bears witness against us of some great iniquities with us and of much stubborness in hiding and retaining them provoking such displeasure in such a gracious God and Saviour If he had given us over or left us in the hands of men and they had not spared nor pitied but been cruel to the utmost they could There might yet have been some room to have waved the reproof of instruction in it or to have strengthned our selves in a thought that there had been no such reproof in it to us or displeasure from God signified against us He might have ordered some light affliction to us and they might being also left to try them have added to our affliction as Zach. 1. 15. But what shall we say Himself hath done it and by himself The Lord that sees many things to provoke before he observe them against us yea though he prevents alwayes with opening the â—ar by gracious instructions in milder means yet is not quick to hear our murmurings disputings and hardning our hearts against the reproofs of instruction so graciously brought us nor is there with him any changeableness He is the same yet he the Lord. The Lord Gracious Merciful slow to Anger ready to forgive and that doth not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men even he hath made this breach upon us Who gave Jacob to the spoil and Israel to the robbers Did not the Lord Surely the Lord our Holy and Gracious One the glorious Lord would not have done it if we had not excâ—edingly sinned against him and with much and long stubborness refused to walk in his ways and to be obedient to his lawes Let us then search and try our wayes and turn unto the Lord. This leads us into the nâ—xt instruction propounded to be considered in the Text. 3 That the reason or procuring cause of such judgments from the Lord is our own iniquities Yea that usually there is found besides the more general evils some great iniquity of neglects and disorder in Gods peculiar people yea even iniquity and pollution in their holy things as the in-let to and procuring cause of such judgments on themselves and others We shall first give some general proof and demonstration of this point by other Scriptures And then speak particularly to the evil of sin or iniquity mentioned in the text as the reason or procuring cause of the breach made upon them First For the general proof and demonstration of this point by other Scriptures See Ezek. 33. After the Prophâ—t hath mentioned many great and crying sins as general and national evils such as The feeding on and rejoycing in forbidden and unclean things lifting up their eyes to their idols Gods that men make to themselves which indeed are no Gods as their wisdome strength â—iches honourâ— confederates the like Their shedding blood Their standing leaning or depending on their sword for defence and safety Working Ambition and Vnclâ—anness For which he threatens to dispossess them of the land and to lay the land most desolate c. verse 25. 28. He then adds verse 30. c. Also moreover or besides these great general and national evils The children of thy people still are talking against thee by the Walls and in the doors of the houses privately murmuring and speaking evil imagining deceit and seeking how to avoid the force and prevalency of his doctrine yet speaking one to another mean while Come I pray you and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord yea such they were as did sit before him as Gods people and did hear his words and with their mouth shew much love and he was to them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice c. Yet they were not doers of his words but was stil secretly murmuring and disputing against them and the reproofs of instruction in them for their heart went after their covetousness And for these with the former God farther threatens That when this namely the forementioned judgment cometh to pass They should also know that a Prophet had been among them as may seem by the want of them He would take away such in such an evil time when they should have stood in the gap to turn away Gods wrath and been instruments of comforting strength and teaching to them in their affliction Their condition should then be such as they should not see their signes nor should there be among them a Prophet or any that knoweth How long as Psalm 74. 9. I might here mention the evils complained of Isaiah 56. which is principally their general envy at God people by whom his house is rendred a house of prayer for all people the blindness greediness profaness and enmity of their watch-men who were Ring-leaders in those crooked pathes which are declared as fore-runners and procurers of such judgments as well as their multiplied idolatries and coveâ—ousness compare chap. 57. with chap. 56. Likewise the oppression fraudilence violence deceit and the like spoken of Mich. 6. as fore-runners of such judgments as the taking away righteous and good men from the earth and from among men chap. 7. But to these Scriptures having spoke more fully in the fore-said lamentation I shall here add no more Yet something more we shall briefly add to what is there also hinted of that plain declaration of the cause why many among believers were weak and sickly and many slept 1 Cor. 11. 29 30 31. It was as appears by comparing the verses 28. 31. For their not so discerning considering and looking into the Lords body that was broken for them and is now through sufferings entered into his glory As to examine themselves in that glass and judge themselves thereby as discovered and reproved in the light and powet of it and so for their pride and disorders that followed on that in-let to all disorder For so much is evident from his councel let a man examine himself so let him eat as that is pressed with this motive or reason For he that eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks Damnation present reproof and correction to himself not discerning the Lords body so much I say is evident 1 That the true way for a man rightly to examine himself is in the discerning the Lords body as declared in the glorious Gospel looking to and into that as the true glass that makes himself and all things else manifest in their right colours 2 That the want of or the wilfull neglect or shunning the so examining a mans selt in that glass the unwillingness to see and judge himself his own vileness and wretchedness the evil and shortness of his own wayes as therein discovered and reproved is that iniquity that renders him unworthy or unâ—eer and disorderly in his seeking and worshipping the Lord and makes him obnoxious to reproof from the Lords body the object acknowledged by him in those acts of worship and procures such corrections as followes For this cause many are
weak and sickly among you and many sleep And this understanding is farther confirmed in what followes For if we would judge our selves we should not be judged This shews us that the examining of a mans self to which we are here instracted is not to search our own glory which indeed is not glory Proverbs 25 27. Nor to search for know or take notice of the goodness of our own frames or qualifications as things rendring us worthy or by which we may come nor in this case or to such an â—nd are we so â—o examine or look upon the operations of grace in us or by us as in other cases or to other purposes may be good and useful as 2 Cor. 13. 3 4 5. Hebr. 10. 32. Gal. 3. 2 and 4. 15. But if we had done all those things to which by grace made known through blood we are instructed and obliged the same grace instructs us therein alwayes to acknowledge our selves unprofitable servants that have done but our duty nothing in which we may be profitable to God or procure the reward oâ— himself or his things to us But the examining our selves here and in this case instructed to ver 28. is such an examining our selves in that true glass the Lords body verse 29. As in which we shall alwayes at best find cause to judg our selves to receive and fall down under the humbling instructions of the Lords body broken for us as declared in the Gospel and so under the râ—proofs of those instructions 'T is indeed a searching for and so looking into the true glass as to see our own shame or what cause we have alwayes to be ashamed and huâ—bled before him such as hath in it a willingness to see acknowledge and be ashamed of our own vilâ—ness and sinfulness to know every one the plague of his own heart and confess our sins as discovered by the true light as we are instructed to come before him and approach his presence in prayer and other ordinances so in this Let a man examine himself discerning the Lords body For if we would judge our selves we should not be judged 1 Let him examine himself what he is in aâ—d of himself and as from Adam as discovered in that glass of the Loâ—ds body where he may alwayes see himself a sinner wholly polluted an heir of wrath as in himself and from Adam yea altogether without strength helpless and dead in sins and trespasses and so lost Thus he is presented in Christs comming to seek and save him and in the great things he suffered That through sufferings he might obtain such glory â—nto himself for us that he might bring us back to God and that through him we might be saved For we thus judge saith the Apostle If one dyed for all then were all dead c. which being alwayes rightly minded and remembred would exclude all boasting and rejoycing in the Flesh and keep us from being lifted up in or by any thing that we have received making us to differ from any seeing it s not of our selves not of works but of free grace through blood and for that love wherewith he loved us when dead in sins and trespasses and for a pattern of the exceeding riches of it towards others of man-kind towards whom also it is in Christ that they might partake of it together with us 2 Cor. 5. 14 15 16. Rom. 3. 9 27. 1 Cor. 4. 1 7. Ephes 2. 1 12. 2 Let him examine himself his own wayes and doings in the sight of the Lord what they are or have been in answerableness to his grace in Christ or the appearances and streamings forth of it unto him Not measuring himself by himself what he is now with what he was before or with others what he is more or better then they that he may have any thing of that nature to look upon or commend himself by This was the evil way of the Corinths that led them to despise such as had not what they had Therefore in measuring or examining our selves according to such rules we are not wise 1 Cor. 11 22 31. with 2 Cor. 10. tot But let a man examine himself in an earnest and hearty discerning the Lords body in that glass let every man search and try his wayes how short his understanding and knowledge is of the object to be known and also of the grace discovered and means of knowledge afforded How short his love to God or to men of his infinite grace discovered in that glass obliging and of the discoveries of it to hâ—m instructing and leading how short all his wayes and doings of any answerableness to the grace in Christ or to the streams of loving kindness bestowed There the best will alwayes find and be most sensible of cause of shame of their vast shortness and the greatness of their sins aggravated by the grace bestowed And find good reason to equalize themselves with them of the lower sort and rejoyce that they may yet come in at the same door with them This law of faith cenâ—ured and exercised in the Lords body broken for us excludes boasting every where The wilfull neglect and unwillingingness thus to examine and judge themselves in an earnest discerning looking into and continuing in as James 1. 23. 25. The Lords body in which is also the encouragement for such sinners approach was that which procured such judgments to them 1 Cor. 11. 30. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many slâ—ep And this leads us again to the text Secondly To consider particularly the evil of sin or iniquity mentioned there as the reason or procuring cause of the breach made upon them The Lord our God made this breach upon us for that we sought him not after the due order We shall first consider this declaration of the procuring cause of the breach made upon them as it is a general expression of any way of inâ—quity that may be meant and signified in the sense of the words and then take a view of the particular evils to which it is here applyed 1 As it is a general expression of any way of iniquity that may be meant and signified in the sense of the words and for our understanding of that wâ— shall propound some considerations of the due order after which the Lord is to be sought by us 1 There is an order of Precedency in the nature worth and goodness of things after which some things are to be esteemed prized and sought for rather then other things yea with a neglect of other things for them And so to seek the Lord after the dâ—e order as with reference to all other things that are not the Lord nor of his appointment for our rest is to esteem and prefer him above all things and to seek him before all things and with a neglect of all things for him and for the things of him Sâ— we are instructed to esteem and prefer wisdome in the knowledg of
judgement occasioning the lamentation and acknowledgement in the Text and that now to be bewailed by us That was the cutting off an useful member by a sudden stroke the taking away from us one probably more usefull by pining sickness like that threatned Isa 38. 2. That was in signal testimony of displeasure not onely to the Survivers but also to him that was cut off which is more then can be said of this Yea this was by sickness as may be supposed occasioned by and for the work of Christ if not also to supply some neglect and lack of service on others part for which he ought to be held in greater reputation as Phil. 2. 29 30. Yet hath it not in it the less but the more signal testimony of displeasure to us And however this Text suits our occasion it being not a declaration or mention of the correction in that stroke to Vzzah but of the correction in it to themselves and an acknowledgement not of his but their own iniquities neglects and disorders as the reason and procuring cause of it to them Now David could see that as the main reason and chiefly to be considered and acknowledged by them wherefore God was angry with Vzzah as sometimes also God was angry with Moses for the Peoples sake by whom also he was provoked to speak unadvisedly Numb 20. 10 12. Deut. 1. 37. and 3. 26. Psalm 106. 32 33. So here though at the first when David was angry he did not so see it 〈◊〉 of spirit◠exalts folly Prov. 14. 29. It appears not that he observed any more then but a Breach upon Vzzah 1 Chron. 13. 11. Yet now he acknowledgeth Their not being sanctified after the Sanctification of the sanctuary nor seeking the Lord after the due order as not onely the principal occasion of Vzza's errour of rashness but also as that which provoked the Lord to make this breach upon Vzzah which now he bewails as a Breach chiefly upon them and procured by their owner iniquities which instructions of wisdom being seen and heard in quiet as Eccles 9. 17. as writ upon and spoken by the Rod provoke and stir him up to seek healing in a right way Better is the end of any thing then the beginning Better the patient in Spirit then the hasty Be not hasty in thy Spirit to be angry Eccles 7. 8 9. The instructions set before us in this text and seasonable to be considered of us Are 1. Such Providences are Breaches made or do make Breaches great and grievous Breaches upon a people 2 The Lord is the maker of such Breaches 3 The reason or procuring cause of such judgements from the Lord is our own iniquities yea usually there is found besides the more general evils some great iniquitie of neglects and disorders in Gods people the holy Priesthood yea iniquities and polutions in their holy things as the in-let to and procuring cause of such judgements on themselves and others 4 Yet the Lord is our God when so provoked by such iniquities and while so punishing us there is yet forgiveness with him and help in him that he may be feared and hoped in by us while it is to day That we may turn to him from whom we have deeply revolted 1 Such Providences are great and grievous Breaches made upon a People here 1 Consider what Providences 2 How they are Breaches or what manner of Breaches they are and on whom 1 The Providences or judgements under consideration are such as in which Righteous Good and Upright men are cut off or taken away from us in the midst of their dayes or before they have filled up their years or in the midst of some good work in the promoting and carrying on the design of Christ in the World and especially when such are so taken away as therein that generation or kind of persons are made thin or made to fail as when such of them as were more eminently usefull in gathering and keeping others together in companies or clusters and in stirring up believers with full purpose of heart to cleave to the Lord and strive together for the faith of the Gospel are taken away and no others of like usefulness and faithfulness left or raised up in their stead For more full understanding and usefulness of this we shall consider distinctly 1 What manner of persons they are whose being so removed make such Breaches 2 What manner of removal or taking away of such persons is especially so to be looked upon by us 1 The persons whose being taken away and perishing from the earth is such a woe and affliction or judgement upon others the Survivers are in other Scriptures thus expressed Righteous and merciful men Godly men men of kindness born of the kindness and pity of God our Saviour towards man and thence framed to some like mindedness Good men men full of the Holy Ghost in his discovery and shedding abroad the love and goodness of God in the testimony of Jesus and so full of faith of his operation in which that goodness of God in Christ is believed and their souls resting satisfied and rejoycing in it and thence filled with all goodness like their Heavenly Father able also and therein qualified to admonish one another and to seek the good of all according to their capacity Psalm 12. 1. Isaiah 57. 1. Mich. 7. 2. with Acts 11. 23 24. Rom. 15. 13 14. Such as are reconciled to God by Jesus Christ and have received into their hearts that word of reconciliation that God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and in retaining it in their hearts have it in some measure fitted in their lips that with it they may perswade others to be reconciled to God See farther for this the description of righteous and merciful men in the lamentation over the dead published on the death of Henry Rix and of the Doers of good Doers of the truth in the instruction to the living published on the death of Elizabeth Harrison in both which having spoken more largely to this point I forbear it here onely this we add The removing or perishing of wicked and ungodly men whether such as are incensed against the acknowledgement of the man Christ Jesus and of the excellent glory the Father hath given him for us in the same body in which he bore our sins on the tree that by him our faith and hope might be in God privily designing to cast him down from his excellency For such as are contrary to the good of all men being enemies in their minds to the riches and truth of Gods grace in and through Christ to man-ward and therefore seeking to eclipse hinder and cast mire and dirt upon the sincere Preaching of it as also upon the faithful confessors of it that hold it fast and hold it forth without hidden things of dishonesty Or such as otherwise in their principles and works deny him or do not love esteem
BREACH upon BREACH OR AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF Judiciall Breaches MADE UPON US PROCURED BY SINFULL BREACHES FOUND AMONGST US With Instruction Admonition and encouragement yet to turn to him that smites us and the sum of it was delivered at the Funerall of Mr. Jeremiah Colman late Preacher of the Gospell at Hetherset in Norfolk February 18. 1658 9. By Tho. Moore Junior If they shall confesse their iniquity And that they have walked contrary to me and I also have walked contrary to them Then will I remember my covenant and I will remember the Land Levit. 26. 40 41 42. If any say I have sinned and perverted that which was right and it profitted me not he will deliver his soul from going downe to the pit and his life shall see the light for he hath found a Ransome Job 33. 24. 27. 28. For this cause vide not so discerning the Lords Body that was broken for us as to examine and judge our selves in the light thereof many are weake and sickly among you and many sleepe for if we would judge our selves we should not be judged c. 1 Cor. 11. 28 29 30 31 32. LONDON Printed by J. B. for the Author 1659. The Epistle to the Reader THis our beloved Brother deceased had his conversation in times past among a people zealous about some lighter matters of the Law as to outward order and discipline in the worship of God while yet neglecting the weighty matters as judgement and the love of God ernest in building Churches but slighting if not as there is too much cause of jealouâ—y of many of their builders refusing that stone for the foundation and head of the corner which God hath laid in Sion for that purpose too much like though it may be hoped not so much out of order as Israel of old who when forgetting his maker And counting the great things of his Law even Christ the end of the Law and the knowledge of God in Christ and his righteousnesse the things witnessed in the Law and Prophets as a strange thing were yet zealous in building Temples and multiplying Altars and sacrifices Hos 8. 11 12 14. with ch 6. 6 7. Psal 118. 22. Math. 21. 42. and 23. 23. Luk. 11. 42. Act. 4. 11. with Isa 28. 12. 16. and 29. 11. But God who is rich in mercy for the great love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in sins and â—respasses and that he might thereby shew the exceeding riches of his grace to others inclined his heart more dilligently to enquire into the great things of his Law or doctrine summed up in the testimony God hath given of Christ and gave him to perceive the faithfulnesse of that saying that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners By the light of which he karned to relinquish the former apprehensions he had of Christ and so of other persons and things after the flesh or as that teacheth and to account losse and dung for Christ and for the excellency of the knowledge of him such things as before were gain to him that he might farther win him and be found in him And so in receiving his word as the word of God and not of men Christ as testified in the scriptures the son of God the Saviour of the world became precious to him And having tested that the Lord is gracious to whom comming as to a living stone disalowed indeed of men but chosen of God and precious he also as a lively stone was therein built up in him and so made of the spirituall house and holy Priesthood to offer up spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ the love of Christ constrained him with much earnestnesse to perswade and beseech others to be reconciled to God and to seeke help in the name of God in Christ to warne the unruly comfort the feeble-minded support the weake to be patient towards all men in meeknesse instructing them that oppose themselves and to encourage and stir up such as had believed through grace to abide in him as they had received him and to provoke them to love and good works and so to help forward and strengthen the hearts and hands of the fellow-helpers to the truth As one that had his heart seasoned with those principles of certainty and truth that one died for all so effectually with the father that all have died in that death of one as all have sinned and death passed on them in and by the sin of one And that he therefore died for all that they which live in their severall ages by the grace of God bringing salvation to them as it doth to all men in due time should not henceforth live to themselves but to him that dyed for them and rose again knowing also in this knowledge of the greatnesse and truth of Gods grace in Christ to manward the unspeakable terror of the Lord against those that will not know him but are contentious and do not obey the truth or by an evil heart of unbelief depart from him and go on in their trespasses and backslidings till the day of grace pass and the master of the house be rissen up and have shut to the dore And in this his earnest seeking the good of all and the edifying of the Body of Christ he was much stirred up espâ—cially in his latter days to press for more fellowship in the Gospell with them that did know and acknowledge the grace of God in truth and so callon the Lord out of a pure heart And that such should joyn together as the heart of one man for the promoting that designe To which purpose he moved it as of great advantage and very necessary that brethren in the Gospell should often gather together as they might have opportunity frroâ— divers parts to consult one with another and together with the Scriptures and the testimony of God concerning Christ as contained in them how they might walk and strive together in more joint order for for the faith of the Gospell This though much upon his spirit to his latter end Yet was too little considered by us Our generall dulness and loss of our first love by wandering out of the way of understanding made us insencible both of the advantage to be sâ—â—â—net within such endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond if peace and so seeking the Lord and his things and therein the things and good of others after the due order and also of the necessiry of it especially in these evill times It seemed to me that Gods removing this instrument in the midst of his days and while his spirit was so earnestly set for the promoting and carrying on so good a worke and yet it was so little apprehended or considered by us had in it a great reproofe of our dulnesse and a loud voice signifying necessity of timely listening to it to awaken us to righteousnesse in this particular that standing up from the dead Christ
might give us light to straighten our steps and strengthen the things that remaine and are ready to dye It was therefore much set upon my spirit on this occasion to apply my selfe to some consideration of the voice of the rod in these instructions In which though I met with many discouragement in my selfe from the sence of my owne weaknesse as also from some other considerations yet I could not with any satisfaction in my owne spirit wave the propounding something of my weake apprehensions if thereby I might by any meanes stir up others more able and fit to set their hearts and hands to the worke which having done at the funerall of our deceased Brother I was earnestly requested once and again by our Sister the Widow of the deceased who also signified it to be the earnest desire of others This way to make more publick what I had then delivered unto which though with some unwillingnesse at the first being sensible of the weaknesse and confusion of my own apprehensions of these things yet I was perswaded thus further to shew my weaknesse Beseeching my Brethren to help me as they may see my need And add their more profitable endeavours to the instructing and stirring up Beleivers to seek the Lord after the due order to strive together for the faith of the Gospell as becomes it and in nothing terrifyed by our adversaries c. Vnto which that the Lord in his mercy may farther direct us and make profitable his judgements and these meane endeavours of putting to mind the voyce of them to that purpose is the desire of the most unworty of all that have received mercy Tho. Moore Junior Lynn July 27 1659. A TABLE of the principall Heads of the following Discourse AFter some generall consideration of the summe and scope of the Text and instruction from it to hear the Rod. pag. 1. 2. And a breif veiw of the parts of the Text viz. an evil of punishment bewailed and an evil of sin acknowledged as the cause with some hints of the difference between the manner of that correction and of this and yet how this Text suites our occasion pag. 3. These instructions are opened 1 Such Providences are great Breaches upon a People 2 The Lord is the maker of such Breaches 3 The reason or procuring cause is our own iniquities yea usually there is found in it great neglects and disorder in Gods people Iniquities in their holy things 4 Yet the Lord is our God when so provoked and while so punishing us 1 Such providences are Breaches And there 1 What providences 2 How they are Breaches and on whom 1 The providences are such as in which righteous Men are taken away untimely pag. 4. And there is proposed I. What manner of Persons they are whose untimely removall is such a Judgement pag. 4 5 6. II. What manner of removall of such is so to be apprehended pag. 6 7 8 9. 2 What manner of Breaches such providences make and on whom pages 9 10 11 12. 2 The Lord is the maker of such Breaches And there How he is the Author of the evill of punishments or corrections for sin And how that evidences him to have no hand or heart in the sin see pages 13 14. Corrections of sin of two sorts some by evill instruments of which God is more remotely the Author The Author of the punishment on the party punished but not of the sinfull action in the instrument pages 14 15. There are others more directly from his own hand of which sort this Some use of this pages 16 17 18. 3 The reason or procuring cause is our own iniquities c. Some generall demonstration of this by other Scriptures As Ezek. 33. with other Scriptures pages 18 19. 1 Cor. 11. 29 30 31. pages 19 20 21 22. The particular consideration of the evill of sin mentioned in the Text as the reason of the Judgement That is first considered as a generall expression of any way of iniquity that may be fignified in the sence of the words And then veiwed as particularly applyed in the Text. In the first There are some considerations propounded of the due order after which the Lord is to be sought by us 1 There is an order of precedency in the nature worth and goodness of things after which some are to be sought rather than yea with a neglect of others And so to seek the Lord after the due order as with reference to other things that are not the Lord is to seek him first and so as with a neglect of all other things for him pages 22 23. 2 There is an order in the time and causes of the things that are to be preferred and in a sence equally to be sought After which some things are to be sought first that other things may be sound and attained in and through them And so what it is to seek the Lord after the due order as with reference to the things of the Lord and to be sought in him see pages 24 25 26 27. 3 There is an order of regularnesse to be observed in the manner of our seeking To walk according to the rule already delivered as that is grounded upon and opened by the word of the beginning of Christ page 28. 1 To seek and acknowledge him in his ways pages 28 29. 2 Alwayes first and cheifly to mind the greater or more weighty matters And who sought him not after the due order according to these considerations see pages 29 30 31 32 33. 3 To seek him in the preparation and sanctification of his Sanctuary I. In the instruction of his name pages 33 34 35. II. In the encouragement and strength of it pages 35 36. III. In a cordiall confession and acknowledgment of it p. 37 38. IV. In hearty union together in it And there First The Persons with whom we are to dwell and walk in the unity of the spirit pages 39 40. Then the unity of the spirit in which such are to dwell and walk together 1 Union of love 2 Union of mind or designe 3 Of way 4 Of accord 5 Union of fellowship pages 41 42 43 44 45. Who they are that seek him not after the due order according to these considerations See it under four Heads pag. 46 47 48. Particular application under three Heads pag. 49 50 51 52. The particular veiw of the evils unto which the acknowledgment in the Text is applyed pag. 53. For applying that to our selves These considerations propounded 1 Who are the holy Preisthood under the Gospell 2 What 's their charge 3 How they should be sanctified to it 4 What order is to be observed in the mannagement of it 1 Who are the Preisthood pag. 54 55 56. 2 Their Service 1 In respect of the Persons to whom it is to extend pag. 56 57. 2 As to the manner of their service not in Tipes and patterns but in the truth in the spirit in the Heavenly things themselves
and worship him or come to God by him nor seek the lifting him up but turn the grace of God in that unspeakable gift into wantonness turn his glory into shame loving vanity and seeking after lyes I say the removing or cutting off such from the earth cannot come under this consideration as a woe affliction or judgement to the Survivers their being so cut off is a heavy judgement to themselves because they are therein cut off for ever and driven away in their wickedness into utter darkness From the time of their death their is a great Gulf fixed that they can never return to any mercy or door of hope but perish for ever without any regarding it which should teach us not to desire such a wofull day because so woful to them nor to hasten from following him in seeking their good Jer. 17. 16. But the perishing of such is so far from being a judgement of this nature to others That on the other hand as when they rise increase or bear rule a man is hidden Prov. 28. 12. Even the man Christ is hidden his visage more marred then any mans and the man that is godly and so such as are valiant for the truth and have quit themselves thereto like men from those divers entanglements and lusts that weaken They are sought for to be suppressed kept under and hidden yea men not onely such but even all that in any sense quit themselves like men and will not subject themselves to their principles and traditions are faine to hide themselves And therefore thereby the people generally have cause of mourning so when they perish the righteous increase and it goeth well with them and thereby the people rejoyce and there is shouting See Prov. 28. 12 28. and 29. 2. and 11. 10. But they are the righteous even such as have righteousness and strength in the Lord seeking it there by faith in him that ceasing from their own works in the light and power of his testimony believe on him that justifieth the ungodly having raised up Jesus our Lord from the Dead who was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification They are such as having tasted that the Lord is gracious do cleave to him with full purpose of heart and are by his goodness retained in the midst of their hearts fitted and apted with earnestness to stir up others so to do Such they are whose being taken away out of this life in the flesh is to themselves great gain whose removal from us is to the Survivers generally great loss a heavy woe and affliction whether they be sensible of it or no. Because such men are through the grace in Christ received and retained by them in its own light and power qualified to mind and seek the promoting of the things of Christ in the World and so the good of others therein and are therefore set and preserved in the World to that purpose To them to live is Christ it tends to the setting forth and magnifying him and so to the carrying on his design and business in the World To die is to themselves gain and advantage but that reaches but to themselves and so the affliction and judgement in the removal of such is greater as they were more one with him in his design not seeking their own things but the things which be Jesus Christs 2 The manner of removing or taking away of such persons that is especially to be looked upon by us as such a woe and affliction in which evil Breaches are made upon us It is not simply or onely their being taken away by death for it s appointed to men the whole kind once to die and that first death is so abolished the sting and wrath so taken out of it that no man shall perish or be holden for ever in that nor is it in himself simply a judgement in wrath or anger to themselves or others for any man once to die But when death seizes them or they are snacht away by it unseasonably or before the time or when it is in some signal testimony of displeasure then it is a correction or judgement either to themselves or to others or to both Now that men may die before their time that they may shorten their dayes though they cannot lengthen them or that the shortning or cutting them off in the midst or before the appointed time may by some means be procured to them is evident in the Scripture There is saith Job an appointed time to man upon earth the number of his Moneths or Dayes are with God beyond which he cannot pass Also his dayes are like the dayes of an hireling Of which a forfeiture may be made to the shortning them Therefore he saith All the Dayes of of his appointed time he would wait till his change came not hasting his end as he was councelled by his wife Chap. 2. 9. And begs of God to turn from him namely his wrath or not to set his iniquities before him his secret sins in the light of his countenance as Psalm 90. 7 8 9. That he might rest or be spared a little to recover strength and not consumed or cut off by the blow of his hand as Psalm 39. 10 13. till he should accomplish as an hireling his day Job 7. 1. and 14. 5 6. 14. See also that caution Eccles 7. 17. Why shouldst thou die before thy time Of like import to this purpose is that saying of Hezekiah That in the cutting off his Dayes threatned he was deprived of the residue of his years his age was departed from him he had cut off like a Weaver his life Isaiah 38. 10. 12. Yea we find that both good and righteous men and also wicked and ungodly men may be cut off and die before their appointed time But this difference is alwayes to be observed The cutting off wicked and ungodly men is alwayes mentioned as a judgement upon themselves such as in which they are utterly â—ut off from all hope driven away in their wickedness but not as a judgment or evil breach or wo to the survivers Yea rather such providences are mentioned as having favor and mercy in them towards others from amongst whom such are cut off As Sauls being cuting off was in wrath to himself but in mercy to Israel So Ahitophel and Judas cut off in judgement to themselves but there being cut off was no evil breach upon others but on the other hand a signal manifestation of Gods taking part with the righteous and pleading their cause for the good of others so that doom generally threatned on such men as put forth their hands against those that be at peace with them break the covenant are bloody and deceitful men as Judas Ahitophel and others that they shall not live out half their dayes Psalm 55. 20 23. â—â—â— mentioned as Gods faithfulness and mercy to the righteous for their sustaining and that they may not be moved by their afflictions afflictions