the eare but now mine eye seeth thee I abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes and repent Job 42.5 6. Whil'st Iob had not such an apprehension of Divine power as it was the lesse sinfull that his soule did not stir in reference to it as he ought but assoone as hee rightly understood it all other powers stirr'd thoroughly and Iob answerably repented and went about his businesse to stoop to that power which he saw above him Every faculty must have the honour of its place Divine Ordination must have the honour of its end or the man dies for it When you see these things say that winter is neare c. Saith the Scripture That is make use of what you apprehend and answerably stir and prepare or you wil perish with the world So you shall have expressions frequent when you heare this or that then doe thus and thus That is when one faculty does its Office let all the rest doe so too or else you are lost men If any sentinell shoot off and be not regarded the whole army dies for it Any soule-power misworking overthrowes all so any soule-power disobeyed in working by other powers overthrowes all If apprehension bee blinde and sleepy the soule is undon If apprehen sin see and speake in and by conscience and yet the heart lie still all will miscarry by surprise Apprehension is a power placed to prevent surprise Sad things concerning man by Divine Ordination worke at a distance for a time that man has his eyes in his head that sees this saith Solomon that is apprehension discharges its office if this Office and power bee sleighted by other powers in the heart all is taken by surprise I thinke apprehension now does its Office in most of you how is it obeyed in heart in other maine powers of the soule Surely now no man but must needs apprehend that hee may want much of God speedily as much as the Apostle apprehended these might doe much might all might now what stirring of heart under all that you apprehend yee are convinced are yee converted Doe yee stir now for your selves as the Apostle did for these Doe yee wrestle hard with God for all that yee apprehend yee may need Can yee apprehend the necessity of much and be stirr'd little Can yee see bloud and death in the Land and lay nothing to heart Can'st thou see better bloud then thine own shed and yet make no preparation for the losse of thine Though many be slaine yet shall not I ah Lord that soule is slaine already 't will be wofull when that body comes to be slain too Dost thou see a Sword in the land separating between soule body and doest thou not yet set to separate between sin and thy soule Art thou resolved to die in thy sinne wilt thou bleed to death in thy sinne this will make every drop of bloud that comes from thee as gastly as Hell What a deadly bleeding is that when soule and body bleed to death together when the soule bleeds as fast with wounds from conscience as the body with wounds from man When soule and body bleed mortally together ah Lord let mee not be neere that man how will hee sigh how will hee looke speak gaspe and groan and yet many such sad sights may be for ought I can discerne in many mens preparations to this houre Sinners God deales with you now as with Balaam he stands before you with a drawen sword hee threatens your bloud your death if yee make a step further yee cannot but apprehend this now as well as I Balaam and his Asse too must needs see it now What now will yee doe will yee make no use of such palpable apprehension How exceeding sinfull wil that sin become which rids it out now against bloud and death and will live when the man must no longer live I beseech you all consider the dealings of God and consider your eternall state Christians what doe yee see what doe yee doe yee see bloud good bloud a great deale of good bloud fall does good bloud stir in you You see death most deadly comming towards you upon the point of a mercilesse sword as mercilesse I dare say you Londoners shall finde it if it prevaile as ever was drawn doe yee fit and prepare for it to be hewed to pieces drag'd to death trod to death under Horse-feet yee cannot but apprehend that things may goe very bad and that yee may need very much speedily does apprehension make due impression Doe yee worke out Heaven-ward as the Apostle doth here answerable to what yee apprehend you and yours may want Sinne is in great power where the soule will not give up when he sees God comming against him Thy love to sin will be an everlasting love that dies not to sinne now thou and it will goe to Hell together Affection to evill becomes Almighty unconquerable and there is no way but one with the man Man must die or his sinne that justice is at worke which will kill one or tother I bleed and mourne to see how some men sinne in the face of Justice at swords point sweare curse and drinke drunk and yet going about deadly workes I see plainly now that a man may see misery and yet not seeke out to be blessed hee may see himselfe and others very open to and very neere upon deadly danger and yet neither seeke out for himselfe nor others why else doe we see so many continue still yet as they were Pauls spirit surely is few mens happinesse to stir effectually towards God as they apprehend just cause Apprehension workes divinely upon affection as it keepes it selfe pure from unbeliefe and no otherwise Unbeliefe is full of shift and evasion the life of apprehension dies in this Apprehension made from the Word of God or works of God workes no longer nor no stronger then as faith workes with it Why doe such mighty apprehensions as wee raise sometimes by the word die and come to nothing but because faith dies men believe but whilst they see us and heare us speake Keepe faith alive you will else see Hell often and feele it too and yet doe nothing to shun it Yee will see misery and yet not prepare for it yea yee will see judgement at the doore and yet scoffe at it so did they of the old World and another old World is this Apprehension workes divinely upon the heart as the will is subdued A stubborne man fights against all apprehension he does not like he shootes at God a great way off and kills him before he can come neere the heart to doe any good there I will not heare him say's Ahab hee never prophesis good to mee A stubborn heart does prejudge kill things before they can come neere him Apprehensions worke as wee manage them the strongest are quickly kill'd if wee fight against them the truest quickely made delusive if an unsound heart be in us Apprehensions are best and worke best
t is a spirit of the right breed for the devil t will fight and fight till death t will worke to the utmost vires as long as nerves and sinewes bind bones together 't is everlasting burning which nothing will quench but its owne bloud Saints have had the triall on 't long long suffering A Christians condition is qualifyed Tristitia laetis he hath sweet things and bitter in every dish downe along to the lower end of his Table al-long his life he shall know that he is not at home He hath enough sometimes to say 't is good being here but never enough to say 't is best being here His rapture hath a rupture a sad breaking off his glory a shadow his statue a curtain drawen before it his heavenly vision is let down and drawen up his sunshines and clap's in suitable to this clowdy and impure region thus it doth through out the day Few and evill many and evill all evil doth good Iacob call his dayes so were all his sweets imbitter'd and qualifyed by God If one mercy be come another must be gon if corne be come Benajmin must be gon some thing for life is come and he that had the fathers soule must be gone If some children come home well some evil is befallen the rest Joseph is without doubte rent in pieces Gen. 37.33 So 't was with the blessed seed afterward which inherited the promise Milke and Hony and prickes in the sides whilst eating on 't and so it must be all a long as long as in Canaan the best people long sufferers in the best place that earth will afford A Christians condition is improved Christians are Gods Vineyard into this Vineyard God sends labourers to worke hard and to worke so long to the sixth ninth and last houre to make much fruit Afflictons are Gods day-labourers they work and worke thoroughout mans day to plow and breake up his fallow heart to grub up rootes bitter rootes and to prepare the way of the Lord for good fruit As God hath day-labourers to belabour the eare the heart the inward man and these kept at worke till the ninth and last houre of mans life so hee hath day-labourers to be labour the back the belly the outward man and these kept at worke as long as the other as long as man lives the one to prepare the way for the other one to plow and breake up and the other to sow The heart of man hath an unexpressible hardnesse the hardnesse of an Adamant many blowes will not break this stone it must be soakt in teares and in bloud long Afflictions are bitters to weane To moderate in lawfull things from sweets that are not necessary There is but one necessary the soule makes many t is whipt and whipt long ere 't will leave this Some children are not easiy to weane bitters must be laid upon the breast and lie long there ere the dug be cast off 't was long ere David could say Lord my heart is not haughty surely I have behaved and quieted my selfe as a child that is wean'd of his mother To take away unlawfull things Afflictions are to take away sinne By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sinne c. Isa 27.9 Afflictions and sufferings were onely to torture sin this might quickly be done but they are to take away sinne this is long work The furnace is to purify it must be heate and heate long to melt and segregate to discover disperse and take away drosse Afflictions are to worke truth in the inward parts t is long ere man be good at heart they are to heighten integrity t is longer ere the heart become so upright as to be a heart after Gods owne heart t is long ere a foule stomake will be made vomit up all t is long ere man will be brought to observe all Gods will this makes great plagues and of long continuance If thou will not observe to doe all the words of this Law that are written in this booke that thou maist feare this glorious and fearefull name THE LORD THY GOD. Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderfull and the plagues of thy seed even great plagues and of long continuance and sore sickenesses and of long continuance Deutrenomy 28.58 59. God puts weight To serve in truth great weight upon truth to make it enter and make thorough impression truth is managed with great art to put back every spring and to make the bolt goe forth as far as it should and as fast and facile as it should Let these sayings sinke downe into your eares for the Sun of man shall be delivered into the hands of men Luke 9.44 Christ made a weight of himselfe and ties this to his words to make them sinke down into mens hearts he makes a weight now of us speakes and then strikes strikes and strikes often and long and then sayes secretly to the soule let these and these words now sinke down into their eares Christ is faine to bore way for truth to bore a long hole from the eare to the heart and this many times is a long while a doing six yeeres ten yeers twenty yeers A Christians condition is conform'd 't is made to speake Christ within and without in spirit in flesh the booke is written within and without in our soules in our bodies we are made to beare the markes of the Lord Jesus markes broad and long just like his in every circumstance The plowers made long furrowes on his back as long as his life he was acquainted with griefe griefe and hee were long acquaintance his whole voiage about this lower world was in stormes A man of sorrowes his life made up of sighs groans teares words bloud thus breath'd thus expir'd a mourning life a bleeding death The servant is as his Lord sufferers both as long as livers in this World the Apostle apprehended these Christians would finde it so therefore so prayd Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulnesse Vse I have given you a survey of the way to Heaven expect dirty lanes and very long The way is narrow t is so all along scratching and tearing thornes and briers on both sides touching one another that 't is hard to make one step skin-whole Can yee beare these sayings Can yee beare such doings Can yee beare till your backes ake Can yee beare till your backes breake Can yee beare till you sinke and die under your burden Can yee suffer long as long as yee live Can yee leave all and follow Christ all your state all your limbes all your comforts al your dayes Can yee spend and end your dayes in misery to be blessed in another world you may think yee can doe so and be deceived Peter did so I will speake to this point a little There be three sorts of hearts which
hee sensibly differs from himselfe in affection Things momentanie are fallen two yea ten in the hundred with him they have lost their price The heart hath sold all for nothing that was all once unto it Gold Dung learning dung all losse and dung stinking earth that way taking The heart thirsts for nothing but him that is all all power all love all holinesse all happinesse Divine power where it workes strong enough to save makes passion divine all passions love joy feare hatred I doubt much what power workes in some mens hearts I see their affections so strong and so hearty to the World and the vanities of it I see passion so impure and so strongly working downward Christ and truth but as a straw when it lies in the way of the mans lust hee leapes over it with ease to satisfy his desire I like not the state of that mans heart Power is leading where t is saving it leades by truth by the heart I am thine save mee Saith the Psalmist Thine that is thine according to truth thine in heart thine in life thine in trust thine in bloud in Christs bloud I leane on none else to save me I leane to none else to guid me Power is killing that is saving sin-killing that is soule-saving The body of death dead the body of death no body no body with a soule with life Selfe-will slaine the will that lives Christs Not I live Christ lives in mee i not my will but Christs will carries and swayes the soule These things have beene said to try you what power and grace of God is in you I shall say a little more in the next place to stir you to acknowledge grace as you finde it and so leave this point and you for this time Divine power workes gradually why as you finde God working in you so acknowledge him Let God have his own to a graine Thine is the Kingdome and power c. Wee are taught this to acknowledge grace in its latitude to the God of all grace The Apostle gives God his owne by weight to a graine which workes in me mightily say's hee If God works in you mightily let him heare of it mightily As yee feele God praise God Make expression from operation and expresse it fully if you can Thus doth Daniel Then Daniel blessed the God of Heaven and said Blessed bee the Name of God for ever and ever for wisdome and might are his I thanke thee and praise thee O God of my Fathers who hast given mee wisdome and might Dan. 2. An excellent spirit and power wrought in Daniel and he acknowledges all to the giver wisdome and might are his How Gods Power and Glory went in the Sanctuary is turned into a Psalme of praise made to eccho to the author The very degree thereof is noted so as I have seene them That I may see thy Power and thy Glory So as I have seene them in the Sanctuary What he did enjoy was thankefully acknowledged what hee would enjoy againe was heartily panted after How you see and feele power and glory go in the ordinances how in your hearts I beseech you acknowledge to Christ let him have the glory of every powerfull working here Wee are men as your selves that our Weapons are mighty t is through God hee does all admire him adore him Heart-smitings heart-embracings kisses secretly or kickings secretly they are the kisses of his lips and the spurnings of his power give him the glory of all How prevailingly Christ hath revealed power in thee what a lust hee hath discovered subdued what an eternall state â—uined hath he repair'd What wounds hee hath healed What inward issues hee hath stayed What bones what broken bones and how many hee hath set and made to rejoyce let him have the glory of all As Christ kisses us we should kisse him Wee should meete our Father with joy Every Revelation of power in the heart 't is your Fathers comming towards you to take you nearer home to himselfe We call power little some Revelations thereof in comparison of others because the Scripture doth so speake of it for our weaknesse sake but this know t is no little power that will stir your hearts t is an arme of the Lord which is no small limbe to whom is the arme of the Lord revealed 't is more then a finger shall God reveale an arme in you and lose it in you Hee made the Sun Moone and Stars praise him saith the Psalmist But that power which hath made Sun and Starrs in your hearts which hath bespangl'd your spirits with various glories should not this much more make matter of praise As power heightens it selfe operando so should wee heighten it verbis elevando As any Revelation hath lesse or more of God in it so it should busie and take up the heart to returne it in thy hand is power and might and in thy hand is to make great c. 1 Chron. 29.1 As Gods hand did worke for David so did Davids heart and tongue worke for God hee turned power into praise and so sent it home againe in state to Heaven But more of his expressions in that place are very observable to this purpose and point I am pressing But who am I saith hee and what is my people that wee should be able to offer so willingly 1 Chron. 29.14 That we should be able and able so willingly here is the very degree of enabling power praisingly noted As high as power sets a lesson of love so high to a crochet it should be sung Doe but consider some poore soules that sit by you which have no power of God stirring in them but lie dead damnably dead and then bee you dead if you can to give thanks for that power which hath quickned and raised you from the dead God will turne grace into our glory hereafter we should turne grace into his glory here FINIS USEFULL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times COLOSS. 1.11 Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long suffering wiih joyfulnesse T Is as it ought to be when apprehension makes full and due impression upon affection When the soule workes out for God in desire and Prayer according as it apprehends the neede of him the necessity of his power love or the like for himselfe or others Suitable to what the Apostle apprehended he prayed suitable to what hee judged these would neede of GOD of his Power and might so hee heartily wished to them Apprehension is placed sentinell in the soule by God the actions of it should stirre all It 's a power in man to see at a distance and to give warning to all other powers that the heart may more looke out and worke out according to what is or will be needed God is come within sight of man when apprehensioÌ„ reacheth him According to what of God is in sight so should the soule stir I have heard of thee by the hearing of
whether Christ will put in and beg the mans life here lies the case and depends wholly upon Christs Will What fellowship your soules have with God I know not whether God say any thing or nothing whether instruction with strong hand be come to instruction with weake hand by reason of your strong lusts whether your instruction with weake hand be not come to instruction with no hand but bare blows for your basenesse whether all whisperings be not layd aside and whispering turn'd into whipping this would be lookt well into for it speaks very ominously for eternity Love or hatred cannot be guessed at by things without but by Gods dealings within they may shrewedly be guessed at Profanatio 3. Profanenesse is a third property of a man fitted to wrath Profanenesse is the badge of an Esau wickednesse speaks out a cursed soule To what Country a man belongs you may understand by his language whether to Spaine France or the like Hell hath its openings as Heaven hath when Hell opens in a mans mouth what needs any further enquity what Country man Sir To what place do you belong A man moulded and shaped for wrath may be read in his face Death though it cease within yet it shew it selfe in the very superficies without You have such a common speech One may see Death in that mans face A mans life is in reference to his eternall estate as his face is in reference to his temporall 't is Index â—nimi index futuri index aeterni A mans life foretells his end What course any man leads broadly speakes what such a man is what he will be for felicity or misery An a man be in the broad-way he may prophesie where 't will end and to what inheritance he shall come whether to light or darknesse I know not what lives you lead Christ do's and you should Let them be led how they will you may spell Heaven or Hell out of them Life is but an expression of the frame of the spirit 't is but motion according to such wheeles and such a spring within If you will know of what frame or what make your soules are and to what fitted view your lives Your soules breath out themselves in your lives and they breath out themselves in the bosome of God or the devill into whose bosome you breath your soules in life into that bosome you will certainly breath them in death As you find your state now move To fit for Heaven is no trifle your eternall estate depends upon 't To fit for Heaven is not arbitrary you cannot come there without it To fit for Heaven is not easy the making power of God must go to it Sinners why do you put of this worke as a trifle And why do you put it of till death That man would never be holy if he could shift it that will not be holy till he dy He would never have to do with Christ if he could shun him that will not seek aquaintance with him till he must leave leave this Word When death is fitting the soule for Hell then the soule sets about to fit it selfe for Heaven Ah Lord that ever this man had a soule that damnes it himselfe Wrath doth usually crosse and curse this folly men are surprised in body or surpris'd in soule no strength or no heart and so dy in their sinne Fitting grace for Heaven hath its means hath its season hath its course and then hath its blessed end I will touch these a little ' T'ath its meanes Will you be fitted for Heaven yee wicked soules and use no means 'T is common to the worst man to cast their soules upon a miracle for salvation and not upon means God fits by his word they 'l heare none God fits by Prayer they 'l use none God fits by his People and they care for none holy Ordinances sleighted and yet the holy-Land promised Ah Lord Are not these soules mad to conclude the end and exclude the means These men will dy in presumption or else I dare dy for them 'T 'as its season Earthen Vessels have their season for molding and shapeing to such a forme and to such an use All times of the yeare are not seasonable for such a purpose Salvation hath its day the Sun stands not still 't is comming towards a man for so many houres and then goes away from him as fast Fitting seasons for Heaven are transient sleighted and eternally hid from a mans eyes O that thou hadst knowne in this thy day c. But now they are hid Love passions are strong but no fire cooles so fast as this when abused nor so hard to be kindled again when out God knocks and if no opening away to others that will He comes to a mans house and proclaimes peace if peace be not regarded he departs with a witnesse leaves the dust of his feet behinde him to testify what a base Earthy heart 't was that rejected him Fitting grace for Heaven hath its course Physick has its course to fit the body for health malignities are not carried away presently Bad spirits abounding râ—quire sweating and sweating again The great Physitian hath his course prescription upon prescription line upon line All is not done of an houre to make the soule fit for blessednesse for ever Grace conflicts with corruption long ere it can get â—he victory and render the soule fit for Heaven Some sinners will never be fit for Heaven because they cannot beare a fitting course Sorrow for sin spending the paine of conscience killing bleeding til binding up from Christ comes utterly consuming not to be thought of if these men can fit themselves for Heaven 't is wel they will never be made fit by Christ they are so idle headed and wilfull harted Finally after grace hath had its fitting course then it has the fruition of its end a fit soule expires into Heaven the soule fit for Heaven stayes not long thence The spirit say's come when fit the Bride say's come when fit a fitted soule for Heaven is a panting soule for Heaven and Christ a panting husband for this Spouse Grace hath its distinct property at every height when at full height and fit to be dissolved it desires dissolution and dissolution is granted as a medium to its ultimate forme which makes the perfection of a thing A Chrâ—stian is perfect when fit for Heaven his Grace is perfect when in Heaven Christians I have something to say to you from this Point and then I give it up and get gon 'T is many a good soules panting often O that J were fit For Heaven Why Christ makes so He workes at such a height as at which thy heart bends The bending of thy heart to such a height in Grace is a prevenient disposition to it 't is the worke thou wouldest begun and well on-ward to finishing Such a panting soule will be fit for Heaven and caught up into Heaven ere hee 's aware When the Soule is
a Christian all these sweet expressions aptly point out this in my Text to wit that strengthning and relieving power which carries along and finishes the first worke strengthened with all might c. Divine power as it workes towards a Christian works effectually The word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe 1 Thess 2.13 An effectuall power subjected to worke for man works and works again and never leaves working till it hath effected its worke which is preservation unto salvation grace unto life This power works creando corroborando creating and strengthening it maks the soule passe from strength to strength till it be above all opposing strength and expired safe and compleat into that breast from whence it was first breathed This expression effectuall power is an expression of dreadfull importance it notes that divine power works sometimes by halves not effectually Something towards birth and towards a man-child some pangs and throwes but makes but an abortive at last some things towards reliefe but sinkes and dies and le ts that which seemed to be come to nothing but when it works effectually it makes grace and carries on that grace to glory it makes a Christian and then it strengthens him to abide so to death against deadly opposition Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse Finally Divine power as it works about a Christian works perpetually 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the utmost as you have it expressed which is very lively Heb. 7.25 it layes out it selfe to the furthest all vires Divinoe potentiae are stretcht and made to beare and carry to eternity to carry unto death thorough death beyond death above death as that mighty expression is Ps 48.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Supra mortem To resolve it selfe into everlasting Armes that is a power subjected to use a Divine power subjected to humane use everlastingly so as to leave no place no possibility of miscarrying to a Christian let what will be or can be on this side death in death or beyond death so long as the soule is Divine power is so subjected to worke about a Christian as not to lose its worke no whit of its worke what ever losse he made otherwise upon the man as a man troubles may make losse upon a man as a farmer as a Gentleman as a Noble-man but not upon man as a Christian power is subjected so to worke as to carry up carry on carry out all its own works about the soule in perpetuum To all eternity Argumen ∣ tum Power subjected to worke about a Christian works from speciall love power which workes from such a love can never leave working till it has its end because love workes to the end and it works by power and all other attributes for the good of the beloved Upon this ground the Apostle Paul was confident of the Phillippians perseverance in the truth being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good worke in you will performe or finish it unto the day of Iesus Christ Phil. 1.6 Divine power as it workes strentheningly and relievingly Media explicandi is peculiar to Christians it s the same power which began a good worke continued working to finish it Where Divine power works not creatingly it works not relievingly hence 't is that one which is not a Christian indeed holds not out alwayes to be a Christian in shew hence 't is likewise that Christ saith I have lost none but a lost Creature one that was never found a child of perdition lost from the beginning a child of wrath unto wrath had he ever had grace in truth I would have strengthened it and kept it those which thou gavest me I have kept c. Ioh. 17.12 Keeping power waites about those that the Father hath given to the Son and none else all others are lost and to goe for lost Strengthening power works towards all Christians successively that is from Generation to Generation by act of solemne intercession Christ made it a solemne businesse to make free way in Heaven for a relieving and securing power to worke here on Earth as long as any Saints should be in it And now am I no more in the World but those are in the World and I come to thee Holy Father keepe through thine owne Name those whom thou hast given unto me that they may be one as we are c. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word Ioh 11. 20. The state of a Christian is botom'd in bloud founded in Christs death made out by life by Prayer and intercession all is merited by Christs bloud particulars are drawne out and conferred upon solemne intercession Christs intercession ceased not when he was on Earth the requests above mentioned I conceive to be a continuation of solemne intercession which must last till all the Saints be above all wants Heb. 7.25 He ever lives to make intercession for them he that lived on Earth was an intercessor he that dyed lives againe and goes on with that worke which he began from the wombe of the morning from the beginning of love breathing upon fallen Adam he that lives prayes he has done so from the first Saints and will doe so to the last on Earth hee makes all Prayers of Christians Gods rest and mans relief pleasing to God and strengthening to man Strenegthned with all might c. Finally all powers which worke in man worke to an eternall end powers of darkenesse all powers judiciarie which worke in sinners are to finish sin and bring sinners to their place To a condition miserable as neere the Devill as may be So all the powers which work in Christians subduing power strengthening power leading keeping carrying bosoming power are to perfect grace and bring them to glory Holy Father keepe through thine own Name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are the end of keeping power Ioh. 17.11 you see is a compleate state that they may be one as we are Divine powers worke shapingly to the highest and happiest similitude as their end and never leave working and shaping this way till they have made the felicity of the elect together the nearest and the liveliest emblem of the felicity of the Trinity which each person hath in and with each other Vse 1 Christians walke humbly this is the first thing that I would commend to you from this point your state needs reliefe your best state your graces need supporting and strengthening You had your being by grace so you have your standing by grace as strengthening and relieving mercy and compassion work towards you so will yee doe well as this declines so will yee faint and doe ill 2 Cor. 4.1 As we have received mercy we faint not saith our Apostle Our strength and supply
the Iewes seeing thou doest all these things Ezek. 16.30 the worke of an imperious whorish Woman So may I say of many Christians how weake are your hearts seeing you doe all these things play the worldlings as doe others play the time-servers as doe others you can turne and winde your lives and consciences as you list ah Lord what strength of God is in such soules You have lost assisting power by your loosenesse and basenesse you had beene better have lost your lives yea ten thousand lives you had beene better have died any death and never have seen that day nor houre in which you began to decline to sinne to greive and lose that power and strength of God which wrought in you Unwarranted courses strip the heart of Divine strength Light will have no fellowship with darkenesse God doth not strengthen to sinne Man stript of God is deadly weake he runnes to any course When God leaves a man man becomes a beast Why you are so easily drawne to sinne you may see by this point the power of God is gon from your soules your Delilah hath cut off your strength your exorbitancy to this and that hath checkt grieved and killed the working of a lively power This heavy stroke is not a first but a last stroke for thine unrulinesse Sampson had many brunts about his Delilah before that deadly brunt that gave him up Thou hast had other punishments for thy Delilah without ere it came to this heavy stroke within hadst thou made a right use of them this last and deadliest stroke might have beene saved Ah! forsaken soules 't is a thousand pities that things had not beene timely lookt to ere they came to such an inward extremity to such a soule-blow to such a spirit-woūd Things thus far run a man recovers not in hast it may be not all a mans life to be as he was and to enjoy divine power working so lively and sweetly as it did Repenting and doing a mans first workes is a likely way to doe well but whether it shall rise to be as well with the soule as 't was that rests wholly upon divine pleasure what divine engagement the soule can plead for this would be worth his best search We finde David praying hard for wonted favour but whether granted that 's doubtfull Strengthening power lost the soule hath lost its soule the spirit of man hath lost the spirit of God God doth not breath in the heart the man cannot live not live a jot better then hee does though reproved by his dearest friends every houre That which did this great mischiefe that which made this soule-death was no small sin it must be sought out and cryed out of above all evills bloud guilt that one sin that killed two Vriahs body and Davids soule O how he cryes out of this sin at the throne of grace This bloudy sin that hath killed thy soule separated betweene God and thy soule this must thou with all fervency cry out upon and with all care renew faith in an ever-bleeding Saviour all will be little enough to keepe thee from bleeding to death by despaire One thing is all if thou canst receive it O forsaken soule thou art made Thou must obey divine injunction believe and expect good even in thy bad state Let Israel hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption and he shall redeeme Israel from all his iniquities A more deserted state then Israels was and is cannot be yet faith and hope are both by Divine command to be exercised in this forlorne condition with promise of full mercy and he shall redeeme Israel from all his iniquity Psal 130.7.8 Whatsoever thy sin hath been whatsoever the punishment of thy sin is hope in the Lord as the expression here is that is trust in Christ and expect good in this way and he shall redeeme thee from all thine iniquity even from that iniquity which hath killed the working of Gods strengthening and relieving power in thy soule I judge the expressions of the Psalmist to have such wide scope given them of purpose that any deserted Christians whatsoever might suck relief and support from them Power relieving and strengthening is sometimes lost not really but seemingly Cautio est that is according to a tempted soules apprehension this must bee lookt to that so none judge worse of their condition then 't is and lay load needlessly upon themselves Power relieving is consistent with power invading and tempting and yet when this is violent a poore soule overlookes him that stands by him and mournes and prayes as if nothing were his that is Gods God was faine in a temptation to tell the Apostle Paul what hee enjoyed which was all the answer he could have And he said unto me my grace is sufficient for thee and my strength is made perfect in weakenesse 2 Cor. 12.9 Soule-anguish with strength of temptation and strength of desire to have it removed made him over-looke that mighty aid of God by which he was enabled to stand under all which is many a tempted soul's case he cannot see the reliefe and strength he hath because he hath not totall freedome from the evill he groans under This temptation must be observed God will otherwise bee a loser and man too God will lose the glory of his grace and man the comfort Is it not reliefe and strength that thou art upheld to encounter in any measure with strong temptation That thou art taken from them into the armies of Christ though they not from thee from the evill of temptation though not simply from temptation it selfe This was that power which Christ did principally pray for not to take out of a wretched World and wretched condition but to uphold in it I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the World but that thou shouldst keep them from the evill c. Object If I were so relieved and strengthened in my temptations as kept and borne out against sin I should acknowledge a strengthening power of God working in me but alas when I am tempted I am overcome Sol. 1 It is one thing to sin it is another thing to be overcome by sin Christians which thus complaine should well observe how Christ keepes their will and affections a man is lost when these are won and not before The Apostle Paul did eye this in the like conflict what he was in will when nothing in deed He found God in affection though sin in action the heart may be sound when more externall and inferiour parts are not What J doe I allow not what I would that doe I not but what I hate that doe I and upon this ground comforts himselfe in a sad condition and disclaimes sin as none of his though acted by him Tempted soules must remember this The heart kept all is kept what is done against this by meere strength of corrupt nature 't is sins 't
thing able to it and above it though never so great Almightinesse in God cannot be fully expressed by man Almightinesse in a Christian hath so much of the Almighttinesse of God in it that this neither cannot be fully expressed 'T is the same power which made Christ Almighty exceeding richly made knowne in a Christian no otherwise did the Apostle know how to expresse it that yee may know what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead Ephes 1.19 20. and set him at his owne right Hand in heavenly places Almightinesse in a Christian 't is the exceeding great power of Christ made knowne exceedingly whereby a great similitude to Christ is made in obeying him as hee did obey his Father Thus onely the Apostle expresses this power because he knew not how more fully to reach it therefore you may not expect a deeper fathoming of it from me and what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us ward c. 'T is an indefinite expression of an unmeasurable thing we must word it as well as we can when things are too big for words 3. Quedammodò omnipotens ad extraordinarie Almightinesse in a Christian 't is one in strength above ordinary worke t is one all able to extraordnary duties as able to hard as to light worke 't is one able not onely to impart the Gospell but his owne soule too for the Gospell So being affectionatly desireous we were willing to have imparted unto you not the Gospell of God onely but also our owne soules 1 Thess 2.8 'T is one able to give his heart to God and his life too his affection to Christ and his bloud too with much willingnesse So being affectionately desirous we were willing c. Covetously or lustfully desirous as the originall words signify which notes the most taking and swaying heart-passion Almightinesse in a Christian 't is divine power extended and received to the utmost as you have such a Scripture phrase to the utmost of what God is communicable and man capable to the utmost of what an infinite God can give and a finite nature can receive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the utmost of what is promised and a Christians calling can call for T is a Steven one full of the Holy Ghost and of power able to stand it out in a storme of stones to see Heaven in Hell 'T is a Shadrach a triumpher in the Almighty in the face of fiery cruelty a triumpher in an Almighty God before the frowning face of an Almighty man 't is a man able to obey God Agendo patiendo in perpetuum to the utmost to the last breath Modus communicandi Almightinesse in a Christian 't is the same in nature with that which was in Christ whereby hee did all those Almighty things for our saluation Modus communicandi The Apostle wishing this power to the Ephesians sayes 't is that which wrought in Christ when hee raised him from the dead According to the working of his mighty power which wrought in Christ when he raised him c. Ephes 1.19 Christ had his power by which hee did great things for us by unction so have we hee by unction from his Father we by unction from him God anointed Iesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power Acts 10.38 Christ hath his unction immediatly from the Father we immediatly from the Son 't is he that most immeditatly gives the Holy Ghost to us Hee shall glorify me saith Christ of the spirit for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you The power the Holy Ghost gives 't is the power of Christ the truth hee reveales 't is the truth of Christ Whatsoever excellency he inspires 't is the excellency of Christ and to make similitude to him 1. Impertiendi discrimen Christ had his unction according to his capacity of infinite capacity and therefore his power the power of a God All power of God in man comes to but finite power the Subject is capable of no more Almightinesse in a christian is but finite power infinite power working finitly according to the capacity of the Subject Christ had a more full unction then we being a vaster continent and he had a more free unction that is power more absolutely conferred and made over very personall to him He had his power as the first Adam wholly at his owne dispose so hee spake of it and so hee wrought by it I have power to lay downe my life and J have power to take it up He could doe this as of and from himselfe The most Almighty Christian cannot say thus without blasphemy Infinite power workes in us but not infinitely nor personally as a thing wholly and altogether at our dispose Vse Christians are yee Almighty men and women 'T is a seasonable question an Almighty strength is comming against us God is armed deadly worke is in the Land can yee suffer unto death Our glory will be great quickly or our shame obedience to bloud and death is comming into use againe Is my strength the strength of stones Saith Iob. The strength of stones and rockes a kinde of Almightinesse is like to be needed all the strength of God to carry us out well what power of God works in you Divine Justice is throughly awake but ah Lord we are not Full executions working full preparations asleep all will be ours with a wet finger no Christians 't will not 't will be with a wet heart too wet with bloud and 't is well if not with the bloud of some of you 'T is a remarkable expression that of the Prophet Ezek. When he had foretold sad things hee concludes thus Then said I ah Lord God Ezek. 20. v. ult they say of mee doth he not speake parables We are to many as those that preach our owne melancholly fancies when we please not their fancies I have often sadly said it and with as much humility as I could that England's mercie would be bloudy mercies but I doubt what use was made of it The Sword you now all see is drawen when 't will be put up again what bleeding yet is behind the Lord onely knowes 't will be our wisdome to get strength for the worst All might all the power of God working in us to beare up under all that can come To have serv'd Christ with our hearts would have serv'd-turne very well these fourescore or these hundred yeeres past but now t will not it must be with our heart-bloud what strength and power have yee in your hearts to this can you bleed out your soules in your Fields in your Streets at your Dooâ—es in your Houses for Christ Tell me all of you I beseech you what strength have you to this I have but little I have none this is the generall vote
the exercise of al I dread to thinke what this presages Wee shal see poverty and heare cursing see bleeding and heare blaspheming and both in one house yea both in one person Wee shal see bodies wounded and soules breathing themselves through these wounds in the face of God and man because in a helpelesse state This grieves me no man layes to heart what God already suffers in these evil dayes from impatient spirits I have heard some as I have gon along the streets breake forth most bitterly against the most religious of the Kingdome as the cause of al our misery laying bloud at innocent mens doores great ones doe thus against conscience poore ones doe thus out of ignorance as rich mens echo being their creatures made through feare or hope or both all sides I am sure breath not forth al but little very little patience Ah! yee of little patience what doe yee meane to make a miserable condition remedilesse a state miserable damnable will you sin in poverty that wealth may never returne will you sin in War that you may never have peace wil you sin in bloud and death that Hell may follow Because men have killed your Trades your States your Bodies shall the devil have your Soules Is there any evil in the City or Country which God hath not done God takes away much to save the maine and you make the losse of much the losse of all the losse of your soules through impatience A rod should humble you and your skin swells with stripes Gods Hand on your back should make your hand on your mouth and you curse you curse and God curses surely you wil be cursed you sweare and stare because you have lost your peace your temporall respect and God sweares you shall neither have temporall nor eternall rest Ah Lord what hath this soule done murmured and sworne himselfe out of al for ever Yee men of no patience have you no light no conscience no soule doe yee sinne against no light no soule no God are yee heathens are yee worse I will tell you the evils of impatience that you may dread it and every degree of it and make them as I name them motives to endeavor after all Patience i a heart freed from all impatience The first evil is this so farre as the soule is impatient so farre 't is set at a distance from God Impatience grieves God grieved withdrawes So farre as Saul rages so farre is the Spirit of God gon So farre as the soule is shut out from God 't is shut out from al. A bedlam is put alone and there chained and whipt he is fit for no company but forlorne spirits like himselfe a Legion of these possesse every impatient soule No soule hath lesse fellowship with God then passionate God cannot dwell in fire nor worke in fire any otherwise then to torment the tormented Froward children are frowned upon and kept at a great distance 'till their hearts come downe A soule that hath little of God hath much of the devil if you would see the devil face to face looke a passionate man in the face you shall see the devils eyes his browes his tongue his mouth al as blacke as horrid as firey as Hell A second evill of impatience is this Impatience maimes parts gifts graces and makes a man otherwise able feeble and uselesse The counsells of the froward are carried head long saith the holy Ghost if their counsels how much more then those things they doe without counsell and thus most an end doe passionate men doe all they doe Passion puts out a man's eyes cuts-off a man's armes it thrusts a man in hast still to the wrong doore to the wrong end of his busines Passion cannot observe modus nor media agendi 't wil up to the top of the house presently before there be any staires made 't wil run and leave tools behind yea 't will run and leave God behind and so buries her honour still in an untimely birth A passionate man hath Reubens judgement written in his forehead never to excell Thirdly impatience is the mother of al evil 't is a sin-teeming temper it brings forth children to old Age and then most of al passion in old Age brings forth by troopes Impatience 't is a spirit set on fire of Hell prepared and ready to every hellish worke to sweare to curse to kill to speak evil to doe evil t is a short possession a man mad for so many houres that will not stick at any thing that the devil and deprav'd nature bid him doe he wil flee in the face of servants children wife magistrate God any one 't is a Snake whose tongue is his sting his teeth poyson he takes in and casts up venome by mouthfuls his heart brings forth sinnes by troopes he speaks as many sinnes as words he burnes al black with too much heat he over-heats words workes the wheeles light a fire still in carriage especially when loaded with any heft and burne cart and carriage both Passion 't is the devils glasse-house black fire workemen are at it in this soule day and night t is the devils sinne-moul'd to make many sins quickly many great sins on a sudden Impatience puts a price onely upon praesentia * Appetitui apta carnal present things a measse of potage at present better then birth-right although Christ and Heaven be wrapt up in it Tell an impatient man of things to come Heaven and Glory Praesentibus futura majora and the like he cannot stay so long Heaven a great way off is no Heaven to him he must have a Bird in the hand a Heaven here or else Heaven and earth shall ring of him he must have what he wil and when he wil or he wil make the house too hot for al that are in it This renders an impatient person utterly uncapable of the great'st blessings because these are longest a comming and he cannot waite Le ts have a golden Calfe as for this Moses we know not what 's become of him nor when he will come a golden glittering Calfe at present better then to stay for Moses though hee brought the beames of God the glory of Heaven shining in his face Le ts eate and drinke for to morow we die Magna â—â—â—antiâ nulla Impatience must have a Heaven at present a belly-heaven as for a soule heaven a heaven in promise t is a dead thing This renders an impatient man utterly below motive our greatest Gospel motives are fetcht from great things to come in another World and the greatest things are nothing at such a distance to this man hee cannot waite so long for a Heaven though hee lose his soule There is no divine contemplation in an impatient heart which is that that makes Heaven here So that an impatient man loses his Heaven here-after and here too Impatience 't is a soule still in a hurry never at home never at leisure to goe to