Page images
PDF
EPUB

which he so possesses and takes up, that the injuries and affronts done to them are felt and acknowledged by him: as when an enemy offers to burn, or pull down, or strip and plunder the house, the master or owner takes the violence as done to himself. We are the temples, the houses, wherein it pleaseth the Spirit of God to dwell. What is done to us, is done to him in us. He challengeth, as our actions (the Spirit of God prays in us; Rom. viii. 26:) so our passions also: he is grieved in our grief. Such an interest hath God in his, that, as Christ, the Second Person in the Trinity, could say to Saul, Why persecutest thou me? so the Holy Ghost appropriates our injuries to himself: If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are ye, saith St. Peter, for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part, he is evil spoken of ; but, on your part, he is glorified; 1 Pet. iv. 14. Lo, the Holy Spirit is glorified by our sufferings, and is evil spoken of in our reproaches: the word is ẞharpeita, is blasphemed; so as, it is a fearful thing to think of, to speak contumelious words against God's children, is, by the Apostle's own determination, no better than a kind of blaspheming the Holy Ghost.

See, then, and consider, ye Malicious and Uncharitable Men: your wrongs reach further, than ye are aware of. Ye suffer your tongues to run riot, in bitter scoffs, in spiteful slanders, in injurious raylings against those, that are truly conscionable: ye think ye gall none but men, worse than yourselves; but ye shail find, that ye have opened your mouths against heaven.

I speak not for those, that are mere outsides and visors of Christianity; making a shew of Godliness, and denying the power of it in their lives. I take no protection of them: God shall give them their portion with hypocrites. But, if he be a true child of God, one that hath the true fear of God planted in his heart, and one that desires to be approved to God in all his ways, though perhaps he differ in judgment and be of another profession from thee in some collateral matters, as the God of Heaven stands not upon such points; let him, I say, be one of God's dear and secret ones whom thou revilest and persecutest, the Spirit of God feels the indignities that are offered to such a one; and will let thee feel, that he feels them: make as slight as you will of scandalizing and wronging a good man, there is a good God that will pay you for it.

What a heavy complaint is that, which the Apostle makes to his Corinthians, concerning himself and his fellows! I think, saith he, that God hath set forth us the Apostles last, as it were appointed to death; for we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men; 1 Cor. iv. 9: and verse 13; We are made as the filth of the world, the off-scouring of all things unto this day. Alas! if this were the condition of the blessed Apostles to be thus vilified, why should it seem strange to us, their unworthy successors and disciples, if we be thought fit for nothing, but to be cast upon the dunghill ? But these reproaches, however we may take coolly and calmly, as that Stoic Philosopher did, who, whilst he was discoursing of

being free from passions, it being the doctrine of that sect that a wise man should be impassionate, a rude fellow spat purposely in his face; and when he was asked, whether he were not angry, answered, "No truly, I am not angry; but I doubt whether I should not be angry at such an abuse:" but there is a God, that will not put up our contumelies so: we strike his servants on earth, and he feels it in heaven.

It is very emphatical, which the Apostle hath to this purpose, Col. i. 24. I fill up, that which is behind, Ta üseppaтa, the Afterings of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh; intimating, that there is one entire body, as it were, of Christ's sufferings, part whereof he endured in his own person, and part he still sustains in his members; so as he cannot be free, while they suffer; Inasmuch as ye did it to one of the least of my brethren, ye did it unto me; Matth.

XV. 40.

As the soul feels what is done to the body, The iron entered into his soul; saith the Psalmist: so, what is done to the faithful soul, God is sensible of, and will revenge it accordingly. What shall be done to thee, thou false tongue? saith the Psalmist: even mighty and sharp arrows, with hot burning coals; Psalm cxx. 3, 4. Thou hast shot thine arrows, even bitter words, against God's chosen ones; and God shall send thee sharper arrows of his vengeance, singing into thy bosom. Thy tongue hath been set on fire with contention, and hath helped to kindle it in others; and now God shall fill thy mouth with hotter coals of that fire, which shall never be quenched. Oh, then, as we tender our own safety, let us bind our tongues and hands to their good behaviour; and resolve, with the holy Apostle, To give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God; 1 Cor. x. 32.

Now, as the Holy Spirit of God, both in himself and in his children, is grieved with our lewd speeches and offensive carriages; so, contrarily, God and his Holy Spirit are joyed in our gracious speeches and holy conversation; Luke xv. 10. I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God, over one sinner that repentelh. Lo, this is God's joy, and the angels witness it. It is the owner, that hath found the lost groat; and that saith, Rejoice with me. How doth conscionable and godly behaviour, and holy communication, make music in heaven!

We have known many, that have thought their time well bestowed, if they could make a great man smile: Principibus placuisse, &c. and, perhaps, their facetious urbanity hath not passed unrewarded. Oh, what shall we think of moving true delight to the King of Glory? It was no small encouragement to the Colossians, that the Apostle professes he was with them rejoicing, and bcholding their order; Col. ii. 5. What a comfort then must it needs be, that the great God of Heaven is with us; and takes notice of our carriage, and contentment in it! I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience; saith the Spirit of God to the Angel, or Bishop, of the Church of Ephesus; Rev. ii. 2; and Videndo vidi;

saith God to Moses, concerning the Israelities; I have seen the afflictions of my people.

It is said of Anthony the Hermit, (Let no man boggle at this, that I mention a Hermit to this congregation: those first Eremites, that went aside into the wilderness, to avoid those primitive persecutions, were holy men, great saints; and of a quite different alloy from those of the present Romish Church, Mera Nominum Crepiacula,) that when he was set upon by devils, and buffetted by them; as St. Paul was, 2 Cor. xii. according to learned Cameran's interpretation; after the conflict he cried out, O bone Jesu, ubi eras?

O Lord Jesu, where wast thou?" and received answer, Juxta te eram, &c. "I was by thee, and looked how thou wouldst demean thyself in thy combat." Who would not fight valiantly, when he fights in the eye of his prince?

It is the highest consideration in the world, this, "How doth God relish my actions and me?" The common rule of the world is, "What will men say? what will my neighbours? what will my superiors? what will posterity?" And, according to their conceits, we are willing to regulate our carriage: but a true Christian looks higher; and, for every thing he says or does, enquires after the censure or allowance of God himself; still caring that the words of his mouth and the meditations of his heart may be accepted of his God: and, if his heart tell him, that God frowns at his actions, all the world cannot cheer him up; but he will go mourning all the day long, till he have made his peace, and set even terms between God and his soul: but, if that tell him all is well, nothing in the world can deject and dishearten him; but he takes up that resolution, which Solomon gives for advice, Let thy garments be white, and let no oil be wanting to thine head; go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart, for now God accepteth thy works; Eccl. ix. 7, 8.

And this consideration, as it never can be unseasonable, so is a most fit cordial for every honest and good heart, in these dismal times. We are in a sad condition; and, perhaps, in expectation of worse. The sword is either devouring or threatening. We are ready to be swallowed up with grief or fear. What should we now do?

Dear Christians, let every one of us look in what terms he stands with his God. Do we find the face of God clouded from us? let our souls refuse comfort, till we have recovered his favour, which is better than life. Do we find ourselves, upon our sound repentance, received to grace and favour of the Almighty; and that he is well pleased with our persons, and with our poor obediences; and that he smiles upon us in heaven? courage, Dear Brethren, in spite of all the frowns and menaces of the world: we are safe and shall be happy. Here is comfort for us in all tribulation; 2 Cor. With that Chosen Vessel, we are troubled on every side; yet not distressed: we are perplexed; but not in despair: persecuted; but not forsaken: cast down; but not destroyed; 2 Cor. iv. 8, 9: for which

i. 4.

cause we faint not; but, though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day; verse 16: for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; verse 18. To the full possession whereof, the God, that hath ordained us, graciously bring us, for the sake of the Son of his Love, Jesus Christ the Righteous: To whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, Three Persons, and One Glorious God, be given all praise, honour, glory, and dominion, now and for

evermore.

SERMON XXXVIII.

THE SEALING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THE
DAY OF REDEMPTION.

A SECOND SERMON IN PROSECUTION OF THE SAME TEXT, PREACHED AT ST. GREGORY'S CHURCH IN NORWICH, JULY 21, 1644.

BY JOSEPH, BISHOP OF NORWICH.

EPH. iv. 30.

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption.

WE have done with the Dehortation itself: and, therein, with the Act forbidden, Grieve not; and with the Title of the Subject, the Holy Spirit of God.

We descend to the Enforcement of the Dehortation, by the great merit of the Spirit of God; whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption.

Those, that are great and good, we would not willingly offend; though mere strangers to us: but, if they be, besides, our great friends and liberal benefactors, men that have deserved highly of us, we justly hold it a foul shame and abominable ingratitude, wilfully to do ought, that might affront them. It is therefore added, for a strong dissuasive from grieving the Spirit of God, that by him we are sealed to the day of redemption. All the world shall in vain strive to do for us, what our great Friend in Heaven hath done: our lothness therefore to grieve him, must be according to the depth of our obligation to him.

Cast your eyes then a little upon the wonderful Benefit here specified: and see, First, WHAT THIS DAY OF REDEMPTION IS; Secondly, WHAT IS THE SEALING of us to THIS DAY; and, Thirdly, WHY THE

SEALING OF US TO THIS DAY SHOULD BE A SUFFICIENT MOTIVE TO WITHHOLD US FROM GRIEVING THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD.

These three must be the limits of my speech and your attention. I. REDEMPTION signifies as much as a Ransom: a ransom implies a Captivity or Servitude.

1. There is a threefold CAPTIVITY from which we are freed: of Sin, of Misery, of Death.

« PreviousContinue »