themselves nor can make their sad condition known unto others 2. Obs Secondly We noted from the ground of their sorrow which was Christs departure That sometimes the Lord Jesus Christ may leave and depart from his people as to the sensible enjoyment of him 3. Obs Thirdly From the impression of sorrow was in their hearts at Christs departure we observed That there is nothing so bitter to the spirits of the Lords people as his withdrawment Their hearts were filled with sorrow All these Particulars were spoken unto at some considerable length And then from the cause of the encrease of their sorrow which was the near approach of his departure the hour was now come and therefore they were filled with sorrow we observed 4ly 4. Obs That the nearer the hour of Christs departure approacheth the hearts of his friends are the more filled with sorrow and bitterness This we cleared from the frame and disposition of the Apostles their hearts were filled with sorrow as you see verse 5. because that now the hour was come that he was to be taken away from them From this point when we had cleared it at length we took occasion to reprove three sorts of people making it applicable to our present condition And first from the point we reproved those that are never troubled for any alterations can come upon the matters of God although such things fall out as prognosticate Christs departure yet are never moved but will tell you it s all one whether Presbyterianism or Prelacie prevail provided we be still Protestants and if changes and alterations come to a greater heighth they will not trouble themselves for that neither but will tell you it is all one whether Prelacie or Popery prevail provided we be still Christians are not Papists Christians surely the Disciples of the Lord were not such their heart was filled with more sorrow as they saw the evidences of his going away Ye see to what this Region has turned already and therefore you that are indifferent people when a shaking commeth on the house of God apprehending no danger although these things prognosticate Christs departure the point tells you that you have reasons to doubt whether you have any interest or part in the rich loading which is in Christs ship of Gospel Ordinances amongst us the nearer the time be of Christs departure the more are the hearts of his people fill'd with sorrow Secondly we reproved those from the point who though they pretend some interest in the rich loading of Christs Ship and that their treasure is therein yet their hearts are not touched with the dreadfull evidences of Christs departure they never change their chear nor keep a rioband off their apparel for all the sad evidences that are amongst us of Christs departure and going away but are as proud and as soon stirred up now to passion and anger and are as vain as when there was not so dreadfull signs of his approaching departure surely the point reproves such The third sort reproveable from this point were those that are not only indifferent for all that is come on the work and people of God as the evidences of Christs departure but also are debauching and drinking away their Spirits not remembring the afflictions of Joseph the Lords people are not such their hearts are sorrowfull when they see Christ departing The next use here was of Encouragement to these who are now mourning for all the afflictions of Joseph they are in their duty and shall rejoyce with Jerusalem when the Lord shall put on the beautifull garments of joy and praise upon her again Then we came to the second part of the Text which is the Encouragement he gives them for holding up their fainting and discouraged hearts that were filled with sorrow because of his approaching departure in these words But I will see you again and your Heart shall rejoyce c. VVherein first we noted his scope and aim which was to have their fainting Hearts comforted for which cause he applyed this precious Cordial 2. There is the Cordial it self viz. the assured and not to be doubted promise of his return 3. The time when he did apply this Cordial viz. when they were to meet with the Storm and before they entred into the heat of the Furnace which Cordial or Encouragement is drawn from that which afterward they were to receive which was a joyous outgate 4. There is the blessed consequence and effect of this in this phrase and your Heart shall rejoyce Lastly there is the firmness and stability of their consolation and joy they would have at his return Your joy shall no man take from you though they clip the wings of your joy now yet shall they not get it done at that day From the first of these we observed 5. Obs That whatsoever be the Perplexities of his peoples Spirits at his withdrawment yet is it his desire that they be comforted this is his aim while he tells them he will see them again and lastly we left at this note from the Encouragement it self 6. Obs That no Storm can be so permanent or tempestuous as that it can be able to keep the Lord and his people asunder he will see them again this point we cleared from divers considerations that in spite of the most swelling and tempestuous blasts he 'l see or visit his people again from this point we drew first an use of reproof 1. Use To all those who when the Church is low turn their back upon her as if Christ and She would never meet again they evidence much Faithlessness who do so 2. Use Secondly we deduced from the point an use of Encouragement unto the people of God applying it to the present distress now upon the Church Christ is now going away but if any would inquire what of the night the answer is as our night approacheth so also the morning Christ will see us again that dwell in Scotland These things we thought fit to name this being your hour of sorrow because of Christs approaching departure But we shall dwell no longer at present upon what we then spake but shall now come to that which we have further from the Lord to say unto you at present And so now we come to another Doctrine from this Encouragement the Lord gives his Disciples Ye have sorrow now because the hour is come but I give this unto you to hold up your hearts against your present discouragement I will see you again Whence observe Obs 1. That the assurance of Christs return is the only Cordial against the heart-faintings of the sorrowfull Souls of his people at his departure You see this point clear from the words his Disciples hearts were filled with sorrow and they had good reason so to be they were to want their dear Master who went ay between them and the storm and he gave them this as the most choice and only sufficient Cordial against their heart-faintings I will see on
Lord Jesus will see or visit us again wherefore we say unto all of you keep your hands from off the precious bread which is appointed for the mourning and heavy hearted sons and daughters of Zion for only they share with Zion in her consolations when the Lords sees her again who so loved her and mourned for her in her low condition and without the Wedding garment of repentance for these evils and a forsakeing of them together with a heart and practical sympathy with Zion in this her distress you shall never tast of this choice part of the Marriage supper and Gospel feast wherewith the fainting and trembling discouraged hearts of the people of God shall be cheared up and revived when he sees us again but we desire not altogether to leave you here and therefore we say if ye will be so wise for yout selves as to joyn your selves to Zion and from a principle of heart honesty take a share of a suffering lot with her you shall be very welcome and upon these terms we heartily invite you to come and partake of these dainties otherwayes you cannot be admitted for none can rejoyce with the people of God but they who mourn with them none can land with them upon the shore of consolation with them save they who set their face to the stormy and tempestuous waves swimming thorough the deep flouds of persecution and affliction with them But upon the other hand we do in the blessed name and authority of our Lord Jesus Christ heartily invite you to this blessed Feast of joy who are the fainting and sad hearted people of God we are not speaking to you of the great consolation wherewith your souls shall be satisfied when our Lord sees us again draw near therefore O ye discouraged sons and daughters of Zion eat of this fat and drink of this sweet for only to you doth this blessed feast belong and unto you and you only is the word of this consolation sent O rejoyce in the hope of what dancing dayes you shall have when Christ sees us again which joy shall then wreath a necessity of gladness of heart upon you as a Chain about your neck draw near therefore with all humble boldness and chearful confidence unto this feast of joy Eat O friends drink abundantly O beloved feed largely eat and drink for the time to come and journey that is before you Now for further application may not all we have said make it appear that the people of God as to their state are a most blessed people and may not all we have said be sufficient for engaging the hearts of you that are as yet strangers to the first dancings of a glorious work upon your hearts to come and joyn your selves to Zion to take a life and death with the people of God seeing they have that which may bear them up in the dâ—â—â—est afflictions and most tempestuous flâ—â—â— wherein they may be tossed But that we may draw to a close we would now speak a word unto you the people of God as to your present duty from all we have said ye see we have cleared this good ground to hope that our Lord will see you again and that ye shall have very joyfull and dancing dayes when that shall be for your hearts shall rejoyce O therefore blessed hearts be comforted in him in the hope and sure expectation of this precious day let us in the hope hereof resolve chearfully to set about those duties suitable to us in order to his seeing us again let us resolve to be faithful unto him in his absence let us resolve in the strength of him to bide by his precious truths and interests let us keep our selves free from touching the unclean thing for this will hasten his seeing us again let us do all things that tend to the good of his cause that the cause of our Lord Jesus may win the day though we should fall in the field of suffering guard against all pollutions of his Ordinances keep close by the covenant whereof ye need not be ashamed for it binds you to nothing but holiness towards God and Loyalty towards your Prince and so is the most clear â—eâ—eanly and sure Oath of Allegiance under Heaven yea 〈◊〉 the Marriage contract between God and 〈◊〉 Land so ye need think no shame of any thing in it but may cast up your face before all the World owning and avowing it before Heaven and Earth Angels and Men in a word let us set our face as flint against the storm resolving upon the greatest of hazards in the Lords strength not to yield to any thing not agreeable to the word of God when matters are violently carried on against Jesus Christ his interests and people it is the duty of all the faithful seed to set their face as flint against the storm and not to yield in a foot to any thing prest upon them contrary to his word Now 1. here is your work be faithful unto him bide by the truths of him who endured the Cross for you defile not your selves with abominations prest upon you 2. The simpathy and fellow feeling of our great high Priest who is touched with the feelings of all our trials together with the precious promises is your expence and charges whereupon you are to spend on your way 3. Christs seeing you again together with the joyful and danceing dayes ye shall then have is your incouragement O therefore up with your fainting and discouraged hearts for nothing shall keep him away from you he will see you again and your heart shall rejoyce sometimes he has even returned to these places where they had formerly sought to slay him What said his Disciples wilt thou go up to Jerusalem knowest thou not that not long ago the Jewes sought to stone thee Joh. 11. 8. Yet he went and so will he return again to us he will give us a gracious visit and our hearts shall rejoyce but many others shall look very blank at that day when he sees us again but your heart shall revive at that day O therefore comfort your fainting hearts in the hope of it that ye may go chearfully through the present distress committing the keeping of your souls unto him in the way of duty and well doing as into the hands of a faithful Creator who will make a glorious accompt of all that is committed unto him Now we have told you that our Land is a married land and that therefore he will see us again and we call God to record upon our soules that he laid a necessity of speaking this unto you and that under no less hazard then of being rejected of him never to be countenanced in his work again but to be made a weathered spectacle of his displeasure for disobedience durst we forbear to say these things unto you and we are sure it is from the Lord unto you And receiving his tender hearted Christian friends trembling which he supposing might be for fear of his danger he speaks these words What ayleth you O faithful friends in the Lord Jesus Christ and why does your faces look pale are ye affraid of the approaching storm O may not this quiet your hearts that he will carry you well through will see you again and cause your hearts rejoyce Why then are ye disconsolate are ye affraid to lose a friend for Christ and his cause O may not this satisfie your hearts as to this that it is not lost which Christ getteth it falls in a friends hand Secondly We say unto you that there is protection and security in our God in the most tempestuous and stormy day Isai 26. 2. We have a strong City what is the City there it's Gods salvation salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks where ye may see that when the Lords people have no outward protection neither walls nor bulwarks then the Lords Salvation is walls and bulwarks for their protection and shelter so that he can shelter them as within strong holds even 〈◊〉 they are amongst the greatest of snares and so may not this quiet your hearts that the Lord can protect your friends though in the midst of trouble and you have this to make up all your losses our Lord Jesus will see you again we leave you with the same soul comforting promise in your bosome that howbeit now you have sorrow because your hour is come yet he shall certainly and without all doubt see you again and your heart shall rejoyce and shall add no more â— but unto him that is able to perswade your Hearts of this That he will see you again and who can manifest the same in your joyfull experience we desire to give Praise The end of the first Sermon FINIS
again I am now to be taken away from you I am within a little to be offered up and my departure is at hand for Judas that false hearted seeming friend is gone away from me and hath renounced his Ministry as if he had been doing wrong all the time that he was following my Call and Order and whereas he went from me alone having no company but my curse and an evil conscience in his bosome he is returning again with companies and troops at his back guarding him But he is never a hair the honester man for all that he has gotten to back him for he has betrayed me unto them and has told them that he will profess kindness and friendship to me till he get the black intent of his heart accomplished yet he hath given them secret advice to hold me fast that I never wen out of their gripes again and your hearts are sorrowful because ye see the time draws near and your hour is come but I give unto you my fainting friends this choice Cordial as sufficient to revive and hold up your discouraged hearts I will see you again I shall propose some Considerations to make the truth of this Point appear And Cons 1. First It will be clear if you consider the ground and cause of their sorrow for what was it that they were sorrowful but becase he was going away And the thing did most imbitter their spirits as to this was the near approach thereof the hour was come wherein he was to be taken away from them and if this had not been they had not had this sorrow of heart for where there is no cause there can â—ollâ—◠〈◊〉 effect therefore Christs going 〈…〉 only cause of their sorrow his return again behoved to be most yea sufficiently encouraging and so the assurance thereof the choicest Cordial against the heart-faintings of sorrowful souls at his departure Cons 2. Secondly It will be clear also if we consider That his return evidenceth his being pacified towards his people Ye know that his going away speaks out much anger and the most tender hearts of his people are most sensible thereof and that it is not without great provocation he goes away and are deeply affected therewith and so must look upon his return as the clearest evidence of his being pacified towards them and that his anger is turned away and what can be so refreshing as that And therefore is there not ground to say That the assurance of Christs return is the choicest and only Cordial against the heart-faintings of sorrowful Souls at his departure Cons 3. Thirdly The hope the people of God have of being freed of many great miseries and trusted with many choice blessings when he returns will clear this Hosea 9. 12. Yea and woe also unto them when I depart from them He had spoken of many other miseries but he adds this as a non-such and compleating misery Yea woe also unto them when I depart from them And so it may be turned over again at his return yea and all blessings unto them when I return unto them and therefore in this respect the assurance of his return must be a sufficient Cordial against the heart-faintings of the sorrowful souls of his people at his withdrawment and going away Use 1. The first use here as of Tryal so also is of Reproof to these who take not this choice and only Cordial now when Christ is going away O what make ye your Cordial ye see the assurance of Christs return is the only and choice Cordial therefore is this thy Cordial now when the time of our Lords withdrawment is at hand and the hour of his departure draweth near whatever you make your Cordial yet well I know that the thing which holds up and revives the sainting hearts of his people is the assurance of his return and seeing us again But more particularly I would speak to two or three Cordials which some take unto themselves at such a time as this which are none of Christs but will prove poysonous Pills in the end The first poysoning Cordial we name is Self-quiet and preservation there are some who if they get preservation to themselves it gives them Peace and if they get any gainful place it gives them yet more peace and quiets them notwithstanding their seeing Gods matters go wrong O! is this thy Cordial though thou seest the desolation of Zion and think'st her wronged yet satisfiest and comfort'st thy heart with thy Preferment or Self-preservation O how deadful a Cordial is that and how poysoning a Pill will it prove The second Cordial is Self-hiding there are some who if they can couch down and hide themselves sitting in silence when God calls for a testimony at their hand when all are Apostatizing from him O how bitter a Pill will that prove in the end and how well might that word be applyed to such which the Lord spake to another purpose Micah 2. 10. Arise ye and depart This shall not be your rest it shall cast you out The third woful Cordial that is very full of Poyson is Tipling and Drinking there are some who acknowledge that Christ is getting wrong and they have some sort of heartlesness thereat and yet draw not their encouragement from the assurance of Christs returning visiting and seeing us again but go into the Inn to their 4 hours and there drink up their hearts to a chearful frame I am not speaking here of those abominable and miserable wretches who at their carrousing at the afflictions of Joseph will drink over the ruine and destruction of the work and people of God in a cup of Wine dreadful shall the doom and condemnation of these be from the Lord their Judgment sleeps not and therefore we will not deal with them but leave them to be taken severe course with to purpose by the Lord and to surfeit themselves on their carnal delights we leave them we say to the dreadful Majesty of God to take them in his own hand with this certificate that it shall be a wonder if ever the world see their repentance for their doom is set down Isa 22. where you see from the 9th v. They had broken down and builded up at their pleasure for strengthening themselves without respect to the maker thereof but they would not hear of their duty to God for ver 12. When the Lord God of hosts called for fasting and weeping to baldness and cloathing with sackcloth then behold joy and gladness killing of oxen slaying of sheep eating of flesh and drinking of Wine but see with what contempt of Gods command in the mouth of his servants did they thus glut themselves with sensuality Let us eat and drink for to morrow we shall die the Prophets tell us we should fast and weep what should we fast and weep now when we have made our selves strong and no arm can hurt us when should we feast and rejoyce if not now does the Prophet say that
fear that our dear Lord Jesus is like to goe away and leave us And beside this there hath been many other dreadful abominations committed by night and day which would make Christian ears abhor to hear or tongues relate O but this is not all will you but hear a little farther and we will tell you of a greater abomination than this though little minded or laid to heart by many and that is the turning over of this holy Book into Stage-playes What is the holy Bible but the Eternal Gods Love-letter to his Church wherein his mind is written Yet is it turned over into Stage-playes For will you but walk down to the Nether-Bow and you shall there almost every night see some part thereof turn'd over into a Stage-play is not this a horrid blasphemy Yet this is not done in a corner they openly avow the same for while they stand at the Close-head calling in Passengers they proclame their wickedness saying Walk in Gentlemen walk in and you shall see a choice piece of Art and what is this choice piece of Art You shall see Adam and Eve Cain and Abel all walking in a lively manner to see how they were created naked and then deceived by the Serpent and how Cain slew Abel Oh Oh was it not this began all our miseries and woes did not this begin all our sorrow and lamentation and shall this be turned over into a Stage-play and sport to make people laugh and be merry O that some would cause plead for their Mother that that order might be taken with such abominations These things we could not but mention being so abominable in the sight of God And may not this say that he can have little heart to stay amongst us seeing we give so little esteem of his blessed Word that you see there is ground to fear his departure and going away from amongst us Evid 4. The fourth evidence of the Lords departure which we shall name is the corrupting of his Worship and overturning the comly order of his House in a violent way the setting up a few vain self-seeking men over the Inheritance of the Lord who have on the matter renounced their Ministers as not of God And if such men be fit for ruling the house of God let the Bible and unbiassed people of God be Judge of the matter This way was never blessed of God in our land formerly as to the conversion of souls and much less is it to be now expected that he will bless the same O how unbeseeming a title would Paul have thought it for him if any had come to him and called him your Lordship or your Lordships grace and how would he have abhorred himself if he had seen Prelats Mytre upon his own head and their syd robe upon him and some bearing up his taile no ground in the Bible for this yet it is done let this neither he looked upon as matter of Laughter to strangers nor of affrightment to friends being necessity constrains us to speak of these things unto you Now may not all this give sad ground of fear that the Lord will go away and leave us seeing such abominations are set up amongst us Vse 2. Now we would in the next place desire you that are the people of God to encourage your selves in him ye see as we have cleared That the assurance of Christs return is the choice only sufficient cordial against the heart faintings of the sorrowful soules of his people at his departure O therefore make use of this Cordial against the present distress and faintings of your heart in this hour of affliction because of Christs departure this is your present condition your hearts are sorrowful because your dear Lord is now shortly to be taken from you but let this hold up your hearts He will see us again therefore we say make use of this Cordial for you that are his people have no less to hold up your fainting discoveraged hearts then his Disciples got and that is the assurance of his return he will visit our land and so see us again Object But some of the Lords affrighted trembling-hearted people will here object alas that is the great thing in question and ye have spoken so much of his going away that we can hardly think he will return to us again and besides all he hath not tyed himself to any particular Church and therefore no particular Church can apply this promise to themselves and so what ground hath Scotland to apply this promise as a present cordial Vse 2. Though we have spoken much of his going yet we have not said that he will not come again and we spoke to somethings the last day for making it appear that he will come again As first our faithful Reformers Mr. Welsh Mr. Wishart Mr. Knox Mr. Hamilton c. others asserted that how be it Christ shall be crucified in Scotland yet glorious shall his Resurrection be and may we not make use of this as a cordial against our present heart-faintings 2. There are very many precious young men Students of Divinity whom the Lord hath fitted as polished shafts for the work of the Gospel and of whom he hath never as yet made use therein and shall we think that he will now lay them by and not imploy them in his service haveing been at great pains to fit them for the same 3. A faithful service of our Lord Jesus Christ who had this testimony that he feared God did lately amongst us before many thousand witnesses at his death openly declare his confidence as to this That how be it our cloud may be long and dark yet the Lord shall shine once more with the glorious light of his Gospel upon these Lands and shall we think that the Lord would have suffered his faithful servant to have brought himself under the imputation of a deceived Prophet at his death being in so great a strait for him if he had not had a mind to fulfill his servants word in seeing us again And we say now unto you that the Lord had never more precious people in Scotland then he hath now though there be many hypocrites neither hath ever had so many faithful Ministers in a suffering time for serving in the work of the Gospel as now he hath though there be also many that are unfaithful and we must think he will not lay them altogether byas useless but rather that he hath work for them and therefore we may take this as a ground of incouragement to confirme our hope of his seeing us again Object 2 But the Lord did cast of the seven Churches of Asia when in a very flourishing condition and did never visit them again with the Gospel and why then may he not also go away from us and never return nor see us again Ans There were never such a formal marriage contract passed betwixt God and the seven Churches of Asia in their most flourishing condition as heath passed