Gospel of them that profess and believe it and indeavour to live according to it wicked men do what they can that hate godliness themselves to discourage others from it and discover their malice not only in bad Language but in the base usage of them that fear God I might shew as to malicious reprocahful Language how common a condition this hath been for all the Saints in all times let them be never so good they shall be ill spoken of and they that are the greatest blessings to the places where they live shall be looked upon as the greate stroublers of it as they said thou art he that troublest Israel whereas wicked Ahab and his Idolatries brought their misery upon them And so Jeremy he must be ill spoken of he was the man that did all the mischeif in his days whereas poor man what did he do he did only pray for them and Preach to them and tell them of those sins that brought those evils upon them and yet he must be accounted 〈◊〉 man that was the Author of all their miseâ—… no place is fit for him but the Prison or the Dungeon and so Paul and Silas Acts. 17.5.6 when they came to preach the Gospel they raised up against them the worst and the baser sort of the people and they must revile them these are they that turn the World upside down alas what had they turned upside down but men's lusts and the Devils Kingdom the Devil knew that well enough and therefore he so much opposed them alas they are so far form being the disturbers that they are the quieters of a Land they do not overthrow but uphold kingdoms the holy Prophets and the holy People of God are the Chariots of Israel and the Horsemen thereof and when once they are removed then ruine may be expected they are the only means that God makes use of sometimes to keep of misery from a people let but Lot go out of Sodom and then Fire and Brimstone comes down from Heaven upon them while Jeremy continues praying the Lord forbeares punishing but when God would bring his judgments then there comes pray not for this people This is the common Portion of God's people they must be thought the troublers of the place they are the men that do all the mischief that bring all the calamities as if nothing but holiness was the ruine of the world c. But that is not all the bad Language they give them but the bad usage they meet with is the great temptation and trouble that the people of God are annoyed by they do not only open their mouthes against them but they stretch forth their hands to vex them God's people they are the Butt for them to shoot the Arrowes of their fury against Lord saith David Psal 3 1. How are they increased that trouble me Many are they which rise up against me Gal. 4.29 and it was not their case alone but saith the Apostle as then he that was borne after the flesh persecuted him that was borne after the spirit even so it is now and so it will be to the end of the World these two seedes will never agree wicked men hate the godly at their hearts and when they have power and opportunity they will manifest the hatred of their spirits by the incivilities they will do them they will vent their malice the fury and rage of their hearts in their bud dealings with them 2 Cor. 11.24.25 Not only the persons that knew not God but the Jewes that pretended aquaintance with God they were Paul's great adversaries This is the condition of God's people they shall be exercised with great temptations with Persecutions in the world David tells us 1 Sam. 26.20 He was hunted as a Partridge in the Mountains Psal 102.6.7 I am like a Pellicane saith the Psalmist of the Wilderness I am like an Owle of the Desart I watch and am as a Sparrow alone upon the House top and Paul tells us of those brave men those choise Saints even those the World was not worthy of Heb. 11.36 They had trials of cruel mockings and Scourgings yea moreover of bonds and imprisonment they were stoned they were Sawen asunder were tempted were slain with the Sword c. The land was not able to beaâ—e their words and their lives and Paul saith this was his case 2 Cor 11.23 He was in stripes above measure in Prisons more frequent in deaths oft of the Jewes five times received I forty stripes save one thrice was I beaten with Rods once was I stoned c. And it was not his case alone but of other Saints not only in his time but all others must in one kind or other suffer and in this sense All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer Persecution either the Persecution of the hand or the Persecution of the Tongue be reproached and vilified if not abused and imprisoned if not in reference to their liberties and estates yet in one kind or other they shall be annoyed Nay the godly many times are molested and wronged by those from whom they may in most reason expect the most civility Psal 41.9 My own familiar friend in whom I trusted which did eat of my bread hath lift up his heel against me See how many loved Christ and see how many of his servants as Christ saith among the Twelve there was a Judas Mat. 26.21 Verily I say unto you that one of you shall betray me and they were exceeding sorrowfull and began every one of them to say to him Lord is it I and he answered and said he that dippeth his hand with me in the Dish the same shall betray me Nay we read the first man that ever was born in the world that was a good man was a persecuted man he was persecuted to the death and that by his own brother Joh. 1 3.12 Cain was of that wicked one and who slew his Brother and wherefore slew he him because his own works were evil and his Brothers good One would think he should rather have preserved him no such was the wickedness of his spirit that that was the cause that he could not be quiet until he was destroyed his own works were evil and his Brothers good and the Apostle makes the Application in the 13 vers marvel not my brethren if the World hate you If you fear God and are willing to serve him be sure the World will hate you those that are nearely related to you you may expect they will be injurious to you Saith Christ to his Disciples think not that I am come to send peace on the Earth but the fruit of the Gospel is peace but the Sword that is trouble will follow that I am come to set a man at variance against his Father and the Daughter against her Mother and the Daughter in Law against her Mother in Law and a mans foes shall be they of his own house The Preaching of the Gospel is not
STRENGTH MADE PERFECT IN Weakness In Four Sermons Preached By William Hickocks M. A. Quandoquidem nobis denegatur diu vivere relinquamus aliquid quo nos vixisse testemur Sen. LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Three Crowns and Bible at the Lower end of Cheap-side 1674. THE EPISTLE TO THE Reader READER THE worthy Author of these Sermons Mr. William Hickocks was Educated in the Schools of the Prophets and that in an happy time when the envious man was not permitted the Nurseries and Vine-yards to poyson and spoyle them with the Tares of unsound Doctrines and evil Examples and it pleased God to Sanctifie his Liberal and Pious Education that he became not onely a good Christian but also an able Minister not of the Letter but of the Spirit He made the work of his Ministry the work not only of his Head but Heart too shineing with the splendor of Knowledge and Holiness and burning with very Holy Well-grounded Affectionate Zeal giving himself to spend and be spent ready to impart his very soul and all in Delivering and Vrging his great Master's Errand Observing his Spirit as I had frequent opportunity of Converse with him I often thought he savoured too much of the other World to be far from it and so it was indeed His Light was too bright and hot to last his Race too swift and eager to hold he threw himself with strong girds before his feet and soon apprehending the prize left his Body behind Great Labours and Publick as well as Personal deep Resentments exhausted his Spirits and quickly reduced his Body to the dregs of Melancholy so that he was often as Epaphroditus once sick even to death for the work of the Ministry God also early called him forth as David when but a stripling to grapple with Goliah-like Temptations wherein indeed he was Conqueror but yet as Christ with great faintness of Spirit the Lord therefore seeing him weary took him up in his arms and carried him home excusing him his otherwise-remaining travel Oh! how precious had his experiences been had he had Life and Health to acquaint us with them Oh! the depth of the Wisdom and Counsel of God and his ways past finding out that so fruitful a Tree should not be spared that a Vessel of Mercy and Honor so purged and fitted for his Masters use should be dashed in pieces even as soon almost as it was seasoned and broached But yet blessed be God although the Earthen Vessel be broken we have not lost all the Treasure the less it is that is saved the more we should make of it as we carry it towards the Parents of many Children when they leave but one onely little one behind we account it very dear especially if it be like the Parent and truly so is this little Book in thy hand it being a representation of the Consistency of Faith and Doubting Fear and Hope Heaviness and Gladness in one and the same Godly Person whereof the Author was a famous Instance as if this had been his very Temper and Complexion Behold then here one onely little Birth * These Sermons being Published as they were taken in Short-hand something hurt indeed in the coming forth for want of better Midwifry but yet of many resembling the Parent and costing him his very Life Behold Reader I present thee with a taste of the Fruit under the waight whereof the Tree did Bend Break and Fall yet shall we answer at last if we Refuse or Receive so costly Grace in vain Oh! what a sad account shall we have to make if this man of God and the many others which are lately taken from amongst us should be gone to Heaven to complain of our Vnthankfulness Vntractableness Vnfruitfulness Vnsteadfastness c. whereby we have broken their Hearts Good Reader I warn in Paper and Inke and would more gladly do it in Tears if the Lord would please to hear Prayers that we may be Restored to the free Publick Exercise of our Ministry Amen The second Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians the second Chapter the sixteenth and seventeenth Verses 16. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God even our Father who hath loved us and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace 17. Comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and work AS it is the duty of all when they have the Truth made known to them to receive it so much more is it the duty of believers that have received the Truth to hold it fast As we are to buy the Truth so having once bought it never to sell it as we are to lay hold on it so never to let it go as it is our duty to imbrace the Truth so it should be our care never to let it go never to leave it The Apostle having in this Chapter exhorted the Saints to steadfastness to watchfulness and carefulness he presseth his Exhortation from variety of Motives taken partly from the Apostasie of those that are seemingly friends to the Truth partly from the misery of the enemies of the Truth and then again in regard of the holyness they were adorned with and the happiness they should ere long injoy and therefore he repeats his exhortation to stedfastness in the Verse before the Text Therefore Brethren stand fast and hold the tradition not of men but of God which you have been taught that is those Doctrines you have received whether from our mouths or writings that is from the Apostles who were infallibly guided by the Holy Ghost And to this Exhortation he adds Supplication in the words now read wherein take notice of four things First The Persons praying Paul Silvanus and Timotheus Secondly The Persons prayed for The Saints of the Church of the Thessalonians Thirdly The Persons prayed too and they are two First God the Son Secondly God the Father The Apostle mentions the Son first no◠that he is so in order of Nature but he 〈◊〉 not curious in placing his words though 〈◊〉 very well knew that God the Father is the first Person in the Trinity God even our Father where we have first his Love asserted who hath loved us Secondly declared and illustrated first in the effects of it and hath given us everlasting consolation and then in the cause of it and good hope through grace Lastly The Petitions themselves or Blessings prayed for and they are two Consolation and Confirmation Consolation comfort your Hearts Confirmation stablish you in every good Word and Work My time is but short the Text is large and therefore I must but only in many things paraphrase upon the Words Now our Lord Jesus Christ Now or first the Apostle here adds this Supplication to his former Exhortation from whence I might note First Doct. I. That the Ministers of the Gospel are not only to Preach to but to pray for the People As they are to speak from God to them so they are to speak for them
natural affections The Saints here that were the called and chosen people of God they had their sorrow and grief as well as their gladness the work of grace wherever it is in truth wrought in any soul doth much restrain mens violent passions yet when men begin to be good they do not cease to be men Religion doth not rob people of their senses The godly have their fears as well as their hopes as they have their joys so they are not without their sorrows you are in heaviness through manifold temptations Afflictions are afflictions to them that fear God as well as to others Heb. 12.11 no chashiment for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous Let no Person think because the crosses and troubles he meets withal in the World do sadden and afflict him therefore he hath no grace that surely if they had grace they should have no such thing as grief and trouble of heart See the Holyest men we read of tell us the troubles of their hearts were often inlarged Though the power of godliness doth moderate our affections to things here below yet it doth not make us insensible of what we suffer here below Grace doth not rob men of Humanity as not upon a Civil account so neither doth it upon a Natural account people do not cease to be men and women when they come to be truly godly if Persons were not affected afflicted with their troubles afflictions were no afflictons to them c. Do not therefore pass sentence upon thy self as one that is an unconverted Person because the great troubles thou meetest withal in the world are laid to heart by thee though grace do diminish yet it doth not destroy mens passions James 5.17 the Apostles us Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are though he was a man of exceeding great faith yet you find him sometimes a man of great fear The Scripture records as his grace so his natural temper that eminency of grace that was in him did not destroy that that was natural in him Christianity doth not introduce a Stoical Stupidity that they do not at all regard how things go with them we may have grace in our hearts and yet lay to heart our sufferings we may be truly brought home to God and yet affected through sense of our afflictions in the World Only here let me put in a few cautions First Though God's people are in heaviness and sadness through the great troubles that they meet withal in the world yet you that fear God take heed you be not in such heaviness as those who have no hope do not sorrow as them that have no hope or no ground of hope for the blessing of God upon them here much less for happiness with God hereafter rejoyce in the Lord while you have sorrow in the world saith the Apostle rejoyce in the Lord always and he makes a repetition and againe I say rejoyce This is his councel to the suffering Saints even when most afflicted as David 1 Sam. 30.6 when he was in that great trouble when his Wives were taken Captive and his Children and the people speak of stoning David what did he do but David incouraged himself in the Lord his God so should we do when we are discouraged as to the world then we should incourage our selves in the Lord our God at what time I am afraid I will trust in thee let not our afflictions here make us think it will never be otherwise hereafter Secondly Let not your heaviness or trouble or sadness in the World be joyned with discontent do not murmur because we meet with troubles let us not think because we are afflicted that others are in a better condition then our selves because they thrive and and flourish in the world O let us not quarrel at any of God's providences let us say as that good Old man Eli It is the Lord let him do what seems him good the Lord is good and doth good and he doth nothing but what is good for us we have no cause to quarrel when God doth afflict us let us then take care that we do not fret our selves to do evil for there is no evil in the City but God doth it and good is that God that sends that evil and all evil shall be for good to them that fear God Thirdly Let your heaviness be greater for your transgressions then for any affliction or temptation let us more grieve for sin that is the cause of trouble then for all those troubles that are caused by sin let us more lay to heart our own corruptions then all the malice of wicked men and the afflictions we meet with in the world we had not known what sorrow meant had not sin been in our hearts and been in our lives let us mourn more for sin or however be sure that our natural sorrow be accompanyed with spiritual sorrow that we have that godly sorrow that workes repentance unto Salvation for worldly sorrow alone only causeth death O let sin be more laid to heart and the crosses in the World less laid to heart let us mourn more for our transgressions and we shall less mind our afflictions Fourthly Let not our heaviness or sadness or grief of spirit that is occasioned through troubles in the World cause us to neglect our duty let us take care that we do not so grieve for what we suffer as to forget what we have to do let us not so mind our misery as to forget our duty or omit our duty to God or Man in the places of our general and particular calling which God hath set us in the world When sorrow is so excessive that it drives us from God and from his wayes from delighting in him we have cause then to be in heaviness for it we are not so to mind what we suffer as to forget what we do That sorrow is never like to do us good nay that sorrow doth not make us at all to be good that keeps us from doing good if we once come to that pass to neglect our duty that heaviness is to be lamented Applicat Beloved we have heard Gods people are in heaviness through manifold temptations but let me tell you If Gods people be in heaviness here what heaviness shall Gods enemies be in hereafter If God chastise his faithful servants sure he will punish his enemies if this be done in a green Tree what shall be done in a dry if Gods people have their temptations surely wicked men shall have their tribulation tribulation and anguish upon every one that doth evil doubtless if manifold temptations be the lot of the righteous here dreadful tribulation will be the portion of the wicked hereafter doubtless the time is coming Prov. 11.8 vers The righteous is delivered out of trouble and the wicked cometh in his room the time is coming when sin and sorrow shall be gone from the people of God and then everlasting sorrow