God did we see him to be an alsufficient unchangable faithful God it would help us to hold out to follow him fully 4. Again eye His Omnisciency His eyes are upon the wayes of man and He seeth all his goings Job 34.21 He telleth all our wanderings When Peter was turning his back on Christ his Lord and Master looked on him all the while As he beheld guile-less Nathaniel under the Fig-tree So he likewise beheld Peter halting in the High Priests Palace 5. His Omnipresence O that we had Moses eyes to see him that is invisible Doubtless he is not far from any of us No fleeing from his presence Psa 139.7 c. That we cannot sin but in the face of our Judge What are ye not afraid to turn aside from God his Truth his Commands while the Lord himself stands by and observes all our carriage 6. His Holiness Justice and Severity against sin If any draw back his soul can take no pleasure in that man Only such as are upright in the Way that are his delight Pro. 11.20 As God is displeased at mens halting before him so he is ready to manifest his displeasure And what a fearful thing is it to fall into the hands of the living God even as to fall into a consuming fire Such of God's Attributes as these last mentioned would very much awe us make us fear to depart or turn aside in the least from him But so much of the eighth Direction 9. Look to Jesus as your best guide And strive to follow his steps Observe how Christ carried in this world He did no sin neither was guile found in His mouth His love to man without dissimulation His zeal for God free from the least mixture of self-seeking He had the wisdom of the Serpent and the Doves innocency most exactly contempered duly proportioned in him He knew how to converse with sinners without the least communicating in their sins He was one and the same in all places at all times Far from studying a compliance with a corrupt and sinful generation rather he made it his work to do all that might be to change and amend it to set a crooked generation streight He was ever more careful to discharge duty than to provide for his own safety here In doing the work his Father sent him about into the world he wav'd and set aside self-respect John 5.30 8.49 50. The Truth and Honour of God was dearer to him than his own life O Christians follow this your Guide If we are Christians we ought to walk as Christ also walked 1 John 2.6 We are unworthy of the name of Christians if it be not our care and indeavour to follow Christ Now wherein we are followers of Christ we may be confident we go right so far we halt not in our course Therefore observe and eye Christ more Consider how he carried upon earth And where you are at a stand think if you can how Christ would have carried what he would have done in the like case with yours 10. Reckon upon troubles in this world Expect to meet with crosses in your Christian course As Paul and Barnabas confirmed the souls of the Disciples and exhorted them to continue in the Faith and that through much tribulation we must enter into the Kingdom of God Acts 14.22 When we look to meet with the Cross in our way we shall not so soon stumble at it On the contrary the Disciples were offended at Christs passion and shrunk away from him being in a great measure surprized with it for as many fair warnings and express items as they had from our Saviour to prepare for his sufferings yet they would not let those sayings sink down into their hearts still their thoughts were upon Christs reigning here as an earthly King and on some great worldly advancement which they expected under Christ 11. Be going forward The way of the Lord is strength to the upright Though I do not determine this to be the sense of the place yet it is a truth if we take it thus The further we go on in the ways of God the more strength we shall find to hold out and continue in them The way of the Lord is strength to the upright The Righteous shall hold on his way and wax stronger and stronger Here they that run fastest are least weary Whereas if we sit still we shall soon grow lame and stark O take heed of standing still Be going forward Grow in Grace Let it be your care to grow in Grace as you fear to fall from your own steadfastness Weaklings are aptest to stumble and fall Therefore let us be going on from strength to strength It is a good thing indeed that the heart be established with Grace Heb. 13.9 Where note it is one property of Grace to establish the heart And the more Grace the more inward establishment Adde to Faith Vertue sayes the Apostle Peter Let these things be in you and abound And if ye do these things ye shall never fall 2 Pet. 1. Here I might instance in sundry particular Graces that you should be growing in especially You heard before what corruptions especially and most frequently are a cause of halting Now strengthen those Graces that are opposite thereunto Labour to increase and excel in Faith By Faith Enoch walked with God By Faith Moses chose rather to suffer affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin In sincerity Being really what we seem to be The more truth in our inward parts the more Evenness and Uniformity in our outward Conversations In self-denial They that would follow God fully as Moses did must deny themselves as he did who refused to be called the Son of Pharaohs Daughter that he might be found the faithful Servant of God In an holy contempt of the world Labour to sit looser in your affections to the world if you would stick close to God Demas falling in love with this present world and affecting its embraces shook off holy Paul once and as some tell us turned Priest afterwards in an Idols temple Though others suppose he fell not so far but soon recovered again However the danger was very great see 1 Tim. 6.9 10. Many alas stick fast in the world stick fast here so that they know not how to take a step how to set a foot forward in the way to Heaven In love to God his Truth and Wayes This would cause you to cleave to him In Patience We have great need of Patience too that we be not wearied nor faint in our minds We must run with patience the race set before us Without patience we should soon be run out of breath 12. Lean ever upon Christ As you would not halt in your course lean hard upon Christ While we desire to grow in Grace yet we should fear to trust to Grace received It was the cause of Peters foul and shameful fall his self confidence conceiting that he was
strong enough now to stand alone A Christian is stronger in the Grace that is in Christ than in the greatest measure of grace inherent and derived from him Our Cisterns would soon fail were they not fed with an Everlasting Spring Rest not in what you have received ceived but be continualy going out to Christ for more It is not enough that his Grace and Spirit hath once entered into us to set us on our feet but he must also take us by the hand There is a promise Zech. 10.12 I will strengthen them in the Lord and they shall walk up and down in His Name saith the Lord. And as the little Child soon falls if it holds not by its Nurse or by its Father so we have met with many a knock many a fall many a slip and strain by letting go our hold of Jesus Christ A Believer never walks safely but in the hand of Christ or leaning on his arm 13. Get under the sense of God's love to walk in the Light of his Countenance as it is Psal 89.15 The joy of the Lord would be your strength This would make His Wayes Paths of pleasantness Did we but see all fair and clear over head how might it encourage us to go on in our Christian course though it should be a little foul under foot Yea if the Lord had once cast his mantle had cast a skirt of Love over us this would engage us to follow him we could not chuse then but follow hard after Him If enemies rise up against us though a multitude of dangers and outward evils should surround us yet we should not be dismaied but think our selves safe enough under the Banner of His Love We might more quietly repose our selves under the Banner of his Love than under the protection of an Army with Banners It is something to have a sense of the Truth of Religion but more to have experience of the Goodness thereof How hardly should any perswade or draw us contrary to our own experience should we not resolutely stick to continue and persevere in those wayes wherein we have met with God and have many times been delighted ravished with his presence 14. Be much in the duty of self-examination Be frequent in that noble spiritual act of self-reflection Often ask your hearts this question Whether they are in the way or no and how uprightly they carry in it One that hath a jealousie a suspition of his servant would not let him go long without calling him to a reckoning Our hearts are very wily and deceitful we had need every day take account of them as Achish of David Whither have ye made a rode to day Though we should fear being deluded by them as Achish was by him Without often reckoning with without a serious and strict examination of our hearts we shall never keep them true to God or our selves 15. Desire others of the Faithful to watch over you to admonish you and tell you of it when at any time they see you starting aside Let the Righteous smite me Entreat those your fellow-travellers to put forth their helping hand when they see you slipping and ready to fall 16. Lastly Let this be your earnest suit daily unto God that he would hold up your goings that your footsteps slip not As the Psalmist prayes Teach me thy way O Lord and lead me in a plain path He must not only shew us our way but also lead us on in it So again Psal 143.8 10. Let us be earnest with God here As the Psalmist Psal 63.8 My soul followeth hard after thee and mark what follows thy right hand upholdeth me And here let us plead that Branch and Article of His Gracious Covenant where he promiseth I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me Jer. 32.40 The Lord is faithful to establish you and keep you from evil Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His Glory with exceeding joy To the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen SERMON V. Ephes 6.24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity I Shall look no further back to the precedent verses than may give light to the present Text. Ver. 21. The Apostle drawing to a conclusion of this Epistle giveth an honourable Testimony of Tychicus one dear to him and faithful in his Ministry shewing the causes moving him to send him to them 1. That by him they might know the state of his affairs how it went with him 2. That he might minister comfort to their hearts Ver. 23. contains his Valediction to his beloved Ephesians in which he desires all health and happiness for them Peace be to the Brethren In which words we may consider 1. What he desires Peace Faith and Love By Peace some understand according to the Hebrew phrase of the Old Testament Salutem faelicitatem all kind of good Others more sutable to the New Testament phrase understand Peace of Conscience acceptation of our persons and reconciliation to God in Christ Rom. 5.1 Being justified by Faith we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ By Faith and Love he means the increase of those Graces Pacem â—c faelicitatem fratribus omnibus exopto una cum Charitatis Fidei incremento c. as one paraphraseth on the place 2. For whom he desireth these things to the Brethren that is the Faithful in Christ whether Ministers or others who are sometimes distinguished from private Christians Acts 15.23 The Apostles Elders and Brethren But here we may take them joyntly For at Ephesus were many Ministers Acts 20.17 Ministers and private Christians are all Brethren in Christ Gal. 3.28 Paul though not inferiour to the chief of the Apostles is not ashamed to own Christians of the lowest form for his Brethren Philem. 16. he calls Onesimus a servant a brother beloved Faith by which Believers are united to Christ is a like precious in the highest Apostle and the lowest Christian 2 Pet. 1.1 To them that have obtained like precious Faith with us Nay Christ himself disdains not to call his poorest members Brethren Heb. 2.11 3. From whom he desires these Graces from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ even from the Fountain of all Grace which is God the Father as the first cause and Jesus Christ as the second cause as he is Mediator between God and man by and through whom the Father is wont to dispense to us all things necessary to Salvation all things pertaining to life and godliness As all the plenty of Egypt passed through the hands of Joseph Gen. 41.55 Go to Joseph what he saith to you do said Pharoah to the People when they cryed to him for corn So if any man lack Wisdom Love Faith let him go to God the Father by Christ Heb. 13.15 By him c. The Text
enlarged them the consideration of their Restraint will quicken them to greater pains care and faithfulness Oh how will they then labour to fullfil their Ministry which formerly perhaps they had been more remiss in this evil befalling them will make them the more industrious to do the more good God can also enlarge the hearts of their People to receive them the more gladly and their Doctrine the more readily How welcome do ye think a Minister rising from the dead would be to a people formerly it may be ungrateful to him Why some degree at least of such welcome may a Minister returning out of Prison find Absence doth usually endear things unto us And why may not God make their Imprisonment to endear them and their Ministry too to their People This some of the Prisoners of the Gospel have found 2. The Confinement of the Ministers of the Gospel doth sometimes fall out to the furtherance of the interest of the Gospel I mean the cause of Religion the Work of Grace the power of Godliness And that by these wayes amongst others 1. It is an occasion of exercising the Charity of God's People We need not go far to prove that in times of prosperity and universal rest even Professors themselves are apt to settle themselves upon their worldly concernments to grow earthly minded and to fully themselves too much with the dirty commodities of the world And the Ministers of Christ do find the Prophecy of their Lord made good by their own experience that the love of many shall waxcold And indeed in times of prosperity and liberty there seems not to be such need of the Manifestations of Charity and the Expressions of Affections as in times of Confinement By this therefore doth God try the dispositions of Professors towards their Ministers that have spent and been spent amongst them and draw forth the bowels of compassion towards them Our Apostle's present condition at Rome was an occasion of exercising the Philippians Charity towards him even then their care of him flourished Phil. 4.10 This the Apostle rejoyces in not so much because it was a supply of his wants as because it was an exercise of their Grace and would abound to their account knowing that God would supply their needs in as much as they had supplied his ver 17.18 19. 2. It is a singular occasion of quickning the People of God to prayer And in prayer the exercisings of Repentance Faith Hope and Heavenly-mindedness are emeninently seen It was sometimes prophesied concerning Christ the great Shepherd I will smite the Shepherd and the Sheep shall be scattered Zech. 13.7 And so it was indeed but it many times falls out otherwise in the smiting of the Ministers of the Gospel those inferiour Shepherds for thereby the Sheep are gathered I mean gathered to Prayer gathered to seek God Thus you know they were gathered together for Peter when he was in prison Acts 12.5 and ver 12. Many were gathered together at the house of Mary praying This the Apostle Paul calls for from his Philippians ver 19. of this chapter and from the Jews Heb. 13.19 Pray for us the rather that I may be restored unto you the sooner for the Apostle was even then a Prisoner at Rome as the most judicious Commentators do conceive It may be the prayers which were wanting for the preservation will be abundantly poured out for the restauration of the Ministers of the Gospel and this I do account is highly for the advantage of the interest of the Gospel There is certainly no great evil towards us so long as the prayers of God's People are well maintained and indeed I see not how any good thing can be long kept out where Prayer fervent faithful Prayer is kept up 3. It confirms the courage of the People of God that are so indeed when they see their Ministers lye for the defence of the Gospel it conduces much to their settlement in the Truth and encouragement in their Profession 4. It serves to the uniting of the People of God and the keeping up of union and communion amongst them Now if ever will they that fear the Lord speak often one to another even when he is removed that should speak to them all See how close the Disciples kept together when their great Shepherd was removed Acts 1.14 and 2.1 The like in some measure may follow amongst the People of God upon the removal of their Teachers into corners and this will undoubtedly be to the furtherance of the interest of the Gospel viâ—â— unita fortior their combined powers will be impregnable So much for the personal Restraint or Confinement of the Ministers of the Gospel and its falling out to the furtherance both of the Doctrine and Interest of the Gospel 2. Ministerial Restraint that is Suspension or Silencing the Ministers of the Gospel This doth also sometimes fall out and God can make it fall out to the furtherance of the Gospel And that 1. Of the Doctrine of the Gospel And that 1. By puting Christians upon a more strict enquiry into those Points Doctrines or matters of Religion that the Ministers of the Gospel are restrained for and so knowledge comes to be encreased and the truth to be found out Some have observed God's good ends in suffering errors to be broached in the Church by that means the Truth hath been more narrowly look into and more abundantly cleared The erroneous Tenents and corrupt usages of the Corinthians about the Lord's Supper fell out exceedingly to the furtherance of the Truth in that matter the Apostle Paul taking occasion from thence to write that eleventh Chapter of his first Epistle by which we are more instructed in the Doctrine of that Sacrament than in all the Scriptures besides Something like may be observed to have fallen out in this case that I am speaking of It is something that they are suspended for And what is it is it a sufficient ground of suspension are the next enquiries Instances for the confirmation of this are not wanting in our own and other Churches For you must not expect under this head of Suspension that I should bring any Scripture-instances of its falling out to the furtherance of the Gospel For I do not read of any such restraint laid upon the Ministers of the Gospel in the Scripture It might have been expected that Moses should have restrained those that prophesied in the Camp I mean Eldad and Medad Joshua indeed said My Lord Moses forbid them But Moses thought there could not be too many Prophets in Israel so that the Lord would but put his Spirit upon them And as for Joshua it was nothing but zeal for his Masters credit that put him upon it as appears Numb 11.29 Moses said unto him Enviest thou for my sake Would God that all the Lord's People were Prophets c. It might have been expected that Paul here at Rome should have shewed his Apostolical Authority at least and have forbidden them
the first Adam if he and the World had conquered the Second our Salvation had miscarried Heb. 2.14 15. If he had been basted we had been lost but if he had failed in this enterprize there had been no hope of our Conquest therefore we have ground to rejoyce that Christ hath overcome the World 3. There is ground of Comfort that Christ hath overcome the World in that he hath left us a bafled and beaten enemy to conflict with What an Encouragement is this Christ hath broken the Serpents head and though this Enemy did rally and charge again and again yet at last Christ did fully overcome So that this may encourage us to enter the Lists with this Adversary and may give us great hopes of Victory 4. He hath left us the way and method how he overcame the World viz. by constant resisting and opposing by the Word of God and patient enduring of all assaults Mat. 4.2 to 10. and if we will but study this Rule and follow it we shall overcome He tryed his full strength on Christ and was thus conquered We have the same Enemy but weaker because overcome and may rejoyce that we know how to conquer him Use 2. If this be so then it is great sin and shame for Christians to be overcome of the World in any of its assaults for to be overcome by a bafled beaten enemy that Christ did overcome With what face can such as Demas or those in Luke 8.13 look Christ in the face the Captain of Salvation who being Conqueror hateth conwardly yeelding especially he having acquainted us with the Assaults of this Adversary and how to overcome them Use 3. Let us study his way of conquering and follow it exactly and we shall do so too This the Apostle did 2 Cor. 6.4 to 11. they did exactly follow their Captain So did the Primitive Martyrs who had all the same Assaults from the World as Christ had but by resisting by the Word and enduring they overcame And so shall Christians that will closely follow this Discipline in this War Use 4. If this be so then in the sharpest Conflicts thou shall meet with call to thy conquering Captain for help He hath won the day and can assist thee Heb. 2.18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour c. What ever the Assaults is he is able to give thee sufficient help As in that 2 Cor. 12.9 Let us take this course for it will be a great shame to us to be overcome Doct. 3. That though Christians have Tribulation in the world yet they are to be of good Comfort because Christ hath overcome the World Explication 1. What is meant by be of good chear The Word in the Original is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The theme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It signifies I confide or trust Mat. 9.2 Be of good chear c. i. e. trust confide be of good heart as to the issue and Mark 6.50 And so the Syriack word Etlabbw it is used for to be of good heart chear up let not your spirits faint fail or be dejected And so it is used in Acts 27.25 And so in 1 Thes 5.14 Comfort the feeble-minded c. put courage into drooping spirits that are apt to be dismayed So here In the World you shall have Tribulation but be of good heart 2. But be of good chear you are likely to have Tribulation in the World and that I know is likely to be daunting and dismaying news to you For in that Heb. 12.11 No chastening for the present seems to be joyous but grievous But this is an adversative particle though it be so that nature doth encline men to be dismayed and cast down but be not you so but act contrarily be of good chear pluck up your hearts and spirits like men be not dismayed 3. For This is a causal particle and doth intimate the reason why Christians should be of good chear I have had the same conflict with the World you shall have and I have got the Victory this is spoken by Christ in relation to his full overcoming of the World and sitting at the Right hand of God Therefore be of good comfort I have beaten this enemy and have got a glorious triumph you have this beaten enemy to fight and may expect the like issue Rev. 3.21 Secondly The Reasons Why have Christians ground of comfort in Tribulation 1. Because they suffer Tribulation for Righteousness sake and so are blessed as in Mat. 5.11 And so 1 Pet. 4.14 3.14 If ye suffer for Righteousness sake happy are ye Now when there is evidence from the Word of God and Conscience that the cause of our suffering is our being Righteous the Scripture accounts us blessed 2. Because it is an evident token to such persons of their Sincerity and having Truth of Grace 1 Pet. 4.14 And this is a sign of a through-through-work when men endure Luke 8.13 As it is a high Gift Phil. 1.29 so a sign of a great measure of Grace to be able to believe and suffer 3. Because that by suffering Tribulation God is glorified 1 Pet. 4.14 When a Souldier can â—â—y I suffer these losses for it I judged it a cause worth suffering for as Mat. 19.27 Now this is for the credit of Christ Cause As in the Primitive times against Pagans In the time of the Vandal Arrians against false doctrine And in the time of Popery against false doctrine and worship God was glorified 4. Because such as do thus suffer theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 5.10 And so the reason is given because that the Prophets that are now in Heaven underwent the like Persecutions Mat. 5.12 and therefore ground of Comfort This the Apostle gives Rom 8.17 18. 2 Cor. 4.17 And the examples that are gone before And 5. Because that though Christians have Tribulation in the world yet in Christ they have peace What need a Christian matter though the Devil and wicked men be at war with him when he hath peace with God Christ and his Conscience as the Text so Rom. 5.1 Joh. 14.27 And by suffering Tribulation this is preserved therefore rejoyce and be of good chear this is the best peace 6. Because of the Profit and Commodity that Christians shall reap by Tribulation in this Life As Heb. 12.11 and upon this account the Apostle speaks Rom. 5.3 4 5. And so though the outward man decay that is though estate health liberty and whatever appertains to the outward man decay yet as 2 Cor. 4.16 we are of good chear sensibly perceiving spiritual profit by our great Affliction and Tribulation 7. Because by suffering Tribulation we are made conformable to the Image of Jesus Christ Rom. 8.29 And though the holy Ghost speaks this of the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15.4 Phil. 3.21 yet the Apostle Phil. 3.10 and so 2 Tim. 2.12 it is with Christ and a fellowship and conformity to his Image Therefore great ground for us to
l. 26. r. go on P. 108. marg r. Tarnov P. 110. l. 17. f. ye r. we P. 119. l. 34. r. as to say P. 120. l. 6. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 122. l. 15. r. to be saved l. 16. dele us P. 125. l. 33. r. dearly P. 126. l. 17. f. his r. their P. 129. l. 3. r. deny Christ l. 10. r. many of us Christians P. 135. l. 32. f. them r whom P. 137. l. 32. r. others P. 138. l. 25. f. dulce r. datae l. 26. r. voluble P. 140. l. 2. f. we r. may P. 150. l. 6. r. forbear l. 11. dele not P. 152. l. 25. r. labitur labetur c. l. 29. r. indesinenter P. 157. l. 20. r. humane apprehension P. 159. l. 10 11. r. exceed all expressions P. 177. l. 14. r. restraint Correct the Figures from pag. 180 to 193. P. 180. l. 13. r. old P. 181. l. 35. r. vis unita P. 185. l. 32. r. incollumen P. 189. l. 28. r. heaviness P. 198. l. 25. r. individuum P. 200. l. 28. r. minutatim P. 204. l. 1. dele non P. 206. l. 22. r. Authority P. 207. l. 1. r. of Christ P. 210. l. 12. r. as accomplished P. 214. l. 5. r. Phil. r. 23. P. 215. l. 1. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 216. l. 11. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 224. l. 15. r. to do P. 229. 31. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 231. l. 30. r. lay it not P. 235. l. 1. r. a wrong P. 241. l. 2 3. r. which they l. 29. r. double P. 248. l. 32. r. from want P. 260. l. 16. r. off from P. 261. l. 3. r. but I hasten P. 274. l. 14. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 277. l. 16. dele as it were l. 32. r. his own P. 279. l. 14. f. that r. our l. 22. dele but. P. 282. l. 16. r. As when 283. l. 14. r. of suffering with Christ l. 15. f. image r. death 285. l. 23. r. practise it l. 29. r. supply and we shall overcome P. 311. l. 15. f. Her r. his 313. l. ult r. Midian 319. l. 15. r. Achaia 320. l. 20. r. glorying 326. l. 15. r. despondent l. 17. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 328. l. 17. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 336. l. 12. r. burnt offerings 345. l. 16. r. God makes 368. l. 15. r. inferiour world 394. l. 13. r. Cross of Christ P. 416. l. 14. r. improve 422. l. 12. Troublers P. 431. l. 32. r. Not mentioning 448. l. 9 10. r. against the Mountains 451. l. 11. r. Security 452. l. 25. r. warm 456. l. 22. r. your own 464. l. 18. r. have not There are other faults besides but these especially are to be corrected SERMON I. Preached Friday June 27. 1662. Revel 3. v. 3. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent c. I Have gone through the whole second Chapter of this Book and the two first verses of this in my course of preaching the Friday-Lecture I shall enter upon this third verse at this time by God's assistance The words contain further counsel and direction given by our Saviour Christ to this Church of Sardis in order to her recovery from that formality and spiritual deadness she was sunk into Two Directions Christ had given her in the second verse Be watchful and strengthen c. There are three more added in this Remember c. hold fast and repent The third in order and first laid down in this verse is to remember Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard This is prescribed as a means to recover them from their spiritual decayes and deadness and to cure them of that formality hypocrisie they had been guilty of Christ had told them in the former verses that they had a name to live but were dead and that their works were not perfect or full before God Now the way to cure them of these distempers was to remember how they had received and heard implying that it was forgetfulness of those Truths Rules and Directions they had received in and heard from the Word of God that was the cause of their declining and that the way to recover vigour and liveliness in Religion and to fill up their works was to remember how they had received and heard So that the way to bring either Churches or persons to their former vigour in Religion and to a thorow-reformation of things amiss is to bring all things to the Test of God's Word to weigh them in the ballance of the Sanctuary and to try them by those Divine Truths they have formerly received and heard Briefly to explain the words Remember This may be taken first for the act of that particular faculty of the soul called Reminiscentia or Memory and so to remember is to recollect or call back a thing or object formerly heard received and laid up in the Memory Secondly It may be taken for an act of the Judgement and so to remember is seriously to weigh and consider Truths formerly received and heard and it may be well understood here so as to take in both senses How thou hast received 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some render it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qualia and would have it refer to the quality of the things or truths they had received and heard Remember what Doctrines were delivered by Christ and his Apostles what kind of Worship was instituted and practised by them This sense of the words I shall not exclude but the word relates rather to the manner how Truths and Ordinances were delivered to them and received by them Several Doctrines might be raised from the words Doct. 1. That one great cause of declining in Religion both in Churches and particular Christians is the forgetfulness of those Truths they have formerly received and heard the forgetting what and how they have received and heard Doct. 2. That the best way to recover and reform a declining Church or person is to bring them back to the Rule of God's Word which they have received and heard to reduce both Doctrine Worship and Practices to the first Institution as it is contained in the Scriptures There are other Doctrines that I might raise and insist on from these words but I shall sum up all I intend to speak from this direction in this one Doctrine Doct. That it is the duty of Churches and particular Christians and a special means to recover them from formality declinings and deadness in Religion and the exercise of Grace to remember what and how they have received and heard Christians should remember old Truths that they have received and heard long ago They should remember what Truths they have heard and what Ordinances they have injoyed and also after what manner Truths and Ordinances have been dispensed to them and received by them It is our duty to take care we be not forgetful hearers that we suffer not Truths to slip out of
lands c. Mat. 10.17 of being delivered up to Councils scourged cast out of the Synagogues brought before Governours c. So Acts 14.22 2 Tim. 3.12 Yet when it comes to it indeed we do not so seriously consider these things nor remember them either as to our own or others sufferings as we ought This was the case of the Apostles when our Saviour suffered he had expresly foretold them of his sufferings Mat. 16.21 yet they were slow of heart to believe which he upbraids them with Luke 24.20 25 26. Compare that Text Mat. 17.22 23. where he tells them The Son of Man shall be betrayed and they were exceeding sorry with Luke 9.44 45. where he tells them the same things and saith the Text They understood them not it was hid from them and they perceived it not So Mark 9.32 How shall we reconcile these Texts the one tells you They were exceeding sorry the other That they understood it not I deny not but they may relate to several times for our Saviour did often inculcate this upon them yet me-thinks this may be the sence they did understand his words and the meaning of them and were thereupon affected with some present flitting sorrow but those things did not as our Saviour bids they should Luke 9.44 sink down into their ears they did not as Mary lay them up and ponder them in their hearts the effect these things had upon them were but like the effects of some Romantick Tragedy that excites some present affections but leaves no lasting Impressions so that when Christ came to suffer these things were as much out of their thoughts as if they had never been spoken they had such deep and radicated apprehensions of Christ's earthly Kingdom that they forgot all he spoke of his Death and Sufferings Thus it is two often a notion indeed we have of sufferings being the lot of God's Children but we are wofully wanting when it comes to the Application either in reference to our own or others condition and often we are so taken up with poring on some temporal conditional promise of comfort or deliverance which we mistake for absolute that we are ready to conclude our selves or others to be none of God's Children because such a promise is not fulfilled to us or not in our time this may be a second cause of mens stumbling at the Godlies Afflictions 3. It may also proceed from hence That good men do with an eye of sence pore upon the Sufferings of the Godly but do not with an eye of Faith look either at the gracious Promises annexed to them or the blessed Issue wherewith they are attended Observable is that expression of the Apostle 2 Cor. 4.17 18. For our light affliction which is but for a moment While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen That is it indeed which makes the Godly account their own or their Brethrens Sufferings light momentary and inconsiderable while they look c. But while men pore altogether on their sufferings no wonder if they are stumbled and take offence Now this is too ordinary the best are immerced in sense and are incomparably more affected with things objected to sense than those which are the objects of their Faith they look at what the Godly suffer this their sences inform them but they consider not what they do now or hereafter shall enjoy that 's the proper act of Faith This occasions stumbling both wayes For as to the wickeds prosperity men look at what they have in the world and thereuppon pronounce them happy but they consider not that their dishes are sauced and their drink spiced with the wrath of God that they have their portion in this life Psa 17.14 which is nothing but a bellyful of Gods hid treasure that they have here their good things and must hereafter be tormented Luke 16. that they stand in slippery places Psal 73.17 and shall be suddenly tumbled into destruction And then as to the Afflictions of the Godly men look on what they suffer and accordingly judge them miserable but they consider not how often they are pronounced blessed who suffer for Righteousness sake or what precious Promises are made to them what reviving Cordials are laid in or what a Crown of Glory is laid up for them this is that which makes many mistake and mis-judge We consider Job's afflictions but not the End of the Lord We are apt to look on the dark side of a Christian and to take notice how he is scorcht with the Sun of afflictions but do not observe his inward Comeliness his Sufferings are in the eye of our sense but the present Promises made to him or the future Recompences laid up for him are not in the eye of our faith and this causes sad stumbling These may suffice as Reasons of the Truth I now proceed to Application which omitting many other inferences shall be only this to caution you against this miscarriage USE That which is David's Petition to God here I shall make mine to you and what he desires of God for the Godly in reference to his Sufferings I shall desire of you all in reference to my own and my Brethrens Sufferings at this day The sum of my Caution Counsel or Request is That all of you whethers friends or enemies to us will take heed you be not offended in us or any way stumble at our Sufferings I am bold to go a little beyond the limits of the Text for whereas it only speaks of their stumbling that are truly Godly and that only by being ashamed and confounded I extend my Caution to all both godly and wicked for if the Godly much more the wicked are apt to stumble and therefore need cautioning and to all wayes of stumbling and taking offence so as thereby to offend God Let none therefore upon the account of our Sufferings stumble either at our persons by disowning or mis-judging us or at our way by thinking worse of it or turning from it or at any weaknesses you may possibly discover in us so as thereby to be discouraged and fall from your own stedfastness These things I might resume and prosecute but I shall rather chuse to direct my Caution to such as are Enemies and then to Friends to the Wicked and then to the Godly that I may if the Lord please remove those stumbling blocks at which both the one and the other are apt to fall and miscary when I have first given you an account of the Reasons which enduce me at this time to give in this Caution or Counsel 1. I am afraid lest by stumbling at our Sufferings you should lose the benefit of the Doctrine we have delivered It was Pauls fear lest he should run or had run and laboured in vain Blame us not if we fear the like 'T is true indeed if we have been sincere our labour cannot be lost as to our selves we have delivered our own
mother sent into Egypt Mat. 2.14 He withdrew when the Pharisees held a Council to destroy him Mat. 12.13 14. He fled from the Tyranny of Herod when he had cut off John Baptists head Mat. 14.12 13. He hid himself when the Jews would have stoned him John 8.59 and conveyed himself out of the multitude when they would have cast him down an hill and broke his neck What shall I say concerning Chrysostom Cyprian Athanasius and other learned and renowned Fathers of the Church who were often banished and removed from their People Again we reade in Rev. 11.7 8. that before Antichrist shall fall he shall make war against the two VVitnesses By Witnesses some understand Magistrates and Ministers Magistrates are God's Representatives amongst men Psal 82.6 Witnesses and Demonstrations of God's Soveraignty in ruling in punishing the wicked in defending and rewarding the Good and Virtuous Ministers are God's Witness to declare assert plead and maintain God's Cause and Interest his stupendious Work and glorious Attributes in Mans Redemption Some by Witnesses understand Ministers only and against these the Beast shall make war and by a powerful prevailing of his interest and of a prophane and corrupt party shall slay them slay them not in their Persons but in their Offices it is not a natural but a civil death a routing them from their Offices and suspending them from the execution of their duties whether Magistrates Ministers or both The ground and reasons why I take the killing of the Witnesses to be a civil not a natural death is in the word of verse 9. And they of all People Kindreds and Tongues and Nations shall see their dead bodies three dayes and an half and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves Now it is barbarous inhumanity and cruelty to bury men alive to put them quick into the grave and if they were naturally dead it would be undecent loathsome and unnatural to keep them above ground exposing them to every visitant and spectator and to the tearing and devouring ravenousness of birds and beasts of prey Not to suffer them to be put in graves if naturally dead is contrary to the instinct of nature for of those numberless number of birds in the air we may suppose all that are dead are not killed but many thousands dye naturally by reason of age And yet of those many thousands we find very few or none at all because nature hath taught them when the time of death draws night to provide themselves graves by creeping into hollow trees or holes of the ground or some courteous bird covers them with leaves Further these Nations and Kindreds and People and Tongues that saw their dead bodies were friends Pious and Religions persons that cordialy owned loved and affected them and the more love and affection the greater care of a decent and commendable interment But if you say they might be enemies that out of malice to expose them unto greater shame and contempt would not suffer them to be buried it cannot be because it is contrary to the rules of Policy for their dead bodies lying three dayes and an half understand three Prophetical daies and an half that is three years and an half unburied would infect the air and so produce hurtful and destructive diseases so that self-preservation would engage them to inter them if they were naturally dead And in the 11. verse after the daies of their death were accomplished They heard a great voice from Heaven saying Come up hither so that if they were naturally dead this must be a corporal resurrection a resurrection of the bodies slain and before the great and general Resurrection at the last Day which is contrary to the Scriptures which mention but one general Resurrection of the body and impertinent to this place where there is no mention made of the Day of Judgment nor of any of the transactions of that Day And by a voice from Heaven in that place verse 11. I understand with submission to more deep learned and grave judgments the Supream Authority of a Nation that by enacted Laws shall give liberty and Authority to the slain Witnesses to re-assume the publick exercise of their Ministry and Magistracy of which they were before deprived so then I conclude from the rules of decency from the instinct of nature the respective and tender care of love and affection from the Rules and Reasons of Policy from the harmony of Scriptures from the barbarousness of burying persons alive that it is not a natural but a civil death slain in their Offices not in their Persons Now the place where their dead bodies shall be slain and lye unburied is said In the streets of the great City called Sodom and Egypt by the City is meant Rome compared to Sodom for Uncleaness and Whoredom to Egypt for Idolatry and Cruelty against God's People By the Streets of the great City you are not to understand it litteraly and locally of the streets of Rome but of several Nations and Kingdome that did belong to Antichrist that were under the Papal Power and parts of his Dominion as streets are parts and appurtenances of a City For the words in verse 9. They of the People and Kindreds and Tongues and Nations should see their dead bodies seem to me to imply and intimate the several Nations and Kingdoms where they should be slain which Kingdoms having shaked off the Romish Antichristian Iron yoak and bondage should enjoy the pure and powâ—â—ful preaching of the Word and administration of Sacraments in some comfortable manner and measure by a constant succession of pious painful and learned Ministers whereby those Nations and Kingdoms should be much enlightened but before the number of Antichrist be run up and his period accomplished Rev. 13.18 these Nations called the streets of the great City shall suffer an Eclipse in their Ministers they should be laid aside as dead men and become useless in their publick exercises of their Ministry And during the space of their civil death they shall have the warm hearts and affections of the People they will not suffer them to be put into graves alive and buried quick but still own them as Ministers desire long pray for their restoration and instalment into their Offices and Places again Thus amongst many Reasons I have given you two why Ministers may not alwayes expect a continued residence amongst and ministration to their People First because of barrenness under means Secondly because of these afflictions that light upon the Church and her Lights Guides and Watchmen Now for Application First to Ministers Secondly to People A Word to both 1. Ministers should labour to do all the good they can to and among the People to whom they are Ministers From us from us our People expect relief and how should we endeavor to administer all the helps advantages we can for their Salvation in removing of Scandals in healing Divisions in confuting Heresies to beat down wickedness
half to what it was some years ago How little precious was Vision even among them that did not altogether slight it A learned Man who is of opinion That the Witnesses are not slain saith That the Reformed Churches shall be punished by taking away these Witnesses for a time Mode in Rev. 11.21 because they received them not according to the Dignity of their Embassage See Jâ—s Div. Minist pag. 63. 3. Mourn you that have more than your selves to lose the Assemblies from Mourn you that are in a Family-condition The more souls you have to want the Assemblies the greater is your loss We are troubled at the death of a man that hath a great Charge Oh what great Charges had many Ministers now laid aside Adams Fall was so much more to be bemoaned because he fell with all his Children in his arms Churches and Families have great Dependance one upon another Many Families if good Families make a Church and a pure Church And the good Ordinances in a Church help much to make Families Churches It is a great help to an honest Master or Parent when he hath the Pulpit with him and for him and pressing the same things that he doth And it is a great help to a Minister when Masters and Parents keep that in the eyes and ears of their Families all the week that he delivers on the Lord's Day None do so much complain of the want of a School as they that have Children and the more of them the more is a School wanted Mourn you that have numerous Families Oh to what Assemblies may they be united where these are wanting Oh how may they be leavened for want of this Bread Oh how may they swoon at the top of streets asking Bread and no man breaketh it unto them Oh what Tinctures may they have received which will not easily out with Nitre and much Soap One years want of the Word may lose more than many years enjoyment will get as in Watermen that lose more by the neglect of a few strokes with their Oars than they will get by many If you have any pitty for the souls of yours it will be sad to you to think that you have in some measure sinned away the Ordinances from your selves and them Let there be no worship and Children will soon cease from fearing the Lord Josh 22.15 Let there be false worship and they will learn to scoff by that time they have well learned to speak 2 Kings 2.23 24. 4. Mourn ye that are double losers in the loss of Assemblies If any should be in Sackcloth the Witnesses should O lament ye Priests howl ye Ministers of the Lord. It is said of Tyrus that the chief Mourners for her fall shall be such as handle the Oare The Marriners and Pilots shall wallow themselves in Ashes and cry bitterly weep with bitterness of heart and with a bitter wailing Ezek. 27.29 In Egypts fall likewise you find the principal Mourners are the Fishers They shall mourn and all that cast Angle into the Brooks and they that cast nets shall lament Isa 19.8 Oh you under-rowers you fishers for mens souls mourn under this Hand of God who should mourn as the Children of the Bride-chamber and Friends of the Bridegroom when the Bridegroom Mat. 9.15 is taken from them You have not only lost your livelihoods but the life of your lives your usefulness To be useless is within a little to be essenceless there is but a stept betwixt not being and not being useful you have not only lost worship but work not means of geting good but opportunities of doing good not only the Service of the Altar but the Supplies from the Altar But to these I do not speak if I did I would hint such things as these to them As 1. That surely it is not for nothing that we are ever turned under the wheel though the wheel hath variety of motions 2. It may be some of our hearts upbraids us for our careless entrance into our work and our unfaithful management of it 3. It may be some of us are possessed with so dumb a Devil that when we are off the stage and have lost our set and stated Pulpit-work we shall do little in occasional work viz. Preaching Converse and Conversation 4. It may be some of us have cause of fear lest the Lord 's forsaking of us should be joyned with mans rejection As God took the Spirit from Saul when he was rejected So we it may be some of us find deadnings witherings decayings â—orruption secretly glad of this ease and not missing our works nor lying at God's door so earnestly for work as we should do 5. It may be some of us have much ado not to grow more in Pride than in Humility under the Self-denial that we are called to exercise and find it no easie thing to be upon God's Errand and not our own in our sufferings 6. It may be some of us have a numerous Family our Quiver full of Arrows and but an handful of Meal in the Barrel and find that preaching of Faith is one thing and living by it another Oh how hard to practise our own Rules 7. It may be some us have divers of our Relations shipped in the same bottome with us and under the same wrack But I must withdraw my hand Hitherto God hath helped me to deliver my Errand If the Lord let in this truth by the ear into your hearts and you enquire of me 1. How shall we got this Frame And 2. how shall we manage this Frame I will lay up all in some few Directions some helping to it and some guiding in it In the conclusion of this Discourse I must as the Apostle in some Epistles pack my matter close First As to the means of getting this Frame I shall only name a few 1. Look at God in this Providence man seen in it will breed Wrath and Indignation but when God is seen in it that will work Humiliation God will judge mens actions let us judge our selves There is nothing in this Sermon intended to make you think hardly of men but to make you give Glory to God 'T is sin that hath shut us out and it is sencelesness of it that bolts and keeps us out It is certainly an act of Justice in God Good Pleasure shinâ—s solely in the giving of Ordinances but Justice appears in their removal It may well be thought an unexempled Judgement comes to chastise some unparalleled Sin Jeremiah in his Lamentation saw both God as the Justiner and Sin as the Procurer of all their wo Lam. 5.16 2. Beg a look from God that though he hath his back upon us yet that he will look back upon us that though we must lye under these afflictions yet they may he melting Afflictions Peter stirred not at the Cocks crowing once and again until Christ looked upon him then he wept Our Calls are loud to Mourning but it must be a Beam from the