break thy quiet And that this is the mind of God to engage for thee mark but his resolution Yea I will yea I will yea I will strengthen help uphold He speaks it as a vehement undertaker of thy cause and quarrel as if he would in no wise suffer his Child to be so battered and abused by any fears and troubles and temptations Says the Creature I have spent both time and strength and mony and do you think I will suffer this No I will rather spend so much and so much more I will engage all but I le accomplish As the faithful Subject saith in his Countries cause Our father 's bought such and such a priviledge with such and such expence and shall we now be so incroacht on nay my life and fortune shall lie at stake first I will venture all and engage all but I will accomplish such dear-bought priviledges Even thus saith God the Father to a doubting Christian I have not only bought thee with the precious blood of my dear Son but through him I have also priviledged thee with the graces of my holy Spirit whereby thou mayst be comforted against fears and troubles But I see these guests are inmates in my houses still yea these slaves which should be underfoot are oft usurpers lording it over my sons and daughters But children be of good chear I your Father will not suffer this I will stand by you and engage for you Hath my Son redeemed you from your sins and shall you now be overwhelmed by servile fears No believe it drooping spirit Call forth all my strength all my power all my love it s all at stake for you and all engaged for you You know I sent my Son for you and in his low estate he slew the King of fears Death and Hell and led Captivity captive And now I am exalted I in him and he in me and you in both and shall I now suffer you to suffer No I will not suffer you to be tempted to be feared but I will succour you I will relieve you and support you When the offending Child hath got but a friend to stand between it and its offended Father how will it wipe the eyes and cherish hope and creep behind because it knows it hath gotten one to stand between it and home Ah but how much more may the Child of God who hath such a friend as Christ to intercede and such a Father as is so far from being offended with his Child in case of fears that he comes forth himself and engageth all his love all his grace the least drop whereof is enough to remove mountains of sins and why not fears and dismayings specially considering that he by his special presence singles out thee alone as if so be he had no more but thee for so the Text implies and expresses I am with thee poor fearing Christian and and all my mercy power and grace is engaged for thee and what will not the Bow of my power do being bent with resolution and that against all your servile fears I come I shoot I engage all my power mercy love Fear thou not for I am with thee And this is no more then what the Prodigal found at the hands of his Father Luk 16. who leaves all for him and engages all for him although a Prodigal and a Spend thrift yet because a Son the Father 's out to meet him and no cost must be spared the fatted Calf must be kill'd And if our Heavenly Father have such a resolution for a prodigal Son what will he not have for thee who art a Son but yet a fearing one The Children of God may say indeed that the sons of Zerviah have been too hard for them Temptation Sin and Satan had made them slaves The sorrows of death encompassed me and the pains of hell caught hold on me yea I found trouble and sorrow saith David as our President Psal 116. 3. but v. 5 6. Gratious is the Lord for he preserveth the simple I was brought low and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies to be thin and poor naked he helped me That 's the fearing soul And upon this he sings this Requiem Return unto thy rest return unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee And thus may every doubting Believer not only say but sing from Gods special presence that is round about them Turn out fears and dismayings turn out troubles sighs and sorrowings turn out distrusts and droopings And turn in my love and joy my comfort my consolation For my God hath dealt bountifully with me engaging all by his special presence And who would not subscribe to such an engagement such an engaging Father and such an engaging Son who is about me with all his power and love to oppose all my fears and affrightings How often have our fearing hearts said as David did in his case with Saul 1 Sam. 1 Sam. 27. 27. Surely I shall one day perish by the hands of Saul So says the weak Believer Surely I shall perish Sin doth so assault me and Temptation like the floating Sea daily riseth high and how can I chuse but fear when my life is in jeopardy every houre Ah but consider so oft as thou hast feared perishing who hath delivered thee 'T was not thy faintings and thy fearings for it is not by the best of our might or power why then it must be by the Spirit of God in his special presence which hath been with thee in the time of all thy straits and troubles only it may be thou hast not thought that God was thy assistant that he was so neer at hand by his special presence to comfort thee and sustain thee And if thou hadst known and thought of this thou wouldst have trusted more and doubted less However for the future still keep this in mind That God is with thee yea engaged for thee and that against all thy fears and dismayings And if one Attribute of God may administer a world of comfort and if one Attribute of God is an infinite support what then are all the Attributes of God which are about every Believer to comfort and engage against all their fears and troubles Surely we may all say We will not fear though the earth were removed for the Lord is a present help Yea though I be but as a worm a poor go-by the ground for so the Text expresses v. 14. Fear thou not worm Jacob yea the Lord of Hosts is with us the God of Jacob is our refuge Psal 46. 1. 11. God being with us what need we fear any that are against us And why Because all is engaged for us All his Grace all his Love all his Mercy all his Wisdom all his Strength indeed all in God and God in all I shall in a word or two hint unto you four things which are engaged by this I am with thee
all spiritual and temporal fears may be personal yet all personal fears may not be spiritual but the believer may be surprized with all these fears spiritual fears temporal fears personal and fears national c. The worst of fears are spiritual and these do most usually disquiet the peace of Gods peculiar and therefore I shall first speak to them and I shall be brief in each Gird up therefore the loyns of your mindes as Job speaks Job 38. 3. and bring in all your Objections here 's enough in the Text to Answer all let your fears be never so numerous and never so great 1. Objection will arise from sin for that 's the ground of all fears and troubles Saith the soul I have been a great sinner broken all Gods righteous Laws and Object Christ hath indeed satisfied so that I need not fear but the remembrance of them cannot but be grievous unto me in regard I was so wilful and so wicked against a God so gracious surely God may cast such a one as I out of his mercy and out of his remembrance Ah but thou must not so remember that Ans which the Lord forgets thou mayest indeed remember thy sins with joy and rejoycing that Christ hath satisfied but such kinde of fears and doubtings argues distrust And to chear thee in this account keep still in minde the Lord remembers them not Isa 43. 25. I even I am he that blotteth out transgressions for mine own name sake and will not remember thy sins and the Text is positive I will not remember What thy sins why For I am with thee So Verse 5. of the same Chapter and here in the text the Lord saith the same I am with thee which I would not be if thy sins were in my remembrance For I the Lord am of purer eyes then to behold the least iniquity Paul remembreth indeed his sins but he does it with joy at the thought of mercy 1 Tim. 1. 13. I was a Blasphemer a Persecutor and injurious but he triumphs in mercy I obtained mercy and so do thou for mercy is a Royalty that may be gloried in by every fearing soul But saith the soul my sins are not Obj. onely many but Giant-like and this aggravates my affrighting Paul sinned greatly indeed but ignorantly I have sinned greatly and wilfully and have not I just cause to fear No if thou apprehendst pardon by Ans Christ The Prodigal was wilful when he said Give me my portion Luke 15. 12. and he goes away spends all wilfully and one would have thought the Father should never have received him more but he no sooner returns but the Father imbraces him kisses him takes him about the neck and if in this there was cause of fear he might have feared So though thy sins be never so mighty yet they are not too big for the right hand of Gods righteousnesse for that imbraceth thee that upholdeth and Gods presence is so far from fears that it speaks comfort and bids thee fear not But saith the doubting soul I have abundance Obj. of temptations that daily beset me and Paul saith Heb. 12. 11. No chastning for the present seems to be joyous but grievous Ah but what follows why meat in thy Ans very mouth Temptation brings in enough to Answer servile fears For it yieldeth saith the same Apostle the peaceable fruit of righteousnss unto them which are exercised thereby And adde but Christs promise that he will succor and his special presence which will uphold and strengthen and thou hast enough What will not the everlasting arm of Gods righteousnesse accomplish thou mayest very well say as David doth 1 Sam. 17. 37. He that delivered me out of the paw of the Lyon and out of the paw of the Bear c. So if Christs right hand of righteousnesse could free thee from the condemning power of sin never fear but the same hand that is about thee will deliver thee from the tempting power of sin which thou confessest to be the cause of thy fears and affrightings David might very well make such an Obj. inference for he might speak as in the person of Christ of whom he was a type And I do believe that Christ hath done it and is both able and willing but I have sinned against my heavenly father and if Ps 130. 3. he be strait to mark what is done amisse but in one days infirmity what soul is there but must needs fear 'T is true indeed were God so strait unto his own children as he is to wicked men then we might not only fear but tremble But mark the Text Ps 130. 3. If thou Lord An if of inference not of doubting wilt be extreme to mark what is amiss c. It is by way of supposition and it implies that God is not strait but is to thee to succour and support thee yea to cover a multitude of infirmities forgiving iniquitie transgression and sin and thou mayst read thy Fathers heart ready to relieve thee by his special presence so far is he from grieving of thee or fearing of thee that like a tender father to his beloved child he bids thee fear not yea Christ who knew thy Fathers heart very well would not have said that if thou be but a little one yea the least of all in the stature of grace yet saith Christ Mat. 18. 14. It is not the will of your Father which is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish for he is about thee by his special presence Well but I am a poor worthless Creature Obj. what am I that God should give me his presence or have regard to my afflictions and fears Many times the soul will say in its fears as the Centurion Mat. 8. 8. Lord I am not worthy thou shouldest come under my roof As Moses saith Exod. 3. 11 Who am I that I should go unto Pharaoh But mark the Lords answer it is like Ans unto the Text. Thou thinkest thy self unworthy but certainly that shall not excuse thee I will be with thee for I have seen the afflictions of my people and the oppression wherewith the Egyptians have oppressed Exod. 3. 11. and thou must go for their relief and fear thou not for I am with thee even I not Angels though they be ministring spirits for your comforting yet as touching your fears and sorrows I am with thee and be thou couragious But the believing soul may object and say There will come a time indeed when Obj. all tears shall be wiped away and trouble shall cease it will indeed be so that sorrowing and sighing shall flie away but this is for the time to come for the future as the Apostle Peter speaks Act. 3. 19. When the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord then indeed may I expect relief from all my fears and sorrowings But the Text answers in the present tense Ans yea and is in earnest that thou shouldest
Saviour tells us Matth. 4. 4. That man much more a beliver must not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God thou art to live by faith to feed on grace and depend on mercy to cast all our care on him for he careth for us 1 Pet. 5. 7. as we have a daily want so must we exercise a daily dependance 'T was a fatherly expression of Paul when he said he took on him the care of all the 2 Cor. 11. 28. Churches But what a careful father hast thou that bids thee to cast all your care on him saying do not you rack and care and fear cast all on me I am with thee and I care for you yea and for your children too Although your children are not destitute of father mother house and home yet if they were saith the father of mercies my care is for them I am a father to the fatherlesse a husband to the widow I tell you my pity is to Orphans then much more for you that are my sons and daughters Hos 14 3. For in thee the fatherlesse find mercy And why shall not we trust and stay upon so gracious and merciful a God when he is with us against all our fears Hast thou no money a little comfort a mite of provision and a great many children yet if God be with thee thou art very rich for thou hast a heaven against thy earth riches against thy poverty abundance amidst thy want And why shouldst thou fear But may the father and the widow say This is a rich portion indeed but still my family is not supplyed and I know God hath promised but what shall I do my children hunger and can you give me no other councel for their supply I would have thee do in this distresse as the rich do such that have a great deal of goods if they have any fear of sicknesse and death which ever and anon they are afraid of presently they will be making of their wills and giving of Legacies why as now the rich doth so do thou that art poor be ever giving God a legacy every night and every morning say Lord Take thou the wife the children as thou hast given me they want bread drink apparel and thou art a fountain fulnesse preserve feed keep this son is thine and father take thou this daughter for thou art a father of mercy a God of comfort and consolation Thus poor doubting Christian in thy family-fears be still resigning all to God by prayer and supplication as Christ says John 14. My peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you So make thy will every day to God of all that God hath given thee But will the soul say May I be so bold will God accept of such legacies as a poor wife and children Yes for thy comfort know he will accept of thee and them too before thousands of gold or silver riches or honors or any of this worlds goods whatsoever And thus much for personal and family fears CHAP. X. God being with believers they have enough against national fears 3. GOd is round about Believers to the taking off all national fears and dismayings so that a believer may say from this special presence The Lord is on my side and I will not fear what man can do unto me What Kings or Princes Powers and Potentates Councels and Combination Policy and Strength Army at home Armies abroad Fire Peril Sword no Weapon that is formed against Gods Israel shall ever prosper It is a certain truth that the Lord will shake all the powers on earth yea the heavens and the earth also Heb. 12. 26 yet it shall go well with the Church and people of God For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed but my loving-kindness shall not depart nor the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Isa 54. 10. What if there be wars and rumors of wars mountains of opposition yet a Believer hath peace and loving kindenesse that shall not depart though there be breach upon breach and break upon break upon the world yet God is with thee by his special presence and that by Covenant which is more certain then the Laws of the Medes and Persians for the Covenant of Gods kindenesse shall never be removed from thee that art a believer and therefore fear not any straits or trouble But what if persecution should come as Obj. who knows not how soon it may The fiery tryal is a fearful and a dismaying tryal and this in all ages most befalls the dear children and servants of God I Answer thou hast so little cause to fear Ans that it is your joy your glory Consider those three children in the fiery furnace Dan. 3. their tryal it was their triumph and mark that precious place of Peter 1 Pet. 4. 14. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ happy are ye the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you Compare but this with the 12 and 13 Verses and thou needst not count it a strange thing or a hard thing for by persecution thou shalt have glory revealed and be glad with exceeding joy By persecution believers come to see the special presence of God more clearly The spirit of God and glory resteth upon you this brings in a Benjamins portion As your trouble and tryal abounds so your comfort and consolation abounds much more and therefore be so far from fearing persecution as rejoyce in it as you blessed advantage for to suffer for the name of Christ is not onely a fulfilling of Christs joy but your own enjoyment is increased by it James 1. 2. Apostles and Disciples sing in prisons and shine in prisons fear not persecution for to a childe of God the very prison brings presence as may be clearly collected from the marginal Quotations But we have so many enemies at home Obj. and such plottings abroad And this changing of States makes all neighbor Nations to combine against us that puts me into such fears and affrightings that I know not how to go forward with my occasions my trading husbandry by this means I am heartless c. This sounds more savouring of the world Ans then of grace But grant the childe oâ— God to be so surprized with such fears yet if the earth should be removed thou shouldst not be afraid And as for thy trading thy husbandry thy occasions know no ingenuous child will prefer his own work before his fathers the will and the work of God must be done and preferred before ours come out therefore of such reasonings and rather be thankful Hath not God saved thy life given thee many refreshments and maintained thee until this day and this is more then he ows any of us and therefore children as concerning national stirs troubles and commotions know you are not to murmure or repine when the servants are about your fathers business If
which Believers are to take notice of against their fears and troubles Our Father by these words Fear thou not for I am with thee engageth first his Word secondly his Power thirdly his Faithfulness and fourthly his Honour God hath laid all these and much more at stake as I may so express it for every Believer to the removing away fears 1. In his special presence his Word is engaged and this the Text holds forth being the Word of God though penned by this Gospel-Prophet Isaiah There is a twofold Word of God the internal and external but both are engaged against a Believers fears and dismayings The internal word is that voyce within us saying This is the way walk in it And this proceeds from the Eternal word of the Father even Jesus Christ himself for so he is called by that divine Evangelist Joh. 1. 1 2 3. And by this Word we have the Law of the Spirit of life freeing us from the Law of sin and death and this the Word of God engages and Jesus Christ by his Spirit makes good Rom. 8. 2. And then if freedom from sin and death who should once make doubt against fears and sorrowings And in the Scriptures how many gracious promises hath the Father given thee on purpose for thy consolation All the comforting promises all the upholding promises all the present promises all the prccious promises are for the support and comfort of every Child of God So that though no holy things must be cast to Dogs yet all the words of Consolation Comfort Joy and Peace they are all to be dealt forth unto a believing soul And therefore as our Saviours words do invite you so let them abide in you Joh. 14. 1. Let not your hearts be troubled Ye believe in God believe also in me For both agree in words of Consolation against all your fears and troubles 2. God by this special presence engageth not only his Word but his Power also and what will not a man of power do that will engage for a friend But what will not the powerful God accomplish for Jacob his friend In case of temptation he saith to Paul My grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12. 9. And all power is in Grace though all Grace be not in power But both these are in this special presence of God engaging for a fearing Christian And I need go no further then the Text to make it appear that the Lord engageth his power to take off Believers fears Observe when God will set forth his power and greatness to the full he saith no more but thus I am that I am Exod. 3. 14. And thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel I am hath sent me unto you And thus he engageth himself in the Text for the believing soul Fear not I am Be not dismayed I am And as those expressions with thee and thy God do set forth Gods gracious relations so I am his infinite power but both opposing fears and dismayings 3. God by this his special presence engageth his Faithfulness he will assuredly perform the overcoming all thy fears Had the Lord given us but his word of promise it were enough to master fears considering all the words of grace were written for the Saints comfort and the Scripture saith Not one jot or tittle shall fail till all be fulfilled And the reason is because he is faithful that hath promised And let us take heed by our giving way to fears we make not Gods word of none effect for He is faithful that hath promised yea and he is round about us to effect it saying I am with thee fear not I am thy God that is a God in covenant and I will nor suffer thee to be tempted feared affrighted but as I am with thee so I will strengthen yea I will help yea I will uphold It remains only doubting soul that thou shouldst witness with the Saints Heb. 10. 23. that He is faithful that hath promised and doth engage all for thee Hold fast therefore thy profession without wavering for the Lord thy God he is God the faithful God a God that keepeth Covenant and that with thee against distrust and fears Deut. 7 9. 4. And lastly God engageth not only his word his power and his faithfulness against a Believers fears but his Honour is at stake for them and know Believer he will not suffer himself to be foil'd in this for he is very jealous of it whatsoever suffer his Honour shall not Isa 42. 8. I am the Lord that is my name and my honour will I not give to another But a Believers fears and distrusts carry this in the very front even to ecclipse the honour and glory of God but saith the Lord Fear not for I know the drift of all your dismayings if distrusts did only seek your hurt I would not suffer it 1 Col. 10. 14. God is faithful saith the Apostle and will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able Ah saith the soul but what is my ability I am like a broken reed recling to and fro by every wind of temptation Well grant it what if thou art God saith he is thy God and he is with thee and he will deliver thee from all thy fears thou shalt escape and thou shalt glorifie him Nay he saith his own honour will suffer if slavish fears be suffered For though thou art a doubting Christian yet thou art my Child and so many distrusting fears may quickly make up slavish fears which is a dishonour unto my grace which I have given thee and of which I have said it should be sufficient And come what will come my honour shall not suffer nor my grace be clouded Therefore fear thou not for I am with thee and my honour is engaged in this my presence and Fears shall not be master My honour will not I give to any other much less to fears and dismayings which are so much against my honour And thus much for demonstration of these words I am with thee I am thy God To which I have chiefly spoken as they are directed against a Believers fears and dismayings Give me leave now to call forth some of those usual Doubts and Dismayings that are so incident unto Gods children that so the Express by Gods special presence may be made good even not to fear not to be dismayed I shall not speak any thing of the rise of fears knowing that every experienced Christian knoweth that sin was and is the cause of all servile fears Only thus much the Text implies that such there are in Gods own children and these are they that must be removed that so comfort and consolation may be administred CHAP. VI. Endeavoring the removal of spiritual fears and Objections answered as to the nature of fears THere are many sorts of fears yet they all may be comprehended to be Spiritual or Temporal and these again may be Personal Family and National fears And though
madnesse and none weep and sigh oftner then believers but this is gladnesse saith David Psal 126. 5. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy Now the seed is of the same kinde with the harvest and a believer bearing precious seed why not his life full of precious comforts And thus much for spiritual fears CHAP. VII Containing something in general against Temporal fears THe next sort of fears that are incident unto Gods children is temporal and they are either Personal Family or National fears I shall say something to each of these 1. In general They that are members of the body of Christ and his Church may easily draw forth this conclusion that if God the Father hath given me his Son and himself by this his special presence to succor me against fears and my spiritual adversaries surely he that hath done the greater he will also do the lesse Davids saying is thine 1 Sam. 17. 37. He that delivered me out of the paw of the Lyon and out of the paw of the Bear will also deliver me out of the hands of this uncircumcised Philistine So he that hath given me such comfort against my spiritual fear how shall I lack any thing temporal that I stand in need on And this is Pauls conclusion who was and did go through a world of trouble Rom. 8. 32. He that spared not his own son but gave him up for us all how shall he not as if he wonders that any should make once doubt of it but with him freely give us all things And God our fathar is ingaging himself in the Text upon this very account Thus observe the 11 12 13. Verses where he saith That not onely them that are incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded but them that make war against thee shall perish let them be men or devils hunger cold or nakednesse let what will be that would break a Believers peace they shall be as nothing and as a thing of nought And if you would know how God will accomplish this he tells thee in the same language in the Text as at the 13. Verse Fear not I the Lord thy God will help thee will uphold thee The Lord saith indeed in the 14. Ver. that the Church and people of God are very apt to have fears and dismayings upon a temporal account as well as on a spiritual and therefore he calls the Church and every believer A worm such a one that is a poor go by the ground that the world is very ready to tread and trample under foot but fear not I am with thee to deliver thee as well from temporal fears as well as from spiritual fears And thus much Christ exhorts his Disciples to in that of John 14. 1. compared with the 2. Verse Let not your hearts be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me And this he speaks to succor us in our natural wants as well as against our spiritual fears for whereas the soul may say Jesus Christ is indeed my souls portion and perpetual Psal 73. 26. but for this poor body I know not where I shall abide with it why now mark what Christ saith to such a poor body Fear not for I am with you and I am with you to the end of the world I know you are afraid of hunger and of house-room but let not your hearts be troubled I am Iohn 14. 2. your harbinger and I go to take up eternal mansions for you and it is my fathers will that you should not be troubled for he hath meat and drink enough and houses for you all and none shall take them away from you for my father is resolved to have no other Tenants but you and I am resolved to prepare them for you and you alone therefore let not your hearts be troubled against temporal fears And Secondly a more general text you cannot have as being to believers to remove away fears Luke 1. 74 75. That he would grant unto us that being delivered from the hand of our enemies we might serve him without fear that is slavish fear and that this is Gods grant unto Believers the text is expresse Fear not and that it is to be against temporal fears as well as spiritual Compare the scope of this place with that of Gen. 22. 16. to which this prophesie of Zacharias hath relation And God hath performed the mercies promised unto Abraham yea and also doth perform unto every son of Abraham for we may all say Qui loquutus est juravit which spake unto me and sware Why now believing soul do but add the Saints experience the Lords covenant his promise and this his special presence And if against all our enemies and that he would have us without fear then surely against Temporal fears and dismayings CHAP. VIII Objections answered against Personal fears 1. FOr Personal Objections The believing soul may say to the wanting body My wants increase and misery must needs follow want Blessed be God I have a little Meal in the barrel and a little 1 King 17. 12. Oyl in the cruse some bread to feed me a few rags to clothe me a little fire to warm me but the Father of mercies knows what I shall do a moneth or a week hence Ans Poor heart Take but notice of what thou hast said and thou hast said enough to answer all If thou hast said Father of mercies experimentally and as a Christian And thus the Saints have said before thee and found it true 2 Cor. 1. 3. Blessed be God even the Father of our Lord Jesus the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort Mark here thou hast a Father of mercies and this Father is a God of comfort and he is so against all your temporal fears for He comforteth us in all our tribulation Not only that we should be encouraged against fears but thou shouldst also succour and support others for so the verse following tels thee 2 Cor. 1. 4. Wicked men are often saying Lord Christ Mercy Faith but they speak at large without any sense of what they say But they that sound Father of mercies faithfully they have bread enough to supply all their wants I may say to such a soul as Sampson said to Dalilah Out of the eater Judg. 14. 14. came forth meat and out of the strong came forth sweetness So out of the Father of mercies thou mayest extract all kind of sweets that thy soul or body stands in need of Sampson speaks it by way of riddle but answer thy soul and body too by way of reality That if a father of children will be pittiful and extend all for their supply what will not my heavenly Father who is a Father of mercies And what will not this supply against all thy fears Thou art hungry feed on mercy and thou shalt be refreshed thou art thirsty suck in mercy thou wilt find supply Christian believe it do but draw forth faith and feed
plentifully on mercy for thou hast in this an eternal maintenance and in such a maintenance there is no room left for temporal fears I would have poor Believers do as Abraham doth Gen. 22. 5. when he went to sacrifice his Son he goes up to the Mount with this God will provide my son So do thou get up into this Mount that is come down to thee even Gods special presence there is a Sacrifice kill'd already it is but for thee to eat and thou shalt be satisfied Thou hast not bread thou hast no provision Ah but hast thou dependance Exercise faith but banish fears When Abraham Gen. 25. 5. goes into the Mount he leaves his servants below Stay you here saith he that is Sense and Reason Doubtings and Dismayings these must be left below So must thou concerning thy fears and faintings leave thy servants below and say to all thy wants God will provide for in the Mount of his special presence he will be seen and Can. 5. 1 there thou shalt be abundantly satisfied if Rivers will quench thy thirst then drink and drink abundantly But thou wilt say This is soul-satisfaction Obj. and it is my bodies fears and wants that so dismayeth me I am brought to a morsel of bread and I have no mony to buy and what shall I do Grant this Believer that thou hast but Ans a morsel of bread yet if thou hast flagons of wine and that thou hast for thou hast saith do but suck the breasts of the Promises and thou hast wine and milk a feast of fat things more then the fatted calf and wine upon the lees for thou hast a Kingly fare for God being with thee thou art in the Kings house yea in the Chamber of presence 'T is true thou art but a waiter not on the throne not crown'd but being in the Kings family thou art to fare deliciously every day Thou fearest hunger and thirst do but think how many full meals David made upon Gods word and promises Psal 119. 103. How sweet are thy words unto my taste yea sweeter then the honey unto my mouth And so Psal 19. 10. Sweeter then the honey or the honey-comb Christ makes the accomplishment of his Fathers will his meat and drink Joh. 4. 32. God feeds Christians two wayes by Promise or by Providence and the special presence God feeds his people two ways answers both I am with thee is as well to sustain thy body as to save thy soul Gods special presence is a supply two ways to a Believer 1. God doth feed his Children literally giving his Child the thing that it sensitively desireth so far as he sees it convenient Thus the special presence works in the letter of the Promise and thus thy faith is called forth by Christ Mat. 6. 30. speaking to his Disciples If God so clothe the grass of the field will he not much more clothe you O ye of little faith and why take ye thought for raiment The Lilies of the field are but under common providence and you are not only under that but Gods special presence is round about you and why will you fear O ye of little faith And for your comfort take that cardinal promise Ps 34. 8 10. O taste and see the Lord is good blessed is the man that trusteth in him And saith v. 9. There is no want to them that fear him that is to such that have faith in him And David seems to speak this out of experience for he had found the Lord making his promise good by feeding on him in his straits and troubles And he makes this promise applicable to the bodies wants as you may clearly see in the 10. v. The young Lions shall lack and suffer hunger but they that seek the Lord shall not want any thing The authority of this Scripture gives thee every good if thou be an earnest seeker of the Lord. 2. Know as God makes his promise good literally so he doth it mystically and this by his special presence May the body of a Believer say I was hungry but I am supplied my stomack 's gone and my thirst is quenched and my body is warmed I have been grieved tempted troubled but I know not how I am now at ease I have joy and chear Surely may the soul say I have meat and drink and refreshment and none hath given it me but God by his being with me and mystically hath made his promise good in filling the hungry with good things and Luk. 1. 53. sending the rich empty away A Believers body may say unto a rich mans plenty as Mordecai said to Hester For if thou holdest thy peace at this time deliverance Hest 4. 14. shall come unto me some other way however covetous wretch thou and thy goods shall both perish for God is righteous and hath given thee for such a streight as many poor Creatures are in and thou withholdest from them that that 's due thou and that thou hast will surely perish Thus may the Christians experience say I have been troubled in spirit but I am relieved I have lain under temptation but I am succoured I have many a time gone to bed an hungry I have rise refreshed help hath come in some other way May the believer say I have but these two things to keep me alive Godlinesse and Contentment as the Apostle saith 1 Tim. 6. 6. but I finde this is enough to answer all my fears it is more then money meat or clothes Godlinesse that is Gods special presence and my faith desires to feed here and this is my contentment Away my fears though I am poor yet I am rich though hungry full thirsty satisfied for special presence and faith is godlinesse and contentment CHAP. IX The Lords Presence answereth Objections against Family fears 2. BUt thou wilt say It doth not so much grieve thee for thy self but Obj. for thy family Says the poor believer I have a great charge and these are hard times and things are dear but labors cheap and I have so many small children and how can I chuse but fear when I nor they have nothing to feed on c. Surely thy condition is to be pitied and Ans yet if thou hast faith often think of that promise God is with thee and saith David Psal 37. 25. I have not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging their bread Now I know you readily assent unto the first that God doth not forsake the righteous for that is his promise I will not leave thee nor forsake thee but for the latter that their seed shall not want that Heb. 13. 5. thou doubts of Let me tell thee God doth make good his word and thou must believe it Shall he say and shall not he perform For he is faithful that hath promised Heb. 10. 23. thou and thine must exercise dependance on his promise 'T is the fault of Christians that would live by bread alone Our
nations men and devils combine do not grumble nor fear the wil and work of your heavenly father must be done However beliver go forward with your occasions with a holy subjection unto thy fathers will but take this in that whether it be life or liberty prosperity or adversity for so did Christ it be with resignation of all to God Matth. 26. 39. Not my will but thine be done Believers in times of fears must do as the children of Israel did Exod. 14. they were incompassed with a huge host and the red sea yet they go forward till they could go no further and then comes in that Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord So must believers in the midst of all national fears still be a going forward and see the salvation of God in all their enterprizes But you will further object Though I fear national troubles it is not I alone but Obj. many godly and eminent Christians are at a stand about the present affairs and proceedings And can you blame me to have fears who am but in the lower form I shall not blame but argue what cause of fears since being a believer thou hast Ans such refreshments as Gods presence doth afford unto his in any straits and troubles And what cause of fears can there be when all for Gods people shall work for their advantage thus saith the Apostle Rom. 8. 28. All shall work together for good to them that love God and thou loving God let it be tribulation or persecution good will be brought out of thy troubles and afflictions God will overturn Kings and Kingdoms yet if it produce good for thee what cause of fears God hath thrown down Ahasuerus with his hundred and twenty Provinces and the more he throws down the nearer is the end of all things and this should be so far from grief to Gods people that they should rejoyce yea lift up you heads you redeemed of the Lord the more shakings of the worlds powers the nearer is your everlasting joy Be glad then and rejoyce for the day of your redemption draweth nigh And the Text gives you this comfort that though foraign invasions come never so strong and home-bred enemies plot never so secretly yet fear not overcoming for thou shalt overcome saith the Lord unto his Church and people at the 15 and 16 Verses Behold I will make thee speaking of the worm Jacob to thresh the mountains and beat them smal and shalt make the hills as chaff and fan them and carry them away Do but consider these expressions and here 's enough to answer all national fears and enough to draw forth thy spirit to rejoce in the Lord and to glory in the holy one of Israel Comfort for Believers From their Spiritual Incomes 1 Cor. 6. 17. But he that is joyned unto the Lord is one Spirit CHAP. I. Shewing the scope of the words and how Believers and Christ are one Spirit THe Apostle in the former part of this Chapter reproveth the Corinthians about their going to Law about things indifferent and in the verse before the Text about Fornication He brings in these words as lifting up his present Argument to a more high and spiritual Conclusion Know you not saith he v. 16. that is You do know what Moses saith that Two shall be one flesh this is matrimonial coupling The same effect hath Fornication and sin He that joyns himself to Drunkenness and Adultery is one with Drunkenness and Adultery But now the Lord to whom Believers are joyned hath a spirit above the world and such base carnal defilements For he that is joyned unto an Harlot is one body but he that is joyned to Jesus Christ is one Spirit The scope of these words holds forth that heavenly union and communion that is between Christ and every Believer And the Apostle brings them in as a royalty that every Child of God hath by being joyned to Christ as if he would have them boast in this their present Income above all such bitter sweets and pleasures of sin which are but for a moment Mark therefore how he opposeth it against â—he poor and beggerly Contracts of this World and Sin as being loth to speak so much of the worlds miscarriages and defilements and to hold so long from the spiritual souls enjoyment He doth as it were wind up another key delighting in that wherein his heart had found joy and experimental comfort for every Believer is in union with Christ and Christ is in union with every Believer Yea here 's my triumph here 's my glory Every Believer hath not only union but communion also for between a Believer and Christ there is union they are one and not only so but there is enjoyment of communion in this union They are one Spirit In the words two things are to be enquired into First what is meant by being one And secondly what is meant by being one Spirit 1. By Vnion we are not to understand Corporal or Personal union as if the Husband should be the Wife the Father the Son or the Head the Members or contrary but by being one with Christ is a Spiritual and Conjugal union an union of Relations as Head and Members Husband and Wife which though they be two in appearance yet are but one in compliance and acquaintance As Moses saith in Natures wedlock Two shall be one flesh that is man and wife shall live and move and act together for each other So Christ and every Believer though they be different persons as head and members husband and wife yet they both have but one Father one house one home they live and move and act together have one compliance one acquaintance one enjoyment one in love one in heart one all And the summ of this is eminently set forth in Eph. 5. from the 23. v. to the end of the Chapter 2. What is meant by being one Spirit for this is Spiritual conjunction In corporal conjunctions there is a union in flesh but this union of Christ with the soul is spiritual they are one Spirit By Spirit here we are not to understand the essential being of God or Christ for he is said to be a Spirit Joh. 4. 24. God is a Spirit He speaks it of his universal nature as he is Infinite and Omniscient thus neither Angels or men are in union with him onely Jesus Christ who is God equal with the Father blessed for ever comprehending all things by whom all things subsist But by Spirit here is meant the participation of the gifts and graces of God whereby he doth cooperate and work in our hearts a conformity to all those holy ends and purposes as he hath awarded in his Word to all the faithful in Christ Jesus So that by Spirit we are to understand the fruits of the Spirit And thus you may have a Cloud of witnesses Rom. 8. 11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you He
this will be very clear That common profession without spiritual operation will deceive and therefore James seems to be zealous against such that have a great deal of name but not the nature of true serving of God Saith he Verse 18. Shew me thy faith by thy works you all boast of believing from professing but the rule is Shew me faith by thy workings not from thy boastings or pofessings You profess and you boast of faith and your profession I must tell you who hath faith too them whom thou knowest are damn'd they whom thou thinkest scorn to be compared with yet know the devils and damned spirits do believe Thou believest there is one God the Devils also do believe and tremble So that we may plainly collect that the Text holds out a parity and disparity between the common faith of the world and the faith of devils what the wicked men of the world take in at large through custom birth or education the devils also may do as much Man believes there is a God so do the devils too the world believes that God is one the devils believe so also There is a faith that doth believe all to be true that God hath made or done and laid down in his word sed absque fiducia but without trusting and this sort of faith is not onely common to the world and man but also to the damned spirits And this in the sum of it is properly called Historical faith which sort of faith I fear is that which most of professos are fraught withal which sort of faith is the faith mentioned in the Text. Most men have faith of this kinde thus most believe so doth the devil nay the Apostle addes that the devil doth something more in a sort he outstrips man in that he knows he also is afraid the devil believes Gods soveraignty power wrath justice judgement and he akes and quakes at it Man also believes as much but he is hardened bold and impious Gods power word works fear not man whilst the devil shakes and trembles at it Therefore we may collect That man in some things hath an excess even of the devils for though the devil cannot be converted by the word yet without the word he is convinced Gods power and greatness in his works fear Satan and afright him whilst man is bold and incorrigible the devil stoops and fears whilst man is stubborn the devil trembles And thus much for the scope of the words I shall draw that which I intend from them into this Thesis or Point of Doctrine and I conceive it to be no more then what the Text affords That the common faith of wicked men is Doct. no better then the faith of devils and that many mens obedience is not so good Before I take the doctrine asunder let me say thus much in the general that many that own God by outward profession and many that own the devil in a devilish conversation must not think it strange to own him in this doctrine for it is a truth if we compare but this Scripture to the Pharisaical Profession In that of John 8. 41 43 44. the Pharisees were very zealous in outward profession and you may see their own confession in the 41 Verse We have one father even God notwithstanding this they wanted love to God and Christ So the verse following speaks If God were your father as you profess he is and that but one yet let me tell you notwithstanding this your seeming glory you are of your father the devil accursed children sons of a lye and his works you do and will and this is not so strange as true if the judgement of Christ may stand upon these seeming Saints And the judgement of the Apostle is the same in the Text they did profess for Jesus and yet he parallels their profession to the devils You believe there is one God so do the devils And let me say to Christians in name even in our times who can boast of promises and vows and renouncing of the devil and all his works the pomps and vanities of this wicked world know for all these outward priviledges your seeming sanctity and outward profession yet your practice falls so short that since nothing will make you serious and truly fearing and truly believing I will give you an instance which might make you all afraid however to be ashamed for it will be found that wicked man is more incorrigible then the very devils and notwithstanding all your profession yet take notice of this example for though there be some that deny the faith yet amongst them that do profess the faith they stand in their profession but in computation with the devil fot though thou believest there is one God the devils also do believe and tremble The wickedness and waywardness of men forces me to prove and persue the Doctrine in these four considerations First That there is a devil Secondly That the devils do believe Thirdly That most mens faith is not better then the faith of devils And Fourthly That many mens obedience is not so good For the Devils tremble CHAP. II. Shewing that there is a Devil 1. THat there is a devil Note such that are so curious and incorrigible that there is a principality and a power a prince of the ayr and you need not seek far for he rules in the hearts of wicked men Ephes 2. 2. The spirit that now works in the children of disobedience he wrought in the Apostles time but more now by such inquirings And know though he cannot compass the heavens yet he doth the earth Job 1. 6 7. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan came also among them And the Lord said unto Satan Whence comest thou Then Satan answered the Lord and said From going to and fro in the earth And if this answer and the Text answers thee not take heed thou art not possest for though Satan is not able to compass heaven yet he can the earth he may tempt in Paradise but not in heaven And Adam fell by such inquiries and they that question thus Gods works made want but one step higher to question God himself the maker What was he that tempted Christ Mat. 4. the first man Adam found him to his cost the second Adam found him to our comfort and conquest though to his own cross in both was fulfilled that promise Gen. 3. 15 It shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel This did Christ accomplish over sin and Satan And shall any be so bold as now to question rather tremble then thus tempt taking that councel of rejoycing not inquiring Luke 10. 18 19 20. I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven notwithstanding in this rejoyce not but know it is a truth and if your names be not written in heaven your terror too If Christ tell thee he beheld him thou needs not question further for
the same form with the Devil he is the first in wrath because he is thy father but thou art as yet no better then a child of wrath because thou art not begotten again by a lively faith a faith that is active and full of love and longings after Jesus Christ who is alone within the soul the hope of glory It may be thou hast lived thirty forty or fifty years but what Faith hast thou It may be thou hast lived under the teachings of Christ and under the offers of grace and peace and reconciliation this is more then ever the Devil had and yet he hath as much faith and knowledge as thou hast if thou hast not saving sanctifying faith for the Devil hath a faith of Time and Ages and if thou hast not learned beyond him thou must not sit above him take heed thou art not thrown down to him or below him What the Papists say of their Church that men must believe as the Church believes so may it be said of the generality of professors only not by such a necessity but such is most mens practise That they believe but as the Devil believes and in a sense many must give place to the Devil even in believing at leastwise in obeying But know as you are Companions here to believe alike so take notice that without saving faith thou must live alike in torment It is very like but that Servant was within the pale of profession Luk. 12. 45 46. he had a tongue to say I am a Believer and make no question of heaven and happiness but in his heart he said My Lord delays his coming Here is a profession of one God as these in the text had yet the Lord of that servant may come in an hour and cut him asunder and give him his portion with unbelievers 3. If the common belief of men be no better then the belief of Devils only in the aforementioned differences as that the Devil is without hope without repentance and both these are annexed yet to the life of man from the Bowels of mercy while it is called to day beg earnestly at the gate of the bountiful God for mercy and true faith beg Heaven to cleanse thy leprous soul of lust and sin and to give thee saving faith that thou mayst outstrip the Devil before thou dyest For if thou hast all knowledge and all faith so that thou couldst remove mountains yet all this is nothing without Christ be in your hearts by faith Say therefore as he doth in the Gospel Mar. 9. 24. Lord I believe help my unbelief I have a common profession but what will this profit me The Devils do believe and yet are the first of unbelievers I believe Gods soveraignty that Christ dyed for sinners yet Lord I believe help mine unbelief And that this may be from thy heart consider these few particulars 1. Consider what will profession profit thee if thou attainest not the end of it They that run if they do not attain it is no prize but rather a trouble Men by professing and not attaining will come home by weeping-cross for as there will be nothing due so there will be a heavy loss the loss of Heaven the loss of God his glory thy own salvation Consider therefore so to run that you may obtain the end of saving faith which is the salvation of your souls 2. Thou hast sins of Commission that are enough to condemn thee the least of them being charg'd upon thee and without faith in Christ all must be charged But yet consider if thou couldst diminish sins of Io. 3. 19. Commission what wilt thou do for sins of Omission This will be the condemnation that light is come into the world but men love darkness more then light And because thou didst not believe thou didst not love thou didst not savour of the grace of God Consider thy want as well as thy wickedness If thou wantest a heart-love to Christ in the best of all thy professions and performances thou art but as a sounding brass and as a tinkling cymbal 3. Consider what abundance do profess how few there be that shall be saved There is but a little flock that need not to fear the enjoyment of God and his kingdom Luk. 12. 32. but there is a multitude that do profess that think they shall attain but the Devil will as soon because they have not filial fear in their profession nor saving faith the fruit of the Spirit of grace within their hearts Compare but that of Isa 10. 22. to the practise of the world and certainly it may make thee look about For though the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea yet a remnant of them shall be saved This Paul quotes in Rom. 9. 27. and makes it applicable to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews This also let Professors now consider for though I dare not forbid any to hope yet I am afraid that through common and National profession most will miscarry 4. Consider the character of the last times There will be but a little Faith but abundance of Profession Every one takes it for granted that we are in the last times and in those times it 's remarkable to have but little faith and love but without question never more profession but it is most false and as cold as mens charity which is very significant to be now for in these dayes of ours never was there more profession of the Christ of mercy and the Christ of love but never more coldness and deadness to shew works of mercy and love to one another And this is no wonder for when men are wanting to their own souls in a lively and sound faith no marvel they are not wanting unto men in a cold and frozen charity Men love the world more then Christ and his members though they seem by profession to have a love to both Joh. 3. 19. yet they rather are in darkness then in the light because their hearts are evil 5. And lastly consider the deceitfulness that is in our own hearts For what is most mens security but even the name of Christianity and the heart loves to have it so All is well thinks the common Professor if he hath been baptized into such a faith or rather into such a formality brought up under such Parents lived under such a Ministry and accounted of the Parish-Church a member then they think as well as the best This is most mens security and this is Satans subtilty to deceive the hearts of men The Devil hath wrought a notable and cunning design in the world to make people believe that if they be accounted Christians and in common in such a Parish that all is well and that they are Christians indeed and members of the Church as well as the best But let us not deceive our selves nor our souls in being such outside Jacks in Religion and Gods service and worship for all are not Israel that are
Solomon tells you of the vanity of the creatures but David tells you what he found himself in this world and what he found the Lord unto him in his distresses God was his Rock his Shield his Shepherd his Tower of Defence Psal 33. 1. Psal 18. 2. and in the Text you have his own experience and esteem of himself in the world I am a stranger in the earth hide not c. The Text is an Argumentative petition of Davids not to move God but that the Lord would move towards him in pity and compassion as the beggar when at the bountiful door knows he is Lord of nothing but the Master of the house is Lord of all and therefore he tells his condition I am hungry cold and comfortless naked house and harborless concluding him to be bountiful he tels his condition and therein requesteth pity and compassion Even thus doth David at the bountiful door of the Lords wisdom who giveth and upbraideth not Lord saith David I am not at home but in a Countrey where I want a guide I am far from father or friend in this tabernacle of clay I sojourn up and down as did my fathers I am not onely in my pilgrim-weeeds but in my journey wandring now here now there And whether shall I wander without directions guide me direct me and rule me for I am a traveller and a stranger forlorn without thy conduct and take but knowledge of me and my condition and I know thou wilt grant unto me thy pity and compassion Thus in general but more distinctly observe in the words these two parts 1. Davids confession 2. Davids supplication His confession in these words I am a stranger in the earth And then his supplication in this Hide not thy Commandments from me In the first part consider three things 1. Who is he that thus speaks and that is David a man after Gods own heart a precious Saint and Servant of the Lord. 2. What he is and that is in Office a King by experience a stranger and a pilgrim 3. Where he is and that is in the earth I am a stranger in the earth the word is Baarets By which is meant not onely in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the body but also all that pertaineth to the body yea his Crown and kingdom and his life too in comparison of his home his heaven and happiness And that earth is usually so taken I need say no more but the reciting of these Scriptures Psal 115. 16. and 24. 1. What more is needful in the unfolding of the terms you shall have it in the further prosecution of the Doctrines therein contained These three Truths or Doctrines will fairly be extracted and I suppose obvious unto the meanest capacity that consulteth with the words 1. That the Lords people or Gods Davids Doctr. are strangers in the earth Though they are present in the body yet they are strangers they are not at home they being absent from the Lord And I shall beseech you to feed on it a little in your meditation for I shall presently fasten on it for this present occasion onely give me leave to mention two more Doctrines which I will but onely name and so proceed 2. That Gods children are so far from living without a rule that wanting they beg of the Doctr. Lord for one Hide not thy commandments from me Contrary to some professors practice and contrary to such slanders of some upon Gods children in opinion for the Spirit of God teaches to live in and under rule but not without rule c. 3. That it is a Christians duty if not the creatures of mankinde to extract and Doctr. draw Arguments from their distresses as praying encouragements I do not say from our prosperity but from our misery and distress David doth not say I am a King or Rich and Honorable c. but from his dark and distressed part I am forlorn distrest a stranger Christians consider this in the midst of your afflictions What a mercy is it that you may go to God with them I am sad and pensive husbandless and comfortless and this as a praying encouragement as The Lord to be thy joy thy head and comforter c. And creatures consider this in the midst of all your wickedness and misery the Lord hates to hear you curse and swear but delights to hear thee pray and complain that thou art a sinner and undone without and for want of mercy But intending to speak of these some other opportunity I return unto our present occasion which I shall desire to speak unto from the first Doctrine namely That Gods people are strangers on the Doctr. earth Gera 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 incola inquilinus That this is a truth clearly and plainly from the Text I suppose none will question but yet take one Scripture as a proof and parallel and that is Psal 39. 12. Hear my prayer O God and give ear unto my cry hold not thy peace at my tears for I am a stranger and a sojourner or as the word signifies a Tenant at will that liveth in such a place where neither father nor friends were born such was David and such was Abraham Isaac and Jacob as were all my fathers So are all the children strangers advena and sojourners out-commers and forraign born for so are all Gods children they are not born of blood though of the blood royal nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God John 1. 13. CHAP. II. Sheweth that Gods people are strangers and how I Shall unfold this Doctrine first by shewing you how and in what regard the Saints are Strangers in the earth and likewise the ground why they are said to be strangers and then make use of it to our present occasion First How are the Saints said to be strangers in this earth are they not livers dwellers and dealers in the earth as well as other of the children of men They are so but yet the Saints are strangers in the earth and that in these three respects 1. In regard of their entertainment and 1. In regard of entertainment acquaintance acquaintance I might make these distinct but for brevities sake in one and at once In these respects the children of God are strangers in the world as the children of Israel were in Egypt so are the Saints now And how was that was it not with hard entertainment with hard usage burthens and bondage was their greatest priviledges For Gods Israel to be under Task-masters so many years was very strange and yet very true Exod. 3. 7. And what more is now unto Gods children the world is still an Egypt unto them it stills strives to keep in bondage it tempts and stricks it entertains with burthens and acquaints with Mark 5. 17. woes We know strangers finde cold entertainment because of non-acquaintance The world
is like the Gaderenes still crying Depart ye professors we desire neither your company nor acquaintance How often is it that the men of the world are not at home though at home but wishing this and that because a childe of God is in his house he thinketh every minute seven till he hath done talking and done companying and however his seemings may be yet inwardly he says Depart I desire not your company nor acquaintance O that I were rid of this same fellow not friend though he be a neighbor or a Town-dweller yet being a professor he will not be familiar But now let this worldling have but one of its worldly brats come in O what stroaking soothing and suckering and shaking of hands and brother and brother and brother in iniquity he hath all the welcome as at house and home but to professors the world is not at home to them nor they unto the world like as strangers cold in acquaintance and cold in entertainment And the like measure from the world and in the world findes Christ himself he had but little acquaintance but fewer friends but cold entertainment from all And as he is so are the Saints in this world 1 John 4. 17. and let not Gods children look for better but if we finde the like let us take up Pauls resolution and say and pray and live but not in the worlds crowns nor crosses but in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom or whereby the world is crucified unto us and we unto the world Gal. 6. 14. 2. Saints are strangers on the earth in In regard of their desires regard of their desires True it is they are not in their persons until their change comes but in regard of their affections and spiritual desires before their change Saith Paul Phil. 1. 23. I desire to depart and to be with Christ Heaven is my home and Christ is my habitation yea and however I am here in the body yet I am but as a stranger my affections and desires are with the Lord and that at present while we are in the body we wait till our change comes And what is our desire in the mean while David tells you the Saints and holy souls desire in their present state Psa 73. 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is nothing upon earth that I desire besides thee yea though flesh and heart fail yet my desires faint not but in the midst of all my faintings and failings the Lord is the strength and support of my soul and my everlasting portion Ask a worldling Where is your home and your desires at morning noon night and they must tell you in the world and worldly cares our home and heart is where our treasure is laboring all day and casting at night for the things of this life Our conversation is amongst the creatures this is our home and our desires are not to be removed But now ask a Christian Where is your home alas say they not in the body though I am in the body yet I am absent 2 Cor. 5. 6. from my home my home is with the Lord and my desires are to be at home Judge world as you will of the worth of the soul and the esteem of heaven which is mine and my fathers mansion yet methinks that is the place my conversation is in heaven and at present I cannot but desire home A strangers will say Home is home though never so homely So say Gods children in this world I am as it were out of doors I am but a stranger but yet I am hastening and desiring homeward I have another structure above this poor rabernacle in which my desires are centered and my faith is fixed on a home indeed not made with hands eternal in the heavens 2 Cor. 5. 1 2. 3. Saints are strangers not onely in regard 3. In regard of propriety of etertainment acquitance in the world and their desires to be in heaven but also in regard of their propriety of the things of the world though all be theirs yet they count nothing theirs Godliness saith the Apostle is profitable unto all things 1 Tim. 4. 8. having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come Christians have a lawful use and propriety of creature-comforts as well as others but they dare not interest in them as do others The Christians are strangers and you know they may not hold and keep as do others but though all be theirs as life and goods death and stripes yea all contentments yea things present are the Saints propriety 1 Cor. 3. 22. yet they count nothing theirs but say to every contentment and comfort as well as every scorn and cross These are ours but in this we fix We are Christs and Christ is Gods The 1 Cor. 3. 23. sum of this is own'd and acted by the Saints as you may see Phil. 3. 8. And I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I might win Christ comparing this but with the 7. ver and you shall clearly see his propriety Worldly gain was his but he counts it loss for Christ such a stranger and a trampler was the Apostle upon this worlds glory notwithstanding his right in all things And that this was the Saints practice being called unto for Christ mark their usuage from the world Heb. 10. 34. they were companions in bonds but took joyfully the spoiling of their goods there is their propriety but in that they took it joyfully there was their esteem and that in heaven there was better and more durable substance which shews their strangeness to their present possessions as the Apostle speaks as having all things and yet as possessing nothing 2 Cor. 6. 10. and as having nothing and yet possessing all things Seeming contradictions but real truth for a Christian to have all and nothing for Christ yea though all be theirs yet they count nothing theirs As strangers when they come to a friends house though they partake of a friends morsels and that with welcom with freeness and fulness yet they wil tel you though it be all good t is not so kindly They like this and eat that and taste of all but say they One bit at home is better and more sweet then all for I am a stranger notwithstanding all my entertainment one dish or one morsel at home is more kindly and sweet So it is with Christians while in this world they may have all things with welcom from the Lord while in this world and ofttimes they have many kindnesses the Lord spreads a Christians table in the midst of adversaries giving a poor soul much comfort solace and contentment yet saith the soul Notwithstanding all these kindnesses I receive in this world and that with the Lords welcom yet all is not
so kindly as if I were at home Oh my Fathers promise and providence it is sweet but at his house and from his hand and at his table that is the kindness that is most kindly Bread is sweet and life 's a comfort but the God of all comfort is best of all And I count not any thing dear that I may go home though all be mine so that I may finish my course with joy Act. 20. 24. And thus much to shew how the Saints are strangers in this world the Reasons why follow CHAP. III. Sheweth Gods people to be Strangers and why 1. BEcause in the earth Christians are not at home though worldly men Reas 1 pitch their tents here for a continuance the Saints do not they say in this tabernacle of clay they have no continuing city but expect one to come Heb. 13 14. They know this earthen pitcher of all this worlds comforts must be broken and therefore they are like prisoners of hope expecting their exchange And therefore the Apostle tels us our condition at present as being strangers 2 Cor. 5. 6. Knowing that whilst we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. And then he tels you not only our state but our present desire also in v. 8. We are confident I say and willing Mark Saints are desirous rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. A Christians abode is not altogether in the body while in the body but however still their desires are working upward crying Our conversation at present is in heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour Phil. 3. 20. the Lord Jesus Christ 2. Saints are strangers in this earth because Reas 2 their kindred and acquaintance are in heaven Where our kinsfolks and our ftiends are we do not count strange but when one is without father or friend and in a strange place too this must needs be strange And Christians are thus destitute as from the world Thus are the Saints fatherless and friendless as I may so express it the world will afford them hatred and it is no other measure then the true Friend of Saints met with even our Lord Jesus and he bids his Disciples not to wonder at the worlds usage why because they are Rom. 8. 29. compared with 1 Pet. 2. 9. not of the worlds linage not of that stock or race Saints you came of another kind of another generation ye are a chosen generation of a more noble family however you are esteemed as strangers on the earth it is because your kindred is in heaven Joh. 15. 19. If ye were of the world the world would love his own but because ye are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you Mark the world hath a double enmity Saints have a double enmity from the world against the Saints First they envy because they are in the world and not of the world If ye were of the world the world would love its own therefore are ye hated And secondly they envy because the Saints are chosen out for that they are Christs friends therefore are they hated Christians are to make the words of Christ good as well as the world makes them as the Saints find by the worlds daily enmity Saith Christ Joh. 12. 32. And if I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me This he did virtually on the Cross and in his resurrection and ascension as a publike person for all believers And the faith of Christians is to act much this way Saith the Apostle to the Romans Rom. 6. 11. Likewise reckon ye also your selves to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Christ was lifted up in the stead of all Believers and Believers are to make their reckoning so that when he died they died Redemption satisfaction and justification was all by Christ and with Christ as in the person of all Believers they were all lifted up with him So that that of the Apostle may be triumphed in by all Saints Rom. 8. 33 34 c. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect It is God that justifieth He justifieth Christ as being lifted up for all Believers as on the Cross as from the grave as ascending into heaven as sitting at the right hand of God interceding for us Observe the principle of all motion upward or heaven-ward it is all in Christ Jo. 15. 5. without him we can do nothing He it is that is the Spring and Principle of all heavenly heart motion And if I be lifted up c. Not an if of doubting but of inference And therefore to bring it home Christ doth draw up the hearts of all Gods children to have company with their Father and with their Brother the Lord Jesus Heb. 2. 11. for he is not ashamed to call them so Saints must needs be strangers on the earth when their company kindred and acquaintance are in heaven And thus saith John 1 Joh. 1. 3. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you And what was that That was the manifestation and appearance of our Lord Jesus in the flesh as upon the earth as appears in the former verses Well but to what end was this To take them off from false fellowship and perswade them into the true for saith John That ye also may have fellowship with us implying that though they were in the world yet they were strangers And if you be Saints so must you be too We have but small acquaintance here below we are indeed on the earth but truly we are strangers we have little acquaintance or accord with the world but as passengers we must take our lodging for a night and that night here though we be brethren we are ready to fall out by the way but however we have a Father and a fellowship though here but little friendship yet above not on earth but in the heavens we have there both kindred and acquaintance there 's our Father and there 's our friend and there 's our fellowship For truly our fellowship is with the Father and his Son Iesus Christ 3. Saints are strangers in the earth because the world is strange to them The Saints have large hearts for the Good of the world but not for the Goods of the world My hearts desire saith a true Child of God is That none might perish but 1 Tim. 3. 7. Ro. 10. 1. that all might come unto the knowledge and obedience of the truth But they will not The world will be strange to Christ and strange to Christians and we must be strange to them or else be strangers unto the Lord and unto his truths For what saith Christ Mat. 6. 24. No man can serve two masters for either he will hate the one or love the other or else he will hold to the one and despise the other Ye
cannot serve God and Mammen I could wish all Moral hearts would consider this and not couzen the soul by their double haltings But now the Saint takes the word of Christ for truth and saith Rather then I will be a stranger unto Christ I will be strange unto the world For Iam. 4. 4. The friendship of the world is enmity against Christ What though we have frowns from the world and the world will be strange to us yet we have favours from our friend Yea though in the world we have a portion of persecution yet from Christ we have a portion of comfort Ioh. 16. 3. In the world ye shall have tribulation strangeness and hard usage but be of good comfort I have overcome the world And this is a precious favour Believers believe it against the worlds frowns 4. And lastly Saints are strangers in this earth because there is a necessity of either being strangers or friends The Texts before Mat. 6. 24. speak a necessity of being one Ye cannot serve God and Mammon be in friendship with the world and in friendship with the Lord We must either hate the one or love the other hold to the one or despise the other And saith the godly heart Rather then I will be estranged from the Lord take the worlds friendship who will I will not have it at such a rate as to lose my friendship with the Lord For in his favour is life Ps 30. 5. What though I am a stranger and a traveller for a night I shall be at home in the morning when I awake I shall be satisfied with thy likeness Ps 17. 15. And therefore what though a stranger here there is a necessity except I would lose the Lords favour but that is better then life Away therefore world away riches honours profits Rather then to lose the shineings of the Sun the Moon shall be under my feet Rather then be estranged from my precious Father and my friend the Lord Jesus all the worlds pomp glory and pleasure all sublunary things shall be under my feet And thus much for the grounds and reasons why the Saints are strangers in the earth First because they are not at home secondly because their acquaintance and kindred are in heaven thirdly because the world is strange to them And Fourthly because of necessity they must be strangers or friends The uses pertinent to the present occasion follow CHAP. IV. Sheweth Characters for tryal whether we be strangers on the earth or no. FIrst by way of tryal or examination Secondly of dehortation and exhortation Vses Thirdly of comfort and consolation First If the Saints be strangers on the Vse 1 earth then let us make search and serious inquiry into each of our own hearts whether we be Saints by being sojourners in the world There is a daily sojourning in the spirit by all the children of God while they are in the flesh not like the Post who is a traveller indeed but is but onely from stage to stage and so to return whence he came out But Saints are strangers to a Heb. 11. 10. City whose builder and maker is God never to set their rest up till they be at home in their heavenly habitation Now to try whether we be such travellers and in this world strangers take a word in these three or four following characters 1. Do we set up our abode in this world and what is our esteem of life and goods and all that we possess you know strangers though they bed and board yet they count not any thing as standingly their own but look and wait for a remove and therefore have of all things such present estimation as gain but loss Yea and I count saith Paul Phil. 3. 8. all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord and do count them but dung that I may win Christ Second Character Could you contentedly live here in this world always or are you waiters till your change comes are Joâ— 14. 14. you grieved that time spins out and your life must end or have you a desire to depart O yes saith the stranger I could not live here from my friends my father wife Pâ—il 1. 23. and children not for a world if you would give me my dwelling for nothing I cannot be contented So the Christian if I might have all the world yet my content and comfort is elsewhere and how shall I get home to my heaven and house of happiness that 's my care and daily trouble not that I would make more haste then speed but fain I would be gone and I care not how soon Come Lord Jesus come quickly Rev. 22. that I might come to thee who art my heaven and happiness Thirdly Have you another place in your eye then this your present enjoyment strangers still think of home so Saints are still thinking of their eternity the home of heaven is still in the eye of faith and heart of love of every true believer Alas saith the poor soul Here I have no continuing Heb. 13. 14. Finiti ad infinitum nulla est proportio City no continuing Goods Lands Livings And if I had a continued house I would be a continued Tenant for what is earth to heaven perishing to perpetuals finite to infinite my fathers love is above all O saith the longing soul when shall I get home when shall I appear before my father in Sion I am here a stranger and an alien as were my fathers and my dear brethren My dear Saviour had neither Luke 9. 8. holes nor houses nor whereon to lay his head He had another Kingdom and thâ— is mine by faith I have it in my eye and this is my daily expectation Abraham looked for a City whose builder and maker was God And Moses had respect unto the recompence of reward and these were strangers and sojourners as appeareth by the Apostle Heb. 11. 9 10. verse 26. The fourth and last Character is this Examine whether the world loves you or if it hates you The lovers of the world and the beloved of the world are not the children of God but the children of the world Christ gives this as a Christians character John 15. 18 19. If the world hate you ye know that it hated me before it hated you If ye were of the world the world would love his own but because ye are not of the world therefore the world hates you Mark it If ye were of the world that is if you were one of them and in their family having one father you would have the same friendship the world would love his own not count you strangers but stroke you as one of her own worldly brats But if you are of heavens family are travellers through the world as through a wilderness to your Canaan and rest as the traveller through a Town the dogs will bark so Christians through this world must expect the
none can say certainly what they expect but I hope the best as well as others would you have me to say certainly that is more then Paul doth or I think any Saint Nay but do not so reckon Mark the Apostle not onely in the behalf of himself but of others also 2 Cor. 5 1. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens Mark Christians the Christians expectation not that every childe of God doth come up to this faith of certainty and assurance but we are all for to desire it as all strangers they desire home and know their home and travel after it though it be but by steps and strides yet a constant pace goes far so Christians must all keep journeying and going on though not coming to this attainment and thou poor weakling faith though thou canst not say so much yet think the more press hard and follow after though thou canst not go so fast as such whose evidence is sure Though thou canst not say I know and we know yet say I hope and it is best yea happy for that soul whose evidence is clear though we all cannot say We know yet let us not be sad but say We may know In this Pronoune We lies much divinity for the comfort of a Christian for we know we have tabernacles of clay poor bodies of dust and ashes And why should not we know we have a building of God with all such properties as not made with hands eternal in the heavens Methinks every Christian is like a stranger and a traveller that comes into his Inn and takes up his lodging for a night the people bring him meat and drink and gives him bed and board but they know not whence he comes nor whether he goes but now he knows himself where he goes and whether he would so Christians though the world knows not yet they do For we know c. I am a traveller and a stranger but I have a home a house a heaven a building I expect it saith Faith c. I am a stranger saith Patience but I have a building I wait for it saith Patience It is but to day and to morrow and the next day it shall be perfected so saith Patience I must have its perfect work a little to day more to morrow the third day I shall have possession I am a stranger in the earth saith Love but I have a building and O how I long for it Psal 42. 2. My soul thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appear before God! Now unto such souls that make out after home heaven and happiness with such a triplicity of We We expect it saith Faith wait for it saith Patience long for it saith Love to such gathering of a heart in Grace the Lord doth make a gracious answer Cant. 1. 11. We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver Mark poor soul here is a We to answer thy We not a Wo but a We not to dismark thee but to make thee gracious and glorious Thou that hast an I of faith expecting and I of patience waiting and an I of love longing this is a Christians We Now the Lord unto thy soul hath his We We will make thee I will saith God the Father and I will saith Christ the Son and I will saith the blessed Spirit All this makes this We to make the soul graciously glorious and gloriously gracious Now be perswaded O soul upon this thy future expectation here thou art a stranger living in thy houses of clay bedecked onely with furniture of infirmity weakness and crosses and a few broken comforts and crackt enjoyments but in heaven there is brightness and purity there is blessedness and peace there is never broken joys and everlasting comforts there are houses richly furnished with furniture free from all infirmity bordered with gold and set forth with silver all variety interwoven for soul satisfaction Hasten O strangers O strangers hasten without lingring long for this thy expectation But may some say I know every childe of Obj. God shall be well provided for of their heavenly Father Eye hath not seen nor ear heard 1 Cor. 2. 9. neither can it enter into the heart of man to conceive what the Lord hath prepared for them that love him but there is that to be passed would make one fear the straits of death is not an easie passage it fills my heart with grief and my eyes with tears at the present sence of my deceased friend but what fears and pain and staggering may it be if I should be called to pass the straits of death the Lord knows In Answer unto this and so as pertinent to our present occasion I shall adde but a word of comfort and consolation and so conclude the time and Doctrine CHAP. VII Containing comfort for dejected souls in their loss of Christian friends and encouragements for estranged Saints in this world 3. IF it be so that the Saints are strangers on the earth then Saints be you freed from fear grieve not for the death or departure of the faithful nor being faithful be thou not afraid to dye To all Gods children death is but a messenger of life and a calling from the cross to the crown You know every one will hasten to a father or a friends house and what though there be a plash of water and a few bryers to go through if we do wet our feet or tear our garments so long as we are going home such things are nothing home and the father makes us through all Christians I will not say all your way is paved and smooth to heaven and happiness but some rubs fears sorrows may be in your way but know assuredly Christ hath sweetned the grave for every childe of God what though you do wet your feet by fears and pricks your hearts with sorrow let the hope of home and father and Christ make you be comforted and encouraged Captain Death hath taken away a friend now and he stands in the way to press thee too but may not we be comforted in this My friend was a stranger here and he is now gone home to his dwelling place where father and friends are yea where he shall want for nothing freed from fears and cares aches and pains but fed with favor love and life such dishes that the world never had at their tables The Saints indeed have meat in heart and hand I mean at present that the world knows not of but alas Saints though this be wine and milk yet this is but the first mess in this spiritual banquet Our Master Christ keeps the best wine and the best chear and best welcome until the last After death every thing to a faithful soul is disht out and disht up unto Eternity the longing soul through the straits of death is satisfied and