is one reason why God bids us so much to pray one for another that by improving one anothers graces wee might have more love each to other 12 Take as little notice as possible may bee of injuries Many times it may bee I take notice of a little matter a trifle and this sets my spirit a boyling and quencheth my love to my brother and my brother hee seeth mee so captious that I take snuffe for every trifle and this raiseth his spirits and incenseth them more against me Therefore the best way to maintaine love is not to take notice of injuries no further then as I am bound to do sometimes it is my duty to do it when as I see my brother in injuring me doth highly offend against God then it is not my pride but rather my self-denyal to take notice of it Thus much of the second thing How Saints may have their hearts brought up to the practice of this duty 3 Is to answer some Objections which lye in the way to hinder it Object But some will say I know as well as you can tell mee that I should love Saints and so I do but I do not think such and such to bee Saints Ans 1. Is he such a one who in the judgement of other as godly as thy self and it may be more unprejudiced and who both know him and his conversation as well and it may be better than thou doest is accounted a Saint and doest thou know nothing of him to evidence the contrary which they do not then though this bee not sufficient ground for thee to conclude him a Saint yet so much ground there is that without breach of charity thou canst not conclude the contrary Let mee tell you that some of Gods people when they see ground to question anothers sincerity yet he professing himself to bee a true Saint and other godly men so esteeming of him if the ground be not very clear and evident when they shall come to pass any censure upon such a one their hearts will smite them and they will reply upon themselves why should I be suspitious of such a one this is my base corruption hee may for ought I know bee ten times better than I and more holy in Gods sight than I c. 2 Let me by way of answer farther tell thee that it is not necessary thou shouldest certainly know him to bee a Saint whom thou lovest but it is a ground sufficient for thee to love if hee appear to bee so and thou seest nothing expresly to the contrary If I should onely love those whom I certainly know to bee Saints and should bee or a censorious spirit I might it may bee sometimes see cause to question whether or no I should love any and if others should bee diligent observers of my actions and walk by this rule might they not sometimes it may bee see ground to question whether or no they ought not to withdraw their love from mee would I bee willing they for every failing they see in mee should do so Let mee then take heed of doing that to others I would not have done to my self Therefore I say it is enough for thee and mee that those whom we love appear to bee Saints and we do not see clear and evident ground to the contrary though really they are not so And doth not Christ intimate as much when hee tells his Disciples Whosoever shall give a cup of cold water in the name of a Disciple Mat. 10.41 42. Yea let mee tell you that a true Christian hath many times as much comfort in a deed done to one as a Saint though he should bee none hee judging the best as though hee were a Saint indeed As for example I give an Alms 3 Take heed thou doest not as many do make this an object to colour over some corruption Thou hast a corruption in thy heart will not let thee love such a one and to hate him and satisfie thine own conscience sayest hee is not a Saint 4 What if he should bee a Saint What if God at the day of judgement should own him as one as one saith of one abusing a Scripture what if at the judgement day this should not be the meaning of the Text So what if this thy interpretation of thy Brother that hee is an Hypocrite should not be Gods 2 Object But he is not of my opinion Answ Thou art in a miserable condition if thou lovest thus If thou hast no better evidence for Heaven than this love such love will not evidence thou lovest God but thy self 2 Hee differs from thee how if his should be truth and thine error May not such a thing bee 3 Hast thou done thy duty in matter of practice to bring him out if not wilt thou blame him because hee goes from his duty in matter of opinion 4 How if Christ should measure out to thee in the same way Say soul you love onely those that are of your opinion you are not of mine because you do not love Saints as Saints which is my minde should bee done therefore expect no love from me 3 Object But he hath so many corruption I cannot love him Answ God doth love him notwithstanding 2 Wouldest thou bee willing God should deal thus by thee 3 If thou wilt not love till Saints bee perfect then thou wilt never love Vse This reproves many Consider 1 How sad will it bee to have Saints go and tell God of their wrongs 2 How wilt thou bee ashamed when Christ shall vindicate his Saints 3 What wilt thou do when Christ shall come Mat. 24. last 4 Christ takes all done to Saints as to himself Saul Saul Why persecutest thou mee 5 It is a signe of a graceless heart 1 Joh. 2.9.11 Hee that saith hee is in the light and hateth his brother is in darkness even untill now But he that hateth his brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither hee goeth because that darkness hath blinded his eyes Chap 3.15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer and yee know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him Chap. 4.8.20 Hee that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love If any man say I love God and hateth his brother he is a lyar For hee that loveth not his brother whom hee hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen Vse Love one another Consider how the Apostle urgeth this Eph. 4. begining and beg for it as one for life Phil. 2. begining Of Offences Mat. 18.7 VVoe unto the world because of offences IN the words read we have First a fearful woe coming upon the world viz. the men of the world such persons as are without Christ and God in the world Woe unto the world Secondly The inlet of this fearful woe unto the world what that is which is the original cause of the woe or that opens the door to the woe to come in upon the
though all the Professors in the world should say the contrary their profession weighs nothing with them but is the greater offence to them by how much the more they profess when by this their Profession they think to bear out themselves in the violation of those Laws which are by nature ingraven in their hearts and they know as well as themselves As to give instance it is one of Natures Laws that a man should be just honest and upright in his dealings betwixt man and man Now when a Professor shall shuffle and equivocate and say and unsay have no regard to truth civil equity or justice in words or deeds the world is justly offended Again Temperance is a Law of Nature which though worldly men observe not in their practice yet they know intemperance is a sin Now when a Professor will sit by the hour together and blowse it the world is justly offended Again Modesty is a Law of Nature now when a Professor shall bee either in apparrel going gestures or speeches so light as that there is an apparent shew of immodesty the world is justly offended Thirdly When Professors in their whole conversation are like to the world and singular only in profession for observe it when a man by his profession gives it out that hee dislikes the ways of the world and is a Subject in another Kingdome the world doth now expect to see singular speeches and carriages and actions in him and that his walk should be according to that which he would be accounted to bee now when the would sees this man which gives it out hee is such a one to shape his speeches ways courses actions by the Laws and customs of their Kingdome when he talks as they talk and walks as they walk and acts as they act is in all things as farre as they can discern one with them only in profession and would be another from them they are justly offended and count him and such as he is a company of Impostors and Deceivers for though the world cannot judge of the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom of God which these profess they relate unto yet they are so well skilled in the Laws and Customs and ways and Fashions of their own Kingdome that they can tell when a man walks with them though they love not savoury speech and godly discourse yet they judge by what these men profess that they should have such though themselves will swear and lye and raile yet they think these should not doe so and though they count it no great matter in themselves to Card and Dice to Lye and Cozen and Cheat and be Drunk and Whore c. yet they think it is in them now I say when the world viewing professors see them in their whole conversation like them and can see no difference at all only they profess and we do not they are offended and that justly Vse 1. Is it so that there is a woe upon the world because of offences then all things considered the world hath little cause to rejoyce and make themselves merry with the falls and offences of the godly the falls of good men are the Saints shame but they are the worlds woe thou callest thy companions together O I can tell you story have you not heard it Such an one of so great profession of such a way hath done thus and thus but hearken man I le tell thee a story hast thou not heard it Christ when he was here on earth cried out Woe unto the world because of offences WOE to the Scoffer and mocker because of offences for he shall be hardned by them WOE to the Drunkard the Swearer because of offences WOE to the formal Professor for he shall be lulled asleep in his formal way by them O WOE WOE to the world because of offences The world is never nearer the WOE than when they think themselves furthest from it when by the falls of Professors they are hardned in their way and bless themselves in their wickedness and think they are right then is the WOE dropping upon their heads Hast thou therefore been such a one or hast thou a heart that delightest in it amongst thy Companions to make it a part of thy ribald talk to lay open enlarge and laugh at the miscarriages of godly men O man woman quake and tremble now before the Lord least this dreadful woe fall upon thy head WOE to the world Quest First put case I have been am such a one is there no way to escape this woe or if there be how may I escape it Ans 1. Get clear of the world the WO is upon the world and so long as thou art not clear of the world thou canst not be out of the reach of this WO it will fall upon thee Secondly Mourn for offences when thou seest them arise he that mourns for offences when they arise shall not come under the WO of offences those that mourned for the abominations of Jerusalem had a mark of deliverance set upon them in the day of its desolation those that mourn for offences when they arise shall have a mark of deliverance set upon them from the WOE of offences when the same shall fall on the world Thirdly Adjudge thy self for it as if thou hadst done it say Lord such a one hath fallen but behold here 's the Traytor here 's the Malefactor for ought I know my Drunkenness my Scoffing and Sabbath-breaking may bee the cause why such a one is left thus to fall it may be to harden such a wretch as I am c. Fourthly Get and maintain honourable thoughts of Gods ways though the miscarriages of those that walk in them may bee many and very foul the thing which proves the undoing of poor sinners is this they throw the dung of Professors upon the ways of God and by so doing their hearts are every day set more off from Gods ways and more hardned in their own ways of sin and this draws the WO upon them wouldest thou escape this WO then maintains honourable thoughts of Gods ways Vse 2. Is it so that there is a wo unto the world because of offences O then let all the people of God take heed how they offend the world if respect to Gods glory which is vaild by offences if respect up weak Saints which are shaken by offences if respect to our own peace and communion with God which is broke and lost by offences work nothing upon our hearts O let this work we shall bring A WO upon the world undoe the world harden and damn poor sinners in the world by offences Let meer pitty to the eternal souls of poor men and women in die world which are like to bee undone for ever and to suffer an everlasting shipwrack upon this rock make our hearts ake our souls tremble lest we should fall and offend them O that poor souls may not roar out hereafter O I am undone undone for ever
Christs New Commandement from John 13.34 THe words opened p. 227 228 Doct. It is the command one of that great commands of Jesus Christ that Saints should love one anther p. 229 1 Why Saints should love one another nine reasons given for it p. 230 to 233 2 How Saints may have their hearts brought up to the practice of this duty of love 1 Love Saints as they are Saints p. 133 134 Several considerations to set this truth home upon our hearts p. 235 236 Four directions to bring our hearts up to the practice of this duty p. 237 238. 2 Love though thou art not loved ibid Four considerations to move us to it p. 239 240 3 Account thy self least of Saints and judge every one better than thy self ibid. Three considerations to move us to this p. 241 242 4 Get a heart taken up with spiritual things ibid. 5 Walk wisely p. 243 to 245 6 Look not so much upon what is evil as upon what is good in thy Brother p. 246 7 Put not an evil construction upon that which may have a good put upon it ibid. 8 Get forbearing spirits p. 247 248 9 Consider all are but men p. 259 10 Acquaint your selves with one anothers spirits more ibid. 250 11 Improve one anothers gifts and graces more p. 251 12 Take as little notice as possible may bee of injuries p. 252 Objections answered p. 252 to 255 The Use ibid. 6 Of Offences Matthew 18.7 THe words opened p. 257 The Observation Offences they are a real and heavy judgement upon the World or the wo of Offences it falls upon the World p. 258 1 What an Offence is shewed p. 259 2 That there is an aptnesse in the world to be offended as appears by five particulars p. 260 3 That Offences are a real and heavy judgement upon the world as appears by six particulars p. 260 to 265 4 Why Offences fall as a real and heavy judgement upon the world four reasons given of it p. 266 to 268 5 How may wee know when the world is justly offended Answered in three particulars p. 269 to 272 Vse 1 Then all things considered the world hath little cause to rejoyce and make themselves merry with the falls and offences of the godly p. 273 Quest How may I escape this woe Answered p. 274 Vse 2 O then let all the people of God take heed how they offend the world p. 275 Quest What shall I do how shall I walk that I may not fall and offend the world Answered in nine particulars p. 275 to 277 An Objection answered ibid. Matthew 11.6 OFFence is twofold either Offence taken or Offence given what they are p. 279 Of either of these there is an Offence good and bad ibid. 1 A good Offence given what that is in four particulars p. 280 2 A bad Offence given what that is in three particulars ibid. 281 Offence taken likewise is good and bad 1 A good Offence taken what that is in two particulars ibid. 2 A bad Offence taken what that is in five particulars p. 282 Case 1 How far am I to have respect unto that Offence which another doth or will take Answered p. 283 Quest How may wee know when the rise of an Offence is from wilfulnesse only or from weakness and wilfulness together answered in eight particulars ibid. 284 Case 2 What is to bee done when the case is such that I must offend on the one hand or the other or thus when the case is such that I stand between two parties contrary to each other and must offend the one of them whom am I in this case to chuse to offend answered p. 285 286 287 Romae Ruina Finalis Anno Dom. 1666. Mundique finis sub quadragessimum quintum post Annum Or A Treatise wherein is clearly demonstrated that the Pope is Antichrist and that Babylon the City of Rome shall bee utterly destroyed and laid in ashes in the year 1666. And that the Turk will shortly after bee destroyed by fire from Heaven presently after which will bee the second comming of Christ and general Resurrection c. Sold by John Sherly at the Pellican in Little-Brittain and by Sam. Thompson at the white Horse in Pauls Church yard and Livewell Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head-Alley Reader SEveral Errata's may have escap't the Presse which thou art desired to have an eye to some few I thought good to note being a little too gross to let pass without a mark Page 189 line 5 and 6. leave out and a great time line 23 read of the waters of life freely line 32 read unto any time line 33 read then wee were undone The Promises made and fulfilled in Christ 2 Corinth 1. vers 20. For all the Promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen THe Holy Ghost tells us Hebr. 6.17 18. That God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of Promises the immutability of his counsel confirmed it by an Oath that by two immutable things wherein it was impossible that God should lye we might have strong consolation Answerable hereunto our Text presents us with two immutable things as the sure and certain foundation of all our inward support and Christian consolation The first is the Promises of God which are immutable yea and Amen The second is the Son of God Jesus Christ in whom these Promises are who also is immmutable yesterday and to day and for ever the same as Heb. 13.8 The words are an Universal Proposition wherein we have 1 A subject the Promises of God to which is added a note or Universality ALL the Promises of God 2 Something Predicated of this subject and that is 1 That all these Promise of God are in Christ IN HIM IN HIM twice used that is in Christ whom the Apostle had spoken of vers 19. the Son of God Jesus Christ who was preached in him denotes the same person here as there and there it is expresly spoken of Christ Christs Person is the Store-house of all the blessed Promises of God If we would partake of any Promise we must look to Christ for it 2 That all the Promises of God are true and faithful and shall most certainly upon this account because they are in Christ bee fulfilled This the Apostle shews in saying that the Promises in Christ are yea and Amen that is to say they are true faithful constant immutable unalterable shall most certainly bee accomplished for as yea and nay in the eightteenth verse being joyned together do signifie as much as inconstant mutable variable uncertain c. Our words towards you was not yea and nay that is the Doctrin in which we my self Silvanus and Timotheus preached amongst you it was not an uncertain doubtful Doctrine a Doctrine which wee sometimes call truth and sometimes error which wee preach up one day and preach down the next no but in him was yea that is the Doctrine of Christ which we preached amongst you it was yea that
world that is OFFENCES By offences here are not meant those Works of Darkness which the men of the world commit Drunkenness Swearing Sabbath-breaking Adultery c. which Sinners in the world roule in these bring a woe but not the woe here spoken of but by Offences here are understood those offences which others commit but men of the world take up to their hardning so that the offence here which hath the woe hanging upon it is offence taken not barely offence given Observe Doct. 1. Though just occasion may be given of offence yet an offence may be so taken as that a man may undoe himself bring a woe upon himself in the very taking of it Doct. 2. An offending person doth not only damage himself but doth also wonderfully damage others 1 He damageth Christs little ones as vers 6. and that principally by shaking their faith offences are a shaking thing they shake the faith of beleevers and therefore it is that Paul when he had declared the sad fall of Himaeneus and Philetus two that formerly had been of great note and eminency in the Church hee knowing what a shaking thing this would be to the poor to the faith of Gods people especially the weak he straightway adds this The foundation of God stands sure 2 Tim. 2.18 19. as to say I know poor hearts this news that Himaeneus and Philetus men of such eminency are fallen so foulely will shake you make yon ready to question all and conclude you shall certainly perish one day it such fall O but be not discouraged for you though you are weak in your selves yet you are of Gods foundation and that stands sure c. 2 The offending person damageth the world and that with the greatest damage that can be what greater damage can a man do to another than to bring the Wrath of God yea a woe from God upon him this he doth Woe bee unto the world The observation that I have chosen out of these words to insist upon is this viz. Doct. Offences they are a real and a heavie judgment upon the world or the woe of offences it falls upon the world My intent here is not to handle the common place or scandal or offence my Text having narrowed me up into too small a roome for such a design but only to speak of offence as the same hath an influence upon the world and the men of the world and that for the drawing down of woe and judgement upon them and so in the carrying on my Doctrine I shall shew 1 What an offence is 2 That there is an aptness in the world to be offended 3 That offences are a judgement a real and heavie judgement upon the world 4 Why do offences fall as a judgement upon the world 5 When do Christians justly offend the work First What an offence is Ans An offence is that by which another is stumbled or which hath in it a tendency to stumble another as that which he ought not and it is sin in him to be stumbled at as at the ways works cause truths promise people of God when a thing or action doth really stumble or minister occasion of stumbling to another as touching these or any of these that may be called an offence Hence in Scripture a stumbling stone a rock of offence are joyned together as synonimous expressions whereof the one doth but open the other as Rom. 9.32 33. 1 Pet. 2.8 Christs poverty and meaneness was a stumbling-block to the Jews in the way of their receiving of him and their fall upon this is called a being offended Mat. 13.57 The preaching of a Crucified Christ and Salvation by such a one was a great stumbling-block to that people they could not beleeve that he that was Crucified and shamefully intreated at Jerusalem was their Messiah for they expected that their Messiah should bee some great Potentate and that it he did dye as is the opinion of some of the Jews he is to dye yet that he should dye a more glorious death neither could they beleeve that Salvation was attaineable by this Christ therefore saith the Apostle We preach Christ crucified to the Jews a stumbling block Christ in this low and suffering condition was a stumbling block now it is observeable that as Christ crucified is called a stumbling block so the Cross is called an offence Gal. 5.11 the one explaining of the other and opening the nature of the other then it the offence of the Cross ceased Secondly That there is an aptness in the world to be offended appears 1 They lye in wait for them and therefore very apt so soon as ever offences arise to take them up 2 A small thing will offend them that man is apt to bee offended that a little thing offends who will be offended at that another easily passeth over now a little a very little thing will offend the world what poor petty offences did the Scribes and Pharisees take up against Christ one while they are offended because hee cureth diseased persons another while because Publicans and Sinners came to hear him preach another while because his Disciples passing through a Corn field plucked a few cars on the Sabbath another while because when they went to meat they did not wash their hands certainly there must bee an aptness to bee offended where such petty things offend 3 They will be offended at good that man is surely apt to take offence that will bee offended at good which all ought to love none to be offended at but the world will Christ preacheth the Gospel a good act the world are offended at that raiseth Lazarus out of his Grave a blessed and glorious act offended at that Paul preached Justification and Salvation by Grace alone a holy blessed doctrine yet the world are offended at that 4 If no offence be given they will make offences rather than not be offended the Pharisees and Priests are offended at Christ because he said destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up Joh. 2.19 yet it is clear they made this offence for they knew his meaning well enough and so soon as he was dead they speake it out This deceiver said after three days I will rise again Mat. 27.63 5 They will take up what may offend them upon easie trust never searching the proofe of it Joh. 7.52 Search and look for out of Galilee ariseth no Prophet only the report of the vulgar for this 3 That offences are a judgement a real and heavie judgement upon the world there is a woe the world because of these as appears in four or five things 1 The beauty and glory of the ways works truths people of God are thus vailed from the eyes of the world offences are as a scar upon the face though a face may have much beauty yet if there be a scar or scars upon it that obscures the beauty to the eyes of the beholder the ways and works of God have abundance of