if Abraham was tempted,

1. LET the innumerable afflictions which this faithfull Patriarch suffered, for ever here­after un deceive those ignorant worldlings who think hardly of all such professours as endure tribulation. When Christs Disciples saw a man blind from his birth they quickly asked " Who sinned, this man, or his Father? When, by clinging upon St. Pauls hand, a viper seemed to threaten Death unto that Apostle, the Barbarians at Melita rashly concluded "This man was some murderer. Usually the like opinion posses­seth the men of this world: If they see one fallen in­to infamie, povertie, or some other distresse, they begin to conceive hard thoughts against such a Chri­stian. But a believers comfort is that Gods thoughts are not as Mans thoughts; With the most, he that is low in this world is low in mans eye; but in Gods Eye he is not. Abraham had the honour (the peculiar honour) to be stiled the Friend of God, yet do ye find him tossed from place to place, a long while child-lesse [Page 45] thwarted by the Wife of his bosom; and through her meanes deprived of the first bodie that had made him a Father, to witt, of Hagar; and of the first Son that ever he delighted in, to witt, of Ishmael; as for Isaac, in Him he was to sacrifice at once the dearest love, the greatest joy, and the chiefest hopes, which the whole world could yeild him: Wherefore if this Friend of God was thus humbled let no worldling sur­mise evill of Gods favourites for any miseries which befals them in this life, much lesse for any miseries which in this life they draw upon themselves by per­severing in their Duties. Behold we accompt them happie that endure.

2. O consider this ye that forget God. Are any of you so prosperous that pride encompasseth you as a chain, and setteth your mouth against the Heavens? You who speak thus boldly, and are thus corrupt this Hictorie, and other Histories like this, read yee. The righteous Abel was murdered by his own brothers; the righteous Lott lost all his wealth; upright Job, who more miserable? you beheld the Innocent Isaac nar­rowly escaping a most untimely Death; And your eares have heard, and the eares of this assemblie have heard with what reiterated conflicts the faithful Abra­ham was tempted; If here upon earth the troubles of the righteous are so many and so searching, can you here upon earth hope to escape Gods judgments? (Be not mercifull, O Lord, unto them that sin of malicious wickednesse▪) I appeal unto that Flood which in the daies of Noah drowned a whole world of transgres­sours, I appeal unto that fire from Heaven, which in [Page 46] the daies of this Patriarch Abraham, made Sodom and Gomorrah the pictures of Hell; (Within our own age & Island) I appeal unto late civil Wars, unto latter pesti­lences, and unto devouring fires hardly yet quench­ed: (Within your own bosoms,) I appeal unto your self-condemning consciences, that if the Righteous are scarcely preserved in this Word, in this world it shall go ill with the wicked. If favourites are thus afflicted here, shall Enemies continue here unpunished? God shall wound the head of his ene­mies, and the hayrie scalp of such a One as goeth on still in his trespasses.

3. Let Abraham his temptations speak peace unto many Sons of Abraham, who (as if they were nei­ther Sanctified, nor Adopted, nor Elected) are prone, alas, to disquiet their Souls in the day of trial. Some Christians, although they believe that sufficient for the day is every daies trouble, al­though they grant, that man born in Sin is born to see sorrowful daies; although they read that God doth not willingly afflict, yea although they fore­know that whom the Lord Loveth, them he cha­sten th; yet, when the fierie tryal tempteth, they think that strange.

1 I beseech such dejected Spirits to ponder well that he is the Penman of this Epistle, who was (p) in bonds; and that these Hebrews were then sincere converts, when they were H br. 10 34. spoiled of their goods, and were, by reproache, 33. made a gazing-stock! In this cap. XI. It was not before, but after, that [Page 47] they beleeved, that they v. 38. wandred into deserts, Mountaines, dens, and caves. Or that they▪ v. 37. were destitute, afflicted, tormented, stoned, tempted, slain with the sword, and (some of them) sawn a­sunder; that they v. 36. had a greater triall then any of these, even the triall of cruell mockings, of scoffs which fetched blood like a Sword in the bones! With­in my Text, Isaac (a type of the suffering Jesus) saw Death, although he felt it not. And Abraham, the Father of the Faithful, was more tempted, then Isaac himselfe was! Unto you I applie this, O yee of little faith: If, as unto these Saints (whose Names are here written in this booke of Martyrs) it was, so, unto you it is, Phil. 1.29. given to beleeve; Is it a marvel un­to You, if, as it likewise was unto them, so it is unto You, given to suffer? It is your comfort, that ye are Sons and not Bastards? And would ye be treated like Bastards, and not like Sons? If ye would,

2. Since (at this instant) your chastisement see­meth, not joyous, but greivous; Blesse ye your God, for that your afflictions equall not Abrahams. They Zech. 12.10. shall mourn as for an onely Son, To part with a child, and He a child growing tall, as well in expe­ctation, as in stature: One who might hereafter have bin the staff of our old age, and was, for the present, the Desire of our eyes: to lose the enjoyment of a Son and Heir, then when that onely Son began to rejoyce onely in the Lord; this is (indeed) no ordinarie triall: Yet (Give God the Glorie) as smart as our present chastisement is, it is not so greivous as the temptation of Abraham was. Who have bin unto [Page 48] God the truer friends, We or the Patriarch? Whose temptations have bin the greater, the Patriarchs, or Ours? Weigh we, in the same ballance, the burden, the number, the sharpenesse, of Abraham his trialls with our own; we shall then feele our own to be, as the Apostle justly esteemeth them, light afflictions.

3. Since he was a Friend of God who was thus tempted, Blesse thou thy God so often as he bestow­eth upon thee the favour of a correction: They who were fortie yeares humbled in the wildernesse, were not Moabites, or Amonites, but the chosen people of God: and, when upon their back the plowers plowed long furrows, it was that out of that heart which was once fallow ground, they might bring forth a plentiful harvect. It is not the chaff, but the wheate, which men take paines to winnow, and the better the wheat, the more throughly it is sifted. We give no such diligence to melt lead or tinn, as is used in re­fineing, either Silver or Gold; and, of Gold the lar­ger the Wedge or ingott, the more fierie the trial. It is the Vine branch that beareth Fruite, which the Husband-man pruneth; and, the choicer the grape, the more industrious is the Hus-bandman. When the Lord maketh up his jewells, he first fileth, and then polisheth, them; and, the dearer his children are un­to Him, the stricter is their education: Cast Daniel into a furnace of fire, and you make him the com­panion of an Angel; While God giveth unto you a priviledge to endure temptations, he giveth unto you a fellow-ship in the sufferings of Christ. But then

4. See that ye lose not the benefit of your temp­tations. [Page 49] (If thou wilt thank thy God for giving thee warning:) while the warning is hott, let not the season of grace coole. Thy bitter herbes are physical, use them afore they be withered: God intendeth our spiritual health, as ever we would receive no hurt by this physick, let our endeavours second His inten­tions. There are Psalms of Degrees, yea and crosses of Degrees too; if we be not wanting unto our selves, we may by these, as upon the rounds of Jacobs lad­der climbe the Heavens: It was, by a whirl-wind, that Elijah was taken up. If thou art smitten to the ground and astonished, as He ( Act. IX.) was; tremble as He did, and with Him, say, Lord, What wilt thou have mee to do? That our Sorrow may be turned in­to Joy, let the temptation wherein we are fallen have its perfect work. God tried gracelesse Saul, and God tempted Faithfull Abraham; when Saul was tried, Saul spared Agag: but when Abraham was tempted,

Abraham offered up Isaac.

BE afraid therefore ye sinners who trample under foote the Blood of Jesus, and be ye horribly a­fraid ye Atheists who crucifie unto your selves the Lord of Glorie. I p. 45. line. 24. was saying, If Faithfull Abraham was tempted and afflicted, persons that are ungodly could not in this life expect to continue un-afflicted long: Let mee now, add.

1. If the iniquitie of your heeles do not overtake you, and compasse you about before ye Die; If there be no Death in your hands; If you come not into [Page 50] troubles like other men; it is, that your prosperitie may destroy you: If the patience of the all-seeing God suffer you to fill up the measure of your offences, it is, that ye may not be able to abide the day of his coming. If He that cometh to judg terribly the earth, letteth you alone to feede the evil imaginations of your heart in quiet; it is, that (like the Deere in your Parks of pleasure, and like the Oxon in your pasture-ground) ye may be fatted against the day of slaughter. One especiall reason why whole burnt offe­rings were at the first instituted, was, to signifie un­to us, that Hebr. 12.29. our God is a consuming fire. viz. everie man that is not seasoned with the Salt of grace, shall Mark. 9.49. be salted with the fire of Tophet. Such as are sanctified by the fire of the Holy Ghost, shall (like Isaac) be unto God Rom. 15.16. an acceptable burnt offering; Such as do not by faith purifie their heart and their whole man, from dead works, to serve the living God, shall be not like Isaac, but like that Ram which (in the stead of Isaac) Abraham offered up, they shall be Psal 37.20. as the fatt of Lambs, they shall everlastingly consume; into smoke shall they consume away for ever Neverthelesse,

2. How desperately wicked soever thou hast bin in times past, for the time to come here is open­ed unto thee a door of hope: for 1. He who spa­red Isaac, and accepted the Ram, testifieth even unto thee that His Delight is, not in sacrifices, but in mercies 2. When this only son was offered upon the Altar, he was then a type of that son of God who is made a Propitiation for thy Sins: 3. Al­though [Page 51] Isaac was bound, His God released him; and, although thou art tyed and bound in the cords of thy Sins, the same God would release even thee. 4. After Isaac was released, the Lord blessed Isa­ac; wouldest thou rise and walk, God hath for thee, store of blessings; O taste and see that the LORD is good. But 5. What sort of Darling is this Dalilah which thou preferrest before the possessiour of heaven and of earth? Answ. A seeming, and but a seeming, pleasure of Sin; In this age, there is in some Sins no sort of Delight, except they be infamous as well as Wicked: There is no pleasure in diceing, except the Patrimonie be sta­ked, as well as the Guiney: Apples of Sodom are no raritie at most Banquets: The apparel of some men were not in fashion, were it not of more va­lue then a years révenue will pay for: Neither are they welcome at a feast, except they be so drunk that they need a withdrawing room. The cove­tousness of some Misers is so idolatrous, that they set their hearts more upon their riches, then up­on that God which giveth them a Power to get wealth: and such is the Luxurie of others, as if riches could not make unto themselves wings, were there no Feathers to be found in their caps. Tell me now, in cool blood: Head-aking drunken­ness, unclean lusts, (Lusts which make thy bones rotten, as well as thy communication;) unthriftie riots, wearisom idleness, wide-mouthed Oathes, ungodly jestings, unblessed vanities, (Vanities linked together by that Prince of Darkness who [Page 52] with them chaineth thee unto his bottomless Pitt:) Are these the Isaacs which thou art fond of? Wouldest thou rather eternally Sacrifice thy self a burnt offering in hell torments, then Sacrificce these needless evils? For shame mortifie thou those follies which, if thou diest not unto them, will be unto thee death eternal. Wouldest thou break off that yoke, cleave that wood, which hath hitherto prepared fewel for hell fire, wouldest thou make Jesus Christ thine altar, and upon that altar sa­crifice thine Isaac, even thy whole man; wouldest thou Crucifie thy lusts, studie self denial, and place thine endeavours upon exercising thy self unto Godliness, thy Delights upon the pleasantness of new obedience, and thine affections upon things Spi­ritual and heavenly; He that can abundantly par­don, and is mightie to save, would say unto thy soul, as he said unto Abraham, now Know I that thou fearest God.

2. Whereas it is feared that this people of En­gland hath a revolting and a rebellious heart, our backslidings will quickly cease, if we take out that pattern which is here given unto us by this Father of many nations. Blessed be our God, we have a gracious King; we have excellent Lawes; we have Judges which do, at every Assize, give a charge that these Laws be duly executed; unto these Judges, we have subordinate Magistrates; sub­ordinate unto these, Magistrates, we have sworn Officers; subordinate unto these, House Keepers; [Page 53] and unto these, their Children and Servants. It was, when Eli hon [...] his Sons more then God, that matters went amiss with Him and His people: but, when Phinehas stood up and executed Judge­ment, then was the Plague stayed. If Parents and Masters offer up their Isaacs, their Children and Servants, to be duly Catechised; so duly Catechi­sed, that the fear of the Lord is unto them their treasure; this will lay so good a foundation of a pro­sperous government, that Wisdom and Knowledge will be the Stabilitie of our times. Parents and Masters will constrain their Familes to submit unto their own happiness, that is, to learn Catechismes, to frequent the publick worship of the God and Fa­ther of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to sanctifie God in their hearts; when, at every Session and Visita­tion, sworn officers offer up their Isaac, as well as their presentments; that is, when they so denie themselves that they present all such as will not denie ungodliness; and when they suffer not Congre­gations to crumble into Meetings, or rather, into no Meetings, And this Sworn Officers will be glad to do, when they are made to fear an Oath. And, an Oath they will fear, when at, Sessions and at Visitations, our Rulers rule with diligence, and offer up their Isaacs. And this they will do, when (ma­king Religion their business) they prefer the favour of God, before the favour of man. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, be­ware lest any of you being led away with the er­rour of the wicked, fall from your own Stedfast­ness [Page 54] Who knoweth whether he is not born in this Kingdom for such a time [...]? God will do so to him and more also, who when he is there unto called, doth not offer up his Isaac.

3. Let the self denials of Abraham shame every one among us into a greater Watchfulness &c. He, at the (b) first intimation, arose (c) early, went on diligently, persevered (d) constantly to observe, against his own will, the will of his God; chusing rather to be an unnatural parent, then an unduti­ful servant: Whereas some of us have delaied, from year to year, before we would yeild to take up our daily cross: precept upon precept, line upon line we have received, but what answer have we returned unto him that hath written unto us the honourable things of His law, Statutes, which if a man would do, he might even live in them? Thou who conformest thy self unto the licentiousness of an evil world, Did this Patriarch, at one private Item, surrender his only Son, and will not all the publick Commandements which thy God hath in lo­ving-kindnes, laid upon thee, prevail with thy lips, to bite in a vain oath, with thine appetite, to forbeare an un healthy sin, with thy memorie to treasure up Heavenly Knowledge, or, with thine understanding, to perform Duties profitable, comely and of good re­port? The more easie that yoke is which Christ laieth upon us, the more careful should we be to follow the example of this Father of Isaac; otherwise, the burnt offering which he with-held not, will, at the last day, [Page 55] be offered in judgment against us. Be not deceived, God is not mocked: as a man sacrificeth, so is he ac­cepted.

4 Since Abraham offered up his Isaac, learne thou of him to hold every blessing which thou recei­vest from God, with a minde prepared to resigne it to God. Jehovah, he is the Lord possessour as of Hea­ven, so of Earth; and whatsoever mercie thou re­ceivest from him, that thou receivest but during his will and pleasure: What thou obtainest by praier is but borrowed, and to grudge when thou art to pay what was but borrowed, is flatt dishonestie: What thou enjoyest from God is neither deserved, nor purchased, but by the providence, and goodness, and loving kind­nesse of thy liberal Master, it is intrusted with thee for thy comfort and conveniences, but for His uses, service, and honour; It is favour enough for thee, that God hath owned and entertained thee as His steward, Wherefore (when at any time thy God cal­leth from thee some child, or some other comfort) of his own thou givest him, murmure not, repine not, be not, in any wise, be not thou discontented Pro­fesse thou a Good is the word of the Lord; Assent thou, the will of the Lord be done; Say thou, He is the Lord, whatsoever he pleaseth, that let Him doe; As well when he taketh, as when he giveth, blesse thou the Name of the Lord. It is very observable that (twenty six yeares since) when there was but one night between Sodom and destruction, the Father of Isaac then used earnest prayers and arguments to [Page 56] save, if it were possible, that wicked Citie from peri­shing: for the Men of Sodom he mediated seven times in a breath, for his blamelesse and dearest Son, he intercedeth not: Qu: Why this? Answ: Holy Abraham loved one righteous Isaac more then all the sinners of Sodom, but (so it was) God had revealed concerning Sodom onely a conditional pleasure, say­ing " I will go down and see; Concerning Isaac he had revealed his absolute pleasure, saying, Take now: Wherefore so absolute is the Patriarch his resignati­on, that notwithstanding his God had yeelded unto him seven times together in all that he had spoken in the behalf of Sodom; he doth not at all open his lips unto God in behalf of his Isaac, Go thou, and do likewise: When God saith Offer up, with-hold not thou. Being called unto self-denials, Let Duty teach thee not to argue, but to submitt; not to dispute but to obey; not to request, but to resigne. Let thy meek, thine humble, thy modest, thought be "I am dumb; I open not my mouth, because thou doest it. Nay

5. Since thou owest not onely whatsoever is in thy custodie but even thy selfe also unto Him that is Lord of all, Araunah like, meete thou thy King in His De­sires. Make friends of unrighteous Mammon: What thou mayest not detaine, that give, and give cheare­fully, unto Him who loveth a chearefull Giver What thy God calleth for, that present, dedicate and con­secrate, first love thy Relations as dearly as Abraham loved Isaac, and then esteem Father, Mother, Wife, Children, and (with them) whatsoever else is pre­cious, [Page 57] esteem all of them together, too small, too mean, a present, to testifie the readinesse of thy devo­tion or the sinceritie of thy gratitude, unto the Fa­ther and Giver of thy Lord Jesus Christ: especi­ally seeing so many as he loveth, them he chastneth, and so many as he chastneth them he chastneth for the spiritual and eternal good of themselves, or of others, or of both: whether

1. For the benefit of others. Accompt upon it that wherein the God of all comfort doth comfort us in all our tribulation, therein he prepareth and bespea­keth us to comfort them who are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. Are the consolations of God small with thee? (I hope not) Or

2. By casting down thine old and outward man, thy God preventeth thy new, thine inward, man from falling. Jesurum, when he waxed fatt, Kic­ked; and Solomon, when he was full, denied God: So is it with thee, and with other Saints: Alas, the more holy mens lives are, the more advantage Satan seeketh to gett over them; that old Serpent well knowing, (by his own woful experience,) that there is no pride like unto Spiritual pride: Where­fore that even the Fall of his children may bruise this Serpents head, when the right hand of God exalteth them, most usually his left hand doth hum­ble them; It is indeed unto their humiliation (but it is, so unto their humiliation, that it conduceth unto their honour) that God doth so often place them in the forlorn hope: When no man upon earth [Page 58] was so upright as Job, then was the roaring Lion let lose against him; After Hezekiah had pleaded sinceri­tie, God gave him a taste of his unprosperous vain gloriousness; David was confessedly a man after Gods own heart, and as confessedly Adulterie, Murder, and Pride it self, brought him very Low. Jacob pre­vailed when he wrastled with God, but God sent him halting away: Who more stout hearted then Peter, and who more cowheartedly denied his Je­sus? Satan had not bin permitted to buffet Paul, had not Paul bin exalted by abundant Revelations. Moses was a meek man, but he spake so unadvised­ly with his lips, that there was for him no Entrance into Canaan: Abraham so excelled in Faith that he was exemplarily and eminently the Father of the Faithful, but where was the Faith of Abraham, when (more then once) he dissembled that Sarah was only his Sister? And as (that he who thinketh he standeth may take heed lest he fall) the wisest of men was made a mere fool by the Vilest of Wo­men; so (that we may not be ignorant of the de­vices of Satan) Christ himself when he was first baptized, next endued with the Spirit, and then declared, mightily declared, to be the Son of God, was afterwards led into the Wilderness; and, in the Wilderness, forty daies together, tempted of the Devil.

3. To rouse a Soul from drowsiness, to pursue some unrepented Crime, to dislodge some bosom Sin, &c. It was when Saul failed of his expectation, that Jonathan was questioned for eating honey: and [Page 59] when Israel was repelled, then was the Sacriledge of Acham discoved. Before he was troubled, Da­vid himself went wrong; and, until he was cast in­to a troubled Sea, Jonah fled from the presence of the Lord. Many times there is in our calamities a Spirit of discerning; while, like that Angel which met Baalam, they give us to understand our pre­sent misadventures. Search me, O Lord, and know my heart, trie me and know my thoughts, See if there be in me any way of pain: A daily praier (this) and this praier almost every day, before we call God answereth.

4. To satisfie our selves, or others, of the truth, or groweth of our Graces; it is the furnace that as well approveth as trieth Silver; The same trial which inviteth worldlings to esteem Preachers no better then earthen Pitchers; the self same trial occasioneth every one that appeareth before God, to look upon those Preachers, as upon the precious Sons of Zion, and to value those precious Sons of Zion comparable unto fine gold: the which the more it is tried, the better it is refined; and the more it is refined, the brighter it shineth: The suf­ferings, which all these holy Martyrs in this whole context endured, were, not only the trials, but the vindications; not only the vindications, but the approbations; not only the approbations, but the publications, and recommendations of their Faith: Such was their Faith, that, to their praise be it spoken, their names are Registred by the Holy Ghost himself. That poor widow was made rich by the [Page 60] applauses of Christ Jesus, when he vouchsafed to at­tribute a greater munificence unto her small mite, then unto the largest gifts that were cast unto the Treasurie. The like was the successe of that true hear­ted Mary, unto whom the same blessed Jesus gave this felicitie, that where soever His Holy Gospel shall be preached, there her Name shall be as ointment pow­red forth: In every deed neither the deare-hearted­ness of that penitent, nor the plain dealing of Jere­miah, nor the meekenesse of Moses, nor the Spirit of Elijah, had ever bin one half so famous as they now are, had not malicious tongues given occasion to have the excellencie of their graces brought to the test. Said that envious Eliab unto his brother David, I know the pride and the naughtinesse of thy heart; but where was David his pride, when he refused the costly armour of King Saul, and contented himself, with a sling and a stone? Or, where was the naughti­ness of his heart, when in love toward his nation, and in Zeal toward his God, he staked his own life against the life of Goliah? Again, as trials are of­ten times inflicted to shew what some chosen Saints can bear, so

5. Afflictions abide most of us, because most of us, remain hitherto un-able to bear an un-afflicted life; Except we hear the rod, & Him who hath appointed it, many of us will not be ruled: Even so much that the Heir, so long as he is a child, is under Tutors and Governors. Let Absolom return unto his private house, for at Court he will ruin himself, and that, without remedie. Should we [Page 61] Britains forget what we have seen and felt here in England, they at Munster will tell us that a sword is un-safe in Anabaptists hands. Some in this Pa­rish who now receive Alms, would attempt insolent practices, were they Lords of the Mannor. A No­vice is so apt to be puffed up with pride, that he is no fit person to be a Bishop; neither is honour seem­ly for a fool. Even the Israel of God, before he could (with a due moderation, and with a requisite sobrietie) be prepared to inherit the promised rest, was forty years long humbled in the Wilderness. But I hope better things of you (my brethren:) I trust that the God of all grace, after ye have suffered a little while, will make you meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light.

6. Many times (whilest we seem distressed) Out of our distresses (as out of the Sepulchre of Lazarous) God is fetching about some honour unto Himself: In which case What he doth, that thou knowest not now, but hereafter thou shalt know. Verily those waters wherewith Christ washeth the unclean feet of our vile affections, are (like water at Infant-baptism) no less future, then present, healings. The Lord made Naaman leprous that he might wash in Jordan, and that (by washing in Jordan) he might cleanse, rather his Soul, then his body. Into that river the axe head fell, but, loe, iron shall swimm. If the poor beggar was born blind, it was that the Son of a God might work a miracle upon his eyes. Jonah was not cast away, John 9.3. when into the Sea he was cast; for him the Lord provided a Whale, [Page 62] and in (the Whale) a Noahs ark▪ Josephs brethren thought evil against him, but God meant it for good: He was a lost man, that he might save much peo­ple alive; Into Egypt he was sold, that of Egypt he might dispose. Let his mother hide Moses in the flags, and the Kings daughter shall give him a Princely education: Give him a Princely educati­on, he will be learned in all the learning of the E­gyptians; so learned, that he will overmatch Pha­raoh, and shall (with a high hand) bring Gods first born out of bondage. The captivitie of Da­niel, how did it conduce both unto his own ad­vancement, and unto the glory of his God?

To conclude this point: With his onely son the father of Isaac must part; but What shall be seen in the mount of the Lord, Who can tell? Who knoweth whether there may not out of the Dust of this Grave arise, as well matter of rejoycing, as causes of sorrow; as well the life of grace, as drie bones? With God it is not impossible, but that (while I preach and you hear) the Obsequies now celebrated may be, unto some soules among us, life from the dead. Said I not unto thee John 11.40. that thou shouldest see the glory of God, if thou wouldest be­lieve? Sure I am, as seeing is 44.21.6. 1 John 3.2. the present, the John 7.17.12.46. Phil: 3.15. 1 John 5.13, 20. future, the 3.2. 1 Cor: 2 9. Hebr. 11.1. eternal, recompence of believing; so believing is Prov: 1 23. [...]sa: 55.3. the reward of hearing. Rom. 10.17. Gal. 3.2. By hearing cometh Faith: And (take this for the main, the chief, and the last, Consolation in my Text) where­soever this grace of faith cometh, there it over­cometh. This was the victorie which overcame this Pa­triarchs trials, even, his Faith,

By faith Abraham offered up Isaac.

AND By faith we find Rom. 15.13. Act. 16.34. a joy in believing: that therefore (in this Bethanie) in this House of mourning, Our mourning may be turned into ioy, the Lord vouchsafe unto us an effectual, a practical, a sanctified, remembrance of these five Considerations. 1. The like Duties which Abraham was to perform, we are, 2. If we would perform them aright, we must follow His example. 3. We may follow his example, if, as He did, we can believe: 4. To obtain alike precious faith with Him, we have greater Helps then ever he had. 5. Having ob­tained like precious faith with him; as he did, so we may, of this divine grace make heavenly Uses.

First I appeal unto that pride of life which ren­dreth our costly garments so full of levitie, our buildings so full of ostentation, our tables so full of excess, and our purses so emptie of coin: I ap­peal unto that libertie (which no man giveth, but every of us taketh) to do what is good in our own eyes; that we have the like prosperitie to strug­gle with, as had this Patriarch: Neither is our adversitie much un-like, or behind, his: witness the dead body of this Isaac whom we are now of­fering up. Beside, I have told you at large, that our frail life is a continual warfare: We are (ye know) opposed by a world of Wickedness. Through the lusts that are within us, the whole world be­cometh [Page 64] cometh a snare unto our flesh, Our flesh warreth against our soul, and both against Gods Spirit. Add to these the malice, the devices, the powers, the un-weariness, of evil Spirits innumerable, and invisible: How to endure these temptations, how to fulfil those Duties, which so much resemble the trials, the Duties, of Abraham; it is high time that we learn, & learn from Abraham. For

2. Return unto Gen. XXII. when his Isaac is demanded, how doth the good old Father demean himself? Doth he counterfeit a slumber? Doth he pretend that, if called he was, he knew it not; that if to his name he (a) answered, he only spake in his sleep? Doth he impute the Dream of his head unto some melancholy blood depressing his heart? Doth he construe that vision of the night to be either some flashie imagination, or else one of Satans delusions? Noe. The voice was Jehovahs voice, and (for the voice of Jehovah) he owneth it: Subterfuges he seeketh none; Stagger he doth not; His God would have no pleasure in him, should he draw back; He remembreth Lots wife. Hoping to bow the Lords will (as an Ʋnbeliever wresteth the Scriptures) unto his own bent, Bala­am consulted the Lord a third and fourth time, but in Gods first revelation this Holy Father acqui­esceth: as chearfully staying himself upon the Lord while his Son is now demanded, as upon the Lord he then Stayed himself, when the same Son was first promised. Did he consult flesh and blood; [Page 65] unseen to others, he could let fall half a word which would soon make Servants interpose, Sarah contradict and Isaac slipp aside; but to prevaricate he abhorreth, as he abhorreth hypocrisie, Such is the sinceritie of his Obedience, that, until the hour of Sacrifice, none are of his counsel; Such his pru­dence, that at the hour of Sacrifice (if we may be­lieve Josephus) he perswadeth even Isaac himself to be of his confederacie: He was armed against every temptation with self denial, against every exigencie with wisdom, and against every natural inclination with grace; Without any reluctancie, repineing, or remisness, he (c) ariseth, and ariseth early; Hun­dred of Servants he hath, yet (c) waiteth not for the attendance of any; but doth probably with his own hands get the fire and the Knife in a readiness; neither disdaineth he (c) to Saddle the asse, yea or to be (c) his own wood cleaver. Had this Knife, this fire, this Wood, bin provided for some solemn Festival; Were his Heir now newly anointed with oyl, and anon, like Judg. 5.10. Zech. 9.9. John 12.15. after-Princes, to ride that Sadled asse in State; Were he him-self now to sett a crown of pure gold upon his Isaac's head, and (that done) to espouse unto this Son some Atossa, some Quen of Shebah, yea or Rebekah her self; what could he have done more? nay Gen. 26.67. he had not done so much: This pattern may every one of us take out, this example may we imitate. With humilitie, self denial, and submission; with patience, preudnce and stedfastness with a preparedness, readiness, and chearfulness of [Page 66] mind may we offer up our Isaacs, if, with Abraham, we Sacrifice them unto the Lord, and Sacrifice them unto the Lord both in Faith and by Faith.

3 Take heed therefore, brethren, lest there be in any of you Hebr. 3.12. an evil heart of unbelief in de­parting from the living God: For 1. although when we should offer up our Isaacs by Faith, we have a God to draw neer unto, although this God be a living God; yet mans heart naturally revolteth from this living God: and is therefore a heart Pro: 10.20. little worth, an Gen. 6.5. evil heart, a heart Jerem. 17.9. desperately wicked. 2. Ʋnbelief is an idleness of mind as neglected, as hereditarie; a lethargie contracted Psal. 51.5. from our mo­thers womb, a Deut 32.20. Esa: 48.8. Pro: 22.15. frowardness which our Nurses che­rish in our childhood, a Defect which in our minoritie few tutors eye, an evil which in our full age no magistrates punish; a guilt, an oversight, a Ephes. 5.8. 1 John 5.6. John 12.35. dark­ness, which man 1.5.3.19, 20. Gen. 3.8. loveth! Of wordly wants, we are (all of us) very sensible; but of a want of Faith few (very few) complain: and yet ( mercy, mercy, O our God!)

1. Except ye believe Esa. 7.9. Col. 2.7. Hebr. 13.9. James 1.8. surely ye shall not be esta­blished. For 2. although the wages of every sin is death, whatsoever is not of Faith, is Sin. 3. If God be against us, who can be for us? but so long as unbelief hardneth our heart against God, God is against us. 4. Upon him that believeth not the wrath of God abideth, & (should he cast upon us the fiercenesse of his wrath) who can stand before everlasting burnings? 5. For that wretch who for­getteth [Page 67] so blessed a Creatour, for that servant who controlleth so wise a Lord, for that Subject who pro­voketh so gracious a Soveraign, for that person who believeth not a God so infinitely true &c. No To­phet is hell enough, no Hell hath torments enough, no torments are too durable, too everlasting, too eternal. Wherefore 6. We must even with fear and trembling workout our Salvation, but (with­out Faith no Salvation is hoped for) by Faith ye are saved. 7. Whereas to glorifie Him of whom, by whom, and for whom, are all things, is the whole Duty of man; without Faith there is no right understanding of this Duty. So that 8. Whereas Luk. 21.34, 36. Matt: 24.42, 44 25.13. 2 Tim. 4.5. 1 Pet. 4.7. Revel. 3.3. peculiar unto every hour of our lives, is the Duty of that hour; without Faith we or­der not our Conversation aright, no not for the space of one moment; At this instant the truth now uttered profiteth not, if it be not mixed and re­ceived with Faith. Add 9. Whereas it is the whole happiness of man to find favour in the sight of the Lord (alwaies to find favour in the sight of the Lord;) without Faith it is impossible to please God.

Lastly, Let the dead bury their dead. No marveil if without Faith no favour is obtained from the Lord; since without Faith we seek not, nay we desire not, to please Him, if Psal▪ 10.4.14.2. Rom. 3 11. please him we could. Alas, there is in us (I tremble to speak it) there is in us an 8.7.5.10. Coloss. 1.21. enmitie against the great and terrible God! The mind and Conscience of every unbeliever is Tit. 1.15. Psalm. 51.1, 2, 3, 4. defiled; his heart is (like himself) [Page 68] corrupt and abominable. How can it be otherwise, seeing he is Jude. 11. twice dead; dead in sin; dead in guilt? Alive unto sin, he is, but dead unto righteousness! All his works are Hebr. 6.1.9 14. dead works; therefore dead works, because he himself continueth Tit. 1.16. unto every good work reprobate.

For as in Heaven unbelief did put Lucifer quite out of the right use of his knowledge, love, joy, &c. then when (unto himself and his combining an­gels) he Esa. 14.14. said I will be like unto the most High: and as in Paradise unbelief did put Adam quite beside the right use of his Hebr 5.14. Eccles. 9.3. Deut: 28.28. senses, &c. Then when he also Gen 3.5. said unto himself I will be as God: So unto the Worlds end the folly and madness of unbelief doth and will 1 Cor. 2.14. John 3 6. Gal: 5.17. distract every unbeliever (so long and so farr as he abideth in unbelief) from the right and Spiritual use both of his Soul and of his body: Without Faith man is unto things hea­venly, just as a mad man is unto things earthly and sensual: rash, fearless, fool hardie. He saith as well in his actions as in his heart Psal. 14 1. There is no God, for he doth not Phil. 2.21. what God pleaseth, but what he 1 Pet. 4 1. lusteth: He saith of God Psal. 50.21. that he is such a one as himself, one that regardeth 73.11.94.7, 8. not iniquitie, one that doth Esa. 41.23. neither good (to reward); nor evil (to avenge:) He will be Psal. 10.3. his own chuser, and consequently) Rom. 14.7.8, 9. his own God: Saith he Pro 30.9. Exod. 5.2. who is the Lord that I should obey him and deliver up mine Isaac? If I cannot draw neer unto God, unless I offer up my son, that I may not part with my Son, I will depart from my God.

Sirs, to give sight to this blind man by expelling this darkness from his unbelieving bosom; to force him to stand in awe, by tying him up from any more hardning his heart; to Matt. 12.29. 2 Cor. 13.3. Ephes: 1.19. over-rule so 1 Cor: 2.14.3 18, 19. foolish and so Esa. 1.3, 18. Jerem. 8.6.17.9. Esa. 32.4. Act. 19 36. rash an Job. 9.4. Prov: 8.36. enemie of Jerem. 5.2. Psal. 14.1. God; to 2 Cor. 10.5. dis­arm him of those Act. 26.18. Jerem. 4.14. John 5.44. Act. 5.3. Rom. 1.21, 24, 26.28. 2 Cor: 4.4. 1 John 3.8. fiery darts wherewith he Prov: 12.26. and 13.15. Eccle. 9.18. Phil: 3.18, 19. mischeiveth Prov: 13.5. Jerem. 7.19. Rom. 1.18. Jude 15. himself and Matt. 16.6, 12. John 15.19. 1 Cor. 5.6. and 15.33. 2 Tim 3.13. 1 Pet 4.4. 1 John 3.12, 13. J [...]shu: 22.20. others; to Luk. 14. from v. [...]6. unto v. 34. Exod. 4.21. with 8.15. and 9.35. and 11.9. and 14.17, 18. Deut. 2 30. and 29.4. Joshu. 11.30. 1 Sam. 2.25, 30. 1 King 12.15. 2 Chron. 25.16. Matt. 13.15. John 8.47. and 12.40. convince him that there is 2 Chron 25.18, 19. Esa. [...]7.4. and 36.8. Luk. 14.31. Act. 9 5. Psal. 68.21. no fighting against the Lord of hosts; to Hos: 13.9. E [...]a. 1.16, 17, 18. reduce him unto a Esa 2.11. Je [...]em. 8 6. Luk. 1.74, 79. right use of Hebr. 5.24. Psal 50.23. his Senses and of Rom. 14.7, 8, 9. 2 Cor. 1.10. Gal. 2.20. Himself; to Prov. 1 23. Jerem. 13 27. John 8.43, 47. perswade him to James 4.7, 8. Submit Psal. 73.28. Esa. 66.2. draw near and 2 Cor. 5.18, 19, 20. reconcile his 1 Chron. 28.9. heart unto his Jerem. 10.7. God: to Exod. 23.21. Eccles. 6.10. Deut. 28.40. and 29.19, 20. Esa. 1.24. and 63.4. Hebr. 12.29. winn him to Mark 10.30.31. not with-hold but to Psal. 25.1. Rom. 12.1. offer up Psal. 84.11. unto the Lord his 116.13, 16. Isaac 110.3. wil­lingly 2 Cor. 8.10. 1 Chron. 29.17. chearfully and Rom. 12.1. 1 Tim. 2.3. Hebr. 12.28. acceptably: to Psal 51.10. Gal. 6.15. Ephes. 2.10. Deut. 29.4. with 30.6. work so Jerem. 30.21. great, so Matt. 3.3. Rom. 12.2. Phil. 2.13. heavenly a change of mind as this, One thing is 2 Cor. 5.17, 18. necessary; viz the Luk. 10.42. Hebr. 10.38. Tit. 1.1. Faith of Gods elect. For as Rom. 9.16, 17, 18, 20, 21. and 11.7, 22. reprobation pre-supposeth an 11.5, 6, 28. e­lection, and as 1 John 4.1. truth precedeth errour, so (if rightly considered) there was a Eccles. 7.29. Jude 6. Rom. 1.28. belief before there was 2 Thess. 2.10.11. unbelief: Wherefore prove your own selves 2 Cor. 13.5. examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith, or whether ye be 2 Tim. 3.8. concerning the Faith reprobates. Know

[Page 70]4. Or ever he ordained any worlds, the one, the true, the good, JEHOVAH, (seeing he inhabi­teth both etrnitie and immensitie!) was the same divine existence, self-existence, self-subsisting ex­stence, that now is. He could before all predesti­nation, as well as now say I AM: I (ever Num. 23.9. a­lone) am peace; I (a Father ever begetting, a Son ever begotten, a Holy Ghost ever proceed­ing) am (not confusion but) Order: I am life, light, puritie, holiness &c. 2 As he could ever say I AM, he could also ever say I AM WHAT I AM; when Pilate would not alter his writing, said he, WHAT I have written, I have written; So (before all Worlds) could God say I am, and am well pleased in What I am: As I do not, so I would not, cease to be life, light, puritie, holiness &c. 3 End-less is that delight which I take in what by nature I ever was, ever shall he, and now am. My blessedness, my glory, my rejoycing is neither of, nor from, others, but from and in My self; I am full and abound: No flesh, no Saints, no Worlds do I need, for I, the three divine persons, am unto Our self a THE­ATRE. So that 4 It is in mine election whether I will, or will not, determine to be a Creatour; if [Page 71] to be a Creatour I do determine, Good I am, and all my works shall cal me good. Good I do, and good I will do unto all such as abide in my goodness.

2 He spake, It was: Brethren, (well may we beleeve in God!) Jehovah, to confirm his promise to this Patriarch by an oath, because he could swear by no greater, sware by Him­selfe: So to create a world of blessings, because a better pat­tern he could not take, he took a pattern from Himself: God is one, such is the Ʋniverse: God is perfect, immense, eternall; The World is round, wide, lasting. In God is peace and order. From the least atom to the highest Angel is found order and harmonie. God self subsisteth; even in senseless elements is im­planted a principle of selfe preservation: God is blessed, In eve­ry creature having life is imprinted a desire not only of being, but of wel-being God changeth not; The wel-being of all his works is placed in a not changing that Law of nature whereun­to they were ordained. Which law giveth unto every flesh its own seede: unto every seede its own body; unto every body, its own Soul; unto every Soul its own felicitie. God is a free a­gent; As sensible creatures have a free choice to like, or dis­like, what unto their senses seemeth pleasing, or displeasing: so reasonable creatures should also have a free will to chuse, or refuse whatsoever to their best understanding seemeth truly good, or truly evill. In attracting sustenance, or in propagating their kind, to confine brutes to be as insensible as trees are, or men to be as irrationall as brutes are, were to reject the wisdom of God. Even so to limit man to be sensuall, but not ver­tuous; to be vertuous but not holy; to mind things Earthly, but not things Heavenly; to stay himselfe upon the creature, but not upon the Creatour; to love the World, but not the Lord God; were to require him to be, concerning the faith of Gods elect, reprobate. For the Law whereunto God elected men and An­gels [Page 72] was, He that lifteth up his Soul is not upright: (and if not upright, a lost Angel, a dead man:) but the just shall live by faith.

3. To you who bewail your unbelief I speak it. Until God appeared unto him in Mesopotamia, Abraham (that fa­ther of the faithful!) never had those prepared helps, those effective meanes, of obtaining this precious grace, this faith of Gods elect, which the veriest reprobate of you all at this time possesseth. He was bred up among aliens and strangers to grace, The Knowledge of the Lord covereth our Island as the waters cover the Sea: He was, ye were not, the unclean Chil­dren of unbeleeving Parents; He could not say Thou hast loosed my bands, for I am the Son of thy hand-maid; but Ye were by praier and by baptisme consecrated to your God in your infancie; and were from your infancie nurtured up in good knowledge. 2. He was (like S. Paul) in journeyings often; A­biding citie he had none; but was ever unsetled: As for you, ye in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places have retired­nesse and leisure to devote your selves to praier, meditation &c. 3. Eight or nine times did Jehovah converse with Him, with you he converseth eightie times nine times. Twice or thrice was the Gospel preached unto Him (and that too) very dark­ly; To you it shineth as clearely, and, in a sort, as frequently, as day-light. What a small pittance of saving knowledge could he glean from the traditions of his fore-fathers in comparison of what may be learned by you; by you who may all know the Lord from the least to the greatest, by you who are in Gods Scriptures all taught of God? 4. Christ is the vision, the vi­sage, of the father of mercies; the Gospel is the image, the face, of Christ; Of this Gospel, of this face of Christ, more is mani­fested unto you, then ever was revealed unto Abraham.

4. As zeal without knowledge is the mother of persecution, [Page 73] idolatrie, superstition, enthusiasm, schism, heresie, sedition, re­bellion, &c. So knowledge without zeal begetteth atheism, pro­faness, hypocricie, pride. &c. But that which maketh mans knowledge of God to be mans salvation, is the spirit of faith sanctifying unto him what he knoweth For. 1. By faith we un­derstand—one office of faith is to enlighten the understand­ing. 2. By faith Moses refused, chusing rather — viz As faith discerneth what is good so faith embraceth, what good it discerneth. 3. A third effect of faith is to purifie the heart. 4. By faith they subdued and obtained—When faith hath so instructed the heart, that it no longer beleeveth a lie; and hath so corrected the mind, that it holdeth not the truth in unrighte­ousness; When a Knowledge of the truth, of the whole truth, (yea and of nothing but the truth) freeth the head from er­rour; and when a love of that truth freeth the heart from diso­bedience; when we like to retain God in our Knowledge; then do we apprehend that for which also we are apprehended of Christ Jesus: When ye seeke not your own wills, but your Gods will; when ye with meekeness, and with earnestness, search, & wait, and watch, and trie, whether by his word of life God will make your heart, as Abrahams was, faithful; then ye sow to the spirit; And as what was born of your flesh, was flesh; so what is born of Gods spirit, is spirit: For such as wait upon God in His waies, them God meeteth; and whom God meeteth, in them, by his spirit of adoption, he formeth the quickning spirit of Christ Jesus. Brethren, Hereby may ye know whether ye have, with faithful Abraham, believed unto righteousness: If unto righte­ousness ye have beleeved, then have ye passed from the death of unbeliefe wherein ye were born, to the Life of faith where­unto ye were baptized.

5. To whom God giveth a power, to them he also vouchsa­feth a habit, of beleeving: Having therefore obtained like pre­cious [Page 74] faith with Him, imitate ye the Patriarch in my Text. of this good and perfect gift which cometh down from above May ye ( ever make ye) seasonable, and sanctified, Uses.

1. That in you the righteousness of God may be revealed from faith to faith, add to your faith Knowledge. For this end, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, and in all wis­dom: There can not in Heaven be a higher object of Knowledge then the God of Heaven, neither, can there be upon earth any Knowledge of the God of Heaven equal to what we learn in Holy writ. No truth is worthy to be compared unto Scripture truths; neither is any Scripture-truth comparable to Gospel revelations: Gospel revelations are mysteries, great misteries! Misteries which immediately concern a reconciliation between God provoked, and man offending! Lay up therefore in your heart, as Manna in a golden pott; store up in your memorie, as Oracles in the Ark of God; the Gospel-treasures of spiritual truth, and wisdom: The best object of mans best understanding is that truth which is in Jesus.

2. That that spirit of truth which is the spirit of Christ may free you as well from the errour of your way, as from er­ring thoughts; that ye may be renewed, as well in practice, as in Knowledge; that ye may be, as wel un-corrupted in your mind, as un-deceived in your judgment; Receive, with every truth, a love of that truth; that a love of every revealed truth ye may receive, purifie ye your heart by faith; that by faith ye may purifie your heart, seeing there is no example, threat, pro­mise, or rhetorick, like unto Scripture examples, threats, promi­ses, and rhetorick, Let these, let all these, have a due force and a full power over your sincerest affections: so consult Holy writ as who are therein consulting even God Himself; So obey Ho­ly Writ, as the Word of a God, as the word of a God speak­ing to you; as the voice of the gracious Jehovah so speaking [Page 75] with you, as he some times spake with his friend Abraham, even face to face: Oh Sirs, as the best object of your best un­derstanding, so the most delightful object of your purest affe­ctions, is the good nature of Emannuel, Jehovah, Jesus. There­fore.

3. Whereas, from Abrahams self denials, I pressed a self-deni­al upon all such masters, parents, concerned officers, and Ma­gistrates as may, and should befriend Souls under their tuition; (Old things are passed away:) I now urge the example, not of Abraham representing, but of the true father of many nations by Abraham represented: The father of all men, when there was no Arm to help, spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all! And shall worldly favour, or neighbourly kind­ness prevent you from imitating the merciful example, of a compassionate God? If the Love of God, if the example of God, findeth faith in your hearts, O ye Rulers, neither let Souls stupidly ignorant escape untaught and unchatechised; neither tollerate ye those unlawful meetings which wrest Holy Scrip­tures to the hazard of themselves, and of this Kingdom. 1. (Witness our late civil Warrs,) As evil words corrupt good manners, so a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump: A cancer in the mouth is a pernicious disease: even so much that Christ hateth that we should suffer among us the doctrine ei­ther of the Pharises, or of the Nicolitans. 2. When the Son of man took a farr journey, he gave authoritie to his Servants: If Law-givers, Lawes, and Judges protect mens cattle, lands, and limbs, from violence; much more let them guard mens memories, affections, understandings and consciences from the subtiltie and power of seducers, and of Satan. 3. Seditious con­venticles rebel against man, profane atheists rebel against God, but the Holy conformist rebelleth against neither; yea he is therefore loyal to his Soveraign, because he is obedient to [Page 76] his God. 4. Is not the body more then raiment? and is not the Soul more then the Body? What shall his dread Majesties native Subjects give in exchange for their Souls? 5. It is the people laden with iniquity that is the people of Gods wrath, but a righteous people is a prosperous people: then shall his Majesties Subjects flourish, when their Soules prosper. 6. While upon Lords daies and other daies sett a part for religious assemblies and duties, some gadd about to change their way, and others sit idle at home, God loseth the glory of his full and publick congregations, worship, and Ordinances. During the tyrannie of Oliver the Rebel, orthodox Ministers were sequestred from their parochial congregations, Under the Clemencie of King Charles the Second let not parochial congregations be seque­stred from their orthodox Ministers. In short, so many as de­spise him shall be lightly esteemed, but such as honour God, them God will honour.

4. Whereas I convinced you, that the burden, sharpness, & number, of our trials; are light afflictions in comparison of the temptations of Abraham; behold a greater then Abraham is here. Consider Him that endured such contradiction of sin­ners, Consider Jesus by Isaac tipified, and you will learn of him to possess your Souls in patience: Faith instructeth us how to take pleasure in afflictions, and to taste a joy even in tri­bulations, Remove your eyes from the dead body of our depar­ted friend unto the body of Christ crucified, you will then, in lieu of mourning for an onely Son, even aspire a fellowship in Christs sufferings.

5. Behold I shew you a mysterie. The same faith which teacheth us to seek righteousness not by works, but by grace; doth also stirr us up to live just toward our neighbour, our selves, and our God. When by faith Abraham offered up his I­saac, he lived just to his Son, true to himself, upright toward [Page 77] his God. 1. Ʋpright toward Jehovah, for Jehovah had a grea­ter right in Isaac, then the Father of Isaac ever, either had, or could have▪ 2. True to Himselfe, for had he lifted up his Soul, he had ceased to be upright. 3. Just to his Son, for it was the Duty of Isaac not onely to live, but to die, unto the Lord; Blessed is that man which endureth temptation; Would ye endure to the end? Would ye have present victorie over your present conflict? Fight the good fight of faith: Who so would be justified, must be justified not by works, but by faith; and he that would order his conversation aright, must use his knowledge aright; he must make the best use which he can, not onely of his reason, but of his faith.

6. Faith fixeth one eye upon the Duty set before us, and the other eye upon the promise annexed to that Duty; Faith verily beleeveth that there is a reward for the righteous: In the mount of the Lord was Jehovah seen. By laying that Bo­dy, which his father could not lift, over the altar upon the Wood, Isaac his mouth was filled with laughter: 1. He saw & heard an Angel sent from Heaven to find a way for his escape; 2. He did not die, but live; 3. He lived, and lived a type, a figure, a pledge of Christs and in Christ, of our resurrection & Life: By not with-holding his Son, Abraham received praise from his God, yea and, with praises, blessings; Abraham saw Christs day and was glad: From the faith both of Abraham & of Isaac Jehovah Himself received present yea and in all ages future Glory; They who know His name will trust in it And yet shew I unto you more excellent things then these. For

7. The same faith which enureth us to be ever at once just to our neighbour, our selves, and our God, worketh upon our good nature; it worketh in us a disposition to be (like Christ) harmeless and blameless: 2. An emulation to put on the Lord' Jesus: To them that beleeve it is meate & drink to studie Christ, [Page 78] to learn Christ, and to live Christ: yea 3. Faith heightneth us to imitate (with Jesus Christ,) the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ; it cherisheth in us a filial delight of being followers of his Father, and of our Father, as dear Children: Abba Father, thou art long-suffering, patient, good, merciful, righteous, liberal, pure, holy, loving &c. Oh make us, make us (like thy self,) long-suffering. &c. 4. By faith we rest as­sured that our fore-runner hath, in Heaven, prepared mansions and princely Lodgings for us who believe in Him.

To conclude, by faith we reckon our selves therefore co­heires with Christ, because, as he is by Nature, so we are by a spirit of adoption, priviledged to be the Sons of God; all things are ours, because we are Christs, and Christ, is Gods; Gods in whom God is well pleased, God is the Lord not of the dead, but of the living; and therefore the Dust shall give up her dead: True, the Soul of our dear friend is separated from his body; nevertheless, by faith we eye our Mediator as bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh: Faith giveth us to understand; that, since Christ and we are one body, together with his dead body shall our dead bodies arise; and shall therefore arise as his dead body did arise, partly because they that are joyned unto the Lord, are one spirit; and partly because (witness Enoch, Eli­as, & the blessed Jesus) there is one flesh of man, another flesh of beasts. The flesh of beasts, like their mortal Soules, perisheth for ever; The flesh of man, the dead body of our dear friend, like leafe, Gold, naturally ascendeth unto the same fingers, unto the same Creatour, who curiously wrought it upon earth, that he might exalt it unto glory in Heaven: To which Heaven and glory he bring us by his spirit, and by his Son; To whom, with Himself, the Father of all things, be dominion and salva­tion ever ascribed, Amen.