twofold estate under these Notions First thy nothing thy worse then nothing and these explaine thus first learne to know thy nothing the frailty of thy ourward man thy body thy mortall body look back upon the matter and composition whereof thou art made and this will help discover to thee the need of Christ The very first and perfectest man that ever was in the world except God-man the man Christ Jesus was at best in his body but Adam red earth he was but a little foulded dust that was the matter whereof he was made and into that he must againe be dissolved dust thou art and to dust shalt thou returne Gen. 3.19 Hare 's a small businesse to be proud on here 's a poore matter to glory in here 's a weake foundation to build upon for a long life and after repentance what is a dust-heap you know well a shoure of raine will dissolve it a blast of wind will scatter it and such is the matter of all our bodies a very nothing if there had not been a word more in all the Bible this had been enough to manifest the bodies mortality but the al-wisâ— God which knowes best the deceitfulnesse of our hearts to beleeve such truth against our selves would not leave it without a full discovery Hence it is that in all the course of the Scriptures the nothing of mans life the naturall being of the body here upon earth is so frequently compared to nothings that you may the better know the certainty of what I say I will pick up some here and there Iob compares man but to a flower nay not to a Flower in his full groth and in lhe time it would last but to a flower that is cut down and as if in this expression mans mortality was not yet sufficiently discribed Iob likens mans life to another nothing to a more meere nothing a shadow and as though the nothing were not yet fully cleered he adds this epethite of this nothing fleeting he sleeth also like a shadow and continueth not Iob 14.2 Here you see how sensible Iob was of all mens mortality and so of hâ—s own with the rest but mark I pray you what use he makes of this All the dayes of my appointed time will I wait till my change come ver. 14. that is I find the nothing the frailty of uncertaine and yet un-regainable life there 's no living againe to live better when a man is once dead and dissolved I will therefore take the present time I will prepare and make my self ready for the Lord that when the time which God hath determined is come I may have nothing to doe but dye David also hath many the like expressions to the same purpose but I will not insist upon them onely give a touch upon one or two and so passe Psal. 102. David equals his life but to a shadow and a shadow declining to grasse and that not greene but withered My dayes are like a shadow that declineth and I am withered like grasse ver. 11. Againe David Psal. 39. is computing the length of his life by measure and then drawes his conclusion upon it if you know not the place you will wonder much at Davids Geomatry and more at the strangenesse of his conclusion he sets all at a low rate he measures his life but at a hands bredth and cals it a nothing a vanity Behold thou hast made my dayes as an hand bredth and mine age is aâ— nothing before thee Verely not I but every man not at some low ebbe at the worst but at his best estate is altogether vanity ver. 5. But what effect did this worke upon the heart of David you shall see it put him to lay out unto the Lord for help it brings him to his prayers and now Lord what wait I for my hope is in thee ver. 7. And againe Heare my prayer O Lord and give eare unto my cry hold not thy peace at my teares for I am a stranger with thee and a sojourner as all my Fathers were O spare me a little that I may recover my strength befâ—re I goe hence and be no more seen ver. 12 13. Thus in the first place study thy nothing Secondly learne to know thy worse then nothing study to know the dangerous estate and condition of thy soule in respect of sinne recollect thy thoughts and call to mind what shall become of thy soule if thou hast not a Saviour looke to it as well as you can thou hast two weights hanging up thy soule the least of which will drag thee to hell if there be not help Thou hast the burden of originall sinne and that 's death In Adam all dye 1 Cor. 15.22 that is as we by nature come from Adam so by nature we lye guilty of his sinne and by the sinne derived from Adam we lye liable to eternall death this is one heavy weight Then againe there is yet another weight lyes upon the soule which without support will also presse it to hell and that is the burden of innumerable actuall transgressions they are given to us in Scripture under various expressions sometimes they are called sinnes sometimes iniqâ—ities sometimes transgressions but all grievous soul burdens I will but give of each an instance and so passe Thit we call sinne is a soule procuring destruction it captivates the soule leads it from Christ and Salvation and presseth it downe to hell hence is that complaint taken up by Paul Rom. 7.24 O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death that is as if Paul should have said I find the power of naturall lusts corruptions working so contrary to the will of God and the rule of his spirit that were it not for the hopes of a Saviour I was in a sad condition I was in a wretched estate for who is it or what is it in all the world that could help my soule out of hel who shall deliver me from the death and damnation which the sinne of my nature my flesh the body hath brought me to Alas the Creature cannot comfort me nothing in the world can save me but onely Iesus Christ who dyed for me and here is the hope help joy cause of rejoycing I thank God â—horow Jesus Christ our Lord ver. 25. this is sin Again these sinnes and evils which we commit are called iniquities and these are also soule-weights If you dare beleeve David he will tell you he found iniquities to be a weight yea an unsupportable weight they let him have no quiet night or day they got above him and pressed him downe he could not beare the sense of them Psalme 38.3 And hereupon David addresseth himselfe to God in prayer and urgeth this complaint as a motive to move God vvith mercy to looke upon him and novv to help for minâ— iniquities are gone over mine head they are above my strength as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me to
God will not nay God cannot be worse then his word God will not deceive those that trust to him that depend upon him Deliverance may be deserved but it shall not faile The needy shall not alwayes be forgotten the expectation of the poore shall not perish for ever Psal. 9.18 God in his wisedom may see cause to withhold deliverance from his afflicted Saints but he doth not forget them they shall not perish under their burden God will come in with deliverance and a seasonable deliverance too he will not stay an houre too long with it It shall come in due time 1 Pet. 5.6 It shall come in a time when it shall doe them most good Amongst men one that carries the esteem of an honest man will have a great care to keep his word his promise though it may be to his losse if he promise he will make it good This is one of the marks which David describes a godly man by He that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not Psal. 15.4 And doe you thinke the great God of heaven and earth will fall short of a godly man No it was a speech of Christ Heaven and earth may pâ—sse but my wordâ— shall not passe away Mark 1â— 31 That is the very Fabrick of the world may be dashed and broken yet God will not break his word with the Saints for though all these meanes were away God of himselfe is able to make good his promise and will doe iâ— And hereupon the Apostle calls it a sure word of promise This is the second reason 3. Reas. The third reason is grounded upon the power of God in himselfe The Churches deliverance shall certainly coâ—e for God will doe it himselfe The Lord â—â—all helpe them and deliver them the very words before my text in the same vers. Indeed if the Churches deliverance did lye upon men and the like outward helpes truely there werâ— small hopes There is so much basenesse and treachery even amongst many of those who pretend themselves on the Churches side that she is in more danger by bosome friends then open enemies Holy David spake prophetically of this and he made it a grievous complaint You may see the place Psal. 55.12 13 14. But here is the Churches the Saints happinesse God hath the managing of the businesse himselfe hâ— will make good his promise and deliver his people in despight of all let secret enemies seeke to prolong let open enemies plot prepare and watch yet God will discover the one disappoynt the other and destroy them all He hath said it and he will make it good He will build up his Church and the gates of hell shall not prevaile againts it Mat. 16.18 Nay I will tell you further the the Church of God shall not onely out-stand all power and persecutions of the wicked but shall over-power them and destroy them I will onely open one Scripâ—ure and I will close up the reasons It is Dan. 2.44 And in the dayes of these Kings shall the God of heaven set up a Kingdome which shall never be destroyed and the Kingdome shall not be left to other people but it shall breake in peeces and consume all these Kingdomes and it shall stand for ever These words aâ—e full and to the purpose if you mark them well In this image which here Daniel interprets to the King of Babilon He tells the King that under those foure different parts of the image was understood foure persecuting Kings or Monarchies beginning with him first as vers. 38.39 40. But when the Lord shall have accomplished his whole worke upon mount Zion Isa. 10.12 When the Church is fit for deliverance even in the dayes of these proud persecuting Kings while they are yet in their power the Lord will raise up a Kingdome of Saints which shall never be destroyed Againe a little after you have the same promise almost in the samâ— words The Kingdom and dominion and the greatnesse of the Kingdome under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high whose Kingdome is an everlasting Kingdome and all dominions shall serve and obey him Dan. 7.27 Thus I hope I have now put the truth of the doctrine delivered out of dispute both by Scripture and undeniable reasons sufficiently proving That Gods people shall be the prevailing people And now by Gods help I will fall upon the Application Applic. 1. Vse of Râ—prâ— First this is enough to strike terror and amazement into the hearts of those who have any hand any way to act counsell or countenance others against the cause and people of God I could heartily wish that this portion of Gods truth might be fastned upon every doore where Malignants dwell that so this seasonable instruction might worke in them a sweet remorse for their God-provoking sins or be left without â—xcuâ—e Was there ever any truth of God more plaine Doe not you see what shall be the end the doom of all their plottings and powers counsels and armies which ever were now are or yet shall be against the Saints of God What became of proud Pharaoh and his Army were they not drownt in the Sea Exod. 14. What is become of three of the foure once poweâ—full persecuting Monarchies which in their times commanded the world as was Prophesied of by Daniel second chapter Where is bloody Nebuchadnezzar which once but Ierusalem and bore mighty sway Where now is cunning Cyrus and ambitious Alexander And I pray you what is become of Romes glory What have any nay all these got by all the blood which they have drawne from the Saints of God Have they set up themselves and pull'd downe the Churches Have they yet rooted out Religion and worne out or wasted the Saints of the most high Have they yet taken away the name of a professor as hath beene aâ—tempted out of this poor spot of the world No no blessed be God the Churches enemies are destroyed in destroying and she lives by dying Oh! If we may yet beg it that the Lord would open the eyes and soften the heart of our King to consider this Alas alas little doth the King and his party know what they lose by that they call getting that which they thinke helpes them undoeth them You may thinke I speake strange paradoxes but I will cleare it to you I say victories destroy the enemie two wayes First a victory got by the enemy fills their hearts with cruelty their mouthâ— with blasphemy and fires them on to destruction That this may not seeme a fancy of my braine I will give you Scripture proofe examples from the word A victory got by the wicked fills their heartâ— with cruelty Having once dipped their hands in blood being blooded as we said by dogs they grow bold and desperate they grow hardy and expert in murder they are lesse mercifull and more cruell every battell more then other See in the King of Babylons Army when they came against
thus the Apostle goes on but saith he the fruit of the spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnes faith meeknesse temperance ver. 22 23. Here is a Saint-like frame indeed but how comes this thinke you surely all this is but the effect of obedience for it presently followes and they that are Christ's that have an interest in him have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts ver. 24. that is they that are in Christ that have an interest in him have given up themselves wholly to him and by the guidance of the Spirit and the power of Christ's death the power of sinne in their nature is subdued the sinfull affections and lusts arising thence are kept in and kild I beseech you be faithfull to your souls in examining your selves by this Signe of all other actions cannot be covered they will tell you whose you are you are not to doe any thing nor speak any thing nay if once you be Christ's you dare not transgresse the command of Jesus Christ let it be what it will in never so small a thing if a christian discerne it to be against Jesus Christ he will rather dye then doe it when once a christian gives up himselfe to Christ to be married to Christ he is no longer his own he is now under the command of Jesus Christ if now the devill or a lust bid such a christian doe this or that the christian will presently say did Jesus Châ—ist command me did he bid me doe it if Jesus Christ give me but a word I am ready or else I dare not this is the third signe whereby a christian may know he hath a right to Christ Signe 4. A fourth signe whereby a christian may know he haâ—h an interest in Christ is when he he will own Christ own his cause and people in the worst of times it is not much to own Christ own Religion and associate with christians when all these are countenanced and in credit but here 's the tryall of love the faith and obediance of a christian when he will take up the Crosse and follow Christ when he will yet keep on after Christ through wet and dry as the Proverb is it 's a signe a christian hath much of Christ when he will yet own Christ though others forsake him when he keeps his walking with Christ though he goe alone as Paul did 2 Tim. 1.15 chap. 4.16 when he will follow his profession though he must let goe his life as the three children did Dan. 3. and many precious Saints have done and now doe it would but take up time to urge insâ—ances doe you but make good use of this little and it will doe you much good the Lord hath now brought us unto trying times and Jesus Christ doth now say who is on my side who what now will you venture for Christ â—nd his cause and his people doth your hearts tell you that Religion is dearer to you then esiates then life then the best blood in your bodies doe you pray for the prosperity of Christ's cause will you stand for it and owne it what condition soever it 's in doth not the ebbings and flowings of Christs cause bring you to it and cast you from it the Lord knowes there it more of this latter sort then the former abundance follow Christ's Cause for their owne ends and these will fall off when their ends faile but let me tell you none but christians can suck to Christ under difficulties the spirits and hearts of others are up and down as their objects are the principles by which they are carried it 's onely the christian who lives by faith that stands to Christ his cause and people at all times this is the fourth signe Signe 5. The fift and last signe whereby a christian may rest assured of his interest in Christ is his desire to be with Christ in his glory when a soul hath once got a relish a taste an earnest of the inheritance in Heaven it 's full of longings and desirings after glory take such a soule nothing takes it up nothing takes it off Jesus Christ alone is all in all you may offer such a one the gold of Ophir the treasures of India the wealth of the world the Crownâ— of Kings but all this takes not it affect not no saith the soule Christ is my treasure Christ is my crown of rejoycing you may proffer what you please but still the soule will say as once Paul did I count all things but losse for the excellency to be comâ—ared to the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord Phil. 3.8 talk what you will of parts and prililedges yet when all is done this was Pauls conclusion but Christ is all in all Col. 3.11 of al the things in the world Paul found but one case wherein it was disputable whether he might desire â—o live in the flesh and that 's such a one as many would not imagine they would think it almost the lest matter of all but it 's this here was Pauls case he was at a stand whether it was better for him to live in the flesh to promote the Gospell or to dye and goe to Christ in his glory Paul was in a sweet condition come life come death and that made the difficulty the greater for to me to live is Christ and to dye is gain Phil. 1.21 that is if I live I shall be comforted in the work of Christ and if I dye I shall reigne with Christ yet what I shall chuse I wot not for I am in a streight betwixt two ver. 22 23. Paul was now between doing the work of Christ and going home for his wage to Christ it put faithfull Paul hard to it to satisfie the scruple of his own conscience and when all is done he answers with a distinction for his own part this is his resolution for himselfe he holds for Heaven having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is farre better ver. 23. the latter part But then on the other side as Paul had a respect unto the worke he was in the preaching o the Gospell unto the flock of Christ his life was better and more necessary for them neverthelesse to abide in the flesh is more needfull for you ver. 24. here then is an example for you to try your hearts by truly when this is seriously considered it 's no wonder to see so many loath and so few willing to dye alas the reason is easily given they have no interest in Christ they have no acquaintance with God they know not what shall become of their souls when they dye againe the feares and terrours of death strike deep and speaks terrible things to them Jesus Christ hath not taken away the sting of death for them it bites deep it amazes them death being but the gate of hell to let them now feele those torments which in life and prosperity they would not feare but on