Practical Discourses On Sundry TEXTS OF SCRIPTURE Wherein is shewed and made known The absolute Necessity for all People TO Turn Immediately Unto the Lord their GOD. By RICHARD STAFFORD formerly a Batchelor of Arts of Magdalen-Hall in Oxford LONDON Printed and are to be Sold by Ralph Simpson at the Harp in St. Paul's Church-yard 1695. To the Courteous READER THE Subject of this ensuing Book A Call to all the Inhabitants of the Earth to turn immediately to the Lord their God is Great and Good Even what all the Words and Preaching that have ever came forth into the World in all the several Generations and Countries have endeavoured at For Christ also hath once suffered for Sins the Just for the Vnjust that he might bring us to God 1 Pet. 3. 8. Besides the Sufferings of Christ The End and Intent of all the Words which Christ spake or made known and so it is the same of all the Transactions which have ever passed between God and Man are that he might bring us to Himself who is God Though this hath been indeed effected of some few Peculiar People of the several Generations yet it hath not been of the Multitude and Generality of Mankind Notwithstanding God was manifested in the Flesh and put to Death in the Flesh but quickned in the Spirit for this alone End and Purpose How can it then be expected that one who is born out of due Time and the least of all in the Kingdom of God can by publishing a few words more accomplish so great a thing when all the Books and Preaching in the World have not yet done it Especially when the Word it self which was made Flesh and dwelt among us Full of Grace and Truth who spake as never Man spake did not so bring it to pass that all should though some did believe on him Far be it therefore from me to expect or imagine That this little Book or Treatise of mine will ever have so great an Effect But it is only offered as another Mile to be thrown into the Treasury of Divine Truths It is the Thoughts of one single Creature which have arose in his Mind whereby himself is actually perswaded to God and good things and to turn unto the Lord Immediately Luke 12. 36. As Paul conferred not with Flesh and Blood but immediately went to Jerusalem So for my part I would utterly lay aside all Carnal and Worldly Considerations and immediately give up my self to the Guidance of the Lord as he leads me in the way to Jerusalem that is above whithersoever that way goes And I do desire that these same Thoughts may be published and made known abroad Out of this Hope and Expectation If Peradventure the God of all Truth who perswadeth us throughout our Life in all the several Circumstances and Conditions thereof That we may be able to perswade other Men and Women by the very same Thoughts wherewith our selves are perswaded of God He fashioneth the Hearts of the Sons of Men alike Psal 33. 15. and it is commonly seen That by what one is perswaded another under the like Thoughts and Circumstances is Perswaded also And if the like things were made known unto and believed by the mixt Multitude and generality of Mankind as is to the elect People and real Servants of God in all outward Likelihood and Probability They would also be brought over unto God To this alone End and Purpose are these Words laid before Men that whosoever will may read And for such who will not read the Saying among the Latins is Pertinaciae nullum Remedium Posuit Deus So we the Ministers of his Word cannot tell what to say to it Nor do we know how to help and remedy it though we would never so fain But we can only warn such Behold ye Despisers and Wonder and Perish Such are in real danger to fall under the same Doom as the Sons of Eli and Amaziah did Notwithstanding they bearkned not unto the Voice of their Father Because the Lord would slay them 1 Sam. 2. 25. But Amaziah would not hear for it came of God that he might deliver them into the hand of their Enemies 2 Chron. 25. 20. And so it is They that will not Hear Read and Receive the Words of Instruction Knowledge and Reproof It is a certain foregoing sign that such will be punished with everlasting Destruction from the Presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his Power It is commonly alledged that there is no new thing under the Sun and there is nothing said especially in Books but what hath been said before for my part I would endeavour somewhat further in what I publish to the World which as yet is not so clearly made known in other Books and Sermons or otherwise I would not publish at all Or at least I would seek out acceptable Words and that which is written may be upright even Words of Truth Eccles 12. 10. If Words or rather Sentences of Truth are indeed brought forth Although they be without Method and Connexion as there are very many of this sort in the following Treatise yet they are never the less worth for want of that All one as pieces of Gold or so many Pearls are not the less valuable although they be not linked and chained together Again Although my writing here is not with enticing words of Mans Wisdom nor yet according to the exact Rules of Oratory But things are expressed so plainly that they may be understood by the meanest Capacity Nevertheless God is more glorified and the Reader may be more edified hereby then in what is called more Learned and Polite Discourses It was both a puzling and also a sudden Question of Pilate What is Truth To me it seems to be the expressing forth the Nature of things as they are with the Connexion between themselves and how they pertain to us Men. Things are again divided into Visible and Invisible Present or Future Now the present and visible things soon pass away and are but little But the great Object of what is commonly called Divine Truth which is the subject of the ensuing Book is only invisible and future things which are the only thing needful even the greatest and nearest Concern All things are Gods for he created them and the principal Matter here insisted on throughout the whole is what God requires of Man with a Word of Exhortation to enforce him the more to the Obedience and Observance of the same and more especially what God will do unto us Men and Women the reasonable Inhabitants of this Earth both hereon in the latter days and also after that they are gone off from this Stage of the middle part of the World As to that great Controversie which the Lord hath had for so many Generations past and foregoing concerning their universal Obedience to Himself their God Psal 50. 7. which all the words that ever came forth and were made known in the World heretofore
repented the Lord that he had made Man upon the Earth and it grieved him at his Heart Gen. 6. 5 6. But after that the Lord smelled a sweet Savour and the Lord said in his Heart I will not again curse the Ground any more for Man's sake for the Imagination of Man's Heart is evil from his Youth neither will I again smite any more every thing Living as I have done Gen. 8. 21. This was said upon Noah a Righteous and Perfect Man his building an Altar unto the Lord and offering burnt Offerings on that Altar So that we see and find that it fares better with the wicked World for the sake of the Righteous And after the same similitude of things we may conceive that when the Lord hath been long and sore displeased with the Heathen of former Generations who were at Ease under which word Heathen are comprised all those who know not or who obey not the Lord when the Earth was much corrupâ—ed by reason of their Transgression which did sit heavy â—pon it so that it became as a Smoak or Stink in his Nostrils When the House of Israel dwelt in their own Land they defiled it by their Ways and by their doings Their way was before me as the uncleanness of a Removed Woman Ezek. 30. 17. After God hath born with this a long time then comes and succeeds the Righteous Generation who build an Altar and offer Burnt Offerings on that Altar which like Frankinsence and Myrrh doth take away all the former Stink that the Lord doth smell a sweet Savour from them whereupon he doth abate and mitigate somewhat from that intended Punishment which he had before thought to lay and inflict on the wicked World That he will not stir up all his Wrath nor yet pour on them all and the utmost Evil which he had before purposed to have done Though withal by seeing the exceeding Goodness of the one compared with the Exceeding Sinfulness Evil and Provocation of former Generations it is necessary that some Punishment and Vengeance be actually inflicted on them For the day of Vengeance is in mine Heart Hereby is denoted the futurity thereof and that it is to succeed after the other and the Year of my Redeemed is come Isa 63. 4. Which being expressed in the Present Tense though it is spoken of after the other yet in order of time it will be before that to which agrees the Gospel And the Dead in Christ shall rise first Thess 4. 16. For it is the day of the Lord's Vengeance and the Year of Recompences for the controversie of Sion Isa 34. 8. What is this controversie of Sion It is even the Lord's Controversie with the Inhabitants of the Earth That all both Jew and Gentile Heathen and all other People of every Nation Country and Language and of every Generation should obey him the Lord their God And here it comes to pass that some do Obey him and some do not from whence it is appositely stiled Recompences in the Plural Number there being two sorts of them that is to say a Recompence of Good to those that shall be found to have Obeyed him and a Recompence of Evil to such who have not Obeyed him For the Lord God of Recompences shall surely requite Jer. 51. 56. To all People of every Country Kindred and time one of these two ways So that in short if People do not Obey God it is a Controversie which will be decided to their own Misery as themselves will find in the day of the Lord's Vengeance But if they do obey him unto which knowing the Terrors of the Lord we perswade Men it will be abundantly made up to them in the Resurrection of the Just in the Year of Recompences for the controversie of Sion This Controversie the Lord hath been pleading with Men and Women by his Word and Spirit by his Prophets Son Jesus Christ Apostles Evangelists Pastors and Teachers Ministers and Servants ever since Man was first Created on the Earth The same lot hath fallen unto me from the Forty third Forty fourth and Forty fifth Verses of the Eighteenth Psalm which I have here endeavoured to Handle Faithfully and Truly according to the Grace and Knowledge according to the Ability and Measure which the Lord hath given and committed unto me according to the proportion of Faith and according to that distribution of Spiritual Qualifications and Endowments which was allotted and here I stand in my Lot Dan. 12 13. to me a single Creature What I write unto others I write unto my self also that I may be found obedient in all those things whereunto I exhort others And whilst the desire of my Soul is to this and the same is the endeavour of my Hands it is a well-grounded hope and assurance that both my self and my Works may be accepted of the Lord. If the Lord who hath the residue of the Spirit Mal. 2. 15. doth stir up others also in like manner as he hath done mine This may somewhat prepare and make way for the Vniversal Reformation of the Lives and Manners of Men. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament and they that turn many to Righteousness as Stars for ever and ever But thou O Daniel shut up the Words and seal the Book even to the time of the End Many shall run to and fro and Knowledge shall be increased Dan. 12. 3. 4. So that after all these Words also may be shut up and this Book may be Sealed until the appointed time draws near and is actually come when God will indeed bring the same to pass even at the time of the End in the very last days and shutting up of all When Christ the Son of David the root and off-spring of David the Bright and Morning Star shall be delivered from the hands of all his Enemies and from the strivings of the People when his Enemies shall be made his Foot-stool and shall be cast out as the dirt in the Street when all his Members Disciples and Followers shall be delivered from the Hand of Saul See the Title of Psalm 18. that is in a Spiritual Signification from the Devil that like as Christ their Head was preserved from and not overcome by his Temptations so he stall see the Travel of his Soul and be satisfied for in that himself hath suffered being Tempted he is able to Succour them that are Tempted Heb. 2. â—8 Whom he doth accordingly so Succour and Preserve in the hour of Temptation and in the day of Trial till at length they become Conquerors and they are delivered from the hand of all their Enemies and from the hand of the Tempter CHAP. IX A Paraphrase on some of the most Remarkable Verses of Psalm 18. Shewing the Design and Connexion of this Psalm Whereunto is Sub-joined the shutting up and the Conclusion of this whole Book SO that in that day the words of this Song may be spoken unto the Lord I will
have not I do not say could not accomplished and brought to pass How it will be all done suddenly and at an instant by the pouring out of the Spirit upon us from on High may be seen in Page 295. As also that there will be an end of all Wars and of all Persecution is shewed in Page 285 288. which will be a very great Good to Mankind So that the â—…king known these things will tend â—…re to the real Benefit of Man than spending their Money for that which is not Bread and their Labour for that which satisfieth not or consuming so much time in other and vain Things I need not say much more by way of Preface and Introduction But here I shall only add this further That according as God is now pleased to accompany and Seal these Truths with the droppings and distillings of that same Spirit which hereafter he will pour out And according as that self-same Spirit giveth Understanding for it is too common that the Works and Things of God are not understood Psal 106. 7. Acts 7. 25. for these things are Spiritually discerned As also there is a need of a distinguishing Judgment as to discern and know which are the real Truths of God from the Imaginations or Sayings of other meer Humane Writers Again According as the following Words of Truth do approve themselves to the Hearts and Consciences of the Real and Inward see Rom. 2. 29. and not so much to the Nominal and outward Christians And according as Care Endeavour Industry and Diligence are used in the publishing and making them known so accordingly they will meet with Acceptance or Rejection from the World THE CONTENTS CHAP. I. THE Introduction to the following Book Page 1 CHAP. II. Wherein that Proposition is at large discussed That People are not forced and compelled to the Obedience of God but they are left herein to their own Free Choice or Refusal p. 15 CHAP. III. That Surmise and Imagination is spoken unto whereby some People think that they have so Grievously offended God that they dare not come unto him p. 118 CHAP. IV. Therein it is discoursed of that false Thought in the Hearts of many People That if they should submit Presently unto the Obedience of God they shall be losers and disappointed of so much Pleasure and Conveniency in the mean while They shall miss of so much imagined Happiness and fall into Vexation Trouble and Misery p. 183 CHAP. V. Herein sundry things are written against them who will not be persuaded by nor live according to Words and also against following the Multitude p. 244 CHAP. VI. It is made known in the general from the Scriptures of Truth without any Reflections on Particular Nations or Governments that at length there will be an end of all Wars p. 285 CHAP. VII As also that there will be an end of all manner of Persecuting the Servants of God p. 288 CHAP. VIII Towards the end of Time and in the latter Days All the Inhabitants of the Earth will be turned and brought over unto God Which will be done and accomplished by the Pouring out of the Spirit upon us from on High p. 295 CHAP. IX A Paraphrase on some of the most Remarkable Verses of Psal 18. Shewing the Design and Connexion of that whole Psalm p. 310 Whereunto is subjoyned the shutting up and Conclusion of the whole Book p. 314 Practical Discourses OR AN Earnest Call to all the Inhabitants of the Earth to turn immediately unto the Lord their God As the same is opened and alledged from what is written Psal 18. 43 44 45. Thou hast delivered me from the Strivings of the People thou hast made me the Head of the Heathen A People whom I have not known shall serve me As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me The Strangers shall fade away and be afraid out of their close Places CHAP. I. The Introduction IF all Mankind of all Generations and Countries were now summoned together and there was a Voice that could reach them all as God will at the last Day gather all Nations and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat and will plead with them there Joel 3. 2. By his own Power and uttering forth his Voice It would be proper to preach and make known these Words unto them But in the mean time he hath shewed the Way and he doth require it of us under the Danger and Penalty of Disobedience that all we should publish the Word Psal 68. 11. which he hath given us as far as we can And he hath so ordered that the still Voice of his Spirit should be sent forth into the Hearts of many People All things are to be done as far as he hath pointed out and put into our Power All we should help whatever we can towards the Furtherance thereof for the Work of the Lord is common and should be the joint Endeavour of all his Servants Ever since the World began and down until this Time and what futher remains on the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth Violence and the violent take it by Force According to our Ability we ought severally to the utmost of yea and beyond our Power to be continually doing the Will of God bring Glory unto his Name to further and carry on with all our Might and Diligence the common Salvation to endeavour by all Means possible yea our selves are to act and suffer an holy Violence that People may be more brought over and added unto the Lord. As God is to be loved with all the Soul and with all the Strength and with all the Heart and with all the Mind So all things we have or can do are to be laid out and resolutely put forth without any more Intermission or Weariness than what is absolutely necessary and requisite in his Service and doing good unto others None are to be idle but as we are warned of so ought we to avoid to our utmost that we fall not under the Doom of the unprofitable Servant For behold I come quickly and my Reward is with me to give to every Man according as his Work shall be Rev. 22. 12. And we having but a short Time might learn this Wisdom from the Serpent to improve this our Time to the utmost Advantage to oppose and destroy his Kingdom to turn People from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God and to recover those that are already taken captive at his Will As he walketh about seeking whom he may devour so is the Will of the most high God that his Servants should run to and fro that knowledge may be increased Dan. 12. 4. that many may be converted and saved And when each Person is converted then he is to strengthen his Brethren and to endeavour what lieth in him that others may be converted also and so on The like Care and Endeavour is to be used and spread abroad that all Men may be saved and come to the
Thou tellest my Wandrings put thou my Tears into thy Bottle Are they not in thy Book Psal 56. 8. As he doth take Knowledge of every least Sin and Error so likewise will he make up abundantly to us for all the Sorrow and Hardship we have sustained for him A Book of Remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and thought on his Name Mal. 3. 16. in which is recorded all the Reproaches they endured from the wicked and also every right Work they have done with all the particular Circumstances thereof The Apostle advises Look to your selves that we lose not those things which we have wrought but that we receive a full Reward 2 John 8. So the like Admonition may be given to those who are as yet unconverted and in a State of Sin that they defer not one Moment longer to turn unto the Lord their God For besides the Danger of being cut off in their Sins and the Doubtfulness of gaining God's Favour and Acceptation but if they should obtain yet they deprive themselves of a greater Reward Though the long and habituated Sinner may be saved that is only when he turns from all the Sins which he hath committed and doth that which is lawful and right yet it will be as by Fire that is with Difficulty However he shall suffer Loss That is it would be better for him throughout all Eternity if he had never continued in such a Course of Sin What Fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed Rom. 6. 21. There is no Benefit and Advantage in them So likewise Time slides away such Opportunities are irrevocably lost which might be improved to a blessed Eterntiy So much might be done in the mean while towards building up a Mansion in the Heavens The Foundation may in due time be laid and upon this he may build Gold Silver precious Stones Wood Hay Stubble He may wisely contrive and do the best Works Every Man's Works shall be made manifest for the Day shall declare it 1 Cor. 3. 13. The Light shall shew of what Kind it is and how it hath been wrought all along even when it was in Beginning and so till the Finishing thereof It shall be strictly examined and surveyed as Gold in the Fire which purges away the Dross when the pure Metal remains and appears more excellent If any Man's Work abide which he hath built thereupon he shall receive a Reward 1 Cor. 3. 14. If he hath been employed about enduring things here is another Promise and Confirmation hereof What Need of such abundant Mention and giving so full Assurance concerning a Reward Why have we not a good God who giveth us now all things richly to enjoy May we not do something for him by way of Gratitude and Thankfulness for former Mercies without Expectation of any thing more Where is our Love and Ingenuity that we cannot act by the Principles of an excellent Nature but must be led on by Mercenariness Our Want and imperfection call for something more than we have already But then we should desire somewhat which is worthy It is Narrowness of Spirit and Ignorance of Mind to run so greedily after worldly and present Recompence or to imagine more therein than really is It is base Selfishness to do nothing but for the Sake of Profit in Case we are somewhat sufficient before But seeing that most have not and they must live by Labour and the Blessing and the Promise is For thou shalt eat the Labour of thine Hands happy shalt thou be and it shall be well with thee Psal 128. 2. there it may be honestly sought after and had In every thing there is Trial What is Man that thou shouldst try him every Moment And nevertheless it is further so ordained that the Servant of God may approve himself therein and yet not be in Necessity of falling There are the Wages of Iniquity and Unrighteousness the Gifts of Satan which are offered and had upon unlawful Means if they will decline from the Law of the most High consent unto some Evil and so fall down and worship the Author thereof Whereas if they would keep their Integrity continue whole and stedfast in his Covenant God hath annexed further unto that a precious Promise and exceeding Reward Who hath first given to him and it shall be recompenced to him again For of him and through him and to him are all things Rom. 11. 35 36. He hath first furnished us with Means and enabled with Power to perform whatever we do He hath given Knowledge Strength Inclination and Impulse It is done by his assisting and working Grace and at his Command and Requiring If I may use such a plain and common Phrase least it should be said God is any thing beholden to his Creatures he doth give them such an overabundunt Requital even before we had done what was our Duty to do And what he is pleased to add further is infinitely-beyond our deserving neither could we have any Expectation thereof unless himself had foretold us By Faith Boasting is excluded for Faith is the Gift of God and also it apprehends things unutterable and so exceeding great that it is no more Vertue and Excellency to receive them than stooping down to the Ground to take up a Diamond or going half a Mile for a Bag of Gold and to have it for our Pains The Prize set befors us doth yet exceed our utmost Endeavour after it So that the having an Eye unto the Recompence of Reward doth quite stop our Mouth and take away all manner of Boasting For it is evident when such exceeding great and precious Promises will scarce move us to Obedience and where they do yet not to perform it continually much less should we have done such as is commanded if we had no Promises at all Even in those things which we think we need not do as in Free-will Offerings and what we would do of our own Accord There is a secret Hope and Expectation that God would take notice thereof And a Thought doth arise at least a Doubt and Staggering whether if we were assured that he would not requite it but yet accept and be well-pleased with it then the Tryal would be whether we would still do the same only out of Love and Thankfulness admitting it would further expose us to present Inconveniences and Trouble Our Nature is either averse or sluggish that we have need of something to conquer and stir us up first to bring us in and then to quicken us in the right way To move us to begin and then to keep us continually in doing Now to him that worketh is the Reward reckoned not of Grace but of Debt Rom. 4. 4. So it is of one Man from another as may be gathered from Vers 2. For if Abraham be justified by Works he hath whereof to glory but not before God If one labours for another he is not beholden to him for Wages
tending towards Good or procuring Loss and Evil to themselves Every one Desires good to himself and would avoid evil Hurt and Inconveniency As he is a Man of Understanding and Prudence to let him Judge and do according to the most likely Way to obtain the one and avoid the other See I have set before thee this Day Life and Good and Death and Evil I call Heaven and Earth to record this Day against you that I have set before you Life and Death Blessing and Cursing Therefore choose Life that thou and thy Seed may live Deut. 30. 15. VVhoever reads or hears these Lines whether thou examinest them in thy Closet or by a casual View whether this Book be read to thee by another or few or many be present To each Man or VVoman singly I do apply my self and I call the Angels to witness that these things be set home to thy Heart that this doth not turn for a Testimony against thee and when such things were laid before thee thou wouldst not mind but refuse Thou Man or VVoman of whatever Rank or Degree of whatever Age State or Condition of Life young Men or Maidens yea and Children that can in the least apprehend what I say I speak to you all severally and joyntly even in this very Moment of Time in this very Instant now even in the same Day that this is declared unto you I speak to every one of you in the Prophet's Phrase BEHOLD YOVR GOD. And I do most humbly and earnestly intreat of his divine Majesty which he is more ready to do than I to ask him O Lord God Almighty behold thy Sons and Daughters that from this Hour and Day they may take thee for the Lord their God consecrate themselves entirely and universally unto thy Service improving this and all their remaining Days for every Opportunity to do good and carefully watch against and eschew all Occasions of evil Hence forward to mind nothing but God and the things pertaining to him how they may most please and be accepted with him If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them Yea blessed is he that readeth or they that hear that they may know these VVords and immediately without any Delay keep and observe the things written therein CHAP. III. That Surmise and Imagination is spoken unto whereby some People think that they have so grievously offended God that they dare not come unto him THe second Hindrance which keeps People off and was proposed to be spoken unto in the Beginning of this Book is that some imagine that they have so grievously offended God that they dare not come unto him The first Example of this we have in our Father Adam And the Lord God called unto Adam and said unto him where art thou And he said I heard thy Voice in the Garden and I was afraid because I was naked and I hid myself Gen. 3. 9 10. A Consciousness of his Guilt and Disobedience did make him keep off yea and unwilling to approach unto God when he was called Perhaps he thought that God knew not his Transgression but would discern it by some outward Sign when he came somewhat nearer VVhereas God both saw and heard them talking under the Tree in the midst of the Garden and did more clearly discern their Temptation and Sin than he could inquire and be informed afterwards But he came and would examine the matter after the Manner of Men. Both to vindicate his Justice and also to manifest that he yet continued his Grace and Familiarity to our Nature For even in the Curse and Punishment pronounced Mercy is intermixed A most precious Promise is conveyed into what may seem a terrible Sentence It shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel Gen. 3. 15. Thus Mercy rejoyceth against Judgment and even overcometh it at last And whereas it is said I will greatly multiply thy Sorrow and thy Conception In Sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the Days of thy Life Vers 16 17. Here also is somewhat released of the pronounced Punishment for God who is sovereign doth not execute in so severe a Degree as his VVords did seem at first to import for though indeed there is Trouble Pain and Sorrow in our coming into and Continuance in this VVorld yet blessed be God it is not altogether so continually grievous as what might have been expected when the VVords first proceeded forth Thus is the Lord merciful and gracious even when he is righteous and just And as his Mercy is over all his VVorks so it comes in as a Balm to mollifie his Vengeance God first calls upon our sinful Parents to shew that he had not quite cast them off and that they should not languish under a perpetual Separation from their Maker He finds out a Method of Reconciliation and Accommodation Tho' withal he ordained them and us a Punishment yet we may truly say the Lord hath punished us less than our Iniquities do deserve Hence we may learn and be encouraged that if we have not heretofore obeyed the Voice of his Commandment yet still we ought to come when he calleth us and it shall not be worse but better for us Thus saith the Lord behold I frame evil against you and devise a Device Return ye now every one from his evil Way and make your Ways and your Doings good And they said there is no Hope but we will walk after our own Devices and we will every one do the Imagination of his evil Heart Jer. 18. 11 12. VVhen People have committed much already their Conscience is accused of Sin and they are sensible how that they are obnoxious to God's VVrath and Punishment and fearing they shall one Day suffer under it they think it the same if they suffer for much as for little and so they fall from one VVickedness to another Nay with some there is a most strange and horrid Imagination as Persecutors and such like who conceiving an Hatred and Enmity against God but dreading withal he will be stronger than they when they come to meet him and therefore they take Advantage in this Time of Trial and Forbearance as it were out of foregoing Revenge to act stubbornly rebelliously and contemptuously against him as eveâ— they can It is written in the Revelations of those who gnawed their Tongues for Pain and blasphemed the God of Heaven because of their Pains and Sores and repented not of their Deeds Rev. 16. 10 11. Some again did give Glory to God for his Judgments The first Sort whilst they were yet in the VVay did provoke him yet more who at length was too hard for them and hath delivered them over unto the Tormentors Like as we have known or heard of some desperate condemned Rebels who might have their Pardon if they would sue and make Supplication for it but they would not through Stubbornness or a pretended Bravery and therefore they did all the Mischief they could before they died
It will be a much stronger Assurance than any had of the House which he called by his own Name and continued in his Family for most Generations Here our Bodies are dying the Timber and Walls do waste and decay but as we now perceive this so there will be the same Certainty that the House in the Heavens is eternal and will never sink for the Lord will be its Support and keep it as long as himself is God which is for ever and ever But thou art the same and thy Years shall have no End This may seem strange and new Doctrine to those who were not particularly told of it before or did not believe or did not throughly consider but it will be evidently set before our Eyes We shall as clearly know perceive and be throughly made sensible thereof as of the Life we now live and of things wherein at present we are concerned and acquainted with We shall be equally yea and much more affected with them as of the things whereof the Men of this World take most Thought and Care Even they who heretofore were so careless and indifferent as to heavenly and spiritual things yet when they shall come to discern how nearly they did belong to them and of how much greater Moment they were even as to immediately relate unto their own selves their eternal Happiness or Misery Then will succeed the utmost Indignation and Anguish for their former Neglect or Refusal And there will be the most earnest coveting yea and seeking even unto Tears for to partake thereof They shall know and see that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord and that my Fear is not in thee saith the Lord of Hosts Jer. 2. 19. They were alienated from the Life of God through the Ignorance and Blindness that was in them They did not conceive what God was though his visible and standing Works were a continual Witness before them And further they might have sought and read out of his Book and have looked into their own Souls which were made in his Image and therefore from within her self she could have some Apprehension of her Maker Indeed God hideth himself in all these but yet he might be somewhat found out by those who would seek and feel after him but when himself shall appear oppenly and fully discover himself in his true Nature then those shall be strangly incensed and confounded who heretofore would not receive the Knowledge of him thro' Prejudice and strange Imaginations For then we would never have carried our selves after such a Manner towards him We would have sought diligently and enquired after God and we would have liked to have retained him in our Knowledge We would have chosen his Fear if we had then apprehended It was all really so as now we see and are fully convinced it is Why of this you were or might have been truly informed in the Beginning Though in the State of Absence and Darkness we could not behold God clearly as he was yet when the King was afar off we could perceive so much of his Beauty that we could conclude it to be certainly real and much more than what we did at that Time see For we had then those manifest Glimpses of his Greatness and Glory that we might be most fully satisfied that all was so which did pertain to him Like as we have heard so have we seen and infinitely much more for not the one Half nor yet the thousandth Part was told us All things are better and greater than the most knowing Saint did believe yea more than the Prophets themselves who searched diligently and enquired after these things could apprehend As we believe so have we spoken We now act and Labour if we may attain to them so then they will be found much exceeding our utmost Knowledge and Labour Now it is in our searching after understanding and seeking the Knowledge of God as in travelling from one Place to another or in new Roads there doth every now and then open a fresh and further Prospect We pass over new Ground and we find something more to confirm us in the Judgment we had before of this good Land So if we seek for God in his Works Word Grace and inward Manifestation he appears to be most great true good and gracious worthy to be known and received Indeed we cannot by searching find out the Almighty to Perfection because of that weak frail dark and imperfect State we are are now in We shall know more in the first Minute after we are dislodged from this Tabernacle than we could attain unto by Prayer diligent seeking and by intense thinking all our Life-time before But seeing that God hath now allotted us such a Space on Earth to understand and seek after him Psal 14. 2. that we may be careful all along to perform exactly the same and in such manner as near as we can attain which implies an actual Endeavour to do it even so as God doth require it of us The Desire of our Soul is to thy Name and to the Remembrance of thee Isa 26. 8. So the End and Intention of all our Thoughts Words and Actions is to be unto his Glory and to have them ruled and squared by his Word It is evident that when Men are as they should be that is freed in good Measure from Sin and Ignorance the very Desire of their Soul riseth and makes towards God Which is a most sure and certain Token that he is good and agreeable to our Nature for else he could not be desired by us There is indeed a Consciousness of Imperfection and Absence somewhat more we would have and to somewhat more we would be yet more nearly united Now God will make up all this to every one of us He will satisfie and replenish to the utmost brim-full and running over every Desire He will triumph and reign before his Saints gloriously For though they did come short of what was expected and required from them yet God considereth they were but Dust which passeth away and cometh not again Such Occasions did suddenly pass by and not return again They were amidst Temptations and Hindrances by which they were overtaken and kept off so our God will restore such and supply what was wanting Yet himself is God and not Man He lies under no Disadvantages but will perform every Part of his Covenant to the utmost that it shall be returned to our selves with incredible Gladness and Rejoycing Lo this is the Lord we have waited for Truly God is good to Israel even to such as are of a clean Heart Psal 73. 1. Those Promises and gracious Expressions in Scripture and what the Holy Ghost saith concerning God they are penned in a modest and less Degree that even the thing may exceed what we were told of that what was in a little Measure reported of might be found marvellous and extraordinary So it will be of all things contained
thus as it shall be with him in the things to come Envy thou not the Glory of a Sinner for thou knowest not what shall be his End Neither do thou Pity and be grieved at the poor and low Estate of God's Faithful People for thou dost not discern how Graciously he will be pleased to deal with them at the last When the Lord comes to rehearse up his People and to make Restitution and Dispensation of all things then this Man shall be pronounced Blessed and another Accursed though this last whilst he lived he counted himself an Happy Man and the other's Life was esteemed Madness and his End without Honour Our Reason and Understanding can fetch in things afar off and make them seem all one as if they were near We can conceive of things Future as if they were already Present That as we know we should do and as even then we shall verily and indeed wish we had done That we should so behave our selves in the midst of our Trial as we shall desire we had done when we come to an Account and it shall be rendred to every one according to his Deeds We are upon our Good Behaviour all this mean while And as it was said to Cain immediately before his Wicked Fact so it is told to every one of us before we enter upon the Actions of our Life If thou dost well shalt thou not be accepted and if thou dost not well Sin lieth at the door Gen. 4. 7. Accordingly from Time to Time we are to lay hold of every Opportunity for well-doing and as carefully avoid the Occasions of all manner of Evil. This is repeated over again for indeed it had need be as often inculcated as Moses in the Book of Deuteronomy doth repeat over and over again to the Israelites God's Law for them to observe and do it To write the same things over again unto Good Minds is not Grievous but to them it is Safe And though it may seem nauseous and irksome to the Evil and Ungodly so it would be but once to mention what they have no Mind to know and no Heart to do All is comprised in the Observation of God's Law and it is of Absolute and Indispensable Necessity so that it can never be pressed or repeated too much We should have it always in our Remembrance and as it should be written and ingrafted in us so it should stir up and be continually sensible in our Minds that we may know how to act and have wherewithall to answer every Temptation and drawing aside to Evil and also have that which would quicken and actually stir us up unto Good The World makes enquiry and seems to be desirous after Good and when it is pointed out and shewed unto them they will not accept and imbrace it This is not the sort they would have or it is too High and Excellent for them through Ignorance they do not desire it They are for abundance of Corn and Wine or for Carnal and Sensual Pleasure but for the Light of God's Countenance for that Gladness he puts into the Heart for Spiritual Joy and Eternal Peace These things the Worldly Man knoweth not neither doth he apprehend the just Worth and Excellency in them But a little outward Mirth in the midst whereof the Heart is Sorrowful or sudden Flashes of Rejoycing which end in Darkness this is what he doth catch and seek after A Thousand or Ten thousand repeated Acts of this Nature do not make up the True Happiness for each is unsatisfactory at the very time it is interrupted and all determined at last In Truth None is to be blamed for endeavouring to make his Life as Comfortable as he can for passing on these few and evil Days of his Pilgrimage with the lesser Trouble and Sorrow But in the mean while great Heed and Care should be taken as to the Means whither Sinful or not and so whither several parts of Duty are not left undone upon this Pretext If we do fulfil all Righteousness and walk in all the Commandments of the Lord Blameless If we do take heed to our ways that we Offend or Sin not in God's Name let us rejoyce our selves as much as we will If we Sanctifie the days of our Feasting and use our utmost Watchfulness and Circumspection that we Sin not nor Curse God in our Hearts Job 1. 5. because he doth not allow it to be so with us always then we are to Praise our God and we may give way unto Honest Mirth and Cheerfulness And so in the other extream Condition If in Cold and Nakedness Hunger and Thirst we can Bless our God and be contented let us trust him further whither he will not bring us to True and Enduring Happiness Whilst others are busied and conversant only about the Present let us look out to the End Nay Let us secure that and then let the Present take care for the things of it self Shall we make it an Article or Doubt Whither we shall immediately set upon the keeping of God's Commandments for fear of losing so much Pleasure and Ease in the mean while and subjecting our selves to Pain and Irksomness Know we not that if it were so our God will abundantly make up for all by his Recompence at the last as he doth give an Earnest by the Sweetness and Comfort we perceive even now For if we consider that Approbation of Mind that strong Consolation and lively Hope and take in one thing with another we have more Good now than possibly could be attained by any Variation or Disobedience It is both agreeable and satisfactory to our Nature if we reflect upon it according to Truth and without its Corruption for God who made us and knoweth our Frame hath fitted his Laws and Commandments accordingly What the Apostle saith I had not known Sin but by the Law for I had not known Lust except the Law had said Thou shalt not Covet Rom. 7. 7. So in not a much unlike manner it may be applied That if we did throughly know the very Nature of Sin and Lust we should not so much give way or consent unto either for that which led our Forefathers into the Transgression is the same that doth entice us at this very day The Woman saw that the Tree was good for Food and that it was pleasant to the Eyes and a Tree to be desired to make one Wise Gen. 3. 6. Here was an Imagination of Good Pleasure and of bettering ones present State and this prevailed to yield unto the Temptation Now if more of each sort of all these three were to be had by keeping within that Station and Bounds God hath set then a meer Selfish and Wise Man knoweth what he hath to do Nay there is each of this sort to be had in the other Trees of the Garden God hath already sufficiently provided for the well-being of Mankind in the lawful use of those things he hath given and it is
it is now supposed in the days of his Flesh then indeed it is vain to go into the Sanctuary and it is no profit to walk Mournfully before the Lord of Hosts and constantly to keep his Ordinances according to the surmise of the Prophane Sinners in Mal. 3. But surely his Word and Promise those many immutable things in which it is impossible for God to Lie for the Reward to those who diligently seek and serve him all these may be more surely trusted unto than what is only imagined in the vain false and wicked Minds of Men. This may be sensibly perceived as a manifest token and forerunner of a greater loss that their Ungodliness at this present time comes to nothing at all It hath a regret at the several times it is practiced which is more bitter than the imagined tediousness of Religious Duty and they do again falsly hope that it will be passed over in Forgetfulness or Excuse A Book of Remembrance is written Mal. 3. 18. That it may be discerned between them who serve God and who serve him not And so between those wha do it more or less with the several Circumstances belonging thereunto Though there is now the same Event to him that Sacrificeth or Sacrificeth not yet the Judge of all the Earth shall do Right Though a Sinner doth Evil an hundred times and his days be prolonged yet surely I know it shall be well with them which fear God which fear before him Eccles 8. 12. In that day there is none but would be of the Lord's Jewels if they might and they would be willingly spared by him as a Man spareth his own Son that Serveth him But then they must endeavour to please and find acceptance with him in the mean while for if there should never so much be done in things pertaining to God and he should not like nor accept thereof it profiteth nothing As again if he is well pleased with our Sacrifices and Works we have the utmost that we can desire on this side of Heaven for we have the earnest and assured hope of his Favour and Reward That we may not Serve him with Doubt and Ignorance we are to take heed that We do all things according to the Pattern in his Word As Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the Tabernacle for see saith he that thou make all things according to the Pattern shewed to thee in the Mount Heb. 8. 5. For this is according to his express Command and also it is agreeable to the Duty of a Son or Servant to do according as it is Commanded and directed unto him or they know assuredly such the continual Employment which their Father or Master would have them to do But when Men choose their own ways Isa 66. 3. it is in God's Sight and Estimation as Cutting off a Dogs Neck or as Offering Swines Blood which is an Abomination and doth displease him yet more Or if they do a great multitude of meer Acts of outward Religion yet when these Works come to be examined of what sort they are instead of a Commendation and Reward it may be demanded of them Who hath required this at your Hand to tread my Courts Isa 1. 12. 'T is not the Much speaking of the Heathen nor yet The Superstition of Jew or Papist nor those several kinds of Worship to the One God or Many that are observed by the several Nations of the World which makes God to hear or accept thereof But known unto God are the Works of all Men and it is left unto him how he will be pleased to deal with them accordingly As Bodily Exercise profiteth nothing so outward Services are little available but the Heart is that which God looks unto and with what Mind they are done It must be with an intention to please him and to please him only Thereby shutting out all Custom and Conformity to the World Rom. 12. 2. Unless before they are agreed in a Right thing In things pertaining to God no respect must be had unto Men For God will not give his Glory unto another nor any part of his Worship to Men of the same Likeness with our selves And yet how common is it in the World to do thus and thus in Religion because those which have the Reputation of Great Learned and wise Men do the fame Whereas we do not understand nor consider throughly that these have provoked God to Jealousie and Displeasure with their Inventions and now he suffers them to err from the right way For seeing they were not contented with that Rule which God had given them but despised it for the seeming plainness and Simplicity thereof And they would find out something which should seem outwardly more Wise and make a greater shew than a true and Spiritual Worship doth It pleased God to let a poor and mean People Serve him and be Saved after this manner but the others are left still to go on in their own ways in which they mistake and Perish God is the same still His Thoughts are not as our Thoughts He hath chosen the foolish things of the World to confoudd the Wise and God hath chosen the Weak things of the World to confound the things which are Mighty and Base things of the World and things which I are Despised hath God chosen yea and things which are not to bring to naught things that are That no Fleshk should glory in his Presence 1 Cor. 27 28 29. See that whole Chapter Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath and behold every one that is Proud and abase him Job 40. 11. That he may cut off all occasion of Boasting There is no obliging of God with any thing exabundant or with doing more than is commanded for we have all sinned and come short of that nor yet should we presume to do besides what is required for he doth disown and is displeased with all that Any thing that savours the least of Pride is an Abomination to God and so what would make any pretence to Merit or deserving all this is rejected by him Man was at first the work of God's own Hands Yet I had planted thee a noble Vine wholly a right Seed How then art thou turned into the Degenerate Plant of a strange Vine unto me Jer. 2. 21. For since that every Imagination of the Thoughts of his Heart was only Evil continually Gen. 6. 5. Man hath been so universally Corrupt throughout that till he is Renewed again after the Image of him who Created him which in Righteousness and true Holiness he stands not only distinguished from but as it were in perfect contrariety unto God Said our Saviour to one of his Disciples Get thee behind me Satan thou art an Offence unto me for thou Savourest not the things that be of God but those that be of Men Matt. 16. 23. As if the things which did savour of Men were a Stink and evil Smell and a Smoak in his Nose
all this long Fight and Controversie with the Inhabitants of the Earth wherein the Lord did Fight against them with the Sword of his Mouth even that two edged Sword which is called the Word of God And these Rebels did again fight with him with all their Vngodly deeds which they have Vngodly committed and with all their hard Speeches which ungodly Sinners have spoken against him Jude 15. Yet after all God hath the better and upper Hand Though they did as it were Murder his own Divine Majesty in putting to Death his Prophets Son and Servants God hath raised up his Son already and he will also raise up all them again and bring them along with him Alive to Judgment when When he will tread down his Enemies in his Anger and Trample them in his Fury Isa 63. 3. and He will slay them Luke 19. 27. serving them as they did his Anointed and his Chosen ones Still the Lord liveth and Blessed be my Rock and let the God of my Salvation be Exalted The Psalmist goes on to speak in the Person of Christ who must Reign till he hath put all his Enemies under his Feet It is God that avengeth me and subdueth the People under me He delivereth me from mine Enemies yea thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me Which was eminently fulfilled when those that rose up against him lifted him up upon the Cross and afterwards God lifted him up from the Grave wherein they had put him into the highest Heavens in his Ascension and sitting now at his Right hand where he is now lifted up infinitely above all his Enemies Thou hast delivered me from the violent Man who is as contrary to the Meckness and Gentleness of Christ as a Wolf is to a Lamb. But here God the Everlasting Shepherd who brought again the Lord Jesus from the Dead did deliver and restore this Lamb of God safe again from out of their Mouth after they had taken him and with wicked Hands Crucified him Therefore will I give thanks unto thee O Lord among the Heathen and sing Praise unto thy Name Great deliverance giveth he to his King who in that day in reality and very deed shall be King both of the Jews and also of the Gentiles yea of all the Earth and to his Anointed which is the very Christ to David and to his Seed for evermore By which last word the Son of David is included of whom as concerning the Flesh Christ came and also all the Seed and Children whom the Lord hath given him from the Beginning from thenceforth and for evermore in the most Universal comprehensive and extensive Signification throughout all the Earth and to the end of Time from thenceforth throughout all Eternity Which is here so expressed for our Understanding and Apprehension For there is no passing throughout all Eternity for into that is an entrance and in that is a continuance but no going through any part of what is without Succession of days or ending of time but like God himself the Ancient of days abideth continually the same And they sung a new Song saying Thou art worthy to take the Book and open the Seals thereof for thou wast slaâ—n and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation And hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall Reign on the Earth Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive Power and Riches and Wisdom and Strength and Honour and Glory and Blessing And every Creature which is in Heaven and on the Earth and under the Earth and such as are in the Sea and all that is in them heard I saying Blessing and Honour and Glory and Power be unto him that sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever Rev. 5. 9 10 12 13. After this I beheld and lo a great Multitude which no Man could number of all Nationt and Kindred and People and Tongues stood before the Throne and before the Lamb cloathed with white Robes and Palms in their Hands and cried with a loud Voice saying Salvation unto our God which sitteth upon the Throne and to the Lamb Blessing and Glory and Wisdom and Thanksgiving and Honour and Power and Might be to our God for ever and ever Amen Rev. 7 9 10 12. FINIS Practical Books Written and Published by Richard Stafford OF Happiness Wherein it is fully and particularly manifested That the greatest Happiness of this Life consisteth in the Fear of God and keeping his Commandments in opposition to the Pleasures of Sin or the pretended conveniency of Disobedience Rules and Directions for the prevention of and Recovery out of Sickness A Discourse against Partial Obedience Or that dangerous Deceit so universal amongst them who call themselves Christians of keeping some of the Commandments of God and neglecting others Some Thoughts of the Life to Come With a brief account of the state of Religion as it 〈◊〉 now in the World The great Benefits of Christ to all that Believe on and Obey him Being a Treatise on Hebrews 2. 15. VVherein it is shewed and made known how People may be freed and delivered from that slavish fear of Death whereby they are subject to Bondage throughout their Life-time And also how they may be saved and preserved from the Evil and Danger of Death when it shall approach nigh and come actually upon them An earnest Call to all the Inhabitants of the Earth to Turn immediately to the Lord their God