c.feemed but little to Paul, he defpiied 
 ! them alL 
 
 So from this weaknefle of minde arifcth that 
 cowardlinefle which wee fee often in men. 
 Whence is it that men are fo fearefullto holde 
 out the light of a holy profeflionds it not from 
 hence, that they axe pufiBanimous, that they doe 
 too much eftcemc the face & fpeeches of men? 
 A Lion,bccaufe he knowes himfelfe to be a Li- 
 on,if the dogs barke,hc walkes in the ftreet and 
 regards them not; he turneth not his head afide 
 | for them: So a magnanimous man,that knowes 
 \ himfelfe in Gods favour , will paffe by the 
 obloquies of men, You (hall fee David did fo: 
 \ hee went on in his courfe like a Lion, when 5fc 
 vki railed againft him, fo that the two fonnes 
 of Zcrviab would have cut offhis head: No D let 
 him alcne^faith he s the/Wthenraifedhim up 
 to agreatnejfe ofmwde.- So was it with Paul r hce 
 pajfed through cvill report >and good report, and.ne- 
 ver turned afidgfor any. So Mofcs, and Jeremy, 
 They fhall finite thee with the, tongue of men, ejrc 
 fayes Go d, but I am with thee , and I mil make 
 thee a brazen wall, and an iron pilar . And fo,if we 
 could fee Go Din his grcatneffe , all thefe out- 
 ward things would fceme nothing to us, As an 
 hundred torches appcare to be nothing , when 
 we looke upon the Sunne: fo,if we could confi- 
 der aright of the greatneffe of God, all thefaire 
 fpeeches of men would bcasnothing.Now the 
 
 way! 
 
Greatnes o/God. 
 
 FJKJS. 
 
 M5 
 
 way to get this magnanimity, is to bclceve this 
 
 grcatnefleoiG o d, and to confider that wc arc 
 
 the fonnes ofGod,and hares of heaven : the caufc 
 
 of this puji/iantmify is the want of faith. If wee 
 
 did belccve that wc were the fonnes of God, and 
 
 did belccve that God would-be with us, that 
 
 he was fo^r^raG o d, and that hce did ftand 
 
 by, andfecond us, wee fhould not be fo fcarc- 
 
 full as we are. Therefore ftrengthen your faith, 
 
 that you may have your mindes inlarged , that 
 
 fo you may walkc without impediments,and be 
 
 perfed with him: This was the argument ufed 
 
 to Abraham, that made him ferfetf with 
 
 G o d in all his wayes • that God 
 
 was AlLfufficicnt > and his 
 
 great reward. 
 
 n 4 
 
 THE 
 
V 
 
 I . 
 
 \ 
 
Gre a tnes of God. 
 
 '17 
 
 THE 
 
 SIXTEENTH 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 ExOd.3.13, 14. 
 
 L^MMofcS fiid unto God, Behold when I come 
 unto the children of ifrael, and jh all fay unto 
 them, the God of your fathers hath fent mee unto 
 you,and they pall fay unto mejvhat is his name^ 
 what (hall I fay unto them f 
 
 i^ind God faid unto Mofes, I \yiM, TH AT I 
 k^4M,&c. 
 
 F you aske the queftion 3 
 How a man {hall come to 
 this greatnejfe ofminde,v/hat 
 rife it hath from the great- 
 nefeofGod? Ianfwer. 
 
 Firft, it arifeth thus from 
 it- When a man confiders 
 that God is fo exceeding great y and that hee 
 
 hath 
 
 Queft. 
 
 K^infw. 
 
 How a man 
 fhall come by 
 this great aeflc 
 of minde, and 
 what rife it 
 hath from 
 Gods grcatnes. 
 
i 138 
 
 The iNFINlTfiNES^ttJ 
 
 t 
 
 The fight of 
 
 Gods grcatnei 
 makes a man 
 dcf^ifc all o- 
 
 thcr things. 
 
 Plul.3.8. 
 
 lam. 1. 
 
 10. 
 
 2 
 He is able to 
 defend us a- 
 gainft all op* 
 pofition. 
 
 Heb.u. 
 
 hath intereft in him , that will make him to de- 
 fpife all other things, as fmall things in compa- 
 rifonofhim.Indeed,thonghGodwere^r<f4f,yet 
 if we had no intereft in him, then there was no 
 caufe why wee fhould take to our felves this 
 magnanimity upon any fuch ground : but feeing 
 that he is (o great, and that this greatnejp {hall be 
 improved to our advantage, what addition can 
 any thing elfe make unto us? You fhall fee 
 that Paul vai&d up his heart upon this ground : 
 Phil.^.s. confidering the priviledges that hee 
 had in Chrift, this makes him to account other 
 things as nothing. Hence in lam. 1. 10. Let him 
 that is of a high degree , rejoyce in that hee is made 
 low : that is,Iet him rejoyce that hee is inabled 
 to looke upon his riches which he did fo high- 
 ly magnifie before, to thirtke them as nothing, 
 but as fading flowers; let him rejoyce in it, 
 becaufe now he is made a greater man, becaufe 
 he is made too bigge for them 5 they are no fuch 
 things , as before he thought them to be: not 
 that they are made leffc, but becaufe he is exal- 
 ted and lifted above them. 
 
 Secondly, fo likewife there is a rife for it in 
 this regard, becaufe he is able to defend us, and 
 proted us,and beare us out againft all oppofi- 
 tion. You fee that men looke great , becaufe 
 they have got great men or Pripces to beare 
 themfelves upoa. And when men confiderthat 
 they hwexhc great God on their fide, to beare 
 themfelves upon, why fhould not they have 
 great mindes ? Thus CMofes, Hebr. 1 1 . regarded 
 
 not\ 
 
Greatnes of God. 
 
 139 
 
 not the wrath of the King, becaufee hee did fee 
 that God that was invifible: thatis, when hee 
 confidcrcd God in his greatneffe, the King and 
 his wrath were nothing to him. So that the 
 way to get this magnanimity, is, to beleeve that 
 God is our God: and according to the great- 
 nefj'e of a mans faith, fitch will be this great neffe and 
 magnanimity of mtnde that we commend to you. 
 Sa/4l y when he was a King,had a new heart, and 
 another fpirit 5 becaufe when he beleeved in ear- 
 ned that he was a King, he looked upon things 
 after another manner 5 hee had other thoughts 
 and other affe&ions than he had before : and fo 
 would. any man elfe,.if he were advanced from 
 ameaneeftatetoa kingdome. And, if we did 
 beleevethat wee weiethcfennes of the great Cod 
 of heayen and earth , wee would have great 
 mindes ; therefore the ftrongcr our faith is, the 
 greater our minde is. O nely this is to be added b 
 that this faith mud not be in the habit onely in 
 thee, but it mud be exercifed & renewed conti- 
 nually :there imift not be only x/l^,but xf rci h 
 the a&uall ufe of it. And were that which 
 God faid to Abraham = , (I am thy exceeding 
 great reward,) were this beleeved of any of us, 
 that God is fo great, and that his greatnejfe is 
 our exceeding great reward ± then all other re- 
 wards wot>ld feeme but fmall things. You 
 (hall fee what David did upon this ground , in 
 P/4/.27.1 . The Lord is my light , and my fidv at ton, 
 whom fhaU I feare ? the Lord is theftrength of my 
 Ufe, ofwbomfialllbe afraid? Sec, here are two 
 
 things: 
 
 Pfal«i7«x 
 
i4° 
 
 The Infinitenes, and 
 
 Pfal.4*.itM 
 
 rfez. 
 
 Lcarne to fcarc 
 him for his 
 greatncflc. 
 
 / things : Firft,he confiders that G o d is his- He 
 f is my falv at ion. Secondly, he confiders the great. 
 neffe, and ftrength and power of GW ; and from 
 thence he drawes this conclufion, whom (hall I 
 feare i For in thee doe I truft; that is, in this po- 
 wer and great neffe o£ G o d, and the intereft that 
 I have in him. Pfal.4.6.1,1,3. God is our refuge 
 and ftrength, a very pre fern helpe in trouble: There, 
 fore will we not feare though the earth he removed, 
 and though the mount aines he carried into the midH 
 ofthefea : though the waters thereof roare and he 
 troubled, and though themountainesjhakemththe 
 fweliing thereof: that is, when God is feenein 
 hisgreatnep , when wee looke upon him , and 
 beleeve him to be fuch a God, and that we have 
 iatereft in him,in the greatest trouble and confu- 
 fion that can befall us: though the earth bejhaken, 
 and the mount aines catt into the midfl of the Sea, 
 yet the minde will not be (haken , but ftill re- 
 mainesthe fame. They beare out all, becaufe 
 they have a great God to beare themfelves up- 
 on, who will proted and defend them upon all 
 occafions. 
 
 If G o d be fo great and infinite, (as he is)hence 
 we fliould learne to feare him, and to tremble at 
 his word, h great and potent enemy, men will 
 feare. Therefore this is one ufe that wee are to 
 makeofthegr^/^ofG^, that his wrath is 
 exceeding great, and fo is his goodneffe ; and 
 both are to be feared. Wee ought to feare his 
 wrath, left it come upon us , and his goodnefle 
 ieft wee lofe it: for hee is a great God, and his 
 
 wrath ( 
 
r 
 
 Gre atnes of God. 
 
 141 
 
 wrath is able to crufli in pieces, and to confume | 
 us,fuch he expreflcd it to be, when he put forth 
 but fome part of his ftrength, as when he con- 
 fumed them with their Cenfers, even the com- 
 pany ofCorah 3 Dathan, & Abiram. Who can dwell 
 with everlasting burnings? as if he (hould fay ;he 
 is a great C7^,who can come neere him? who can 
 converfe with him? how (hall men deale with 
 him? Some oft hem there made an evill ufc of 
 it : but we muft learnc to make ufe of it for our 
 owne advantagejto take heed,how we provoke 
 him : for is it a fmall thing to have the great God 
 of heaven and earth our enemy? Let them con- 
 fider this,that live without God in the world,that 
 finne,and will finne,they are tolde of their par- 
 ticular faults,of their idleneffe,&c.and they are 
 fo and will be fo (till : but let them confider that 
 which is fpoken in 1 Cor. 10.12. Doewe provoke 
 the Lord to jealoufie? Are wefronger than he? He 
 fpeakes it to them that receive the Sacrament 
 unworthily : As if he (hould fay- Both in this, 
 and in all other finnes that you doe commit,y ou 
 doe,as it wcre,contend with rhz great God, which 
 is a vaine thing, if you confider his greatnejfe: 
 for are you fir onger than hee t So Pfal. 90. Who 
 knowes the power of his wrath? 
 
 And fo {hould we doe in regard of his good- 
 nes^Hof^ ,ult. Men frail feare his goodnes: thatis,if 
 his goodneffe be fo great and infinite j& himfelfe, 
 then the loffe of it , is a loffe above the loffe of 
 all things in the world. Whatfoevcr is precious 
 to us, that we feare the loffe of, as of our liber- 
 ties 
 
 x Cor. xo.21, 
 
 pr^o. 
 
 To fearc hit 
 
 goodneffe. 
 Hof.$.u!t, 
 
I 
 
 142 
 
 The Infinitenes,^ 
 
 tics and lives : and as things are more precious 
 to us 3 the more wee feare the lode of them. 
 Now the goodnefle of God is greater than all 
 other things,it is beyond all thefe, as having all 
 thefe in ir.therefore we are to feare the lofle of 
 it as the greatett evill in the world. 
 
 Therefore if wee could fee the extenfion of 
 his wrath and goodnefle , thelofle of the one 
 would be the great eft lofle,& the other the^rf*- 
 teft croife to us^the enjoying of the one the grea- 
 test good,and the enduring of the other the grca- 
 teft evill in the world in our efteeme : and the 
 confideration of this would helpe us to guide 
 our hopes and feares aright s for z great cmie of 
 mifleading us in our wayes, are the vaine hopes 
 and feares that we are fubjc«5i to : we feare the 
 lofle of friends, and loffe of lives and liberties $ 
 but thefe in comparifon are not to be feared. 
 This ufe Chrift makes of it : Feare not thofe that 
 can kill the body, but feare the great Godjhat can de- 
 ftroy both body and fouleJXhe great nes of his wrath 
 we fliould feare as the great eft evilrand his good- 
 I nefle as the chicfeft good:and our thoughts and 
 intentions being taken up about thefe two, it 
 would fet our hopes and feares aright$& world- 
 ly things 5 as credit 3 and profir,&c. would feeme 
 nothing to us 5 and prevaile nothing with us. 
 
 If God be Co exceeding j^rf, then there is no 
 loveenough,no affe&ion, no defire anfwerable 
 ^r^im^ana t0 h* m - K °ur love were perfcd,yct it could not 
 therefore not j reach to -him, whole great neffe doth farre exceed 
 
 Sv^in cither ; . it:but bdn § iwp^fc^; ^ it* is, it falls exceeding 
 % fhonA 
 
 Vfei. 
 
 That no affe- 
 ction or obes 
 dienccinusis 
 
Greatnbs ef God. 
 
 »4S 
 
 fhort of him. Therefore let no man feare that he 
 cangoetoofarre, that there can be too much 
 holinetfeand ftridneffe in our wayes : but let 
 him remember the great Godot heaven & earth, 
 and what is due to him , and then thinke how 
 farre thou falleft fhoit of that which thou flioul- 
 dtft do to him. It is an expreffion oiChriJl^Luk. 
 l4.26.M4f.10.37. He that lovetb father or mother 
 more than me, is not worthy ofmee. That which I 
 would have obferved out of thefc places is, Hec 
 is not worthy of me: that is, if men confidered my 
 greatnejje, and excellency , they would eafily 
 fee me worthyof more love,than this of friends, 
 or than any that ate deareft to thee • and except 
 you can doe fo, except you can prize my love 
 above thefe things, yea even hate them all, if 
 they come into competition with me , y ou-are 
 notworthy of me. Confider.therefore,how much 
 love he is worthyof, and fee if there be not 
 reafon for that commandement, where wee are 
 commanded to love the Lord mth allourjlrength: 
 that is ,, if you would love Cod with that love 
 that he is worthy of, you would love God with 
 all your Jlrength.: that is, whatsoever ftrength a 
 man hath, his love fliould caufe him to put it 
 forth to doferviceto Godli a man be rich,he is 
 able to doe more for GWthan a poore man 5 if 
 he be a Mag ift rate,. he can doe more than a pri- 
 vate man- if he hath learning and knowledge, 
 he hath much more ftrength than another: now 
 the improvement of thefe to the glory of God, 
 1 this is to love him with all our jlrength. And if 
 
 \ you 
 
 Luke 1 4*16. 
 Mat, 1 0.37* 
 
i44 
 
 Ihe Infinitenes, and 
 
 I 
 
 ob]eft. 
 An fa* 
 
 The love of o- 
 ther tfeings 
 fubordinatc to 
 the love of 6*h 
 xlohna. 1 J. 
 
 lames 4.4. 
 
 ') 
 
 /you confidcr how great a God he is, you will fee 
 great reafon why you fhould love him thus with 
 all your firength. Therefore we {hould check our 
 felves when we fee the dulneffe of our hearts, 
 how ready and how apt wee are to befto w our 
 love upon any befides him : we (hould obferve 
 allthofcriverets, wherein our love goes out, 
 and whereby our foules runne to other things, 
 and bring them backe againc into the right! 
 channell. For if you confider the greatnefe of] 
 God^ you will fee, that there is no love to I pare. 
 
 But may we not love him, and love other 
 things alfo i 
 
 You cannot with a coordinate, but with zfub- 
 ordinate loue you may : that is, you cannot love 
 him,&the world,forthey areoppofed.i Joh.z. 
 IS. Love not the world, neither the things of the 
 world: if An) man love the world, the love of the Fa- 
 theris not in him.So lam.^.^.Knowye not, that the 
 friendship of the world is enmity with God? whome- 
 ver therefore will be a friend of the world^ is an ene- 
 my to God. All our love muft be beftowed upon 
 him,as moft worthy of itrthere is not one parti- 
 cle to be beftowed upon any other thing. 
 
 But then he gives us our love againe,and then 
 we may difpofc of it here and there according 
 to his will. As for example: he hath comman- 
 ded thee to love father and mother,and friends: 
 and the ground that thou art to doe it upon, is 
 becaufe he hath commanded thee , and gives 
 thee leave to do it; Only he hath put naturall af- 
 fe#ion into thee , that thou maift doe it more 
 readily. So 
 
Greatnes of God. 
 
 H5 
 
 So he hath given thee leave to love recreati- 
 ons and other things that are finable to our de- 
 fires, but you muft remember, that the end is, 
 that you may bee made more ferviccable to 
 him , to quicken and ftrengthen you to doe his 
 fcrvice, and thus it may bebeftowed upon o- 
 thcr things. 
 
 Bat that which we haveinhand, and com- 
 mend to your consideration is this: thatifhec 
 be Co exceeding great in goodnes,that therefore 
 heufcrves thy whole love, i Cor.i6.22Jf any 
 man love net the Lordlefus Chrifl, let him be Ana- 
 thema,o\daranatha. Paul comes with indigna- 
 tion,coniidering the great good that lefu* Chrifl 
 had done for us : if any man love not him, he is 
 worthy to periili, let him be accurfed even to 
 death. I fay, if vveconfider the great nejfe that 
 is in him, you (lull fee iome reafon for that in- 
 dignation of the Apoftle, and that curfe where- 
 by heexprefleth it, and fo farreas we fall fhort, 
 ofour love herein- we (hould goe to Chri8> and 
 befeech him to make it up,that our defeats may 
 be fupplied, and that we may be accepted in 
 him. 
 
 Againc , if he be Co great , then wee fhould 
 learne to reverence him, to come before him 
 with much feare, when we performe any duty 
 to him. According as a man is great , fo wee 
 feare him. This ufe is made of it in CMal. 1 . 1 4 . 
 Cur fed be the deceiver, that hath in hisflocke a male, 
 and vorveth and facrifceth to the Lord a corrupt 
 \ thing : for I am a great King, faith the Lord ot 
 
 ' Kk hoftS; 
 
 1 Cor. i6, it. 
 
 rfc 4 . 
 
 To reverence 
 him when wee 
 come before 
 him. 
 Mai 1. 1 4. 
 
*4<5 
 
 The INF I N I TENES, ofGoD. 
 
 Gcn.28.17. 
 
 Ecclcfj.a* 
 
 hofts-c^ my **** # dreadfnllamwgAl Natto$;xhat\ 
 is the reafon , that the Lord thcxe vfeth to ftirre 
 them up, / am a great King. So that the confide- 
 ration of his greatnejfe fhould caufe us to feare 
 before him. 
 
 When hee appeared to Jacob , when he fled 
 from his fathers houfe to his vncle Lab an y Gen. 
 28. 17. lacob faith of the place wherein GWap- 
 pearcd to hxm^Snre /y this place is exceeding feare- 
 full: the reafon was ,. becaufe God appeared 
 there, becaufe hee was prefent there , his pre- 
 fence ftroke him with an awefull reverence, 
 that he faid , the place was exceeding fearefulL 
 So wee fhould thinke of his dreadfull prefence 
 j when wee come before him . Ecclef. $.z.Benot 
 rajh withthy mouth , and let not thine hem be hasly 
 to vtter any th'mg before God : for God is in hea- 
 ven , and thou on earth , therefore let thy words be 
 few : that is , he is exceeding^**" , and he is in 
 heaven , therefore learne to feare him, when 
 you draw nigh vnto him. That which may help 
 vsin this, is to confider how glorious his appa- 
 ritions were , when hee appeared to Mofes , to 
 the Prophets , as Eliah and Ezekiel: and you 
 rauft remember, that though you fee notfuch 
 npparitions,yet confider that you have the fame 
 GWtodcalewithall : and though hee doth not 
 fhew itfo now , yet hee is as great now as then- 
 and fo feare before him. Andthisisto/)##//fe 
 God in our hesrts . that is , when wee conceive of 
 him as he is , and doe accordingly feare, when 
 wee come before him. And thus much in gene- 
 rail of this Attribute, Now 
 
M ll> OM^dBM 
 
 Or, His Immenjity. 
 
 H7 
 
 Now \hxsgreatnejfe of GWis fcene in foure 
 particulars. 
 
 Firft , In the Infnitenejfe of his pre fence. 
 
 Secondly , In the Infnitenefe of his power , 
 which is his Omnipotence. 
 
 Thirdly , In the Infinitenejfe of hk wife- 
 dome. 
 
 Fourthly , In the ^Abfolutenejfe of his tvill,ilm 
 it is without all bounds and limits* 
 
 THE SEVENTH AT. 
 
 TRIBVTE OF God 5 
 
 The hfinitenejfe of his prefence , Or, 
 Hts Immtnftty. 
 
 Or the firft. The Infnitenes of 
 his pretence, that is another At- 
 tribuS| which hee takes to 
 himfelfe in Scripture. As ler. 
 23.24.. Can any man hide him- 
 _ felfe in fecret places , that ifhaB 
 not fee htm , faith the Lord f Doe mt 1 jiH heaven 
 and earthy faith the Lord? That is , he is prcfent 
 every where, in all the parts of heaucn & earth, 
 even as water when it fills every channell, 
 and as the light when itfhines throughout the 
 1 whole world : So, Doe not If U heaven and earth, 
 \ Kk 2 faith 
 
 1 
 
 i% 
 
 3 
 
 Thefoienth 
 Attribute of 
 Godj 
 
 Thclnfinitc- 
 actfeof his 
 Prc(cDcc,Or, 
 His Immenlity, 
 
148 
 
 t Eph 4.^; 
 
 £uejt. 
 
 God without 
 the world as 
 well as in it. 
 2 Chron,*, 6. 
 
 Reaf 1. 
 
 God of an in. 
 'inite eflence, 
 thereforeof an 
 infinite pre- 
 fence. 
 
 Reaf 2. 
 
 The hfinitenefte of his defence. 
 
 ) faith the Lord f So, Eph:+ y 6. ~ One God and Fa- 
 ther of all, who is a hue ally and through all ^ and in 
 you all, God fills all in all. 
 
 Onely this queftion may be asked, whether 
 he be without the world , as well as he is in the 
 world < Becaufe fome hauedifputeditj there 
 fore we will briefly anfwer it. 
 
 The Scripture is cleare in it, that he is with- 
 out the world; there are no limits of his eflence, 
 that wee can fet downe 5 hee is not contained 
 within the com pafTe of heaucn and earth,as you 
 (hall fee in 2. Chron.2.6. Butwhois abletohmld 
 htm an houfe , feeing the heaven of heavens cannot 
 containe him ? But this is but a curious qucfti- 
 onrtherefore I will leaueit, and will come to 
 fliew thereafonofhis^w^r^^, whyheeis 
 immenfe^ why he is every where,as I haue done 
 in the reft. 
 
 1 . This property or Attribute oUmmenfity 
 muft needs be given to God,becaufe his eflence 
 is infinite , which hath beene before proved. 
 Now as the argument holds good , that accor- 
 ding to the fubftance of every thing , fuch muft 
 the quantity be in things that have quantity j if 
 the body be great, fo muft the quantity bee: 
 So, if God be an infinite eflence , (as he is; there 
 is as good reafon that he would have an infinite 
 prefence accompanying it , as that a great bo- 
 iy hath a quantity anlwerable to it. So that 
 feeing he is of an infinite being , therefore alfo 
 >f an infinite prefence. 
 
 2. .You fee fee it by cxpcrience,and cannot de- 
 ny 
 
Or His Jmmenfity. 
 
 149 
 
 power is 
 where. 
 
 ny it, that his power is every where, he guides [Bccaufthis 
 all things,he puts forth his power every wehre: 
 Now in the Lord feeing there is no facultie as is 
 in man , but whatfoever is in him , is himfelfc- 
 it cannot be , but that he himfelfc muft be in e- 
 very place where he doth any thing. The fire 
 may heate afarre off, andthe Sunne , ban giue 
 light to the whole world, though it abides in 
 the firmament, becaufe it hath a quality of 
 heat, and light : but Almighty God is moft 
 fimple , there is no compofition in him, no qua- 
 lity , no executive pover, but hee ishimfelfe 
 what he is, and therefore what he doth is done 
 by himfelfe immediatly , tmrned/atione fttppofitt, 
 as the Schoolemen exprefle it. 
 
 Laftly, I adde,.that God muft bee every 
 where preient, not onely within the world , but 
 as Salomon exprefTeth it , The heaven of heavens 
 cannot containehim ; that is , . hee is without the 
 world as well as within it , becaufe wee cannot 
 deny but that hee is able to make other worlds 
 as well as this • and then if hee fhould not bee 
 without this world, lie fhould move himfelfe, 
 and change his place : or there fhould bee a 
 world where hee is not prefent:but he isnot 
 capable of any change,of any motion or altera- 
 tion of place. 
 
 Onely one caution muft be taken in : You fee 
 that tha light is in many places throughout the 
 world', but the prefence of (7^ ]s not like to 
 that prefence, nor the prefence of any creature, 
 becaufe he is totally prefent: the creatures are 
 
 K.k 3 not 
 
 :very 
 
 Reaf. 3 . 
 
 Becaufe he his 
 abletomake 
 other worlds. 
 
 A camion con*! 
 ccrning Gods 
 oiDnipJefeaec. 
 
i 5 o 
 
 Tl?e JnfinittneJJe of his fre/ence^ 
 
 Vfei. 
 
 He gouerncs 
 the world 
 immediately j 
 which is a re- 
 medy againft 
 the complaint 
 of evill Govcr- 
 nours. 
 
 Simile. 
 
 j not fo , but according to the parts of chem , one 
 part here, another there: but GWbeing without 
 all parts , wherefoever he is, hemuft be totally 
 there. Therefore you muft not conceive , God 
 is commenfurated by the place, as if he were 
 partly here,and partly in another place , but he 
 is every where all prefent. The heauensyou 
 fee have a large place, but they haue one part 
 herc,another there : but the Lord is totally pre- 
 fent, wherefoever he his prefent. 
 
 Firft, If Godbt every where prefent, fo that he 
 doth not doe any thing by a mediatejvei tue or 
 power, but he doth it by the prefence of his 
 effence, hence we gather: firft,that he governes 
 the world immediately. For though there bee 
 menvfed therein, yet hec is prefent with thofe 
 meanes. Other Kings muft ncedes governes by 
 Deputies and Viceroyes,and inferiour Magi- 
 ftrates of juftice • becaufe they cannot be every 
 where : whence it comes to paffe , that Kings 
 may be good , and yet the people may be op- 
 preffed by their wicked inftruments. But with 
 the Lord it is not fo : but he guides immediatly, 
 and being every where prefent , heneedethno 
 Deputies, for he is not capable of information, 
 as Kings are , but fees all with his ownc eyes, 
 and heares all with his ownc eares. And a- 
 gaine,he vfeth no Deputies : for the vfe of De- 
 puties argues a defeft , as the vfing of fpe&acles 
 or crutches doth, if the eyes or legges were 
 well and found inough, a man would not vfe 
 them 5 fo a man would not write letters , or vfe 
 
 other' 
 
Or, His Jmmenfity. 
 
 «5» 
 
 other meanes to doe hisbufinelTe, but from a 
 defeft ; he is not large inough todoehisbufi- 
 nefle immediately:But almighty Cod , he is eve- 
 ry where ptefent,and in his governing al things 
 are done by his ovvne Almighty power. Good 
 Governours, may have wicked inftruments, 
 contrary to their mindes , which they know 
 not of, as Ely i and Samuel had : but in G o d s 
 Gouernement it is not fo^thcrefore learne from 
 hence , not to complaine of the iniquitie of the 
 times, or the injuftice of men. It is true, that 
 a kind mother may ignorantly put her child to 
 a wicked Nurfe that will abufcit:but God 
 never puts any of his children to Nurfe, but 
 he is prefent with them, his governement is im- 
 mediate. So that that which is faid ofDauid^ 
 he is a man after Gods owne heart , it may be faid 
 of every King and Gouernour; they doe,what 
 cWwould have them to doe , though it be for 
 evjll 5 as Dauids was for good,they arc men after 
 Gods owne heart. As it was in the killing oilefm 
 Chrift , even that is faid to be done by the deter- 
 minate Coun fell of God. And therefore let no man 
 complaine of his Gouernement : for God go- 
 vernes nor by Deputies , but by himfelfe. 
 Therefore let no man fay, that hee hath an evill 
 Mafter or Governour , but let him acknow- 
 ledge,that wharfoever he hath fronnnan, it is 
 the worke of the Almighty God , that is every 
 where prefent : it is he that difpofeth of men, 
 and puts them into fucha condition ; for he is 
 the King of heaven and earth. T herefore com- 
 
 Kk 4 plaine 
 
J 5 
 
 The bifinitenejfeof bis Trefence; 
 
 Vfti, 
 
 Therefore to 
 choofe him 
 and reioyce in 
 him as a friend 
 in all places. 
 
 plaine to him , and be patient, becaufe he hath i 
 done k : doe not complainc of men , and fret 
 againft them, bccatife the Lord is not abfent in 
 his kingdome , but is prefent to guide and dif- 
 pofe them according to his ovvne pleafure. 
 
 Secondly, If God be every where prefent 
 in his owne eflence and perfon , wee fhould the 
 / rather choofe him to be our G od , and re Joyce 
 much in the amplenefle of our portion , feeing 
 wee have fuch a God that is every where: we 
 can goe no whither, but wee have his com- 
 pany , wee haue nothing to doe a thoufand 
 miles hence , but he is there , and doth our bu- 
 finefleforvs. Wcfeeke a multitude of friends, 
 'becaufe one cannot doe all • becaufe one doth 
 -one thing, and another another 5 one friend 
 ; may be a comfort to vs in one place, but if you 
 j come to another place , there you may be defti- 
 tute 5 friends cannot be every where , hence we 
 ; needc many friends : butifyoulooke upon the 
 Lord^ and his omnifrefence , all this is fupplied in 
 I him; hee is in every place,and hee can doe your 
 bufineflfes for you, though you be diftant iron. 
 , the place , where they are to be done y and God 
 I is with you every whei c,whithcr thou goeft he 
 ! goes,as it was his promife to 7^£,when he wei 
 to Padan Aram, I will be w'ttb thec^ faith the Lord. 
 ; So he faid to David \ and when lofeph went into 
 ; prifon , the Lord went with him. When Abra- 
 ham was called out of his Country, the Lord 
 I bid him xogoejw:ll be with thee. Beloved, when 
 you confider this, that God is every where 
 
 prefent, J 
 
Or y His Jmmcnfuy. 
 
 *53 \ 
 
 ; prefent, and can doe every thing for you, 
 /whereby he hath the fwcctncflcof athoufand 
 friends in him, and the ability of as many J f ay, 
 when wee confider this , k fliouid teach vs not 
 oncly to be content , but to fay that wcedefire 
 no more. 
 
 Learne therefore toftudie this Attribute. 
 The more we know him by it, the more com- 
 fort wee gather from it. As, is it not matter of 
 great comfort , that in all pkces wccfhould 
 nave a God to doe all our bufineffes t To 
 which purpofe is that cxpreflionin/*r. 23. 23, 
 24. Hec is a God nigh at band? that is > though 
 I your bufmcflelie in other Countries , yet I am 
 
 • there to doe them for you. Andagainc, is it 
 
 • not comfort to confider that hec is with your 
 ' enemies ( it may be ) in a diftant place < For 
 | you thinkc, that if you were there , you would 
 ; have fomediing to prevent them. Confider 
 
 ; that hec is there , and after another manner, 1 
 than any man is : hec is prefent with their ] 
 I mindes, and knowes their counfells, and moves 
 I their hearts, and difpofeth of all their counfells. 
 I As Elijha wide the King of Arams counfell to 
 i the King oilfracl , ( which fliewed that God 
 t was there. ) So alfo hec is prefent whith thy 
 
 • friends when they are abfent .• it may be that 
 they forget vs, yet hecanftirre themvp, as he 
 did ftirrevp Cyrus to doe what hec did for the 
 people oflfracl. So likewife he is prefent with 
 our children , when wee are ^one out of this 
 world,to provide for chem,& co bring them vp. 
 
 I Hce 
 
 To flut!Ic 
 Cods imxren" 
 Gtic. 
 
 Icr.23.13. 
 
i 5 4 
 
 The hifinttenefte of bis Trefence- 
 
 rfei. 
 
 See aground 
 of his pat ticu- 
 lar providence 
 in the fmalleit 
 things. 
 
 I Hecis prefent with allor.r affaires, and bufi- 
 ncilcs when vvc arc abfcnr,and know not how 
 rhings goc , we are apt to be follicitous : but if 
 we would con(ider,that he is great GW 5 andthat 
 he is every where, this fhould comfort vs , and 
 ftay our hearts. And therefore thinke with thy 
 felfe 5 that thou haft a large portion,becaufe thou 
 haft the Lord. And this is the lecond vie. 
 
 Thirdly, If God be every where prefent, 
 hence you may fee a ground for his particular 
 providence. It fecmes fomething ftrange to 
 men, that every fmall thing (hould be difpofeci 
 of by him ; we thinke indeed that great things 
 are: but fortheleaft things , therein we arc cpr 
 to make a doubr,and can hardly beleeve it. But 
 this point in hand is a great confirmation of our 
 faith in this truth. If an horfe ft uble by the way 5 
 we thinke it a common accident • if a fly fall into 
 a mans eye, or if a tile £all off horn the houfe, 
 or an axe hcad,wc looke upon them as common 
 accidents : but ifweconfiderthcuheis prefent 
 there, it is then an eafie matter for vs to beleeve, 
 that God doth difpofe allthefc. when the axe 
 head falls off, it is in his ii2nd , as before it was 
 in the hand of theworkeman. If he be prefent 
 with every fmall creature, with every fly, with 
 every Jp Arrow and ftone , with every motion of 
 thecreature, then allrheatflions ti-ac befall us, 
 they are all his workes. In him wee Live, move^ 
 and fave our being : that is , hee is prefent with 
 every creature. Therefore it is no difficulty to 
 beleeve, that hee guides the fmalleft thing. If 
 
 an 
 
Or, His Jmmenfity. 
 
 *!> 
 
 How men arc 
 fa id to beprc- 
 
 an enemy hart vs , wee are to thinke , that he is 
 but as a staffs in Gods band , as it is faid of Nebu. 
 cbadnezzar. Every accident is but as a cuf , as 
 Chrift faith of the cuyxhzx. was brought to him, 
 Shall not I drinke of the cuf , which my Father giues 
 me ? So wee may fay of every aftii&ion. The 
 tongucsoimenarcbutfeourgesin his handjind 
 though lames fayes, none can tame and rule the 
 tongue ofman^yQt hee can rule them ashcplca- 
 feth ; and fo wee fhould thinke of every aftion. 
 And indeed the more we thinke of his particular 
 providence, the more wee conceive of his infi- 
 niteneffe. For why doe wee thinke men to bee 
 prefent , but becaufe they fee and heare i Be- 
 caufethey doe fomcthingf If the body bethere,, 
 and the foule gone, wee fay that the man is 
 abfent:it is the adion that fhewes them prefent. 
 Therefore the Schoolemen fay , that the An- 
 gells are faid to bee prefent here or there , be- 
 caufe they worke there. Therefore, I fay , the 
 more that wee can fee Gods hand in every acti- 
 on, the more wee acknowledge his prefence. 
 Therefore we fhould labour to bee abundant in 
 confidering the OmnifrefenceofGodv^on all oc- 
 cafions : as if a man bee out of the way , and 
 one come and tells him that he is fo, wee fhould 
 bee ready to fay, that Go d fent him. If we are 
 in a (trait, and know not what to doe, and' 
 therecomeone, andhclpevs $ weefhouldfay 
 that it comes from God. So did Dav:d when 
 .Abigail came and met him ; he faith that the 
 Lordfenther. iSam: 25.32. And this would * Sam iy ? i 
 
 eafily 1 
 
 \ 
 
15* 
 
 Thehfiniteneffe of his fre/ence; 
 
 iChxo.1,%6. 
 
 \Vfe A . 
 
 * It;teacheth vs 
 patience and 
 roecknefle, 
 w.hcn iniuries 
 
 are offered. 
 
 lam. $■&. 
 
 cafily bee bcleived , if we would thinkethat 
 hceis prefent every where. There is no man 
 thatfpcak.es forvsoragainft vs,. that dothvs 
 either hurt or good , but G o d is prefent with 
 him, and ftirres him up to it 5 whatsoever it be. 
 1 Ckron. 5 . 26. And the God oflfraelftirred vp 
 thefpiritofPul KingofA(fyria> arc. that is , he 
 himfelfe was prcfent with his fpirit , he ftirred 
 him vp : ( for the thoughts of men have their 
 rifing vp,from their fpirit ftirring them to good 
 or evill. ) So alfo for their fpecches : when 
 Shimei curfed Dauid ,I>auid faiih y that it was 
 the Lord that hade him. So the Lord is prefent 
 with the creatures : it is hec that a<5te them 3 and 
 fets them on worke to doc us any good. And 
 this is the the next vie that wee are to make 
 of it, 
 
 Fourthly , If G o r> be prefent every where, 
 it fhould teach vs patience , and meekneffe , and 
 quietneffeofmind in all injuries and hard mea- 
 fur-e which wee fuffer from men. This vfe you 
 (hail fee made of it. Phtl. 4.5 .Let your moderation, 
 bt known e vnto all men , The Lord is at hand. lam. 
 5 .8.9. Be ye alfo patient ^ ft ablity your hearts -^f or the 
 comm'tn*ofthe Lord drawth mgh^ the judge ft ands 
 at the doorc. Therefore when any injury is done 
 you, when you are oppreffed by men that haue 
 power over you,yct be quietrfor God fees it,and 
 knowes it ^ and hee takes care for you. A man 
 will be ready to fay , (hall [I take this < (hail I 
 bee trampled vndcr foot? as I (hall bee,if Ire- 
 fift them not : faith the Apoftle , you ncedc not 
 
 to 
 
Or, His Immenfity. 
 
 to feare, for the Lord is prefent. We ufe to fay 
 if the Magiftrate be not prefent, we may offend 
 another , to defend our felues • but if the Magi- 
 ftrate be prefent, there is noexcufe: fo here the 
 Iudgcflands at the doore. Scrvans , if their Ma- 
 tters be abfent , will defend thcmfelves againft 
 their follow-fcrvants • but if the Mafter bee 
 there, and looke on , they will let them alone, 
 becaufe he hath power to puniili , and knowes 
 better how to revenge it : So is it in this cafe- 
 when we confider that G o d is prefent , & that 
 he Cqqs what we fuffer , we fhould be quiet , and 
 patient, and not onely be patient within, but let 
 our patient mindes be knownevntoallmen , that is, 
 carry our felves fo,that men may fee it, and take 
 notice of ic. And if you fay,that nothing is done, 
 but hee abufeth mee more and more : I anfwer. 
 Confider, it is not becaufe the Lord is wcake,& 
 cannot helpe us^or becaufe he his negligent,and 
 will not doe it • no, he is prefent , and fees it all 
 the while : but you moft confider > that the due 
 time is not come , therefore you muft be quiet, 
 and not tumultuous in your thoughts, andre- 
 vengefull in your fpirits, becaufe the Lord looks 
 on, and will avenge you in due time. There- 
 fore this is the thing added in Phil. 4. In nothing 
 hee carefull : Becaufe when a man fuffers any 
 thing from another man , then he will be ready 
 to be follicitous, how to defend himfelfe , and 
 what he (hall doe hereafter ; faith the Apoftle, 
 1 Be you in nothing carefull, &c. for the Lord is at 
 \hand: that is, he doth not ftand by as a bare fpe- 
 
 ftator 
 
 157 
 
 lames J. 9, 
 
 Object. 
 K^infw. 
 
 Why God doth 
 notauengchis, 
 prefently. 
 
 Phil 4, 
 
1 59 The Infiniteneffe of his Trefence- 3 
 
 \ ftator , and looker on who,meanes to doe no- 
 
 1 thing on either fide , but fee the iniuries done & i j 
 
 fuffered,but he lookes on ,as one that takes care 
 
 for you. Therefore b$ you in nothing csrefull: but 
 
 inevtry thing by prayer y and application, 
 
 with thankefgiving , let your requefis 
 
 be made knowne <vnto 
 
 God* 
 
 finis. 
 
 THE 
 
 >"■■ M««»». 
 
Or ; Fi:. >r^f". :; 
 
 •:' 
 
 THE 
 
 SEVENTEENTH 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 jti 
 
 > 
 
 Exo o. }.i3, i + . 
 rjfl*llfa'Bwt4mc i wkmmbmnjme 2 
 
 
 - - - : 
 
1 60 The JnfiniteneJJe of his Trefence^ 
 
 Ob]ett. 
 
 Towalkcwith 
 God what. 
 
 Amanspre- 
 fenceisfeene 
 in three things, 
 
 I 
 
 And Co is Gods 
 with vs, and 
 ourswith him* 
 
 .Wowwcarc 
 present with 
 /God. 
 
 I I- 
 
 ,' By feeing him. 
 
 thoughts to him, and apply our felvcs to him ? 
 It is an exceeding great diftionour to him. You 
 kn&w, a great man, when he is with you, if you 
 negled him,and apply your felves to inferiour 
 men, he will take it as a great wrong done unto 
 him,to let him fit alone, and not to regard him. 
 And when the Lord is with us from day to day, 
 will you not take notice of him i Let them con- 
 sider this, that fuffer dayes to pafle without any 
 calling upon the Lordjhat never thinke of him, 
 nor confider that he beholds all that they doe: 
 You know, it was the onely commendation of 
 noah^ that he walked with God, 
 
 "But you will fay, What is this to walke with 
 the Lord i 
 
 It is to fee him prefent with us , and to make 
 ourfelues prefent with him: and what that is, 
 wee will eafily finde out , when wee confider 
 what it is to be prefent with any one. - 
 
 The prefence of any man is feene in three 
 things. 
 
 Firft. A man that fees and heares all things, 
 that w r e doe , he is faid to be prefent. 
 
 Secondly, he that fpeakes to us,ht is prefent 
 with us. 
 
 Thirdly , he that ads or doth fomething a* 
 bout us or towards us , he is prefent. In this 
 manner is God prefent with us : and fo wee 
 fhould be with him. 
 
 Firft, we muftbe prefent with him, that is, 
 wemuftfeehim, as he fees us. He that lookes 
 upon the Lord, as beholding him , as knowing 
 
 all 
 
Or, His Jmmenfitj. 
 
 161 
 
 all that hec doth, hcc that obferves all the paf- 
 fagcs of his providence toward him, and about 
 him, hee makes himfelfe prefent with the 
 Lord. 
 
 Secondly, hec that fpeakes to the Lord, and 
 maketh knowne his fecrets to him , and o- 
 pens to him allhisdefircs, andallhisgriefes 
 upon all occafions, hee makes himfelfe prefent 
 with him. 
 
 Thirdly , hee that pleafeth G o d in all his 
 anions, and do;h what is acceptable to him, 
 that doth what hee hath commanded , and ab- 
 
 Byfpeakingto 
 him. 
 
 By doing that 
 that pleafeth 
 him. 
 
 Hcb.xi.f. 
 
 ftaincs from what he hath forbidden, he which 
 behaves himfelfe after this manner, makes him- 
 felfe prefent with the Lord. For this laft, you 
 (hall fee, if you compare that in Gexejis, of£- 
 nochs walking with God, with that in Heb. 1 1 . 
 5 . To make our anions agreeable to the rule of 
 his will , this is to walke with the Lord ; for E- 
 noch is faid to walke with God, in Genefis . and in 
 the Hebrewes he if faid to pleafe the Lord. 
 
 And, as wee muft be thus prefent with the 
 Lord, Sofecondly, wee muft make him pre- IJ^^?^^ 
 fent with us. As firft,we muft looke upon him, 
 as one who obferveth all that we doe. When 
 a man hath this full perfwafion in his heart, not 
 onely habitually, but a&ually, that the Lord 
 lookes upon him in all that he fpeaks,and doth, 
 hee makes the Lord prefent with him : Sofe- 
 condly,when a man fhall obferve the £<?r^fpea- 
 kingto him, which a man doth in meditating 
 i in the word. But this is notinough: but you 
 
 LI muft 
 
 fent with us 
 
 I. 
 
 By looking on 
 him feeing all 
 we doe. 
 
 2. 
 
 Obferve him 
 fpcakingtous. 
 
\6z 
 
 The lnfinitem jfc of bis Prcfence- \ 
 
 How the Lord 
 fpeakes to us 
 now* 
 
 3. 
 To confider 
 what bee dotli 
 
 tOUSt 
 
 Dan«f,si. 
 
 muftobfervc what the £#nK faith to you upon 
 every occafion,and in every paflage of his pro- 
 vidence alfo. For although the Ltrd doth not 
 fpeake to us now as he did to the Prophets; yet 
 he doth in a manner fpeak to us .He fpeakes to 
 our confeiences; that is the immediate, deputy 
 by which he fpeakes to every man. And alfo 
 hee fpeakes to us by the fuggeftions of the Spi- 
 rit, and the good motions of it: he fpeakes to 
 us by the good counfell of our friends , and of 
 theMinifters, and others ; he fpeakes to us by 
 thepaffiages of his providence, (for a man may 
 make knowne his will by.his actions ., as well 
 as by his word.) I fay,to obferve what the Lord 
 faith to us in all thefe this is a- part of our wal- 
 king with him. 
 
 Laftly, fo confidcr what hee doth, and 
 what the mercies are , which hee fhewes to 
 thee : what corrections, what judgements D what 
 turnings of his providence , what hee doth to 
 thofe that are neare thee • (for God would have 
 us to take fpeciall notice of it, as in Daa.s . 22. 
 So obfervc what is brought to your know- 
 ledge- for as the word of Godfo alfo his workes 
 ought to be fought out by them .that belong to 
 him- 
 
 After this manner we (hbuld walke with the 
 Lord from day to day. And it is one thing re 
 quired,whereof you are put in mind, when you 
 heare that he is every where prefenr,you fljould 
 be prefent with him upon all occasions, and 
 J obferve his dealing towards you,,, and your 
 
 carriage 
 
Or y His Jmmenfity. 
 
 **9 
 
 carriage to him. Every man walkcs with fome- 
 thing continually : now looke what a mans 
 'mind is bufied about moft,that he walkcs with. 
 And indeed, to walke with any thing, is to give 
 it the honour that is due onely to God. When 
 l a man is bufie about what men thinkcof him 5 
 about his riches and eftate, how they ebbe 
 -and flow, about his credit with men 5 thefe are 
 the things that a man walkes with. Belo- 
 ved, you are not to goe a ftcp with any thing, 
 except hee fend you on fuch an errand , as a 
 Matter doth his fervant $ but you are to walke 
 with him from day to day. It is poflible that a 
 man may be in company , and his minde be 
 in another place, and bufied about other 
 things : and where his minde is , there hee 
 walkes. So a man may be in the world, and 
 yet his minde and conversion in heaven 5 as 
 Enoch did the things of this life, and yet hee 
 ishidtowalkewitbGod : if thou do eft ib, this 
 is a fignc that thou loveft God, anddelightcft 
 in him 5 for to walke with a thing, it is the 
 bed argument that thou loveft it. Let a man 
 profefte never fo much love to a friend , if 
 hee will not walke with him, it is but in fliew, 
 and not in truth. If thou wouldeft fhew thy 
 love to God^ why doeft thou not walke with 
 him? If there be a friend that thou loveft, 
 doeft thou not defirc to be with him i And 
 when thou art in company with many others, 
 to fingle out him 3 is it not afigne alfo of delight 
 in him. As when many arc together, all goc to 
 
 LI 2 the 
 
 I 
 
 To walke with 
 God a fignc of 
 love. 
 
x^4 
 
 The JnfiniteneJJe of his Trejence-, 
 
 Gods pretence 
 makes a man 
 at homeland at 
 liberty ciery 
 where. 
 
 / the chiefc man : fo thou muft walkc with God. 
 You know what God faith to ^Abraham^ 
 Gen.i 7.1. Q eHm l7 j.iam God All-fujjicient t xvalke with me, 
 and bee thouperfecl. Marke here the connection : 
 as if he fhould hy ^Abraham y when I defire this , 
 thou fhouldeft withdraw thy felfe from all o- 
 ther creatures , and things, to walke with me: 
 know that there is great reafon for it , for / am 
 All-fufftcient , thou needed no other. If thou 
 hadft a friend all-fufficient^ haft thou not reafon 
 to walke with him? But as we (hewed you, God 
 is in ftead of ten thoufand friends. A man needs 
 many friends , a friend at Court , a friend at 
 home, a friend abroad, tobe there where hee 
 himfelfe cannot bee : but wherefocver thou go- 
 eft, the Lordis with thee: if into banifhmentj 
 banifhment is nothing you will fay, if I might 
 have all my companions with mee^ now re- 
 member, that G o d is with thee: if thou goeft 
 intoimprifonment, hee is there. A man will 
 fay, that no friend in the world can doe fo , but 
 yetthcZWdoth. When Iacob went to Padan 
 <^Aram^ God promifed him, that he would 
 goe with him, Iofefh,when he went into prifon, 
 ,God went with him ; and with Paul when he 
 was in bonds. And ^Abraham was banifhed in- 
 to a ftrange Country, and the Lord tells 
 him, that he would bee with him there: and 
 thatmakes a mans home and country,and liber- 
 | ty to bee every where , hee is at home , when 
 he is a broad- and at liberty, when he is in pri- 
 fon. Now therefore let a man confider this, 
 
 that 
 
Or^ His Immenjity. 
 
 6 j-\ 
 
 that wherefoevcr he is, yet G o d is with him • 
 who is able to dire& us in all our doubts,to de- 
 fend us in all danger , and to provide for us in 
 all our neceffities. And then confider alfo what 
 benefit comes by this; thou (hah grow ac- 
 quainted with him, and then thou canft finde 
 the way to him upon all occafions whatfoe- 
 ver, when other men cannot. Another man 
 would fainegoe to G o d, but he knowes not 
 the way. Iobzz. 21. {^Acquaint now thy felfe 
 with him, and be at peace, thereby good Jhall come 
 unto thee: that is, ferve G o d , and thou (halt 
 profper. Themeaningisthis, one that is ac- 
 quainted with God, when he hath any thing 
 to doe,he may goe to Go d, and get helpe from 
 him, and fo bring his enterprifes to pafTe : he 
 knowes the way to put up a prayer to him, and 
 hcefhall finde a prefent helpe upon all occafi- 
 ons. 
 
 So confider in the time of death 5 if thou haft 
 accuftomedthy felfe to walke with God^ if in 
 thy life time thou haft beene acquainted with 
 him, death will be no death to thee. Death in- 
 deede is bitter, becaufeit drawesaman from 
 his home, from his friends and acquaintance, 
 and into a ft range place : and therefore you ufe 
 to fay, wee know not what we (hall have here- 
 after, we know what we have here , and there- 
 fore the foule trembles at it. Whence comes 
 this,but beeaufe wc have not beene wonted to 
 walke with the Lord 1 Is it a great thing for 
 him to die, when hee hath the fame company, 
 \ LI 3 and 
 
 lob 12.11 
 
 WalkingNvith 
 God fwectens 
 death. 
 
\ 166 
 
 >fc One of the 
 Speeches repea - 
 ted bytheAu- 
 thourat his 
 death. 
 
 Why men de- 
 fire company. 
 
 I. 
 
 Tocxercifc his 
 faculties. 
 
 To have dires 
 clion and ad- 
 vice. 
 
 The Infinitenejfe of his Trefence ; 
 
 and the fame friends with him ftill < * It is 
 but changwgtht place , not bis company : for hce 
 is prcfenc every where. Therefore our dutie 
 thence is, to maintaine fuch a conftant commu- 
 nion with him, that wee may be able to fetch 
 helpe,and comfort,and dire&ion from him, fo 
 thatweneedenotturne afide to the creatures, 
 and be dependent upon them. And indeed one 
 that is acquainted with the Lord> and hath full 
 communion with him, may be fatiffied with 
 that alone : for what is it that makes a man 
 to defire company? It arifeth from thefetwo 
 things. 
 
 Firft, partly becaufe one would have 
 fit objetfs to exercife his faculties upon: 
 which if hee had not , they would Ian- 
 guifli , and a wearifomneffe would grow upon 
 them. 
 
 Secondly, becaufe hee would have know- 
 ledge and dire&ion, and helpe and advice, and 
 comfort brought into his empty heart, by fuch 
 friends as are able to fuggeft thefe to him : and 
 therefore they defire company. Now (hall 
 they not finde this in the Lor d more than in any 
 creature i Is not he the worthieft and the high- 
 eft objeft , on whom they (hould beftow their 
 thoughts i 
 
 Againe,cannot he fill thy heart with joy and 
 comfort * is not he oncly wife to give thee di- 
 re&ion upon all occalions * and is there any 
 then that thou fhouldcft choofeto walfcc with 
 more than with him < Every man, the more 
 
 faith 
 
Or, His Immenjity. 
 
 i6y 
 
 faith he hath, and the more wifedome he hath, j 
 the more able hee is to walke with God, and j 
 with himfelfc : the more unbeleeving , and 
 weafce, and unconftant, the more unable hee is 
 to be alone. And the ground of it is: By faith 
 aman walke with God, and by reflection hee walkes 
 with himfelfc. There are two companions which 
 a man necdes never to be deftitute of, God 
 and himfelfc, 
 
 Firft , a man walkes by faith, when hee fees 
 God prefent , and fpeaking to him, and hee 
 fpeakes againe to the Lord: and the ftronger a 
 mans faith is, the more he doth it. 
 
 Againe, a man walkes with himfelfc by re- 
 flection on his owne actions, and heart, and 
 wayes . a beaft cannot walke with it felfc, bc- 
 caufe it cannot rccoyle and turne in upon it 
 felfe ; neither can children or foolcs, or weakc 
 and unconftant men : therefore they cannot be 
 without company, it is a hell to them to be a- 
 lone^and the leffe a mans wifedome is,the more 
 hecomplaines of want of company. 
 
 Seeing therefore Godis every where prefent, 
 labour to ftrengthen thy faith in that his pre- 
 fence, and fothou maift ft ill be with him , and 
 walke with him. 
 
 And then fecondly, labour to fpeakc to thy 
 felfe, to reproove and admonifli thy felfc , to 
 confidcr thine owne wayes and actions, to 
 cheare and comfort thy felfe , ( for thefe arc all 
 the actions of one that makes himfelfe his com- 
 panion : ) and hec that doth thefe things , ihall 
 
 Two compa- 
 nions. 
 
 I. 
 
 Col 
 
 2 
 AmansfcJfci 
 
 LI 
 
 never 
 
i68 
 
 rfi 6. 
 
 He obferveth 
 
 alltheiinnes 
 
 thoucommit- 
 
 teft,anda!Ithc 
 
 good thou do. 
 
 eft,forincou» 
 
 ragementand 
 
 rcftrairit. 
 
 lob 3I.2.4- 
 
 7 be Infinitenejji of his Tre/ence. 
 
 never complaine of want of company, and (oli- 
 tarineffc. 
 
 Sixthly [ If G o d be every where prefent , 
 then hec obferveth all the finnes that thou 
 committed, and obferveth all the good that 
 thoudoeft. Then mak^thisufeofit: that thel 
 prefence of the Lord (hould be a reftraint to 
 kcepc thee from finning on the one hand , and 
 it (hould incourage thee on the other hand to 
 abound in every good worke.Therefore a man 
 (hould fay thus with himfelfe : I dare not doe 
 this, becaufe G o d is prefent, he (lands by and 
 lookes on. It vtaslefephs reafon to his Miftreffe. 
 Though we be alone, yet G o d is prefent, and 
 beholds it: And how can I doe this great wickednes, 
 andfinneagainft God. As if he (hould fay 3 though 
 we fee him not, yet hee is prefent , and kes ir, 
 and knowes it. And not onely fay , I dare not 
 do it 5 but thou (houldeft fay,I dare not fo much 
 as thinke it : for he beholdcs the thoughts. You 
 (hall fee an excellent place for this, if you com- 
 pare lob 3 1 . verfe i • and 4. together , it is one 
 continued fpeech : / have made a covenant with 
 mine eyes • why thenflwuldl thinke upon a maid? 
 Dxtth not hee fee my wayes , and count all my fleps t 
 As if hee (hould fay $ I durft not fo much as 
 give liberty to my thoughts, becaufe he be- 
 held all my wayes. It is a queftion which 
 thofe that fcare God , are often wont to aske $ 
 How (hall I doe to bee rid of fuch and fuch 
 thoughts, that haunt mee continually? I would 
 very fainc be rid of them. This an excellent 
 
 way : 
 
Or> His Immenjity. 
 
 169 
 
 way : to confider that God himfelf e (lands by 
 and knowes all thy thoughts , and takes no- 
 tice of them. As put this cafe- Suppofeawife 
 and godly man (hould Hand by and take notice 
 of all thy bafe thoughts, that pafle through thy 
 heart- wouldeft thou not be afhamed of thy 
 felfe i Ifthy body were made a glaffe,and men 
 fhould fee all thy thoughts through it,wouldft 
 thou not be alhamed of them, and carefull in 
 them,as we are of our actions now before men? 
 Now to confider that the wife and holy Godbe- 
 holdesthem, to confider thathce fees every 
 thought, (the leaft whereof is no light matter,) 
 and (nail not this be a meanes to rcftraine thee?' 
 Nay confider,that the Lord doth not oncly be- 
 hold them, but he ponders all thy a&ions , to 
 give thee the fruit of them : fo that tWdoth 
 not ftand by as a meere looker on, but he takes 
 fuch notice of all thy thoughts, that pafle 
 through thy heart,and all thy vaine words, that 
 he rvetghes them, as it were. And therefore hee 
 is faid in Scripture fo often to fender our rvayes. 
 He puts thy fins,and thofe lufts in one ballance, 
 and his cenfure in the other 5 and gives thee ac- 
 cordingly^ puts weight for weight 3 he gives 
 thee correflion,if thou art his child,& judgment 
 if thou be wicked.Therforc thou muft confider 
 who it is that knowes them^what a one he is: as 
 it is in 1?^ 2 Avhen he tells his Churches that he 
 knowes them all, then hee defcribes himfelfe, 
 I what a one hee is: as his eyes to be of flaming 
 \fire, and his feete like braffe. This, if confidc- 
 
 red. 
 
 A eood way 
 to be rid of c- 
 rill thoughts* 
 
 Simile. 
 
 Rcv« s. 
 
> ^ " - ' ' " _ 
 
 I 1 70 77;e InfiniteneJJe of bis Tre fence-, 
 
 Eph,4.*opc. 
 ncd. 
 
 red, would make a man to looke about him. If 
 there was a company fet together, and there 
 was an informer (landing by,& did note downe 
 in his table-book what they faid or did,and did 
 declare it to their enemies , or to the King and 
 Counfell,men would be exceeding wary , they 
 would ponder every word before they (pake: 
 fo when Go d isprefent , and beholdeth all 
 that thou doeft • haft thou not reafon much 
 more to confidcr thy wayes £ Men fay indeede, 
 that the Lord is prefent everywhere, but our 
 Hues (hew that wee thinke like the Atheifts in 
 At, that God is (hut up in the thicke clouds , and 
 cannot fee through them. Yea there is noe 
 man, but needs an increafe of faith in this point. 
 For if it were fully believcd,it could not be,but 
 that wee fliould take more heed to our wayes 
 and thoughts than wee doe. Therefore to con- 
 vince you of and perfwadeyou to this , I will 
 name two places. One you (hall findein Epbe. 
 4*6.. One God,one Lord 3 who is above you all , and in 
 you,ali and through all. Firft he is above all. As 
 a man that (lands above can fee all that is done 
 below : fo the Z^lookes downc , and beholds 
 all that is done on earth , as a man in an high 
 placc,fees all that is dome below^ 
 
 But it may bee objected , though a man be a. 
 bouc , yet there may be fome corners , fome 
 rockes and dens, fo that he may hide himfelfe 
 from the eyes of him that is aboue him : there- 
 fore it is added , who is in you all- y that is , he be- 
 holds every thought,evcry lecret place, every 
 
 comer 
 
Or, Hislmmenjity. 
 
 17 1- 
 
 corner of our hearts : he is tnyou all, and through I 
 <*//.This you (hall find find more at large in Pfa. \ 
 1 3 9. 1 . Lord then haft fear c bed me and knorvne 
 me , thou knotvejlmy downe fitting and mine up r 7- 
 y/#r, * Aw vnderfiandefl my thoughts afar re off &c. 
 The meaning of it is this. Dauid labours to 
 perfwade his owne heart , that G o d is prefent 
 with him ; and he doth it by this argument : If 
 I goe forward the Lord is there s if on this fide 
 orthat fide, yet ftill he is prefent , he compaf- 
 feth me round about , he is behind and before: 
 therefore it muft needs be , that there is not a 
 word that I fpeake ora'thoughtthatlthinke, 
 but he fees and hcares all. Yea, he knorves my 
 thoughts afarre off^ that is , as a man that kno wes 
 what rootes he hath in his garden, though there 
 be not a flower appcares, yet he can fay , when 
 the fpring comes,this and this will come up,be- 
 caufe he knowes the garden , and knowes what 
 roots are there : So the Lord knowes a mans 
 thoughts afarre off,becaufe he knowes the prin- 
 ciples that are within,and he knowes what they 
 would doc, when occafion is offered 5 and 
 therefore faith David , I have caufc to feare ex- 
 ceedingly before him. Nay, he doth not onely 
 fee mens t houghs afarre off ^but he will judge you 
 afarre oif for them. We vfe to deftroy hem- 
 locke even in the middeft of winter, becaufe we 
 know what it will do,if it be fuffered to growrfo 
 the Lord doth cut off men long before ^becaufe, 
 he knowes their natures that they will doe this 
 and this. Such paflages of his providence there 
 
 may 
 
 Pfal:i39 
 pencd, 
 
 1.0- 
 
 Simile* 
 
 Simile, 
 
1 i JZ The Infiniteueffeofbis Trefence ; 
 
 Rev 1.3 
 
 fled. 
 
 ope- 
 
 \ may be, as to cut offchildren and young men 
 out of the forefightof theevill,that they would 
 doe to his Church , becaufe hee knowes their 
 thoughts afarre off. 
 
 So hee knowes thy thoughts for good afarre 
 off: therefore though a child of Go d maybe 
 cut off in fome undifcovercd finne , when hee 
 . hath not aftually repented, y et G o d forgives 
 it him, becaufe he knowes what he would doe, 
 if he had time to repent,and fhould come to dis- 
 cover it : and therefore God judgeth him ac- 
 cordingly : and likewife if wee have begun any 
 good worke, if wee be cut off before wee have 
 hnifhed it, yet remember, that God knowes 
 what wee would doe. And feeing hee doth 
 this, wee fhouldlearne, exceedingly to feare 
 beforehim, toponder our owne thoughts and 
 fpeeches , feeing God himfclfe takes notice 
 ofthem. 
 
 So it (houldbe acontinaall incouragement 
 to confider that God takes notice of all the 
 good that we doe, as well as of the evill : Rev. 
 2. and 3 . 1 know thy workes, thy Ubour and thy pa- 
 tience, I know thy fufferings • that is, when a man 
 is mifcalled,flandered, and evill fpoken of, be- 
 caufe he ferves & feares God, becaufe he is none 
 of the worlds owne , and therefore it ihewes I 
 forth its hatred in word,when it cannot in deed 5 1 
 (for malice muft have fome vent , ) yet / know 
 thyfufferings , and let it be enough that / know 
 them, and regifter them : there is not the leaft 
 fuffering but 1 take notice of ir, and it (hall bee 
 
 rewarded. 
 
Or, His Jmmenfity. 
 
 m 
 
 rewarded. Againe, men take much paines, and 
 no man regardes it 5 y et God takes notice of their 
 lal/ouryZndthc'u paines y znd not of their workes 
 onely, but their labour in doing them, and [qqs 
 what ends they put upon all, Againe, men put 
 up injuries, and fuflfer much wrong , yet faith 
 the Lord, I know thy patience &c. What is faid of 
 this may be faid of all other good actions. And 
 it is a great honour to the Lord^that we are con- 
 tent with this, that he alone knowes it. And fo 
 we may be well inough^for his knowledge will 
 bring in a fure fruit with it, as he faith to Iacob. 
 Gen. 31. I know all the labour thou haft done 
 unto me. And what followed that ? Why fiod 
 taught Iacob how to inlarge his wages , and fo 
 Mandated Labans fubftance to him. So Pft.i. 
 laft. The meaning is, the Lord knowes the way 
 of 'the righteous, and therefore it doth/w/^?r,and 
 /hall. And he knowes the way of the wicked, and 
 therefore they Jhallperijh, Therefore it is inough 
 to us, that he is prefent,and fees it, and knowes 
 it. 
 
 Againe this fhould ftire us up to good duties, 
 feeing he is alwaies prefent ^ you know fouldi- 
 ets though they are fomewhat cowardly other- 
 wife, yet in the prefence of the General!, if hee 
 looke on they will adventure much : fo fervants 
 that are ptherwife idle, yet they will doe eye- 
 fervice, they will worke while the Mafter 
 lookeson: fo when we confider that the Lord 
 (lands by, and looJtes on, and takes notice what 
 paines we take, how we doe fight his battells, 
 
 and 
 
 Gcn.jj 
 
 Pfal. 1.7. 
 
 Simile. 
 
'74 
 
 Tlxlnfimtenejfeofhit Prefence; 
 
 Rct.i.ij, 
 
 yfi 
 
 '7- 
 
 Terror to wic- 
 ked men, who 
 have iuch an 
 enemy from 
 whom they 
 cannot fly. 
 
 and what wee doe for him, itlhould incourage 
 us and make us abundant in the rvorke of the Lord, 
 feeing wee know, that our labour is not in vaine in 
 the Lord. Nay it is an incouragement againft 
 the difcouragement of men • thou maift have 
 difcouragement from friends, from neigh- 
 bours, in the place where thou liveft : yet let 
 this be thy comfort, the Lord isprefent; hee 
 kno wes thy dwelling, thy neighbours, who is 
 for thee, and who againft thee, hee knowes the 
 difficulties thou meetcft with in any perfor- 
 mance, he knowes what hindrance thou haft, 
 as it is there ia the verfc 1 3 . / know thy workes , 
 and where thou dweUejt, even where Satans feate is, 
 and thou holdeflfajl my name, and hajl not denied 
 my faith, even in thofe day es wherein K^ntifas was 
 my faith full CMartyr, who was (laine among you , 
 where Satan dwetleth. 
 
 Seventhly , this fhould bee an exceeding 
 great terrour to all men that remaine in the flrate 
 ofunregeneration. The Lord is their enemy, 
 and they have fuch an enemy from whom they 
 cannot fly or efcape,which is a miferable thing. 
 On earth if man have an enemy in one place, 
 if he goe to another hee is free $ if hee have an 
 enemy in one land , yet he may fly to another, 
 and there be free • and however, yet when hee 
 dies, hee (hall be free from the voice of the ofpref- 
 fours, and the wearied Jhallbe at refi^ as Ub faith 3 
 his enemy can follow himno further : But con- 
 sider what an enemy 6Wis,who is every where 
 
 prefent- fly whither thou canft 
 
 he followes 
 thee 
 
Or y His Jmmcnfity. 
 
 »75 1 
 
 thee, ifthou gocft into another Country, hee 
 will be with thee there ^ or ifthou dieft and goe 
 into another world , yet fhllhefollowesthee: 
 I prefTe it the rather , becaufe, when fome great 
 man makes requeft to a man , and Gxjd com- 
 mands the contrary $ when the commands of 
 GWand men differ , they will rather make God 
 their enemy than a powerful! man. Thus men 
 wrench their confeiences , choofing rather 
 God s enmity than mens. Doe but confider 
 what it is , to have the Lordy our enemy, he 
 will meet thee iacvery place : Though man be 
 thy enemy , yet he meetes not with thee every 
 where • if thou be in thy chamber , hee cannot 
 come at thee , but God can meete with thee 
 there. And how will he meet thee? Hee will 
 naest thee as a Ljff*,wd as a Bcare robbed of her 
 whelpes. You (hall fee how the L Wcxprcf- 
 feth it : \^imo$ 9.2. 5.4^ Though they digge into 
 Hell, thence Jhall my hand take them *• though they 
 climb e up to heaven , thence will I bring them 
 dewne,&c. It is a common-opinion , that if men 
 have ftrong friends , ftrorig Towers , and a 
 ftrong Land, that is well befet with Sea , and 
 clifts, or great eftatcs that will defend them- 
 that then they are.fafe: but if the Lord be thine 
 enemy , none of thefe will doe thee any good, 
 verfe2.4. & yet if a man hath made peace with 
 his enemies^ he thinkes himfelfe fafe, as if there 
 were no other enemy but mortall men. So the 
 lewes not being killed , but going into captivity 
 onely, thought their lives fafe, their peace 
 
 made 
 
 What an ene- 
 my God it* 
 
 Amos 9.1, j, 4. 
 
i 7 <5 
 
 The Omnipotence of God. 
 
 The eighth At- 
 tribute of Godj 
 His Omnipo- 
 tence. 
 
 made : but, faith the Lordjfyougoc into captivi 
 ty, yet there I mil command the /word to flay you: 
 verfe 4. The meaning is this : no condition 
 that a man can be in, no greatnelfe, though he 
 be compafled about with friends and fafety 0*1 
 every fide, can availe, if Godbe his enemy • he 
 will full thee from the midjl ofthefea: verfe 3. 
 which yet is an hard thing,to finde a man in the 
 midft of the fea : and all this is but to defcribe 
 that no condition is fafe, when GW is a mans c- 
 nerny. 
 
 And thus much for this Attribute. 
 
 THE EIGHTH AT. 
 
 TRIBVTE OF God,. 
 His Omnipotence. 
 
 H e next Attribute is the Om- 
 nipotence of G o d : for wee 
 tolde you , that this Infinite- 
 nefle of Go d confifted in foure 
 things. 
 
 ; Firft, In the Infinitene fe of 
 hk prefence. 
 
 Secondly , In the Infimtenejje of his power. 
 Thirdly , In the Infinitenejfe of his wife- 
 dome. 
 
 Fourthly, 
 
The Omnipotence ofG o d. 
 
 77 
 
 Fourthly, In the ^sfbfoluteneffeofhismll. 
 The firft of thefe we have fpoken of his Omni- 
 prefence : now we come to fpeake of his Omni- 
 potence* 
 
 I will not ftand to prove it. It is obferved 
 by fome Divines, that God is almighty, is ex- 
 pretfed feventy times in the Scripture. CMat* 
 19.26. Luke 1.39. To God nothing istmpofitble. 
 He doth whatsoever he will: and in Genefis, it is 
 faid, 7 he God almighty be with thee ,ejrc. Genef 
 
 28.3. 
 
 In handling this Attribute, I will fhew you 
 what it is, and the reafons of it, and the obje- 
 ftions againft it, as I have done in the reft. 
 
 The Omnipotence of Godly es in this, that hee 
 is able to doe whatfoever is abfolutely, Am- 
 ply, and generally poflibletobe done. Other 
 things can doe what is poffible to doe in their 
 owne kinde $ asfiiecandoe what belongs to 
 fire to doe • and a Lion can doe what is poflible 
 for him to doe: fo men, and Angels: but no 
 creature can doe what is (imply and abfolutely 
 poflibletobe done. Now whatfoever can be 
 done, when the nature of the thing is not re- 
 pugnant to it, without any limitation, that the 
 Lord is able to doe: and herein is his Omni- 
 potencekene. And the ground of it is this. 
 
 Becaufc all creatures are put into thei r feve- 
 rall kindes • a man is one kinde of creatu re, he 
 is not an Angel • Angels are another kinde 3 
 they are not men • and as they are put in feve. 
 rail kindes, and hedged in , and limited with 
 \ M m bounds 
 
 That Cod is 
 almighty 70 
 times repeated 
 in Scripture. 
 Matip. 26, 
 Luke 1. 39. 
 Gcn.i8.j. 
 
 Omnipotence 
 of God where- 
 in. 
 
, 7 8 
 
 1 he Omnipotence of God, 
 
 Reap i. 
 From the Cre- 
 ation, 
 
 / bounds and definitions, fo is their power limi- 
 ted -they can doe what is in their ownefpha:rc, 
 and according to their cflence and being,fuch is 
 their power: But the L ordis a being without all 
 limits and reftraint, an abfolute being , and an 
 unlimited eflence •, and therefore he can be faid 
 not oncly to doe things within fuch a compatfe, 
 within this or that kinde , but whatfoevcr is 
 fimply, and abfolutely poifibleto be done 5 
 even that his power reacheth unto, and this is 
 properly his Omnipotence. 
 
 There is no. Attribute ofGoD, that doth 
 need a greater degree of faith than this : there- 
 fore reafonsare not unnecefifary. Thcfirft tea- 
 fen therefore is this. 
 
 Firft, confider, that he that made thele great 
 things, he that made the higheft heavens , and 
 thole heavens that thou fecit, he that made the 
 earth, and the deepe fea,he that made the wind, 
 and the treafures of fnow, and haile, hee that 
 made the Angels, hee that wrought /o many 
 miracles, thoumuftthinke that hee that doth 
 thefe things can doe the like: as hee that hath 
 made a faire picture or flatue, hee can make an- 
 
 j other 5 he that makes a fairc houle, you are 
 ready to fay, that he is able to build another. 
 Lookcthcn upon- his .great workes, and you 
 
 i willthinkcthatheisablctodocthe like. This 
 is an argument very frequent in Scripture,whcn 
 there is any occafionofexprcffrng^W/ great 
 power to bring any thing to pnffe: as lice that 
 made beazen and-eartb,betbat brought t be children 
 
 "ft 
 
The Omnipotence of God. 
 
 *79 
 
 of Ifraeti out of Egipt ^ he that divided 'the red 'fea,he I 
 that wrought the wonders in Bgipt before Pharoh 
 and all his hofi j and iuch like. 
 
 Secondly, confidcr the manner how thc\ Rea f- 
 
 Lord did all thcic things. You know he 
 
 m ore, but fay , Let there bee light 5 and there was 
 light : Let the trees bring forth , let theffbes mul- 
 tiply, and the aire bee filled withfowle, and it was 
 fo. Now to doe fuch things with a word 3 with 
 iuch facility, is a figne of an infinite power : for 
 when one can doe great things,with his breath, 
 or little finger, we are apt to fay, what could he 
 doe if he put his whole ftrength to it i So the 
 manner of his working doth (hew the infinite^ 
 *^ of his power-. 
 
 Thirdly, the further any thing is offfrom be- 
 ing , the more power it requires to bring it to 
 Being. As take bafe materialls, and there is 
 greater power required, to make a faire buil- 
 ding of them • to make a goodly ftatuc of a 
 crooked piece of wood, is harder, than that 
 which comes neerer in propinquity to it. Now 
 no being at all is in a thoufand times greater di- 
 ftance, than the bafeft marerialls are from fuch 
 or fuch abeing , and therefore the power muft 
 bee infinitely greater that brings it to being. 
 Now the herd hath done this, therefore his 
 power muft bee infinite great. To make this 
 moreplaineto you- Confider what it is that 
 refhaincs mans power, fo that he can goe no 
 further : it is becaule me matter will not permit 
 him. If you give him clay, and ftraw, het^can 
 Mm2 iSakej 
 
 l From the man 
 ' ncr of the Cre- 
 
 ation. 
 
 Reaf. 3 . 
 
 That hee made 
 things of no- 
 thing. 
 
l8o 
 
 The Omnipotence of God. 
 
 Afancannot 
 workc without 
 materiails. 
 
 Rtaf 4 . 
 
 Fiom the e- 
 quality of his 
 Attributes, 
 
 make bricke - y but if yoihgive him nothing, hee 
 can doe nothing: foif you give him timber, 
 he can make an houfe^but if you give him none 
 ofthefe, hee can doe nothing. But fuppofe 
 now , there was fuch an architeftour , fuch a 
 builder, that if he did but imagine the modell 
 or frame of an houfe in his minde,hee could fet 
 it up of nothing , or make materiails at his plea- 
 fure,hee could make it as bigge as he could con- 
 ceive it, and alfo could mike as many hou- 
 fes as hee could thinke of, and in as great and 
 large a manner , as hee could conceive, it there 
 were fuch a one, there would bee no reftraint 
 to him. Nowthe lordis fuch a builder, what- 
 foever he conceives,he can make it without any- 
 thing y as he did the heavens and the earth : and 
 therefore there is no reftraint in his power, as 
 there is in the creature. 
 
 Fourthly, confider that the Attributes of God 
 are equall , and needes muft be fo, becaufe eve- 
 ry Attribute is his effence , and wee doe but 
 diftingui/h them in our understanding: h\%omni- 
 potencte is but the aftive power* his will, the com- 
 mandmgy and his understanding, the direttmg: 
 we diftinguifh them thus. But in him they are 
 all one. Hencelreafon thus: the wifedome 
 of G o d , the largenefife and infinitene/Te of 
 his understanding and knowledge, what is it 
 not able to conceive i You know men are able 
 to thinke much , and Angells more than men , 
 but G o d is able to conceive infinitely beyond 
 them: For his thoughts are above ours \<t& the hea- 
 vens 
 
The Omnipotence o/G o d. 
 
 1S1 
 
 vens are above the earth. Now whatfoever hee 
 can conceive, his power is cble to a& it. In 
 man it is not lb-he imagines and wills many 
 things, but his power falls (hort , becaufe his 
 faculties are not of equall largencfle : but God 
 can imagine infinitely, and his power is as large 
 and infinite as his wifedomc.-thercfore he muft 
 be able to doe things that are infinite. So Pfa: 
 155. He doth whatfoever he mil, to (hew that his 
 power is as large as his will : which cannot bee 
 faid of any creature. Confider thefe things- for 
 when you are in diftreffe , and put to it,y ou fTiall 
 find need of them to perfwade you that God is 
 Allmighty . 
 
 Now I come to anfwer the objections which 
 arc made againft this, which arc thefe. 
 
 Firft , why doth God produce no infinite 
 thing, no infinite effeft? AllhisefFeds are fi- 
 nite : therefore we cannot fee by any thing hee 
 doth, that he is omnipotent. 
 
 It is true in naturall caufes , and fuch caufes 
 as produce things onely like to themfelves, 
 which are called univocall cvufcs^ but I will not 
 trouble you with that diftin&ion)therethe caufe 
 goes not beyond the effe& : as fire begets fire, 
 and it cannot but beget it , and it cannot goe be- 
 yond it, for it is a naturall caufe, and produceth 
 effects like to it felfe 5 So a Lion begets a Lion, 
 becaufe it is a naturall caufe. 
 
 But there are caufes wherein it is not fo-. 
 
 wherein you muft not fay, that there is no fuch 
 
 M m 3 effeft 
 
 Cods power 
 as large as his 
 will. 
 
 Objec7. 1 . 
 
 i^sfnfxv. 
 
 God a volun- 
 tary, not a na- 
 turall caufe. 
 
82 
 
 ob^eci.z* 
 
 That God can- 
 not doc fomc 
 1 things, is not 
 for want of 
 power jbut be- 
 caufc they arc 
 not to be done. 
 
 Objeff.s 
 
 Ihe Omnipotence of God. 
 
 effeft, and therefore the caufe doth not goe be- 
 yond it : that is, in voluntary caufes , wherein 
 the caufe doth not worke neceffarily,but by the 
 liberty of his, will, and he may be able to doe 
 much more than he doth. 
 
 2 . There are fome things which God can- 
 not doe,.as things that are part, and have beene, 
 hee cannot caufe them not to have beene , 
 
 The reafon why God cannot; doe thefe 
 things- is not becaufe there is a reftraint of his 
 power, but becaufe the things are not poflible 
 to be done ; becaufe hee cannot make truth to 
 be falfhood,or things that arc, not to bej what- 
 foever implies a contradiftion, he cannot doe: 
 and the reafon is, becaufe the things are not to 
 be done: But in things (imply poffiblc,?herein 
 confifts his tmnipotencc : as when it is not con- 
 trary to the nature of the thing, as when the 
 predicate is nor. repugnant to the nature and 
 efience of the fub je& $ as a Lyon being a Lyon 
 cannot be a man, this is a thing that cannot be 
 done: therefore it is no impeachment to his om- 
 nipotence not to doe it. 
 
 <^4nfiv. 
 
 God is there- 
 fore oir, iii po- 
 tent, becaufe 
 hecannot (In. 
 
 i 3 .God cannot finne, Govcanmt deny bimfdfe, 
 \be cannot lye,&c. . 
 
 We need not anfvvcr this : For even for this 
 caufe he is omnipotent, becaufe hee cannot doe 
 thefe things. As if I (hould l'«y , the Sunne is 
 
 full 
 
The Omnipotence of God. 
 
 i8 ? 
 
 full of 1 ightj it cannot be darkc. Thefe are the 
 
 expreffions which the Scripture ufeth : 
 
 as Tit. 1. a, God cannot lie : and 
 
 2 Tim. 2.13. God cannot 
 
 deny himfelfe. 
 
 Tit. 1.1, 
 
 1 lim 1.13. 
 
 M m -f THE 
 
 = 
 
 ■ —.-■;•• •■ •= 
 
Tlie Omnipotence of God. 
 
 i8 5 
 
 THE 
 
 EIGHTEENTH 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 Exo 0,3. 13, 14. 
 
 i^fndMofcsfaid unto God, Behold when I come 
 unto the children of ifrael, and frail fay unto 
 them, the God ofyourjathers hath fent mee unto 
 you, and they jhaUfay unte meyohat is his name - y 
 what (ball I fay unto them ? 
 
 Kjind God faid unto Mofes, I ^4M y TH A T I 
 
 kAM,&c. 
 
 fj®<\ F God produceth no infi- 
 nite effe& j and yet is infi- 
 nite in power y that power 
 which being never brought 
 intoa&isinvaine. 
 
 Tothislanfwer, that it 
 is true , when any power is 
 appointed and deftinated to any aft, it is fo 
 
 farre 
 
 Objeft.^ 
 
 Anfx*> 
 1 
 
 The end of 
 Gods power. 
 
i86 
 
 Tie Omnipotence o/God, 
 
 A contra^ >£i- 
 on to make a 
 creature infi- 
 nite. 
 
 rfi i. 
 
 Let ill in Cos 
 
 tenant with 
 God reioyce 
 that they have 
 an Almighty 
 God foi their 
 God, 
 
 farrc in vaine,as it doth not attaine to that end 
 and aft: as bread is appointed to nourifh- if it 
 dothnot 3 it is not fit for the end to which it is 
 made,andfainvaine: I may fay the fame of 
 every thing clfe. But that is not the end of Gods 
 power, to bring forth any effeft anfwerable to 
 it felfe : for his power (to fpeake properly)hath 
 no cnd,butall things are made fork. In other 
 things,the caufe is appointed for the effeft asits 
 end: but he himfelte is the caufe of all other 
 things; all that hee doth, isforhimftlfcjard 
 therefore though bee doth not produce any 
 fucheffe&,yet his power is infinite. 
 
 Secondly, whenth< re is a repugnancy in the 
 nature of the thing, it is no (honening or li- 
 mitation of his power. N ow a ereature,if it be 
 a. creature, muft be finite ; And the Lord can 
 dot what may be done: but to -make a creature 
 infinite, is a contradi&iwn. And therefore if 
 hee doe not doe it, it is not becaufe hee can- 
 not, but becaufe the thiag.it felfe cannot be 
 done. 
 
 Wee now come to the application of this 
 point. 
 
 If G o d be Almighty, then let all thofe that 
 are in covenant with God y and that have intereft 
 in him, that tan fay, they are the Lords 7 and the 
 L ord is theirs, let them exceedingly rejoyce in 
 ,this,thatthcy have an Almighty God for their 
 God. To have a friend that is able to doe all 
 things, (as wee tolde you befpre, hee is every 
 where prefent,) it is agreat benefit: to have a 
 
 friend 
 
The Omnipotence of God, 
 
 .87 
 
 friend in Court, in Country, a friend beyond 
 thefeas, ifyoufhall haveoccafiontobe bani- 
 fhed thither : but if you adde this , hce is able 
 to doe whatfoever he will , it will adde much 
 to our comfort. Afriend many times is willing, 
 but he is not able j if able and willing, yet not 
 prefent: but feeing he is every where, if thou 
 haft any bufinefle to doe, thouneedeft not to 
 fend a letter, doe but put up a prayer to him,to 
 be thy fadour,to doe it for thee, to worke thy 
 workes far thee, he is every where prefent^and 
 hce is ^Allmlghty alfo, able to doe it, there- 
 fore be content to have him alone for your 
 portion. That is thecaufe, that mens wayes 
 are fo unlike one to another : becaufe they 
 would grafpe Cad and the creature. And why 
 doc they doe fo { Becaufe they will not be con- 
 tent to have God alone. And what is-the ground 
 of that i Becaufe they doe not thinkehim in- 
 deede ^All-fujficient and Allmlghty : for if they 
 did, they needenotto joyneany other with 
 him. 
 
 But you will fay, this is againft fence : G o d 
 is All ' fiijficient ., it is true, it is good to have 
 hira:but,doe we not need many hundred things 
 befides? Muftweenot have friends, houfe, 
 wife, &c < Can wee live without them? Can 
 wee live without friends , eftate convenient? 
 What is your meaning then to have G o d a- 
 lone for our portion 1 
 
 God hath all thefe in him, that is , hee 
 hath the comfort of them all: if hce be All- 
 mighty 
 
 Why men arc 
 not content 
 with God a- 
 lene. 
 
 Oljett. 
 
 ^Anfxx 
 
 n\ 
 
 mm % i* * » m 
 
The comfort 
 
 of all things 
 in God. 
 
 Ohjctt. 
 Anjw. 
 
 Mar. io-»*»*9 
 1°' 
 
 88 7 he Omnipotence ofG o d. \ 
 
 mighty and All-fufficient , then looke about, and ' 
 confidcr the multitude of the things thou need- 
 cft,and the variety ofcomfortsthou defireft,and 
 thou (halt finde all in him. That argument 
 which you are not ftrangcrs to . He hath made 
 them all , and there is nothing in the effed, but 
 what is in the caufe, becaufe it gave it to the cf- 
 fe<5t firft , and it gives nothing, but what it 
 felfe had before ; if hee hath put in beames of 
 comfort , and this beauty in the feverall crea- 
 tures, muft they not needs be in him i 
 
 But you will fay , that this is but a fpecula- 
 tioa. 
 
 But that it is more I will put you to one 
 place, which I defire you to confider ferioufly : 
 that is , Mar. io. 28.29. 30. Then Peter began 
 to fay unto him ^Loe wee have left all , and have f$L 
 l owed thee. And I e fa anfwered and f aid- verily I 
 :fay vntoyou , there is no man that hath left houfe , ] 
 or Br ether en , or Sitters, or Father , or Mother , or 
 Wife, or Children, or lands for my fake and the 
 Gofpels.5 but hee frail receive an hundredfold now \ 
 tn this time, Houfes^ and Br ether en, and Sifters , 
 and CM. other s^ and Children^ and lands, with per- 
 fecutions y and in the world to come eternall lije. 
 When it is faid here , hee fhall receive the ve- 
 ry fame- why doth the Holy Ghoft repeat them' 
 in particular • Heefiall receive houfes and Bre- 
 thcren(jrc with fa fecution? that is, you fhall 
 bee ftript of all thefe things by perfecution, y ei 
 at the fame time,you (hallhave them all. At that 
 time when he is in a clofeprifon,& driven from 
 
 all 
 
The Omnipotence of God 
 
 i8p 
 
 allthefe, heefhall receive them for this pre- ( 
 lent. The meaning is this : let a man have com- 
 -munion with God, let the Lord revealc him- 
 felfe to a man-it hee be once pleafed to come to 
 a man , and pip with him ,if hee will but commu- 
 nicate to a ma the confolations of the fpirk,and 
 fill him with joy and peace through beleivmg: I fay, 
 though hee be in a clofe prifon, yet he fhall 
 have the comfort of houjes , Brethren , Sifters ^ 
 Mothers &c. That is, that comfort which they 
 would yeeld him , he (hall finde them altoge- 
 ther in G o d. So that if one fhould come and 
 fay to him,what if you fhould have Father^ Mo- 
 ther, and friends reftored to you, that you may 
 injoy them-I fay , a man that hath a neere com- 
 munion with Go d, to whom God faies, that 
 hee will come and fup with him r at fuch a time • 
 hee will fay , I doe not care one jot for them , 
 for I have that which is better than them all. 
 For example : you fee this in the Apoftles, that 
 rejoyced in prifon. What doe you thinke they 
 would have faid to men that offered them rich- 
 es < Would they not have flighted them ? 
 They did flight imprifonment : and in that they 
 did flight ftiime, and prifon &c. they would 
 have flighted the other by the rule of contra- 
 ries. Therefore labour to be content with God 
 alone. 
 
 To make this argument without doubt, eon- 
 fider what heaven is. Doe you thinke , that 
 there you lhall have a worfe condition than 
 here * Here you have need;of many comforts 
 
 and 
 
IpO 
 
 The Omnipotence oJGod, 
 
 If all comforts 
 were not in 
 God,theSaints 
 fnould bec 
 worfc in hea- 
 ven, than here. 
 
 %*, 
 
 and conveniences 5 it is a variegare appetite, 
 that is, an appetite that is full of multiplicity: 
 why, when you cometo heaven, you doe nor 
 lay aiideyour nature, but you defire (till • and 
 there youfhal! have none but God alone:fo that 
 there you (hall bee in a worfe eftate then here , 
 ifallthefe things were not to bee found in the 
 Lord: if there were not this variety in the Lord, 
 it could not bee, that in heaven you ihould bee 
 fohappy. Here you need Sunne, andMoone, 
 and Starres, and a thoufand other things , but 
 there you fhall have none, butl 3 faith he, will 
 bee Sunne , andMoone^ and all to you : and there- 
 fore he faith 5 that hee will be all in all, which 
 is the plurall number, and fignifies, all things, 
 
 I Will be 7rav^eWct(7Z. 
 
 Now this Kyillmighty God, that will bee 
 ^/l-y^/f/V/V^ in heaven, if hee will but commu- 
 nicate to a man , and draw him ncare to his pre- 
 fence, fhall not that be inough < Beloved, it is 
 certaine, that hee willbee inough for your por- 
 tion. Asforinftanccj let a man be ftript of 
 all his friends, and brethren and fitters , and 
 country, as Abraham was : hee was ftript of all, 
 and had God alone left for hisportion,yetyou 
 fee that hee was exceeding rich, and made a 
 great Prince,and he had a great pofterity.Ther- 
 forelettsmakethisufeofit: to care for none 
 but the Lord alone, wee know not what fhall 
 becomeofus., v.-cemay beled intobanifhment, 
 as others now arc, and have bin: now if you 
 have the Lord with you, it is inough. So if 
 
 any 
 
The Omnipotence of G o d. 
 
 ipi 
 
 any condition befall you, if you can bee con- 
 tent with God alone , you are well , what if 
 your friends deceive you ? What if you fhould 
 bee (hut up in a clofe prifon < It is nothing, he 
 \$\s4ll-fujficknt and ^Allm'ighty , and there is 
 no eftatc or condition, buthee is with you in 
 it, there is no ftreir , but he can helpe you out. 
 Therefore ftudy thefe things , and examine 
 them, and labour to bcatc them upon your 
 foules: never reft, till you have brought your 
 hearts to fuch a condition: to fay, I know that 
 no . man can feparate betweene God and tae 3 
 and I am content with God alone* 
 
 Secondly, If this be fo, then labour to make 
 ufeof this power of his. Why is this Attribute 
 revealed to you * is it not tor this, that men 
 might make ufeof this power of his? Then let 
 every man confider with hiuifelfr,wbat he hath 
 neede of, what ftrait he is in, what bufineflfe he 
 would have done : remember that God is All- 
 mighty, and is able to bring it to paffe- be it 
 poverty in your cftates, or debts, which a man 
 is not able to overwraftle, if there be a blemifh 
 in your names,and you cannot tell how to have 
 it healed, or any weaknefle in your body 5 and 
 which is more than all this, if there be a luft 
 that ye cannot overcome, a temptation which 
 ye cannot be rid of, if there be a dead.ncflTe of 
 ipiritin you, and indifpofedneffc to holy du- 
 ties, and yec cannot tell how to gee lite and 
 quickening • remember that there is an ^All- 
 mighty power revealed for that end , and ic is 
 
 our 
 
 Vfez. 
 
 A4akc ufeof his 
 power in all 
 want?, and in 
 all (traits, &c. 
 
Ip2 
 
 be Omnipotence ofG o d. I 
 
 lames 4 » 6* 
 
 our parts to make ufe of it : though it be an he- 
 reditary difeafe in thee, (now you know an he- 
 reditary difeafe is that which we have from our 
 parents,) though thou haft fuch a difeafe, fuch a 
 ftrong luft, yet thinke with thy felfe,the Lord is 
 able to heale this. lam. 4.. 6. A place named 
 before, But he giveth more grace, &c. As if he 
 fliould fay : when hee had tolde them of the 
 lufts that fight in their members, this objeftion 
 comes in j Alas, -wee are not able to mafter 
 thefe lufts. It is true,faith the Apoftle,the lufts 
 that are in us,doe luft againft the fpirit,as natu- 
 rally as the ftone defcends downeward : but 
 how fliould wee heale them, fay you i How? 
 The Scripture giveth more grace, that is, there 
 is an omnipotent power which can heale all 
 this. 
 
 So UWatth. 19. 26. With men this is im- 
 
 poffibie, but with God all things are ftffible. It is 
 
 a place worthy confideration, Saith our Savi- 
 
 I our, It is imfojjiblefor a rich man to enter into the 
 
 I kingdome of heaven ': why , fay the Difciples, 
 
 Who then can be favedtln&zcd ,faith Chrifi, it is 
 
 impojfible with men , but with God all things are 
 
 peflible. The meaning is this • when a man 
 
 hath riches, that is, when the objed: is prefent 
 
 and before him, a man cannot of himfelfe but 
 
 fet his heart upon them j and when a mans 
 
 heart is fet upon them, no man in the world can 
 
 weane his heart from thofe riches : what fhall 
 
 we doe then * Why, faith hee , the Lord 
 
 hath zvi^sillmighty power, he is able to morti- 
 
 fie 
 
 peaed. 
 
The Omnipotence of God. 
 
 193 
 
 fiethefelufts. We can no more doe it, than a 
 cable rope can goe through the eye of a needle. Now 
 that which is faid of riches, may be faid ofany 
 /luft. Let an ambitious man have honour, or 
 fuch an objc& futable to a carnall mindc , hee 
 cannot choofe but fet his heart upon it: now 
 when that luft is fet upon an objed, a CamelL 
 may a* welt goe through a needle, as hee can loofe 
 his heart from thefe lufts : but yet the Lord can 
 doe it, With him all things are fofftble. And what 
 the Apoftle faith of the Icwes, R0m.11.23. The 
 Lord can ingraft them in againe, as bad as they 
 be, though the wrath of G od be gone over 
 them to the utmoft, yet G o d can doe it : fo is 
 it true of thy felfe, and any one elfe, the Lord 
 can, if hee will; to him nothing is impoffible. 
 Thinke with your felves, that he that can draw 
 fuch bcautifull flowers out of fo dry an earth, 
 as you iookeupon in winter ; though thou haft 
 an heart as farre from grace , as the flowers 
 feemetobc fromcomming forth in the midft 
 of winter,y et he that can do fd in nature,is able 
 todocthelikcingracealfo,ashe did to Paul, 
 and CMary CMagdalen. Now confidcr what 
 they would have beene without his power: and 
 by his power we may be as excellent as they. 
 To confirme this,confider what a change grace 
 hath wrought even among us : how many a- 
 mongft us, that of proud have become humble, 
 of fierce and cruell have become gentle ; of 
 loofc,fober • ofweake,ftrong,&c. Goe there- 
 fore to him,beleeve this, and apply it : and it is 
 N n furc 
 
 Ronui.i;. 
 
 By pow Gocfs 
 cr in the works 
 of nature we 
 fliould ftrcng- 
 then faith. 
 
*94 
 
 H>e Omnipotence of G 6 d. 
 
 Vfc 
 
 fure it Jhall be according to thy faith. It a -man 
 would goe to the Lord, and fay to him, Lord, 
 I have fuch a luft, and cannot overcome it, and 
 Iwantgriefe andforrow for finne, thou that 
 haft an al/mighy power, thou that didft draw 
 lightout of darknefle,. thou art able to make 
 fuch a change-in my heart,thouhaft an allm/ghty 
 power, and to thee nothing is impoffible. I fay, 
 let a man doe fo, and the Lord will put forth his 
 power, to.-, cffe£t the thing that thou defireft. 
 Surely hee which eftablifheth the earth upon 
 nothing, and kecpes the winde in his fills, and 
 bounds the water as in a garment, can fixe the 
 moft unfetlcd minde, and the wildeft difpofiti- 
 oa, and fee bounds to the moft loofeand in- 
 temperate* - 
 
 If 6Wbe dllmtghty, you muft beleeve this all- 
 migbtimffeot his: and whereas you. fay, wee 
 doubt not of his power, but of his will $ I will 
 fhew to you, that all our doubts, and difcou- 
 ragements and deje&ions doe ari-fe from hence, 
 notbecaufeyouthinketheLoiR d will not, but 
 b.ccaufe you thmke he cannoto Therefore you 
 know nut your owne hearts. in this, in faying 
 that you doubt not of the power of God. 
 I.wiUmake this good to you. by thefe argu- 
 ments. 
 
 If we did not doubt of the power of Go d , 
 what is th^ reafon that when you fee a great 
 probability of a thing, you can goe and pray 
 for it with great chearfulneffe: but if there be 
 no hope, how doe your hands grow faint, and 
 
 your 
 
 To beleeve this 
 great power of 
 Gcd, 
 
 Tbat rncn - 
 doubt as much 
 of the power 
 of God, as of 
 hiswl! by 3 
 inftanccs.. 
 
 I 
 
 Becaufe wee> • 
 ar< more irv 
 ( courage! by 
 probabilities. 
 
/ 
 
 The Omnipotence of God. 
 
 *95 
 
 your knees feeble in the duty i You pray bc- 
 caufetheduty muft nor bee omitted, but yon 
 doc not pray with a heart. And fo for endea- 
 vours : are not your minds dejeefkd , {doe you 
 not fit ftill as men difcouraged, with your 
 armes folded up,if you fee every doore Ihut up, 
 and there bee no probability of helpe from the 
 creature f And all this is for want of this faith, 
 would this bee, ifyoudidbeleivethis^//w/jA- 
 ty power of G o d < For cannot God doe if, 
 when things are not probable, as well as when 
 there are the faireft bloffomes of hope «f 
 
 Befides, doe wee not heare this fpeceh of 
 man t when the times arc bad , doe not men 
 fay, oh, wee fhall never fee better dayes < 
 And when a man is in affliction , oh, he thinkes 
 this will never bee altered : c fo ifhc.be in pro- 
 fperity, they thinke there will bee no change. 
 Whence comes this , but becaufe we forget the 
 K_Allm:ghty power of Go d { If wee thought 
 that hee could make fach a change in a n ight,as 
 he doth in the weather, as he did with Job^ wee 
 ihould not bee fo dcje&ed in cafe of advcifity , 
 and fo lift up in cafe of profpeiity . 
 
 Befides, men have not ordinarily more abili- 
 ty to believe, then the ifradites had which were 
 Gods owne people : yet confider, that thefe 
 very men, that had feen all thofe gseat plagues, 
 thatthe Lord brought upon the Egyptians , I 
 therein meane , all his Atlmigbty powei - that 
 fawhis power in brihgihg them through the red 
 fca,andgivmg them bread andwater inthfc wil- 
 N n 2 dcrncfle- 
 
 2 
 Becaufe wee 
 thinke our prc- 
 fent condition 
 cannot bee 
 changed. 
 
 We limitthe 
 Lord a* the If- 
 raelitcs. 
 
i$6 
 
 The Omnipotence ofG o d. 
 
 pfai.7a.41, 
 
 Object* 
 
 ( dernefle j yet called his power into queftion , 
 andfaid , that Go d could not bring them into 
 thelandofc*/*^/*. Yee will finde they didfo, 
 .-Pfo •• 7 8 .4 1 . They turnedhacke r and limited the 
 holy one oflfraeL And faid , hee cannot doe this 
 and this: and why t becaufethey have Cities 
 walled up to heaven* That is the thing laid to 
 their charge, They limited the holy one of Israel: 
 thatis^they remembrcd not that bee had an 
 unlimited power , but they thought , if the Ci- 
 ties had bin low, and the men had bin but ordi- 
 nary mon,hee could have done it : but becaufe 
 they were fo mighty men , and the Cities had 
 fuch high walls;, therefore they could not be- 
 leivc,, that hee could bring them in. jNow if 
 they did fo, doe you not thinke it is hard for 
 you to j doe other wife < Yea take him, that 
 thinkes he doth not doubt of the power of God y 
 bring that man to a particular diftreffe, and yee 
 (ball fee hi«i faik : . ( for it is one thing.to have a 
 thing in the notion , as for a mnn to thinke what 
 hee would doc, if hee were a Pilot, or a Cap- 
 taine 5 and an o ther thing to have it in the reall \ 
 managing , . as when hee is brought to fight : ) 
 fo is it here. It isone thing to beleive Gods 
 ^illmighty power, and who doubts of it < But 
 I ask you,jf you have had a trial! of your heart- 
 if you have bin brought to an exigent. Doc 
 you finde it fo eafie a thing, to believe in diffi- 
 culties., as in facility $ 
 
 But you will fay , the people of Ifrad were 
 Aitubberne and p^enecked rebellions people : and I j 
 hope our faith is greater then theirs. I 
 
The Omnipotence of God. 
 
 J 97 
 
 I > but doe you thinke that your faith is grea- AnCw. 
 ter than the faith of CMary or CMartki. ioh. i 1 . tot* 1 1^,^ i 
 2 1 . ZW^ tfthou hadfi bin here my Brother had 
 not died.So verfe 3 2. If you obferve their reafo- j 
 ning, you (hall fee, all this doubt was of his 
 power. If thou hadft bin here, when hee was 
 ficke, and when it was time, thou mighteft have 
 raifed him : but now it is too late , hec hath bin 
 dead foure dayes, and his body is putrified. 
 Hercisnodoubt of his good will: but all the 
 qtieftion was of his power. And fo it is with 
 us : doe not we doe the fame, and fay with our 
 felves, ii: this had beene taken in time, it might 
 have beene done, but now the cafe is defperate? 
 Why? is not the Lordzs well able to hclpe in 
 defperate cafes, if he be K^illmighty ? 
 
 Yea, but thefe were but weake women, and 
 we hope our faith may be ftronger than theirs 1 
 
 But js your faith ftronger than that of Mo- 
 fes? Numb. 1 1 . You (hall fee there that Mofes 
 did doubt of Gods power. When God had pro- 
 mifedto fend them flefli, and that not for a day 
 or two, or five, or twenty , but for a moneth 
 together, and for fo many people : Mofes faith, 
 Lord, wile thou fend them flefh for a moneth 
 together r There are fixe hundred thoufand 
 men of them, and it is in the wildernefie. As if 
 he fhould fay, if it had beene for a day or two, 
 or in aplentifull Country, or for a few per- 
 fons;but there are fix hundred thoufand, and it 
 is in the wildernefle,and that for a moneth toge- 
 ther. Here tfvfes was at a ftand, and could not 
 
 N n 3 beleeve 
 
 Objefi. 
 Anfetv. 
 
 Num. 11, 
 Our faith not 
 ftronger than 
 MOSES , yet 
 he doubted of 
 Gods power. 
 
"PiS>* 
 
 The Omnipotence ofG o d, 
 
 Num. li.H, 
 
 vfn> 
 
 Seeke and pray 
 to him in all 
 (baits with 
 confidence. 
 
 beleevc it. The Lord anfweres him . // the 
 Lords handjhortcnedy that he cannot helpe ? thou 
 (hale fee, that I am able to doe it, Numb. 1 1.2.1. 
 It is therefore not an eafie thing to beleeve Gods 
 power. Therefore fet your felves with all your 
 might, to beleeve this x^illmighty power, and 
 know, that all yourftrength wih be needfull 
 for it. It is apt to man to meafurc things accor- j 
 ding to their owne raodells , a* to thinkc him | 
 to bee as powerfully as mans understanding j 
 can reach , and mercifull, as farre as man exu \ 
 bee mercifull ; but for a finite creature to be- 
 lieve the infinite attributes of Cod, lice is not 
 able to doe it throughly without fupernaturall 
 grace. You cannot believe that hee forgives {o 
 much as hee doth, or that his power is lb great, 
 as his power is,buu though you obllrvc it not) 
 I you doe frame modells of him according to 
 1 your felves, and you doe not thinke that his 
 \ thoughts are above yours , as the heavens are above 
 the earth. Therefore labour to get faith in h*s 
 power. And will you have it tolicdcad, when 
 you have it i No. Therefore addc this for a 
 fourth ufe. 
 
 VVhatfoever thy condition bee, what- 
 
 foever ftrait thou art in , be not difcoura^ed , 
 
 butfecketohim; that is the ground of. your 
 
 prayers. You know the Lor d s prayer is 
 
 concluded with this: Tor thine is thy kingdom?, 
 
 , power and glory frr ever and ever. As if that were 
 
 the ground ot all the petitions that went before. 
 
 So rf the Lord becv^ llmighty , and hath /in ML 
 
 ghty 
 
 mn 
 
The Omnipotence ofG o d. 
 
 199 
 
 i mighty power, then in the moft defperate cafe, 
 ! when there is no hope or helpe in the creature, 
 1 that you can difceme, yet then pray, and pray 
 • ftrongly and confidently as men full of hope, 
 to obtaine what they defire. 
 
 And remember this for your comfort: At 
 that time, when you are in affii&ion,and in fo 
 great a ftrait, that you are hedged about , and 
 no hope, no poffibility to evade , that is the 
 time that the Lord will fhew forth his power- 
 for a man is ncverdifcouraged but in thiscafe- 
 I have feene it by many particular experiments: 
 when the cafe hath beene defperate , when 
 there hath beene no hope, yet when God hath 
 beene fought to by fefting and prayer, there 
 hath beene alteration above all thought, accor- 
 ding to that uxpreffion ufed, Epbcf. 3 . 20. Nee ; 
 is Able to doe exceeding abundantly above all that 
 rve isle or thinke* according to the power that rvor- | 
 keth in us ; that is, when they could not enlarge 
 their thoughts farrc, nor were able to fee there 
 could be any way devifed,. yet enlarging their 
 prayers, the L o rd hath devifed a way often- J 
 times ^ I will give youfome inftances that the 
 Scripture gives in this cafe. When EfwczvciQ \ 
 aga'm&Iacob, was hec not in afearcfull ftrait; j ' 
 there was no hope, and no poffibility, Efau was 
 too ftrong for him • what (hould he doe nowc j 
 hcexpofethhimfelfetothc enemy, there was [ 
 no other remedy; and it was an enmity of twen- 
 ty yeares continuance, and die Text faith , that 
 lacob fared, and y et the L o r d delivered him, 
 N n 4 when 
 
 Eph.3.io, 
 
 Inftances of 
 
 Gods power 
 "n £ir at limits, 
 
200 
 
 ll?e Omnipotence of God, 
 
 Din] 
 
 \ 
 
 I when he had prayed to him. So when L&ban 
 came againft him, God bid him that fie (hould 
 doe him no hurt. So Daniel, when he was caft 
 into the Lions den, when all the Lions were 
 prefent with their mouthes opened ready to^ 
 devour, yet the LW flopped their mouthes,' 
 they could doe him no hurt. So is it in many' 
 cafes amongfi: usj when our encmicsare ready , 
 to devoure us,then Goi> comes in in t he nic kc, \ 
 bctweenethecup, and the lip , and workes aj 
 | way for our delivery* Therefore never be dif- 1 
 couraged whatfoeverthy cafebe: it is a very! 
 great matter to fay, that the L Wean doe fucii 
 a thing, though you thinke it but afmall thkg. ! 
 As when the Leper could goe to £#//?, arid 
 fay, Lord, thou canft make me cleane if thou wilt y j 
 then the Zard? did fo. It was a great matter for] 
 thofe three children in Dan.$ . to be able to fay, j 
 when the fire was ready ptcpafcd,and the King] 
 was wroth, and there was no refiftance, yet 
 they CaidjTheLord isabletofavcu* out ofthyhandl 
 O King I ThcLoR sdid take this fo well at 
 their hands, that the Lord did hclpe them, 
 and fave them. On the contrary fide, when a 
 man doth doubt of his power, you (hall fee 
 how much moment it is of. As that Prince 
 laid to Eli ah , Though Cod fhouldmake windows 
 in heaven, jet there could not befucha plenty, as hee 
 fpake of: now the Lo * d was fo difpleafedj 
 vvithir, that hedeflroyed him for it. So the 
 Ifraeltes did not belceve that the L o r d could 
 bring them into the land of Canaan, therefore 
 ^ the 
 
The Omnipotence of Go d. 
 
 201 
 
 the Lords anger was kindled againft.thcm for 
 this: P/4/.78. 
 
 But to draw this ufe to a conclufion. Learnc 
 to bring your hearts to this, whatfocver your 
 cafe is, dill to belceve his power, and to be a- 
 ble to fay (till, the Lard cm doe it 5 and it is not 
 a fmall matter to be able to fay fo. When the 
 C hurches are very losy, and there is no hope, 
 andyou fee little heipe v a manfliould goe and 
 pray with fuch chearfulneffc and fuch hope, 
 and confidence, asifitwasthe eafieft thing in 
 the world to helpe them 5. which you would 
 doe,if you did bcleeve that Go d is <^Allmigh- 
 ty.You know what the cafe of the Church was 
 jn AhafuerH* time,yetfafting. and praying made 
 a great change on the fuddaine. . Nay when the 
 Church is downe,yet pray with as great hope, 
 as if it had the beft props to holde it up,for the 
 Lord is able toiaife it up againe. 
 
 I will give you two inftances, that you may, 
 confiderthe Lords power on both fides- his 
 power to raife it up from a low condition . (as 
 now, if you consider the miferable eftate of 
 the Churchin Chriftendome at this time:) as it 
 appcaresby the vifion of the dry bones in Eze- 
 kid: the meaning whereof is, that when the 
 people arc as low as low may be, like dead 
 men, buried men, men fcatrercd to the foure 
 windes, yet faith the Lord, I will put life into 
 them ; I will raife them and make them a great 
 army, and I will put grace into them,and make 
 them .living men-, that is, though the Church 
 
 be 
 
 Pftl.7*. 
 
 Gods power 
 to raife from 
 a low condi- 
 tion 4 
 
I 
 
 zoz 
 
 The Omnipotence of God. 
 
 Objetf. 
 
 ^yinfw. 
 
 2 
 Gods power 
 iu bringing 
 downe thofc 
 that arc fecure- 
 
 LanvM*. 
 
 be never fo low, yet the zWcan put life into 
 it, and make a wonderfull change. 
 
 Again,thereis no Church To fafe,<as we doe 
 
 thinke our felves now> and as the Palatinate d\A 
 
 thinke themfelves ) but that yet the Lord can 
 
 make a fudden change , and bring them downe, 
 
 as well as hee could raife thefe dry bones $ and 
 
 as he hath done to others already. This you 
 
 /hall fee. Lam.+.iz.' The Kings and allthewha- 
 
 b'ttanti ofiho world, would not have beletved, that 
 
 the adverfary and the enemy could have entred into 
 
 1 be gates joflerufclem. Ierufalem was fo ft rong , 
 
 there was fuch probability of fafety , that no 
 
 man would ever have beleived that the enemy 
 
 and the adverfary fliouldever have centred into 
 
 the gates thereof. Yvtthe Mlmighty power of 
 
 God brought them downe onafuddaine, and 
 
 laide them flat to the ground. Therefore let 
 
 the cafe bee what it will bee , fuppofc a nation 
 
 bee never fo ftrong, yet G o d can bring them 
 
 downe ; and let it bee never fo weake and low, 
 
 yet the Lord is able to raife them up. And it is 
 
 true of every particular thing alfo • then beleive 
 
 this Allmighty power of G o d , and apply it , 
 
 whatfoever thy cafe bee 5 confider that thou 
 
 haft to doe with an Allmighty God. 
 
 I But you will fay , the cak may bee fuch , as 
 
 there is no helpe , the Lord hath declared his 
 
 will by an event j and the cafe is fuch as never 
 
 was helped, and will y©u have us to belecvc it 
 
 now, becaufe there is an K^Allmighty power i 
 
 You muft learne to doe in this cafe, as Chnjl 
 
 did: 
 
The Omnipotence of God. 
 
 °y 
 
 did ; Lord if thou wilt, let this cuppe paffefiom me. 
 •jet not mj will but thine be done. Iuft after this 
 manner you oughtto doe in every one of thefe 
 cafes, where there is no hope: you rnuft fay 
 thus, Lordyiz is paffihle to thee to doe it, be the 
 cafe as defperate as it will be. As fuppofe a man 
 hath a ftonc in the bladder, which we thinke an 
 incurable difeafc, becaufe the ftone is fo hard, 
 and cannot be foftened,yet it is pofliblc to him^ 
 he can fo lodge it, and bdd it, that it /hall doc 
 you no hurt ; and if he doe take away this life, 
 yet he gives you a better 5 if it doe paine you 
 here, yet he will give you joy arid peace, which 
 will farreexceed the induring a little pain in the 
 flefli. I fay, you ought to-doe as Chrifl did in 
 this cafe ; and remember this,, that in fuch a 
 cafe v y0arbufineiTe is not with the power, but 
 with rheWillot GoDithat is,you rouft £iy,ZW 
 I know it is poflible that this cup may paffe, 
 but Z^ here is all the matter • it is my defire 1 
 thatitfhouldpafie, and it may be it is thy will, 
 that it (hail not, Lord, if this be the cafe, it is 
 meet my will fhould yeeld, and that thy will 
 fliould be done : As if Chrift (hould have faid, 
 Lord, I will give thee this honour , that thou 
 canft remove this cup from mee, but if thou 
 doeftnot, it is not thy will, to doe fo 5 and I 
 am content. So doe thou give the .LWthisj 
 glory of his power in every cafe, that hee can 
 doe it,, if it be his will. 
 
 Be it that thy defire is to be delivered from 
 fuch or fuch an affii&ion 5 confider this: Is it 
 
 mcete 
 
 No cafe fo dc- 
 perate but God 
 can helpe. 
 
104 
 
 objett. 
 Anfw. 
 
 Wcclofenot 
 by yeeldinc 
 to Gods will 
 
 Hcb.?. 
 
 1 he Omnipotence of God. 
 
 mectc Cods will fhould yeeld to thine, or thine 
 to his i Then bring thy heart downe, and be 
 content that it fhould be fo. 
 
 But you will fay^ it is hard to doe this, to be 
 willing to undergoe fuch an affliftion. 
 
 Confident is G^/willj and therefore if it 
 were not beft for thee, yet thou fhouldeft ho- 
 nour hira fo fane, as to preferre his will before 
 thine own:but it being his will, thou (halt be af- 
 fured if thou art one that belongs to him,that it 
 (hall be bed forthee. ChriH was no lofer when 
 he yeelded to his Fathers will, for God heard 
 him in what he frayed for : as it is Heb. 5 , though 
 the Lords will pafled on him, and be dranJce of 
 the cup. So thou muft yeeld to his will what- 
 foevcr it is, be content with what is done, and 
 belecve that thou fhalt be no lofcr by it in the 
 
 end, but thou fhalt have what thou defi- 
 reft, though not in that manner 
 that thou wouldeft have 
 it to be done. 
 
 F1KIS. 
 
rPart. Page 
 
 K^ibfolute. 
 
 THe perfection ofGod ab- 
 [oUte. 1,121 
 
 Adorne. 
 The fpirit of man how it fhould 
 be adorned* 2, i j 
 
 ^Adorning of the fpirit com- 
 mends us to God. 2, 1 8 
 
 Advcrfaries. 
 The truth of the Scriptures 
 proved by the teftimony of 
 the adverfiries. 1,53 
 
 Advantage. 
 Hee that puts himfelfe from 
 Gods vvorke for his owne 
 advanxnge , makes himfelfe 
 
 his end. 
 
 149 
 
 Affections. 
 sAffe&ions inordinately fet on 
 
 athing,makeitagodL 1,90 
 Afitttions fin full muft be purr 
 
 gedout. 2, 62 
 
 Affections to the creatures, 
 
 what raifeth them ♦ 2, 2 04 
 Affecltons ftrong breede ftrong 
 
 afflictions. Ibid. 
 
 Agreement. 
 Agreement of the prophecies 
 in Scripture. i/fl 
 
 Aharon. 
 Alcaron of Mahomet barba- 
 rous 1,^4 
 
 Almighty. 
 
 Cod is almighty. 2, 1 28 
 
 That G od is almighty, 70 times 
 
 repeated in Scripture. 2,177 
 
 Wee fhould re Joyce that our 
 
 Oo Cod 
 
THE TJ(BLE. 
 
 God is almighty. t j 1 86 
 
 i^4lone. 
 To belceve that God is God 
 
 alone. If o5 
 
 To behold God done in ferving 
 
 him. *> 3 6 
 
 VYhy men are not content 
 
 with God d/0«r. 2, 187 
 
 Angels* 
 oAngels ufed in guidiog the 
 courfe of things. 1,35 
 
 Antiquity. 
 Antiquity of Scripture, proves 
 them true: 1,57 
 
 Apprehtnfion. 
 Apprehenjton of things makes 
 •them heavie or ealie. 2, 30 
 
 Arts. 
 Arts why invented 
 
 *> J 
 
 Ajjcnt. 
 
 - ^jf«f* double. i*4& 
 
 ^fjijfof bred differently in the 
 
 Saints and others : i$6z 
 
 Atheifme. 
 Atheifme- of two kindes. 1 ,24 
 Atheifme the effeds of it. 1,25 
 Iwitu conuerted from atlicifme 
 
 1,56 
 
 / 
 
 Attributes. 
 
 Attributes of God of two forts 
 1,119 
 
 Beafiyfe'e tjiian. 
 
 Before. 
 
 Go&before all things. 1, 120 
 
 If God had any caufe , iome- 
 
 what was before him* 1,1*0 
 
 Bein*. 
 "Being properly onely in God J 
 
 1.97 
 /?«»£ of God explained in five 
 
 things: Ibid. 
 
 Being given to, all things by 
 
 God-* 1,99 
 
 Wee fhould give God the 
 
 praife of hii being: 1 , 1 1 1 
 All things but God are capable 
 
 of not being, . 1*14* 
 
 What being hee maft have 
 
 that is ecemall .• *>*$7 
 
 God the firit being. 1, 50 
 
 God not capable of any new 
 
 being. 2 ;73 
 
 Beginning. 
 Hee that is ecemall mud bee 
 without beginning. 1 , 1 5 7 
 
 Body.. 
 Body .nmft be kept downe .• 
 
 2 23 
 
 Body. 
 
THE TABLE. 
 
 Body , geftures of it ufed in 
 Oods woithip 2,38 
 
 Bufie. 
 
 Why men ere fo buff in world- 
 ly things. 2,131 
 
 CaHojf. 
 We fliould take heed God cafi 
 
 us not off- 2,80 
 
 The time of Gods cafiing off 
 
 unknowne. 2,83 
 
 Caufe. 
 The creatures /riould be with- 
 out caufe, if they were not 
 made. 1, 8 
 
 God the firft caufe. 1,39 
 
 God without all caufe. 1,140 
 G od a voluntary <:*#/*; 2,181 
 
 Change. 
 Change in the crtature whence 
 it is: 2,75 
 
 Change in u s a token of good : 
 
 When we thinke our conditi- 
 on cannot change, we doubt 
 of Gods power: 2,195 
 
 See Jmferfetl. 
 
 Chronologic 
 Chronology of Scripture cxaft. 
 
 Church. 
 
 Churches teftimony proves the 
 
 truth o f Scripture : 1,58 
 
 I Scriptures of greater authority 
 
 than the Church: 1,59 
 
 God will (hew himfeleuod 
 
 in raiding the Churches, 1 ,87 
 
 Not to faint in the mifery of 
 
 the Churches. 
 
 1,109 
 
 Chrifi. 
 Chrifi his humanity alone not 
 to be woririipped. 2, 45 
 See Mahomet 
 
 Cleave. 
 What makes us cleave to a 
 thing: i } S6 
 
 Conceive. 
 GOD is beyond all that wee 
 OM conceive; 2, 129 
 
 Complaint. 
 Complaint and griefe whence 
 itarifeth; 1,1,04 
 
 Command. 
 
 The creature at gOD S com- 
 mand. 1,1 38 
 
 Confufion. 
 Confufou^vhcn the body rules 
 the fpirit. x y 2 1 
 
 Comfort ,fee god fie Heaven. 
 
 Compofrtion. 
 god without co mpofition. 2^49 
 O o 2 Coun- 
 
THE TJ®LE. 
 
 Comfett, fez Eternity* 
 
 Covenant. 
 How to know we are in w- 
 ivmtwith God. 2 > *>> 
 
 Covenant twofold. 2 >85 
 
 Covenant not fruftrate by our 
 fumes. 2 > $7 
 
 Conjlancj. 
 
 To fudge of our fpirits byw- 
 
 yte<7 in well-doing. 2, 1 1 1 
 
 Constancy in ill nothing vvorfe. 
 
 2,113 
 
 finftancy, to begge it of God. 
 
 Ibid. 
 finfiancy , two meanes to get 
 ' it. i,i 'J 
 
 Compiny. 
 Company y why it is defired. 
 2,166 
 Companions that a man may 
 alwayrmve. M67 
 
 Company , the more griefe in 
 want of it , the ieife wife- 
 dome. J bid. 
 
 ContracliBionfet Infinite. 
 
 Content. 
 
 To be content with God,thogh 
 
 with crofTes. ij^o 
 
 To bee content with a flmple 
 
 condition. 2,54 
 
 Content bred by godlinefle: 
 
 2,58 
 
 Creature. 
 
 Creatures, to learne the vanity 
 of them. i,fitf 
 
 Creatures of themfelves can 
 doe nothing for us. 1*137 
 
 Creatures, difference betweene 
 God a id them. 1,146 
 
 Creatures, not to goe to them 
 but God. 2,67 
 
 Creatures, difference betweene 
 God andthem in refpefl of 
 hisuichangeablenes. 2.105 
 
 Creatures , not to expeil much 
 from them; ibid 
 
 Creation. 
 
 Workes of creation (hew the 
 greameffe of God. 2, 1 23 
 
 Gods omnipotence in the crea- 
 tion. 2,178 
 
 Croffes. 
 Crofes 9 God doth his good by 
 
 them. j 3 4i 
 
 C ro Jf es , foith ftrengthened in 
 
 them, how. i, 105 
 
 See Content, 
 
 D. 
 
 Pead^Death. 
 Hee that beleeveth not Chrift, 
 would not beleeve one riling 
 from the dead. 1,41 
 
 We 
 
THE TA'BLE. 
 
 We cannot fee rcafon for many 
 things till death. 1,103 
 
 Death fweetned by walking 
 wkhGOV : I,l6; 
 
 D ecree. 
 Decree of G r D unchansea 
 blc,yet unknowne : 
 
 2,92 
 
 Defend. 
 gOD is able to defendus: 2,1 66* 
 
 Delay. 
 "Delay of gOD ftould not of- 
 fend us, why, 1,168 
 Delay feemes long, why: 1,169 
 
 D eftnd, D ependent. 
 Not to defend on many things : 
 
 2,56 
 
 Defendent felicity to truft in 
 
 the creature. 2, io<5 
 
 De fires. 
 Defires muft bee ftrong that 
 helpe relolution : 2 ; 1 2 1 
 How to get ftrong defiresdbid* 
 
 Dejpife. 
 What makes a man deffife out- 
 ward things: 2,138 
 
 Dejlroy. 
 A man deftrojeth hiinfelf,how : 
 
 j, 10 
 
 Die, Dying. 
 
 \y s lyCC 
 
 Heathen gods <^>,therfore falfe 
 
 1, bi 
 
 Direction. 
 Men defire company for dire- 
 ction-. 2,166 
 
 Difontent. 
 "Difcontent, whence it is; 1,123 
 
 ArBiftion and profperity difyo- 
 Jed by g O l D : j 5 40 
 
 To be content with g OD S 
 diff>ofingo£\xs\ ',i*4 
 
 Doe, Doing. 
 We are prefent with GOD 
 
 by doing his will. 2, 1 6 1 
 Toconfider wrut GOT) doth 
 
 to us: 2,162 
 
 Some things that GO*D can* 
 
 not doe, why: 2, 1 82 
 
 Double. 
 Double-minded man who : 
 
 2-6*0 
 
 Sinful affections make the heart 
 
 donble. 2 ,6 1 
 
 E 
 
 Effects. 
 
 Mortifying of lufts a dying iai- \ Three qjfrtfiofa firme affent 
 I O o j that 
 
7 HE TABLE. 
 
 that there is a God. i, 70 
 
 Efficacy. 
 Efficacy of the cieature from 
 
 Eternall,Eternity, 
 
 God. 
 
 137 
 
 Enemy. 
 What en enemy God is to 
 wicked men: 2,175 
 
 End. 
 All creatures have an «m& 1 ,9 
 Wee Oiould doe nothing for 
 
 our owne ends. 1,146 
 
 End of mens callings appoin- 
 
 ted by God. 1, 147 
 
 When a man makes himfelfe 
 
 hisend. 1,148 
 
 Ending. 
 Hee that is etcrnall muft bee 
 without ending: I ; I 5 7 
 
 to advantage. 
 
 Enftgnes. 
 
 Snfignes of Gods greatneffe. 
 
 2,124 
 
 Eqnall. 
 
 Attributes of Cod equal!. I;jj 
 
 Equality of Cods Attributes 
 
 proove him omnipotent. 
 
 2;l80 
 
 Erre^fie Rule. 
 
 EJpnce. 
 £ fence ©f God what. 1 ,94 
 £]JW of God infinite. 1,14* 
 
 Eternity o£ God. 
 
 S* 
 
 Eternity, 5 things ink; 1,157 
 Why God muft be eternaH; 
 
 1,158 
 
 Foure d : ft:rences between the 
 
 eternity of God jand duration 
 
 of the creatures. 1.159 
 
 Eternal/ things to be minded 
 
 more. 1,161 
 
 Eternity ^v\ exhortation to con- 
 
 fiderofit. M65 
 
 Eternity, motives to conlider 
 
 it. 1, -67 
 
 Eternity w\\2t ; 1,168 
 
 Love and enmity of God eter- 
 
 na/t; 1*171 
 
 Hatred and joy in God from 
 
 eternity; 2, 78 
 
 Counfels of God from eternity; 
 
 1,81 
 
 EvilL 
 
 Things are notalway evi/l that 
 
 we think are; 1,42 
 
 Everlafting* 
 
 God from ever lading $ other 
 
 gods new; 1,79 
 
 G ods being ever/aiding; 1 , 98 
 
 Events. 
 Events contrary to matis pre- 
 parations: 1, 39 
 Exalt. 
 To exa/t God as God : 1 > 1 3 5 
 
 Excellency. 
 Excellency outward not to be / 
 m fought i 
 
THE TABLE. 
 
 1 
 
 fought after: V7 
 
 Excellency outward of 3 forts : 
 
 Ibid. 
 
 F. 
 
 Faculties. 
 Men defire company to exer- 
 ciih their faculties : 2, 1 66 
 
 Faint .kc^hurch. 
 
 Faith. 
 
 That there is a God, proved by 
 
 faith. l; 1 9 AS 
 
 Faith what* I, 20 
 
 Faith in this that there is a 
 
 God fliould be confirmed : 
 
 1,61 
 
 Faith of dec!: and others differ; 
 
 Faith though the fame hath fe- 
 verallafb; 1,72 
 
 Faith Itrengrhened by revea- 
 ling *Jods name: 1,103 
 
 Falfe. 
 The gods, and religion of the 
 ( dentil z$ falfe: j,8o 
 
 The religion of Mahomet falfe 
 
 1,82 
 Feare. 
 Why we fhould feare God 5 
 1,171 
 
 See Goodmffe. 
 
 Fire. 
 The Spirit as Fire, 1,15 
 
 FtB. 
 
 The Lord fills heaven and earth 
 
 Flee. 
 God fuch an enemy as the wic- 
 ked cannotyfo? from: 2, 1 74 
 Force. 
 Force in the motion of a fpirit : 
 
 Foundation. 
 
 Foundation of faith ftable; 2.51 
 
 Friend/hip of G od to be eftee- 
 
 med; iji*9 
 
 Future. 
 
 Future things knovvne only to 
 
 God; 1,79 
 
 G 
 
 9PD, that he is: 1,3 
 
 ThatthereisaCWZ); i,j 
 Creatures fhould bcG OD y if 
 they were made; 1,8 
 
 A C70/) fought naturally by all; 
 
 M4 
 
 That there is a (7 D , confe- 
 
 quentsofit. 1,28 
 
 Meanes to confirme our faith , 
 
 that there is a GOD; i,68 
 That GOD is gOD y and 
 
 none befides him. 1 ,75 
 5 Arguments, that there is no 
 
 other GOD. lf y$ 
 
 G O £>,what he is: 1 ,94 
 
 goT>, how to conceive of him 
 
 inprayer# 2,4^ 
 
 GOD 
 
THE TABLE. 
 
 gOD, how fiid to come and ^ 
 goe: 2,77 
 
 GODjhe comfort ofall things 
 in him. 2,ifc8 
 
 See Affettions* 
 
 Goody Goodneffe. 
 
 The commands of GOD for 
 ouv good: i>i*7 
 
 Eternity makes things infinite- 
 ly good: i y i6o 
 
 To feare $OD for his goodnes: 
 
 See obferve. 
 
 Government, 
 government of the world by 
 
 See Spirit. 
 
 Grace, Gracious. 
 Grace of God free. '1*25 
 
 The Lord is gracious. 2, afi 
 To goe to God (or grace: 1,65* 
 See Ltght 3 Sin,Vnchang*ble. 
 
 1 Grieve, fee Himfelfe. 
 
 Greatnejfe. 
 
 greatnejfe of God. 2, 1 2 3 
 
 Greatnejfe of God declared in 
 
 fixe things: Ibid. 
 
 greatnejfe o£ God compared: 
 
 2,126 
 
 Greatnes of mind to be fought : 
 2,129 
 
 What makes ihe minde^rar .- 
 2,130 
 Greatnejfe outward why men 
 are led away with it ; Ibid. 
 Greatnejfe of minde how got- 
 ten* 2, 137 
 To fearc God for hisgreatnefe. 
 2,140 
 
 H. 
 
 Hate. 
 Pollution of fpirit to hate it : 
 
 How to come to hate it: 2,13 
 
 Heathen. 
 PaiTages of Scripture acknow ■ 
 ledged by Heathen. 1,53 
 
 Heaven. 
 No want of outward comforts 
 in heaven. 2,lQ 
 
 See Humble. 
 
 Helpe. 
 No cafe fo defperate but God 
 
 can helpe: 2,20$ 
 
 Hindred. 
 God cannot be kindred-. 2,52 
 
 High. 
 Not to put our felves to things 
 too high: i, J49 
 
 Himfelfc. 1 
 
1 
 
 THE TAftLE. 
 
 Himfelfe. 
 Being of God of himfelfe. f,p8 
 GOT) may doc things for htm- 
 
 FKk i jl44 
 
 what he doth that greines mod 
 
 for things that conceme him- 
 
 fafe. 1,150 
 
 Hope. 
 Hop* of the Saints whereon 
 built: ifii 
 
 Holinefe. 
 Holincffe of Scripture : i y $t 
 Holinefe what : 2,37 
 
 Holinefe exprefled outwardly : 
 
 2 39 
 
 HoUncffe of God (Lewes his 
 
 greatneflc 3,127 
 
 Holy ghofi. 
 Holy gboft guidedpenmen of 
 Scripture: X) ^ 
 
 Humble. 
 
 An HumbU man takes heauen 
 
 k™ -1 1,111 
 
 Humanity : feefHR IS 7. 
 
 I 
 
 • 
 
 lam. 
 I am, what meant by it : 1,95 
 
 Idolatry. 
 To keepe our hearts from 7«fo- 
 Utr J: i,88 i 
 
 Idolatry of two kinds : Ibid: 
 
 Idolatry 1 grounds of it: 1,82 
 
 Idolatry to refolve on things 
 
 by our owne ftrength; i,i ? z 
 
 Image. 
 Image of God: ^5 
 
 Image o: God in the foule dou- 
 , *>k: ll6 
 
 immediate, fee Goverment. 
 
 Impure. 
 The life and doctrine of Mabo: 
 met impure l$± 
 
 Immenfe. 
 The Immenfty of Gods being: 
 
 1,97 
 
 Immenfty of Gods being fliews 
 
 his greatneflc : 2,127 
 
 Immenfty of God : 2,147 
 
 Immenftty of God we fhould 
 
 r re/oyceinit: 2152 
 
 Immenfity G f God we frouid 
 
 ftudie it. 2)l$3 
 
 Imperfettion. 
 Imperfeftion negatiize in the 
 Saints: ljl21 
 
 Imperfection where there is 
 
 See^elflK h73 
 
 Impenitence, 
 impenitence punniihed in Gods 
 children : 2,99 
 
 Immutable. 
 Immutability of God 2 72 
 5: reafons ofGodsImmutabt- 
 P P lity. 
 
TFiE7A<BLE. 
 
 iitj: *,71 
 
 Grace initifelfe notimmuuMe: 
 
 V»5 
 
 Incoflfiancy. 
 \nconftancy t to be humbled for 
 it. *>i«* 
 
 Incon fancy, two caufes of it.* 
 
 2,115 
 Jnconftmtcj from weakneffe : 
 
 2,117 
 
 Indeavour. 
 Indeavour s help 'riot when God 
 
 hath caft offa man: a , 83 
 Indeavour f not taken away by 
 
 God? decree; , 1,9* = 
 
 Infinite. 
 God if ftfjttlfti : *i 74 
 
 Tp.make a creature infinite % 
 were a contradttfion: a^t 8d 
 Sec EJfence, ?re fence. 
 
 In+ifft>U. 
 Ta.be i*vifibte> a property of 
 aipint.- « f a 
 
 inquire. 
 Somevtfttatin God we muft not 
 inquire into. 1,100 
 
 Injuries. 
 Injuries of men t why we are fo 
 afFe&ed with them; a, 1 3 3 
 
 How to be patient in injuries : 
 
 Infiucncc. 
 To beleeve there is a God hath 
 influence into the whole life : 
 
 luttifcAtion* 
 Eaith. (lengthened in matters 
 oijufttficAtion y whence: 1,71 
 
 /*/?, fee JT/& 
 
 ludgements. 
 ludgements fpuituall the grea- 
 
 tell: 3,17 
 
 ludgements difpenfed by God 
 
 now as in former time: 1:98 
 ludgements of God different ia 
 
 time,and meanes, r. ioi 
 
 Kill. 
 fciftsmuftbcJ^W: *; 1.3 
 
 Knowledge, 
 Knowledge experimental! that 
 there is a God: 161 
 
 L 
 
 Labour, 
 Labour y how if is iwcetned : 
 
 1:15, 
 
THE 1A&LE. 
 
 Latbc. 
 
 Performances lame when the 
 body is nor cxercifed; 1:40 
 
 Ldtv. 
 Law written in mens hearts 
 proves that there is a God: 
 
 Liberty. 
 Gods prefcnce gives liberty : 
 
 1,164 
 
 Ltfe. 
 .God onely the living God : 
 
 Lift, the ftiortnefle of it fliould 
 
 make us thinke of eternity : 
 
 I, 167 
 
 Light, i 
 What makes all outward things 
 light; 1,163 
 
 Prophecies of Scripnif e#atfW* 
 toafettime: 1,50 
 
 God without limits:' 1,1 it 
 
 Our obedience to God rtiould k 
 Hot be limited*.- •*■ t^t 
 
 When wee limit God, wee 
 doubt of his power: 2,195 
 
 Lips. 
 Our fpirits muft be neare God, 
 as our lips: j, 33 
 
 Long, fie Short* . 
 
 mmmm - -• fTTft 1 m 
 
 Low. 
 Wee ihould not reft in things 
 
 too low: 13149 
 
 Gods power can raife from a 
 
 low condition: a,ioi 
 
 Love. 
 Gods immutability makes us 
 
 love him: i, 88 
 
 Love of other things muft be 
 
 fubordinate to the love of 
 
 God: a, 144 
 
 To walkc w ith God a figne of 
 
 love: 1,163 
 
 Lufis. 
 
 l*tts defile the fpirit of man : 
 
 The tenth commandcmcnt a- 
 
 gainft lu&: t t y 
 
 \h&.\ reftrained hateful to God 
 
 i * x >9 
 
 iLnfis mortified make uscon- 
 \ ftant in well-doing; *,i 15 
 
 . M. 
 
 ^Magnanimity* 
 An holy magnanimity 'va eft joy -< 
 
 IngbfGod 
 Mag nzr.imi ij falfe : J (3 \\ A . 
 
 Pp 2 
 
 
THE 7 A $LE 
 
 CMahomet. 
 
 CMahomet denied two things 
 inChrift: 1)84 
 
 Seefalfe. 
 
 <JM.Aiefty< 
 
 tMajcftj of Scripture proue the 
 
 truth of them: i,$6 
 
 CMajefiyoiGOD 1,76.77 
 
 LMan. j 
 
 That there is a GOD proued 
 by the making of man : 1^6 
 
 Difference betweene the ani- 
 ons of man and beaft : 1,17 
 
 Heathen Gods men : 1,8 1 
 
 Matter. 
 
 CjOD without matter : 2,127 
 GOD can Worke without mat- 
 ter : 2,1 80 
 
 Merit. 
 
 All that we can doe cannot me- 
 rit of (]0D: 1,123 
 
 Mercie. 
 
 CMercieofgOD how it is o- 
 verallhisworkes: 1,54 
 
 (Mercie we fihould goe to C od 
 fork; ^3 
 
 Secludgcment. 
 
 CMwde. 
 
 To worfhip GOD w ith all 
 the mtnde. 2 25 
 
 See Great. 
 
 CMiracles. 
 
 Miracles proovc the truth of 
 the Scriptures: i,^g 
 
 Cteafomets. religion wanted 
 miracles; f> g^ 
 
 Monuments. 
 
 Monuments, none more anci- 
 ent than thofe in Scripture: 
 
 Morrow. 
 
 Morrow , not to boaft of it: 
 i, 128 
 
 Move. 
 
THE 7J<BLE. 
 
 Mcvc, Motion. 
 
 G D not fubjecl to motittt. 
 
 1,170 
 
 A fpirit meves it felfe and other 
 
 things : 2, 3 
 
 CMultiflication* 
 
 No multiplication in G O D : 
 
 Mutability. 
 
 How to comfort our felves 
 
 in the mutability of things : 
 
 1,172 
 
 Mutability of che creature for* 
 
 gotten: i, 203 
 
 N. 
 
 Nature. 
 
 Tfatur Cytht courfe of it altered 
 fi'icc the creation. 1,32 
 
 Faith ftrengthened ft om Gods 
 workes in Njture: 2,193 
 
 'Need. 
 
 [God hath no need of any crea- 
 
 ture 
 
 VIP3 
 
 Nothing. 
 
 Outward things nothing in 
 two refpefts: 1, 131 
 
 O. 
 
 Oh]ett,ob\ettion. 
 
 Single heart iookes but upon 
 one objett. 2, 60 
 
 Objettions againft this princi- 
 ple , that there is a God : 
 1,3° 
 
 Obfervc. 
 
 COB obferveth all wee doe.- 
 2,158 
 
 See Sinne. 
 
 ■ 
 
 OmnifBtent. 
 
 Omnifotency of <7 OD: t 9 lj6 
 Omnifotency of (J O D where- 
 in; V77 
 
 *n 
 
 Omni- 
 
THE TABLE. 
 
 Omnifrefence. 
 A caution concerning the omni- 
 frefenceof gOD 1,14 
 
 OngindL 
 Originall of all creatures 1 , 6 
 Love, wifedome&C originally 
 in C/OD : it,49 
 
 Ownei 
 Two cafes when God punnifli- 
 etb hi so whc children.- 1,99 
 
 Outward. 
 toward manftirrsup the in- 
 wtrds H4P 
 
 • .% 
 
 P&rts* " 
 
 G07):wb*Kp*rtji *,jo 
 
 j ...... 
 
 Perijh. 
 Why it is nothing to gOD , 
 that many prrifi: x f i*7 
 
 Particular. 
 Prophecies of Scripture fartU 
 
 h 5° 
 
 c*/*r: 
 
 Perfticueufc. 
 Prophecies of Scripture pcrjpi- 
 cuoufei i,y 
 
 Berfttt, 
 
 
 qODxsferfett: X,HO 
 
 Perfettton what Ibid 
 
 ^-differences betweene perfetti. 
 on in God f and in the crea- 
 tures: i,ixi 
 To praife gOD foThisperfetti 
 on : M 2 ? 
 4 Signcs of praifing Gods per- 
 fection. Ibid : 
 Place. 
 Afpiritnot held in anyplace: 
 
 M 
 
 Plcafurc. , 
 
 Tleafurtj, why men are car- 
 ried away with them: x^ 3 * 
 
 Power df GoD every where ; 
 Pwwr of G O D the end of it .• 
 
 S,l?f 
 
 Power of g D $ we (hould bo- 
 
 tfevifit: *,i*4 
 
 foiwr of gO*D doubted of: 
 
 ; VP7 
 
 T#w^r of GOD manifefted: 
 
 Paction 
 Pollution of fpixit to find it out 
 
 2,10 
 Pollution , diredions to finde it 
 
 rrajer. 
 Fervency in prayer one ground 
 
 of 
 
THE, TABLE. 
 
 , ofit: ,, 7 , 
 
 *Pray agamft pollution offpirit. 
 
 2,14 
 Men mky pray much', yet not 
 
 aright. M2 
 
 Prayer 9 two times ofit: 2,4; 
 He that is rejected ofgo<D 
 
 cannot pray; 2,93 
 
 iV*/^ heard of God now as in 
 
 former time. 1,103 
 
 Power of God mould make us 
 
 in* a,ip8 
 
 /V4//}. 
 
 *™»y# of men why men are led 
 away with it i I3 i 
 
 Sstnukenctfe. 
 
 Prt[cnce,Prcfently 
 r Prtfixcc of God infinite- a, 14$ 
 How men are /»*/#»*: 2,155 
 Why God auengeth not fro- 
 
 rrefence fcenc m 5. things : 
 
 How wtmpreftnf with God. 
 
 . Ibid. 
 
 How wee make God fr^ft* 
 
 withus; %tl6l 
 
 Prophets; Prof hecier. 
 Prophecies in Scripture prove 
 the truth ofit, j, 50 
 
 Poets the Gentiles Prophet s r 
 
 1, 81 
 
 Providence, 
 
 Provtdenee of God, the grcaN 
 nefleofit proves that there 
 is no other God.- Jf 79 
 
 GreatnefTeofGodfeencinhis 
 providence. ^ |2 ^ 
 
 The ground of Gods particu- 
 hr providence, ljI54 
 
 ProvikeMdCafiing of 
 
 Pro/per. 
 Thofe that rruft not in God 
 
 wnymcnieaue their prefix . 
 
 Fearfclne* in pjftffei whence.- 
 
 *>*34 
 
 PromJfiuotsJly. 
 
 Outward things difpenfed »». 
 mifcuoHJlj t}l3 
 
 Probabilities. 
 When we are incouraged by 
 frobabilitie* 1 we doubt of 
 Godspower.- tflQ ^ 
 
 Pnnifb y fcetwne. 
 
 Purity. 
 
 ) fxrity of Scriptures prove 
 them true: J}S $ 
 
 Purfofes. 
 n^Hrpofesof qoTX brought to 
 
 parte 
 
THE TJ<BLB. 
 
 pafle by wayes ynknownc to 
 
 us: i i* 6 
 
 Strongc lufts breakc ttronge 
 
 purpofes : 2,1 1<5 
 
 Turpofts 3. hclpesto ftrength- 
 
 cnthem: * Jl 7 
 
 Turpofes muft be renewed: 
 
 *,u8 
 
 QL 
 
 Quantity. 
 God fimplc without q utntitj. 
 
 *»74 
 
 Miracles in Scripture reaU. 
 
 MP 
 
 Reafon. 
 Difference betweene faith and 
 reafon: 1,46 
 
 £**/£» for that faith beleeveth. 
 
 Ibid. 
 
 Reafon raifed by faith. 1,47 
 
 Purpofes grounded on reafon. 
 
 2,118 
 
 Wee muft get ftrong reafons 
 
 for our refolution. 2,119 
 
 Regard. 
 
 We (houldr^Wthe Lord in 
 three things, 1, 171 
 
 Rejoyce, fee Immenftty. 
 Sec K^dlmighty. 
 
 Religion, fie Falfi. 
 
 Repentance. 
 Repentance, how attributed to 
 
 God. 2,76* 
 
 Gods gifts and calling without 
 
 Repentance. 2,84 
 
 Refolution, 
 Refolution, meanes to helpe ic. 
 
 Refolution muft be renewed : 
 
 2,122 
 
 SeeDefire. 
 
 Rejett, fee Fray. 
 
 Reft. 
 Of refting in things concerning 
 amansfdfe. i, 151 
 
 Reward. 
 He that lookes for reward from 
 men,makes himfcife his end 
 
 Reverence. 
 We fliould reverenceQod why 
 
 Righteous. 
 I God 
 
THE T A%LE. 
 
 GOD righteous in his wayes : 
 
 Rootc. 
 The roote of all fin what: i , 66 
 
 Rule* 
 That which goeth by a rule 
 mayerre: *>i44 
 
 We fliould let the Spirit rule : 
 
 How to know when the Spirit 
 beareth r#/r : 2,22 
 
 Szzconfufion. 
 
 S. 
 
 Scandall. 
 CjOD punniflieth his owne 
 children in cafe of Scandall : 
 
 h99 
 Scriptures. 
 
 Scriptures proved true by faith 
 
 3. wayes: 1,48 
 
 Scriptures proved by them- 
 
 felues: 1, 56 
 
 Difference betweene penmen 
 
 offcripture and other writers: 
 
 1,80 
 
 Whence it is that men take the 
 
 judgement offcripture rather 
 
 then mens fancies: 1 3 70 
 
 How to underftand/m/tf ure s : 
 
 2,78 
 
 Seek. 
 
 How to know wxfeeksto Go^i 
 
 1,1 3 • 
 
 Serve, fervice. 
 Hethat neglccls GODS fervice 
 makes him not his end: 
 
 1,150 
 
 Why we fliould labour to 
 (erve GOD: l * l 7* 
 
 Secure. 
 GODS power in bringing 
 downe thofe that zrefecure : 
 
 Seeing. 
 
 We are prefent with GOD by 
 feeing of him : 2, 1 60 
 
 GOD prefent with us by fee- 
 ing us: 2,161 
 
 Short. 
 The good the creatures do us is 
 Jbort : *, J S$ 
 
 To $0D no time long ot Jbort z 
 
 1,160 
 
 Sinne. 
 
 The pcrfeflion of GOD to bee 
 
 vncapable offinnei 1 a 1 2 2 
 
 Sinne 3 .things in it ; 1 , 1 66 
 
 Sinne and grace to be thought 
 
 oncheifly: 1,167 
 
 Sinne obferved by GOT) : 
 
 2,168 
 
 g D therefore Omnipotent 
 
 becaufe he cannot/fw: 2, 182 
 
 Q_q fee 
 
THE 1AKLR 
 
 Set Light* 
 
 Simplicity. 
 
 Simplicity of God what. *, x 
 
 Simplicity of God'provcd by 
 
 tfrcaions. # M9 
 
 Simplicity , two things in k: 
 
 2, Co 
 
 Su gu/Mtity. 
 
 Sintfenejjh. 
 SingUneffe of heart what* t$% 7 
 Singlenejfe to be laboured for. 
 
 2,59 
 
 Sjckntffe. 
 Sicknep in the body of the 
 world* *> 33 
 
 Soule. 
 
 ; A God proved by the foule of 
 
 man. MJ 
 
 S*Hle y thz a#s of it depend not 
 
 or the body- i*i 8 
 
 God in the world, as the foule 
 
 in the body. 1,23 
 
 Spwne*. 
 Spawne of {innein the lufts of 
 the fpirit: 2- y 10 
 
 Speake. 
 
 Speaking to Cj OD makes us 
 prefent with him. i;i6i 
 
 CjO c D prefect with us by. Spea- 
 king to us; Ibid. 
 
 f Hoy? go?) Jp*ak£S\oi\s now; 
 
 ly\6l 
 
 Spirit; 
 GODzJpirit: 2,2 
 
 What kindeof fpirit God is; 
 
 Ibid 
 4 Properties of a $iri*% Ibid 
 Gods eye efpeciaily on the fpi- 
 rit of man. 2, 4 
 How to fit out Spirits -for com- 
 
 munion with-God-' *i 6 
 Pollution ofjpirit, how hateful! 
 
 to God, 2,7 
 
 tyir/7 broken pleafeth God. 
 
 2,8 
 Directions for cleaning the Jp i- 
 
 ritx 2, 10 
 
 Gods government chiefly on 
 
 mens Spirits:- 2,25 
 
 Spirit GO 3K guides onely : 
 
 2,28 
 Spirit >the guiding of it of great 
 
 confequence: 2,29 
 
 GOD muft be worfliipped ia 
 
 Spirit. *>3* 
 
 To feiveGOD in $«** what : 
 
 M3 
 
 How to conceive of a Spirit: 
 
 2,45 
 
 See^ tsfdorne, lodgement ; 
 
 Stability. 
 Stability in that we enjoy to be. 
 begged of (7 Z>; 2,105 
 
 Stron- 
 
THE TABLE. 
 
 Stronger. 
 
 The aflent in the deft fironger 
 that there is a God, than in 
 others. l} t 2 
 
 Subftantiall. 
 Perfection in ood fubfiantiall. 
 
 1,122 
 
 Succeffion. 
 Cod without/%r^». i jP 8 
 Hee that is eternall , mud be 
 without//**- ^##. 1,157 
 
 Suffer. 
 Why men rather finne than 
 
 M«* 1, 25 
 
 T. 
 
 Temptdtions. 
 Temptations, we muft outbid 
 ttanu 2, 120 
 
 Tejtament. 
 Teftament both oldc and new 
 acknowledged by Mahomet. 
 1,82 
 
 Teftimony y f ce Adveffaries y 
 Church* 
 
 Theologk. 
 Theologie what. ' i, 1 
 
 Theolo£> e , wherein it differeth 
 
 from other fciences. j 8 
 Theologie, the parts ofit. ,', 3 
 Difference in points of 7%w- 
 
 *** 1, 5 
 
 Time. 
 Time difpenfed by God. 1,258 
 All time prefent with God. 
 
 1. 159 
 Time of outward things fhorc 
 
 God the Lord of time. 1 ' \ 7 ! 
 £**as a field to be fown.Ibid! 
 *«** double. 2j ' 
 
 «SV* Iudgement. 
 
 Thoughts. 
 How to be rid of ill thoughts. 
 t,i6 9 
 
 Together. 
 God poffdfeth all things w«u 
 
 To ^/? i n God. 
 
 1. 171 
 
 v. 
 
 Vanity. 
 Vanity to refolve in our owne 
 ftrength. I;I , 3 
 
 *to ere At tire. 
 
THE TABLE. 
 
 refills. 
 All outward things earthen 
 vejfells. 2, 1 05 
 
 Vifible. 
 Miracles of Scripture vifible : 
 
 i.4» 
 
 Vnderfl ^ an ding. 
 Ob/ecls of the understanding 
 
 of two forts. 
 
 i y 21 
 
 Vnchangeable. 
 
 Men make excufes from this, 
 that Gods decree is unchan- 
 geable. *y 95 
 
 Ypon what occaiion the do- 
 ctrine of Gods unchangea- 
 blenejfe is revealed. 2, 96 
 
 The end,and ufe of the dofh ine 
 of Gods unchangeablenejfe : ; 
 
 *>97 
 
 To prize things by their un- 
 
 changeablenejfe. 2, 1 06 
 
 Grace unchangeable. 1*107 
 
 Sit pec fee. 
 
 Vnmixed. 
 The perfection of God unmix- 
 ed. MM 
 
 Voluntary, fee Caufe. 
 
 VV. 
 
 Walk. 
 
 To w% with God- 2, 1 59 
 To walhe with God what : 
 
 3,160 
 StcLove. 
 
 Warn. 
 How faith is ftrengthened in 
 
 our wants. 1, 103 
 
 Perfection of GOD without 
 
 ww;r: 1 j 1 2 2 
 
 To make ufe of Gods power in 
 
 our wants ^ 
 
 2,191 
 
 Weakne/fe, , 
 jVeaknejfe , to regard praife of 
 men; 2,133 \ 
 
 Seelnconjlancy. 
 
 Weaned. 
 To ufe outward things with 
 weaned hearts; 2, 5 7 
 
 Weary. 
 
 The fbule not weary in its afti- 
 
 onj 1, 19 
 
 Wheeles. 
 
 Obfervations from the wheeles 
 
 in Ezek.x. 1,35 
 
 Will. 
 God wills not things becaufe 
 they are juft , bnt they are 
 juft becaufe he wills them: 
 
 M43 
 
 Gods power large as his will: 
 
 2,181 j 
 Meal 
 
THE TABLE. 
 
 t 
 
 Men doubt more of Gods pow- 
 er than his wi'l > 2,194 
 
 No lode by yeelding to Gods 
 will: 2, 204 
 
 W'tfedome. 
 Wtfedome carnall oppoftte to 
 fincerity* 2.65 
 
 See Qom$any\ 
 
 Word. 
 Word of God unchangeable, 
 
 Workes % 
 Workes of God, the greatneflfe 
 of them: 1, 78: 
 
 Good workes unchangeable : 
 
 2, 1 08 
 
 Gods greatnefle kcnc in his 
 workes: *,up 
 
 World- 
 World } thz diffoI.utio» of it pro- 
 ved; 1>3 i 
 World, why we are fent into it, 
 
 x,i68 
 
 World \ God without it as well 
 
 as in it; 2,148 
 
 God able to make other worlds 
 
 1.149 
 
 Worfiip, fee Spirit } ChriJl. 
 
 Worth : 
 Want of worth in us muft not 
 difcourage us frorncomming 
 to God. 1, 125 
 
 f?kjS- 
 

 
HHriW 
 Mi 
 
 W'l