not be withus as it is It is the causa sine qua non of our c. 4. If you desire worse dayes and greater troubles I need not teach you what to do The way to attain your desire is but to hold fast your dear Friends your sins For then ye may with good reason expect times of greater troubles and dangers But methinks understanding and wise persons cannot see any sufficient cause to desire such times 5. The issue is this either attend to the instructions of faithful Ministers and reform and take heed to thy waies according to the word of God Psal 119. 9. or else look not for deliverance c. but additional afflictions and punishments according to the threatenings Lev. 26. 14. to the 39. and get a very strong faith and much humility that thou mayest possess thy soul under the Plows and Harrows in patience which one who is not thoroughly reformed will hardly attain Let me here answer some Arguments which may occasion some Professors to look on a more compleat Reformation than that which is wrought already as needless For peradventure it will be objected and said 1. That upon Abab's external humiliation God did not bring the evil upon his house in his daies but in the daies of his son 1 King 21. 29. A. Art thou content to have thy whole portion of good things as wicked men have theirs Psal 17. 14. in this life and to go whither Ahab went at the time of his death and to have the heads of 70 of thy sons within a few years after put into baskets 2 King 10. I think thou art not 2. That God hearkened to King Hezekiah's prayer and healed the people who were not cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary 2 Chron. 30. 18 19 20. A. Is this any thing to thee He prayed only for those who prepered their hearts to seek God the Lord God of their Fathers v. 18 19. so that they did prepare their hearts and the only thing which they wanted was a ceremonial cleansing which also they wanted not because they were not willing to perform it but because they wanted time to perform it and he whose heart is prepared will not neglect the preparing of his waies And as for thee if thy heart be duly prepared to seek the Lord thou mayest really resolve to amend thy carriage as far forth as it is faulty as it were in a moment yea know that thy heart is not duly prepared unless thou be willing and careful to find out thy sins and to reform all the parts of thy conversation 3. That God seeing what the Ninevites did turned from his fierce wrath and did not destroy them A. It was much which they did more than some Professors do they believed God observed a Fast very solemnly cried mightily unto God and turned from their evil waies Chap. 3. 5. c. Go and do thou likewise Luke 10. 37. And yet God did but suspend the execution of his sentence against them for their City was destroyed I think some say about 40 years after and many of you would be loth to have your own houses destroyed forty years hence 4. That doubtless exceeding many of the Israelites were great sinners when they came out of Egypt yet God wrought for them miraculously c. A. Therein they were I think so a Type of Christ's peoples deliverance out of the bondage of Satan as it is of free grace 1 Tim. 1. 15 16. and yet withal they suffered as many of us would be loth to suffer the carcases of all their Males of 20 years old excepting Joshua and Caleb must fall in the wilderness and none of those enter into the Land of promise and when they and the rest be come near to it they must all turn back toward the Sea of Edom called the red Sea adjoyning to Egypt and so the younger sort have wandred forty years in the wilderness c. Num. 14. 21. to 35. 5. That God would have spared Sodom if there had been but ten righteous persons in it Gen. 18. 32. A. But he hath not bound himself by a Law to deal with all other places according to that rate 6. That Professors do pray A. They may ask and not have 1. John 5. 14 15. Jam. 4. 3. If thou dost regard iniquity in thy heart the Lord will not hear thee Psal 66. 18. O but our forms of godliness are long and beautiful A. Forms never brought any man to Heaven nor never will without the power of Godliness and this is part of those perillous times wherein there would be great plenty of such empty and sorry Christians 2 Tim. 3. 1 5. even a brave and Court like form is but a brave Bribe and Gods mouth will not be stopt nor his hand staid with Bribes See Marg. 94. 95 96. c. 101. 102 103. Ob. But we have prevailed for peace already A. Friends ye have heard of a Lightening before Death and Learned men do account the long-continued stillness of the Air a forerunner and sign of an Earthquake following it Let my counsel be acceptable to you be thankful for what ye have and amend whatsoever is amiss that it may be the lengthening of your tranquillity For God hath sometimes deferred the punishment of those who have sinned against him for a time in such a manner that in the holy Scriptures it is called a pardon and yet for all that in due time hath punished them as the Israelites Num. 14. 20 21 22 23. Psal 99. 8. Exod. 32. 34 35. 7. But some peradventure think God will spare them that they may teach their children Religion c. A. Verily some Professors do bestow little care or pains on this business 8. But we have many Professors to stand in the gap to keep out Gods wrath Ezek. 22. 30 31. A. But sometimes God is weary of repenting as he was Jâ—r 15. 6. There is a time when the wrath of the Lord doth arise against his people untill there is no remedy 2 Chron. 36. 16 17. c. When if Noah Daniel and Job were in the Land they should deliver but their own souls by their own righteousness no not so much as their own Sons or Daughters Ezek. 14. 14. to 20. yea God did forbid Jeremy to pray for the Jews chap. 7. 16. and 11. 14. and 14. 11. and I remember Dr. Usher the Bishop of Armagh told Mr. Froysell and me in Oxford when the Scots were in New-castle that his heart was bound up as he called it when he went to pray for England Take heed therefore to your spirits in your prayers Although some of them who seemed to be somewhat have done enough of late to strike them out of the gap as David once did 2 Sam. 24. 1. yet I hope we have still some Intercessors which are of great power with God and do pray unto him withall their might but how long they will be able to hold his hands from
Estate hath not thereupon been changed fully according to our desires and requests then we are to consider Why God hath not heard them to the full what hath hindred them and made them so far forth uneffectual especially whether iniquities and sins have hindred them and if sins whose sins and which of their sins Es 59. 1 2. Marg. 93. All which things being considered 9. And lastly it concerns us to open our eyes to see and to consider what course it concerns us to take hereafter and when what to do what to amend and how what to cease from c. Marg. 94. Now as to the first of these I have known when our Trading was not altogether so dead and so much hindered when many of the poorer sort had more work and many of the richer sort more money when many were better able to maintain their Children and to bind them Apprentices and to furnish them with moneys for Trading and to make them Scholars when many were more able to pay their Rents and other debts when Houses and Lands were set and sold at higher Rates without wronging the Takers and Buyers when the total of our publick Taxes and payments was not altogether so great as now to some it seems to be c. When so many of this Nation were not taken away by the Pestilence and by and in Sea-actions impoverished maimed wounded killed and deprived of their Husbands Fathers Children and Apprentices and when so many Churches and publick Houses and so many private Houses have not been burnt and so much worldly Riches destroyed in London in so few days as of late in 1666. have been But all these and some other evils are common to us with others Prov. 28. 12 28. 2. Some of us have been deprived and do continue destituted of our places of credit and profit and consequently of our Livelihood and maintenance and are forbidden to teach or table Scholars although peradventure we might in that way be somewhat beneficial to the Church and Common-wealth 3. Some of us are separated from London and all other Cities and many Tows which are not Cities c. 4. No private Meetings c. under the pain of Banishment into Forreign Plantations c. 5. If we Administer either of the Sacraments we must pay more than some of us be very well able to spare c. 6. The fellowship which we have had together in the Gospel must be broken oft and the spiritual benefits which we might have gotten by conversing together lost Beside the losses of Luke the 8. 2 3. 7. This is a time of extraordinary Temptations to us and others Many professors especially Preachers are tempted to sin against their Consciences to get places of worldly profit and to bear sinfully with the sins of Professors lest they should lose the help of their Purses others are tempted to avenge themselves to oppress to use cruelty 8. I think the last twenty years and upwards are part of the perillous times whereof St. Paul prophecyeth in 2 Tim. 3. in the first 7 Verses beginning with This know also as speaking of that which is very fit to be known and to be considered very seriously This know also saith he that in the last dayes perillous times shall come For men shall be lovers of their own selves covetous boasters proud Having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof which words I do underst and of many of those who have gotten the name of Professors as well as of others and that because so many do walk and behave themselves as if Godliness were of no great power to better a mans conversation 9. If none of the late Decrees and the Outings and Restraints do in any measure directly nor indirectly tend unto the decay of that which the Book of Common-Prayer calls Gods true Religion and vertue yet before the time of the Interruption there were who under the pretence of reconciling two Religions sought to undermine and destroy the better of the twain and in the time of the Interruption Corrupters and new Lights who did hatch Cockatrice Eggs Ranters Familists Quakers and part of that evil work was done I doubt not in Policy of purpose to undermine and destroy Truths In a word there have been these last thirty years and more and still I believe are some whose working partly in the dark hath been and is such that as the Psalmist saith Psal 119. 126. It is time for thee Lord to work for they have made void God's Law So may we well say It is time for the Lords Servants to work for and with God for there are some that would gladly destroy the true Gospel So that if the plot to burn and Massacre be but a Dream or meer imagination as I would have Charity not to be suspicious and to think evil 1 Cor. 13. 5 7. without some just cause yet there is cause enough why Professors yea all Protestants and Anti-papists should pull their eyes out of their pockets and carry them in the fore-part of their heads that they may see where to place their feet how to order their goings yea if they can to be altogether as wise as Serpents Mat. 10. 16. yet not to tread in the steps of D. Parry who against all Reason did conspire Treason foul and base And so much be spoken of the first particular A Digression Before I speak of the second give me leave by the way to shew what good use ye who are Professors may make of some things before mentioned in respect of your spiritual Estate as Lot did or might have done of the vexing of his soul with the unlawful deeds and speeches of his Neighbours the Sodomites 2 Pet. 2. 7 8. for thereby he might discern his soul to be a righteous soul and so may ye discern in some measure the temper and disposition of your spirits and consequently your spiritual estate by the movings or stillness of your hearts in this time of such evils hearken therefore I beseech you to that which I shall say unto you especially all those of you who have not hitherto at any time duly tried your spiritual estate which I fear hath been the folly of many Christians 1. Let your Consciences tell you how ye are affected with those things which have of late befallen so many godly and profitable Ministers of Jesus Christ with the loss of their maintenance and their now very low condition Are ye really grieved at it If ye be not ye are but mean Professors Amos 6. 6. 2. How are ye affected with their loss of so many opportunities of drawing so many godless persons out of the Kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of grace unto Gods honour and the lost sheeps everlasting salvation Is it nothing to you that their Parishes and the Nation and our Lord Jesus Christ have so far lost their Ministery Jude 5. 23. Why Brethren our Saviour and the same mind ought to be in you which
The Sermons of some are indeed too trim and gaudy Nimis pleni Flosculis c. and the prayers of some too long Mat. 7. 21. 4. Our words in prayer and conference savouring and making a shew of much holiness faith humility meekness mortification sobriety patience zeal courage heavenly mindedness and contempt of worldly things love of God affiance in God As Sauls 1 Sam. 14. 38 39 40 41 42 43. and Jehu's 2 King 10. 15 16. Many a professors conversation answers some of his speeches very poorly 5. Our being almost singular and alone in our zealous or earnest defence of the morâ—ality and perpetuity of the Lord's Sabbath This greatens the iniquity of our taking no more care to keep it wholly holy and to spend it wholly on God's service and the soul according to the Commandment 6. Our judging Governours of the Common-wealth and Church it may be with bitter and railing speeches for not using fit means to refâ—rm the whole and in the mean while doing the same things our selves Rom. 2. 1 21 22 23. viz. in not contributing to a universal Reformation what we might in seeking with due care and diligence to reform as to Religion and good manners and civility those small parts parcels and particles which are under our own power and government our own wives children and servants â—ea such as do not rule well their own families will blame others for not ruling well theirs 7. Our straining at a gnat and swallowing half a camel scrupling or making conscience of a very small matter it may be that which is nothing no sin at all and not abstaining from fâ—wler practisâ—s Mat. 23. 24. Mark 7. 1. to 6. Joh. 18. 28. yea I doubt some professors do pretend that this or that is against their coâ—science when â—n very deed it is not 8. The high esteem and conceit 1. Which every one of us hath of his own way in Religion O how excellent my way in Religion is in comparison of all other wayes whether thou beest called a Presbyterian or c. if thy way be the best of all wayes take heed thou be not worse than the worst Saint that walks in it Gal. 6. 3. 2. Which many of us have of our personal endowments graces and spiritual gifts prayers O how great a measure how high a height of grace faith c. some think they have attained Methinks I hear some speaking like the Pharisee Luke 18. 11 12. God I thank thee that I am not as other men are extortioners unjust adulterers or even as yonder Cavalier or as yonder Conformist and others like the Wardens Omnia bene or the Christians of Laodicea Rev. 3. 17. I am rich and encreased with goods and have need of nothing When indeed they be wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked at least in câ—mparison of many of their fellow-professors and their conversation very irregular 9. The strong and confident expectation which some of us have of an eminent and speedy exaltation I hope it is without a purpose to â—ebel against any King excepting that evil one who is mentioned Rev. 9. 11. which expectation calls to such Expectants for a suitable reformation of their behaviour and to use all good means to reform their wives and their sons and their daughters and their men-servants and their maid servants and the strangers who are within their gates Prov. 22. 6. Exod. 20. 10. that they also may be fit to partake of so great prosperity Prov. 22. 29. 10. Gods exceeding great condescension and humbling of himself Psal 113. 5 6. in waiting that he might be gracious to us Isa 30. 18. and not so long since in as it were stooping to us yielding to our prayers to preserve protect and deliver us yea in doing more than all this for us when very many of us were very great sinners and did not yield our selves to him and humble our selves before him so as to be throughly willing and duly careful to abandon all our sins universally And this hath greatened and doth greaten our iniquity 11. Our low estates do call to many of us for meekness and lowliness of heart and to some with a loud voice instead whereof there is much pride and stateliness 12. Our sins may be aggravated by returning to our vomit 2 Pet. 2. 18 19 20 21 22. Are not some of us like the Dog which is turned again to his vomit and to the Sow which is washed to her wallowing in the mire Have not some professors after they had escaped the pollâ—tions of the world and a considerable time abstained from them have they not after this turned again unto folly Psal 85. 8. Psal 125. 4 5. And do not very many of us in religious exercises especially Fasts by the mouths of the Speakers confess our sins and bewail our folly in committing them which is an inferior way of vomiting them up and afterward practise them as formerly And is this in your sight nothing Verily whatsoever it is in your eyes I think it to be a greatening of our sins and an addition to our provocations What said Mr. Walter Cradock at a private Meeting A Whelp coming into the Room vomited before us and after a while licked up again what he had vomited Whe eupon There is a Sermon for you quoth he And by all these Particulars the iniquity of Professors is or may be aggravated 13. The iniquity of some Professors is exaggerated by their unwillingness to see their sins or to have others to take notice of them Whence it is that they do not take due care and use due diligence to find out and take good notice of their sins As a Constable not being desirous to apprehend a Thief will either not at all search for him or search negligently But it may be some Professors do declare this their unwillingness to others by being displeased and angry with those who tell them of their sins And what is the cause of this their anger Sure the cause is naught For they ought to esteem a reproof a kindness as David did Psal 145. 5. 1 Sam. 25. 32 33. But men cannot endure to have their friends ill spoken of Therefore also it is that some when they see their sins yet will not seem to see them yea it may be when their consciences do tell them that the Preacher means them yet they will not seem to be of the same mind with their conscience Like Dr. Ferne who when it was intimated to him that he was aimed at would whine out He doth not mean me He doth not mean me And so sometimes it comes to pass that the Preachers words be heard in vain 1 Cor. 6. 1. 14. Our sins are also greatened by God's wrath and vengeance upon others Dan. 5. 18. c. but especially upon our selves and others at home and abroad by Sea and by Land in City and Country by the Sword Pestilence Fire c. We ought to hear Rods of
no great roughness and without a heavy load of Afflictions so as to cleanse our wayes and to let go our sins Isa 27. 7 8 9. But the Sword Pestilence Burning of houses and the like do call on us amain and with a very loud voice even for a full and compleat cleansing of all our wayes to the uttermost To speak home The Lord hath proved us as he did the children of Israel in divers manners Deut. 8. 2. c. some of us sharply before the late civil Wars and in the time of the Wars with losses and prosperity Plainly he hath tried us very variously with adversity and prosperity and adversity and we have dealt with him as the Israelites did Psal 95. 9 10 11. proved and tempted him and do still tempt him with our sins notwithstanding we have seen the great and strange works which he hath wrought for us and against us He hath drawn us with cords of love and we have not been drawn and driven us with Rods and we have not been driven purged us and we have not been purged Ezek. 24. 13. and humbled us and we have not been humbled We have not humbled our selves as we ought to have done but are many of us haughty and high-minded jolly and jocund followers of new and gaudy fashions We do adorn and trimour bodies and houses with things too fine and too costly Can this be without Rebellion which is as the sin of Witch craft and without stubbornness which is as Iniquity and Idolatry 2 Sam. 15. 22. or without despising the chastening of the Lord Prov. 3. 11. Heb. 12. 5. What not learn obedience by the sore things which we suffer Why it was a foul fault in Israel to put far away an evil day which was not yet come upon them Amos 6. 3. What is it then in us to carry our selves as if it were very far from us when not only an evil day is actually upon us but also we have just cause to think some men will endeavour to make it much sorer and more terrible than it is But Oh what hath already been done with God's permission at London since they who above all others should have stood in the gap and taken pains to make up the hedge have disfigured themselves O Lord God what will become of us 15. Our iniquity is greatly greatned by partaking of other mens sins For 1. As it is a sin to command or counsel or hire or request or seek by threatnings or sharp words or promises and fair words to draw or drive any manner of person to do any unlawful work or to speak any unlawful word or to omit any part of his duty so if the party so tempted shall yield to the Temptation then he who hath by any such ways prevailed with him or shall abet maintain or countenance a man in any sin is accessary to the sin which is committed and partaker of it with the personal Actor of it 2. If a man doth use his Christian liberty unseasonably whereby his Christian Brother stumbleth or is offended or is made weak he is partaker of his Brothers sin Rom. 14. 21 22. 3. If we do not instruct counsel admonish reprove and correct and punish others as far as we are bound in duty to use those means to work them out of their sins or to keep them from falling into sin then we are guilty of the sins wherein they are lying or whereinto they fall and the Omission of some of these duties made the Children of Israel accessary to the Theft of Achan and cost the lives of six and thirty of them Josh 7. 1 2 3 4 5. 22. 20. 4. We are partakers of other mens not only by being evil examples to them but also by not being good examples to them And O how often do we trespass in the three last of these wayes especially in the last of all Yet give me leave to speak somewhat more to you of some Gospel-matters Many Professors some unregenerate and some I believe regenerate do not make such use as they ought of the Doctrine Commandments Promises and threatnings of the Gospel 1. They do not duly consider them and what use they ought to make of them 2 Tim. 2. 7. Psal 119. 11. 2. They do not endeavour and stir up themselves with due diligence to believe the Doctrine Commandments Promises and Threats of the Gospel and to believe in Jesus Christ Mark 1. 15. John 3. 14 15 16 17 18 36. 1 Tim. 1. 15. 2 Pet. 1. 17. 1 John 5. 10. Deut. 18. 15. c. Acts 3. 22 23. 3. Nor mourn and grieve in relation to their sins Mat. 3. 2. Mark 1. 15. Acts 2. 38. 3. 19. 17. 30. 26. 18 20. 4. Nor turn from their sins Joel 2. Acts 3. 19. 5. Nor bring forth fruits deserving the name and credit of amendment of life Mat. 3. 8. Tit. 2. 11 12. Acts 26. 18 20. or else 1. Not turn from their sins universally and throughly Ezek. 18. 28 30 31 19 21 22 14. c. 2. And turn unto the Lord Jer. 3. 1. and 4. 1. Joel 2. 12 13. Acts 26. 18. 3. Or else not believe the Gospel-promises and Threats and in Jesus Christ with a strong faith and the whole heart Rom. 10. 10. Acts 8. 37. 1 John 5. 13. 4. Or not amend their ways and mourn for their sins according to God 2 Cor. 7. 9 10. upon Gospel grounds and Motives in regard of Gods love and free-grace and mercy toward them and Gods promises and their expectation of great matters from him hereafter 1 John 3. 19. 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. 6. 17 18. with 7. 1. and because by their sins they have polluted Gods name and grieved his holy spirit and disgraced his Gospel c. but repented and put away their sins only to escape Gods wrath which is but self-love and not for Gospel ends also viz. for God Rom. 11. 36. Prov. 16. 4. 1 Cor. 10. 31. Jam. 4. 3. very many of us do not duly consider how great a sin it is not to come by faith unto Jesus Christ that we may have life John 5. 40. Who will in no wise cast out him who cometh unto him John 6. 37. and how great the difference is before God between doing what we do throughly and doing by halves and between doing upon Gospel-grounds and for all Gospel-ends and doing for our own ends only which great errour it will be our wisdom to amend throughly and to Kiss the Son least he be angry and we perish from the way if his wrath be kindled but a little Psal 2. 12. And thus far of the sixth part of my proof Part. 7. 1. There are five sins of Professors whereof I shall here speak together notwithstanding I have already spoken of some of them because they be so common 1. Many Professors Ministers and others do neglect their Families not bestowing time and pains in educating and training up their children
according to the Rules of Gods word which a godless man is not throughly content to do but would rather buy a pardon with one or two of his Children than to part with all his sins and the sweet fruits of them Which kind of liberal dealing with God how unacceptable it is to him and how unavailable the holy Ordinances which he hath commanded be with him without reformation of our wayes ye may also see if ye have hearts to understand in Es 1. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20. Es 66. 3 4. and Am. 5. 21 22 23 24. I pray read and consider seriously all these Verses Friends I may well speak unto many of you in another â—ense as the LORD speaks to his people Es 58. 6 of letting the oppressed go free For ye do oppress some of the Truths which ye have received into your minds but not the love of them into your hearts Ye do hold them as those Rom. 1. 18. in unrighteousness ye do keep them in prison I beseech you let them all walk at liberty let them prevail in your words and deeds practice them in your houses in your shops in the streets and as there is occasion in all places and companies behave your selves according to those truths which ye know constantly Without this as ye may desire and not obtain bâ—cause ye ask not so ye may ask and not receive because ye ask amiss Jam. 4. 3. Yea without this Reformation ye may use all the holy Ordinances of God externally and that constantly and neither your persons nor your services be accepted with God For God will not receive bribes I cannot tell you of this too oft Phil. 3. 1. But fourthly to speak somewhat more punctually 1. Say in thy heart If the King of Saints be with us why are we thus For the fault is not in God he is rich in grace and abundant in goodness and truth Exod. 34. 6. and waiteth that he may be gracious Es 30. 18. nor in high Priests Intercession the father heareth him always and as for hâ—s protecting of us all power is given to him in Heaven and in Earth Mat. 28. 18. Why then are not the Plowgears cut asunder or the Plows thrown to the hedge Why are we still under the rods of the Almighty Surely the fault is in us the cause is our sins it is by reason of our sins 2. Consider who they were that when they were imprisoned said we are verily guilty concerning our Brother in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he be sought us and we would not hear therefore is this distress upon us Gen. 41. 21 22. and what woman when her Son was dead said unto Elias Art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance and to slay my son 2 King 17. 17 18. and who said unto the Mariners Jon. 1. 12. I know that for my sake this tempest is upon you and who when our Saviour told his Apostles one of them would betray him said Lord is it I And who asked that question last That was Judas Mat. 26. 21 22. 25. Consider I say these persons and thy self What hand thou hast had in pulling down wrath on the Nation or on Professors Psal 19 12 13. and beg very earnestly of God to direct thee to judge rightly of this matter 3. Consider whether thou beest one of them that did heretofore as many Professors did abuse and not make such use as they ought to have done of their Liberty Peace Means Authority and opportunities of doing God and his people service and whether thou be one of them who in the time of their prosperity did not consider pity and shew favour to the sufferers of that time especially the conscientious ones as far forth as they were in duty bound so to do For it is probable God will chastise us for abusing and not making aright use of his blessings by depriving us of them 4. Because we have not Rules by which in all cases to discern clearly for what sins we are corrected therefore I counsel thee to search thy heart and ways all over and to call to mind and consider thy behaviour even from thy Childhood and that very diligently to find out the several kinds of sin wherein thou hast trespassed and thy trespasses in them together with their aggravations as particularly and fully as thou canst making use in this search of the holy Scriptures especially Psal 51. 5. Es 3. 16. to the end Ezek. 22. Eph. 2. 1 2 3 4 5. Tit. 1. 15. Mat. 5. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 28 34 35 36 37 38 39 44. 15. 19. Mark 7. 21 22. Rom. 1. 28 29 30 31 32. 1 Cor. 5. 8. 6. 9 10. 11. 14. 2 Cor. 20. 21. Gab. 5. 19 20 21 22 23 24. Eph. 4. 25 26 29 31 32. 5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 18 21 22 23 25 28 29. Phil. 22. 3 4 5. c. ver 21. Col. 3. 5 6 7 8 9 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 20. 6. 1 2 3 4 5 6. 1 Thes 5. 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22. 1 Tim. 2. 9 10. 6. 8 9 10 11. 2 Tim. 3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Tit. 2. 2 3 4 5 6 9 10 11 12 13. Heb. 13. 16 17 18. Jam 3. 10 13 14 15 16 17. 4. 1. 5. 16. 1 Pet. 3. 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 10. 2 Pet. 2. 7 8. 1 John 3. 18 17. Rev. 2. 4 5. 3. 1 2 3 15 16 17. 21. 8. Rom. 12. 2. 14. 21. 1 Cor. 8. 13. Why not also of By fields Catalogue of sins or the like books and of the exemplary behaviour of the best Professors that thou conversest with It may be sometimes it would be wisdom in thee to take their silence at thy words for a reproof of them And be sure because it is a very difficult thing for a man to understanding his errours Psal 19. 12. to imitate Job chap. 13. 23. requesting the God of knowledge to make thee know and understand thy sins and transgressions 5. Consider thy sins together with the afflictions which God hath sent thee either alone or joyntly with others for so we are to understand the considering of our ways Hagg. 1. 5 6 7 9 10 11. and thinking on our ways Psal 119. 59. viz. of considering our doings and the events of them and take good notice that that Commandment in Hagg. 1. is repeated and consider why it is repeated which I judge is because it highly concerns men to consider their doings and the success of them and that seriously that they may turn their feet unto Gods testimonies Psal 119. 59. and because many be so slow to consider them c. 6. I advise thee as thou findest out thy sins to confess them bâ—fore the Lord against thy self and that thou hast walked contrary to him and also that he hath walked contrary to thee and
this Luke 13. 1 2. 3. Mortifie all the members of the old man the flesh with all the affections and lusts even all thy ungodly lusts Col. 3. 5. Eph. 5. 24. For this work some of Dr. Prestons Sermons are of very good use 4. Give due diligence to be exercised under the chastening hand of God to the bettering of thy spiritual estate Heb. 12. 10. 11. 5. Draw near to God oft Psal 73. 28. Jam. 4. 9. viz. to hear his word by prayer but be sure when thou drawest nigh to him to sanctifie him I mean to testifie to thy own conscience the high account which thou makest of his Holinest by thy holy and reverend usage of the holy things which I take to be the sanctifying of the LORD Lev. 10. 3. See how they be like to fare that do draw nigh to the LORD and not sanctifie him v. 1 2 3. 6. Seek unto God to work for thee and thy brethren seek his favour and help but seek it according to his will revealed in the holy Scriptures that he may hear thee and thy brethren Hos 5. 15. 6. 1 2 3. 1 Joh. 5. 14 15. 7. Let thy heart be prepared unto this work Psal 10. 17. yea and thy wayes also But if thy heart be thy wayes will And here consider 1. When the peoples hearts were prepared then God hearkened to Hezekiahs prayer for them and healed them in respect of their discomforts fears and discouragements 2 Chron. 30. 18 19. 2. Jotham King of Judah became mighty because he prepared his way before the LORD his God 2 Chron. 27. 6. Remember this 3. If a man doth purge himself from his wood and earth he shall be a vessel unto honour sanctified and meet for the Masters use and prepared unto every good work 2 Tim. 20. 21. All of you remember who said When the Son of man cometh shall he find faith on the earth Luke 18. 8. Stir up faith in thy own heart and in the hearts of thy fellow-professors to look on and expect better times as if they were visible to the eyes of the body or coming within a few leagues of us and wait for them with patience Heb. 11. 1 13. Rom. 4. 18 19 20 21 22. 8. 25. and shew thy self resolute and couragious when there is cause as if thou wert in no danger Let it appear before the sons of men that thou trustest in God Psal 31. 19. I shall now speak of some things which I think may conduce more to the bettering of thy estate than some it may be think they do 1. Train up thy children and servants to the uttermost of thy abilities in the way wherein they should go Prov. 22. 6. 2. See that thou canst render a good reason for all the parts of thy Non-conformity 3. When thou prayest be sure to serve God in thy prayers and to pray for God Prov. 16. 4. I mean with due respect to his honour and glory and aiming at it Jam. 4. 3. 4. Apply thy self to God with earnest prayers and bearty thanksgivings for the Church of God the Nation the Governours of it the Parliament forreign Plantations the People of Christ in all Countreys converted and unconverted and enemies and persecutors if there be any It may be God doth not grant the requests which some make to him for themselves because they do not love and pray as they ought for others even their enemies Mat. 5. 44. Luke 23. 34. Act. 7. 60. And as for our King who knows whether he be come to these Kingdomes to do very much good for the Church of God 5. Receive no manner of person as a Brother because he is against some of the things of the Church of England but rather learn how to behave thy self towards Familists Ranters Triumphers Quakers Swenkfildians 2. Tim. 3. 5. 2 Pet. 2. 10 11 12 13 14 15. 2 Joh. v. 10 11. Jude v. 10 12 13. 6. Think it more necessary to amend thy manner of praying and fasting than to make long prayer or to pray or fast ofener Friends I would gladly have you all amend your conversation and walk more accurately and precisely Give me leave to put you in mind among other things of that which may possibly move you so to do 1. What if ye knew good cause to be confident that ye should have liberty and peace and worldly prosperity and be freed from all grievances and that God would not at all punish or chastize you for your sins Would it then be to your hurt to amend your behaâ—iâ—ur upon the admonition or request of an old man and to fill his heart with gladness at the age of 72 For in the sight of God it is good so to do Mic. 6. 8. And the Proverb saith Every thing is the better for the amending and the wisdom which is from above is tractable easie to be entreated Jam. 3. 17. viz. to do that which is good in God's sight tending unto his honour or the good of any of hâ—s people Yea the Lord doth require of me and of all you to grow in grace 2 Pet. 3. 18. to make streight paths for our feet Heb. 12. 13. to walk circumspectly accurately precisely Eph. 5. 15. to cause our moderation and other graces to be known to all men Phil. 4. 5. and to let our light to shine so before men that they may see our good works and glorifie our Father who is in heaven Mat. 5. 16. What 's become of this Light where and when shines it Verily the light of many Professors is a very dim light and scarce visible in their conversings excepting the daily pract se of their forms of Godliness and a few other good words at times We had some not long since who were called new Lights of that kind of Lights I desire no more but such as John Baptist was burning and shining lights Joh. 5. 55. such as burn inwardly with true zeal and shine outwardly by and in good works Also the great God commands us to wash our selves so as to make our selves clean to put away the evil of our doings from before his eyes to cease to do evil and learn to do well c. Isa 1. 16 17. and our most dear Friend Jesus Christ teacheth us to do singular things more than others Mat. 5. 47. and tells us plainly that except our righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees we shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 5. 19. And how must it exceed their righteousness chiefly by believing in Jesus Christ and by purging the heart from all spiritual 〈◊〉 and by judgment and mercy Mat. 23. 23. Why Friends the ungodly man in Mic. 6. 6 7. speaks of himself as content to purchase God's favour and a pardon of his sins at a very great price only he speaks not of leaving his sins and doing his duty beyond whom ye must go in being thoroughly content to part with your
what a day will bring forth Prov. 27. 1. Jam. 4. 13 14. I shall notwithstanding shew you as near as I can when the end of our sufferings will be I believe our most gracious and wise God will put an end to them 1. When that which letteth our prayers and deliverance is taken out of the way as 2 Thes 2. 7. Which I believe to be our sins See Marg. 30. c. 2. When we are taken in the snares which God hath laid for us Will a man take up a snare from the earth when he hath taken nothing at all Amos 3. 5. Now he who is one of Christs people is taken in his snare of affliction when he is by it and Gods word brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10. 5. and made willing to receive and follow all his counsel 3. God will do it for us in due time which is when he hath attained all the ends whereat he shooteth in afflicting us See Marg. 20. c. 4. When we hear the rod and him who hath appointed it Mâ—cah 6. 9. that is have taken notice of the message of the Rod and are fully resolved to do what God requires of us by it 5. When we are fittingly exercised by and under our Crâ—sses and do make such use of them as we ought so that they do yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness to us Heb. 12. 11. to Christ and to his Church 6. When God doth with our chastenings teach us out of his Law Psal 94. 12. 119. 59. that which by the voice of his chastenings he calls us to learn out of it so as to do it See Marg. 27. c. The cause ceasing the effect will cease 7. When it agrees with Gods faithfulness and justice to forgive us our sins which is when we confess and forsake our sins c. Prov. 28. 13. Es 1. 16 17 18 19. Es 59. 20. Hag. 2. 18. And for examples Noah being a just and perfect man found grace in the eyes of the LORD for himself and his Family when very many millions of of men were drowned Gen. chap. 6. chap. 7. chap. 8. Jacob and his Family having great cause to fear the wrath of their Neighbours and of God also God commanded them to go up to Bethel and to dwell there whereupon Jacob cleansed his house of Idols and then journeyed and the terror of God was upon the Cities that were round about them so that they did not pursue after them Gen. 35. 1 5. When the LORD had with much ado won Moses to undertake as many would have accounted it a very dangerous service then he comforted him with this that all the men were dead who sought his life Exod. 4. 19. And when the Israelites at Gods call went out of Egypt under the conduct of Moses and Aaron not a dog did move his tongue against any of them nor against any of their beasts Exod. 11. 7. And what did God promise Israel in Exod. 34. 24. even that not any man should desire their land when they should go up to appear before the LORD their God thrice in the year But Solomon speaks indefinitely saying When a mans ways please the LORD he maketh even his enemies 〈…〉 with him Prov. 16. 7. 8. God will put a period to our troubles when we are so humbled under the Almighty and chastizing hand of God as to resolve throughly to forsake all our sins and to cast all our care upon him being cotent to live at his finding and upon his allowance under his dispensations of prosperity and adversity Jam. 4. 10. 1 Peâ— 5. 6 7 10. A man is never fully humbled under the Kingdom and Power of the Almighty till he be so minded 9. When we are throughly well prepared and meet to receive of God what he hath in and at his right hand to give us See a little before For an exceeding rich man will not keep in his own hand a piece of silver which he purposeth to bestow on a very poor man a long time after he he sees he is come nigh him and in a fit posture to receive it c. viz. standing before him quietly with a sober countenance with his hat in his hand c. But if a poor man whom a rich man calls to him should come proudly dancing laughing and grinning and stand before him one while on his right leg another while on his left leg one while turning his face towards him another while his back playing with his Buttons and talking proudly saucily and malepertly to him it may be this kinde of behaviour would cost the poor man the learning of better manners before he should receive any Alms excepting sharp and chiding words of him Neither do I see wherefore we should expect to have the most high God deal more indulgently with us but for our good to reject our prayers till we have learned how to come unto him and how to behave our selves before him and that as touching both the outward and inward man for he knows all the secrets of the heart 10. God will ease us of our afflictions when according to his wise Discipline there is as Peters Language is no need of them 1 Pet. 1. 6. Now medicinals of the body when they have wrought that work in or on the body for which the Physician or Surgeon useth then then they cease to be needful Mat. 9. 12. And even so chastisements and corrections when God hath attained all his ends for which he sends them then they are needless But here we must know that God may seek his own honour and aim at the promoting of his own causes yea and the good as it were of his whole Church in afflicting one single person as ye may see in 2 Cor. 1. 3. to 12. and if ye study seriously in many other Scriptures 11. God will relieve and help us when the Holy Ghost hath burnt up or washt away or blown away the corruptions and ungodly lusts which are in our hearts Mat. 3. 11. John 3. 5 6 7 8. When God hath purged away our sins and iniquities and driven us out of our evil wayes by our chastisements and afflictions Es 27. 9. Zech. 13. 9. We must be rid of the naughty things which are in our hearts and wayes 12. When we are become throughly meet for the Masters use and well prepared for every â—ood work 2 Tim. 2. 20 21 22. 13. When we have learned to seek God duly and diligently and in the Faith of being raised up to turn from our sins and to exhort and encourage one another to turn unto the LORD Hos 5. 14 15. with 6. 1 2 3. Come now and let us reason together as it were face to face I shall speak to a few to many to all of you Why is there so little speech amongst us of reforming Professors Why do we who are Professors so seldom reprove Professors I assure you it is not through want
things shall come upon thee Prov. 24. 25. That is thou shalt be glad that thou hast kept thy conscience clear and God will bestow good things of one kind or other on thee and so some do interpret Jam. 5. 20. 3. He who rebuketh a man shall afterward find more favour than he who flattereth him with his lips Prov. 28. 23. Howsoever the wounds of a friend are faithful Prov. 27. 5. Use All which notwithstanding for I now come to reprove for not reproving it is not an easie thing to find a faithful man Prov. 20. 6. and the duty of reproving as Mr. E. H. of Br. said is generally neglected O how common this sin is A. neglecting the education of his children B. speaks of it behind his back but not a word to his face C. in his prayer at a Meeting makes such a confession of sins and corruptions as if the Company were excepting outward acts of gross sins the worst persons in all the City and yet speaks so in his Sermon as if they had scarce any sin at all fit to be spoken of D. preacheth of sins under the notion of the devils dainties and instanceth in none but oppression of which belike none of the Hearers were guilty And men of dainty expressions have foolish wisdom enough to pass by the sins of their Hearers and to find out other matters enough to spend the time on There were of old three sorts of Prophets true and faithful Prophets false Prophets and faulty Prophets Jer. 23. 13 14. to 17. But they also who are not Preachers are guilty of much sinful silence I would have them and the Preachers to take great heed lest Christ look on them for it as he did on those Mark 3. 4 5. with anger For many professing men and women through want of due admonition and rebuke do go on still in their trespasses to the dishonour of Christ and the grieving of his holy Spirit and the disgrace of Religion even opening the mouths of profane persons to blaspheme the right wayes of the Lord and at least to the loss and damage if not utter destruction of both the parties of them whose behaviour calls for reproof and of them that do not pay it 1 Cor. 3. 15. and to the lengthening of that which we call our afflictions And is all this nothing to you who esteem your selves the children of God and members of Jesus Christ and say that ye are taught of God and that Jesus Christ loved you and gave himself for you Is Christ's dishonour and the polluting of God's name nothing to you The grieving of the good Spirit of God nothing The discredit of the true Religion nothing and the continuance of the Saints afflictions nothing Is all this nothing to you Is it possible that a man or woman should be a new creature and not be grieved at the heart 〈◊〉 that these things have come to pass through his or her sinful silence But O how few Professors do duly consider of whose sins and of which of their sins they be guilty and partakers 1 Tim. 5. 22. And from whence comes this our sinful silence Even from our carnal self-love affiance in men carnal and worldly fears and want at least in part of love towards God affiance in God filial fear of God and brotherly love towards one another Consider I pray you what I say that ye may the more abhor this pernicious kind of silence and humble your selves for it and hereafter not hold your peace from good and fit words but as there is cause and occasion open your mouths and reprove c. Apologies But here it may be these dumb Professors Ezck. 3. 16. will say 1. One that reproving belongs to Ministers A. But I say that it appertains also unto them who are not Ministers as ye may see Lev. 19. 17. Mat. 18. 15. Luke 17. 3. 1 Thes 5. 14. Heb. 3. 12 13. and 10. 24 25. 2. Another that he abstains from reproving Professors because their sins be few or little and that some of them have but one â—ault A. Indeed Friend the Faults of some Professors are many And for those who have but few knowest thou not that as a few dead flies do cause the ointment of the Apothâ—cary to send forth a stinking savour so a little folly doth him who is in reputation for wisdom and honour Eccl. 10. 1. Art thou content that Professors should use to trespass against the most high God in a few little sins to defile his name whom thou callest thy heavenly Father a little to grieve his holy spirit a little to disgrace his Gospel a little and to make the ointment and reputation of Professors stink a little yet all this thou art guilty of by keeping silence Why man our Lord Jesus Christ being the eternal Wisdom and the word of God having against the Angels of the Churches of Pergames and Thyatira against either of them but a few things and against the Angel of the Church of Ephesus only his leaving of his first love yet he saw cause to reprove them all for their few Faults as well as to praise them for their good works as ye may see Rev. 2. and also that part of their iniquities was the suffering of evil works Take heed then thou be not rent and torn as accessary to other mens sins Hos 5. 14. For I have already shewn thee that there is no little sin because there is no little God The true God is infinitely great and worthy and every sin is committed against him therefore every sin is great See Marg. 30. 31. Moreover I fear many Professors do make nothing of some of their little Trespasses and doth not this make them in Gods esteem far the greater Verily it doth And what do they that do not reprove them what do they make of their sins Truly the offender and non-reprover are in that too like one another Beside many little sins do yied but little seeming good fruit and that greatens them that we dare trespass against the most high God and his holy just and good Commandments for such poor matters for trifles And I have spoken unto you of the Professors which in that great day shall be set on Christs left hand of the greater part of them that they shall be damned for little sins and sins about things indifferent Take heed therefore ye who use liberty as an occasion to the flesh and ye who are silent at such mens sins take heed I say lest ye be torn in pieces together when there is none to deliver Psal 50. 22. Repl. But some Professors use to practise as far as I see only one sin it may be rotten or frothy talk I hope it is no fault in me to let them alone in one sin A. No fault Why man for how many and what faults did Jesus Christ in the time of his low estate reprove Martha Lu. 10. 41 42. I think it was not for many nor
trust in him before the sons of men that is not who trust in God rather than in men or more than in men but for them who by their carriage toward men and dealings with men do make it appear that they do really trust in God Truly Friends it is a wretched thing for a man to say God is his Father and that he trusteth in him for a mansion in Heaven and not to trust in and relie on him for his daily bread as if his Father were dead But now let me bestow some Rules on you concerning reproving 1. Know that thou art bound to deal concerning their sins not only with the Professors with whom thou usest to have fellowship in the Gospel at meetings but with other Professors also 2. Consider whom to reprove when where how c. whom first c. 3. Admonish and reprove with as much heavenly wisdom and fit humane discretion as thou canst begging wisdom of God who giveth to all men liberally Jam. 1. 5. and 3. 17. 1 Kings 3. 5. c. 4. As lovingly for true Christian love and as mildly and meekly as thou canst unless there be cause to deal otherwise Gal. 6. 1. 2 Tim. 2. 6 24 25. 1 Tim. 5. 20. 1 Cor. 4. 21. Jude ver 22 23. Gal. 2. 11. 5. Shew all due and fit respect to the credit of offendors c. Mat. 18. 15 16 17. 1 Cor. 4 6. 6. Having respect to the calling and age of the offendors according to Col. 4. 17. 1 Tim. 1. 2. and to the temper and disposition of their spirits generally 7. Consider also thy self thy own calling age c. For such Language did become our Saviour and Paul as would not have been fit for some of the ordinary Pastors Luke 24. 25. Gal. 3. 1. 8. Above all other Professors excepting thy self be sure as far forth as there is cause to admonish and request the Ministers and Preachers to apparel and adorn their Souls Bodies Sermons and Prayers and all their behaviour more like men professing Godliness Sobriety Modesty Mortification and Humility 1 Tim. 2. 10. Tit. 2. 3 4 5 8. and to conform more fully to the Doctrine and practise of Paul 1 Cor. 2. 1. c. 1 Cor. 14. 8 9. 1 Thes 2. 3 4 5 6 7 8. and to deal more faithfully and more plainly and more home with thee and other Professors than many of them use to do and not to cease from admonishing rebuking c till ther◠〈◊〉 an Universal Reformation Nay they who are not Preachers have Authority to admonish Ministers 1 Thâ—s 4. 8 and 5. 14. Hebr. 3. 12 13. Col. 4. 17. and according to the seeing of my eyes and my best intelligence the out-sides and silence and other sins of Ministers in London and elsewhere do require it 9. Imitate Abigail 1 Sam. 25. 36. Reprove no man whilst he is in his drink I have heard of some Professors that they have been drunk or in a passion for with that some mens minds are disabled as much as they would be wiâ—h excess of drink Yet here query whether a Professor ought not to bestow a few words of rebuke on his fellow-Professor who shews himself drunk or in a passion in the presence and sight of profane persons that they may not have occasion to say We do indulge and bear one with another carnally I mean whether he ought not to do so much forthwith One of the best times to reprove an offender should be when he hath been at some exercise of Religion as a Fast or hearing some wholsom instructions concerning the soul or at prayer especially praying apart from others If a Professor will not immediately or soon after that receive a Reproof with a quiet spirit I know not when he will but shall look on it as a very bad sign 10. Remember it is not an hundred and twenty years nor let it alone this year also nor yet forty dayes but to day Heb. 4. 7. Defer not this necessary work of reproving c. without just cause no not for a moment For we know not what a day may bring forth Prov. 3. 28. Prov. 27. 1. Jam. 4. 14. and many Professors have need of much help yea some I believe who have specious and large Forms of Godliness long prayers Eccl. 5. 1 2 3. Mat. 6. 7 8 9. c. Mat. 23. 14. c. and some who in their speeches at times do make a fair shew of true grace it may be of much of Zeal Humiliation Mortification Humility Sobriety Modesty tenderness of Conscience contempt of earthly things c. For that notwithstanding a considerable part of their ornaments and behaviour savours and smells what if I had said stinks of Pride Vanity Curiosity foolishness foolish-talking and unseemly jesting excessive mirth and jollity lasciviousness love of pleasure and ease palat-pleasing men pleasing c. one part of their behaviour contradicting the other part 2 Tim. 3. 5. Tit. 1. 16. O how piously religiously and holily for the words some will sometimes talk who are very little or just nothing for true Christians Like the legs of the lame which are not equal or a parable in the mouth of a fool Prov. 26. 7. As if a man should have 〈◊〉 Garlands or Ivy-bushes hanged at the door of his house and very little or no good drink within it What said Mr. Walter Cradock I protest quoth he these women are enough to make a man an Athiest speaking of some female Professors which he might well have spoken of some Male Professors also 11. Whosoever doubteth concerning any matter let him ask of them who are able to instruct him and also conscientious to direct him aright Vse 3. With all importune the Almighty alwayes and with all thy might and skill Luke 18. to reform Professors and to stir up Professors Preachers and else to do what they are able both privately and publickly when they be the mouth of God to men or the mouth of men to God and in all other cases toward the reforming of Professors especially in reproving them for their sins and trespasses and to encrease the abilities of such as are willing and to bless their praise-worthy enterprizes For as far as I see or have been informed and can remember very few Professors do pray for the Reformation of Professors under the name of Reformation I mean using that term Many use to speak as if they should say some Professors indeed might do well to amend some matters but their faults be so few and so small that the amendment of them would scarce or not at all deserve the name of a Reformation so that it is not very material whether they do amend or not But I am not of this judgment Vse 4. Let all those Professors who are fit to be reproved the number whereof is very great either prevent the Reprovers for I hope they will be many or else prepare themselves to receive Reproofs with a calm and thankful heart