If they will come they shall be kindly received but if they make light of all these Messengers going their Wayes one to his Farm another to his Merchandize at their peril be it The reason why they did Mat. 22. was because they had some present business which they thought of more concern then the Wedding Dinner In like manner Men will not entertain the offers of Grace and Salvation made to them out of the Gospel because they have some lusts and covetous desires to gratifie which they think tend more to their Happiness then the others That these have some delight they are sure for they have it in hand but they cannot conceive any in the other it is to be revealed hereafter they know not when so in their Opinion they make the better choice because they are certain of something whereas others expose themselves to self-denial and present losses and live upon imaginary expectancies There is no time like the present a slight vanity now is to be prefered before a substantial Glory hereafter Most excellent reasoning and agreeable to the Wisdom of this World that come to nought 1 Cor. 2. 6. It is worthy of and such as could be expected from Men who have no foresight of things to come in other things it is prudence to have an eye forward but in this which is of greater Moment then all things put together to pass on and be punished is reckoned the wiser way Then it will be discerned otherwise but this is the misery when they shall come to be throughly convinced of their foolishness it will be past remedy This objection against the things of God because they are to come hath been already answered And for the delight of the sins most in esteem and pâ—actice Ch. 3. if God permit shall be fully examined in the ensuing Chapters It may appear very small and inconsiderable for which a Man must lose Temporal Comfort and Eternal Joyes endure the manifold evils and inconveniencies of sin in this present time and afterwards suffer endless Torment To be excluded from Peace here and Glory hereafter to be made subject unto sorrows now and hence forwards Eternal anguish of mind must be prejudicial to Mans Happiness or nothing is All this is to lay stronger engagement on us to observe Gods Laws In keeping of them there is great reward Psal 19. 11. There is happiness to be found but in transgression is exceeding punishment there only misery is felt The way of God is a way of Peace as long as any one walks therein he is safe but if he turns his foot aside he presently falls into trouble and danger Obedience and Happiness are met together Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other As again Sin and Misery are coupled Wickedness and Punishment are joyned hand in hand The Heavens declare the Glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy work Day unto Day uttereth Speech Night unto Night Of Scripture sheweth Knowledge There is no Speech nor Language where their voice is not heard Psal 19. 1 2 3. The astonishing Works of creation proclaim aloud to all the World there is a God who made them The excellent contrivance of this glorious Fabrick doth shew forth his great Power and infinite Understanding But they do not make known what the Lord requireth of us they do not reveal in what relation we stand towards him they cannot discover our imperfection or how we may please and become like unto him they do not shew the errour of our crooked and perverse wayes or manifest the true Happiness or how we may run towards it and not at uncertainty Neither doth they prescribe how to remedy our natural folly and blindness But the Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul the Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple The Statutes of the Lord are right rejoicing the Heart The Commandment of the Lord is pure enlightning the Eyes It doth what all the World cannot direct into the way of perfect Peace which leads up to everlasting Glory The Prophecy came not in Old time by the Will of Man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 21. God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son Heb. 1. 1 2. Who whilst he dwelt amongst us made known the Will of his heavenly Father chusing unto him Disciples to go and teach likewise He instructed them until the time of his Suffering To whom he shewed himself alive after his Passion by many infallible Proofs being seen of them forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. And being assembled together with them commanded that they should not depart from Jerusalem but wait for the Promise of the Father which saith he ye have heard of me Acts 13. 4. It was the Comforter which is the holy Ghost whom my Father will send in my Name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you John 14. 26. Many things Christ did and said which are not written by the Evangelists some whereof the Apostles have delivered And other things they have laid down out of his Doctrine by infallible inference and deduction They could not be mistaken for they received the Promise John 16. 13. The Spirit of Truth will guide you into all Truth and for a manifest Testimony thereof they foretold things to come which have been and are to be fulfilled In the old Testament the Law of Moses the Prophets and the Psalms so summed up Luke 24. 44. In the New the Writings of Evangelists and Apostles are given to make us wise unto Salvation By these God will judge us at the last day I saw the Dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened and another Book was opened which was the Book of Life and the Dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books according to their Works Rev. 20. 12. The Bible is the Lords Statute Book containing those Laws for the Government of the world and according as People have observed oâ— transgressed them he will proceed to acquital or Condemnation In Christ's Sermon on the Mount before he comes to speak as to the Commandments he doth premise Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy the Law but to fulfill For verily I say unto you till Heaven Earth pass one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law till all be fulfilled Mat. 5. 17 18. As for the Types and Ceremonies they were but Prefigurations of him that was to come so they vanish when all was finished on the Cross Other Statutes did relate to the Jews in their politick capacity which Moses did ordain from God who was to them
a gain of Godliness and procure the favour of those above them yet the Most High God remains immutable and cannot lie let them make what alterations they will yet one cometh to rectifie Saith Christ He that rejecteth Me and receiveth not my Words hath one that judgeth him the word that I have spoken the same shalt judge him at the last day John 12. 48. So it is most reasonable he should and he shall be the alone distributer according to the very intention and meaning of them This is necessary to be insisted on because there is a wonderfull deceit cherished amongst the greater sort who though they live in Wickedness and Pleasures and have no real inward sence of Religion Yet if they can get a Man in black unto whom they make a partial relation of themâ—elves that they are sinners indeed but who is not Howbeit they do this and that good thing which they are sure to tell him of and magnifie and then if he not making a through examination acquaints them in general their condition is good enough towards God and they will go to Hâ—aâ—en through his Mercies in Christ Jesus and intimate as if there was no such need for more they forthwith cry him up for an honest fellow and â—â—g themselves now they can have their consolation here and hereafter that they will go on in their course The abuse and corruption this way cannot be vindicated from those who call themselves Pastors of the True Church for there are some who understand not what they say and whereof they affirm who would be glad of a good Table or Preferment Others know better but speak what they should not to comply with the custom of the World or a Potent Neighbour but it is aâ—ominable among those of the Roman Church The Priests there have modelled such a Religion which they call Christian but is contrary to the very nature design and end of it as any thing can be as is most agreeable to sinful flesh and blood They may be more properly stiled followers of Mahomet then of the holy Jâ—sus for they have used the very same Arts and Policy though in a different way to ingratiate their Religion in the World but especially amongst those of higher rank by adopting it to their pride and wicked desires for if it were true what they said none that had Money enough could miss of Heaven O most damnable Impostors as if the gift of God could be purchased with Money Acts 8. 20. As if that Man from whom they pretend to derive all their infallibility were a liar when he said Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your Fathers 1 Pet. 1. 18. But according to these Men of corrupt minds if ye have plenty of these ye may still abide in your vain conversation Who have made a concord between Christ and Belial and laid down a Scheme how Men may live contrary to the Gospel and yet obtain the benefits thereof who have cryed up Peace Peace to that way where is no Peace For if we consider seriously the great displeasure God Almighty hath to sin as is shewed forth 2 Pet. 2. 4 5 6. For one single Act of Disobedience he entailed a curse on Adam and all his Posterity Of six hundred thousand of his own People whom he had brought out of Aegypt there were but two only which went into the Promised Land and Moses himself who had so often stood in the gap between an enraged God and a provoking People yet he was not admitted there But to leave those under the Law which worketh Wrath and by which every Man is accursed come we to the Gospel which taketh that away yet of the sour sorts of the hearers of the word there is but one good When one asked our Saviour Lord are there few that be saved He said â—nto them Strive to enter in at the streight Gate Luke 13. 24. Which signifies the using more endeavour then lazy and negligent Worshippers can pretend unto And then there is Gal. 5. 24. Mat. 11. 12. 2 Cor. 5. 17. 2 Pet. 1. 4 5 6 10. If these and more places which do declare the strictness of the Gospel Precepts were impartially weighed in the Spirit of our minds not putting in the ballance against them fleshly lusts or corrupt reason How can we imagine a perfunctory and formal course of Godliness though it be never so much in vogue will ever carry a Man to Heaven for none can go thither who obeys not the Gospel Let Men promise to themselves a future blessedness upon the Whims and Fancies of their own brain or else the Opinion of others yet they are to remember once again we are not to stand or fall by these but the Book of the everlasting Gospel shall be opened and it shall be according to what is written therein without humane Glosses but according to the Wisdom of God who shall judge the World in Righteousness Neither let any one therefore at present be fearful least when he hath run well he shall not obtain by reason of some sence which God may put on his own Laws which his poor Servant is not aware of for God is not unfaithfull that he should deceive any and on what conditions the promise of Eternal Life is given is so clearly delivered that it is impossible any one who hath but common sence should be mistaken as to them The great Men cannot for they have known the way of the Lord and the judgment of their God Jer. 5. 5. The Scriptures are able to make thee Wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 3. 15. What pertains to this end is so clear and obvious that they must be damnably wrested if any one do err herein There is such a wonderful agreement concerning the necessary things and such plainness of expression that none can be deceived but he who hath a mind to be deceived nor any be ignorant but he that would be ignorant so all are left without excuse Suffer your selves to be admonished who now walk according to the course of this World among whom you have your conversation in the lusts of the flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind Eph. 2. 2 3. Consider well what you do You that say it is as good to be out of the World as out of the Fashion can you really think it as good to be somewhere else too as our of the Fashion Will Company make that more tolerable Do not look upon this as vain Words for it is a certain truth if you follow the Multitude you will not be among those few in the narrow way that leadeth unto life and you must then be amongst those many of the other way It is the command of God Thou shalt not follow a Multitude to do evil Exod. 23. 2. Every one that lives and converses in the midst thereof
through some Inconveniencies in the mean while upon prospect of that Why may not another do the same in hope of Heaven If one is supported by a Father Friend Husband God reveals himself to be such to every one that feareth him and doth likewise uphold When the Sorrow is for things pertaining to him cannot he Comfort or Deliver When from the World cannot he furnish with higher Considerations Doth he who is in pursuit of a great Advantage mind the loss of a Farthing God who gives Breath and Food doth also give Relief to the Soul. As the Body goes on contentedly from day to day by the strength of Meat and Raiment Cannot also she Immortal part of us be a little quieted from time to time in its Hunger and Thirst after Happiness till it is perfected in the due time and place The Scriptures speak much of Comfort Joy and Peace in the inward Man which they know and perceive who make that the rule of their Actions and have it fulfilled in them Let others do the same and they will be likewise Partakers of the Joy and Consolation The unbelieving and natural Man Laughs at all this Will words which are but wind blow away Pain and Grief It sticks faster then so The Physitian gives visible Remedies to heaI Diseases the Lawyer shews a way to get out of encumbrances of Estate the Bountiful gives Money to relieve the Poor and Distressed And indeed for worldly Vexations and Trouble Wise Sayings may do something But for the Man whose Trade is only in words who takes care of the Soul which we see not and of another World which we know not What will this Babler say he moveth his Lips but he doth nothing It will not be much besides the present purpose to describe how Of Words much force and Efficacy is in Words and then to shew that they will effectually asswage Grief Words are Thoughts expressed which arise from and are the workings of the mind Set them aside you must renounce the very Soul and Reason and confequently Unman him What do Words signifie So you may ask of Wisdom Understanding and all those noble Faculties within which are discovered by them Take away these Man is a lump of Clay just enlivened but withall vile and weak A dumb breathing Statue without use or excellency More need not be said to lay open the Absurdity and Monstrousness of this All will grant there is need of some Speech or Language and there is more in it then a Voice only for it is significative of Things as what is commonly seen heard or talked of Things are visible and invisible past present and future Now Words convey and make all these known making invisible to be as it were visible to us past and future present by the description it gives of them Herein appears the excellency and reality of Words that they represent those things which do not appear as if they did appear Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring down Christ from above Or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the Dead The VVord is nigh thee even in thy Mouth and in thy Heart that is the VVord of Faith which we Preach Rom. 10. 6 7 8. That speaks of God himself of whom are all things That declares unto us the astonishing Works of Creation The Motion of the Stars and the Springs of the Deep Which comprehend in one Sentence the Compass of the World and all that is therein This we see done with our Eyes in Ink and Paper we hear it with our Ears in a light and aiery sound Of what we are further convinced without by the Eye of Sence But there is one step higher which leads to further Knowledge and applies it to our selves shewing how we are concerned The Word of Faith Which is that Revelation God hath made to Mankind in Scripture The Truth whereof relies upon Divine Testimony Miracles Signs Infallible Proofs The certainty whereof may be somewhat seen from the very Nature and Connexion of things Here are WORDS indeed they are called GREAT WORDS Dan. 7. 11. and may be seen in the foregoing verses And not only there but throughout the whole Scripture Lo these are parts of his VVays but how little a Portion is heard of him Job 26. 14. This is only of what he doth to the Inhabitants of the Earth and that is but as a Point to the whole World. This is part of Gods Will noted in a Book that it may be for the use of those several Generation which shall pass through here Which is of no great bulk but take â—ll the Libraries of the World all that was ever Written and Printed and besides what they have from hence they do not contain so great and excellent words as this The Wisdom of God doth as much excel Mans as his Works doth theirs which Iâ—a 55. 9. he could have manifelled in a stile accordingly but he condelcended to our infirmities that we â—â—â—ht receive and know what concerneth us They are not Words only for they are both true and significative as such they â—hould affect us as the things themselves for they go before and give notice of it In things of common life Men are equally concerned at the Message as the thing it self and provide accordingly now the first is but a Word so it would be the same as to the Promises and Threatnings of God if they were believed The VVord Preached did not profit them not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it Heb. 4. 2. The Will of God is as we learn from John 1. 6 7. That all Men through him might believe So we read Acts 28. 24 that at the first time of Hearing Some believed the things that were spoken and some believed not But would they have attended again and again for successive times hearkened to what might be urged further then more might have believed Did ever any Man feriously understand and throughly weigh all the Arguments that might be brought for Faith and yet remain an Unbeliever It is possible through Prejudice Ignorance hardness of Heart but not to a sincere and willing mind that hath no other end but to be satisfied whether indeed these things are so The greater part will not admit of a full hearing least they should believe and be saved and so they are of their own fault Unbelievers That place in Isa 6. 9 10. is after God hath used former Methods as appears by his Expostulation in the foregoing Chapter What could I have done more for my Vineyard that I have not done in it Isa 5. 4. People may be at length unaffected and hardened under the Word but it was at first through their own provocation and wilsulness By not minding thereof when it would have saved them they come to have no Sence thereof afterwards But in it self it is apt to produce Faith. And when it is received therewith it doth
3 6 7 8. Thou mayst be destroyed for all thy hope for hope which is against the plain word of God is not hope for that which a Man hath no Promise what doth he hope for Neither let him perveâ—sly abuse Rom. 4. 18. as think to be saved with hoping Abraham for 't is evident Abraham had the Promise of God Gen. 15 5. for what he hoped for but had no natural Grounds for it Heb. 11. 11. but here it is only a false and fond Presumption directly contrary to Scripture And if he will for all trust to go to Heaven every common Beggar that lieth upon the Dunghil hath greater Reason to expect to climb up to the real Throne of Majesty and be King over this whole Nation for there is no impossibility in this as in the other It being impossible for God to lie Heb. 6. 18. When a wicked man dieth his Expectation shall perish and the hope of unjust men perisheth Prov. 11. 7. Neither doth it avail much in this Life it may stifle the afrighting thoughts of Damnation but yields no true Peace and Comfort It standing upon weak and rotten Grounds must not be searched for then it would totter and vex the Man that entertains it But if he would not be deceived in the greatest Concern of his own eternal Happiness he might know that if his hopes now will not bear a through Examination it is Suspicious they are false for true Gold will abide the Fire and then they will not pass for true in that day when the Lord shall try all things If himself should strictly consider he would spie out the deceit much more will the all-seeing God He will judge the secrets of Men by the Gospel the reserved and innermost thoughts which if here suffered to come out would defeat the vanity of all his hopes But this would be disquietude he must not cast them off for he is willing to save his Soul then suffer thy self to be put in mind how it may be done The error of most Men is they will exclaim horribly against despair which indeed is a sad thing and will take all imaginable heed of not falling into it but then they pass over the sure and middle way as if this were too near it and so fall upon another more dangerous Rock which they going on securely without noise proves destructive to thousands I mean presumption on Gods mercy where is no ground for it What doth it help the Ship tossed to and fro to cast out Anchor where is no bottom to fix on When the soul is troubled what real good doth it to let out hope if there is no promise to stay it self on Or if he thinks he can yet heed must be taken that it be not falsly applyed for that would be like foolish Pilots who fancy they see the Shore and make towards it when it is quicksands in which they coming near are Swallowed Alas just upon sinking they discover the deceit but if they had before they had avoided it The Sinner dropping into the bottomless Pit then is fully sensible of the falseness of all his former hopes but if he had been so wise in the day of Salvation to have trusted unto them no further then they were to be made true and stedfast out of the Word he had never came to this Then perhaps Satan working with all deceivableness in them that perish might beat off from examining themselves throughly representing such thoughts as Melancholy Fancies tending to despair which they must drive out of their mind But they should consider whether such do necessarily arise from Scripture for by that all must be judged at the last day And if we would judge our selves we should not be judged 1 Cor. 11. 31. We might know before hand how it will go with us if one hath a title to the Heavenly inheritance he must make it good out of this Statute Book which God hath made for his government over the World according to which is to be distribution of rewards and punishments from Deut. 29. 20 Rev. 3. 5. It appears that every common person hath a name in the Court-roll of Heaven and we are to arrive there upon the performance of such conditions in the mean while so plainly laid down that every one may know whether he doth them or not The Case being thus it is the wisest way now being the only time of doing them to read that Book to see whether all things are done that are written therein and if not to do them whilst we may correct what is amiss then to go on slightly and negligently not much minding it before hand least when the Book is opened Rev. 20. 12. Such and such things may be found wanâ—ing or mistaken and so the most inestimable good is lost for want of a full examination and knowledge This disappointment will be more tormenting and argue of folly because then he will have no opportunity to fill up and make right what was wanting or false â—e might have done it heretofore but then would not consider And therefore least any one that reads here should come into this wretched condition Behold I have told you before let him make no delay to search and try his wayes if they are streight when examined by the rule of Scripture there is no fear but if contrary they must be forth with amended by it Neither think this the way to despair which is the only Objection against sound Doctrine but to be converted and healed If one is in a damnable State the greater danger is in not being sensible thereof but none at all in knowing it for he may recover out as soon as he will let him repent and do so no more no longer trust unto those errors and mistakes If he is not yet come up to that fitness and Qualification for Heaven it is no hindrance but he may endeavour after it he may come up to such a degree of eminency and perfection before he die and at present may do somewhat towards it Gods Mercy and Pardon is to the greatest Sinners upon true Repentance there is no necessity for any one to continue in his sins and when he forsakes them the promises do presently belong to him see Isa 55. 7. Ezek. 18. 22. So again the threatnings are not absolute but only hang over the impenitent this word Despair is more often talked of then considered for in property of Speech it is opposed to Hope and is a distrust of Gods Mercy when there is good evidence in holy Writ that he may be partaker of the Promises But if one can challenge no property in them because of his wicked Life and Conversation or lives in one sin impenitently to which damnation is threatned this cannot be said to be despair because as long as he remains thus he hath no ground for hope no more then a Murderer or Capital Felon may be said to do so when he knowing the Law thinks
poor of this World rich in Faith and heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him Jam. 2. 5. Why therefore will you not also choose him to be your God Some have done so but why will you not all Indeed one would imagine every single Soul should do so unless he did cast his eyes out into the World and then he might see Satan hath a Kingdom among these equally as the great ones of the Earth Wickedness is not confined to high Places nor inhabiteth only in fine Houses but hath spread among those of low Estate and crept into the smallest Cottages Oppression Bribery and Injustice are in great Employments Cousenage Lying and all manner of deceit do accompany every inferior Trade there is a knavish part a Mystery of iniquity interwoven into it and is peculiar to each profession There is a general failure of Truth and Justice from among us I have seen violence and strife in the City mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it deceit and guile depart not from her streets Psal 55. 9 10. In the Country is over-reaching one another each Man trys to impose upon his Neighbour the hireling loyters and is negligent in his Masters business The poor in time of leasing will break the Commandment for a morsel of bread and handful of barley if they have opportunity of taking it from the heap and not be discovered They are every where corrupt in their dealings there is hardly one that doth justly They will exclaim against the Debauchery of the Rich and perhaps out of an ill humour because themselves are restrained from sinning after the same manner through want but they will equal them in another kind by Dishonesty Falshood and Murmuring and the same Spirit of disobedience would lead them to commit the same sins they now speak against if they had where-withal The Word of God is gone forth against all manner of Sin and Iniquity and it will signifie nothing at his Judgment to say you did not commit such and such if you did of another sort Ignorance contempt of and repining against God Slandering Lying and Theft are as damnable as Whoredom Drunkenness or Gluttony As the rich are more liable to the enticement of these so are you of the others They are more easily beset by the pleasures you by the profits of this World. Both are in Temptation that the trial of your Faith and Obedience may be had there is no necessity for either of you to fall the one may be temperate even in the midst of all his abundance the other may be honest and yet have sufficient for Life and Godliness God hath given the rich great advantages to work out his own Salvation so he is in alike danger of miscarrying the poor hath not quite so great furtherances but is in less danger This comes to be through knowledge and ignorance the former know more the other not having such means are commonly poor and foolish for they know not the way of the Lord nor the Judgment of their God. Jer. 5. 4. Ignorance hath and doth yet too much abound in our Land Of Ignorance especially amongst the lower sort The causes whereof hath been the covetousness or poverty of Parents who either would not or were not able to put them to School and then it should be supplyed by the charity of others Or else their own perverse will who hated knowledge and despised instruction out of a wicked mind because they think that if once they knew the will of God they are to do it which they care not for and therefore will not seek to understand it vainly hoping hereby to be excused from obeying Or thirdly the fault and negligence of Pastors and Teachers who were for doing no more then just to entitle them to their Tythes They are all ignorant they are all dumb Dogs they cannot Bark sleeping lying down loving to slumber they all look to their own way every one for his gain from his quarter Isa 56. 10 11. And because this might have been had with less they have not been diligent and earnest to make people throughly understand which be the first Principles of the Oracles of God. If such hindrances were removed all the inhabitants of this Nation miâ—ht know the Lord from the least unto the greatest What could God do more then to give us the Law and the Testimony and the Light that is in them To command that his Gospel be Preached to every Creature wherein is so plain a discovery of Himself and his Son Jesus Christ that none who either hears or reads can be ignorant let him have never so mean a Capacity unless he is a meer natural Ideot of whom more is not required then is given There is an appointed Order of Men who are to be Guides of the Blind a Light of them which are in Darkness an Instructer of the Foolish a Teacher of Babes Rom. 2. 19 20. But if they instead of speaking to Edification and sound Doctrine will utter dark Speeches or useless Notions if the people will come into the Assembly but not hearken to what is said or willingly forget if those will not search the Scriptures when they are commanded so to do God doth move and incline but forces none They know not neither will they understand they walk on in Darkness Psal 82. 5. Come to die like brute Beasts and then be reserved Hear ye all this and tremble until the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God 2 Thes 1. 7 8. You think to go Heaven because you live a poor laborious life but how can you expect that when Truth it self hath said This is life Life Eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Joh. 17. 3 Think not this knowledge too excellent for you to attain unto it What should hinder If you can read you will understand and then you hear the Word Preached every Lords day you may enquire of Christian Brethren and Friends so having these advantages if thou canst not read thou mayest believe and do thy duty if thou hast in sincerity a mind to do it Many people talk of ignorance by which they will defend their ungodly manner of living which in truth is a further degree of Provocation because they began that first with not â—esiring the knowledge of Gods ways Those times are long â—â—nce passed when he winked at Ignorance Acts 17 30. And it cannot be now pretended under the Gospel especially where blessed be God every one hath or may have the Book of saving Knowledge The most unlearned Soul who can neither write nor read hath other helps to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the Truth for God hath appointed means to make it known unto Men. In this Place and Generation none can be ignorant but he who is willingly ignorant if rightly
this shews him where it is My heart and my flesh faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever Psal 72. 26. We know him as yet by Faith and our rejoycing in him is according to the measure of that Whatever good and comfort is in pure and undefiled Religion in an universal and constant complyance with it which is much every way as may be partly seen by what hath been and is to be said but much more would be perceived by him who makes a through experience of it all this comes in by repentance which is the beginning thereof for it forsakes sin and keeps the Commandments This was the first Doctrine John the forerunner and Christ himself Preached Mark. 1. 4 15. And it was also the message in which the Prophets before came Moses speaks very little thereof He that despised Moses Law died without Mercy Heb. 10. 28. God gave his people at first severe and strict Commandments without making so full a discovery of Pardon and Forgiveness but then those who became obnoxious to the guilt and judgment of the Law did not know how to escape The Lord who is rich in Mercy did in time reveal it more and more to those who would turn from their evil doing Before the last threatning there goes out another warning and invitation to submit Thus saith the Lord Behold I frame evil against you and devise a device against you 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. Strange Stubbornness that Men should be thus provoking to God and act so madly against themselves we see what a mighty force there is in Lust and Pride They sinned yet more in not believing his wonderful offer they incensed him yet more in not being overcome by his goodness but he abounded in this as they did in iniquity confirming the truth of the Prophet Let favour be shewed to the wicked yet will he not learn Righteousness Isa 26. 10. All Gods doings are gradual and successive both his Works of Nature and Grace The most inestimable and accomplishment of all Mercies was in the Redemption of the World by our Lord Jesus Christ of this discovery was made to the Fathers by little and little If I may so speak with the greatest reverence and adoration with thanksgiving for such his gracious Methods God shewed himself the most hard Master at first The Law given Gen. 2. 17. was peremptory and penal then he begins Gen. 8. 21. Gen. 9. to release off his severity and then to Moses he proclaims himself Merciful and Gracious long Suffering Exod. 34. 6. But yet did not so fully make known to him the Doctrine of Repentance as he did afterwards to the Prophets Then comes John the Baptist Mat. 3. 2 3. Afterwards He who was bringing into the World so long before and to whom all the Old Testament hath Relation came Preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and saying the time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand Repent ye and believe the Gospel Mark 1. 14 15. And now it is established for all persons times and places as appears Luke 24. 46. Man must not presume to sin yet more upon hopes of more Mercy For as Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto Salvation Heb. 9. 28. So for those who despise and sin wilfully there is a dreadful threatning Heb. 10. 26 27 28 29. God now commandeth all Men every where to repent Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the World in Righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all Men in that he hath raised him from the dead Acts 17. 30 31. The whole Counsel of God is contained in Faith and Repentance compare Acts 20. vers 20 21. with vers 26 27. To believe and to do is the substance of all That is Faith and Repentance puts upon the second Cease to do Evil learn to do VVell It is not only to be sorry for the past or a little displeased for Of Obedience the present but shews it self by Obedience for the future To this the promises belong If thou wilt enter into life keep the Commandments Mat. 19. 17. said he VVho though he were a Son yet learned he Obedience by the things which he suffered And being made perfect he became the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him Heb. 5. 8 9. The Book of Deuteronomy is wholly on this subject there is scarce one Chapter throughout the Law of Moses the Psalms Prophets Gospel and Epistles but hath somewhat relating to this Every where is line upon line line upon line precept upon precept precept upon precept here a little and there a little and all to this purpose that Man should obey God for he hath an absolute Dominion over us all by Creation Preservation and Redemption Ye shall do my Judgments and keep mine Ordinances to walk therein I am the Lord your God Ye shall therefore keep my Statutes and Judgments which if a Man do he shall live in them I am the Lord Lev. 18. 4 5. So in the Preface to the Ten Commandments I am the Lord thy God and as he was the God of the Israelites by bringing them out of the Land of Aegypt so he is of us Christians by redeeming us from Spiritual Aegypt the Bondage of Satan Sin and Death Even we require Obedience and Service from the Horse and Ox nay from the very same Creatures as our Selves Children Mal. 1. 6. and Servants and they do such things only because we command them and think it no shame or discredit And we may allow our selves to be ten thousand degrees more inferiour to Almighty God then they are unto us neither should we be unwilling or ashamed to do such things purely and principally for his Commandment This is properly Obedience and no other God will accept of When ye fasted and mourned on the fifth and seventh Month did yet at all fast unto me even to me Zech. 7. 5. Observe the patheticalness thereof in that it is twice repeated and this is applicable to all the actions of our life do we this or that thing only 1 Cor. 10. 31. to glorifie God thereby and have we no other motive but in Subordination to that And when ye did eat and when ye did drink did ye not eat and drink for your selves vers 6. Some private ends of your own or moral considerations Do not dissemble for one knows the very secrets of your hearts There is a proud principle nourished by some who are willing to save their Soul and think if such a thing is done
11. 3. He gives preserves and continues our Health But yet what is corruptible and weak will wax old and decay Health consists in such an exact disposition of Humours which is easily disturbed by Violence from without Defect or Excess from within The Goodness and Wisdom above doth ordain Strength out of Weakness and continuance from tottering things otherwise it were to be admired that we are not Sick always instead of being so sometimes A Sparrow doth not fall to the ground without the Will of our heavenly Father Nor any Chastisment light upon the Sons and Daughters of Men without his Permission or Order He suffers such an one to fall under the harm of a second Cause or adverse Accident If we would search and examine to the utmost then confess and give Glory unto God we might many times find our Disease to be the natural effect of some Sin or Provocation We became at first subject unto Sickness by Sin only So if we reflect upon Gen. 2. 17. all our foregoing Actions and Circumstances There is some evil which insensibly alters and breaks the sound Constitution or brings it on Speedily and Violently The next thing is to be humbled for the same to accept the Punishment of our Iniquity Lev. 26. 43. I will bear the Indignation of the Lord for I have Sinned against him Mic. 7. 9. We must sincerely resolve if God should spare us this time to watch more carefully against the same for the future now to be unfeignedly sorry for it and to cry mightily unto God. The King of Israel is a Merciful King he will be Appeased and Reconciled Behold Happy is the Man whom God Correcteth Therefore despise not thou the Cbastening of the Almighty Job 5. 17. Then he fully perceives that false shew of Happiness with which Fools and Blind are deluded all along Which they might know in the mean while if they would consider it throughly as they do ever and anon slightly Outward things cannot give so much aid as they vainly promise They are all passed away as a Dream and cannot help in the greatest time of need My Flesh and my Heart faileth but God is the strength of my Heart and my Portion for ever Psal 73. 26. If the Conscience is accused by sin let the Sick Man cast it forth by Confession and Prayer and the Sea will cease from raging The mind will become more quiet Whether the Body dies or lives he is safe when he hath done all things to obtain the Mercy and acceptance of Almighty God. It is a sad Story of those who in time of Dangerous Sickness have made great shews of Reformation and Amendment and after Recovery have returned again unto Folly. And they have not cryed unto me with their Heart when they howled upon their Beds Hos 7. 14. Which word imports no true in ward Sorrow but an outward noise upon apprehension of Danger which goes off with it However God cannot be imposed upon he knows the Thoughts long before searches the Heart and tries the Reins discovers the bottom and inward reserves according to which he will judge So it is not what they pretend but what they will really be Those who have been for a superficial and slight Repentance which they did hope might avail if they should Die but if they Recover then to return to their former evil ways I say these should have done well to have considered What moved them to any Repentance at all the same should engage them to continue and perfect it For admit you should certainly live it is but a Reprieve only You will be Sick again or what is worse cut off suddenly And then things will appear exactly at the same manner again yea worse for the former Hypocrisie and Dissembling As also for that more Sin and Guilt is increased How many years may be added unto your Life is not known but it will be a sad thing to have lived Ionger to have committed more Iniquity and so Die hardened Impenitent or feigned at last At first recovery is uncertain for many have lulled themselves with hope thereof till Death hath been upon them Many things might be urged to disswade people from doing Foolishly and Presumptuously Their own Eternal Happiness or Misery lies at stake It is not a matter to trifle or deal deceitful with Be prevailed upon as you tender the good of Soul and Body to have your Repentance true and sincere By the Trouble or Pain of them think of the Worm which shall never die and the Fire which shall not be quenched and which are to be escaped from only this way Believe in God and Jesus Christ that all things contained in the old and new Testament are certainly true Faith and Repentance are necessary for all Men both in time of Health and Sickness which whoso hath according to Truth is sure for these intitle unto the Promises of him with whom we have to do Health doth consist in a regular Disposition and due Motion of each part of the Body None can see into himself or tell the exact manner how as to every particular I was made in secret and curiously VVrought in the lowest parts of the Earth Thine Eyes did see my Substance yet being imperfect and in thy Book were all my Members written which in continuance were Fashioned when as yet there was none of them Psal 139 15 16. None of us can look into the Womb or whilst in Life can see how all the Members and Parts within do work and move yet after the Body is dead we may perceive somewhat by Dissections which is guess and uncertain for if a number of Men should come into the Shop of an excellent Artist seeing his Tools and Instruments only One may think this another that and so may be divided but can never find out the exact manner of his Art. He that sees a dead Carkase unless he were put in mind by himself carrying about one of the same likeness would be at a stand to answer the Question Was this lump ever in Life He could never by his own Wit and Invention find out the way how it was He would also admire how each part both within and without did move and actuate So wonderful and fearful are Gods Works which puzzle the Understanding of Man. Whether it were to keep of Boasting or other causes yet God doth hold our Souls in Life by hidden and invisible Bands that whatever others pretend unto they cannot perfectly find out and see them The Lord Killeth and maketh Alive He bringeth down to the Grave and bringeth up 1 Sam. 2. 6. He hath kept this in his own Power All the ways he hath set out for Nature to go according unto are not yet known Indeed many of them have been searched after and some found but not all for then those Diseases would be Cured which were not first Mortal and Irrecoverable The prevention of and recovery out of Sickness doth depend upon