witnesse doth give a distinct sound It palpably declâ—res and plainly proclaimes our Defection from God and Apostasie from him after we had bound our souls with an oath to the contrare It is not onely because we were not answerable to our Covenant-engagements to studie holinesse in the feare of God and walk like a people dedicat and devoâ—ed to him though such a breach goes alwayes before and the other followes afâ—er Buâ— because we dealt unfaithfully in thar Covenant made for Reformation in his house we beâ—ame lukewarme in the cause so the curse of deteâ—table neâ—trality hath over taken us our solemne acknowledgement of sin and engagements to dueties were forgotten Yea we proceeded from one degree of unfaithfulnesse infixedâ—esse in our Covenant with the most High to another till the whole of that Covenanted-work of Reformation was surrendered and put in their power who have destroyed all and razed and overturned the blessed foundations of that beautiful structure and this was done with such a hast and precipitation as he was looked upon as a peevish Ridicule who would have advised in that day to see previously to the securitie of Religion before these were put in power who were it's known and constant enemies And so what ouâ— worthy Fore-fathers of truely blessed memory by their zeal their wisdome their courage for God their valient contendings for the truth their prayers their witnessings their sufferings had by the good hand of their God upon them wrought out for us and put us in possession of we blindly and basely abandoned all and suffered our selves to be fooled out of the cause and out of our faithfulnesse to Christ with a flourish or small parcel of good words And it is for this iniquitie that the holy and righteous Lord pursues us this day it is for this that he doth punish us by these very hands into whose hands we put power to overturne his work and left them at liberty to do so Now O generation see the word of the Lord. It is not my purpose hereâ— to give an account of the several steps of our defection or to draw the lineaments of it's black visage that is an undertaking above my pen and parts let the Lord with whom is the residuâ— of the spirit finde out and furnish some for it and O that for my interest in the defection and my accession to the cause of Gods contending this day with poor Sâ—otland I may obâ—ain mercy to go mourning to my grave This may be cried out upon as Treason well if the mentioning of the Land 's treacherous dealing with God be called Treason all my Apologie is that that makes the necessitie of doing it double and indispensible dutie let me be a Traitor if that be Treason But I know this may be particularly bogled at and abomâ—nat as if it were the reviving and raking againe out of the ashes wherein they were burnt and by the burners designed for ever to lye buried of the causes of wrath I need say little as to this But that the Causes of wrath need neither my patrociny nor Apologie they carry alongst their own sâ—d aud certain evidence with them and I judge many who did not then see so far as these Seers did who drew them up and mourned before the Lord under the conviction of the guâ—lt therein held forth have since been convinced to their cost that the secret of the Lord was with these his Servants and that they stood in his Counsel and if any of them be â—ot they may be ere all bedone O the burning of the Covenant in England and the Causes of wrath in Scotland shall certainly be followed with a fire and siercenesse of indignation as shall make Authors Actors Abettors and Rejoycers thereat know what it is to give such an open defiance to the Almighty A Covenant burnt and burnt by Authority in the sight of heaven with such hell-black solemnities where the great God is Altera pars Contrahens for Reformation of Religion accordâ—ng to his word and righteounesse in walking before him is such a sin as may make every soul to tremble at the fore-thoughts of what God will do for vindicating his glory from that contempt thereby cast upon him My present businesse is not to addresse my self by way of Testimony or representation to them who have done such horrid things Onely I wish that the burning of that City into ashes where that Covenant was burnt together with that non-such plague and war may make them take warning ere it be too late who did this wickednesse for Alas all that is come will be forgotten when the wrath and vengeance that is yet coming shall be execute and mentioned O England England I feare I feare thy wo hasteneth the wrath of God is upon the wing against thee both for breach of Covenant and wipeing thy mouth as if thou hadst done nothing amisse Thou hast stood and seen thy brothers day Alas for thy day when others shall stand aloof from thee for feare of sharing in thy judgements O how unexamplified must the plagues be wherewith they shall be pursued whose wickednesse hath such a singularitie of hainousnesse in it on the ground of the Righteousness and Veracity of God! The burning of a Covenant made with God is a sin which I believe never had precedent or parallel and I also believe that the terrible tempest of the wrath of God falling from Heaven and following this guilt shall for ever fright men from following their steps who for this shall be made spectacles of his displeasure and documents to the coming of Christ what a dreadful and fearful thing it is for men taken red-hand in this wickednesse to fall into the hands of the living God! And as for burning the Causes of wrath I grant that wickednesse hath a perfect parallel but of a tremenduous consequence in â—ehojakim's practice recorded Jer. 36.23 where that ungodly King of unhappy memory upon his apprehended restitution to freedom and deliverie from the judgemâ—nt of God pursuing him for his wickednesse is so grated with the prophets faithfulnesse as he burnt the causes of wrath Now let it be taken notice of how the anger of the Lord burnt against this bold burner see his burial and Epitaph Ier. 22.18.19 but more particularly see how for this very consumating wickednesse he and his posteritie for ever are deprived from Crown and Scepter Ier. 36.30 2 Chro 36. His bâ—otheâ— Zedekiah it is true was made King for a time but he also continued to do evil in the â—ight of the Lord and broke the Covenant of God though he burnt it not and then the Lord sweeped that race for these rebellions against him together with the throne off the face of the earth thus the burning of the Causes of wrath and the breach of God's Covenant brought down the fire of the wrath of God from heaven which consumed with its flame these who had dared the Almighty after
the source rise and conduct of the Rulers procedour against you and their barbarous câ—uelty give you not onely confidence to pour out your heart befoâ—e him and present your câ—sâ— and cause in this General for thy sake we are killed all the day long we are counted as sheep for the slaughtâ—r But more particularly when you can sist your selves bâ—fore him and sob out your sorrowes in these words of a truth Lord against thy Holy Châ—ld Iâ—sus whom thou hâ—st anoâ—nâ—ed are all thâ—se gathered together and it is for our owning of him as thy anointed and râ—fuseing to be on that conspiracy that we ore thus used I know not vvhat can give ground of gladenesse in a mans life or vvhat can be cause of gloriation in death if resisting unto blood upon such a quarrell and not loving a mans life unto death in such a cause will not give ground for it Beloved Friends and much honourâ—d sufferers for Christ you know since you are taught of God that the way to overcome all trouble here and to carry as becometh Saints under it is to look above it and beyond it above it to the high and supreme hand that sends it and disposeth of it so as it may subserve your great Interest for in despight of the malice and madnesse of all inferior agents all these dire and dreadful things shall together with him who worketh mightily in his people and for them work together for your â—ood and beyond it and above it to the end of it and the recompence of reward following after it This is the way to profite by pressures to be gainers in all losses This is the ground of sweet peace and serenitie of mind amidst all trouble and the solid foundation for patience of Spirit For he is only in a capacitiâ— to possesse his spirit in patience whose spirit hath received these impressions without which the soul will be still disquieted Trouble will still tosse it as a ball in a large place and it will prove unstable as water I suppose since you are Saints and so must have some impressions of the absolute Soveraignitie of God that though in your searchings you could not finde out or fixe upon the cause of his contendiug with you thus yet you would either be silent or say it is the Lord let him doe unto us what seemeth hâ—m good And if he have no pleasure in our liveiâ—g and dwelling in our little huts and houses Bnt will drive us thence the will of the Loâ—d be done But not to insist on this which yet you will grant to be infinitly rational for who hath enjoyned him his wayâ— or who may say unto him what doest thou there is sufficient to keep you and me aâ—d the Christians of this generation from frâ—tingâ— and saying while in the fire and while the rod of the wicked rest upon your lot and these plowers plow upon your back and make their furrowes longer and deeper than all these plowersâ— which went before them did O when will God Loose the plough by cutting asunder the cords of the wicked and confouâ—ding turning them all back that hate you He is the Lord who will hasten it in his time to shew that he is righteous Let us weep for what we have done And wait in hope for what he will do why are we thus Surely a sight of our sin would make us wonder that we are not worse yea admire his goodnesse who will be at all this pains about us to heal us of these mortal diseases whereof our immortal souls are sick even unto death I am sure that the crimson dye of our crying iniquities would curb our impatience and cure us of that evil of quarrelling with him because of our suffâ—rings Consider therefore however you suffer very unjustly from men against whom you have done nothing justly to procure their indignation yet if you look within you and lift up your eyes above you and consider how the cry of your transgâ—essions is come up into his eare you will be constrained not onely to justifie him in this seeming severiâ—ie but to confesse from clearnesse and conviction you are punished lesse then your iniquities desâ—rve And that it is of the Lords mercâ— you are not consumed because his compassions fail not Hence is it thaâ— when the Apostle Peter hath been speaking of the fiery trial 1 Pet. 4â—12 13 14 15 16. which this day in our case and hath been encouraging and comforting them to a paâ—â—ent endâ—reinâ— while schorâ—hed with these flames by many noble arguments yet when he looks upâ—n thes heavie afflictions as coming from God he calls them verâ— 17 judgements intimaâ—ing thereby that his precious and peculiar people how upright and innocent soever as to men yet they are guiltie before God the righteous judge and that they muâ—â— acknowledge when â—hey â—ist thâ—mseâ—ves in his sight that what ever they suffeâ— is the fruit of their own doings and that by their provocations they have procured these things and rewarded all these evils unto their own soul by not walking worthy of him nor befoâ—e him to all pleasing If his people by their multiplied and manifold sins did not extort if I may say so strokes our of his hand he who doth not aâ—â—lict willingly nor grieve the Children of men but hath pleasure in the prosperitie of this people would not so often take the rod in his hand or would soon cast it into the â—ire for he doth not love to lash beyond necessitie and therefore when he hath performed his whole work upon mount zion he casts the rod into the fire and punisheth the fruit of the stout heart of his and his peoples enemies and the glory of their high looks The saints you know Brethren how graciows and grown so ever they are but Children and therefore must be under Chastisment The best of them are given to many Childish toyes and not a few of them in whom the root of the matter may be yea will be found are so far from abideing witâ— God in their callings and from adorning the Doctrine of God the Saviour that so men by seing their good works may glorifie their Father which is in heaven that there is a groffnesse in their way their iniquitie is ofâ—en found upon the skirts of their garmenâ—s and their spots are so unlike the spots of the people of God and Persons made partakers of the divine nature that because of these mouths of enemies are opened to blaspheme the name of God and reproach the blessed Profession But seting thsee aside Alas how doe they who escape such grosse pollutions yet often trifle in the matter of communion with God How formal and luke-warme in their addresses So that he who seeks the heart and will be worshiped in Spirit and Truth misseth their soul in their service How seldome arâ— they in Heaven How little dwelling upon the thoughts of Jesus Christ and the great sâ—lvation purchased by him on purpose
polishing instruments that so they may be made to shine as the sun in the firmament and put in case to see God when made lâ—ke him But besides that his purpose of having them in his company for ever puâ—s him to be at the pains of making them meet even by the â—hâ—ngs that they suffer as the mean which he graciously wisely useth and ordereth for that end to be partakers of the inheritance of the sâ—iâ—ts in light as is cleare comparing Coloss. 1 11. vvith 12. he minds to be familiar vvith them here alâ—o and admit them sometime vvhile in the vvay in the vvildernesse to eat Manna and to feast theiâ— souls in the begun fuitions of God and therefore to commend endeare this life unto them he makes the vvorld mingle a cup of gall vvorm vvood put it in their hand hold it to their head he beats them off from the vvorld that vvould vvrong them in into his ovvn boâ—ome O blessed repose the place indeed vvhere the vvearie finde both rest and refreshing But here I must be abrupt and leave the matter to be dilated and dwelt upon by you in yoâ—â— Meditation Onely let me say that the serious minding of these things would not onely prove a happie diversion and prevent the fretings of your mind by an unprofitable poreing upon your fiery afâ—liction But it would be the certain way to give you meat out of this eaterâ— Your mind would not onely be keep 't from being grangrened into impatience and galled with the load which lies upon your loins But you would be made glade and comforted over all yoâ—r sorrowes sufferings by beholding the end of the Lord the gracious designe he is driveing about you which is to make you up for ever by bâ—ing â—â—us undone And to order these light afflictions which are but for a moment so as thâ—y shall work for you a far more exceeding eternal weight of glory This is that wheel wiâ—hiâ— all â—â—ese wheels this is his purpose towards you the thoughts of whose heart take place in all Generations These things are upon his heart he cannot misse what he aimes at therefore you cannot be miserable amidst all the miseries you suffer from them who cast iniquitie upon you in wrath haâ—e you Nay therefore you cannot misse to be happy amidst all these he hath blessed you you shall be so But deare friends besides this general Consideration of your sin mine which is necessary for our profiting by every touch of his hand suffer me to suggâ—st the necessity of a particuâ—ar enquiry for when ever the Lord doth pursue a Church or a Land wiâ—h such a Church-desolating Land-destroying stroke as we have been under these so many yeers thouâ—h wickednesse violence in this assault upon you is come to such a Prodigious height as it is a surprise matter of astonishment to all who look on nay I am perswaded if noâ— many yeers ago it had been told these who have given the oâ—ders that they would do what now â—hâ—y boâ—h do defend they would have given Hâ—zaels answer he is then particularly pointing at some high and pâ—blick Provocation which his soul hates wherein that Church Nation is involved and whâ—reby thâ—y have made themselves deeply guiltie There is some accursed thing amongst that People Church when he breaks down what he had built gives up the dearely beloved of his soul into the hand of her enâ—mies which is our present condition And when it is thus It is high time to awake out of sleep to consider â—hat this is to enquire and accomplish a diligent search for finding that out for which his anger is fallen upon them lest God both search out the iniquitie of that people till he finde none search out the iniquity of their refusing to search then sweep them away as a generation of his wrath seperat them for evil as those in whom his soul hath no pleasure Nay that which will certainly make a generation a generation of his wrath cause him heap mischâ—ifs upon them spend his arrowes upoâ— them is when after such a fire is kindlâ—d as threatâ—ns the consumption of all with its flame men are not awakened to enquire what meaneth the heat of this great anger O when they are so unfaithful as either to be silent when they see it or are so oraculous in their â—inting at the guilt in stead of acquiting themâ—elves so faithfully to God so affectionatly to the souls of the unconcerned as to point it forth be so plain as thâ—y may thereby cause them to know their abominations as if they designed not to be understood I grant men may mistake in assigning causes and happy is that land which haâ—h these amongst them in such a day to whom the mouâ—h of the Lord hath spoken that they may dâ—clare it for what the land perisheth And yet if we will search the Scriptures and consult the records of the Church in her several periods we will finde that publick Church-desolating judgements had ever the guilt of that people so evidently engraven on them as he who did run might have read iâ— so that the dispensation seemed to cry every one into the consideration of the clearly procuring provocation and say O Generation see the Word of the Lord When he executs the judgement writen then he cloths his word with such a visible Garment as the man of wisdom must read his name of righteousnesse upon his rod and the gâ—â—lt of that people whom he so punisheth All of us therefore are called to a serious consideration of the causâ—s of Gods displeasure drawne out to such a length and arisen to such a height against us What then doeth such a stroke What doth such a Church-ruine after such a blessed reformation I neither feare nor blush to call it blessed notwithstanding of an act rescissory made to bury it and the belchings forth of enemies against it and all the Blashphemings of that great and good work of God by the Adversaries thereof I say what doth it say to us I cannot give the answer in more proper and plaint ermes than in the Prophet Jeremiah his words Chap. 22. where the question is proposed v. 8. by all that passe by wherefore thath the Lâ—rd done this unto this great City The Answer is given v. 9. Because they hâ—â—e foresaken ehe Covenant of the Lord their God Which is â—his upon the matter they had made themselves monsters for sin and God hath made them marvells for judgement and seâ— up a monument to the commendation of his righteousnesse over the ruine of these Covenantâ—breakers what means this sad change that the Lord who rejoyced over us to do us good and to multiply us is now turned against us as if he were rejoyceing over us to destroy us and to bring us to nought Oh! This his anger with such a
that declared decree Psal. 2. that ever was framed or cast inâ—o the moâ—ld of a Law or emitted to the view of men Nay let any mâ—n of judgemenâ— râ—ad our Supremacy and that Psalme and he must say one of two that either thiâ— Supreâ—acy is mâ—ant of Châ—ist thoâ—gh his name be not in it as was above noted seing it comâ—rehendâ— all that Church-poweâ— and aâ—cribs it unto some one person without a competitor which onely belongs to him whose Throne is set in Zion by an everlasting decree for his is the Kingdom his is thâ— pâ—wer aâ—d his is the glory Or he must confesâ—e that it is the most pure peâ—fect and unpaâ—alleled contradiction to that decree that ever the world saw neither do I remember any thing â—o like it in sense and sound as what is recorded by the Holy Ghost Isâ— 14 v. 13 14. to have been the language of the heart of the King of Babylon thou hast said in thy heart saith the H Ghost I will ascend into Heaven I will exâ—lt my Throne above the stars of God I will sit also upon the mount of the Congregation in the sides of the North I will ascend above the heights of the clouds I will be like the most high It was certainly a very congruous and happie notion to come into a heaâ—hen's head that whosoever setâ— his throne in thâ— mount of the Congâ—egation and sits supreme in the sides of the North whâ—ch is the Citie of thâ— great King who hath there setled his Throne and set the Ornament of his beautie in Majestie amongst his subjects should also ascend above the height oâ— the cloâ—ds and be like the most High But it was an unhappie mistâ—ke in him to think he would set himself down in that Chair oâ— state and siâ— upon that Roâ—al Throne But to curb this Insolent and to cure him of this maâ—nesse the Loâ—d sâ—t him some where else and therefore it is added with an Emphasis declarative of his high indignation against the pride of that petulant Babylonian v. 15. Yet shall thou be â—rought down â—o hell to the sides of the pit And thus his Majestie becâ—me a mocking stock and the Nationâ— are brought-in insulting over him and singing in derision How art thou â—allen from Hâ—aven O Lucifer c. O its impossible he can sit long who sets himself down upon the Mediators Throne for the arme of Iehovah shall snatch and hurrie him thence and hâ— must catch a â—ore â—all whom the great God throwes down in his indignation Be wise now therâ—fore O ye Kings câ— is a necessar caution here But to my purpose You and I saw all this perpetrat in our sight We saw also what wayes methods were taken to slatter or force us into some compliance wiâ—h this usurpation How did we behave while we beheld this Idol of jealousy and abomination set in the holy place did our eye affect our heart to see our blessed Lord Jesus put to more open shame in our land then ever he had been put to in the earth to see the exalted Prince Messiah so formally divested and spoiled of his sole Soveraigniâ—iâ— and thaâ— bâ— that very power and principally by these very persons who had sworn fidelitie subjection and loyalty to our Lord Jesus Christ as King in his own house whose alone it is to give lawes to his Church yea to give the Law to Kings as Church-Members if they have that honour to be Members of his Churchâ— Now when this iniquitie reached unto heaven were the rendings of the Cauls of our hearts heard also in heaven because of the hainousnesse of this high wickednesse did we tremble at the thoughts of what the zeal of the Lord for the establishment of the Mediators throne would doe against the Nation and Church where this wickednesse had been done and Christ so dealt with What stiring up of one another to mourne together and apart was there when now the glory was departed Were we ashamed to be seen without the teare in our eye yea or vvith our heads upon us vvhen the crovvn vvas taken from our Master's head or had vve no use for them but that they might keepâ— tvvo eyes in them to mourne or did our carriage witnesse we were willing to lay them down and lose them as a Testimony against the wrong done to our Master Alas had we neither teares nor blood to bestow upon such an honourable cause and quarrel Let me tell you mâ— Deare Friends that as I see cause of wondering and weeping over my own stupiditie who was so little affected with such a heart-melting sight and can attribut it to nothing but want of a proportioned zeal that I did not either die of griefe or onely lived by choice to lameâ—t the departing of the glory so I cannot forebeare to tell you and now is the proper time for you to think-on it and be touched with it that I beheld the strange unconcernednesse of many amongst you in that day with amazement will you not blush to remember that the Parliament of England though for the most part highly Erastian were yet so surprised at the sight of our Supremncy being then apprehensive of a designe to introduce popery amongst them as they no sooner saw it but they perceived that Scotland by their newly moulded Supremacy so prodigious for size and shape had not onely impowered his Majestie for doing that but more also if so be he in his royal wisdom saw it fit This I say together with that Act for having so many thousand men ready to mâ—rch at his Majesties call into any part of his Dominions did much startle thaâ— Parliament But what did you in the meantime Alas it was observed particularly of not a few amongst you I do not charge all nay nor any person in particular let eveâ—y on reflectâ—on himself that never was there more graspeing after the World never more eagernesse to build your own houses than in that day when before your eyes the house of your God was taken in possession together with an unbrotherly unconcernednesse in the sufferings of such who were most active in testifieing against â—his wickednesse and counteracting its deâ—igne And my Friends I must be this far plain with you that as with much greife of soul I then beheld this amongst you so I then said it and often have said it and thought it since that for that your carriage in such a dismal day when we should all have been crying and what wilt thou doe for thy great name and such a manifest leaving of your first love if God should bring an enemy from the riseing of the Sun to punish the West of Scotlâ—nd with a witnesse they should smart for what had been observed amongst them in that hour he should so order the matter as escape who would they should not But the Judgement of God which begins at his own house should either land and light there or lye and rest there My
the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge till these calamities be overpast O when there is nothing standing up between God and the soul and God stands up between it and all that would harme it but the man is safe This blessed shield it both beares the man who bears it and it beats back all the blowes of adversaries so as by a rebound their sword enters into their own heart He knew of what use this was to a soul who said I have prayed that thy faith faâ—l noâ— And the peâ—son to whom this was said having got a dangerous fall and having been shamefully foiled through the failing of his faith yet being by grace recovered gives this advice to â—â—eâ—e who â—ould stand when the devil is assaulting them on all hands 1 Pet. 5 8 9. whom râ—sist stedâ—ast in thâ— faith And when he is thus resistedâ— he flees he sees it s in vain to tâ—râ—w his fiery daâ—ts at him who can make use of this shield hold up thy shield and Satan cannoâ— hold up his face but will flee why because as God hath in mercy and love engaged himself to the soulâ— to stand by it and with his omnipotent strength support it in the evil day so faith laies hold on his promise and takes him at his word and thus interposeth an omnipotent God betwixt it and all enemies and then he stretches out his right hand against the wrath of an enâ—aged enemyâ— hence amongst the rest of the great things aâ—cribed to faith Heb. 11. these are not the least v. 33 34. Who through faith subdued Kingdomes stopped the mouths of lions quenched the violence of fire escaped the edge of the sword ouâ— of weakenesâ—â— were made strong waxtd vâ—liant in fight turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens in a word he that makes use of thiâ— shield is safe and compleatly sheltered with the saving strength of the right hand of an omnipotent Goâ— and shall be made to sing when all his enemies that compassed him about as bees buzing and burning in their hatred are quenched as the fire of thornes the right hand of the Lord hath done valiantly the right hand of the Lord is exalted the right hand of the Lord hath done valiantly O what a compleat securitie is this shield in an ill day and therefore when the Apostle was solicitous about the Thâ—ssalonians at a time when their Adversaries dealt with them as men of the same Spirit and malice deale with you he saies 1 Thess. 3 5. â—or this cause when I could forâ—eare no longer I sent to know your faith Importing that all would be well and they would be victors if that was well Secondly see well to faith's companion and that is Love this is faiths second or the way how faith engages and goes to actionâ— is by affection O Love is a great Champion It will not be boasted or buâ—â—eâ—â—ed into a base deserting of the beloved by what all the power on the earth in a conjunction with the gates of hell can do It hath said it and sworne it where ever Jesus Christ is there will I be whither in life or in death And Satan is so wise as not to assault a soul in it's warme fits knowing well that many waters of affliction cannot quench that flame but resistance will make love the more fervent and the Lover the more fervid and forward and therefore to the end he may prevaile his methoâ— is how to make souls first luke-warme by stealing away the fewel whereby that holy fire is fed or by his slight turning the current of the affections that they may â—un in another channel than God-ward and Christ-ward and heaven-ward as knowing well hovv poor and pusilanimous creaâ—ures they quickly become vvhen their coal is cooled oâ— quenched and hovv easily they are overcome and foiled when they fall from first love O my Brethren see to get and keep your hearts warme worke hard in gathering fewel for loves fire O how much is it of the concernement of every Saint to have fire burning in his bosome in this day when the fire of fiery tryals is burning abroad and about him when enemies are in rage and hell hot this flame of God this holy Love burning heaven-hot will afford the soul true courage to resist that rage whereby they assault and are acted And to this purpose it is remarkable that the Apostle Iude having written his Epistle for this end alone to excite to an earnest contending â—or the faith In order to a readinesse and resolutnesse to undertake this heavy work of holy contention he onely exhorts to this one for all v. 21. Keep your â—elves saith he in the love of God It is is true he mentioneth faith in the foregoing verse but it is as relating to this love and as that which furnisheth fewel to its fire And he speaks of prayer in the Holy Ghost also as that which blowes away the ashes and blowâ—s up that fire into a holy flame And then he subjoines hope as that which poures oile upon the fire and makes the soul â—horowly candent And this leads me in the Third place to say See to your hope also When ever you get an allarm or are called to the conflict call â—or your helmet and clap it on your hâ—ad and claspe it well and so the head being gairded the heart is much withouâ— feare while love to Châ—ist makes a man venture upon swiming thorow the salt sea in following of him And faith is his skill in svvimeing and the strength of his armes so when the waters goe over his head hope is the Cork that keeps his head above till he swime safe to the other shore and thorow all the seas betwixt him and heaven And therefore the Psalmist perceiving himself ready to sink saith why art thou cast down o my Soul hope thou in God c. O how vvell will this helmet of lively hope guard the head against all the daâ—ts shot from the fury of enraged Adversaries and likevvise against all their fraud and flattery for these are the two deadly enemies hope hath to deale with by raiseing the soul into a contempâ— of what the vvorld can offer from the noble and none such expectation it hath laid up in heaven Nay this Grace is of so much use to the saints as the Apostle saith we are saved by hope Now therefore make use of your hope yea hold fast the reâ—oycing thereof firme unto the end and it shall prove to you a helmet of Salvation indeed It 's exercise is to raise up the desponding soul above all dark and dismal appearances and to strengthen faith and therefore we are said in hope to believe against hope Novv Deare Friends having interjected these few things of many with a necessitat briefnesse and blunt abruptnesse Let me returne to where I left Viz. Resolve for suffering and feare none of these things which you shall or can suffer onely feare to offend your God
consideration of what the Holy Ghost hath there said if any of his words have weight with you must powerfully perswade to this dutie remember what is said of the believers Acts 2. from ver 41. c. and consider what the paritie of the case pleads But I may not insist yea and dare I say I hope it is needlesse onely let me aske you what you would do for Christ himself if he were so dealt with Then consider the place Math. 25 v. 35. and see how he reckons and reckon that he will recken witâ— you in thaâ— day according to that reckoning and your carriage in this I hope this one place for allâ— if â—ver you look to have a place with him and suffer me to leave you with a desire to consider that place also Heb. 13. and if you will compare what is said of that great dutie of suffering for Christ v. 13 and of that high dutie of praising God v. 15. and compare what is said of both with what is said of the dutie now perswaded to v. 16 and you will both know what is to be done and carry as believing he is not unrighteous to forget the work and labour of love of such who minister to the necessitie of those who for his names sake have been spoiled of all Onely perswade your selves God is taking particular notice of the carriage of every man and woman in Scotland this day and accordinglâ— as he observes he will repay he that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly and he that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully I shall shut up all in answering two Questions briefly First what now should be our carriage in reference to enemies Secondly what may be our hope of a delivery from them To the first I say shortly let us be moved out of compassion to their precious souls First to pray much for them While they stretch forth their hands against you studie ye this blessed revenge of good will Liâ—t up your heart with your hands unto God in the heavens on their behalfe that the spirit of repentance may be given them Do this and fulfil his law whose injunction it is pray for them that despite fully use you and persecute you It may be there are some of the elect so far left at presentâ— as to run alongst with this course pray that these may be reclaimed and however it will afford you much sweet peace to have this Testimony that while they in rage and malitious rancour were pursuing you to heavens gates you in love and compassion to their souls endeavoured to cry to him to catch themâ— and carry them in with you to the fruition of himself and to share with you in the glory to be revealed And though as to them you shouâ—d not prevail yet besides that your prayer shall be set forth before him as incense it shall returne into your own bosome Secondly henceforth stand aloof from all listenings to proposals coming from them or making any to them For what ever fredom and clearnesse Godly and wise men might formerly or hitherto have had without scruple in this matter before they had made such a cleare discovery of their perfect and stated opposition to Christ as King and of the puritie of their enmitie at and implacabilitie against all who desire to be faithful and loyal to Him yet now I conceive us called of God to take this course as that way wherein alone we can expect his approbation and countenance First as the most propter mean to convince them of their wickednesse This now seems to be the most proper Testimony against their way to stand at such distance from them Secondly as the alone expedient how to preserve our selves free from all compliances with them and in good termes with Jesus Christ for seing it is his presence we now need it is sure best policy to beware of sining him out of soul or sight by touching with that which is soul hates and for which his soul will be avenged Thirdly this is the way to preserve unitie amongst the remnant do we not know that their dainties are deceiâ—ful meat do we not know that their most seemingly tender mercies are really keen crueltie do they offer us any thing that looks like a favour but upon designe that they may more cerâ—ainly ruine the work of God by our divisions about it I shall give but two instances to evidence what their purposes are in their treatings with us The first I had from a great man now in glory who had it from the mouth of that Noble Man who then was active above all others in bringing the Indulgence first upon the stage I abstract wholly from the thing it self for that is not my businesse now to say either good or ill of it I onely intend here to discover what they designe by their favours when he said to him what my Lord intend you by this Indulgence and what do you think to gaine by it if said that Noble Man we gaâ—ne no more we shall certainly gaine this It shall separate between the made cape and the moderat fanaticks I give it in the very words wherein I had it this was plain dealing indeed and a palpable discoverie of the desperatnesse of the designe A second Instance is this when that work of darknesse our Suprâ—macy was brought to light to the end we should not according to the merit of the cause be allarmed and give the allâ—rme which its like from the knowledge of our principles their conscience indiâ—ed to be our dutie some were â—et on work to whisper us into the eare and mumble us into a mutnesse that we should not ment nor whimper at the sight of this prodigious monster though for face and feature an opposition to Christ as King beyond what ever had appeared upon the stage But why forsooth must we be silent O! because favour to the fanaticks is hereby intendedâ— for what ever appeaâ—ed at brime there was some special advantage to them at bottome The lessening of the Episcopal power which did so lash the fanaticks and the curbing of their crueltie was intended By which means they weâ—e sure that so many as they could fool into this faâ—sie or please with this nothing or if any thing the most wicked of all things would not onely divide and be divided from their brethren But they knew very well also â—hat the more seeing and serious servants of Christ who adhered to former principles would count themselves called of God to look upon such what ever names they assume to themselves as manifest deserâ—ers of the cause of the Church of Scotland and betrayers of it And for my own part how much so ever I am for union yet I scruple not to let the world know that be who he willâ— that hath beaten his brains to shape a beautiful maske for hiâ—ing the hell blakenesse of thiâ— monsters face which sâ—ould be the abhorrence of all that love our Lord Jesus Christ in