evidence something of joy for the success and prosperity of the wicked at lest to profess joy in that case for fear of hazard or inconveniencies once being there they will not stand much to speak proudly and testifie against the People of God in affliction and to blame them thus that it is all justly come upon them they were all so proud that they could not stand indeed when once they be at this to reproach the People of God thus without all debate when they see their gear going for the Covenant and Cause and Work of Reformation if they get opportunity of any thing that is ado they will even find in their heart to take a clat of it Indeed when once they be at that with it they will take a clat of an honest mans gear when it is going for the honest Cause without debate they will not spare to stand in the cross-way to cut-off those of his that doth remain Wo them I nothing doubt if they be cuting-off any thing of the Work of God that remaines but they will discover any that they know hidd that they think will come into the calk for that work If they do all the rest doubtless when they come to their own companions and have taken a rant they will drink to the confusion of the Covenant and all the Phanatiks Now ye see there are many ways of joining interests and issues with the Enemies of God and gang from less to more from one degree unto another till God in his righteous judgment lay-on the last stone as their plague it may be ye are but standing on the other side to day yet and if ye be speaking nothing for the People of God ye are speaking as little against them Wel are ye standing on the other side else in God's righteous judgment ere some few years gang about ye will be drinking to the confusion of the Covenant and all that will adhere to it Fourthly There is a way that men prefer their natural life to the Cause and interests of Christ by doing that which is positively sinfull and that by giving obedience to sinfull Acts and Laws for fear of personal hazard is such a thing as I know to be iniquous and sinfull but there comes out such a Law from the Supream Magistrat that such a thing must be done or then be liable to such and such hazard and for fear of that hazard I give obedience to that iniquous Law and that way seek to save my life with prejudice to Christ and his Cause This was the case of the three children that were put to it at Babylon but they did not obey there came out a wicked Law against them that whenever they heard all the bagg-pipes blow they should without any more fall down and worship the idol that Nebuchadnezzar had set up or then take it upon their peril to be cast into the firy fornace O! but the three children made a fair and honest choise Be it known to you all Gentiles quoth they if the bagg-pipes should blow till they burst again we will not fall down and worship the Idol that Nebuchadnezzar has set-up if our God please he can deliver us but whether he will deliver us or not we will not bow down to your glecks O! but they made a fair choice There are many Folks now in our days I think if the King would command the most iniquous Law that ever was commanded in a church I doubt not but they would give obedience thereunto for fear of inconveniencies that they fear would come upon them for their disobedience they have given a great proof of this already and a greater proof than this can not be given for they have sworn that his Majestys will shall be the rule according to which they shall level all their actions I hope it is clear to you all that these Lowns have taken a sinfull way to save their life with prejudice to Christ and his Cause as ever was taken I am sure their lives must be in hazard The next I proposed to speak to was What pretences have men to say for their own defence for this unhappy way of complyance What shaddow or pretext have they for this Have they nothing to say for themselves for taking of such an uncanny gate as this Yes that they have it is an ill deed but they 'l alwayes get some excuse for it and so they have much to say for their evil deeds too they have many pretences and reasons for their own defence here though I hope ye are all clear that no pretext or reasons formable can be given without a ragg about the foot of them No formable reason can be given why men seek to save their lives with prejudice to Christ and his Cause but such as they are they have enough of them and ye shall judge them for I shall give you an instance of some few of them Now let every man lay his hand to his heart and be judge here The first pretext that we shall name which many have for their compliance is this LAW and AUTHORITY there is Law and Authority for the thing When we say what meant ye to comply and take that unhappy course by the end they chuse this goodly pretence there is Law and Authority for it in this they fortifie themselves in all their abominable courses there is Law and Authority for such things Wilt thou tell me O man if thou hast any spunk of ingenuity remaining in thee whether or not was there not Law and authority at Babylon for the three children to fall down and worship the graven image that Nebuchadnezzar the King set-up Though this Law and Authority came from the King yet it was not a lawfull authority therefore they behoved to say to the King in this we will neither obey Law nor Authority Or wilt thou tell me man of all the Martyrs that ever thou heardst of martyred for the Cause of Christ if ever any of them was martyred without a shaddow of Law and Authority save some that have been killed secretly Any that were brought to any publick hearing there was alwayes some shaddow of Law and authority laid against them Was it not so from the beginning All the cruelty that ever was done to Christ his Church and his Cause since the beginning it was still sent-out with some shaddow of Law and authority it was still so since the beginning I think man if thou wert a man and not a beast thou shouldst resolve not to make thy conscienâ—â— subject to all the iniquous Laws that may come through a Land I mean'd one that has rational understanding above a beast should know that he should not make his Conscience subject to all the iniquous Laws that come through the world I had thoughts that thou that art a man baptized into the name of Father Son and holy Ghost there is some spunk of ingenuity left within thee that thou shouldst know this
The HEADS of some SERMONS PREACHED at FINNICK The 17 of August 1662. BY M R WILLIAM GUTHRY upon Matth. 14 24 25 26. Matth. 14 verse 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the Sea tossed with waves for the wind was contrary verse 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them walking on the Sea verse 26 And when the Disciples saw him walking on the sea they were troubled saying it is a spirit and they cried-out for fear Printed in the Year 1680. The HEADS of some SERMONS PREACHED at FINNICK The 17 of August 1662. BY M R WILLIAM GUTHRY Matth. 14 24 25. THE Fourth Doctrin is That although Christ seems sometimes to be far distant from his People under their Trials yet he doth notice them in a singular way He saw them toiling and rowing as Mark has it and yet he was at Prayer all the time For clearing you we shall 1. shew what way Christ noticeth the Trials of his people 2. Why he doth so 3. What his noticeing doth to his People in their Trials 4. What are the Trials wherein he doth concern himself In order to the First He noticeth the Trials of his People as he hath fore-ordained them in his eternal Counsel Nothing ever befell his People but what was decreed from Everlasting 2. He so noticeth the Trials of his People in making them fall out for several cases and keeping his eye upon them therein 3. He hath not only a permissive but an active hand in seting all the instruments of their Trials on foot whether they be Devils or Men or wind or storm he sisteth the house of Israel with a sieve yet not one grain shall be lost By his Providence he tristes a convenient season for the trial and sometimes as he did to Peter gives them warning of it before the Trial come thus night before the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice 4. He so noticeth the trials of his People as to set bounds to them that they come such and such a length and no further as here in the Text he lets the Disciples toil-on till the fourth watch of the night 5. He noticeth their Trials so as he maketh intercession to God for them anent their trials as here he was at prayer when they were toiling and rowing in the night-time in the midst of the Sea 6. He so noticeth their trials that thereby he drives-on his own purposes and makes their trials subservient thereunto The Second thing is Why he noticeth the Trials of his People Answ 1. Because he is highly concerned in them they stand in a near relation to him they are all the fruit of the travel of his Soul he is engaged to the Father for them and them therein and all that befalleth them is committed unto him and He is to be answerable for the least of them 2. There are few or none but he is to take notice of their Trials for they can do little themselves and others despise them 3. His noticeing of his Peoples trial sayes they were not cast under them by hap-hazard but with deliberation and that they are not alone in their trials although they often-times perceive him not yea even when they are as beasts Psalm 73. Nevertheless I am continually with thee The Third thing in the Doctrin is What his People have by his notice It sayes his Peoples trials cannot runn a full carrier as otherwise they might he sets bounds to them and has allowed the expences wherewith to debate with them As to the Fourth thing What are the Trials wherein he doth most concern himself 1. He noticeth indeed his Peoples trials but especially those which their duty has led them to as here he had commanded them to go to Sea 2. He noticeth all such trials as are above their reach as to outgate as here in the text 3. He noticeth all the trials wherein his People are labouring as much as they are able though all their labour signifie not much 4. He noticeth all the trials that are hard and far above the trials they have formerly met with as here in the text Use 1. Then let the People of God comfort themselves with this that he taketh notice of al their trials in all the fore-mentioned respects and is much concerned to do so Then since it is so men shall not get all the intents of their heart against his People but they shall have support under all their trials and relief from them Use 2. The trials of his People in Brittain and Ireland are certainly concerned by him For First He did engage them in the business and it is above remedy as to men 2. It is above all other trials that ever we were under before and all his People are toiling as they can under them We may add this as a third That they are tristed with many notorious indignitys don to the King of Heaven 4. His Name is singularly concerned in the thing All Nations are looking whether or not our matters will stand for they have heard that we were a Covenanted People with the God of heaven 5. He considers he has a goodly Remnant and Flock in the Vessel that is now tossed with the storm If his People would resolve to drown together rather than to sin by compliance it would speak much good of the business But Christ's advocation is on foot for his People who are engaged for him he was at prayer when his Disciples were at Sea he prayed that Peters faith might not fail Now his Advocation is in order to these things First That his Peoples faith fail not as has been said 2. That the sin which hath brought-on the trial may be forgiven them and all the circumstances of their trial 3. That they may not take any unlawfull way for their outgate 4. That their trial may be sanctified so as to produce its proper fruit with them that are under it 3. That their want of a right and suteable frame of spirit may not increase their trials or stop their out-gate and issue and that it may according to the promise be hastened as it is in Zech. The Man whom he saw among the mirtle-Trees that were in the bottom was CHRIST interposing for the poor Jerusalem O for the faith of this that he is interposing himself for all our trials Then I say 1. Study all of you to be of one mind 2. Let his People comply with him in all the points or his Advocation we have spoken of and keep up the Cause of his concernments acknowledging always your sin and short-coming and choose evermore affliction rather than sin and study to have the right use of the trial as much as the out-gate 3. Let this comfort and establish your hearts that Christ is pleading and advocating your cause before God and his Throne in all the fore-said respects and remember that God heareth him alwayes and that he will not lye unto David but will keep
he thought he was something hardly put to it and he being under the apprehension that his life might have gon if he had confessed his Master and so judges himself to be in hazard upon that account he doth formally disclaim Christ Jesus and all that faction and party thou art one of them say they for thou wast with him in the garden thou art one of his Disciples thy speech bewrayeth thee I vow and swear saith he I am no fanatik if ye will believe me And thus he formally disclaimes Christ and his interests and Cause and forsware himself This is a very hainous way of seeking to save our life with prejudice to Christ his interests and cause and our own conscience But Secondly Some can hardly get it denied but they have been with Christ and one of that party side and company and one of their sect as it 's said in the Scripturs but yet for fear of their life they will not only disclaim that interest party side and faction but to put it out of all question that they do so they will now put it under their hand in a covenant or declaration as ye use to call it that they do disclaim that party side and way and so that they do judge all their former works and actions in that way and with that party to be sin and so will solemnly oblige themselves by an Oath that they shall never owne that interest or way any more if the Supream Magistrate put them not to it I hope ye are all clear that this is one of the most hainous wayes that can be chosen for Folks seeking to save their lives with prejudice to Christ his interest and cause yet there are many of this generation that will not only disclaim that party side and faction for it may he called a Faction but they will also put it under their hand in a declaration that they do judge that way their sin and so shall never owne that interest or way of Christ any more if the Supream Magistrat put them not to it though he should turn them all Mahumetans I have this much charity to give some of their Lowns albeit I have not much to give to any that ever have gon that way yet I have this much charity to give to some of them that it has been for fear of the loss of their lives or for fear of the loss of some personal interests that has made them do so if it has been the wickedness of their Principles betwixt themand God may it be my part is clean of it however let them do it as they will they have sought to save their lives with prejudice to Christ his interests and cause And there are two great witnesses standing against them that shall stand against them before God and man and that is their Tongue and their Hand these two shall witness against them before Heaven and Earth declaring their unparalleled wickedness Ye may perhaps think the taking of that printed paper the Declaration is but a small trivial business but I would ask at any serious godly soules that have the least spunk of ingenuity remaining in them that have not sinned away their Conscience with this pernicious time Sirs what would ye think to see a printed Covenant such as our Covenant was having so many mens names at the end of it as our Covenant hath had in many places men thinking it their glory to have their Names at the end of that Covenant I say what would ye think to see another Covenant disclaiming the former printed Covenant by the self-same men that owned the former having their names at the former Covenant vowing and swearing to maintain the Cause and Interests of Christ having their names at the latter printed Covenant vowing and swearing the quite contrary never to owne the interests of Christ any more what would ye think to see the names of these Knaves now at this latter Covenant infealing against their own names at the former Covenant Truely construct of them as ye will I think the world may wonder of them else ye may give them charity and the like but if God write not another Bible I have none to give them construct of them as ye will It 's a shame in the sight of the Nations for men to falsifie their own deed before Sun and Moon Heaven and Earth God and man to put it under their hand that they shall never owne the Interests of Christ contrary to their Oath the hainousest perjury they put upon themselves that ever men put upon themselves or that ever we read of either in Scriptur or in any other history this is one of the most hainous wayes that ever men took for shuning of personal hazards with prejudice to Christ his interests and cause if they lose not their life many of them we wonder and that some will possibly see it ere long though perhaps we shall not be much witness to it yet there will be witnesses to it ere the dreadfull day of Doom Folk sets alwayes long termes But There 's a Third way that many seek to save their lives with prejudice to Christ's cause by doing something that 's positively sinfull before God and that is neither by disclaiming Christ and his cause and party and side nor yet by puting it under their hand that they shall never owne that party nor way any more but it is by joining of interest and issue with those Enemies that have so don there 's a joining of their interests with those that have so done that God looks on as very hainous in his sight There are many wayes of joining interests and issue with that party there are many plotings and complotings and workings to and fro to their hands amongst us in this matter How be it we have so much charity to give to some of them that have so done that it 's not so much out of malice that they have don so perhaps as the fear of personal hazards which has made them join issue and interests with that party But however here I shall give you some wayes and cases in which men do join interest and issue with the Enemies of God and though I will not say that all these that I am about to name may be properly applied to those that may be called the Enemies of God yet having these or any of these they look with very black marks and though I will not say that one that 's guilty of one or them will be guilty of all of them yet I judge one of them useth to follow another in a mans practice so God's judicial plagues bring them to an height Ye will find alwayes of a Peoples joining of interests and issues with God's professed Enemies in the Prophecy of Obadiah they run all to the case of Esau there in the name of Edom Jacob's bastard brother a Lown that had sold his birth-right for a fill of his own foul belly and he had still
that unhappy party so great a length for the overthrow of the work of God But ye understand not my drift in it it was that I might get credit from them and thereby I will have place and opportunity to speak for the People of God and for the Cause and so this is a way to be usefull for the Work of God by their puting credit upon me that way I will have a fair opportunity to get many a good turn don in the favour of honest men Gang thy way Man the vengeance of God gang with thee for we will either have good God's gate or will never have good at all for good is not good if it come not God's gate we look never that God will trist us with good through such foul fingers as yours we look that God will trist us with good through a cleanlier hand But I never knew that this was your duty to do evil that good might come of it I never knew that the Scriptur stated the matter thus that Folk should do evil than good might come of it I ween'd ay that Folk should have done good at present if they would have had good to have followed on it But I never knew that Folk was to do evil that good might follow I never read that in all the Bible and I have read it all from the one end to the other and some of it twice over but I never read that in it all Go thy way Man the vengeance of God gang with thee for we look never for good at the like of thy hand I dare say if it were not more respect to thy carnal interests that thou lookst most to than any respect that thou hast to the Cause of Christ and his People thou wouldst never have gon the length thou hast gon God reward you for that ye have don to Christ and his Cause and so he will in his own due time ye will get the Devil to your thanks yet for the good ye have don to the Cause of Christ and his People by compliance But there are many likewise who have this pretext for their compliance they profess to be keeping their life till a better time it is a sin to us to let our life and what belongs to us gang this gate we may keep our life till a better time indeed as I was telling you before I never heard tell that that man's life did ever any more good to Christ and his Cause that once did compet therewith and was preferred thereunto and so was brought-off with prejudice to the same God will never be in such a Knaves common as thine to prefer thy life with that honour as to make it usefull for the Cause of Christ again who has preferred thy life to the Cause I ween'd the Scriptur had arted thee better Man that he that is faithfull in the little will be faithfull in the greater and he that is not faithfull in little will not be faitfull in much We will never honour such as have denied his Cause to make them usefull for the Cause and Work again such as is faithfull in the little and keeps his garments clean in an evil time God will prefer that honest man with taking a good turn of his hand for his Cause and People He will take nothing of a Lown's hand that has defiled himself and has not been faithfull in the little Let still that sound in your ears that he that is faithfull in the little will be faithfull in the much he that is not faithfull in the little will not be faithfull in the much I 'l wad ye shall see these children that have gon that gate and are keeping their life till a better time goodsooth I 'l wad that ye shall see an evil time take them Goodsooth they will look with clear eyes that ever will see their life do a good turn more in this world I believe the most part of them if not all of them is kept for a black hour They will look with clear eyes that ever will see them get a good time or yet be usefull to the Church in this world again There are many likewise that have this pretext for their compliance that they do what they do that way out of no ill intention it was upon such good accounts that they did such and such things we had no ill intention in so doing we intended to wrong no man far be it from us to persecut or bid any body do any thing against their Light we had no ill intention in what we have don Ye have a bony pretext of it forsooth I shall desire any man to search through all the Scripturs and see if any such a thing be to be found in them of God's stating mens honesty upon good intentions while the good intentions brought-forth evil fruit I never read such a thing in all the Bible I thought the Scriptur had said with the heart man believes and with the tongue confession is made unto Salvation in contending for the matters of God for his Cause and interest hands tongues aâ—d feet are to be made use of Good deeds and actions are usefull for the Cause of Christ but for your good thoughts and intentions while they have brought forth such bad fruits as the apples of Sodom and the grapes of Gomorrah I have no skill of them The most part of those Knaves that say they had good thoughts and intentions we will see them the greatest persecuters that the People of God will have These good intentions of yours ye will get a black reward for them for they have wronged the church â—arr so ye are at the loss and the church both with those good intentions of yours But in the next place I suppose that this is as ordinary a pretext among us for compliance as any What could my bare testimony do to it it could not turn the chase all that Party Side Way that ye say is for Jesus Christ they are all dung down ere ever I sided with any Party We might wel have cast our selves into hazard by doing or speaking for that way but that could never have don the turn it would never have turned the chase What could my speaking have don for keeping in the Ministers when Acts and Laws was for their casting-out it would never have don good I might wel have cast my self into hazard What could my vote have done for such a mans life that Acts and Laws were for the execution of And when once it was so what need we hazard our selves needlesly For what would the testimony of silly poor lasses and lads have done A bony pretence ye have of it forsooth I never read it in all the Scripturs where ever God made a mans fore-sight of events the measur of his actions in duty I never heard that a man was to shift his duty upon that account because he thought his duty would not have good consequences I never understood