his mouth and walk in the way that is pointed out by his Word and Spirit you shall have enough to direct you in all your ways 2. It doth warn us of all our dangers It doth not only in the general call upon us to watch Mat. 13. 37. and walk circumspectly Eph. 5. 15. but it discovers all those deceits particularly whereby we may be surprized diverted and turned out of the way There are snares in Prosperity snares in Adversity Temptations you meet with in praying trading eating drinking in your publick undertakings and in your private converse it shews your danger in all your ways before you feel the smart of them therefore give up your selves to God's direction reading hearing meditating believing and practising read hear it often then the deceits of Satan will be laid open and the snares of your own hearts Christians an exact Rule is of little use if you do not consult it Gal. 6. 16. Peace and mercy be upon all them that walk according to this Rule That order their conversations exactly the word signifies that try their work as a Carpenter doth by his square they examine their actions by the Word of God what they are now a doing therefore consult with it often then meditate of it ponder it seriously 2 Tim. 2. 7. Consider what I say and the Lord give thee understanding in all things If we would have understanding by the Word there must be consideration Man hath a discursive faculty to debate things with himself Why this is my duty what would become of me if I slep out of God's way here 's danger and a snare What if I should run into it now it is laid before me And then believe it surely Heb. 4. 2. The Word profited not not being mixed with faith in them that heard it Believe God upon his Word without making tryal You hear much of living by sense and by saith living by faith is when we bear up upon the bare Word of God and encourage our selves in the Lord but living by sense is a trying whether it be so or no as they that will not believe Hell shall feel Hell and they that will not believe the Word of God shall smart for it Heb 11. 7. Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet moved with fear prepared an Ark. It may be there were no preparations to the accomplishment of the Curse and Judgment the Word threatned it 's a thing not seen yet he prepared an Ark. When a man is walking in an unjust course all things prosper for awhile the misery the Word threatens is unseen Ay but if you would grow wiser by the Word than men can by Experience you must look to the end of things Psal. 73. 17. I went into the sanctuary of God then understood I their end And then practise it diligently A young Practiser hath more understanding than an ancient Notionallist Psal. 111. 10. A good understanding have all they that do his commandments It is not they that are able to speak of things and savor what the Word requires but they that do what they hear and discourse of Gregory saith We know no more than we practise and we practise as we know these two always go together The Word doth us no good unless there be a ready obedience therefore this is wisdom when we give up our selves to God's direction whatever it cost us in the world Doct. 2. That young ones may have many times more of this wisdom than those that are ancient Divers instances there are Ioseph was very young sold into Egypt about 17 years of age and when he was in Egypt Psal. 105. 22. He taught his Senators wisdom speaking of the Senators of Egypt With how much modesty did he carry himself when his Mistriss laid that snare Isaac was young and permitted himself to be offered to God as a Sacrifice Samuel was wise betimes 1 Sam. 2. 26. It is said The child Samuel grew on and was in favor both with the Lord and also with men From his Infancy he was dedicated to God and God gives him wisdom to walk so that he was in favor with God and men yea God reveals himself to Samuel when he did not to Eli. David when he was but 15 years of age fought with the Lion and Bear and somewhile after that with Goliah when he was a ruddy youth Iosiah when he was but eight years old administred the Kingdom before he was twelve sets upon serious Reformation Ieremiah was sanctified from the womb Ier. 1. 5. And Iohn the Baptist leapt in his Mother's womb Luke 1. 35. In the 32d of Iâ—…b the Ancients Iob's Friends are spoken of pleading their Cause wise young Elihu brings wiser words and better arguments than those that came to comfort Iob. Solomon asked wisdom of God when he was young Daniel and his Companions those four children as they are called Dan. 1. 17 18. it is said The Lord filled them with wisdom above all the ancient Chaldeans And Timothy the Apostle speaks of his youth and bids him flee youthful lusts he was young yet very knowing and set over the Church of God Our Lord Iesus at 12 years old puzled the Doctors In Ecclesiastical Stories we read of one at 15 years of age dyed with great constancy for Religion in the midst of sundry tortures Ignatius pleads the cause of the Bishop when he was but a very youth but a man powerful in doctrine and of great wisdom and therefore he saith He would have them not look to his appearing youth but to the age of his mind to his wisdom before God And he saith There are many that have nothing to shew for their age but wrinckles and gray hairs So there are many young ones in whom there is an excellent spirit and in all Ages there are instances given of youth of whom it may be said That they are wise beyond their years For the Reasons why many times young ones may have more wisdom than those that are aged God doth so 1. That he might shew the freedom and sovereignty of his grace He is not bound to years nor to the ordinary course of nature but can work according to his own pleasure and give a greater measure of knowledge and understanding to those that are young and otherwise green than he will to those that are of great age and more experience in the world You have this reason rendred Iob 32. 7 8 9. I said days should speak and multitude of years should teach wisdom There 's the ordinary course But there is a spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding Great men are not always wise neither do the aged understand judgment Though all men have reason and a spirit yet the Spirit of God is a wind that blows where he lists Those that exceed others in time may come behind them in grace He gives a greater measure many times of grace and knowledge to shew his
be troubled with nice debates but all things must give way to the Profit and general Edification 3. When the unseasonable venting of things will do more hurt than good and the sway of the times and the strong Tyde and Current of Prejudices running down against us hinder all probability of doing good then our Profession now may deprive us of a more useful Profession another time Prov. 29. 11. A fool uttereth all his mind but he that is wise keepeth it in till afterward Paul was at Ephesus two years before he spake against Diana Acts 19. 10. Only intimated in general Terms that they were no Gods that were made with hands When we cannot effect the good things we desire nor in that holy manner we would we must not obstruct our future Service but commend the cause to God and wait farther opportunity to do good 2. The Manner how to make Profession 1. Knowledge must be at the bottom of Profession some will run before they can go leap into Opinions and Practices before they see the Reasons of them and then no wonder they are as Children carried about with every wind of Doctrine Ephes. 4. 14. Wherefore that which we profess we must do it knowingly that we may be able to render a reason of all that we do Profess 2. Gracious Wisdom to espy the due occasion when God is Glorified and our Neighbour Edified Rash Arrogant and Presumptuous Spirits are Headdy High-minded Disgrace Religion more than Honour it 3. With Boldness to do it freely and without Fear of men Acts 4. 13. When they saw the boldness of Peter and John c. Verse 29. grant to thy Servants that with all boldness they may speak thy Word And 1 Tim. 3. 13. They that have used the Office of a Deacon well purchase to themselves a good Degree and great boldness in the Faith which is in Christ Iesus Acts 9. 27. Barnabas declared unto them how he had Preached boldly to them at Damascus in the name of Iesus Verse 29. He spake boldly in the name of Iesus Acts 14. 3. Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord. Acts 13. 46. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold Fear and Shame argueth Diffidence of the Truth which we profess or else a Distrust of the God from whom it cometh or at least the unsoundness of the professing Party that he hath a naughty Conscience or a great deal of Fleshly Fear unmortified As he cannot walk stoutly that has a stone in his shooe so he that hath sin in his Conscience obmutescit facundia si aegra sit conscientia saith Ambrose a bad Conscience stoppeth the mouth 4. With sincerity without dissimulation and guile Profession without answerable Duty is like leaves without fruit words must come from the heart to be talking of God when they lye under the guilt of known sins Iames 2. 16. If one say unto the Poor Depart in Peace be ye warmed and filled notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body what doth it Profit Psal. 50. 16 17. Unto the Wicked God saith what hast thou to do to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldst take my Covenant into thy mouth seeing thou hatest Instruction and castest my word behind thee 5. With Meekness and Reverence 1 Pet. 3. 15. Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a Reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear not in a Passionate Froward Arrogant way but with meekness of Spirit without all shew of Passion and with sober and respective language 6. The general end is the Glory of God and the Edification of our Neighbour and the means to this end is the Fear of God which keeps us out of all faulty extremes Eccles. 7. 16 17. Be not Righteous overmuch neither make thy self over-wise why shouldest thou destroy thy self be not overmuch Wicked neither be thou foolish why shouldst thou die before thy time some drive all things to extremity hot like Gunpowder others freeze into a complyance and time-serving when the heart is seasoned by the fear of God and we are guided by Reasons of Conscience rather than Interest and we constantly wait upon God for Direction then will God guide us Doct. II. Such Tryals may befall Gods Children that the word of Truth may seem to be taken out of their Mouths This may come to pass two ways 1. They may not have Liberty to own it As Acts 4. 18 19. They commanded them not to speak at all nor to teach in the name of Iesus and they said whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you or unto God judge yee The Magistrates command is a silencing of them shutting of their mouths only here cometh a Question whether Ministers forbidden by Magistrates should desist from Preaching if we say they ought it seems to be against the Apostles Reply if we say not we shall seem to deny Obedience to Secular and Politick Powers who ought to be satisfied in the Persons that exercise a publick Ministry in their Dominions and so lay a Foundation for publick Disturbance and Disorder For Answer We must distinguish between Persons employed to Preach the Gospel some immediately called by Christ himself others mediately called by Men some fallible and obnoxious to Errors and many failings which render them unworthy of such a Calling others infallibly guided and assisted these latter without flat Disobedience and Injury to Christ could not own any command contrary to the precedent Authority of Christ being the only men of that Order that could witness these things It is true a necessity is laid upon us of Preaching the Gospel 1 Cor. 9. 16. So as not voluntarily to relinquish our station but we may be forced to give way to the greater force Some are silenced by Authority and Opposition of men a Dispensation God often permitteth for despising the Truth and playing the Wantons with an opportunity of open Profession when men dally with the Light God removeth their Candlestick and the door is shut upon them 2. They may not have courage to own the Word of Truth for fear of Danger because of many Adversaries there is a great deal of this unmortified fleshly fear in the best and may be tongue-tyed when Gods Glory is concerned and awed by the menaces and insultations of evil men or discouraged that they dare not trust God with events and are out of all hope of success Ezek. 3. 26. I will make thy Tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth and thou shalt be dumb and shalt not be to them for a Reprover for they are a Rebellious house by these and many other ways they may be discouraged from speaking of God and his Truth but now when such a case falleth out what shall we do That in the third point Doct. III. At such a time God must be dealt withal about it upon two grounds 1. Because God hath a great hand
when all humane probabilities are taken away and we have nothing but Gods Providence to live upon II. Second Consideration Though he bear long yet he hath his times to punish and arise to judgment First With respect to himself and his own Glory Psal. 9. 16. The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth Little of God would be taken notice of in the World unless he did now and then give out sensible demonstrations of his power and justice and mindfulness of humane affairs What strange conceits would men else have of God! as if no God no Providence no distinction between good and evil but as if God were indifferent to either and did favour good and bad alike and therefore 't is in vain to trouble our selves about the Worship and Service of God no reward nor punishment These are the uses the wicked make of Gods forbearance either to deny God and Providence Psal. 55. 19. Because they have no changes therefore they fear not God If they be shifted from Vessel to Vessel they corrupt and settle upon the Lees Zeph. 1. 12. they say God will not do good neither will he do evil nor interpose but suffereth enemies to trample upon his people and glorious name or else pervert the interpretation of Providence Psal. 50. 21. Thou thoughtest I was altogether such a one as thy self as if he did favour their ways They misinterpret Providence and make the Sun go according to their Dial or else ascribe the act of Providence to themselves Deut. 32. 27. Lest they should say Our hand is high and the Lord hath not done all this When long permitted to prosper they think they have mastered Heaven that there is no power superior to theirs and they can carry all before them at their pleasure Therefore God must vindicate himself by his works and give out some demonstrations to sense that there is a distinction between good and evil That God is differently affected to either that he hateth the evil and loveth the good and accordingly there is a reward and punishment Psal. 58. 11. Verily there is a reward for the righteous God is fain to teach them by Briers and Thorns or else the stupid World would not take notice of it but think the World is governed by Chance not administred by an Almighty Alwise and most just Providence they knew not what to think of Providence when they saw the Godly oppressed and the Wicked high in power Secondly With respect to his people Surely God will not always chide for God considers the weakness of man Psal. 103. 14. He remembers we are but Dust. The hearts of his people would fail and faint and they would be tempted to some forbidden course to ease themselves Isai. 59. 16. He knows our spirits would fail God would not have us utterly to be discouraged We are liable to temptations Psal. 125. 3. The Rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous lest the righteous put forth their hands to iniquity Therefore he hath his breathing times and times of intermission from trouble The spirits of a poor Creatures would soon be drunk up if there were not some well days therefore he will shew himself to his people Thirdly With respect to the wicked who would grow excessive and outragious in sin Rom. 2. 5. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath Eccl. 8. 11. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily therefore the hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do evil grow bold resolute and setled in an evil way go on without remorse because they go on without trouble and so grow to be Monsters in sin 'T is only faith that can see afar off but Infidelity and Atheism mind not what is to come and look only to what is present Well then lest wicked men should thus continue themselves in sin God hath his time to reckon with them his Justice is not asleep all this while but God keeps a petty Sessions in this World before the general Assizes Now concerning this time let me tell you four things 1. There is a time appointed There is an end of all things not only an expected end but also an appointed end Hab. 2. 3. The vision is for an appointed time things are not left to their own hazard and chance to work out their own end but ordered and appointed by the wise God Dan. 11. 27. Yet the end shall be at the time appointed Verse 35. To try them and purge them and to make them white even to the time of the end because it is yet for a time appointed There is a course of Providence set by God which shall at length come to its end and period 2. This is the best time 1 Pet. 5. 6. That he may exalt you in due time There is a due time as well as a set time There is nothing in the whole administration of God preposterous unseasonable or disorderly Wait but a little and you shall see the reason of all this course of dispensations for God doth all things in number weight and measure If it had come sooner or later it would not have come so seaâ—…nably Eccl. 11. 3. He hath made every thing beautiful in its time When Gods work is done and all things are put together you will see a marvellous beauty in it 'T is just with the work of Providence as with the work of Creation every days work was good But when God saw all his works together in their frame and correspondence All was very good Gen. 1. 31. We would think that God should come sooner to our deliverance God is not slack but we are too hasty if he should come sooner it would be the worse for us We would have thought God should have owned Ioseph in the Pit No God stays till he be cast into Prison and in Prison Ioseph would fain come out as soon as Pharaoh's Butler was come out but he forgot him God would not have it so he must tarry there till Gods time was come and then had not only deliverance out of Prison but preferment So many times we would be contented with half a deliverance and would have it now but God will give it us in the best season 3. 'T is but a short time Say sense what it will 't is but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a little little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry Heb. 10. 37. 'T is not so long as enemies would make it for they would root out the memorial of Gods Children Not so long as sin would make it or as fancy would conceive it Suffering hours pass tediously we count Quarters and Minutes when we are in pain or anxious expectation we think an hour a week a week a month a month a year and every year seven Yea not so long as reason would make it as to probabilities and
the course of second Causes when things are fortified and backed with a strong interest to reason 't will be a long time 'T is not so long as sense would make it though we count the years the winter is over and the spring is come and yet we are not saved and can say 't is thus long yet this is not long in comparison of eternity 2 Cor. 4. 17. 'T is not long to faith for to the eye of faith things future and afar off are present Heb. 11. 1. Not long to love Gen. 29. 20. seven years are as a few days they that believe an eternity and have any love to God will say 't is short But a short Walk is a long Journey to the sick and weak the impatience of our flesh makes it seem long 4. When the time is come God will make speedy work Isai. 60. 22. The Lord will hasten it in his time Luke 18. 9. Shall not God avenge his own Elect Rev. 18. 7. Her plagues shall come in one day Isai. 66. 8. A Nation born in a day All these places shew and 't is a comfort to us that no difficulty shall hinder when the season calls for it He that produced Heaven and Earth at once what cannot he do We are dismayed when we consider an evil party fortified with combined interests strength of opposite factions force of Laws and worldly powers but God can make a Nation be born in one day 'T will be quick work when God once begins III. Third Consideration This time is usually when the impiety and insolency of wicked men is come to an height Indeed there are other notes as when his peoples hearts are prepared to receive and improve deliverance when Gods Glory calleth for it But this is the season mentioned in the Text therefore I shall shew you 1. That this is a season 2. Enquire when iniquity is come to an height 3. Why then God doth usually interpose 1. That this is a season Gen. 15. 16. The sins of the Amorites are not yet full God shewed his patience to that wicked people till the measure of their sins were filled up So wrath came upon the persecuting Jews when they had filled up the measure of their fathers Matth. 23. 32. While the enemies Cup is a filling God delayeth and we must wait So Dan. 8. 23. When the transgressors are come to the full Once more Ioel 3. 13. Put ye in the Sickle for the Harvest is ripe come get ye down for the Press is full the Fatts overflow for their wickedness is great The Lord compares sinners to a field of ripe Corn ready to be cut full Fatts and Wine-presses to be trod out When sin is ripe the execution of vengeance will not be long forborn 2. When doth iniquity come to an height I answer Their iniquities may be considered as to the two branches of it their rebellion and disobedience to God and their injuries and vexation of the Saints First Their disobedience and contempt of God First When this is general All orders and ranks of persons have corrupted their way as the Sodomites compassed the house Gen. 19 4. both young and old all the people from every Quarter Usually in making a judgment upon the state of a people you will find it thus If any part be right it keeps off the judgment from the rest if a zealous Magistracy though a corrupt people or an unsavoury Ministry and a praying mourning people God holds his hand and will not proceed to judgment They are the Salt of the Earth Matth. 5. 13. And Isai. 6. 13. The holy seed shall be the substance thereof But when all join in one in a neglect of God and common enmity to his ways then I say the Judg of the Earth will do his work then wrath breaketh out Secondly When it groweth impudent and outragious as if they would obliterate and extinguish the Law of God or take away all force and authority from it by their perverse actions and pernicious examples They do not obliquely and under the shew of divers pretences break Gods Laws but openly set themselves against him and break a Commandment without any shame Isai. 3. 9. They declare their sin as Sodom and hide it not yea they glory in their shame Phil. 3. 19. as if they would out-face Heaven and Religion at once and all honesty and ingenuity by their debaucheries Bold-fac'd sin doth not go long unpunished Thirdly Desperate incorrigibleness All remedies are unprofitable and hope of amendment taken away Ier. 6. 3. Ezek. 24. 13. When God would have purged them they would not be purged He tryeth them with several conditions he hath a love for them as they are his Creatures Judgments and Mercies they had yet they are no Changelings but go on as wicked as ever God tryeth Key after Key one Providence after another yet not a whit the better or wiser but are like men that have slept still abuse his patience and defeat all the methods of his Grace shew the same corruption they did before Fourthly When they run into unnatural sins and the corruption of humane Society is endangered Levit. 18. 27 28. For all these abominations have the men of the land done c. When men are so wicked and filthy that a man needs to be a Criminal to be acceptable to them they think it strange that others run not into the same excess of riot 1 Pet. 4. 4. Certainly then God needeth to strike in that vertue may be upheld in some kind of reputation Secondly Their violence and vexation of the Saints 'T was Bede's observation Odium in Religionis Professores c. that hatred of the Professors of Religion was that undid his Countrey God is angry when his people are wronged the world is kept up for their sakes Were it not for the Elect to be gathered time would be no more for their sakes Kingdoms and Churches are preserved they are the staff and stay the Chariots and Horsemen of Israel God is tender of them as the Apple of his Eye therefore when they are wronged and men are not only evil themselves but haters of those that are good and do not only break Gods Laws themselves but would force others to do so God will hold no longer as their violence encreaseth so doth their ruine hasten Rev. 12. 12. When they abuse their power to such an end though God may bear with them for a time till they have done their work yet he will reckon with them Zech. 1. 15. I am sore displeased with the Heathen that are at ease for I was a little displeased and they helped forward the affliction God will not forget his relation to his sinning people and will not suffer them to be abused out of measure When they would destroy and root out whom God would only correct and purge 't is a sign of their approaching ruine Now these things should be considered by us to a good end not to feed an