and servants in the way wherein they should go Prov. 22. 6. as if they did believe the Devils old saying A young Saint and an old Devil O how careless many Professors be of preparing those who shall survive them to hold forth the name of Christ in a holy manner to his honour and the credit of his Gospel 2. Many Professors do suffer very much frothy vain idle foolish corrupt communication not tending to edification to proceed out of their mouths 3. Many Professors do profane and mispend much of the holy Salbaths For which sin and Idolatry especially as the Jews about two hundred years since have said the Lord did reject their Fore-fathers so that as they then said they could not take the Christians of those days to be the servants of the true Messias because they did live in those two sins 4. Many Professors be so full of pride under this Dispensation that by reason of it and the fruits of it men of knowledge can hardly get charity enough to think there is any fear of God before their eyes 5. It is a common thing with Professors to be silent at the sins one of another Which five things joyned together do amount to a foul heap of iniquity Part. 8. I come now to some down-right Reasons for this my belief that the greatest cause of the afflictions peculiar to Professors and the greatest impediment of their prayers for some good things expedient for them u the sins and iniquities of Professâ—rs R. 1. And first Gods Kingdom Wisdom and Power being such as it is and all mens hearts and times being in his hand Prov. 21. 1. Psal 31. 15. he might have established our King in all his Dominions and yet given us favour with him and his Parliaments as Gen. 39. 4 5 6 21 22 23. Dan. 1. 6. and bowed their hearts to confirm us in the places which we held 1659. with the means and liberty which we then enjoyed excepting the Kings revenue and some high Offices Neither hath it been at any time such a hard thing for God to better our Estates instead whereof notwithstanding Gods-love to his children which passeth knowledge Eph. 3. 19 and that the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much with him Jam. 5. 16. c. yet it hath pleased him in his infinite wisdom to afflict Professors in divers kinds wherein he hath not afflicted others yea to afflict us in our worldly Estates and to encrease the means of growing rich to others yea to augment the worldly Estates of others by diminishing ours to deprive us of our Benefices Offices and Preferments to make room for others yea ye know that since 1659. notwithstanding we have carryed our selves not seditiously but peaceably and quietly yet our condition is by degrees and steps grown from good to bad and from bad to worse Which sorry changes of our condition to what others may make a shift to impute them I know not but in my judgment they are to be ascribed to our sins who are called Professors of whom I believe many are not yet born again and many Sons and Daughters have and do by their sins provoke our heavenly Father to chastise and correct them For R. 1. Although the Lord scourgeth every Son and Daughter whom he receiveth Prov. 3. 12. Heb. 12. 6. yet he doth not afflict or grieve so much as one man or woman meerly for his pleasure Lam. 3â— 33. and when he judgeth and afflicteth any of his children his judgements are right he afflicts them in faithfulness Psal 119. 57. because according to his just and wise Method of making men meet to partake of the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1. 12 13. there is as Peter calls it 1 Pet. 1. 6. need either because they be not duly careful and diligent to find out their sins or because they be so far from hating sin as they ought as not to be throughly careful to humble themselves for and to cease from some of those sins whereof they be guilty Exod. 34. 6 7. or else for that they do not use due care and diligence to reach and attain some other end which they ought to seek if this clause doth contain any thing which the former clauses do not R. 2. A sinful agreement between Professors About forty years since if the Commonalty did mis-behave themselves and the Magistrates did not punish them for it nor the Ministers reprove them for it this they who were taught of God did look on as a fore runner of Gods wrath even as a sign that it was near at hand The reason of which opinion must of necessity be this that such a conspiracy is too like Jer. 5. 30 31. and doth provoke the LORD of Hosts unto great wrath Acts 5. 9. Which if it be true as I believe it is then we may well receive this for a truth that the nearer we Professors come to such a hellish consent the more probable it is that the wrath of God will seize upon us if it be not already upon us and if it be that this our consent hath brought it upon us or at least as much of it as is peculiar to us And the very truth is the sinful agreement which is between many of us is too like such a conspiracy as the holy Prophet Jeremy in that Chapter ver 30. calls a wonderful and horrible thing For 1. In the time of the Interruption I took notice wherein O. Cromwel and our Parliaments Armies Commitees Commissioners and Assembly of Divines and particular persons Round-heads c. did miss the right and did what they ought not to have done among other things over-recompensing their members for their losses one Father and Son as I have heard with 5000 l. for the pure loss of about or less than 5 l. 2. Since that time the Covetousness Pride and Iniquity of many Professors hath been very considerable 1. Whereof hath been no small part the Fashionmonging of Professors and particularly the gay Lady-like attire and ornaments of shop-keeping women in London But it is said concerning them that London doth allow what other Towns do not It may be so howsoever and although London hath been my Benefactor yet I shall not justifie the proudest of the Londoners in taking an Ell yea or half an Ell or a quarter of an Ell when they be allowed but an inch especially at such a time of Adversity as this is I had rather they would consider seriously concerning Apparel and Ornaments that which is written by Paul 1 Tim. 2. 9 10. and by Peter 1 Pet. 3. 3 4 5. praying and taking good heed lest they be weighed in the ballances and found wanting Dan. 5. 27. it may be to be nothing Gal. 6. 3. lest London be reduced to the state of some other Cities and that they fare as was prophesied Zeph. 1. 8. Es 3. 17. to the 24. 2. The children and servants of many religious Families
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
For some will be most likely to mind thee of thine when thou mindest them of theirs 12. When thou art so happy as to hear Christ speaking unto thee by such a Preacher as Mr. Wroth was do what thou canst to be where he may take good notice of thee that if there be any Fault in thy conversation he may mind thee of it For I remember upon a time when Mr. Cradock and I heard Mr. Wroth Mr. Cradock stood just before him and after told me he had done it because he knew if Mr. Wroth had taken notice of any Fault in his behaviour he would have minded him of it before he had ended his Sermon 13. When thou art rebuked for any sâ—n take good heed of justifying or excusing thy self further then thou canst shew some very sufficient cause lest thy Friend be discouraged from doing the part of a faithful Friend to thee another time Psal 119. 75. Prov. 27. 5 7. 2. Stir up in your hearts a comfortable expectation of better times and a holy desire of the Churches welfare and zeal for Christs honour This may move you to be the more serious diligâ—nt and in amending every one himself and others as many as he can 3. If thou dost desire to be exalted be humble and resolve strongly by Gods help to walk humbly when thou shalt be exalted How to get humility see before Marg. 185. 4. Acknowledge and bewail thy spiritual weakness and want of ability to reform thy self without the strength of Christ John 15. 5. 2 Cor. 3. 5. and seek unto God for strength 5. Stir up your selves to trust in our Lord Jesus Christ for his assistance and for good success in seeking to reform Mat. 28. 20. and let prayer be joyned with every part of it Phil. 1. 19. and 4. 13. c. yea request others also to pray for the same 6. Hear gladly Ministers of reproving Ezek. 3. 26. I mean such as will reprove the sins of Professors c. 7. Hearken to the word of the Kingdom attentively and consider it seriously and be sure to take good notice of thy own portion especially if it doth concern the reforming of any part of thy behaviour 8. Use all good means to nourish Faith For that is of very great use and force in this business Acts 15. 9. Gal. 5. 6. 1 John 3. 3. and 5. 4 5. 9. Quench not the good motions which the Holy Ghost is pleased to stir up time after time in thy heart 1 Thes 5. 19. especially desires to have thy corruptions mortifyed and purposes to strive against them but do what thou canst by reading meditation conference and prayer to nourish augment and strengthen them 10. Pray unto the Almighty earnestly to strengthen thee with strength in thy soul Psal 138. 3. and to cleanse thee from secret Faults Psal 19. 12. 11. Compare thy wayes with the ways of the best Saints living and dead especially of Jesus Christ Mat. 11. 20. 1 John 3. 3. and set the Lord alwaies before thy eyes c. This may excite thee to imitate c. Consider well 2 Cor. 3. 18. Isa 6. 1. to 8. 12. Take heed continually to thy wayes according to the word of God Psal 119. 9. Be sober and watchful Luke 21. 34. 1 Pet. 5. 8. and when evil motions do arise in thy heart deny them speedily Tit. 2. 11 12 Practise this I pray thee 13. Make use of these Scriptures Heb. 12. 13. Eph. 5. 15 16. Mat. 5. 48. 2 Cor. 13. 11. 14. For the meaning and use of these Directions let such as doubt enquire of able Ministers 15. Of some special Meetings what is fit to be done at them c. 1 1. Let Ministers and some other fit persons meet sometimes apart by themselves 2. Let all these give due diligence to be exemplary in their conversation to be excellent patterns fit for other Professors to imitate 3. At those meetings let it be considered That the carriage of many Professors is so full of sins of Omission and commission that there is just cause of admonishing them thereof for their own good God's honour and the good of the Church that some of their sins do tend more than others to God's dishonour and more discredit Religion and more provoke God's wrath that some Professors be blind some lame or lamish some dumb or as it were tongue-tied some dull and heavy and slow some proud some too full of mirth and jollity some worldly and covetous some peradventure covetous three wayes some asleep or not thorougly awakened some stark dead in trespasses and sins meer Formalists and that for some of these evil qualities some Professors be affected with them in a greater measure than others Also at such Meetings let it be resolved what fit means shall God willing be used by this company to heal and reform such Professors but to deal with them all as their states require See 1 Cor 4. 21. Eph. 5. 14. 1 Tit. 1. 11 12 13. 2 Cor. 13. 2. and that special care shall be taken to find out and quell and beat down those sins which do most irritate the Almighty and most weaken and hinder prayers in regard of the sin it self or its aggravations and that every Professors heart may be set against his dearest sin which is that which he doth most favour and most spare and least or not at all strive wrestle and fight against To that effect Edward Green and rightly Gal. 5. 17. 1 Pet. 2. 11. which setting of the heart so against that sin is a sign of true grace Let it there also be concluded who of those that use to meet with this small company be fit to be reproved or admonished and of what fault and who of this small company shall deal with M. and who with N. c. and what tending to the reformation of Professors every one of them shall perform and by what times and that they will all of them hearken to hear and know the issue of their endeavours former and latter as Jeremy did Chap. 8. 6. that they may proceed as there shall be occasion Let it there also be concluded that due care shall be taken by this small company to destroy and remove the causes and occasions of the irregular conversation of Professors such as are I think ignorance unfaithfulness carnal and worldly fear diffidence not trusting in God carelessness and negligence not considering our selves and others c. pride covetousness voluptuousness not content with enough c. sinful silence and holding our peace at the fault sone of another luke-warmness and want of zeal for Christ and his Church These are part of the causes c. in Ministers and others Nay 't is true To which may be added preaching without due consideration of the Hearers that 's worthy to be mentioned twice and without due preparation And as to Ignorance my experience and charity tells me that even some Preachers be in part ignorant of the doctrine
39. 9. 75. 6 7. Prov. 16. 1 9 33. 21. 30. Jer. 10. 23. 34. 22. It is not then without the determinate counsel and the providence of God that these afflictions be come upon us Qu. What shall we say then of those men that afflict us Ans What shall we say why that which the Spirit of Truth teacheth us to say and he in the holy Scriptures saith that Shishak King of Egypt came up against Jerusalem because Rehoboam King of Judah and his subjects had transgressed against the LORD 2 Chron. 12. 1 2 3 4. and God calls the Assyrians the Rod of his anger to wit against his own people whom they did molest and persecute and saith That the staff in their hand is his indignation to wit against his own people Isa 10. 6. c. Psal 17. 13 14. The holy Spirit of God by the Psalmist calls wrong-doers Gods hand and Gods sword because they be managed led and over-ruled of God as a mighty man manageth his own hands or a sword club staff or rod in them So that they cannot so much as hurt any one of their neighbours either godly or ungodly or their cattel but when the most high God hath secretly bidden them do it as David spake of Shemei 2 Sam. 16. 10 11. And what is the meaning of Isa 10. 15 Is it not this That the Assyrians in the works which they did against the Israelites were to the Almighty no other than as the Ax to him who heweth with it the saw to the Sawier who saweth with it and the rod and staff to them who whip and beat oâ—hers with them Who can deny this construction of that verse And so much of the second particular 3. Thirdly That we may go forward to the end of this business without hard thoughts of God or charging him foolishly Job 1. 21. let us stedfastly believe and seriously consider That he in giving way so far to the desires purposes devices and enterpizes of men hath not dealt unjustly with any of us nor done any of us any wrong For 1. He is righteous in all his wayes and works Psal 145. 17. and doth not afflict or grieve any of the children of men causless or meerly for his pleasure so we are to understand the words of Jeremy Lam. 3. 33. 2. They who now are converted came into the world as the Reprobates did They were shapen in iniquity and conceived in sin Psal 51. 5. and born flesh Joh. 3. 6. That is wholly and altogether carnal and fleshly and corrupt dead in trespasses and sins Eph. 2. 1 5. and prone and apt by nature to conceive evil desires purposes and imaginations and only such continually Gen. 6. 5. and to trespass in the most monstrous and horrible sins that are and that in the grossest and foulest manner that can be without any shame or fear or remorse of conscience and even to despite the spirit of Grace and to commit the sin against the holy Ghost and so were by nature the children of Gods wrath even as others Eph. 2. 3. subject and obnoxious to the everlasting curse and endless wrath of God 3. Neither Justification nor the new Birth doth bring with it an inward sanctification which is perfect in degrees Phil. 3. 12 13. Prov. 20. 9. but the forementioned base proneness unto sin remaineth in some measure in the best Christians and all graces are somewhat imperfect unto the end of this life Rom. 7. 14 15 18 19 21 24. neither do the most knowing Christians know otherwise than in part 1 Cor. 13. 12. 8. 2. 4. And hence it comes to pass that we offend actually in many things all of us Jam. 3. 2. 1 Joh. 1. 8 10. Mat. 6. 11 12. even the holiest and for spiritual strength the strongest of us and that the holiest services and actions of the holiest persons be mingled with some corruptions and sin and so none of them perfectly well performed but all imperfectly Psal 119. 96. We have all cause to say as Ezra Chap. 9. 13. Our God hath punished us less than our iniquities deserve yea that he or she of us who hath sinned least hath deserved much more tribulation than our most gracious God hath laid on any of us What may be said more of Gods wrath as deserved by Professâ—rs See Marg. 30. 4. Fourthly We must believe and consider That God who doth all his works in wisdom Psal 104. 24. hath done wisely in afflicting us and therefore afflicted us for good and fit ends 5. The fifth thing to be considered is why and for what causes and ends the Lord our God hath suffered all the evils before mentioned to come upon us For he doth not so much as give way to the desires of men without some sufficient cause as it were moving him thereunto nor without some fit ends whereat he aimeth and for which he giveth way to them By fit ends I mean fit in respect either of his own honour and glory or of the good of God's people or of some of them Now concerning this matter I beseech you Friends as ye desire to escape and to have your Brethren escape God's wrath hearken to and consider what I shall say unto you Take heed ye be not deceived by the grand Impostors Satan the Flesh Sin the World and your own hearts For 1. Satan did beguile Eve through his Serpentine subtilty Gen 3. 2 Cor. 11. 3. even when he had nothing in her Joh. 14. 30. and doth blind the eyes of many lest the light of the Gospel should shine unto them 2 Cor. 4. 4. 2. The flesh lusteth against the spirit Gal. 5. 17. as it were continually and our worldly lusts are to the eyes of the mind as dust stirred up by a Regiment of Horse marching 1 Pet. 2. 11. or smoak to the eyes of the body keeping us from discerning so clearly as otherwise we might between truth and error and hiding the truth from us and Eph. 4. 32. the old man is said to be corrupt according to the deceitful lasts 3. Because sin is very deceitful therefore the Apostle calls on us to exhort one another daily lest any of us be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin Heb. 3. 13. 4. The world also if ye take not great heed will hide your eyes from your own sins and deceive you as it did Demas 2 Tim. 4. 10. 5. Lastly the heart of man is deceitful above all things Jer 17. 9. so that he that trusteth in his own heart is a fool Prov. 28. 26. Verily Friends we are through self-love and folly apt o impute our afflictions to many things rather than to our sins and every man in a time of common calamities to the sins of others rather than to his own and we who are called Phanaticks to impute the afflictions which are common to us with others wholly to the sins of others and in no measure to our own sins And I believe many a
man and woman of you doth not know and duly consider how far forth the afflictions of this time be to be imputed to his and her sins and therefore I beseech you again yea I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom all of you take all due care and give all diligence to know why and to what ends it is that God hath and doth afflict us and particularly every one of you to discern what hand his sins and failings have had in bringing the said afflictions upon us and to hear the Rod and him who hath appointed it Mic. 6. 9. Now if ye would know what ends God aimeth at in afflicting us let us first know what ends he aimeth at in afflicting men indefinitely Professors or not Professors And for this 1. As all things are of him and for him Rom. 11. 36. as he made all things for himself Prov. 16. 4. so being a God of judgment Isa 30. 18. he doth all his works in wisdom Psal 104. 24. and in them all aimeth at his own glory or the good of those whom he hath given to his Son Rom. 8. 28. or both 2. But speaking more particularly God sends men punishments chastisements and troubles for these causes and ends 1. That men may know and acknowledge That the Kingdom over all the creatures is his and that he ruleth all the earth Psal 58. 12. 59. 13. Isa 2. 17. Ezek. 6. 12 23. 22. 49. 2. To manifest his power and that his threatnings recorded in the holy Scriptures be not in vain and of none effect Exod. 9. 16. Rom. 9. 17. Lev. 10. 1 2 3. Ezek. 29. 49. Joh. 9. 2 3. Rom. 11. 22. Ezek. 6. 10. 3. As a sure and certain testimony of his righteous judgment to come 2 Thess 1. 4 5. 1 Pet. 4. 17 18. 4. That by them the sins of those who are afflicted may be broken off Ezek. 16. 41. 23. 47. 5. That the hypocrisie and rottenness of some Professors may be made manifest 2 Tim. 3. 9. Jud. v. 12. Mat. 13. 5 6 20 21. 6. To make men call their sins it may be old sins to remembrance Psal 38. the title c. to search and try their wayes to find out their sins Lam. 3. 40. and to make them fear God and seek unto him for mercy and favour c. to take heed of sinning against him and of provoking him to anger Prov. 3. 12. Heb. 12. 6. Rev. 3. 19. Psal 94. 12. Hos 5. 14. 15. with 6. 1 2. Psal 119. 61 71 75. This use a man ought to make even of God's Judgments and plagues on others 1 Cor. 10 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. Psal 52. 5 6. 7. That the Saints may be made conform to their Head our Lord Jesus Christ in his sufferings Rom. 8. 17. Phil. 3. 10. Col. 1. 24. 1 Pet. 2 21. 4. 13 15 16. 8. For the trial of their graces faith in Gods promises love to Christ fear of God patience c. Jam. 1. 2. 12. Gen. 22. 10 12. Job 1. 2. c. Jam. 5. 11. which if they be real and strong are unto the honour and glory of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1. 6 7. and to make them know what naughty things be in their hearts To which end God once left Hezekiah 2 Chron. 32. 31. 9. For the bettering of our spiritual estates Rom. 8. 28. Heb. 12. 9 10. Psal 94. 12. 10. That the courage and patience of some Saints under the Cross may be a good example to their fellow-Saints that their faith comfort courage and spiritual strength being augmented they also may seek for glory and honour and immortality by the like patient continuance in well-doing 2 Cor. 1. 6. Col. 1. 24. 11. God afflicteth both godly and ungodly persons because of their sins Isa 59. 1 2. Jer. 5. 25. Psal 38. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. and that sometimes for old sins Job 20. 11. 13. 26. Psal 25. 7. and I think hath afflicted some of us for sins committed in the late time of our exaltation c. 12. God afflicts men of both sorts for their sins that their sins being bitter to them they may reform their wayes according to Gods word and the mind of Christ and be made in a greater measure partakers of Gods holiness Hos 5. 14 15. 6. 1 2 3. Psal 119. 75 71. Heb. 12. 8 10. 13. And that the Saints may not be condemned with the world Heb. 12. 9. 1 Cor. 11. 32. 14. As also to encrease our patience experience and hope Rom. 5. 3 4 5. and humility and meekness to endure the wrath of God and rage of men with a contented quiet and calm spirit and that we may be established strengthened setled which work is seldom done thorowly without suffering a while as Peter seems to intimate 1 Pet. 5. 9 10. as a hedge-maker shakes the stakes that he may fasten them in hedges 15. Furthermore we are troubled by the world that we may not expect favour and peace from it Joh. 16. 33. Luke 7. 31 32 34. 16. That we may not trust in our selves but in God Deut. 8. 3. 2 Cor. 1. 9 10. 17. That effectual fervent petitions may be put up to God for them who are afflicted by themselves and others Act. 12. 5. 2 Cor. 1. 11. 18. That comfort and deliverance being bestowed on them by the means of many praise and thanks may be given to God on their behalf by many 2 Cor. 1. 11. 19. Our heavenly Father doth by our afflictions and the gracious operation of his holy Spirit as it were by fire consume and scoure and cleanse away out of us our dross scum dirt dung and all our spiritual filthiness Isa 27. 9. 1 Cor. 3. 15. 1 Pet. 1. 7. Psal 12. 6. Psal 66. 10 11. c. Isa 1. 25. Ezek. 24. 6. 12. Mal. 3. 2 3. Mat. 3. 11. that so holiness may be perfected in us 20. He afflicts some who have not given due diligence to be assured of his fatherly love I believe to make them more sensible of the want and benefits of that assurance and to make them bestow more time and care to attain it 21. God plagues the ungodly sometimes that the Saints may rejoyce in and before God Psal 52. 5 6. 68. 4. 22. Sometimes the Saints do suffer afflictions to seal and confirm Gospel-truths John 3. 33. Mar. 16. 20. Heb. 2. 4. 23. God doth sometimes afflict men to drive their pride out of them so preparing and fitting them for some great exaltation and prosperity Isa 27. 7 8 9. Quest But for which of all these causes or ends doth God afflict us that go under the name of professors Answ 1. If any man thinks that God doth afflict some of us for the first five things I shall not peremptorily reject his opinion and that partly because I believe many of our professors be
15. and his mâ—rcy infinite and as our Advocate Jesus Christ doth appear in the presence of the Father for all his people always 1 John 2. 1 2. Heb. 9. 24. and the Father heareth him always Joh. 11. 41. so his fatherly love is if I may so speak mingled with wisdom Prov. 13. 24. to train up his Children in the way wherein they should go Pro. 23. 6. to do his will and thâ—t not only by instructing them but also by correcting and chastening them it may be with sharp Rods Acts 14. 22. that at length they may do his will perfectly in Heaven without any correction tears or sorrow 3. Ye are not ignorant of that which the Prophets have spoken concerning the sins and iniquities of Gods Covenant servants separating between their God and them withholding good things from them bringing afflictions on them and hindring their prayers Your iniquities saith Esay have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid his face from you that HE WILL NOT HEAR chap. 59. 1 2. your iniquities saith Jeremy have turned away these things from you the former and the latter rain and the appointed weeks of the Harvest and your sins have withholden good things from you chap. 5. 24 25. and Lam. 3. 39. Wherefore doth a living man complain a man for the punishment of his sins 4. The great God who formed all things is not such a one as the ungodly man thinks him to be Ps 50. 21 22. one to whom it is all one whether his holy just good and wise Law be observed or not In my opinion it agrees not with the infinite wisdom of God to suffer any man to gain by any of his sins unless a man may be said to gain godly Repentance or the like by them c. 5. But that we may judge the better of this matter let us consider as exactly as we can if I may so call it the Method which God hath used and will use in distributing punishments and afflictions to humble and reform his people c. 1. God hath said he doth and will render to every man according to his works Job 34. 11. Ps 62. 12. Pr. 24. 12. Jer. 32. 19. Ezek. 33. 20. Mat. 16. 27. Rom. 2. 6. 2 Cor. 5. 10. Eph. 6. 8. Col. 3. 24 25. Rev. 22. 12. In which Scriptures by works and deeds we must understand actions and acts of the heart and tongue and the gestures of the body as well as the works which we do with our hands feet swords c. and God is All-sufficient to perform whatsoever he hath spoken and cannot deny himself Ps 36. 5. 57. 10. 108. 4. 2 Tim. 2. 13. nor lie Tit. 1. 2. Ezek. 1 2. 28. 26. 5. 28. 10. 2. God is no respecter of persons Deut. 10. 7. 2 Chron. 19. 17. Rom. 2. 11. He accepteth not the persons of Princes nor regardeth the rich more than the poor Job 34. 19. nor men of one Nation more than those of another Nation Act. 10. 34 35. nor the Master more than the servant nor men of one calling more than those of other callings Eph. 6. 9. Col. 3. 25. nor men who are highly esteemed in the Church more than those who are not Gal. 2. 6. nor those who call him Father and call on him as their Father no not those who are indeed his children by the grace of adoption as to corrections more than others He is not like those foolishly indulgent parents that do spare the rod and spoil the child Prov. 13. 24. If ye call him Father or call on the Father saith Peter who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work pass the time of your sojeurning here in fear And what doth Gods judging every man and women according to their works without respect of persons import in that place Verily if the Apostles Inference be good as doubless it is then it imports this namely that God will not spare his adopted sons and daughters in this world meerly by reason of their adoption but deal with them as he teacheth earthly parents to deal with their natural children driving their foolishness when there is cause with rods of correction far from them c. Prov. 13. 21. 19. 18. 23. 13 14. 22. 15. 3. So that if ye would know what sort of persons it is probable God will afflict whilst they be living in this world rather than and first before men and women of other sorts I answer 1. Those whom he knoweth that is owneth for his own people You only saith the Lord have I known of all the Families of the earth therefore I will visit upon you punish you for all your iniquities Amos 3. 2. Such shall not escape with impunity when others shall 2. Those who come nigh him For this is that which JEHOVAH spake unto Moses I will be sanctified said he in them who come nigh me and before all the people I will be glorified Lev. 10. 1 2 3. Which words are as if God had said They who come nigh me who am most holy in the ministration of my holy Ordinances or in the profession of my Religion which is holy must above others acknowledge and witness the belief and estimation which they have or ought to have of my Holiness in both words and deeds in that way and after that manner which I have chosen even according to the prescript rules of my word and if they do not so I will avow my own Holiness and make it appear that my justice and severity is without partiality and respect of persons by executing just vengeance against their transgressions that others may fear to offend 3. Those whom God the Father hath given to the Son For R. 1. What saith wise Solomon Whom the LORD loveth saith he he correcteth even as a Father the Son in whom he delighteth Prov. 3. 12. which Heb. 12. 6. is expressed thus Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth From whence is made this inference v. 7 8. If ye endure chastening God dealeth with you as with sons But if ye be without chastisement whereof all sons are partakers then are ye bastards and not sons R. 2. In the holy Scriptures our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is compared and that partly in respect of the tribulations which his members must endure before they come to their everlasting Rest to a Physician or Mediciner Mat. 9. 12. to a Refiner Mal. 3. and to a Fanner or Winnower of Wheat Mat. 3. 12. 1. He is the great Physician of the soul Mal. 4. 1 2. and such a friend to his people as loves them more than any man loves his friend 1 Joh. 4. 19. Joh. 3. 16 17. 15. 13. Rom. 5. 6 7 8 10 and a most faithful Physician and Friend to them and therefore will minister to them according to his transcendent wisdom such Medicinals as they have need of and when need
which hath been upon us and our Brethren by Nation and Religion the Pestilence the Sword the horrible burning of Houses and the losses and sufferings which are peculiar to professors as also the late prodigies are Messengers sent of God not only to warn men out of their sins but even to fear and drive them out Es 26. 9. 27. 7 8. 9. Psal 94. 12. 119. 67 71. which Messengers and him who sent them if we hear not this our turning of a deaf ear to our Creator and most bountiful Benefactor and to his Messengers whatsoever the sins be to which we cleave adds much to them and greatly provokes Gods wrath against us Quest But what if much of a mans disposition and behaviour under the rods of God be point blanck contrary to that which God calls for by them and even to that good whereof afflictions are not much less than a natural cause and which men in such cases are somewhat apt to do As if when men are cast out of a sufficient Estate into a very low Estate and without any certainty of a competent maintenance for them and their Wives and Children if then they should be very high-minded and full of mirth and jollity Answ Verily I cannot but think this cross carriage doth provoke the great God who formed all things greatly Beloved This is a day of trouble and of treading down and of perplexity by the Lord GOD of Hosts in one of the valleys of Vision wherein the Lord GOD of Hosts calls to weeping and to mourning the Prophet adds and to baldness and to girding with sackcloth And behold joy and gladness Es 22. 5 12 13. Plainly God hath brought many of us into a low Estate of whom some are not lowly they do not lie lowâ—â— it He hath deprived many of us of much of our worldly Estates and brought some of us out of a high and plentiful Estate into a very low and needy Estate without a certainty of worldly things necessary for us and our Wives and Children by which he calls not only for the humbling of the body but also for humbleness of mind and for mourning and weeping yea men are apt in such cases to mourn and weep and to speak as if their hearts were not haughty yea some of us have bewailed our low Estate to men it may be to God also and spoken of Imprisonments Oppression c. And yet notwithstanding all this behold joy and gladness in abundance smiling and laughing and jollity and pride as if they were sure of a very high estate to morrow Jam. 4. 13 14. Prov. 27. 7. And Non-conforming Ministers as if they had been counselled by Balaam a little before the burning of London apparalled and adorned instead of plain Yeomen like gallants and such a Ministers wife not vouchsafeing to take the pains to teach her own children Was that so because that part of hâ—r gown which did sweep the dust was longer than the whole tail of a Peaâ—hen or because she was proud 5. By transgressing a holy just and good Law and trespassing against the God of heaven and earth who gives us all the good things which we have by polluting his blessed Name and doing all the evil works before mentioned Marg. 60. for a very trisle as a very little profit peradventure not worth a half-penny or a very little ease or a very little pleasure unless our hearts be monstrous base or to please the company it may be profane wretches And this many of us do not duly consider how great an aggravation it is 6. By sinning without any occasion or any Tempter excepting our selves and the pride folly and naughtiness of our own hearts As that Minister who kept his stock of pride when he lost his Benefice although he had not learning enough of any sort for a wise man to be proud of it Occasions of sinning do call for milder dealing See the Geneva Tr. Gal. 6. 1. 7. By not making use of the power which we have in resisting evil examples and evil counsel and inward motions before they break out in our speeches and actions by not reforming those things which are in our power as our tongues and bodies by not abstaining from the sins which it is in our power to abstain from as vain idle foolish unseemly speeches and the like and by not doing the duties which it is in our power to perform as the instruction and correction of our children and servants and the like and although very much of this might be done without any considerable inconvenience Many of us do not so much of it as might be so done 8. By making a small matter of great sins and of small sins nothing 9. By making a light matter or nothing of our own sins because other folks be greater sinners than we 10. By slighting or worse than slighting the counsel admonitions and rebukes of God by his Preachers and our illightened and awakened consciences and by quenching the spirit 1 Thes 5. 19. Is this our making no good use of such things as these nothing Is thy keeping of thy sins against God's Word in the mouths of the Preachers and the checks of thine own conscience and the good desires and purposes stirred up in thy heart by the good Spirit of God is such a keeping of Gods enemies so near thy heart nothing How long shall he who is the Judge of all the earth stand at the door of thy heart knocking for admission Rev. 3. 20. 11. By the repugnancy opposition disagreement or whatsoever it should be called which is between our exorbitant behaviour and things whereby we should be moved to behave our selves better Of which things 1. One is the high and great dignities to which we are exalted especially to be children of God members of Christ's mystical body of his flesh and of his bones Eph. 5. 30. Christ's Friends Joh. 15. 14 15. and coheirs with Christ of the Kingdom of heaven Rom. 8. 16 17. For what said Nehemiah Chap. 6. 11 Should such a man as I flee Who is there that being as I am would go into the Temple to save his life I will not go in And so should we say should such as we are sin against our good God who is there that being as I am would sin to save his life By God's help I will not sin Qu. But what if we do but think we are such Ans Yet we should abstain from sinful practises the rather in regard of the high conceit which we have of our spiritual estate and if we do not that conceit doth exaggerate our iniquity 2. The promises vows covenants leagues and it may be oaths general and particular which we have made or entred into to God or men or both especially if without compulsion Deut. 23. 21. Eccl. 5. 4. Psal 66. 13 14. Psal 119. 106. Psal 50. 5. especially some of our covenants 3. Our specious and large forms of godliness 2 Tim. 3. 5.
measure for some Governours but as for our selves as many of us have enjoyed more liberty and peace than some of our Brethren for which I fear we have not been duly thankful to our heavenly Father nor made such use of our liberty unto the promoting of Christ's interest and the welfare of his people as we ought to have done Jam. 4. 3. so none of the Plows or Gears are broken Psal 129. 3 4 So many Summers and Harvests are past and there is not a general and full deliverance yea the causes of our dangers and fears are augmented at length so many of our Ministers must bid farewel to Cities and Corporations And thus much of the seventh particular which we ought to consider 8. In the eighth place If ye desire to know why God hath not heard our prayers to the full and put an end to our sufferings It is because he hath not yet attained all those ends which he hath aimed at and doth yet aim at in afflicting us See Marg. 25. For Professors have not yet thoroughly believed and feelingly acknowledged and duly considered his Kingdom and Power and Providence and the threatnings of his Law and Gospel and the Judgment to come and learned to fear God in regard of small sins They have not duly studied and endeavoured to be sensible of the comforts and benefits and use of true grace and of the assurance of God's fatherly love and of the evils of being without those good things nor constantly and seriously used all God's means to get them nor duly sought his mercy and favour in prosperity and adversity nor made such use as they ought of their liberty peace prosperity and opportunities for their own spiritual good and the good of others especially of God's people They have not accomplished a diligent search to find out all their sins old forgotten secret c. nor humbled themselves under the mighty hand of God for them with godly inward and deep sorrow and mourning and so particularly as they ought to have done nor cast all their pride and spiritual filthiness out of their hearts and ceased to do evil and learned to do each man and woman his and her whole duty nor duly endeavoured without exceptions and reservations so to do They have not wiâ—h due care and diligence tried thâ—iâ— graces and spiritual gifts and endeavoured to know their election of God and to grow in all graces especially Faith Hope Humility and Meekness to bear the wrath of God and rage of men with a quiet spirit and in spiritual gifts and to be rooted and established in Jesus Christ the Lord and in the knowledge and love of his Truths and invincibly resolved to cleave in love to him and them for ever They have trusted in themselves and in the world expecting without any good cause favour and peace from it Under crosses and being in trouble they have not shewn themselves patient and calm-spirited and so valiant for Christ and his Truths as they ought to have been some not at all puting their seals to the Truths and Righteousnesses of the Gospel some complying with the world basely They have not been duly thankful to God for their liberty and peace and the comforts helps and deliverances which he hath vouchsased them in distresses and dangers nor prayed and given thanks for one anothers comforts under the Cross deliverances and peace at least as they ought to have done and should have done if we had been knit together with brotherly love Col. 2. 2. They have not exercised and shewn forth their graces and spiritual gifts as they should have done for the encreasing of them and the honour of Christ especially their Faith Zeal for God and his people Humility and Patience They have not prayed mightily for the destruction of Babylon and of the Kingdom of Antichrist They have not used all due diligence to find and know all the naughty things which are in their hearts nor taken due care to know which of those he hath and doth most favour and endeavoured very seriously to beat it down My meaning is that of the said sins and faults some Professors be guilty of these and some of those and some of many The truth is Professors be so sanity in their Hair and the Apparel and the Ornaments of the body and concerning other matters that it is a very difficult thing for us Ministers the Lord be merciful to us to learn how to do our duty in seeking to reform them 9. So that in the ninth and last place if we would know what it concerns us to do towards the bettering of our estates the way is every Professor to amend thoroughly of the sins and faults before mentioned as many as he himself is guilty of and to perform every duty which is contrary to any of them But to speak more fully and more plainly concerning at least some matters and concerning some not before spoken of First we may do well to consider what enemies the true Religion hath on this side and beyond the Seas and that now some think they have a Plot to destroy it universally and what hath been done of late at Sea and at home what hath befallen London Norwich Colchefter Portsmouth c. and the distress and dangers wherein we yet are and what signs we see in Heaven or on earth c. of our liberty and peace hereafter Ye also know there was a time when there was no remedy 2 Chron. 36. 16. The consideration whereof without any morâ— words should be of force enough to move us unless we be content to suffer with Gedaliab the son of Ahikam Jer. 40. with 41. to put away our folly and negligence and to use all lawful and fit addresses unto the higher Powers whereby to better our condition especially to prevail with God to better it Neh. 2. 17. Exod. 10. 7. Prov. 6. 6. 12. 24. Heb. 2. 3. 2. I would not have you think that the continuance of our forms of godliness how specious and large soever they be will serve the turn For we have used them a long time already and our estate is such as I have told you Neither do I think that the amplifying of our forms would do it For in my younger years when some godly persons in and neer Shrew bury did enter into a Resolution to enlarge their Forms to pray oâ—tner than formerly to fast oftner and to win others to do the like where of as I in those dayes heard a godly Ministers Wife said They had found out a way to kill the Devil Yet the practises of Professors suitable to thâ—t Resolution did not so much as keep the Devil from rising higher and higher To what should we impute this rather than to our sinful silence at the aberrations one of anoâ—her and suffering sin one upon another our not instructing admonishing reproving and encouraging and giving good counsel one to another and the Elder Professors not being good Examples to
chastised thee Lev. 26. 40 41. Lam. 3. 41. to 47. and to humble thy self under his mighty and correcting hand for them and as thou canst for thy unknown sins also Jam. 4. 10. 1 Pet. 5. 6 10. Psal 19. 12. not too easily contenting thy self with any measure of sorrow for thy sins yet not grieving so as to disable thy self for any service or business of any sort For sometimes men are not quickly cleansed from their iniquities as those Josh 22. 17. no nor duly contrite and humbled for them as those Jer. 44. 10. And I fear this is the case of many of us Professors even in this perillous time and that many of us do not well understand our sins of common life 7. Accept of the punishment of thine iniquity Lev. 26. 41. and that with the whole heart thy mouth and heart really yielding and acknowledging that our God hath punished thee O far less than thy iniquities deserve Ezr. 9. 13. 8. And forsake and cease from all thy sins resolve throughly to strive seriously against them all not excepting so much as one of them no not the least and most profitable of them And do this with a holy hatred and detestation of them hating them for God because they be enemies to him saying in thy heart Get ye hence ye enemies of my God get ye hence Es 30. 32. Mat. 4. 10. And having once cast away thy sins sin no more lest worse things come unto thee John 5. 4. but walk in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord uprightly and blamless and among other duties 1. Be really thankful to him who is the Fountain of all good things for extending his goodness to thee and the rest of his people in such and such matters giving him hearty and humble thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ Col. 3. 15. Eph. 5. 20. especially for thy and their liberty and peace 2. Let the love of Christ constrain thee to love him because he dyed for thee for that very end 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. To the uttermost of thy abilities promote his interest and for his sake his peoples happiness by doing him and them as many good services as thou canst 3. Mispend not time but redeem time for Gods service and the soul because the dayes be evil Eph. 5. 17. 4. Take heed to thy wayes that thou sin not with thy tongue Psal 39. 1. Psal 34. 11 12 13. 2 Pet. 3. 10. Jam. 1. 26. 5 Take due care to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy Exod. 20. 8. 6. Also remember thou and thy son and thy daughter and thy man-servant and thy maid-servant and thy stranger that is within thy gates Exod. 20. 10. yea not only on the Sabbath day but generally at all times to use thy diligence that thy Family may be as a little Church of Christ as Philemons was Phil. ver 1. 2. I have specifyed these duties because so many Professors do so much neglect them It will be thy wisdom to follow all this good counsel For the LORD God is a Sun and shield to them that walk uprightly he will give them grace and glory he will withhold no good thing from them Psal 4. 11. Prov. 16. 17. 9. Learn of God to commit and leave thy self to him as the righous and wise Judge of all the Earth to do with thee what he pleaseth and particularly to better thy estate when and in what measure he pleaseth Psal 10. 14. Phil. 4. 11. But remember and study thy own weakness that thou art not sufficient of thy self to do any thing well as of thy self without Christ John 15 5. 2 Cor. 3. 5. Therefore stir up thy self to take hold of Christ Es 64. 6 7. as the strength of the LORD Es 27. 4. 5. Even on our Lord Jesus Christ who is mighty to save even able to save unto the uttermost all them who came unto God by him Es 63. 1. Heb. 7. 25. Psal 89. 19. Phil. 4. 13. The want of this hinders the profiting of Professors very much 10. Also humble thy self daily for thy infirmities and daily failings 11. Also give all diligence to make thy Calling and Election sure and that all thy graces especially thy Faith and Patience may be encreased 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7 10. 3. 17 18. 1 Pet 5. 9 10. Rom. 5. 2 3 4. Jam. 1. 3 4. 12. Be sure to consider seriously every one of you in particular wherein he or she can do God or his people service and resolve with a strong resolution if it shall please him to put an end to your Adversity with his gracious and blessed assistance to serve him and them accordingly 13. Lastly at all times even whilst thou art doing these things and when thou hast done them all and done much for God and his people depend not on any thing which thou hast done as if thou hadst thereby or therewith made satisfaction in any measure to Gods justice for thy sins or any of them or merited any good thing at his hands but relie for thy justification and acceptance with God and everlasting salvation on the Lord Jesus Christ and the free grace of God in and through him admiring his free grace Qu. But what ought those Professors to do who know think or doubt they be not born again Answ That which is most proper for them to do is to exercise themselves constantly in the word of Truth waiting for the gracious operation of the holy Spirit in and on their souls to beget them again or else to shew them Christ already formed in their souls Joh. 14. 16 17. Gal. 4. 19. But withal they ought to follow the good counsel before rehearsed and all Professors when cause is to do what many Professors very seldom or never do viz. to ask the advice of able and godly Professors especially Ministers and not to keep the devils counsel not to secret matters according to his counsel Note If God in chastizing any of us doth aim at any of the ends which I have before mentioned and through weakness of memory or otherwise have not reached to it in the precedent instructions or any other end which I have not mentioned I pray you hear the rod and him who hath appointed it yielding to him concerning it let that be done which he shooteth at in chastizing thee If thou desirest to know more medicines which it behoveth thee to use for the bettering of thy estate 1. Enquire and consider frequently whether thou hast any true grace or not what thou hast in thy heart which a meer Formalist cannot have 2. Consider and study as exactly and wisely as thou canst thy own sins and what thou hast deserved at Gods hands by them taking heed that thou think not too ill of other folks sins as of the Professors and other inhabitants of London Southwark Norwich Colchester Portsmouth as if they were sinners above others worse sinners than others Take heed of
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
of them Thou mayest be like the heath in the desert which sees not when good cometh to which the man who trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm is compared by Jeremy Chap. 17. 5 6. who in the next verses compares the man that trusteth in the LORD and whose hope the LORD is as I may a thoroughly reformed Christian to a tree which is planted by the waters Psal 1. 3. and spreadeth out her roots by the River which shall â—â— see when heat cometh nor be careful in a year of drought nor cease from yielding fruit 5. What think ye of Gods waiting that he may be gracious to us Isa 30. 18. What is it for him to wait for that end It is as it were to stand somewhat near us having in and at his right hand good things which may be used unto the promoting of Christs cause and interest and the welfare of his people or some of them and therewithal our own good Psal 16. 11. Rev. 3. 20 22. 12. which things also he really purposeth to bestow actually upon those of us who shall prove meet to receive them For then will be a due and fit time for him to bestow them upon us Jam. 4. 10. 1 Pet. 1. 6. Which convenient season we may well believe is then come when we are 1. Duly humbled under the mighty hand of God for our own sins and grieved for the sins of others 2. And so humbled under the mighty and correcting hand of God as to confess to God our walking contrary to him and his walking contrary to us 3. And so as to accept of the punishment of our iniquities with the whole heart Lev. 26. 40 41 42. Mic. 7. 8 9 10. Lam. 3. 42. bearing it patiently without murmuring and repining or hard thoughts of God 4. And when we have learned of him how to be full and to abound and how to be abased and to suffer need how to behave our selves in prosperity and adversity Phil. 4. 12. 5. And to pray fervently for our selves with due respect to the glory of God and the good of his people that is aiming at those ends Jam. 4. 2 3. 6. And when we are become throughly willing and strongly resolved with Gods assistance to leave all our sins and to do all our duties Yea Friends the most high God will be highly pleased to see us well-minded toward him and his people and when we are so he will even delight to bestow the good things according to his said purpose upon us Apollos had watered the Christians of Corinth 1 Cor. 3. 6. and doubtless was kindly affectioned toward them with brotherly love and did desire and seek their welfare yet there was a time when his will was not at all to come unto them no not although the Apostle Paul did greatly desire him And why even because at that time it was not convenient Namely because many of them were so affected toward him 1 Cor. 1. 12. that he could not hope to be kindly received and entertained of them and to have them make a right use of his presence and company for their souls good so that at that time it would not have been convenient for him or them or in respect of Jesus Christ For when he shall have a convenient time then he will come unto them 1 Cor. 16. 12. namely when God by Pauls ministery or otherwise hath brought their spirits into a fit temper to make such use as they ought of his ministry and labours And so God doth not deliver exalt and give Professors such and such good things because they be not prepared and ready to make such use of them as they ought unto their own benefit and the benefit of others and the credit of the Gospel For an instance he will not exalt a Professor who keeps his stock of pride because he would thence take occasion to grow in pride rather than to walk more humbly than he did in his low Estate But Friends I speak now to poorly reformed Professors how long do ye think God hath waited for your Reformation It may be 5 6 7. years and for the amendment of some of you 10 years and of some 20 and of some more yea and some of you have been during these years now and then in the House of Correction and oft in some danger to be brought into it Is this true And are ye not yet prepared and fit to receive the alms which God hath in his hands to bestow upon you Ye are but sorry Scholars How long do ye think it fit that the most high God on whom ye ought to wait continually until he hath mercy upon you Psal 123. 2. how long do ye think it fit that he should wait for you And how long do ye think he will wait for you Do ye think it is fit that he should wait your leisure Whatsoever any of you think for certain the longer God waits the greater is your iniquity in not striving earnestly to leave off your sins And why is the LORD in the very same verse wherein he is said to wait viz. Es 30. 18. Why is he in the very same verse said to be a God of judgement Is it not because he knows how long it is fit for him to wait and how long he hath waited and when it is good for us that he should cease from correcting us I indeed and my fellow-Ministers of Christ are not inspired as the Prophets of old were neither can I mourn and weep as many can but if the riches of Gods goodness and forbearance and great patience and long-continued waiting and his as it were stooping to us and working strangely for us when and whilst we were so far short of a full and perfect Reformation and his correctings of us and his mitigating and lessening of our chastisements dangers and fears if all this doth not partly draw us and partly drive us out of our sins and win us to amend our doings speedily I shall be so far from expecting very great matters that I shall fear we do treasure up wrath against a day of greater and sorer wrath speaking in a general manner than hath as yet fallen upon us Remember ye therefore the natural branches of the good Olive-tree which were broken off from it being their own Olive-tree remember I say this breaking off and take heed of deferring the reformation which thou lackest be not careless but fear lest thou also be broken of Rom. 11. 17. c. For we who are Christs Ministers cannot say yet your space to repent of and from your sins shall be 120 years as Gen. 6. 3. nor if they continue barren one whole year longer then thou shalt cut them down as Luke 13. 9. no nor yet forty dayes and then ye shall be overthrown as Jon 3. 4. No our words are To day if ye will hear Gods voice harden not your hearts c. Psal 95. 7. c. For we know not
whole heart See Lev. 26. 41. 2 Chron. 12. 6. Ezra 9. 5. c. Neh. 9. 33. Mic 7 9. 6. Whatsoever good things thou hast or good works thou dost to give the glory with the whole heart to God 1 Chron. 29. 10. c. Act. 12. 21 22 23. But to get humility to make thee yield and stoop to God and to walk humbly with God and men 1. Consider seriously 1. The infinite dignity and worthiness of God his infinite greatness holiness wisdom and power and his perfect justice and his great bounty toward thee 2. Thy being dust and ashes and thy sinfulness and what thou hast deserved time after time by breaking his holy just and good Law 3. What I have already said of pride and humility 4. Look not too much on thy own good things graces and spiritual gifts nor further than thou hast good cause on the sins and defects of others 5. Look on the good things of others Phil. 2 4. 6. Know also and consider that to say within thy heart As things be or are like to be it will be a wiser part in me to keep this or that sin than to keep God's commandment wherein he forbids it to say this in thy heart at any time whatsoever is to make thy self as we use to speak wiser than God to prefer thy wisdom before the wisdom of God which is horrible pride And yet this thou sayest with thy heart and God hears its voice whensoever after considerable deliberation thou art resolved to transgress the Law of God Mark 6. 26. And if any man thinks his love toward God is great notwithstanding his dissolute conversation to such a man I say Go and learn for thy love is nâ— larger than thy obedience 7. Converse much with humble persons 8. Pray unto him who is able to cloath thee with humility 9. Decline no mans company for fear he should reprove thee for thy pride but if there be any man near thee who is likely to tell thee of it be sure to converse much with him Brethren the pride and I fear the proud Apparel and orâ—aments of some of our Intercessors at least Professors did hinder them from making up the Hedge and thrust and keep them out of the Gap so that they could not stand there before the LORD and that thereupon the Pestilence did enter into London and that the sinful dumbness Ezek. 3. 26. or silence and Gastant-like ornaments of some others did strike or keep them out of the Gap and that thereupon so many houses were fired in London If any of you do not understand my language let them consider together with the pride and other sins of Professors these Scriptures 1 Tim. 2. 9. Ezek. 22. 30 3. 1 2 Sam. 24. 1. c. Jer. 7. 18. Ezek. 13. 5. Ezek. 3. 36. Which fear of mine whether it be altogether right or not howsoever ye know that some men and women be of great power with God Gen. 32. 24. c. Hos 12. 3 4. Exod. 32. 10. c. Ezek. 14. 14 Jam. 5. 16 17. and that the Professors have not yet prevailed with God to destroy any of the Plows but only to stop the horses or Drivers c. Psal 129. 3 4. So that for ought ye know the Plows be not yet legally destroyed for lack of more Intercessors as Sodom was destroyed for want of a few more righteous persons at the most not above nine Gen. 18. 32. And would it be wisdom in us to suffer England to be destroyed or the Plows to be drawn over the backs of Professors again for want of more power with God Gen. 32. 24. Hos 12. 4. Not so Friends I pray you but as when the Harvest is plenteous and the Labourers few we must pray the Lord of the Harvest to send forth Labourers into his Harvest Mat. 9. 37 38. So when there is need of great strength by which we may have power with God then it stands us upon even for our own sakes to turn as many as we can to righteousness and to wind up as many as we can to a very great height of faith and holiness that they may be Princes and men of great power with God that they may prevail with him for themselves and the houshold of Faith For we know not how much help we have need of and a little true strength will help somewhat But the truth is as in the Reign of Hezekiah the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctifie themselves than the Priests 2 Chron. 29. 34. So some of our Jacob-like plain men Gen. 25. 27. may by their prayers prevail more with God than some of our fine-tongued men who to some seem to be Princes and Pillars Not very long since many Professors did slight and make small account of the Old-Testament-Saints and of the old Puritans of England I would to God we had many more such as many of them were For many are called but few chosen Mat. 20. 16. and of them who are chosen few are Princes with God Friends I have now in part shewn you what notwithstanding the free grace of God is the best way to kill the devil I beseech you therefore even all Professors by the mercies of God at all times in the day time in the night when ye are at home when abroad when alone when in company when alone with God remember the Reformation of Professors and to the uttermost of thy duty and opportunities do whatsoever thou canst I speak to every one of you in particular by instructing exhorting admonishing reproving encouraging in preaching in conference in prayer and by being a holy and good example to others to reform and amend thy domesticks children servants c. brethren and sisters parents near neighbours inferiors c. and universally all the Professors of England To enliven the dead and awaken them who sleep to open the ears of the deaf and the eyes of the blind to heal and strengthen the feeble legs arms and hands of the lame and lamish to lift up the hands which hang down to quicken slow-bellies and to stop the mouths of unruly and vain talkers Consider therefore your wayes Hag. 1. 4 5 6. that is what you have done and how and what you have left undone and the issue of all This consideration is required especially in a time of Adversity Eccl. 7. 14. And coâ—sider one another to provoke unto love and to good works Heb. 10. 24. and to dehort from unfit deeds and speeches For many do look on some of their own sins as no sins c. And do this for women as well as men for women have souls to save as well as men though many of them walk as if they had not If the Humiliation Reformation Prayers and Families of Professors generally were such as they ought to be their Humiliation real serious extraordinary their Reformation extended to all their doings their prayers effectual fervent prayers and their Families like
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
for great faults yet he reproved her And so did God for one fault reprove Sarah Gen. 18. 15. c. and Jacob Gen. 35. 1. and Moses and Aaron and Jehu the Prophet Jehoshaphat 2 Chron. 19. 2. and Paul Peter Gal. 2. 11. c. and an Angel John Rev. 19. 10. and 22 9. Beside 1. It may be this or that Professor doth practise more sins than thou knowest of He may favour his secret sins 2. Being reproved for one sin that reproof may occasion him to take notice of other sins which thou knowest not of 3. Howsoever reproof and instruction concerning one sin is a good way to keep him from making a Trade of many sins yea of any one sin If thou thinkest thy self wiser than Jehu the Prophet and Paul yet take heed of making thyself wiser than Christ for thou must stand before his judgment-seat and he is a righteous Judge and will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the counsels of the hearts and condemn I fear many Professors for idle words and the like small sins which they do seldom or never particularly grieve for or confess and ask pardon of which is an Argument that they do in their hearts make small matters of them and the way if I may so speak to make God look on them as foul matters Which I hold very fit to be thought of and this also that it is a very wretched thing for a man who thinks himself wise to suffer any one of his fellow-Professors to be damned for one sin Another may say I do say nothing to such a Professor because he is a Dog or a Swine Mat. 7. 6. A. What a Professor and a Dog or a Swine Either of these is a very heavy charge with which we must not without a very good ground load any of those who have gotten the name of Professors no nor of them who have not neither Repl. If he be not a Dog or Swine yet if I should reprove him he would be angry with me and not receive the good counsel which I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him A. Art thou sure of that Who told thee so Did he himself at any time tell thee so Where is thy Charity or of what kind is it For Paul speaking of true Christian Charity saith that it hopeth all good things and thinketh no evil 1 Cor. 13. 5 7. to wit of others without a sound and sure ground Take heed of proving thy self nothing ver 1. 2 3. Verily if a man should tell me he would not receive instruction I think I should not absolutely believe him It may be he might be displeased and angry with me for a while and afterward his second thoughts might be better although I have known when I think a Captain and a Lieutenant have fairly endured my stout and blunt reproof in an Inn in London for swearing For I said unto them Gentlemen what are ye who thus transgress the Laws of God and the King by swearing We know not what success we shall have 180000 chosen Warriors of Judah and Benjamin being assembled together to fight against the ten Tribes yet when they understood it was the Lords mind that they should depart every man to his house and not fight against their brethren they hearkened to him and without any more ado returned to depart according to the word of the Lord 1 King 12. 21 22 23 24. Also when the people of Israel and the Priests and the Levites had mingled themselves with the Heathens c. although the hand of the Princes and Rulers were chief in this trespass yet Ezra the Priest prevailed with them to put away their strange Wives and their children born of them chap. 9. and 10. and Nehemiah prevailed with the Nobles and the Rulers and others to leave their Usury and Oppression and to make restitution chap. 5. Neither do we find that Nebuchadnezzar or Belshazzar were displeased with Daniel when he told them what would come upon them Dan. 4. and 5. Why then should not I and others hope that God will give us good success when we go in the fear of God and with an upright heart about this business Why not that very many will prove like David who if the righteous would smite him with wounds of reproof would receive them as a kindness and as a precious Medicine which would help to heal his soul so we are to understand Psal 141. 5. My charity tells me that Professors do trespasse in some sins and particularly concerning Ornaments of the body and other things indifferent ignorantly not knowing that they be sins or acting rashly without due consideration of which if they were admonished I cannot but hope a great part and it may be some who are thy near neighbours would receive instruction and reform Therefore pity Professors and do the best thou canst to awaken them and to open their eyes and to help the lame to walk Apol. But some of the offending Professors are my Friends and some my Benefactors I live by their Benevolence and good will and for that cause I do forbear their sins A. Do you so What are you Are you a Christian What is that then which you profess Is it carnal self-love and self-seeking If it be so then your silence doth not belie your profession But it may be you think you do love them who love you as the Publicans did Mat. 5. 46. And is this thy kindness to thy Friends Why man thou oughtest to minister spiritual things to them especially who minister carnal and worldly things to thee for that is one of the Obligations which are upon thee Yea Friend if thou seest the Ass of thine enemy lying under his burthen thou oughtest surely to leave thy business to help him and if thou meet the Ox or Ass of thy enemy going astray thou oughtest surely to bring it back again Exod. 23. 4 5. and canst thou see the soul of thy Friend who loveth thee and thou pretendest to love him canst thou see his soul going astray and not cake some care and pains to bring it back again and see the soul of thy Benefactor lying under a burthen of sin and forbear to help it Is this true love and true Christianity not to take so much care and pains to help thy Friends soul as thou oughtest to help thy enemies Ass Surely I know not where this is true Christian love unless it be beyond the Antipodes or where all the people be Heathens For as for Christians they ought to have more respect to the souls one of another than to the bodies But alas Friend all this while I have not remembred that which thou and I ought in all our dealings with Professors principally and above all other things to regard to wit the honour and interest of our most dear Friend Jesus Christ Mat. 6. 9. 1 Cor. 10. 31. Canst thou perswade thy self to neglect him also whom thou oughtest to respect above all the Creation