A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…

Doct. That which is not of the Father, the love of young men, and old, is to be weaned from.

The Syllogism stands thus, Whatsoever is not of the Father, the love of old and young must be weaned from. But these lusts are not of the Father, Ergo.

All the comforts of this world, if they come not from the Father, our love must be weaned from them; if honour come not from God, and people affect it, it hinders their Faith, they cannot believe, John 5.44. what kept Joseph from the lusts of the flesh, but Gods providence in with-holding his Mistress from him? if God with-hold a thing, it is not for us to put forth a reaching desire to it; this satisfied Jacob, Gen. 30.2. If God with-hold such a blessing, why should our desires be set upon it? Shall we take it unkindly that Gods hand with-holds it? so for profit, this was the claim that Jephthah made, when the King of Ammon contended with him, Judg. 11.24. he told him, What God gives us we will possess, if God had not given it he had usurped it, as did the King of Ammon; so if our God give us not a thing, let us not reach after it, and to this a promise is made, to him that shakes his hand against any unjust thing, Isa. 33.15. & vers. 16, 17. such, though they have less, yet they shall be confirmed in it, it shall be like strong foundations.

All the comforts of this world, if they come not from the Father, our love must be weaned from them; if honour come not from God, and people affect it, it hinders their Faith, they cannot believe, John 5.44. what kept Joseph from the lusts of the flesh, but Gods providence in with-holding his Mistris from him? if God with-hold a thing, it is not for us to put forth a reaching desire to it; this satisfied Jacob, Gen. 30.2. If God with-hold such a blessing, why should our desires be set upon it? Shall we take it unkindly that Gods hand with-holds it? so for profit, this was the claim that Jephtah made, when the King of Ammon contended with him, Judg. 11.24. he told him, What God gives us we will possesse, if God had not given it he had usurped it, as did the King of Ammon; so if our God give us not a thing, let us not reach after it, and to this a promise is made, to him that shakes his hand against any unjust thing, Isa. 33.15. & vers. 16, 17. such, though they have lesse, yet they shall be confirmed in it, it shall be like strong foundations.

Ans. It is one thing when God gives us a blessing in his Providence, another, when he gives us a blessing in his Ordinances, we may have many things by way of Gods providence, and yet have little comfort in them; it was his providence to give them up to their lusts, it was Gods providence that sent Monarchs against Nations that they had no right to; so Gods providence you will say, sends a Bribe, I never fought after it, but we must not reason thus, for these are but trials of our obedience, and not for seduction; so if a Bribe comes, God tries whether you will shake your hands against it; so if an Harlot press on you, God tries your chastity by this, this is Gods providence; but if God offer us a thing in an Ordinance, that is either by his Command, or our Calling, that we may safely take, Heb. 5.4. so that Gods Command, and our Calling are Gods Ordinances: whatsoever he calls us to receive, he ordains, and whatsoever he calls us not to receive, he ordains not: so that whatsoever is ordained by God in his Ordinance, that we may take, but ⟨p. 122⟩what comes not thus, let us shake it off.

Ans. It is one thing when God gives us a blessing in his Providence, another, when he gives us a blessing in his Ordinances, we may have many things by way of Gods providence, and yet have little comfort in them; it was his providence to give them up to their lusts, it was Gods providence that sent Monarchs against Nations that they had no right to; so Gods providence you will say, sends a Bribe, I never fought after it, but we must not reason thus, for these are but tryalls of our obedience, and not for seduction; so if a Bribe comes, God tries whether you will shake your hands against it; so if an Harlot presse on you, God tries your chastity by this, this is Gods providence; but if God offer us a thing in an Ordinance, that is either by his Command, or our Calling, that we may safely take, Heb. 5.4. so that Gods Command, and our Calling are Gods Ordinances: whatsoever he calls us to receive, he ordains, and whatsoever he calls us not to receive, he ordains not: so that whatsoever is ordained by God in his Ordinance, that we may take, but ⟨p. 122⟩what comes not thus, let us shake it off.

Use 1. To teach us to take heed of all unlawful Honours and Riches, for though they may comfort us a while, yet they shall do us no good, if they come not from God; all lawful Honour and Riches come from God, 1 Chr. 29.12. and that as a Father. We need not be afraid to receive any lawful Honour; so for pleasures, 2 Cor. 1.3. he is the God of all comfort, if it be a lawful comfort, so that these we are not to be weaned from, but from all the lusts of the World; though we may receive Honour, yet we must not be ambitious; so Riches they are Gods gifts, but let us not use ill means to come by them; so for Pleasures, if we cannot come by them but by violating Gods Command, why let not your hearts reach to them; and this should be a notable motive to mortify all lusts, because they come not from the Father of Lights, but from the Prince of Darkness; if no Ambition, or Pride, or Covetousness be from God, mortify it, so if there any love to pleasure and wantonness, root it out, for it is not of the Father, therefore what should Christians have to do with it? Mens Children may lawfully take gifts from others besides their Fathers, because they are not able to give us all kind of blessings, but Gods Children must take nothing that comes not from their Father, whatsoever is not from him is a lust, and our love must be weaned from it; and the reason is, from the amplitude of Gods bounty, there is no good gift but comes from God, and that in his Ordinance, and God will bestow upon his Children whatsoever is good and needful for them.

Ʋse 1. To teach us to take heed of all unlawfull Honours and Riches, for though they may comfort us a while, yet they shall doe us no good, if they come not from God; all lawfull Honour and Riches come from God, 1 Chr. 29.12. and that as a Father. We need not be afraid to receive any lawfull Honour; so for pleasures, 2 Cor. 1.3. he is the God of all comfort, if it be a lawfull comfort, so that these we are not to be weaned from, but from all the lusts of the World; though we may receive Honour, yet we must not be ambitious; so Riches they are Gods gifts, but let us not use ill means to come by them; so for Pleasures, if we cannot come by them but by violating Gods Command, why let not your hearts reach to them; and this should be a notable motive to mortifie all lusts, because they come not from the Father of Lights, but from the Prince of Darknesse; if no Ambition, or Pride, or Covetousnesse be from God, mortifie it, so if there any love to pleasure and wantonnesse, root it out, for it is not of the Father, therefore what should Christians have to doe with it? Mens Children may lawfully take gifts from others besides their Fathers, because they are not able to give us all kinde of blessings, but Gods Children must take nothing that comes not from their Father, whatsoever is not from him is a lust, and our love must be weaned from it; and the reason is, from the amplitude of Gods bounty, there is no good gift but comes from God, and that in his Ordinance, and God will bestow upon his Children whatsoever is good and needfull for them.

Use 2. May quiet our hearts in the want of all such blessings as come not from God, as God gives us not; you see you cannot have such riches, or such pleasures or profits, but Gods Providence or Ordinance with-holds them; why wean your hearts from them, and be content without them; it is the wisdom of men to follow an occasion, when they see Gods providence leading them to it, but if thou see Gods providence hindering it by lawful means, that thou canst not have Children by lawful means, or Riches by lawful means, if it come not from the Father it is not good for us, and therefore we must be content without them.

Ʋse 2. May quiet our hearts in the want of all such blessings as come not from God, as God gives us not; you see you cannot have such riches, or such pleasures or profits, but Gods Providence or Ordinance with-holds them; why wean your hearts from them, and be content without them; it is the wisdome of men to follow an occasion, when they see Gods providence leading them to it, but if thou see Gods providence hindring it by lawfull means, that thou canst not have Children by lawfull means, or Riches by lawfull means, if it come not from the Father it is not good for us, and therefore we must be content without them.

Use 3. Shows Gods Children what they may lawfully enjoy, such things only as come from the Father in his Providence, and Ordinance, that you may love and comfortably enjoy.

Ʋse 3. Shews Gods Children what they may lawfully enjoy, such things onely as come from the Father in his Providence, and Ordinance, that you may love and comfortably enjoy.

Q. How shall I know whether I had all my blessings, as from my Father, my Wife or Children, or Riches, or Calling?

A. 1. Whatsoever you have obtained by Prayer, it is a good sign you have had it from God, as a Father hearing prayer, 1 Sam. 1.27. so whatsoever profit or pleasure, or credit you have, if you have obtained it by prayer, it is a sign you had it from God as your Father.

A. 1. Whatsoever you have obtained by Prayer, it is a good sign you have had it from God, as a Father hearing prayer, 1 Sam. 1.27. so whatsoever profit or pleasure, or credit you have, if you have obtained it by prayer, it is a signe you had it from God as your Father.

Obj. I have many things which I never prayed for, I have it may be Wife, and Friends, and Honour, and Calling, that I never prayed for, may I have comfort in them?

2. In the second place therefore a man may say, he hath a thing from the Father, when he hath it by fellowship with Christ, Ephes. 5.17. many times God gives us things out of his love in Christ, that we never thought of, for our hearts are shallow, and empty, and not able to comprehend what God is able to do, for he is able to do above all we can think, or ask, therefore let us get hold of Christ, and then we need fear no blessing.

2. In the second place therefore a man may say, he hath a thing from the Father, when he hath it by fellowship with Christ, Ephes. 5.17. many times God gives us things out of his love in Christ, that we never thought of, for our hearts are shallow, and empty, and not able to comprehend what God is able to doe, for he is able to doe above all we can think, or ask, therefore let us get hold of Christ, and then we need fear no blessing.

3. Whatsoever you receive by Faith, that is from the Father, Mat. 8.13. if you believe, God will do whatsoever he sees needful; and we believe he is able to do above what we are able to ask; now we receive it by faith, when either we reach it and bring it by faith, or if not so, yet we have it, and receive it by lawful means as a pledge of Gods love, and when we have it use it to his glory, for though we get it not by Faith yet we hold it by Faith, now Faith is adequate to our calling, the just lives by his Faith in every several calling, so that if we come by it in a lawful calling, any credit, or profit, or pleasure, ⟨p. 123⟩Faith gives us to see that it comes from Gods ordinance, so that we may comfort our selves in it; therefore be exhorted, whatsoever God gives not in his ordinance, let us not reach to it, so that we are to be weaned from all pleasures, and profits, and honours, if they come not from Gods providence by lawful means.

3. Whatsoever you receive by Faith, that is from the Father, Mat. 8.13. if you believe, God will doe whatsoever he sees needfull; and we believe he is able to doe above what we are able to ask; now we receive it by faith, when either we reach it and bring it by faith, or if not so, yet we have it, and receive it by lawfull means as a pledge of Gods love, and when we have it use it to his glory, for though we get it not by Faith yet we hold it by Faith, now Faith is adequate to our calling, the just lives by his Faith in every severall calling, so that if we come by it in a lawfull calling, any credit, or profit, or pleasure, ⟨p. 123⟩Faith gives us to see that it comes from Gods ordinance, so that we may comfort our selves in it; therefore be exhorted, whatsoever God gives not in his ordinance, let us not reach to it, so that we are to be weaned from all pleasures, and profits, and honours, if they come not from Gods providence by lawfull means.

2 You must be quiet and content without them; and Thirdly, whatsoever you receive from God in his ordinance, you may use it comfortably.

Doct. All the lusts in the World, are of the World.

1 John 5 18. The whole World lies in these lusts, Gal. 1.4. that he might deliver us from this present evil World, James 3.15. this wisdom is not from above, but earthly.

1 John 5 18. The whole World lies in these lusts, Gal. 1.4. that he might deliver us from this present evill World, James 3.15. this wisdome is not from above, but earthly.