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A96523
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Three decads of sermons lately preached to the Vniversity at St Mary's Church in Oxford: by Henry Wilkinson D.D. principall of Magdalen Hall.
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Wilkinson, Henry, 1616-1690.
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1660
(1660)
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Wing W2239; Thomason E1039_1; ESTC R204083
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607,468
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685
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that godly longest liv'd Patriarch dyed but the year before the Flood came His name signifieth a Messenger of death His death did presage the Flood Thus Austin was taken away by death immediately before the sacking of Hippo where he lived Pareus dyed a little before the taking of Heidelbergh Luther a little before the Germane Wars And we have many Reverend Preachers the Chariots and Horse-men of Israel it were easie to give you a Catalogue of them who of late years have gone to their Graves in peace By all their Ministeries Gods Spirit hath stroven with us and waited for our amendment of life We read Histories that we may not be subjects of History Herodotus tells us of an Inscription upon Legimus historias ne ipsi fiamus historiae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Herodo Senacheribs Statue Look upon me and learn to be righteous Peruse the sacred Annals read the History of the old World the destruction of Jerusalem the casting off the Jews to this very day read the History of the Church in all ages acquaint your selves with the History of Germany and Palatinate of later years and be not like many Travellers who are better acquainted with foreign Lands then that of their Nativity Take notice of the acts the strange acts of the Lord in our Lâ—nd Hath not God to this very day continued many faithful Laborers in his Vineyard notwithstanding some of the Prelatical party suppressed what lay in them powerful Preaching yet like the Palm-tree The more it is pressed down the more it grows oâ— like Pharachs afflicting the Isâ—aelites Quo magis deprimitur eo magis emergit the more he afflicted them the more they multiplyed and notwithstanding the subtile practices of many what name to give them I cannot tell for they know not what names to give themselves neither know they what they would have I say notwithstanding their Stentorean voices crying down Ministry Sabboths Ordinances yet God graciously confirms them all in their liberty and purity and if we improve not these prices of Grace put into our hands if we hearken not to the calls and whispers of the Spirit of God if we neglect and despise this great salvation tendred in the Gospel the Spirit of God will be gone and take the Ordinances from us or us from the Ordinances The Spirit will threaten this dreadful judgement in the Text to strive no longer And that people are under a most dreadful Judgement with whom the Spirit of God will not strive any longer That Comminâ—tion runs paralell with this of my Text Hos 9. 12. Though they bring up their children yet will I bereave them that there shall not be a man left yea woe also to them when I depart from them And thus I have dispatcht the first Head propounded namely The assertion of the truth of the Doctrine from Scripture Teâ—â—imonies I proceed in the second place according to my method propounded to make a particular representation unto you how the Spirit may be said to strive with man The Spirit of God though it be a most free agent bloweth 2. The Spirit of God strives seven ways when and where it listeth yet from experience we may discern that it usually strives some of these seven ways viz. By its motions and whispers By the Ministry of the Word By the checks and convictions of conscience By the tenders of mercies By the exercise of patience and long-suffering by inflicting of sâ—gnal exemplary judgements upâ—n others And if none of these will prevail by the execution of personal judgements upon our selves Thus ordinarily upon a ground of experience we may discern the several strivings of the Spirit For the enlargement of these particulars 1. The Spirit of God 1. The Spirit of God strives by its motions and inspirations strives by its motions inspirations and sweet whispers when we hear as it were a voice behinde us telling us This is the way walk therein Thus the Spirit of God infuseth holy thoughts holy motions into us We have not one good thought we cannot of our selves think one good thought without the inspiration of the holy Spirit The Spirit of God rebukes sin in us quickens us to our duties moves woes beseecheth us to try conclusions no longer with God nor to offer any violence to the Spirit of Grace but to cherish its sweet motions and hearken to its whispers We may know the Spirit of God from the spirit of delusion the same way we discern good Gold from counterfeit by examining them by the touch-stone of the word of God Isa 8. 20. To the Law and to the testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them The Spirit of God directs theâ—e to the rule of the word It is not any rule that will serve but it is this rule Gal. 6. 16. As many as walk according to this rule peace be on them and mercy and upon the Israel of God But the Spirit of error directs thee to devised ways it counsels thee to be wise above what is written The word of God is the just Standard we must not adde to it nor take away from it if we would escape that dreadful curse Rev. 22. 18. I testifie to every one that heareth the words of the Prophecy of this Book if any man shall adde unto these things God shall adde unto him the plagues that are written in this book And if any man shall take away from the words of the Book of this Prophecy God shall take away his part out of the Book of life and out of the holy City and from the things which are written in this Book There be many that pretend to voices dreams revelâ—tions now adays they would have a Platonick Christ and fain a teaching of the Spirit besides and contrary to the written word Many of them are led like Absoloms followers in their simplicity knowing nothing for whom we must pray as the Prophet did for his Servant Lord open their eyes that they may see and let them read with fear and trembling that dreadful Anathema from the written word Gal. 1. 8. Though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you then that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed I 'le be your remembrancer of one story 1 King 13. 17 18 19. It was said unto me by the word of the Lord Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink waâ—er tâ—ere nor turn again to goe by the way that thou camest He said unto him I am a Prophet also as thou art and the Angel spake unto me saying Bring him back with thee into thine house that he may eat bread and drink water but he lyed unto him So he went back and did eat bread in his house and drank water The man of God had a sure word of Prophesie the word of God was in his mouth yet he must be hearkning after a new devised word
as quench the Spirit which is forbidden 1 Thess 5. 19. such as deride praying by the spirit such as slight and scorn men of the spirit I mean such as are of a pretious annointing in whom the Spirit of Christ dwells O how sad will their Audit be 2. It reproves barren and unprofitable hearers who notwithstanding all the strivings wooings and waitings of Gods Spirit by the Ministry of the Word yet remain barren and unfruitful The Apostle tells their doom The earth that drinketh in the rain that Heb. 6. 7 8. cometh oft upon it and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed receiveth a blessing from God but that which beareth thorns and bryars is rejected and is nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned When Christ found nothing on the Fig-tree but leaves he said unto it Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever and Matth. 21. 19 Luke 13. 7. presently the Fig-tree withered away And the Vine-dresser said Behold these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree and finde none cut it down why cumbreth it the ground 3. It reproves secure persons setled on their Lees Let Gods Spirit strive never so often it is all in vain They think all is well with them they conceive their Estates very good Multitudes now adays are possest with a spirit of slumber and drousiness and this is a dreadful sin and a judgement both Rom. 11. 8. God hath given them a spirit of slumber eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear to this day Is not he a desperate fool that dares sleep upon the top of a Mast Is not he much more that notwithstanding judgements threatned in Gods Word against rebellious sinners yet is secure heedless and satisfied in his present condition This is that carnal security mentioned which is under such terrible woe Deut. 29. 19 20. It shall come to pass when he heareth the words of this curse that he bless himself in his heart saying I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of mine heart to adde drunkenness to thirst the Lord will not spare him but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoak against that man and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven 4. And lastly This reproves all impenitent persons who notwithstanding all the Sermons they hear notwithstanding all the reproofs admonitions wooings knocking 's of Gods spirit yet remain impenitent Impenitency is that great soul-damning sin Christ tells us Rev. 3. 20. Behold I stand at the door and knock Rev. 3. 20. Ezek. 18. 31. if any man open to me I will come in and sup with him And the exhortation of the Prophet runs Cast away from you all your transgressions for I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth wherefore turn your selves and live So God expostulates the case with them Though by our own strength we cannot stand not by our own poweâ— will any good thing yet we may doe much more good then we do Can not the same legs carry a man to the Church which carry him to an Ale-house oâ— Tavern It s want of a good heart and love to the Ordinances of God that make men so negligent of the good of their souls Who forceth thee to swear thou saist thou canâ—â— not leave it custom is become another nature Is it not thine own corrupt heart that causeth corrupt communications The Devil cannot compel to sin he perswades and enticeth neither doth God tempt any man Jam. 1. 13 14 15. But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed then Jam. 1. 13 14 15. when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death Tremble and stand amazed thou impenitent person that resisteâ—â— so many strivings of Gods Spirit so many checks of conscience so many warnings from the word O that thy heart might be touched with remorse and repentance for thine impenitency yet thou livest under the sound of the Gospel who knoweth but the spirit may this day once more move woe and beseech thee to be reconciled O do not refuse O do not slight these invitations A City besieged as we read Deut. 20. 11 12. If it make thee answer of peace and open unto thee thea the people that are found therein shall become tributary unto thee but if it will make no peace with thee then thou shalt besiege it and smlte every male with the edge of the sword Just so now the Lord besiegeth thy heart offers thee peace intreats thee to repent of thy Oathes Sabbath-breakings contempt of the Gospel Drunkenness Uncleanness If thou wilt not receive such a gracious offer of peace to thy peril be it thou art the murtherer of thine own soul 4. I proceed to a fourth Use which is for examination Three Vse 4. For Examination Q. 1 Quaeries by way of tryal I shall propose and answer Q. 1. How may we distinguish of the strivings of Gods spirit from a spirit of error and delusion I answer in this wise 1. Gods Spirit strives by the Ministry of the word and directs A. 1 1. Gods spirit strives by the Ministry of the word us according to that rule Gal. 6. 16. As many as walk according to this rule peace be upon them and mercy and upon the Israel of God But a spirit of delusion deviseth ways of its own and is wise above what is written whereunto a curse appertains Gal. 1. 8. Though we or an Angel from heaven preach aâ—other Gospel then that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed 2. Gods Spirit leads into all truth It is a sâ—irit of truth But 2. Gods spirit leads into all truth the spirit of delusion leads us into all errors God will send strong delusions that they shall believe a lie 2 Thess 2. 11. 3. Gods Spirit makes us humble meek gentle A spirit of delusion 3. Gods spirit makes usâ— humble and meek makes us to swell with pride and pride and passions Gods Spirit meekens our spirit An Antichristian deluded spirit makes us boysteroâ—s inoâ—dinate in our affections But secondly The Quaery will be How we may distinguish the Q. 2 strivings of Gods Spirit from the strivings of our own spirits or natural conscience I answer thus 1. A natural conscience acts from a principle of A. 1 A natural conscience acts from a principle of fear fear of punishment and upon legal convictions hence come many torturings and strivings in natural mens consciences as in Ahab c. Herod feared John Baptist But Gods Spirit strives and moves the soul to act from a principle of love to Jesus Christ when the love of Christ constrains to duty that is genuine altogether 2. The striving of a mâ—ns own spirit and a natural