wast false to my Honour and Interest thou didst betray me Thou that didst call me Lord and Master and yet disobey my Commandments And if Christ and his Gospel finds no fairer Quarter from Friends what may he expect when he falls into the Hands of Thieves It was this which cut David to the heart to be so treacherously dealt with by a pretending Friend Psal. xli 9. Minâ—… own familiar friend in whom I trusted that did eat of my bread hath lift up his heel against me May not we take up the same heavy and doleful Complaint on the behalf of Religion They that have eaten her Bread and drank her Wine have kicked and spurned at her Hear the Psalmist again mournfully bewailing his Case Psal. lv 12 13 14. It was not an enemy that reproached me sor then I could have born it neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me then I would have hid my self from him But it was thou a man mine equal my guide my acquaintance We took sweet counsel together and walked to the house of God in company This was the cutting killing Stroke And this aggravates the Case of Religion in this dismal day Religion has been wounded betrayed reproached by pretended Friends when yet the Upright like that holy dying Woman 1 Sam. iv 22. know not how to out-live the departing glory but are willing to die with it It 's a matter of the greatest Difficulty to persuade us to Repent of our guiltiness in this Thing and before I can hope to prevail I must premise a few Particulars 1. Whatever Reproach the Professors of Religion draw upon their own Persons will certainly be fastned upon their Profession Now tho' this be an unjust Procedure to Reproach a Holy Truth because he that owns it holds it in Unrighteousness yet thus it will be in Fact the Crimes the Excesses of Men will reflect upon the Doctrine They that will Reproach Men for their Duties will much more revile them for their Iniquities and from thence take a welcome occasion to revile their Principles and Professions 2. Whatever Reproach falls upon Religion will reflect upon the Author of it even our Blessed Saviour himself And this should sway with all our Consciences to walk inoffensively to give no just Occasion to them that seek it and watch for it to blaspheme the Name of our God Hear how affectionately the Psalmist prays Psal. lxix 6. Let not them that wait on thee O Lord be ashamed for my sake let not them that wait on thee be confounded for my sake O Lord God of Israel And he had reason to be sensible that some Pious Souls might be justly offended at him and reproached for him when by his sin he had caused the Enemies of God to blaspheme 2 Sam. xii 14. But that I may more effectually Prosecute this Use in inviting you to Humiliation for and Lamentation over those Scandals which our Holy Religion has contracted upon our Account I will endeavour to lay before you these three things 1. I will shew what an Excellent Religion we have reproached 2. I will lay before you the great Zeal of the Primitive Christians to Adorn their Religion in those purest Times 3. I will further open how unworthily we have defiled it in ours § 1. Let me shew you what an Excellent Religion that is which we have thus shamefully Reproached Amongst the many Great and Glorious Excellencies of the Christian Religion as it stands described and recorded in the Scriptures of Truth this is one 1. It is a sound Doctrine 1 Tim. vi 3. wholesome words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as are sound in themselves and make sound Tit. ii 1. Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All is sound all sincere nothing rotten 1. This Doctrine imbibed will make a sound Head not filling it with empty Notions aiery Speculations much less with rotten Matter which will breed Impostumes and break out into Ulcers but with such due Conceptions of God as will settle our Faith engage our Fear provoke our Love command our Obedience and in all secure the Souls everlasting Interest 2. It will make a sound Heart the Psalmist prays Psal. cxix 80. Let my heart be sound in thy statutes that I may not be ashamed As the Truth received into the Head will keep us sound from Heterodoxy so the same Truth entertained in its Power into the Heart will secure it from Hypocrisy 3. It will make a sound Conscience for herein alone is that Doctrine of Peace and Reconciliation with God revealed through Christ whose Blood sprinkled on the conscience purges it from dead works to serve the living God Heb. ix 14. 4. It will produce a sound Conversation we may lay it down for a Rule that Religion which begins in Hypocrisy will end in Apostacy And there 's little difference whether we go in a True way with a false Heart or forsake that way through a false Heart a sound Heart is the great preservative against both Now here we have cause to mourn till we have exhausted the Springs of Tears and can weep no more Lamenting over the rotten Doctrines of our Days which have defied and defaced this Holy and Sound Doctrine the rotten Conversations that have shamed it and rendred it contemptible The Truth is we can neither bear our Remedy nor our Disease we are sick with our Food and sick with our Physick The Scripture gives us True Notions of God but Men are ignorant and too proud to be taught 1 Tim. vi 3. Proud knowing nothing This Doctrinâ—… would be a lamp to our feet but we shut our Eyes against it and a light to our paths but we will not use it nor admit it to be our Guide in the ways of Holiness 2. Another Excellency of the Gospel is that it 's a Doctrine according to Godliness 1 Tim. vi 3. And a Doctrine after Godliness Tit. i. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As if the whole System of Divine Truth were squared and modelled by Godliness It 's not only true that Godliness must be tried and proved by this Doctrine but that the Doctrine is formed and fashioned by the Rule of Godliness every Leaf Line Proposition is adapted to the advancement of Godliness Here 's no Indulgence for Sin no Toleration for Lust not one loose Principle in the Body of Scripture Divinity and if any Doctrine offers it self that breaths not Purity we may safely reject it as that which is not after Godliness And let this also renew our Lamentation that such a Doctrine has been tortured upon the Rack of unsanctified Wits to abet filthiness and uncleanness Men have reap'd what God never sow'd and gather'd what the Holy Spirit never strew'd when this Grace of the Gospel is turned into lasciviousness and Men have abounded in sin because the Grace of God has abounded towards Sinners 3. It has this Peculiar Excellency that in every respect it
word in season even amongst the Profane has proved a seed of God lodged in the mind which Divine Grace in due time has awakend to Conversion Let us therefore earnestly beg of God this mixture of holy Zeal and holy Prudence That when Providence shall cast our Lot into evil Company though we must have some Commerce with wicked Mens Persons we may have no Communion with them in their wickedness I conclude this Head with that blessed Advice of 1 Pet. ii 12. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speak against you as evil doers they may by your good works which they shall behold glorisie God in the day of visitation 1 Pet. iii. 13. Having a good conscience that whereas they speak evil of you as evil doers they may be ashamed that falsly accuse your good conversation in Christ. 8. In all things In all those Relations wherein the goodness and wisdom of God has placed us It has pleased the Soveraign disposer of all things in his own World which he powerfully made and wisely Administers to set his Rational Creatures in several Relations some he has appointed to govern others to obey but whatever Post the Divine Pleasure has allotted us to keep our business must be to Adorn the Doctrine of our God and Saviour in All things Rom. xii 6 7 8. Having therefore gifts differing according to the grace that is given us whether ministry let us wait on our one ministring or he that teacheth on teaching or he that exhorteth on exhortation or he that ruleth with diligence that so we may fill up that Relation with a holy Zeal to glorifie our God and Saviour 1. There is the Master and his Servant the Master perhaps may think he 's above the Control of his poor Servant but he must know that he has also a master in heaven Col. iv 1. Let him then remember that with this God there is no respect of persons Let them make a Conscience to give unto their servants that which is just and equal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It 's just that they receive the Reward of their Labour which by Compact or Desert they may claim It 's Equal that as Masters exact of their Servants time for their Service that they allow them competent time for the service of God nor let Servants think that their Relation to God does exempt them from Fidelity to their Masters on Earth 1 Tim. vi 1. Let as many servants as are under the yoak count their own masters worthy of all honour that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed To plead or pretend Christian Liberty as a Manumission from Christian Subjection and Duty is an open blaspheming of the Doctrine of God But because the Case of Servants seems hard the Divine Goodness has made the Promise adequate to the Precept Col. iii. 23 24. Whatever ye do do it heartily as to the Lord knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance This Exhortation is inculcated in our Text and Context Ver. 9. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters and to please them well in all things not purloining but shewing all good fidelity and all upon this great Consideration which has its influence upon all other Relations and their respective Duties that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things 2. Upon the same Reason and account it is that Wives are strictly commanded 2 Tit. iv 5. To be sober to love their husbands to love their children to be discreet keepers at home good obedient to their own husbands and all this enforced with the same great Motive That the word of God be not blasphemed All inferior Relations carry some inconveniences with them they have the labouring Oar which renders their Case somewhat difficult and furnishes corrupt Hearts with matter of discontent but still this one thing may abundantly satisfie them that in whatsoever Station the wise God has fixt them they are yet capable of adorning the doctrine of our God and Saviour 3. This consideration is also pressed upon the Consciences of Subjects 1 Pet. ii 13 14. Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake whether it be to the King as supreme or unto Governours as unto them that are sent by him for so is the will of God that by well doing ye put to silence the ignorance of foolish men Abundance of reproach has been thrown in the Face of Religion on this score which we can never wash off without Tears 't is well it was not washt off with our Blood nor shall we be able to do it till Obedience for Conscience sake shall convince the World that though the Ordinance be of Man yet the Authority is of God by which they Reign and for which we obey Ver. 10. As free and yet not using our liberty as a cloak of maliciousness but as the servants of God 9. Lastly In all things In all those various Conditions to which we are obnoxious in this Life Plenty or Want Sickness Health good or evil Report Liberty Restraint in all these or whatever other diversities of Providence the wise God shall try and exercise us with the Gospel of Christ must be Regarded and Advanced As Poverty gives no dispensation to Murmur Repine or Steal so Riches gives no indulgence to Oppression Luxury or Riot The Doctrine of the Gospel reacheth the highest bindeth the lowest Hath God favoured thee with Prosperity Bless his Name but humour not thy self in Vanity Hath God humbled thee Humble thy self under his mighty and righteous hand that he may exalt thee in his due time 1 Pet. v. 6. A Garment may be made decent and comely as well for a Funeral as a Wedding In Prosperity God invites us to Rejoice Eccles. vii 14. But yet to wear our Garments of praise with humility In the day of Adversity we are called to Consider that God has set the one over against the other Of this excellent Spirit was the Apostle Phil. iv 12. I know both how to be abased and how to abound every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need This one instance fairly Copied out upon our Hearts and expressed in our walking would convince the World of the excellency of the Doctrine of the Gospel and the Grace of God that can teach the Soul to maintain an equipoise of Mind in all Estates To have a humble Heart in an elevated and a high Faith in a low condition Afflictive Sorrows and exalting Comforts divide our whole Lives between them yet both of them are capable of glorifying God Jam. v. 13. If any man be afflicted let him pray Prayer under Affliction witnesses that we believe our God to be good and gracious in it that he can support us under it can do us much good by it and deliver us from it But if any be
Soul can lie at his Foot and take the Law from his Mouth then will his Precepts be exceeding precious A Command that lies only on the Back is heavy ungrateful and the uneasie Soul waits but a fair opportunity to shake it off and the Flesh will never let it want such an opportunity but when it has got hold upon and firm footing in the Heart it meets with a Principle there suited to it The new Heart makes new Obedience pleasant Ezek. xxxvi 26 27. A new heart also will I give you and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do them 3. A clear Experience of present strength to Obey with a firm belief of a future Reward will render Obedience pleasant There is not only present Strength felt and a future Reward expected but a prelibation of that future Reward too which contributes to this delight Psal. xix 11. In keeping of them there is great reward But when the holy Soul can live walk act in the hope of that eternal Salvation whereof Christ is the Author to all that obey him Heb. v. 9. When the Eye of Faith has got Moses his Perspective-Glass to behold him that is Invisiblâ—… and clearly see the Recompence of Reward this alleviates the Burdens counter-ballances the Inconveniencies overcomes the Difficulties which attend a close walking with God A future Reward produces a present Comfort the reward of Eternity influences the present time for Faith and Hope though they deal with what is absent distant future yet Administer present Joy present Strength because the Connexion between upright universal Obedience and the glory of that other World is close strong and inviolable Such are then the Precepts of the Gospel so excellent so glorious in themselves and to all who in a Consciencious course of holy Walking have proved and approved them and yet so shamefully have they been sullied violated and trodden under foot that the Question Recoils upon us at every turn How shall we vindicate them What must we do to restore them to their own inherent Glory In answer to which I will lay down these few and plain but necessary Directions 1. Direction Let the Universality of your Obedience convince the World that you make a Conscience of Obeying you will never satisfie others nor your selves nor the searcher of Hearts to Obey in any unless you Obey in All. He that will pick out one Duty where and when it may consist with the Interest of the Flesh and wave others because they will not comport with that Interest will never stop the Mouths of Men nor silence the Clamours of his own Conscience when it shall accuse him of partiality in God's Law Mal. ii 9. The Lawgiver has stampt the same Impressions of his Authority the same Characters of Holiness upon them all and he that can allow himself professedly and deliberately to break one is prepared to break them all when the Temptation shall press hard upon his Corrupt Heart Jam. ii 11. He that said do not commit Adultery said also do not kill This was the ground of the Psalmist's lifting up his Face with Confidence Psal. cxix 6. Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect to all thy Commandments The Scribes and Pharisees were a sad instance of this Hypocrisie They would strain at a Gnat and yet could swallow a Camel They would be thought severe in Tything Mint Anise and Cumin and yet could neglect Mercy and Judgment those great and weighty matters of the Law Matth. xxiii 23. If we look upon them in Ceremonials the most straight-â—…aced and tâ—…nder Conscienced men in the whole World but when you view them in their Morals the most loose and dissolute nothing would choak them there John xviii 28. They would not go into the judgment hall lest they should be defiled but that they might keep the Passover And yet they were not so nice and squeamish but they could shed Innoâ—â—nt Blood and imbrue their Hands in that of the Messiah They would not touch a dead Body for a World yet scrupled not to murder a Man They would not eat with unwashen hands but had no regard to cleanse their Consciences The Apostle expostulates with the Judaizers Rom. ii 20. Thou that abhorrest Idols dost thou commit Sacriledge Thou that makest thy boast of the Law through breaking of the Law dishonourest thou God For the name of God is blasphemâ—…d among the Gentiles through you In a Word Nothing will buoy up the Repute of a drowning Religion till the Professors of it shall make it appear That they not only Obey the Precepts of the Gospel but that they carry a raâ—â—cated Principle in their Hearts that will not suffer them to disobey which Principle though it falls short of what God in strictness may expect yet must it come up to what he in Mercy will accept And this was the ground of the Apostles Considence Heb. xiii 18. Pray for us For we trust we have a good Conscience in all things willing to live honestly 2. Direct Make it appear that you can and dare obey against all temptations oppositions and discouragements An unsound Man will walk smoothly on in smooth Ways but rugged Paths and a stiff Gale in his Face make him return Thus many will walk a Mile or two with Christ but when Persecution 〈◊〉 bâ—…cause of the Word they have always a reserve in their Bosoms and an evil Heart is an easie Casuist to dispense with Obedience upon slender Penance That Man who is under a Law in his own Conscience subject to the Authority of God that owns no Dispensation from Obedience nor Indulgence to sin is the Man that will Adorn the Precepts They that can shift their Sails as the Wind veres and use all the Points of the Compass to make their Point and whether the Gale blows from Hell or Heaven can serve themselves of it will never Credit his Religion The Providences of God are many and various the Precepts are uniform they vary not the wise God makes use of the former to Prove us in the latter Thus he led Israel through the wilderness Deut. viii 3. To prove them to know whether they would keep his Commandments or no. They had bread to the full to prove them whether they would Obey in Plenty Again they are reduced to Straits to try whether they would follow him in want The Proofs will lie here whether we can be content with Winter as well as Summer Work whether we will follow God in foul Weather as well as fair 3. Direction Let us be much in the Exercise of those Graces the Practice of those Duties which Men understand sincere Intentions good Meanings uprightness of Heart the acting of your Faith upon God come not within their Cognizance till you can shew and demonstrate your Faith by your Works Let your Faith justifie your Persons before God but till your Works shall