meer outward and feigned submission If all things were done only according to direction in Scripture if there was sound Preaching which maketh not ashamed we should see other effects of it even in this degeneracy and corruption of Times Notwithstanding the conceit of Humane * Isa 29. 14. Wisdom in opposition to the Divine yet those ways which are only of Gods ordaining are much better for carrying on his Work and Glory then the pretended helps Man fancies of his own invention Those who are concerned herewith may know what they have to do and remember that Judgment Seat of Christ they must appear before they are going out of the World as their predecessors already are O that Religion which hath been so long declining might flourish once again Ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence and give him no rest till he establish and till he make Jerusalem a Praise in the Earth Isa 62. 6 7. That the Church Militant on Earth might be more Pure Universal Bright and excellent towards the consummation thereof for now it comes near to be Triumphant in Heaven We have the Grace and Word of God which are sufficient to accomplish it and it is left to us whether we will do thereafter as we might if we would Every one may sincerely strive for his part and to the utmost and then the whole will be done As it may by reducing the Ordinances of God to their right use purging out the Old leaven and taking away that corruption which hath been so long in them In our good undertakings God shall bless us and all the ends of the Earth shall sear him Psal 67. 7. By the help given and that is further offered us by the way shewed we might do great things if we would shake off unwillingness and Sloth Then labour and be diligent and the Blessed Work would begin Things may be brought to such a pass that all shall know the Lord from the least of them unto the greatest of them Jer. 31. 34. Heb. 8. 11. They may come to discern what is pleasing unto him and do thereafter that it may be well with them and their Children for ever Cry aloud spare not lift up thy Voice like a Trumpet and shew my people their Transgression and the House of Jacob their Sins Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my Ways as a Nation that did Righteousness and forsook not the Ordinance of their God they ask of me the Ordinances of Justice they take delight in approaching to God Isa 58. 1 2. Even at this time they go by Multitudes unto the House of God and are constant to hear his Will they are inquisitive after it and make a shew to observe it and as if they had not departed from that established order of things he hath set up There is as much Profession and Devotion in the World as ever But if it is out of a right Principle of glorifying God then they will hearken to any thing which tends to that Nay if it be out of meer selfish saving the Soul and are endued with real Wisdom and they would not be willingly amongst those many who will seek to enter in at the straight Gate and shall not be able Luke 13. 24. Then I say themselves would be gladly informed if there may be any mistake or deceit in this matter in those times of general backâ—sliding and revolt from God he speaks of by his Servants the Prophets there was as much of his visible and outward Worship as in these days They did cry out The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord Jer. 7. 4. and did frequent it as now people are zealous to go to Church or such a Congregation But that stubbornness and disobedience in the heart their sinning which they would excuse and make atonement for by this way did justly make God angry and to abominate their Hypocrisie When the outward duties as it is with some do make up the whole of their Religion Who know not or do not practice any thing more then going to Church hearing Sermons using Prayer receiving the Sacrament all this is but vain and will signifie nothing for these are means of Grace and in order to something more Now it would be strange though common with many to be hearers of the VVord and not doers of it deceiving their own selves Jam. 1. 22. So is Praying to comply with Gods Will and yet not endeavouring to do so or to Remember the Covenant in Baptism and yet not observe it or only with slight purposes and resolution at that present time when the words thereof are to Obediently keep Gods Holy VVill and Commandments and walk in the same all the days of our Life It is mocking and dissimulation with God if they do not sincerely labour after what they seem unto him with their lips and outward gesture to desire Indeed the Ordinances are part of the Commandments of God we use them out of Obedience and Homage unto him He commands to hear his Will to call on Him and to receive his Sacraments but then there is a further reason of all to make ready a People prepared for the Lord. It can hardly be expressed how averse our Nature is God and the things of his Kingdom how hard it is to cleave unto him as he requires and how easie it is to fall away and start aside Only take heed to thy self and keep thy Soul diligently lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen Take heed unto your selves lest ye forget the Covenant of the Lord your God Deut. 4. 9. 23. The outward duties put in mind of this and are to be retained all the days of our life for whilst we are here in the body Temptations from without and Corruption from within would betray us into sin and forgetfulness unless prevented by that Grace which is conveyed through these means Our goodness would be as the morning Dew or as an early Cloud so soon passeth it away we should soon become Barren and Unfruitful unless God was pleased to instil more daily through his Word and Ordinances My Doctrine shall drop as the Rain My Speech shall distill as the Dew as the small Rain upon the tender Herb and as the Showers upon the Grass Deut. 32. 2. Otherwise the manifold Sollicitations and Objects of this World would be apt to scorch and make us fade even in our good Ways but that received in renders the Vineyard meet for our God. If his Word falls upon the dust of the VVilderness or Stony and dry places it may seem lost and ineffectual not for want of Worth and Excellency in it self for it is the same Rain there but the incapacity is in the subject which doth not profit because it is not mixed with Faith in them that hear it or they suffer it to run off again as useless Water But if it takes Root there succeed those accomplishments of the inward Man
doing good by Charity Hospitality dispersing abroad that others also may live by them Many have plentiful Estates already who think as long as they do not covet other Mens Lands or Money nor do wrong it is no harm to keep their own â—o save and hoard up as much as they can If they are willing to live in all good conscience as that will stand them in more stead in the day of their Death and from thence throughout all Eternity then Mannors or Lordships and thousands of Gold or Silver then let them consider what they are to be put in mind of Charge them that are Rich in this World that they do good that they be rich in good VVorks ready to Distribute willing to Communicate 1 Tim. 6. 17 18. None hath more then what he may know to do withal Others who have large Possessions find a way of disbursement through sinful Lusts and Pride And shall not as much be done another way for a better Master for Jesus and his Brethren It ought so to be and much more and time will yet be when they shall be ready to â—sal 45. 12 perform the same Christianity is no Pinching Doctrine for it doth not make the owners of Estates good Husbands as the word is commonly used but good Stewards of the gifts of God. They are not to heap to themselves and starve those round about them but distribute Liberally according to what they have and others need The eighth and ninth Chapter to the Corinthians is full to this purpose God feeds the Fowls of the Air Fishes of the Sea Beasts and all Creeping things Neither hath he left the principal work of his hands out of his care and protection He hath given sufficient to all Men for Food and Raiment and they have a right thereto He Psal 140. â—2 hath provided for them in his Works and in his Word and was there a compliance to his Written Laws none would suffer want But seeing we live in an Age wherein Men are fallen away from God who say they are Christians but they are not for they do not according to what is commanded that is not done of all Yet those his pecular People zealous of good VVorks Tit. 2. 14. are to shew forth more charity then is to be seen among them who think they have a well grounded hope for Heaven and even those Rich Men who will not obey the Gospel may see it there Written That he must reign till he hath put all Enemies under his feet 1 Cor. 15. 25. But if they will be wise as to submit and come in betime let them hearken to what he saith Lay not up for your selves treasures upon Earth where moth and rust do corrupt and where Thieves break through and steal But lay up for your selves Treasures in Heaven where neither moth nor rust do corrupt and where Thieves do not break through nor steal Mat. 6. 19 20. An express command against hoarding for the use of ones self Our Lord in all the precepts he gave hath consulted for the good of Mankind Now it tends to the prosperity and welfare of a People when Money is still in motion and passes from one to other for if this were kept by every one that could half the Nation would be in danger to perish But our Religion hath enjoyned a free Communicative temper it lays the greatest obligation upon Men to Communicate forth according to what they have Some have been prejudiced against it as an Enemy to Trade which is thought to be more maintained by Sin and Vanity but let it be considered The end of Trade is to get a living thereby and that all People may have necessaries and comforts for their being here Now the way God hath appointed doth more contribute to all this then the corrupted course of the World. To instance in Drunkenness which is reputed a beneficial sin to the Nation But if Men after they had kept within the bounds of lawful delight would go no further and disperse some other way the Money thus saved others might refresh themselves likewise and there would be altogether the same vent If that which is Prov. 3 〈…〉 6 7. consumed by some in adding Drunkenness to thirst were given to satisfie the bare thirst of others there would be the like quantity expended as now neither would that abundance of barley God hath in mercy given us be wasted for want of use and receiving It is a hard Case for those which make Oil within their VValls and tread their VVine presses and suffer Thirst Job 24. 11. Honest labourers who take pains in sowing and cutting down the Corn should have more share thereof then squeezing Landlords do now suffer them to have when themselves neither Reap nor Sow but â—at of other Mens labours Thou shalt not muzzle the Mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn doth God take care of Oxen 1 Cor. 9. 9. Much more for those of his own likeness Many are forced to eat and Drink very course Bread and Water or Beer not much differing from it these also deserve help not pity and should come in for a distribution of the good things for the Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof In the Primitive Church they had a Feast where poor and rich did sit down promiscuously together but there was a fault that in eating every one taketh before another his own Supper and one is hungry another is drunken 1 Cor. 11. 21. It is more Unreasonable and Antichristian that some should live in Rioting and Drunkenness others pine in Hunger and Thirst But the Gospel sets this at right by paring away the Superfluity of the one and giving it to others So it may be said to the Vanity and inordinacy of Apparel Thy People also shall be all righteous Isa 60. 21. And then there will not be such a Catalogue of Womens Bravery Isa 3. and more things added thereto by the Fashion of these times As iniquity hath abounded so the number of those have increased of that Trade which Borders upon it but some of them might have resorted to other Employments and those might sell nothing but what was really useful and decent Were the same spent in Hospitality and Charity as is now in Gluttony and Drunkenness Were the same laid out in Clothing the naked as is in strange Apparel Zeph. 1. 8. Did every one expend to some good use and purpose what others do in Pride and Vain Glory Were every one liberal according to what he hath and Covetousness which is not to be named amongst Saints Eph. 5. 3. but found among Hypocrites and Unbâ—lievers utterly banished from among us There would be better Living then in this World of iniquity Righteousness exalteth a Nation but Sin is a reproach to any People Prov. 14. 34. Covetousness is the Plague-sore of the Commonwealth who is addicted to it will make empty the Soul of the Hungry and he will cause the drink
warning against the presumptuous Sinner who turns the Grace of Rom. 2. 4. God into Wantonness who trifles with that which should lead him to Repentance who deceives himself with a slight Remoâ—se and Sorrow but continues impenitent And also to affâ—ighten malicious Transgressors who sin yet more upon the fore sight of future Repentance To make the Professor of Christianity look about himself who doth this or that deliberate Sin as opposing Gods Truth and Servants of set purpose to comply with the humour of the World and thinks to come off afterwards upon a general Repentance or secretly asking Pardon or the like and upon this he did trust before I say to make all these throughly consider what they do and not to be deceived in a matter of so great Concern it is necessary to explain the true Nature of it more fully When the mind is now to do such a thing upon through Consideration Mat. 23. 30. how can they say afterwards they would not have done it or else to trick with the Almighty by not giving way to that because he hopes to have this excuse for his Sin to be willingly ignorant and to do a thing hastily with that reserve this is to disobey that God who twice Commands to consider our ways Hag. 1. 5 7. to endeavour to out-wit him who is all-wise or seek to hide their Counsel from the Lord Isa 29 15. Shall not God search this out For he knoweth the secrets of the Heart Psal 44. 21. And hence may be observed a great difference between the Worâ—s of the Flesh and Perversities of the Spirit The former being through infirmity of the Flesh transient Acts and of sudden surprizal may be more easily repented of because through their Deceitfulness and Temptation the Man may be beguiled or overtaken and when he comes to be convinced of their true Nature and recover out of them he may Act Indignation and Revenge upon himself for the same But for the latter sort when they are resolved on and all the 2 Cor. 7. 11. Circumstances fully known when neither surprizal nor ignorance but what was wilful can be pretended for it this makes the Sin of a very deep dye And when the mind is now to do it and either doth or may foresee the reality thereof with its Consequents How can such an one expect that if it were to do again upon the like Circumstances he would not when now he doth the very same I mean advised continued Acts of Sin as that Spirit of Stubbornness and Perverseness opposing the known Truth Persecution for which Paul gives the Reason why He obtained Mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief 1 Tim. 1. 13. which implies that if it had been knowingly done it would not have been so easily Pardoned Think upon the Case of Persecutors and Hereticks who have persisted so after a full Conviction that they were in the wrong and how many of them have you heard to have came to Repentance What they have done in secret it may be a Question whether that will be accepted for as their offences have been done openly so should their Recantation be likewise if they would have it avail It is necessary not only to be sorry or secretly to bewail but further to undo the fault as much as it can be And as God was dishonoured publickly in like manner to regain his Favour they should acknowledge their Error before Ezra 10. 2 3. Lev. 26. 40. Josh 7. 19. Ezra 10. 10 11. Mark 1. 5. Acts 19. 18. all To speak after the manner of Men That God should have repair for his hurt Majesty have Glory given unto him by Confessing their own Shame We must do as much to reconcile our selves unto an offended God as the Great Ones of the Earth require from all that displease them And this iâ— the end of Confessior those things done in private may be there acknowledged unto Almighty God but in other things the acknowledgment must be as publick as the Sin was Of all that mischief done to the Church of God by Error or Violence smiting with the Tongue of Fist there have been but few instances left on Record of Penitents of this Nature Do not those who have Acted cruelly die suâ—lenly And in those fierce Disputes where one side must be convinced to be in the wrong by the Power and clearness of the Arguments of the other side yet out of Pride Oâ—â—tinacy or Interest they will go on and seek for Eâ—asions where they cannot Answer but how few will openly declare themselves to have been in an Error Where it is purely a defect of Understanding and a mind willing to be informed we have some Reâ—raâ—tations but when the perverse Spirit is once mingled with them it is seldom that they come to Repentance We who are short-sighted and know little but what we gather by Reason and Experience which requires Succession of time are admitted unto Repentance which may supply these Defects and space and Liberty is left unto us of a full advised Choice of Good or Evil Life or Death Now when there is a through and firm perswasion of the Vanity and Vexation of Sin when he doth not barely commit it once twice or so often as to know what it is but still continue in vâ—miting not to be contented to lye only but to Wallow in the Mire is a Sign that he hath 2 Pet. 2. 20 22. made that his Choice Again when God calls by his Word his Spirit by his methods of Judgment and Mercy the Sinner to be reconciled unto him yet he stands out continually surely then he doth not Choose the Fear of the Lord Prov. 1. 29. But is Rebellious Disobedient refusing that reverence and subjection he owes unto his Maker And if at length when he finds he shall be punished for the same then he will make a pretended submission Or stood out so long of set purpose think to pacifie him with a slight Sorrow and going softly for a time by a partial and imperfect Amendment of Life God will judge of this Repentance is never too late if Fruits meet for Repentance are brought forth afterwards if there doth succeed the Christian Life in all Godliness and Honesty But if the â—icled will turn from all his Sins that he hath commited and keep all my Statutes and do that which is lawful and right he shall surely live he shall not die Ezek. 18. 21. God is sometimes pleased to bring home his Servants by Affliction and Sickness and therefore if in that which proves unto Death there is a true turning of the Soul unto God and he knows the Man would really order his Conversation according to the Gospel and for sake all his former Sins this Man hath good grounds of Hope for Mercy and Forgiveness But for him who puts it off all his Life-time before who thought it soon enough to make his Peace with God in Sickness and Old Age who
hear or forbear if the first they are Ezek. 2. 5. 7. Wise and will come to Faith and Knowledge if they forbear they are the most soâ—tish Fools that can be for they certainly plunge themselves into all those Evils whereas the other way they might have avoided them The best dictates of Wisdom make the Man enquire about these things because they so nearly concern him his own self His own Eternal Happiness or Misery and finding it so he must prepare accordingly Then he comes to consider what he is to do and avoid that he may be Happy and safe as to this most necessary thing which leads to the second point 2. This hath great influence over Mens Actions because it is present They are all done out of consideration of Happiness or Misery to have the one and eschew the other is the desire of Good and Bad Righteous and Wicked Each Man acts upon such a number of Thoughts within himself concerning the one or the other The Question is concerning Good and Evil Duty or Sin which tends most unto Happiniss and to avoid Misery which hath been debated all along particularly in the more considerable instances It is certain on the one hand there is a real Good in whatever God commands it is agreeable unto and preserves our nature hath an increase and expectation of better things to come On the other sâ—e What is forbidden is only a vain appearance of Happiness It hurts and comes near to Destroy It raises Doubt and Misery all the Life long and Dread of worse things hereafter They do vanish in the Act and manifestly come to nothing The pleasures of Sin can never make a Man Happy because they are unsatisfactory at the very time they are for a season which is short and all one as if it had never been There is no hope of any thing more but fearful Expectaion Here is the great searching of Heart for Man hath a good-will towards God but a jealousy as to this one thing He hath a Zeal and Inclination for his Worship for that by use may become familiar unto him and hinders of nothing And therefore shews himself willing to every part thereof So for Godliness there is no such Dispute he is quickly brought over to that If he hath sufficient to live handsomely in the World he assents unto as reasonable and fit to be practised all the rules of Righteousness this is of good report and accepted in the World unless some mistrusts of a Livelihood and coming to Want of which hath been heretofore spoken However this is granted by all to Chap. 14. conduce towards the welfare of the Community and single Persons But the great Suspicion and Contest is about the denial of worldly Lusts and living soberly in this VVorld Here is imagined an hindrance of Happiness This hath been likewise endeavoured to he cleared and the nature of things stated that Man might be satisfied as to this Were he alike perswaded that these do not obstruct his Happiness no more then acts of Prety and Justice he would equally approve and follow them Nâ—y they promote it as hath been shewed The equity of Gods ways may be seen towards us for they are justified of all those who walk therein and those who do not excuse themselves Wickedness is condemned of her self even those who practice one kind condemn another whereof they are not so Guilty The Worshipper of God who lives in Injuâ—â—ice and Sin will speak against the Ungodly the Coveâ—ous and Unrighteous will exclaim against the Intemperate and Unclean Person as again he will to the Hypocrite and Knave Even Sinners know but they are enslaved to wicked Desires and Lust that it would be better to live without them Man doth earnestly desire Happiness and seek after it in every thing besides the right in every place but where it is only to be found Let any one make a Proposal of Good he hearkens and thankfully accepts thereof But if put in mind of Religion then there is such a clutter and stir about that he knows enoâ—gh already The Prophet speaks to our time and exactly to the present purpose For Precâ—pt must be upon Precept Precept upon Precept Line upon Line Line upon Line here a little and there a little This is the Râ—st wherewith ye may cause the weary to Rest and this is the Refreshing yet they would not hear â—sa 28. 10 12. It is not a vain thing you are perswaded unto It is your Wisdom It is your Happiness It is your Life there is no need to exhort to that If some invisible Enemy did not beat off and 't is your own fault to give way to him for you may resist him if you will it is impossible you should keep so at a distance or refrain from what carries such Evidence and Demonstration of Good. If the same did not tempt and push on and you might abstain if you would you could never be so eager after the Wages of Sin and Death to the committing of those things wherein is no Benefit the most that can be said for it is a slight Convenience which instantly Psal 119. 119. passeth away and satisfeith not it is but dross Those who now stand in defence of the Gospel are at some disadvantage by reason of long custom in Sin and Iniquity Men Jer 41. 17 18 19. are for doing what their Fathers have done before them But that again is taken away because there is so much the more experience to witness unto the truth of what we speak It is the property of Wisdom to know that before hand which Fools know sensibly upon themselves There hath been some Thousand Years experience of the Misery and Deceitfulness of Sin and innumerable Examples upon a Death-Bed sincerely wishing that they had lived otherwise These give sufficient warning to those few who now live who will go away in like manner and also to succeeding Ages That Iniquity should still abound is one of the depths of Satan But we have encouragement by the Promises of God that the World will be better Reformed before the absolute end thereof O Lord my Strength and my Fortress and my Refuge in the day of Affliction The Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the Earth and shall say surely our Fathers have inherited Lies Vanity and things wherein there is no profit Jer. 16. 19. Part of which hath been already fulfilled as to the abolishment of Idolatry and false Worship and also that great Corruption of the Roman Church whereby Christianity is now Blasphâ—med throughout the whole World will be yet taken away The other part hath in some measure and will be yet found true more universally by the actions and Rom. 2. 23 Deut. 32. 21. Tit. 3. 3. manners of Men for God is dishonoured by them and they find no good therein They shall confess and perceive that their Ancestors were mistaken as to the great Concernment of all