the Sectaries of late have made dreadful Rents and Schisms in the Church the more Holy Christians are the more Catholick Spirits they have They are most likely to be sensual that needlesly separate themselves yea not having the spirit Jude 19. however they may boast themselves to be more full of the Spirit than others they separate from Well Sirs consider what you do how you prejudice your selves weaken your Brethrens Hands sadden their Hearts yea you weaken the Interest of Religion hereby What Friends shall one Heaven hold you and cannot one Church hold you Do you look for comfort at Christ's second Coming among his Saints and will you not keep by the foot-steps of the flock The Lord awaken you 3. Some Christians make nothing of offendting the Saints of God that they should not offend that 's a dreadful word Mat. 18.6 Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me it were better for him that a mill-stone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea I confess this is spoken of open and violent Persecutors whom our Lord will banish among the pushing Goats But even Christians are too apt to offend one another sometimes by provoking words sometimes by offensive carriages doing that which however it seem indifferent to us yet thereby a Brother stumbleth or is offended or made weak Rom. 14.21 Unadvised walking may hinder much good occasion much evil at least may make sad the hearts of those whose hearts God would not have made sad With what comfort or confidence will you look in the Faces of those whom you have justly offended An eminent Divine saith Mr. Baxter in a Letter before Mr. Burgess's Book of Christian Commemoration if it be my weakness I have much ado to think but some shame with confusion will accompany me when I first meet any there that I have been unkind to or wronged or that will know my faults better than here they did and that I shall ask them forgiveness which will be soon granted being forgiven by Christ However matters will go then it becomes all the Saints to be very choice and chary of the Holiness and Comsort of their Fellow-members on Earth and to say with Paul 1 Cor. 8.13 Wherefore if meat make my brother to offend I will eat no flesh while the world standeth lest I make my brother to offend Happy are they that neither give Offence carelesly nor take Offence causelesly 4. Yet still there 's a great if not greater fault of good People and that is to be too familiar with Wicked Men to comply too far with Sinners to the dishonour of God scandal of Religion and wronging of our own Consciences Paul writes and writes again 1 Cor. 5.9.11 not to keep company with fornicators the word is very emphatical 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not to be mingled with them by intimate familiarity as streams of Water mix together but Christians must be like Oyl that will not mix with Water especially scandalous Professors of the True Religion if such be disorderly Persons Idle Busie-bodies disobedient to the Word sound close-walking Christians must note that man and have no company with him that he may be ashamed 2 Thess 3.11.14 Brand such an one as infamous discover a strangeness in your Carriage to him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he may turn into himself and consider what may be the cause in him of this your alienation from him Such a Recognition may become a means of his Repentance whereas if you still smile upon him as if you saw nothing amiss in him you do but harden him in sin Yet there 's something worse in your sinful complyance you contract Guilt to your own Souls and are in danger to be infected and so partake of their Sins Rev. 18.4 and of their Plagues How often doth God call Come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness 2 Cor. 6.14.17 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but reprove them rather Eph. 5.11 How often doth David bid Wicked Men depart from him And if they will not be gone he will flee from them as from a Pest-house Psal 26.4 5. I have not sate with vain persons neither will I go in with dissemblers I have hated the Congregation of evil doers and will not sit with the wicked And then prays ver 9. Gather not my soul with sinners Oh Friends tremble to be found among Wicked Men in the Gathering-day CHAP. IX Examination of our Souls whether we shall be gathered with Saints 3 ANother Use is of Tryal Whether we be the Persons that shall be gathered to Christ with the rest of his Saints in that Solemn Day of his Appearing 1. Consider you may know whether you be of that number yea or no assurance is possible attainable God's Children have obtained it 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 We can be well content to forego this tottering Cottage because we are well assured of a Coelestial Palace there we shall lodge with God Christ Angels and glorified Spirits for ever 2. Nor is this Assurance only communicated by Divine Revelation but may be obtained in the diligent use of God's appointed means hearing the Word Prayer Meditation exciting and exercising of Grace holy Warfare and Victory over Temptations Corruptions walking close with God particularly by a Practical Syllogism where the Word of God is the Major Conscience the Minor the Spirit makes the Conclusion Thus such whose Eyes are opened that are turned from darkness to light from the power of Satan to God shall have an inheritance among them that are sanctified Acts 26.18 Then Conscience brings in the Minor I have found my Heart and Life thus changed by Conversion then the holy Spirit brings in the Inference or Conclusion therefore I do groundedly hope I shall obtain the Inheritance of Glory with the rest of the Saints This is called the witnessing of the Spirit with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Rom. 8.16 3. Therefore it is the Duty of all Christians to endeavour after it we are commanded to give diligence to make our calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 We desire saith the Apostle that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the End Heb. 6.11 Such as look not after Assurance conscientiously render their spiritual Estate suspicious For it is the Nature of Grace to put the Possessour forwards to Perfection The sincere Christian will be perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 and press forward to injoy more of God's Presence Let us saith the Apostle draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith Heb. 19.22 4. And oh the advantage and benefit that
Mystical as Members of the same mystical Body Eph. 5.30 or Ecclesiastical These Converts are said to be added to the Church and have mutual external Fellowship Acts 2.41.42 Thus Paul when converted assayed to joyn himself to the Disciples Acts 9.26 Acts 17.4 And others consorted with Paul and Silas and indeed 't is natural for a Child of God to desire yea and delight in the Society of the Saints thence the Apostle mentions the Philippians fellowship in the gospel Phil. 1.5 from the first day until now mark it it was early and permanent A good Man knows not how to go to Heaven alone They must go forth by the foot-steps of the flock Song 1.8 6. and are like a company of horses in Pharaohs chariot So amiable profitable and pleasant is Christian Society 4. Do you lay to Heart the scatterings of Christians Zeph. 3.18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn Assembly who are of thee to whom the reproach of it was a burthen This scattering is either by Persecution or Dissention 1st If Enemies prevail and break up the Saints solemn meetings God's poor Children lay it deeply to Heart hence such lamentable complaints and expostulations of God's People Psal 143.4 Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary Isa 64.9 12. This was one Ingredient of Judah's Lamentation that the ways of Zion mourn and God's People did mourn with her Lam. 1.4 7. Such sympathy speaks kindly bowels and moves God's Heart and possibly in this World they may be gathered however in the other Isa 66.10 Rejoyce ye with Jerusalem and be glad with her all ye that love her rejoyce for joy with her all ye that mourn for her Sions Friends shall partake of Sions Comforts 2dly Such as grieve for the Divisions of the Church within her self Judg. 5.15 16. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart great searchings of heart O the sad Contentions and Animosities that have risen up in the Church in all Ages and the pious and peaceable Members thereof have been grievously afflicted therewith Sometimes upon Personal sometimes Doctrinal differencess have rent the Bowels thereof and rent the Hearts of publick-uniting Spirits and they have almost despaired of seeing an End of them in this World till they arrive in the place where Luther and Calvin are made perfect Friends and all the Saints shall be of one Mind Mourners for these Breaches shall be perfectly cured and comforted Isa 51.11 Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing unto Zion and everlasting joy shall be upon their head they shall obtain gladness and joy and sorrow and mourning shall flee away 5. Do you follow the Army of Martyrs in bearing your Cross and preparedness to suffer for Christ hâc fitur ad astra This way have all the Saints gone to Heaven this is the established enacted Law of Heaven If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me Mat. 16.24 Acts 14.22 We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God Heaven is taken by Storm and the gracious Soul is resolved to go through Storms For Persecution and Evangelii genius the common constant Lot of all the Saints 2 Tim. 3.12 All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution Yea but the Christian is not appaled with nor ashamed of the Cross of Christ nay he takes pleasure in infirmities in reproaches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christ's sake 2 Cor. 12.10 Nay he glories in the Cross and in the marks of the Lord Jesus Gal. 6.14.17 as much as an Old Soldier in his Wounds received in the Wars As the poor Woman in the Book of Martyrs thought it a piece of Honour and Happiness that her Foot was put in the same Hole of the Stocks wherein Mr. Philpot's had been before So the Christian rejoyceth to follow that blessed Army of Martyrs to Heaven not meerly by an Apish Imitation from a good Conceit they have of them 2 Cor. 4.13 but having the same spirit of Faith they make their Profession and endure Opposition whatever it cost onwards he will though he die in the Conflict he sees a Crown attending him and so gathers strength by every bout yea by every foil as it was said of Rome Roma cladibus animosior that every Battel yea every slaughter of Men made her more couragious So it is with the conflicting Soul none of these things move him Acts 20.24 that startle others but animate him with more Courage in his Christian Warfare and Voyage through this boisterous Sea to the Haven of Rest Is it thus with you 6. Do you daily make Proficiency in Grace Are you marching on in your Christian course adding daily some Cubits to your Spiritual stature There 's no standing still in Heaven's Road non progredi est regredi not to go forward is to go backward Paul saith I press toward the mark for the Prize of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus Phil. 3.14 Nothing would serve him on this side Perfection Ver. 11. He longs after that pitch of Grace he shall attain to in the Resurrection The sincere Christian grows brighter and better as the shining Light Prov. 4.18 that shineth more and more unto the perfect day Where there is Truth there will be Growth Grace is like a Grain of Mustard-Seed the Christian never thinks he hath grown enough he is still perfecting Holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 getting Ground daily of the Body of Death This is their Duty this is their Property this is what the Apostle earnestly prays for 1 Thess 3.12 13. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one towards another and towards all men c. I would saith the Saint be holier than the holiest Saint on Earth Eph 3.8 but judge my self lesser than the least of all Saints O that I were perfectly free from Sin O that my Blossoms of Grace were ripe Fruit O that I could increase with the increase of God! Col. 2.19 2 Thess 1.13 Let my Faith grow exceedingly to full assurance let my Love grow to delight in God my Repentance be more Evangelical my Hope more fixed my Fear more filial my Obedience more universal and all my Graces more lively and my whole Man more conformable to Christ the perfect Pattern of Holiness Oh that I could go from strength to strength Psal 84.7 till in Zion I appear before God 7. What blessed Instinct inclines you Heaven-wards Heavy things move downwards light things upwards every thing moves towards its Center The Church is compared to pillars of Smoak Cant. 3.6 still mounting towards its proper Element John 3.3 So the Christian is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 born from above and naturally inclines to things above
of Israel They shall no more be prosecuted by Murthering or scattering Acts they shall now be out of date they shall no more hear the Voice of the Oppressour there have been many such days as those in the Apostles times great persecutions against the Church Acts 8.1 that they were all scattered abroad through forreign Regions But now the storms are blown over the clouds scattered and the glorified Saints shall never be broken up or disturbed by the Sons of Violence any more They shall recount those by past troubles with Songs of Praise 8. The Saints of God that have been confined to Prisons shall be set at liberty and injoy sweet content together The Lord made their very Prisons sweet by mutual Communion but Heaven will be sweeter The imprisoned Bird never sings so sweetly in the Cage as at liberty O blessed inlargement Now they are delivered with the rest of the Creation into the glorious liberty of the children of God Rom. 8.21 They walk abroad at liberty at another rate then ever How shall they with joy and triumph recount their wandring about in Deserts and Mountains Heb. 11.37 38. in Dens and Caves of the Earth Sometimes thrust into dark and dirty Dungeons with Felons and Malefactors yea condemned tortured executed but now they have obtained a better Resurrection O happy deliverance These shall have their proper Mansions in their Fathers House and the Coelestial Pallace will resound sweet Eccho's of their triumphant Praises they shall not now with Paul and Silas sing in the Stocks Acts 16.24 25. but above where they shall be advanced together 9. The Saints that have providentially parted one from another upon any occasion shall meet again and part no more When Paul was to be bound at Jerusalem and the Disciples understood it they took on heavily Paul said what mean ye to weep and to break my heart Acts 21.11.13 Their weeping breaks his Heart But especially saith the Text they sorrowed most of all Acts 20.38 for the words that he spake that they should see his face no more And this is the Case of many Christian-friends but the relief is they shall see each others Faces again and their Faces will shine as the Sun and their Contentment shall be exceeding the bounds of any Capacity in this lower World They parted but for a Season that they should receive each other for ever Philemon 15. when the gracious God hath received them into everlasting Habitations 10. The Saints that divided and could not agree to walk together in one Church upon Earth shall be perfectly reconciled above and then shall mutually embrace each other They shall all speak the same thing and never have the least reflecting Speech or Thought against each other Possibly in this World the Contention or Paroxism betwixt a Paul and Barnabas may be so sharp that they may depart asunder one from another Acts 15.39 As all God's People are necessarily scattered into distinct Societies though uniting in Spirit in the bonds of Peace yet good Persons of different Perswasions may in some cases refuse to hold Communion occasionally one with another some being for greater Latitude others for smaller Bonds or being of different Principles in smaller Matters or through Prejudice or Passion yet in Heaven they shall be all of one Mind and one Heart and all Dissention and Division will be laid aside O what perfect Love sweet Harmony and joyful Delight will there be in the Persons and Graces of each other There will be no saying then I am of this Opinion or of this Party or a Member of this Church and not of another but they shall attain to be in the Unity of the Faith and united Members of the Triumphant Church 11. Christians that had their natural Infirmity shall leave them behind them and their united Spirits shall be made perfect How rough-hewn Natures have some godly Souls How unsociable are some that proves a great Affliction to themselves and all about them still quarrelsom and discontented nothing pleaseth them and sometimes they cannot help it though they strive and fight and pray against it it still recurs and returns and breeds much vexation but upon this blessed gathering together the crooked shall be made streight Isa 40.45 and the rough places and spirits plain when the glory of the Lord shall be revealed O happy day when there will be no envy or discontent but the Saints shall rejoyce in each others Graces and Comfort as their own and lie square to each others Spirits Though some Stars shall out-shine others in luster and glory yet every Vessel shall be full both of Grace and Comfort and not a wry Look or peevish Word shall be found there to all Eternity 12. The Saints that here condoled themselves and each other in their Personal afflictions shall leave their Sorrows behind them and all the occasions and grounds thereof and unanimously thank God for compleat Immunity from all some are sick some are pained some are pinched with Poverty others are tormented with wicked Children and bad Relations Some have troubles of Conscience under darkness hidings of God's Face some assaulted with hellish Infections Fatanical Temptations some are deeply Melancholy and under sad Complaints Now we are required to bear one anothers burthens Gal. 6.2 And Paul saith who is weak and I am not weak 2 Cor. 11.29 Who is offended and I burn not Grace in the Heart commands sympathy with others but that perfect State dischargeth all Compassion as well as Passion They that mourned together shall rejoyce together not a sigh or groan shall ever possess a glorified Spirit 13. The Saints shall lay aside all difficult and self-denying Duties There are many personal Duties that require some cost and it becomes a Christian before hand to sit down and count the cost Luke 14.28 to mortify some special Lusts to maintain a strict watch over Heart and Life to worship God in the Spirit exercise every Grace maintain constant Communion with God these will cost a Soul much care and industry and though these are sweet in managing to purpose Prov. 3.17 for wisdoms ways are pleasantness yet because of the corruption of our Hearts and aversness to any thing that 's good they become difficult and then relative Duties are difficult to discharge trust to Relations Parents to Children Masters to Servants Christians one to another mutual Inspection Admonition giving and taking Reproofs faithfully humbly Christians find these Duties hard and grievous to flesh and blood But the more Spiritual any Man grows the more Easy they grow the more Love is in our Hearts to God the less are his commandments grievous 1 John 5.3 Now in Heaven Love will be perfected And holy Souls will be in their Element while they are serving God and doing the works of that Place But the more you can sing in the ways of the Lord Psal 138.5 Jer. 31.12 the
Euke 16.28 not for love to them for there 's no such Charity in Hell but Self-love lest their presence should aggravate his Torments Hence is the gnashing of teeth also mentioned Mat. 13.50 for spleen and spight both against themselves and against each other as Communion advanceth the Saints Glory above so Company of old Sinners aggravates the Wicked's misery in Hell 4. It will greatly aggravate Wicked mens Torment to consider that this was their own doing Their destruction is of themselves Hos 13.9 they can challenge none but themselves though they had many Incentives and Temptations Neither the Devil nor Wicked men could ever puâ—… them to Hell against their wills God saith He wills not the death of a Sinner Jesus Chriâ—… expressed his earnest desire of their Salvation by his Death the Spirit came with its lovinâ— motions and impulses Godly Ministers Christian Friends prayed for them took pains witâ— them to save them so that our Lord himselâ— saith Mat. 23.37 O Jerusalem Jerusalem how often would I have gathered thy Children together even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under heâ— wings and ye would not There was God's gathering time of Mercy but that 's past now there 's a gathering time of Wrath When the Chaff must be burnt iâ— unquenchable fire Mat. 3.12 They mighâ— have been happy but would noâ— They observed lying vanities Jonah 2.8 anâ— forsook their own mercies now there 's no remedy They chose the thing wherein he delighted not and now he will chusâ— their delusions Isa 66.3 4. Alas poor Sinner chuse the Devil's Drudgery here and Goâ— gives them up into his hands to be tormenteâ— for ever and as Christ will gather up his Saint whom he purchased so the Devil will gatheâ— up all his Slaves not one shall escape him the Wicked are gathered by Death to theiâ— Master and to their proper place as it 's said of Judas Acts 1.25 That he wenâ— to his own place that 's Hell Foâ— the wicked shall be turned into Hell and all thâ— Nations that forget God Psal 9.17 O what a vast Assembly will that be Millions Millions of Souls descend down into that Place of Torments Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be that go in thereat Mat. 7.13 O tremble lest you be found among this greater number of the Sons of men Remember all Mankind have their Faces Hell-wards when they are born The wicked are estranged from the womb they go astray as soon as they be born speaking lyes Psal 58.3 There is none righteous no not one Rom. 3.10 11 12. we are altogether become unprofitable without a saving turn we are all marching Hell-ward and must be gathered together and like Faggots piled up in that Infernal Lake but especially such as have improved the stock of Original Corruption in a course of Profane Swearing Rioting Drunkenness mocking of Religion ridiculing Preciseness condemning the Righteous justifying the Wicked How can such as these expect to be gathered with the Saints in the other World whom they cannot endure in this Surely the Godly and Wicked go contrary ways when they go off the Stage of this World into an Eternal state 2. As Wicked Graceless Persons state is sad and hopeless so continuing so also professed Christians yea real Saints are in some things too saulty and blame-worthy 1. Shall there be a gathering together at last then how unaccountable are those Distances Animosities and Heart-burnings among Christians There is utterly a fault among us How contrary is this to Christian Love so often recommended by Christ and his Apostles Yea our Lord hath made it the Characteristical Note of his Disciples to love one another John 13.35 It was wont to be said of the Primitive Christians by Heathens See how they love one another But alas Brotherly Love doth not continue It hath been declared to the scandal of our Noble Profession That there are Contentions among us 1 Cor. 1.11 Further it hath been said That where strictest Professors fall out they are most implacable Drunkards will sooner be Friends than these Puritans God forbid it should be true God forbid that there should be Debates 2 Cor. 12.20 envyings wraths strifes back bitings whisperings tumults swellings Alas that such unbecoming Fruits of the Flesh should be found among us There hath been too much of this Evil Spirit O let us take heed lest if we bite and devour one another we be not consumed one by another Gal. 5.15 These are the Devil's Artillery whereby he sights and too often prevails to do abundance of mischief and hinder much good For where envy and strife is there is confusion James 3.16 and every evil work How can you think of the Day of meeting one another in Heaven with such peevish Spirits Will you perpetuate your Quarrels into another World Are you Children of Peace that thus Quarrel For shame lay aside your Differences or lay aside your Profession of this Gospel of Peace 2. If the Saints be gathered at last why do they not keep close together in this World What unaccountable Separations do men make from each other upon small Occasions This is a Duty practiced by all the Saints in all Ages the Primitive Christians continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship Acts 2.42 As soon as Paul was converted he assayed to joyn himself to the Disciples Acts 9.26 17.4 and others consorted with Paul and Barnabas Phil. 1.5 The Philippians were in the fellowship of the Gospel from the first day of their Conversion Like will to like It 's Natural for a Child of God to hold close Communion with his Father's Children How comes it to pass then that some that profess themselves Christians keep at a distance Alas have you the same Name Nature and Divine Image and do you not care for their Company How will you like to live with them for ever in Heaven that love not their Society on Earth How comes it to pass that you keep off It 's possible some do it out of modesty they are not worthy to associate with them these are but few Others out of Singularity Retiredness they can find none good enough to whom they think fit to vouchsafe intimate Familiarity Others have a pique against such and such Christians or against the whole Party and most hold off from supine Negligence Carelesness and Oscitancy most men are unconcerned about their Edification How unwilling are some Christians to be drawn to Communion of Saints If it be an Article in their Creed 't is no part of their Practice as though they had never subscribed to it yea there are some that were once forward for this Work of Christian Communion that are now fallen off like those Hebrews that believed of whom the Apostle saith Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is Heb. 10.25 The Donatists of old and