now what shall I say to you more but this 1. If it be possible that some of you might be warned never to come to this place of torment to taste the sorrows of Death and feel the pains of Hell to have the Soul destroyed to be turned into Hell with the ungodly Oh! who can express the misery What have we been upon caring and fearing about the Body and them that can kill it but alass this is the thing to be feared to have Soul and Body destroyed in Hell 3. Then you that are to be saved and truly belong to God and have had true hints in your selves and a witness from others to that purpose yet see what may befall you how far you may be let go how neer destruction you may come you may be cast into the belly of Hell so was Jonah and feel the pains of Hell so did David and be shut out from all enjoyment of God so was Job that he could not finde him though he went forward and backward on the right hand and on the left yet no entrance could be found but their mercy and salvation was in being brought out of Hell But now because you have yet no certain knowledg of your latter end how God will deal with you if the sense of what I have said were upon you it would put you to a great strait to know the end 3. Stand in awe lest this day overtake you unawares you know not what shall happen therefore stand in awe and fear CHRIST Weeping over JERVSALEM OR Truths Bowels towards its own SERM. IV. April 13. 1651. LUKE 19.41 42 c. And when He was come neer He beheld the City and wept over it Saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things that belong to thy peace But now they are hid from thine eyes c. The Analysis FRom the words these Things in general observed I. What City this is Ans It is Jerusalem the Beloved City a City compact a City built on a Hill typing out the People of God 1. As they are the beloved and chosen ones of God 2. Compact and made up of the Divinity and Humanity God in Man 3. Built on a sure Rock the everlasting Love and good-will II. And when he came neer c. Whence this observed That the great care and business of Christ is to come neer this City these saved ones to gather Jacob to finde the lost sheep to seek up the sons of Peace III. He beheld the City and wept over it Why weeps He Weeping ariseth either from 1. Joy 2. Grief On both these accounts Christ weeps 1. He weeps for Joy that He had found Jerusalem so Truth when it meets with the sons of peace And that for three Reasons 1. For joy that however now in their blood yet 't is the beloved City they are the people where Christ is to do his great cure 2. For joy that God had left the wise and prudent and chose such Babes Truth rejoyces at it 3. For joy however now they deal with Him that they shall accept and say Blessed be He that cometh in the name of the Lord. 2. He weeps for Grief to finde Jerusalem in her sin killing her Prophets Where these three Aggravations 1. 'T is an unnatural sin in killing the Prophets they kill themselves 2. An ungrateful sin to reward evil for all the good done 3. A desperate and venturous sin to kill their present Prophets and know not whether ever another shall be sent to them or not 3. He weeps to see Jerusalems miserable ignorance that They knew not the things that belong to their Peace how He would have gathered them as a Hen her chickens c. This was parallel'd to Truths Dealings with us 1. A Hen calls and clocks her chickens after her so Truth call'd us together out of several places conditions relations c. 2. The Hen sits down when her chickens gathered so Truth sat down with us 3. She spreads her wings to take in and receive heâ— chickens 4. She gathers them under her wings to cherish and warm and heat them 5. She doth it the better to secure and proteâ—â— them 6. She doth it that she may nurse up and bring them to perfection to shift for themselves In 〈◊〉 these Cases Truth has dealt with us 4. He weeps from an unsatisfied Desire and Love towards Jerusalem O that thou hadst known eveâ— Thou c. 5. He weeps for the miserable Condition He foresaw coming on them that is intimated in severâ—â— expressions 1. But now they are hid from thine eyes 2. Thine Enemies shall cast a Trench about thee 3. And compass thee round and keep thee in on every side 4. And lay thee even with the ground 5. And thy children within thee 6. And not leave one stone upon another in thee 7. This is added as an aggravation of all Because thou knewest not the day of thy visitation Here is a full woe indeed LUKE 19.41 42 c. And when He came neer and beheld the City He wept over it And said If thou hadst known even thou in this thy day the things that belong to thy Peace but now they are hid from thine eyes c. THe occasion of these words from Christ ariseth partly from the Pharisees envying the Discipl s joy singing Hosanna to Christ and rejoycing to see their King come meekly riding on an Asses colt towards Jerusalem Christ tells them If these should hold their peace the very stones would cry out secretly reproving them Well you will not regard it you rejoyce not you are not glad to see your King coming towards you you embrace not the Salvation offered but if you hold your peace and these should hold their peace yet He will have a people though He raise them out of the dust Of very stones he will raise up children to Abraham He will yet have a City a Jerusalem which shall receive him at last and be glad of their King what usage soever at present He may finde from them how sad and miserable soever their case now is And when He came neer He beheld the City and wept over it c. From the words I would have you consider these several Things I. What City this is that Christ beheld and weeps over It is Jerusalem the beloved and chosen Ciey where He had placed his Name and Worship and Ordinances 2. Jerusalem the compact City that is at unity in it self 3. Jerusalem a City built upon a Hill standing aloft on a sure foundation which cannot be moved And this was but a Type of the people of God the Jerusalem which is from above 1. They are the chosen and beloved people chosen out of the World redeemed from among Men gathered out of all Nations and Countries and People and Tongues to be a peculiar treasure to Him 2. The compact City such as are made up and compact of God and Man in one person
foregoing Verse According as his divine power hath given us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledg of Him that hath called us to glory and vertue Where four things are layd down in which these precious Promises are fulfilled Life Godliness Glory Vertue These are the exceeding great things promised to be though not yet attained For it is one thing to have a Promise given and another to see the accomplishment of it as Christ saith to his Disciples I will send you the promise of my Father the Holy Ghost was promised before but yet to be sent by Christ 1. The first thing promised to which you are called is Life as the promise was to Sarah That according to the time of Life God would surely visit her and she should conceive c. The Spirit of Life is promised to you though yet the Thing is to be accomplished For how do we lie at present in our graves like Dead men long out of minde how dry and desolate and waste because the Spirit of Life that should quicken and enliven is not come The time of Life is not accomplished but the promise is gone forth that at the set time He will surely visit Sarah and the dry womb shall conceive though Abrahams body be dead and Sarahs womb dead and all seem to work to the contrary For great is the desolation now upon us We are sealed in our graves under death but yet this is the promise That the Dead shal hear the Voyce of the Son of God and live And This is an exceeding large and precious Promise 1. Life implies in it a freedom from death a recovery and deliverance out of its power Alas to Live is another manner of thing then we have conceived it We have gone about and acted and spoke like living men but have we Lived in all this have we been yet ever acquitted and freed from fears of death The Terrors of Death made me afraid saith David Are you not yet kept all your life time under this fear of Death You can never have rest nor quiet because the Jaylor is ever at your heels you are not yet freed from him Death reigned it is said from Adam to Moses now Adam was made a Living Soul He had a life to see and know good and evil but yet he could not come at it could not reach the Tree of life a sword was set to keep him off there But the second Adam is a quickening Spirit He hath life in Himself He was raised up by the power of God never to dye more and this is life indeed Now how many in the World are there that never yet came to be Living Souls to have understanding and light to know good and evil but when brought to that yet there is no freedom from Death Death reigns from Adam to Moses to that farther light which comes in by the Law opened and read to the Soul When the Commandment came saith Paul sin revived and I dyed Death yet reigned And now to be freed from this cruel Tyrant from eternal Death and to be made partakers of Life is an exceeding great and precious mercy Who can value it 2. The Man that is alive is capable of instruction and teaching He can hear and learn from others but the Dead know nothing at all saith Solomon while we lie dead in darkness fears unbelief faintings of spirit so long we know nothing hear nothing we are capable of nothing of the minde of God All is confused and without order in this land of Death What is the reason think you there is such a stupid senceless careless Heart upon you not an ecchoing back as was in Davids Heart When Thou saidst Seek my face My Heart answered Thy face Lord will I seek Why is not this minde and quickness and breathings of Truth in you Why you are dead Death reigns sin hath dominion you are not yet freed from that body of Death For were you but alive it were impossible but you should hear the voyce of the Son of God Truth would touch you and that is the first thing to be done to give you life and then sense and hearing will follow But you are now as unsensible at times as a post in the house and therefore you come and go and come and go and nothing is done why because you are under death It is not yet the time of Life and He will make us know we cannot quicken our own souls Adam would have been reaching to the Tree of Life when his Eyes were opened to know Good and Evil I but a flaming sword is set turning every way to keep the Tree of Life and if ever Adam live again it must be upon other terms He must be raised by another power and that freely of gift For he is now a dead man and cannot quicken his own Soul unless that quickening spirit of Life be put within and here lies the great strait to lie at the mercy of another whether He will ever again give life or not and if he will yet it must be in his own time too and not ours and therefore the Church is at a strait and complains There was none could tell her how long How long we must lie in the dust in our graves before Life shall be given we know not we cannot get it out of his hand Truth would never be good and sweet if we could attain it by our reachings Many may press in to take the Kingdom by violence and stealth but the Examiner will come Friend how came you in hither But of a certain this Promise of Life is given to some of us Hear O Earth for the Lord hath spoken The word is gone forth that you shall surely be visited at the Time of Life and till this be accomplished you cannot be capable of instruction Your reason and thoughts cannot reach it but are to sit silent in your graves till Christ shall call Lazarus come forth and so life be given and put within and this will be an eternal Life never to dye any more Death is no more to have dominion but yet it reigns This is your hour saith Christ and the power of darkness and whilest this government is up and those noises of Hell are within we cannot hear the voyce of Truth till the Soul is freed from the stormy wind and tempest and a calm be made We many times go about to quicken our selves and get life at our own hands and so reach up hopes and conclusions and promises to bear up a while but alass all must down again we must to our center to our graves till the spirit of Life be put in We are asking what we should do and what is our way as if then we could easily turn and do it but alass there is a mistake in the bottom Life must first be given us and we must rest in our graves till then and sit in silence in our darkness and
upon That was Faith by Faith he did it 2. I told you the effect it left behinde the Word from God took place He was warned 3. What things was Noah warned of Not things in present view which appeared to Sense and Reason but of things not seen as yet Though no danger at all could be seen or thought of at present yet he beleeves and is warned Then 4. I told you the great impression it made upon his spirit 't was not a light warning a matter of talk as the Religion of all the World is but it comes neer and toucheth upon his heart deeply He was moved with Fear Work out you Salvation with Fear and Trembling not talking and thinking and resolving but the thing comes to the heart with Fear and Trembling Then 5. I told you what a real work this produces in him he is not onely warned nor onely moved with Fear but goes on to a great work He prepared an Ark. I told you this Ark was a Type and Figure of Christ of a Saviour of a sure and safe condition which will carry through all storms what ever which sure condition I told you was made up of three several works answerable to the three Stories of the Ark. 1. The work of Death of being made conformable to the Death of Christ to dye to all things both lawful and unlawful To let all dye all mans reason and wisdom and hopes and confidence all created enjoyments how dear soever to part with all 2. The second story of this Ark or the second work of Salvation is the work of the Resurrection If by any means saith Paul I may attain to the Resurrection of the Dead To be raised again by the same power that raised up Christ Else if we part with all and give our bodies to be burned and be left there in Death That will be miserable If that word of the Curse threatned to Adam light on us In dying thou shalt dye if left in the grave This is to be utterly lost Many have been brought to that strait that they could not keep alive their own Souls had no ways to turn from the stroak Cain was brought to this Saul brought to this Judas brought to this I but here lay their misery they were left in Hell they dyed in dying and never came to the Resurrection 3. The Ark is not yet fully built the work of Salvation not yet compleat till it is made conformable to the Ascension of Christ into his glory to be accepted there of his Father and for ever setled in an Eternal Life never to dye more And in this last Story of Salvation I opened three things to you 1. That the Soul is here taken up as Paul says into the third Heaven It is quite translated and separated and divided from all seen things the whole World nothing toucheth it below 2. Here the Soul heareth words spoke to it which cannot b uttered Here the seven-sealed Book is opened and the eternal Decrees read This is my beloved Son c. 3. Here the Soul is marryed to Christ joyned into the union with the Divinity the Holy Ghost put in it as a well of living waters springing up to eternal Life And this is that long Life spoke of He asked Life of thee and thou gavest him a LONG LIFE for ever and ever This is that Eternal Life never to dye more Now such a condition may be of having Life but not the eternal Life they may dye again therefore 't is said of some Twice dead plucked up by the roots Therefore the Ark is not compleat the condition not fully sure and safe till the Soul be setled in the Eternal Life as Christ said to his Disciples And I give unto them Eternal Life Then I spake to you of the proportions how the Ark was to be made the length of it three hundred cubits the bredth fifty cubits and the height yet less but thirty cubits All which was not without a farther meaning 1. It was three hundred cubits long pointing out the long Life the eternal Life that all have which attain this safe condition a long walk from Eternity to Eternity 2. But yet the bredth is not so large that but fifty cubits not so large a compass here in this Life not such full room and liberty to walk round about without any straitness not so to run the ways of his Commandments to go on without let and controul But 3. The height less still that but thirty cubits to shew how the Soul is greatly kept down there it can have least room of all upwards The Ark is but low but little liberty Heaven-ward the Soul when it hath attained most yet it cries out O how short am I and this is to pinch it on still not to sit down here but to cry for the Kingdom to come when all bonds and stops shall be taken out of the way and a river of broad streams be given everyways liberty enough but now ever anon darkness and mists rise up an earthly cloud gets between the Soul and its Happiness that it can see but a little way off But then saith Paul shall I know as I am known Then I told you this Ark was to be pitched within and without to keep out all waters which pointed out the exceeding firmness and safety of a good condition That who ever builds such an Ark is so conformed to the Death of Christ and attained to his Resurrection and ascended and established in the same Inheritance made a coheir with Christ in his glory nothing can ever shake this condition no waters can get in 't is so surely pitched round no doubtings nor fears can take place either from within or without to shake it It is built upon the rock and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Then the Ark was to be finished in a Cubit which had this meaning That the nearer and higher we come towards God our way will grow more strait and narrow They came out of Egypt full-handed with Dough on their shoulders and rings on their hands c. but before they enter into Canaan all that trash that came out of Egypt was spent their compass was narrower Therefore the Cryer cries Make streight paths for our God c. But yet I told you there was some compass left it was finished in a Cubits bredth not an Inch not without any bredth at all No All our Fathers have had some flaw or other here their Ark hath had somewhat in it like to this world They have had some sore and weak part some Canaanites left behind to afflict and vex their Souls And this was to put them to a strait to cry for the Kingdom to come where no spot nor wrinkle shalt be left nothing of sin or imperfection but all tears wiped away Then I told you this Ark contained the whole Creation in it All creatures were here to be preserved both clean and unclean
present conditions What the Ark types out and what was signified by its three stories c. SERM. VIII The Effects consequent upon Noah's building the Ark How He saved his House by it with Considerations about the way and manner of it How this building of the Ark condemns the whole World and in what particulars How Noah became Heir of the Righteousness by Faith Where is opened what the Inheritance of the Saints is what it is to be an Heir and how the Soul comes to partake and have use of both SERM. IX How all men lay at first in one lump How the difference was put in choosing some and not others What it is to choose with several considerations touching the nature of it What it is to be of the royal Priesthood with the Priviledges belonging to it Certain Marks and Characters to distinguish the chosen Generation from all others c. SERM. X. How and in what respects the people of God may be exprest under the notion of a City Why a little City How 't is said few men are in it and in what Considerations Who the great King is and what his bulwarks with the manner of his raising them The poor wise man who he is where to be found by what certain characters he may be known and how he delivers the City c. SERM. XI What sort of People the Lords house was a type of why God will have a House built What are the true materials of it Why the Soul is backward to this work and pleads It is not time to build with an Explication of the miseries for not building on the one hand on the other the great Priviledges that attend the work SERM. XII That the way God chooseth to make out himself to his people is by a Prophet and for what Reasons How this Prophet goes neer to God and what that implies What the main things are God speaks to his people by this Prophet and would have them know viz. their present place their next Way their utmost End What the true nature of Hearing is with Considerations about it SERM. XIII Four great Dispensations or Times of Mans the Devils Christs and Gods Raign opened What the Souls several Woes are under the Devils raign What the Devils main armour is How and by what means Christ overcomes him and how he divides the spoyl with Application of all SERM. XIV The Lepers present misery opened in its several Branches and parallel'd to the Souls condition Their hopeless Case ever to be recovered hence and where the point of the Strait lay The great Submission wrought in their spirits to venture their lives with Considerations about it parallelling all to the inward work of Salvation SERM. XV. Christs great Submission in being brought to say that word Thy Will be done opened in all its Branches His betraying by Judas delivering up into the hands of Sinners unjust Arraignment ignominious Death Disciples forsaking His Father withdrawing He Dumb under all what all these Cases meant and how verified in the work upon the Soul Precious PROMISES AND THE Divine Nature Opened and Unfolded SERM. I. March 16. 1650 1. 2 PET. 1.4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises that by these you might be partakers of the divine Nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust The Analysis THree things in general were observed from the words 1. What are these exceeding great and precious Promises 2. What is it to partake of the divine Nature 3. Who are They that are to be partakers both of these precious Promises and divine Nature Those that have escaped the corruption of the world through lust First These exceeding great and precious Promises concern four things spoke of in the former Verse Life Godliness Glory Vertue The first great Promise is of Life to have life given from the dead to receive it of God the world are all dead while living This promise of Life takes in three things 1. To be freed for ever from fears of Death now dye no more 2. To be capable of instruction Dead men can learn nothing 3. A fitness for action and employment The Living the Living shall praise c. 2. The second Promise is of Godliness a God-like mind in all like the pattern Just patient merciful holy c. 3. Glory is promised Moses face shone There is a lustre and glory in the Truth which very Enemies must own and bow under 4. Vertue a quick and lively power in Truth no dry thing but a savor of life or a savor of death The Uses were to two sorts 1. To some to enquire seriously what they seek in coming and going life or death whether a need and strait for life Then 2. If a want and stress for life yet on what terms would you have it Is it promised to you else why hope you 3. To consider what you would have life for for ease peace safety to your selves or the service of Truth 2. To others that are indeed in the grave bound in fetters of darkness and sin as if never deliverance should be to minde such that the promise of Life is surely made That Sarah shall conceive according to the time of life c. Secondly What is it to partake of the divine Nature This divine Nature is the Holy Ghost and to partake of this implies 1. An indwelling a setling abode of it not as a wayfaring man but as a well of living waters within 2. It implies a known and felt receiving of this Divinity the man made to know and feel and close with it 3. This Divine Nature where it is given and received is fruitful brings forth of its kinde and image moulds the man into it The Uses were 1. Enquire what we would come to whether ready to receive and be married to this Divine Nature else never expect children 2. To inform that the door is yet open the Promise and Call are yet to us why are we no more minding it c. 2 PET. 1.4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises c. THree things in general I would this day open to you 1. What are these exceeding great and precious Promises 2. What it is to be partakers of the divine Nature 3. Who they are that shall be partakers both of the precious Promises and Divine Nature not all men all are not fitted for it but such as have escaped the corruption of the world through lust For there is a great deal in us that seems to be for God which is but lust if well examined the Heart of man is full of cheats and deceitful above measure but God will not be mocked none shall partake of his Nature and Being but such as have escaped lust He will have no fellowship with the stool of iniquity First What are these exceeding great and precious Promises Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises The words have relation to the
bonds till we are freed and that is our way if indeed we would know it but how foolish and preposterous are we we would be walking before we are made alive But then 3. A man that is alive as He is capable of Instruction and teaching so he is fit for any employment to speak and walk and act what is set before him He may run the ways of Gods Commandments He may speak well of God The Living He shall praise thee saith Hezekiah The father to the children shall make known thy Truth Then indeed there will be a capableness of that other precious Promise to be partakers of Godliness to walk with God to be of his Councel But now is a dead man fit company for God Can God have fellowship with such as lie stinking in their graves Is there any communion to be had with dry bones Can you have any content and pleasure in a dead mans presence No you must first be partakers of Life before you can partake of Godliness to have his minde and nature and disposition in you God commanded Moses to speak to the people not to break into the Mount to gaze lest they were destroyed We are reaching to come neer and neer and plead for it to be taken in to know the minde and counsels of Truth Alass we are not fit Can we dwell with everlasting burning Can we come neer God and not be consumed Alass we know not what we have desired The old bottles would burst in pieces if this new wine should be put in There must be a new Life given before that new minde can grow Before we â—â—n partake of godliness to have that God-like minde in all things to love Justice and Mercy and walk humbly with our God we must first be Living Men And it is but yet a promise to us though it be exceeding great and precious the Thing is yet to be done and therefore that which concerns us at present is to sit still in our graves in our bonds and darkness and sorrows till He calls us as They told the blind man Be of good cheer for He calleth Thee In the mean time it is in vain and dangerous for us to run and gaze These precious Promises are not made to all I would not have you all thrust in as sharers you may come and gaze for fashion-sake but I know there are among you in whom the love of God is not as Christ said to the Jews I know you have not the love of God abiding in you You come not out of a love to Truth or minde to be instructed but either as to hear a matter of news or to lie at catch to make a mischief Therefore beware what you do God will not be mocked by you It is dangerous tampering in Holy things with a deceitful heart we have payd dearly for it amongst us and He will surely divide between thoughts and intentions and separate betwixt the sheep and the goats He hath indeed promised all things belonging to Life Godliness Glory and Vertue but to whom Whereby are given TO VS saith the Apostle exceeding great and precious Promises TO VS and not to all And 1. That Promise of Life I told you what it was to Live to be freed of all snares and bonds and fears of Death which keep down the Soul a close Prisoner that it can stir neither hand nor foot But none will come in here but such as are close hunted and put out of all their holes and shiftings that they can no ways get Life at their own hand For so long as there is any fhift that we can either get up hopes or prayers or desires or resolutions of our own so long we are not dead men as God saith Thou hast abased thy self to Hell yet hast Thou not said There is no hope And till a man be dead there is no need of raising Him to Life and now to live is to be brought out of the grave and recovered by this free word of Promise You all live and walk and act but upon what terms Is it by this Promise of Life given to Abraham Have your lives been given you Have you been raised up by the same power that raised up Jesus Christ saith All that the Father hath given me shall come unto me and I will raise them up at the last day They shall be raised up and when at the last day not presently The best wine is not brought out first but at the last Day When Christ who is your Life shall appear then shall you also appear with him in glory and this is an exceeding precious Promise indeed to as many as God hath given it but not by any's thrusting themselves in that were never bidden The King will come and look over his guests and finde the man without the wedding garment 2. The second great and precious Promise is of Godliness to have a God-like minde to be Just Patient Merciful Single Holy as God is Holy c. to be knowing and in the light as he is in the light to be fashioned into the very minde of the Father This is godliness that hath great gain belonging to it having the promises of this life and that which is to come to submit thus to be God-like in all things to pray indeed Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven We would have our wills reign and be done in Heaven as they are in Earth We would have Gods minde come to ours and Heaven stoop to Earth There is something yet dear to us that we save and keep alive and would not every where and in all cases be like to God But this is the onely happiness and content to attain this life of godliness for a people to joyn together in one heart and Soul strengthening and building up one another in their most holy Faith provoking one another to good works seeking the good of one another as their own and ready to lay down their lives for their Brother How many people have we seen in our day to change and altar their Gods according to their own thoughts and imaginations as the complaint was against Israel According to thy Cities so are thy Gods O Israel such a changing tossing and variable thing is in the heart of man but where the minde of God is planted and spreads it self forth in the Soul and makes it partaker of Godliness that is a standing principle abiding for ever 3. A third great and precious promise is to be partakers of Glory There is a glory that follows and flows from godliness Moses face shone when he came down from God and the Church in her worst day yet says of her self I am black but comely and Christ yet owns and calls Her O thou fairest among women And I am confident however we are found in our selves weak and foolish and sinners yet we sit in the Consciences of our worst Enemies if they would speak their hearts freely That
Who are they that have been our Accusers that have secretly informed and raised mischief against us and made an evil of what they have heard and seen amongst us were they not our Brethren such as were in society with us men of our own house and we walked together into the House of God as friends such as have heard and pray'd and joyned with us and yet have gone out because they were not of us These have been our greatest Enemies 4. Children shall rise up against their Parents to put them to death And how hath this proved true in my my own child coming as the main Witness against me He that came out of my bowels he was not ashamed to witness falsly against me and to say to my face He would take a hundread oaths if he might but ensnare me And then Parents against their children This I have proved true also Those that have looked upon themselves as my Fathers in Christ from whom I have first received the Truth such as have travelled and prayed yea and witnessed for me that I belonged to God yet how are these now secretly turned against me and in a treacherous undermining way have wrought and do work what they can to undo me Such a strange unnaturalness is there among men and if the Lord favour us not we know not but they may see their wills accomplished against us and take away our lives We know not what They may be suffered to do against us For This is not our Country our Kingdom is not of this world And it is certain there is malice and envy enough in all these relations against us in Kings Governors Brethren Parents Children therefore beware of men though your Cause be never so just and innocent Secondly What is it to kill the Body How may men do that what ways may they find out to bring this about For though it be not the main thing or that which we should fear if called to lay down our lives yet it may be of Use to be informed in the several ways men may take to destroy our Body if the Lord prevent not 1. This way they may take to destroy the Body by taking away our estates and means that which should maintain and keep up our bodies Our bread may be taken out of our mouths we may be so impoverished by Lawyers and Jaylors and Fines and strange ways that may be found out by our Enemies to waste our estates that we shall not be able to maintain our selves Such dealings some of our Fathers and the Martyrs have met with in their days 2. Men may destroy the Body by raising strange reproaches and scandals and such evil reports against us that all men will be shy of dealing with us all our trading and commerce with men by which our lives are outwardly maintained may be thus taken from us As I heard some say in my own hearing Hang them speaking of Us they are a base reproached people we 'l not buy of them of all others And thus by such scandalous reports as these it may grow to that pass that we may have neither liberty to buy nor sell c. 3. Another way by which men may destroy the Body is by binding our hands that we may not defend our selves who ever set upon us And thus we have been dealt with some of us bound to our good behaviour that we may not so much as strike a Dog to defend our selves and who ever will may come and set upon us and we have no remedy in our hands we may not stir against them for our defence 4. Another way they may take to destroy our Bodies is by lying at the catch to insnare and intrap and make an evil in wresting words contrary to our real intentions and purposes As my own son was not ashamed to say to my face I 'le take a hundred oaths if I could insnare you Now what a miserable case is this if a word should slip either unadvisedly or out of ignorance that this should be catched at and a thing never once thought of nor intended charged upon us even to the hazard of our lives for ought we know 5. They may do it another way as by making an evil in tentering our words beyond their meaning so by tentering out the Law to the utmost exactness and rigour in all points against us so that a man can hardly speak to another or stir any ways in his business but if the Law be reached out and tentered to the utmost he may be found liable to some forfeiture or other You that are strangers this day and come without any ill intent into this House to hear me speak you might be troubled for coming into the House or passing through a Close without leave such strange ways may be to tenter out the Law if the Lord shall suffer men in this to stir against us 6. Men may destroy the Body by raising false Witnesses against us and charge us of that falsly which we are no ways guilty of And thus was Christ dealt with and many of the People of God have been falsly accused falsly witnessed against and so condemned to death And in our late Indictment charged upon us those that have appeared against us what utter falsness hath been in their oaths and witnessing against us and what further they may be suffered to swear against us we cannot tell and at last two false Witnesses came point-blank against Christ and so took away his life 7. Our Life may be taken away by the Law of Man sometimes when we may be no ways guilty by the Law of God So I remember when the Bishops Courts were up some have said to me there You may be Honest and your way may be good and harmless for ought we know but how ever the Law will not bear you out in it We have a Law say they to Pilate and according to that Law He ought to dye And here you see are Ways and Means and Doors enough open if the Lord stand not for us and prevent it by which men may break in upon us and destroy the Body And thus I have spoke to you of two of the general Points from the words 1. Who they be that will kill the Body that Christ bids Beware of Kings Governors Brethren Parents and Children This seems wonderful unnatural that these of all others should do it to be for signs and for wonders in Israel as Christ complains I and the children that God hath given me are for Signs and Wonders in Israel Were it in Turkey or some forreign Land to meet with this usage it would not be so much But Thou my Familiar my Friend we took sweet Counsel together and walked into the House of God as Friends to be Signs and Wonders a scorn and reproach and laughing stock in Israel amongst men of our own house our own Rulers and Brethren and Children this is very unnatural But Beware of men And then I
have shew'd you seven Ways by which if the Lord prevent not men may come in upon us to destroy the Body Now I come to the next general Thing Viz. Thirdly The Exhortation given Fear not them that can kill the Body And why should not They be feared 1. Fear not in regard of them that shall do it 2. Fear not in regard it is but the Body they kill 1. Fear not them that can kill the Body Fear not the men the persons that shall do it and that for these four Reasons 1. Because they are but men and man at his best estate is altogether vanity Alas They that go about to kill this body what are they themselves but a vain thing a nothing a shadow how ever strong and high conceited they may be yet alas all Nations are but as the drop of a bucket and what is a man that shall soon fade as the grass that he should be feared 2. Fear them not because they are but the Instrument the Rod in the hand of another and they cannot move nor stir a foot or hand farther then they shall be suffered and permitted and ordered They are but like the wheels of a Clock take off the weights and the Clock stirs not Alas though they may threaten and resolve and take counsel never so strongly yet they are not their own Lords they shall do neither more nor less then the hand will make use of the sword and therefore our Fathers in all their sufferings have looked through and beyond the instrument to the hand that rules and acts all I was dumb saith David and kept silence because it was thy doing 3. Fear them not but rather pity them Alas 't is woe and misery enough to all such as shall have a hand in this work They are imployed about a hard service it is their misery they are hackned by the Devil to do this mischief against the Truth As Christ saith of Judas It had been good for that man he had never been born Who ever shall be an instrument in this work alas 't is misâ—ry enough their case may be pitied by us rather then their malice feared 4. Fear them not in this respect because before their plots be ripe they may be cut off and dye and be layd in their graves How many such Cases have been known Haman what a strange plot and how surely had he layd it to cut off the Jews root and branch I but the mischief returns upon his own head before his plot comes to an issue he is cut off himself Alas how soon is it done His breath is but taken away and man turns to his earth and in that very day all his thoughts perish All plots and designs and contrivances come to nothing Remember O my People saith God what Balack consulted and what Balaam answered And yet see how all their designs were frustrate and blasted and came to nothing And in our own Kingdom how many plots have been thus prevented when they have been even ripe for execution So in that Powder Treason when all was fit and but now a candle only wanting to destroy and blow up all yet in the very nick it is found out and prevented Therefore fear them not if God will prevent he can soon do it be they never so strong and desperate and malicious yet He can but take away their breath and alas they may be rotten and stink in their graves before their plots are accomplished When the wicked flourish like the grass and the workers of iniquity like the green herb yet then it is that they might be cut off for ever So that were we but truly principled and instructed we might have our greatest encouragement where we make our greatest fears viz. from the strength and heighth and flourishing of our Enemies when they carry all before them yet Fear them not 2. Fear not them that can kill the Body in regard of the Body which they can kill They can reach no farther then the Body and what is the Body 1. That is but a poor outside a shadow it is but as the cracking of a shell to kill the Body 2. The Body is a perishing thing that will soon dye of it self if none should take a sword against it it will soon dye and moulder 't will fall of it self like the fruit of a Tree let it but alone till it come to be ripe and you need not shake it the fruit will drop and fall of themselves Therefore Fear not them that can kill the Body They kill but a dead man cut down a little grass like Jonas gourd up in a night and gone in a night 3. Fear them not for they kill but the Body and that is not that which is to enter into glory this body is to turn to dust this flesh and blood which you see is not to inherit the Kingdom this Corruptible must put on Incorruption this Corn must dye before it shall bring forth that Body which is to abide God giveth to every seed his own body as it pleaseth Him He will give a Body but not this body this flesh and blood which is sown in Corruption therefore Fear not them that can kill the Body And I could wish that always in all our fears and threatenings from men these seven Considerations might stick by us to keep us up from fearing both in respect of the men themselves and also the Body that only is in their power to kill Alas it is but a poor Cask when they have done their worst that they can touch that which will soon dye alone and save the labour of being killed and should it hold out never so long yet this is not it that is to enter into glory it must break and go to the grave at the last Earth must go to Earth Corruption cannot inherit Incorruption No unclean thing must enter into that City and this is an unclean house a Body of Death and Sin In my Body saith Paul I find no good thing but a Law of Sin in my members rebelling against the Law of my mind and that must dye and not enter into life And thus far you heard the Negative opened What you are not to fear Fear not them that kill the Body c. And how have most of our days hitherto been spent about this body and how are the world all of them lost and drowned in carings and providings about this what to eat and what to drink and what to put on We have been more foolish in this then the Lillies and Sparrows and Ravens they take not these cutting and perplexing cares and yet they are preserved and provided for and what have all our carings brought about to us but sorrows and misery they have not added the least cubit to our stature But now we come to the fourth thing 4. Who then is to be feared Fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell Fear Him fear the Lord He that
troops of wickedness may come in at pleasure and overflow and overspread the Soul so that nothing at all can be seen but envy and lust malice and deceits the man is moulded and changed into the very image of the Devil I have known some men so wholy drunk up of the Devil that no Reason nor Sense nothing of parts and reasonableness hath been left but the very minde and disposition of the Devil hath been in all And this is to be undone indeed it is the very destruction And this is a sad condition sure to have the Soul thus destroyed Was ever sorrow or misery like this Is there not reason He should be feared that can destroy the Soul with such a destruction as this Look over it again 1. If God withdraws his sap that which enlivens and quickens and keeps up the Soul how surely doth all dye of it self and decay and wither And may He not withdraw if He please Is he bound to us Then 2. To be given up to beleeve lyes to lie under the power of deceit that nothing of Truth can reach the Soul how miserable is this And then 3. To be left here in the mire to be left thus wounded of Thieves and half dead and no good Samaritan to take pity nor look for cure for it to have none to care nor support nor look after it but be like a member cut off from the body how soon must that needs dye and wither And then 4. To have the anger of God so far kindled and gone forth that He will not hear any prayers or cries that shall be put up for the Soul Pray no more for this people When God will by no means be entreated to have mercy this is sad And lastly To be wholy left and given up into the hands and will of the Devil to be ruled at his pleasure and left wholy to be swallowed up of sin and ungodliness that nothing else appears but the very Image of Hell and the Devil this is a whole destruction indeed and wo to the man or woman that is thus beset that hath no place to turn to nor way for help or cure This is a destruction to be feared indeed Fear Him that can thus destroy Soul and Body Take heed saith the Apostle lest there be any profane person as Esau who for one morsel sold his birth-right and if you are not here prevented you are for ever miserable and the same thing is in you that would thus desperately throw away Life and Heaven and all for a trifle any vain lust and to be here prevented and not suffered to undo our selves is a mercy worth ten thousand worlds Therefore fear not them that can kill the Body Alass that is but a poor thing not worth the speaking of in compare of this destroying the Soul but Fear Him who can destroy with this destruction This I would have you minde That Men whom Christ counsels not to fear they can reach but the Body there they begin and there end in killing the Body But God when he sets against a man He begins with the Soul Fear Him that can destroy Soul and Body the Soul first and that may be struck at and have a wound though the Body live He begins there to strike and blast the Soul first and then the Body that will soon pine and fall and dye and come to nothing And now to the last thing Seventhly What is it to be in Hell Fear Him that can destroy both Soul and Body in Hell It hath these three degrees in it 1. To be in Hell is to be sensibly knowing that the Soul is excluded from God and hath no fellowship nor communion with him All the World are in Hell they have no knowledg nor fellowship nor union with God I but the sense is not upon them they know it not but cover themselves with a covering of falshood and lyes and hope and beleeve that God loves them when they have no ground nor know any such thing But now when any shall be awakened and rouzed and made to see their condition and sensibly know they are ignorant of God live at a distance from him and are so shut out and excluded as they cannot turn any ways to get to Him and know not whether ever they shall be brought to see the Kings face or not whether they shall be so far favored or not I say the felt sense of this exclusion from God is the first degree of Hell And this God can soon do He can soon awake and rouze and open how the case stands with the Soul that it may cry out with Cain My Punishment is greater then I can bear There are many in the world were they but brought to a strait to know their conditions would be found here in Cains case shut out from the Presence of God and therefore they hate the Light and are afraid to come to be judged by it 2. Another degree of being in Hell is when the Soul is made to feel the very Pains and Torments of Hell to go under the gnaw of that worm of conscience which continually dogs and gnaws and torments the Soul day and night The pains of Hell took hold upon me saith David the sorrows of Death encompassed me He was brought to this step of Hell to have no rest nor quiet in all his ways but he was not given over unto Death The Pit did not shut her mouth upon him Thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell saith he nor suffer thy Holy One to see corruption That was his mercy and salvation c. 3. The last step of Hell which makes all up for as I said the children of God may and do many times pass through the two former but this makes it up to be Hell indeed when Everlastingness is added to the condition Go ye cursed into Everlasting Fire when there is an everlasting Sentence of Exclusion when the great gulph is set as Abraham answered Between us and you is a great gulph set that they that would come from you to us cannot c. This is the Hell indeed And the Time is coming that this will grow up to be more known in the World that men shall have their Hell opened and their sentence read in their own consciences For how have all things been in the dark hitherto How few of the Children of God in former days have had a clear evident and certain knowledg of their Salvation And so for the children of the Devil how few have had their consciences opened and condemnation sealed but have slept out their days sottishly and gone hood-winked to Hell But as the Truth shall get up to open Salvation to the sons of God that that is their lot and portion so certainly will it grow up for others to be divided to their own stock and kinde and go under the feeling and sense of their condemnation as the Apostle saith of some whose damnation slumbreth not And
that unpardonable Sin and there could have been no mercy for us But What was Jerusalem ignorant of She was ignorant of her Day O that thou hadst known in this thy Day It was the time and day of her Visitation and she knows it not This day saith Samuel to Saul would the Lord have established the Kingdom upon thee had he known the time and stood in that nick but falling there he lost all So the woman of Samaria she looked for the Messias to come and that He would tell her all things but she was ignorant of the present season she knew not that He was the Messias who now talked with her So have we been hoping and expecting and promising our selves great things for the future but have not known the present day and the present mercies offered us For my own part had I known my time and day afforded me I can truly say I had been prevented of many of the miseries mischiefs and miscarries that I have fallen into And how many times have you killed the strugglings and motionings of the Spirit in you and said To morrow we will consider of it and hear and come up to what is called for when alas to morrow is not ours we know not but this may be the day and if this be slipt over by us it may never be offered more but we are reasoning and disputing away the time saying Sure this is not the call and mind of Truth this would make me a scorn and hissing stock to all sure this would undo me And thus we are keeping off our mercies No but we judg amiss He would bring thee to Himself to know the things that belong to thy Peace to have Peace in all thou goest about which is worth all We have now no Peace in all our ways turn whither we will to eating and drinking and trading to all our employments and enjoyments yet nothing shall give rest and ease to them that are to be saved till this Peace be given and this Christ weeps for that this Peace should be no more known nor minded by Ierusalem but the time slipt over and lost and gone whilest we stand and oppose our own Salvation and would never come at it But you will say Is such a Thing in man that would not be saved and come to know the things which belong to his Peace and everlasting good I there is that which opposeth it to the Death if the Lord prevent not But how ever the Soul may be saved in the day of the Lord yet a great Loss may come the inlargements and attainments may be lost But now they are hid from thine eyes c. and much misery sorrows may be brought on our heads as in the Verse following Thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee and keep thee in on every side and not leave one stone upon another c. Methinks while I read and consider it to whom he speaks to Ierusalem that God should deal thus exactly and be so severe and harsh to his own People this is marvelous and makes my heart ake to think on it and yet thus He will deal with Ierusalem I told you the high nature of their sin to destroy their Prophets is 1. An unnatural sin it is to kill their own Souls And 2. An ungrateful sin against all love and mercy and tenderness a requiting of the greatest evil for the greatest good And then 3. What a venture is it to run such a desperate hazard who that should see this in himself and have the sense seize upon him would not cry out O what have I done I remember it was so with me in my day when Christ was offered to me and my Soul drew back refused the Lamb of God that which I had so long cryed and prayed and longed for yet when offered to me Lo here is my Son that then I should refuse it Lord I said to my Soul what have I done what will become of me what now can save me Then another Cause of Christs weeping over Ierusalem I told you was their Ignorance that They knew not the things which belonged to their Peace and what Things were they Why saith Christ How often would I have gathered thee as a Hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and you would not They knew not the goodness of the Lord the day of Grace offered that then He was calling and inviting and gathering them to Himself Now this I would bring home to our selves to see how it will parallel with our conditions whether the Lord hath not thus sought to gather us in our day as a Hen gathereth her Chickens In which these several things are Considerable 1. A Hen calleth her Chickens after her she goes before and clocks and clocks to call them together to follow her till she gets them all about her and so hath the Lord dealt with us the Call of Truth hath reached us and brought us together out of several Countries and places and conditions one Call of the Truth hath met with us and brought us together 2. The Hen after she hath gathered her chickens about her she sits down and settles in some place and so hath Truth now it hath gathered us together it hath sat down amongst us it hath taken up a setled place of abode that we are not now wanderlng abroad to find a Truth or a People to joyn with 3. After the Hen hath called her chickens together and sat down in her place the next thing she doth is this she spreads forth and opens her wings to receive and take them in so hath the Truth opened and spread forth the wings of its favor and goodness and entertainment the way is open and free all that will may come under and find acceptance and tendering all that are the chickens indeed that belong to this Hen to this Truth and not of a false brood 4. The Hen receives her chickens under her wings to warm cherish and revive them and that is the end of Truths gathering and opening it self to receive and take us in to fellowship and counsel and unity it is that we might be warmed and helped and relieved and prosper If two lie together there is heat but how can one be warm alone Take a quick coal out of the fire and it dyeth presently And the Holy Ghost says Wo to him that is alone But the Prospering way that Truth calls to is where Brethren live together in unity to come under one wing for counsel and help and direction in all our ways 5. The Hen gathers her chickens under her wings as to warm and cherish them so to protect and keep them out of danger and harms the Kite or some ravenous thing or other soon catches them when they leave the Hen and straggle alone And this is a certainty whilest we stand alone by our selves out of the counsel and care and submission under Truth we are open to a thousand dangers
not you that sold me c. ' I sent you into the wilderness to learn you experience that when you are converted you might strengthen your Brethren Thus you may see of what use Rings are and this is wonderful that God should so adorn the hand with his Rings To be 1. Skill'd in the works of Truth 2. To be diligent in the work of Truth And 3. To be garnish'd with this to be busied about things of worth to be exercised in things that abide for ever Let all your things saith Paul be done to edification Let nothing be out of strife or vain glory but all for the building of something that shall stand for ever But yet this son is wanting still as if the Father should say What if we clothe him with the best robe and put Rings on his hands yet if his feet be not shod too how can he go Therefore 3. This is the third thing And put shooes on his feet c. Let him be shod with the Preparation of the Everlasting Gospel of Peace The feet are the Affections which are to be wrought upon 1. To go but how why Let all your things saith Paul be done in Love There 's need your feet be prepared to serve the Lord in Love And that our loves might be prepared there 's need of shooes to put on that the feet might be enabled to go upon the bryars and thorns to endure the frost and the snow need to have the Love made strong to endure hardness Love saith Paul suffereth long and is kinde envyeth not seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh no evil rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in the Truth c. 1 Cor. 13.4 5 6. It had need be shod indeed When God said to Moses Thou shalt carry this people in thy bosom as a Mother doth her child c. Alass pleads he how can I carry all this people If thou dealest thus with me I pray thee take me away that I may not see my wretchedness He had not Love enough to carry him through There 's need of great preparations if such a service be in hand And now the Prodigal shall be made to endure to bless when he is cursed because he knows now the heart of a stranger We our selves saith Paul were sometimes strangers and aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel hateful and hating one another He having a knowledg into this was made to endure Though the more abundantly I love saith he the less I be loved That there may not be a shrinking here this is one main thing he has need of of the shooes of that which may be a fence a safeguard to his feet that no fiery darts no discontents c. may stop or overturn him But then 2. The shooes are that the Love might run the swifter without fear Withhold thy Feet from being VNSHOD saith God and thy throat from thirst Jerem. 2.25 Thou makest my Feet like HINDES FEET saith David But when the Love is cold then the heart by and by waxeth feeble and faint Ezra was astonish'd and sat seven days so because he had said The Lord was able to save them therefore said he I was ashamed to go to the King for a band of men His Love began to be feeble at last And Job sat astonish'd seven days his Love was cold he could not have offended had that been alive Great Peace have they that love thy Law and nothing can offend them How do we stand and pick and choose But when we shall be made able to say as Paul I am not onely ready to be bound for the Name of Christ but to suffer death also When so shod then shall we go boldly without fear when the Love is shod with quickness then I shall run the way of thy Commands When thou hast set my feet at liberty saith David then will the Soul readily love the Lord with all the heart and all the soul and all its strength But when it 's not quick and lively there come in the miscarriages For 1. It 's not shod to endure And 2ly then it has not quickness to speed on the work but through reasoning and disputing the case the Love waxes cold And the Prodigal shall be made to see to his cost when he returns home what his Leaden-heel'd Love was But 3. The third thing that prepares the Love is singleness solidness and faithfulness these are the shooes that garnish his feet these are the Affections to be shod with The double minded man saith James is unstable in all his ways When the Prodigal comes home and sees how double he had been before in all his ways now he is made to say It was good for me that I was afflicted for thereby I learn'd thy Law Now he can say One thing have I desired which now I will seek after That I may dwell in the house of the Lord for ever to enquire dayly in his Temple c. Now the Prodigal has learn'd this He knows what it is to put his hand to the plow looking backwards Now his Love is singly fixt upon its object but when it was not single how did he soon wander from it He was bare-foot then but when he comes home then the Father puts on his shooes they were not of his putting on but the Fathers done by his command But all along while I am speaking to you and am seeing what divided hearts you come with and the great loss that is come upon you there 's great need to pray to the Father that he would bring the shooes his Love to set the Affections right to love with rightness readiness and singleness for if He bring them not this evil and hypocritical will will be our undoing But saith God You shall finde me when you shall seek me with all your heart and all your soul He will be sought to of the house of Israel And he has not said to the house of Jacob Seek my face in vain But he that offers to the Lord for a sacrifice that which is torn or lame and has a male in his flock He abhors that mans offering He will receive none but that which is without blemish and that will make our works accepted as Paul saith Faith that works by Love and doth all in singleness of Soul That will make every thing acceptable in his sight 4. A fourth thing the Soul is to be shod with is Soberness for there may be a real singleness of spirit and yet a great headiness Therefore saith Paul let your Moderation be seen in all things For if we cannot say as Job The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away and blessed be the Name of the Lord there is not a sober love Therefore Put off thy shooes said God to Moses He was yet over-heady and not fit to walk as you may see in his strait concerning Miriam because God had stricken her with Leprosie he prays Lord heal her now But as if God
one of you if you were called this night to dye that are at a certainty for your conditions what shall become of you you have nothing certain to stick to If you look over all your treasure your hopes and promises and operations from Truth yet the bed is too short and the covering too narrow I remember the saying of an old Professor which was long my Guide and Teacher and many years had been zealous and strong and forward in Religion yet when he lay upon his death-bed and great things were expected from him I know not saith he whether all that ever I have done in all my life hath not been in hypocrisie All his great confidence was gone in a moment and he at a pitiful uncertainty what should become of him I am sure it made my heart startle to hear it and say in my Soul Art thou now to seek after all then what shall become of me who am far short and but a new beginner 4. This Consideration may move you to fear Not knowing how soon the day of Mercy may be slipt over and the day of Visitation hid from our eyes It hath been no small Mercy the peaceable Government we have lived under we have had Liberty and Peace to meet together it is more then was afforded in my day it cost me dearer But now do you think it will last always Is there not a fear upon you lest the day be gone and a breaking and scattering should befall us And then we may remember Sion and weep by the Rivers of Babylon in our bonds 5. This moved Noah with Fear lest the Deluge should come before his Ark was finished and therefore he presently hastens to the work and did as the Lord commanded him Now doth it take this place Are your Souls afraid lest the day should come unawares and prevent you Sure if you are it will put you out of hand to look after a shelter and presently to set upon the work to prepare an Ark. III. The next general Thing to be Considered will be WHAT THIS ARK WAS How to be built And what a Type of This Ark typed out Christ all confess He is that Alone Refuge for all the saved ones to hide themselves in when ruine and desolation and destruction comes upon the whole world beside Now the Ark had three Stories which type out three Conditions and states that Christ went through to finish and compleat the great Work of Salvation 1. A day of Christs weakness and Death This the 1. Story Of the Ark. 2. A day of his Resurrection from the Grave This the 2. Story Of the Ark. 3. A day of ascending and entring into Glory This the 3. Story Of the Ark. And all the saved ones must tread in the same steps and go through these three conditions in the work of Salvation c. I. Christ had a day of weakness a day of death and sufferings He was crucified out of weakness And if ever you will build this Ark to the saving of your souls you must begin at this lowest Story If we are planted into the likeness of his Death we shall be also into the likeness of his Resurrection If you suffer with him you shall reign with him If you take up his cross and be faithful to the Death He will give you a crown of Life But if you deny him he will deny you If we drink not with him in the cup of Vinegar and Gall we shall not drink of that new wine with him in the Kingdom of God If you will indeed be like Him you must begin here No man can build a Castle in the Ayr if there be no Foundation and there is no other Foundation but JESVS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED Now this Death of Christ takes in a large compass and who will follow him here 1. He dyed to all things both lawful and unlawful He sought not Himself in any thing He could have prayed to his Father and have commanded Legions of Angels to save him He was Lord of all and yet became poor and made himself of no reputation He layd down all his just Rights and Priviledges and comes not to do his own Will but the Will of another Now if you look it over how hard are we to part with unlawful things We are holding what in our own Consciences belongs not to us and we have no right to nor can we have peace in the enjoyment of it and yet how is the heart gathering and reaching and coveting O fill my belly clothe my back pity my case consider my tryals And thus every one would scramble all to himself and never care what becomes of another though in our Consciences we know these reachings are utterly sinful and unlawful But now who will follow Christ in that other Branch Who will begin to dye to lawful things that which we may justly plead a right and title to To clear our selves where we are innocent to have our Love answered with Love to have others deal with us as we deal with them This we say we may justly plead for I but to suffer wrongfully to be numbred with Transgressors to be counted a wine-bibber a companion of Publicans and Sinners one having a Devil a Deceiver a Blasphemer Thus it was with Christ though he was without sin neither was guile found in his mouth And yet this he takes up and lies under and lays down his neck to the block and submits This is your hour and the power of Darkness No more but so Who will follow Christ here to suffer servants to ride on horseback and thou though a Prince one truly belonging to God yet to go on foot Thus did Christ He went on taking up his Cross dayly and this Cross was not onely outward sufferings and reproaches and denyals from the World but alass it takes in a parting with and dying to all seen things all that the Will sticks to all that the Soul chooses all that is dear and precious to give up all Christ could justly have pleaded That he had a right to God a right to all the Creatures He might have enjoyed of the best the World affords No but He resigns up his Will to the Will of his Father He gives up all and though He was rich yet became poor c. And if you come not to this to follow him here you shall never build this Ark And wo to the wantons of this world that talk highly and largely for God but live loosely and reproach the Cross of Christ as much as any will not enter themselves nor suffer others 2. He did not only dye to all things lawful and unlawful but He did it quietly and patiently He took it well He gave up his life He layd it down none took it from him But how far are we from this When any thing is hard indeed and pinches us to the heart how do we struggle and take it ill There is an envying arises against the
And this man would never chuse to have these contrary beings live so near together If the soul be once in the Ministry of circumcision with Peter then it would by no means touch any thing common or unclean But the Promise is That the Lion and the Lamb and the Ox and the Bear shall lie down together and yet do no hurt in all the holy Mountain Yet observe there is a difference made but two of a sort of all the unclean were to be kept but of all the clean seven couple which had this in it to shew That however here sin and righteousness dwell together in the Ark yet there are more for us then against us Seven couple of the clean sort a compleat number of the righteous seed and but some few reliques of sin yet a spawn lives to keep the Soul in awe always lest it should increase and multiply and that there might ever be a crying out against this Body of Death for 't is a wearisom condition at best and full of snares These unclean Beasts cannot but be ill companions for the clean having always a devouring mind if it were possible to destroy them Then in this Ark Noah had a Dove to send out to bring tydings to him how it went abroad which had this meaning in it That who ever have indeed built this Ark attained to a certain estate of Salvation the Holy Ghost is given them to go to God for them in all straits We know not how to pray but the Spirit it self helpeth our infirmities This is the Messenger between God and the Soul in all straits and distresses What time as I am afflicted saith David I will pray unto thee O Lord if you had but a heart to consider it When your house is on fire and the Enemies at hand when you are compassed about with fears and miseries and distresses as you will be and yet no Messenger is at hand to send to enquire of God and know his meaning and what he intends and what the end shall be O how miserable is it to be left alone without this Comforter There are many that set themselves to pray and speak words but alas he hears not any for their much babbling if there be not this Holy Ghost that proceeded from him to go to him He hears not other cries and noyses Though they howl on their beds and abase themselves to Hell he matters not The Father will hear none but his own Spirit and that knows how to get nigh him to hold him fast and plead with him I will not let thee go unless thou bless me And if this Dove return once without the Olive branch yet it hath no rest but goes out again till it obtain a blessing and bring tydings of Peace Now can any of you answer that question of Peters Have you received this Holy Ghost after you believed You have believed indeed I know and it lives in your Consciences that Truth is here and God is amongst us that here are the words of eternal life But now hast thou received the Holy Ghost after this believing Else what a miserable plunge must thou needs be at when straits and Tryals come as thick as Hail and thou hast none to send to God to enquire the meaning none to intercede for thee and plead thy Cause but art left as the whole world to live in darkness and judg all things like beasts which know no farther then they feel in all that befalls them Now I would proceed to speak of the Consequents or Effects which follow this building of the Ark and they are layd down in the words to be these three 1. Noah did it to the saving of his house 2. He condemned the world by it 3. He became Heir of the Righteousness which is by Faith 1. He saved his house by it it is worth noting It is not said He did it to the saving himself though that was included in it yet a farther thing was in it to save his house The servants of God in all times have had that reward of their labor to save a People That hath been their care and work to seek up the lost sheep to turn others to Righteousness And in this saving of his houshold three Things are considerable How Noah did it 1. He saved his house that great work by being a Hearer first himself He was first warned of God himself and had an ear open to receive and learn the lesson before he can teach his house What I received of the Lord saith Paul that I delivered to you Many go to teach others and were never taught themselves Alas how can their work stand They preach they know not what nor to whom They would be Teachers of the Law not knowing the things whereof they affirm They never heard his voyce at any time nor saw his shape as Christ said to the Jews and how can they save a People They are blind Leaders of the blind and therefore wo to the Preachers that have not first learn'd of the Lord themselves and woe to the People that are left to such Guides for both the wall and the Dawber shall fall together But Noah was first warned of God himself 2. He saves his house by taking charge of them and standing engaged for them as for his own Soul Take heed saith Paul of the flock of whom the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers The Holy Ghost lays the charge upon Gods Ministers and they are made to receive it and wait and tend and look after their People as their own Souls As Judah saith of Benjamin If I bring him not back again to thee let me bear the blame for ever Such a weighty charge they take upon them But where is now in our days such a Noah such a Preacher of Righteousness Many Preach indeed and they take the charge of a People as they say but how long Till another hundred pound a year comes and then they are gone or till some suffering and hardship or inconvenience come and then they are gone They fly at the sight of the Wolf O wicked generation God will find them out But Noah takes charge of his People they are his house his family his life and therefore sticks to the saving of them 3. That is the third thing He sticks close to them and follows on till the thing be done till he hath indeed saved them till brought them into the same condition with himself He will lay down his life for his sheep and this is a true Shepherd indeed that cries out with Moses Nay rather blot my name out of the Book of Life then that this People should be destroyed And Paul he is at a strait and could wish himself accurst from Christ for his Brethrens sake Now to have such a Saviour to stand in the gap to travel for a People and never leave till Christ be formed in them this is the great Mercy and after this sort do the Noahs
builds an Ark a whole Ark not a piece of one Now the best of the World how do they sit down contented if they get but a broken board or two or a sorry cock-boat They think all is safe then I but when the storms come and the rain beats where is the Cock-boat then Will that secure them and be a compleat shelter Many are contented with a so far saving they are not the same they were they are not like this Publican they have escaped some of the pollutions of the world through lust and this they judg enough Now Soul take thine case No but this will not do What if a people be saved out of Egypt and yet perish in the Wilderness And if there be a saving through the red Sea yet if the Soul enter not into Canaan if it fall short of Salvation if it be not saved to the utmost what will come of all Men preach much against Papists for holding there can be no perfect Assurance in this Life but the best Faith is Doubting And in effect our Divines all hold the same Doctrine They say that in the best there may be fears and doubtings concerning their conditions in times of desertion and tryals But it is not so for had they ever been saved to the utmost they should never doubt that work more If the condition be indeed once made sure it is so without all doubts and scruples 't is clear and unquestionable and can never be shaken in that point more The gates of Hell cannot prevail against it And this sure and unmovable work of Truth is that which will condemn the World If the Lord count you worthy to be the people to rest no where short till the Ark be compleatly built and a sure condition of life attained not to settle on flashes nor true stirrings of spirit nor operations not to rest in a half Salvation but to be saved throughout to the utmost That wil judg and condemn the World You may go far and be mighty in shew get a high nest and reach to the clouds but Lucifer must come from his Throne and go down to the Pit God saith of Ishmael He shall be great also He shall beget twelve Princes This flesh brings forth great and high births but yet it shall not be heir with Isaac it shall not enter and inherit Life Though it may fare deliciously and be clothed in scarlet yet a time of dying comes and then this rich man is found in Hell How many servants in my Fathers house saith the Prodigal have bread enough and to spare I but the Inheritance is not their own The servant abides not in the house for ever Therefore what shall I say to warn you As the Martyr Bishop Latimer said being to preach from those words Beware of Covetousness If I should do nothing but repeat over this Text an hour together it were preaching enough said he to them that could hear So if whole days and weeks I should onely warn you of this Take heed be sure you sit no where short of the mountain rest no where till you have an Ark built a safe condition to stick to in all storms All this warning would be little enough to warn you Thus I have spoke something of the Effects following upon Noah's building the Ark 1. He saves his house 2. Condemns the World thereby And I told you he condemned it in seven Particulars four of which I have spoke to the other are yet behinde 1. He condemned the World in taking Gods Word and being warned The wise man foresees an evil and hides himself but this carnal sensual and devilish spirit this World in us and out of us will never be warned till it be destroyed 2. He beleeves concerning things not seen He disputes not with flesh and blood as all the World do Even children can plead Alass I am young and childish what can be expected from me The strong plead Why no need of such haste I may live long And others plead ' Sure God is not so extream He is merciful and will pass by failings And thus all the World shift it off till the Deluge come And how hardly hath it gone with some of the people of God because of this lingering and disputing spirit Moses reasons and reasons till the anger is kindled against him and Lot lingers in Sodom till he is almost in the burning and thus dangerously have we ventured to dispute and reason till our Day may be over and then wo to us 3. He begins this work alone though there be not one to joyn with him in it and the Soul that is truly sensible of its want and is indeed at a strait That must look out for help if none will go with it to cry for a certainty What shall become of them yet that must That must have bread or it starves So the blinde man he cries and cries after Christ and rebuke him who will yet there 's no stopping of his mouth till the cry be answered And this condemns the World they are for company they follow the wise and learned go with the multitude but alass it never was that the great ones and wise ones of the World were the Followers of Christ not whole Colledges and Congregations No The Prophets of Balaam are four hundred and fifty they go by Troops but onely one poor despised Micaiah for the Lord and he never prophecied good to Ahab but evil This true Spirit is the Troubler of the World and judges them nothings and vanities will content them but this cries for substance for bread indeed it looks after an Ark a certain condition and nothing less will serve it 4. He condemns the World in that he builds a compleat Ark ceases not till the work of Salvation be gone through with and finished till the Soul be conformed to the Death of Christ and to the Resurrection of Christ and to the Ascension of Christ till the Soul be brought to know the heart and counsels of God concerning it Now the World are contented with halves with piece-meals with some broken scraps belonging to Salvation but have not the thing it self are not saved to the utmost They cry for Parts and Light into Scriptures and enlargements and peace of Conscience and ease and they have their peny they agreed for God gives it them but this will not satisfie the Noahs nothing but an Ark. 5. This condemns the World That Noah builds an Ark and pitcheth it within and without a sure shelter that not the least water can soak into it Now as all the World and all their Ministers can never reach to this but some crevise is open some flaw sticks to the best conditions where questionings and doubtings will get in do what they can And this cuts them to the heart That no other condition should be approved of and pass for good and safe but that which is thus pitched within and without That which will stand in the
fire and live in the water That which nothing can shake But so far as the Salvation hath wrought a work indeed the Soul can say with David Though the Earth be moved and the Mountains cast into the midst of the Sea yet in this will I be confident c. So far as I am saved I am saved Death where 's thy sting Hell where 's thy victory This condemns and judges the World That this Ark takes in no water That there should be no staggering in the Soul but like Mount Zion which cannot be moved Wilt thou still hold thine integrity said that cursed Wife I says Job till I dye I will not give up my integrity But the man be he who he will be he never so wise bold and resolute to carry it out who hath not this Assurance by a sure and tryed work in his Soul I dare lay down my life for it there are times of staggerings and doubtings within calling his condition in question do what he can Let him nail his god never so fast yet Dagon must fall before the Ark some searching word of Truth will get in between the joynts of the closest armor and pierce their confidence do what they can 6. Noah condemns the World in this That though he be safe in the Ark and hath attained a sure refuge from the Flood yet this satisfies him not he is not at rest yet but sends forth the Dove to enquire about the abatement of the waters There is a condition beyond a sure and safe condition when Christ himself the Saviour is to deliver up the Kingdom to the Father when He promises to pray the Father to send them ANOTHER COMFORTER the Spirit of Truth to abide with them for ever And this is that Dove which the Soul can now send forth to carry out its requests to God and bring tydings from him And this is that which condemns the World That they have no such intercourse with God they have no such Spirit given to make their requests known by Though they may cut themselves and cry aloud O Baal save us yet no Answer comes there is not this Dove which Noah sends forth that can bring an Olive branch of Peace in its mouth and give a sure intelligence that the waters are abated that the wrath is ceased 7. He condemns the World by the real work of saving his house He prepared an Ark to that purpose to save his house and it did the thing intended He did save them And this judges all the World who though they build much yet they save none The wall and the dawber fall together They flee from their sheep when the Wolf comes and leave their eggs in the dust like the Ostrich But Noah did the thing he did save his house He left them not in the mid way till he brings them into the Ark He travels and is pained in Soul till Christ be formed in them This is that Interpreter one of a thousand that can shew to man his righteousness and never leaves till that be done and this condemns the World That sensual and devilish part will never endure thus to stick to the work to cleave to a people through all gainsayings opposings and ill requitals Many can preach so long as they may have honor and gain and be well thought of but now take away their Money or cross their Wills let them be despised and dishonored and they can presently be gone and leave their people and rid their hands of trouble so that they will stick to none farther then they can serve themselves and their own ends and thus nothing comes of their preaching They bring their people to nothing in the conclusion I have known some Ministers my self that have been preaching these thirty years and not a man converted by them What a miserable case is this But alass they were never taught themselves and how can they teach others But the Noahs they have a charge given them over their people they cannot get from them so easily You shall not see my face unless your youngest Brother be with you said Joseph They must not leave a hoof behinde that belongs to Israel Such a charge as this is layd upon me concerning some of your Souls That if you fall short I shall bear the blame for ever The blood will be required at my hand if I deal not faithfully and bring you home if you are not saved to the utmost But the encouragement to me is That some have gone through this work Noah did save his house his labor was not in vain and the Promise to Christ is He shall see of the travel of his Soul and be satisfied Noah is rewarded for his many years labor He saves his house And if the Lord would please after all my twenty years Travel and Preaching but to give me a People that might indeed build this Ark and attain to a sure knowledge of their Eternal Condition That they shall LIVE FOR EVER It would requite me for all if some of you might come forth thus to be Judges of the World and build such an Ark of Truth as that all the Dagons and Idol-worships of the World must fall before it III. The third Effect that follows this building of the Ark is this He became an Heir of the Righteousness which is by Faith And about this three things may be considered 1. What is this Inheritance It is a very large Inheritance it is to enjoy the Lord to be joyned and made one Spirit with him The Lord is my portion saith David The Lord is my lot my refuge the lifter up of my head This is a wonderful large Inheritance Great is the Portion of his People Thus shall it be done to the man whom he delights to honor He shall have an Inheritance in Light an Inheritance incorruptible and that fadeth not away no altering of it When I awake I am still with thee saith David His Inheritance abides sure to him Many have a great Portion to look on they have a great stock of Peace and Knowledg and Hopes and Confidence I but a worm eats through the Gourd in a night Riches make them wings and flee away Thus is the hope of the Hypocrite His house falls when he comes to lean on it His great bulk of confidence is but a heap of chaff which the wind soon blows away But David could say The Lord is my Portion I have enough The Lord lives and blessed be the Rock of my Salvation 2. What is it to be an Heir To be an Heir is to be born with a right and title to an Inheritance to have an Estate fall to one by right so that it cannot be cut off it can neither be sold nor given away from the Heir Now this is wonderful To be born with such a right and title to Eternal Life such a neer Interest in the Lord that nothing can separate from him neither tribulation nor sufferings nor life
ravished my heart with one of thine eyes that is the thing to be beloved to find favour in his eyes Love will bear all things Love is as strong as death Love will save to the utmost and this Lot fal's on some Though Esther be an unlikely maiden one of another Country of mean degree yet she pleased the King and obtained kindnesse of him Chap. 2.9 and vers 17. and the King loved Esther above all the women and she obtained grace and favour in his sight and this is the thing that brings the Crown to her be she what she will Thou art fair my Love my undefiled Though she complains I am black yet he loveth her and Love sees no faults she is comely in his eye this is the portion of the chosen Generation 3. What a man chooseth to himself He taketh it out from other things he gathers it near to himself Thus is it with God He pulls the Brand out of the burning He takes the Poor out of the Dunghill leaves them not there and this is a sure token of choosing indeed where he leaves not a man or woman in their darkness in their bonds in their snares but pulls them out separates the Wheat from the chaff who hath translated us out of darkness into the Kingdome of his dear Son and in the Revelation it is said they were redeemed to God from amongst men and Christ saith because I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hates you He takes his chosen ones out of their chains out of their filth out of a perishing condition cuts them off from the old stock That which he intends for a vessell of honour he takes it out of the Lump he leaves not his own in the same Lump with the rude world Now this is the great thing to be considered whether you are yet thus pulled out hath he made thee indeed to differ from the rude world art thou pulled out of the old Kingdome of Sathan where the whole world dwell in wickednesse though in severall ranks forms and degrees yet in the same Kingdome still not a new Creation made but this will make it appear he chooseth thee if thou canst say with David He plucked my feet out of the Snare he brought me up from the nethermost Hell and saith Jonah yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption O Lord my God that is his Salvation there it appears God is God We would vainly promise our selves as the whole world do to be saved by his love onely and so quietly passe our Lives in our own wills here and go to Heaven when we die but alas if ever saved we must be taken out of the condition we stick in Come out from amongst them my people that ye partake not of her Plagues Many have great words and great knowledge and light I but they are not yet translated out of the old Kingdom they remain still on the same stock but things that are chosen are taken out of the midst of other things and therefore Moses speaks to Israel Was ever such a thing known as that God should go to take to himself a people out of the midst of another people by great signes and wonders c. to take out of Snares and Bonds and Intanglements for God to say Come out of all and be you clean and be my people and I will be your God I shall inquire of you are you thus chosen are you pulled out of darkness and out of death and joyned to all the living Though in never so mean a place ne-never so despised an outcast though but a living dog yet if living if taken out of death and planted into a new Life that is the thing If there be that seed of Life it will ever be stirring and moving and bending like the Needle touched with the Loadstone set it where you will it can never rest untill it come into its right place till the Soul be brought to God Now there is a restless spirit in the Cains and lost ones but that is onely out of Torment the worm that never dyes and this restless spirit never moves towards God but runs from him but to this Centre the spirit of life ever tends to come from and out of all things unto God c. 4. Things that are chosen have no hand in their own choice All that befalls this Chosen Generation is of mercy and free goodness who made thee to differ nothing they could do could ever make a difference but the Case stands thus Two things lie together and a man passing by takes one and lets the other lie the things have no hand in it so is it in this choice of God all is done according to the pleasure of his own will see and read as you go that you may have nothing to glory and boast in nor challenge the least to thy self as if he saw some readiness or activity or towardliness in thee more then in others no he saw nothing but his own pleasure if there be any thing good in thee he put it there you have not chosen me saith Christ but I have chosen you This will make it appear free indeed when you shall be made to see there is no hand of yours in it but of his own good will begat he us No man ever begun first to seek after God but I was found of them that sought me not else no Soul would ever be saved Can a stone move upward no nothing can move to God but what came from God none can go to Heaven but the Son of man which came down from Heaven It is contrary to man who is born from beneath from the Earth to move upward his Centre is below unless he be pulled and drawn and born up and carried upon Eagles wings he falls to the Earth like a stone the natural man cannot please God he neither will nor can be subject to the Law of God and this is that God may have the glory alone in the work of Salvation as he says in Isa It shall be to me for a name and for a praise That he should save such unlikely ones and out of stones raise up children to Abraham this will seem wonderfull I did not think to have seen the Lord here saith Hagar when she had given up all for lost this will make the Soul say indeed as David doth God alone doth all 5. Things that are chosen are set apart for some speciall use a man hath some end in choosing them so was it with God in this choice he had a peculiar end and design to bring about and he chooseth some for that purpose but why are not all the world for this use True they might have been had he put in them the same spirit had he fitted the vessel to that purpose but he spends a great deal of cost and pains upon some he prepares the Vessell for that very purpose to put in new wine Old Bottles
thine own kind wherever thou findest it as Paul says we cannot do any thing against the truth but for it though the heart would be spurning and shrinking away saying he is a hard Master yet where this Spirit of Christ is it will joyn to his own the heart will be taken with him and cannot get off quite to leave him 4. Where Christ is He is a searcher he discovers al the inward and secret workings all the plots and stratagems of the Devil that all are but to destroy the soul is made to take notice of the secret carriages of things within it sees all the Train of his wyles and tricks and inventions how they are laid and how they work and whither they tend the world is blinded in all they see no danger they know not whither they go but Christ he is a divider in the souls of his People he will not believe every good word and fair promise that the enemy may make Master save thy self and cause these stones to be bread no but he will weigh and try what runs in all he will not take all for gold that glisters though you speak never so good words and fair promises and all seems right yet the Spirit of Christ where it is will try and examine whence it comes from what root all spings whether from heaven or hell c. 5. Where Christ is he will never yield up his City though it cost him his life he wil stand to his charge what ever comes on it as the three children answer though our God should not deliver us yet this their souls are resolved in we will not fall down and worship the golden Image what ever it cost yet they cannot turn to a Lie to worship an Idol Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of Dragons and covered us with the shadow of death yet cannot we lift up our hands to a strange God c. though the Soul may be taken and carryed Captive by force yet where Christ is it still breaths with Paul but with my mind I serve the Law of God I chuse not this Service though halled to it it is the burthen it cryes under that is certain it cannot go backward though it cannot get forward neither though made to yield and say well this is your hour and the power of darkness yet the soul consents not it will not fall down and worship an Idol God Jacob will not go back again to Labans service what ever comes on it though Laban pursues behind and Esau meets him be-before and God seems to leave and discouraged him yet he will wrastle it out with God and never give over without the blessing 6. Where ever Christ is though the Soul be never so low in the bottom of hell yet there is a strange looking towards God out of the belly of hell saith Jonah I looked toward thy holy Temple where truth is sown in the Soul it cannot but look thither ward towards God bind it and fetter it and keep it down and shâ—ke it as you will yet it will never leave turning and turning and looking thither ward as the Needle ever bends towards the Northpole I remember in my lowest day and it was low indeed when all appeared as if I were quite lost and should sit down in Hell for ever among the damned yet I said in my Soul sure I shall love God th re I shâ—ll â—p ak something well of him amongst all that cursed and hatefull crew such a strange turning God ward is there in the worst of times 7. Where Christ is though all enemies beset it though all the Legions oâ— H ll and darkness of fears and doubttings come about it as a swarm yet the Soul is able to look beyond and through all to a Deliverance that it is yet possiâ—le it says still well yâ—t if he will deliver he is able thâ—re is a strange long Prospective Glass by which the Soul looks beyond all Seas and Mountains and impossibilities and fears and sees the Land that is very far off the good Land of rest and Peace and says well if the Lord delight in us he will bring us thither he is able still who can tell but he may be gracious Sure if the Lord Christ that Poor Wise Man be in you you cannot but savour and understand these words you will know the Language and though not able to express them plainly yet you cannot but know and feel these Leadings in your Souls It would now follow to speak of the Deliverance what way he takes how he delivers this City from the great King and that is not by force nor might nor multitudes but by his wisdom by a sleight that great Goliahs head is presently taken off by a wyle an unexpected way If thine Enemy hunger give him meat who would think this was the way to destroy him Yet this is the way he takes he gives the Enemy his Will lets him take his own course and run out his run thus he feeds him till he be insnared in his own net and so taken This can the Poor man do by his Wisdom but I would wish none of you to take it in hand 't is too hard for you to put your hand in the fire and not be burnt Mans Backwardness TO THE Lords House OR The Little Good-will to Truth SERM. XI May 25. 1651. HAGG. 1.2 3 4 c. Thus speaketh the Lord saying This people say The Time is not come the Time that the Lords House should be built Is it time for you O ye to dwell in your sieled houses and this house lie waste c. The Analysis THese general things were observed from the words I. What this house of God was and what it typed out It was a house built and separated to the Worship of God typing out the uniting of a people into one heart and soul where God may dwell II. Why will God have this House built For three Reasons 1. To be a Pattern of the Life to come where all live in Love and Peace 2. To be a standing place of Worship whither the Tribes go up 3. For a Witness to condemn the World in all their false ways III. What are the Materials of this House 1. Not of all but onely living stones such as will abide in whom the spirit of life is sown A living Dog is better then a dead Lion 2. In this House are to be vessels of all sorts and all for their proper use none in vain none unfruitful IV. Why do they plead It is not time to build this House For these three Reasons 1. From their ignorance They knew not that all their blastings and mildews and curses came for want of this This is our case 2. From love to their ease easier to sit still at home then go up to the mountain for wood to build The heart loves to be at ease 3. Fear hinders because yet they were under Tribute to the King of
with flesh and blood and go back in any of these we surely perish III. Consider the great Submission and Bowedness of Heart in these Lepers Let us fall into the hoast of the Syrians we can but dye c. About this three things considered 1. They rise in this strange leprous out-cast famish'd forlorn case as they are Come and let us fall into the Hoast c. 2. They venture upon Death it self the mouth of Cannon need makes them run they fall upon the Sword of their Enemies 3. Yet they go at a peradventure without any conclusions either that they shall live or shall dye but leave it and venture And thus the Soul truly buckled comes in these three cases The Uses were 1. To enquire whether the sense of our misery be upon us as it was with the Lepers and that noise ever in our ears If we sit here we dye 2. If sensible then learn What did the Lepers they ventured upon the Sword You 'l never have bread by ease but venturing to endure 3. Learn the way of their going without conclusions for or against our selves to say Sure we shall be saved or sure we shall fall short stand between both and go at a peradventure 2 KING 7.3.4 And there were four Leprous men at the entring in of the gate and they said one to another Why sit we here untill we die c. THere are three main things in generall which this day I would open to you from these words 1. What an estate of misery the Lâ—pers were in at the present 2. How hopeless and helpless all wayes and meanes seemed in their view for a recovery If sit here we dye if we go into the City the famine is there and we dye also Death hedges them in on both sides 3. Take notice of their submitted minds how they are bowed to the hand that is against them .. They venture and fall under the Lords Sword the Hoast of the Syrians come what will if they kill us we can but dye a great buckling of heart was upon them and they go not knowing the end but carry their lives in their hands But consider I. What their present condition is and how suitable it is to ours in these five particulars For this that befell them came not upon them for their sakes only but was writ for ensample to us which are fallen in the same condition 1. Then observe these Lepers sate without the City they were out-casts a people forgotten cast off as it were and not left to share in the mercies of the Common-weal of Israel Now the Common-wealth of Israel injoyed many priviledges they had the Ordinances the Temple the Worship and there was a common blessing that ran in these to them not as though the Word had taken no effect saith Paul it did take some effect but now to be separated and shut out and to have the heart hardened that the Word and all Ordinances slip over and take no effect this is to sit out of the City and be separated from the common good of Israel not to partake of the power of the Word but the heart hardened and left without all sense and feeling and motion that whilest it is in the Ordinance yet it is as not in it In hearing it doth not hear and in seeing it doth not see but is as a stone in a wall that what ever weight lyeth on it it feels nothing and in such a day as this to be left as an out-cast to have no fellowship from heaven and no fellowship from earth no society either with God or Man this is the Lepers sad condition destitute afflicted tormented Heb. 11.37 But now to come home to our selves for that is the life of all For what is it to me to hear of the mercy or judgment or sin or misery or recovery of another if I have not my share in the condition it will never seize but passe over as a Tale that is told now therefore see if this be not our present condition do we not stand some of us as out-casts are not we cast out of the favour and nearnesse of God of the Truth and of our Brethren I am a stranger to my brethren saith David and so Iob and Christ and our Fathers tasted of this Cup. How senseless and stupid is the heart under this Word and Ordinances They take no place at all like a dead man out of mind saith David as like a dead man as may be only not dead Spare his life saith God concerning Iob the life is maintained strangely by a secret invisible unaccountable power the root of the matter is in me saith Iob I but his bough is not green nor doth the dew lie all night upon his branch his ways are not washt in butter as in months past where are all our former operations and powers and flourishings in the truth where is the Love the tender heart the single minde the cryes and groans to be satisfied with substance indeed and no shadows have not all our riches made themselves wings and are flown away and are not we left miserably naked and destitute of all the power of the Word that reaches us not the love and help from one another the bowels of compassion they are shut up how miserable forlorne are we both within and without we looke and gaze on one another but if we come but near to speak and breath a word together either heart-rising or envy or some evil taint or other gets in do what we can this is our present condition if we were but sensible of it all good is separated from us and we are like the clung and frozen earth hardned and hardened that nothing can enter though the Light appears and shines bright to shew us our way yet are we but like the earth in a winter night the hardest Frost many times is upon it when the Moon shines clearest and brightest the Sun the warm and enlivening beams of that are far off we stand out of the City and are not partakers of the common mercies of Israel the hired Servants had bread enough and to spare but the Prodigall wanted that the ordinances were in Israel there were widows in sad cases to mourn and make lamentation there were Prophets to bring a word from God to enquire and tell how long the sufferings were to endure and what the meaning of the hand was and what the end would be as Peter saith Ye have a more sure word of Prophesie to which do wel to take heed c. though in the dark yet it was a great mercy to have that sure word of Prophesie to have entercourse there but alas the Lepers they must sit without the City where they can hear no word from God nor have any notice of good there is none to turn aside to ask how they do for it is all one in the mystery to be out of the house to be out of the ordinance out
is more miserable still but then to be in a Famine too that the Soul can turn no whither for bread the Nobles come to the pit and there is no water the poore and needy seek water and there is none c. This is a wonderfull hard case indeed 4. Another misery of these Lepers was They were encamped round about with the host of the Syrians their enemies were all about them on every side and though they were such sorry worthless things so full of woes and miseries that it might scarce seem worth the while to kill them yet they stand in great fear of their Lives too lest their enemies should fall upon them and slay them for an Host was now come forth a sworn company of profest enemies against all that belong to Israel and have entred a League to cut off and destroy both root and branch and though the Soul be but as a dry leaf a Partridge upon the mountains a thing of no worth as David pleads with Saul Alas against whom is the King of Israel come forth against a flea such a sorry thing as I am So the Soul sometimes pleads alas what a wretched creature am I I am destitute of God and truth shut out from his people all overspread with a loathsome Leprosie ready to dye for hunger dryed up to nothing with want and famine and is not this misery enough Is there need of other force and violence an Host to come against me the Soul sometimes seriously debates the Case What is the meaning that all should thus conspire against a poor desolate creature a thing of nothing a few sorry Lepers that will soon dye of themselves though all should let them alone are you come out against me with Swords and staves saith Christ alas they might have spared that labour he was now in a most painfull agony in a bloody sweat his Soul was sorrowfull unto death under the sense and burthen of sin no need of a Sword against him The Soul that is indeed sensible knows and feels it is miserable enough though no enemy from without should ever strike a blow against it to be void of God a stranger to the Common-wealth of Israel to be a Leper full of sores to be ready to starve for hunger is not here load enough But to all these to be in continuall fears of death from an Host of enemies who can utter the miserie of this condition Surely if the Lord remove us not hence we cannot long live and continue here But 5. Another thing considerable in their present condition is The lively sense and feeling of their misery they were not asleep then the woe had been lesse but they feel where the shoe pinches As for our iniquities we know them the misery and fears lie hard upon their Souls If we sit here we dye and if we go into the City we dye the famine is there if we fall to the Army of our enemies in all appearance we dye they will surely kill us a great Strait it is truly if your Souls were sensible of it to lie still in a barren wilderness is to dye surely and if you stir a foot to get out there are pits to fall into and wilde beasts ready to devour and it is a thousand to one if one mischief or other do not destroy But all spoke in the general I told you had no force nor power in it if it come not home to us in our own conditions therefore I shewed you how the Case was ours we were the men we are the Lepers La. 3.1 I am the man that have seen affliction saith Jeremy by the rod of his wrath I told you 1. How we were out-casts cut off cast out from the common blessings which belong to Israel the word takes no effect hearing speaking and praying together they take no place touch not the heart but all we get is put into a bag of holes It comes in at one ear and goes out at another nothing abides to be blest unto us we said in our prosperity in the day of our flourishing we should never be moved nor see sorrow I but now how desolate are we voyd and destitute of all good how do we sit many a day not one good and sober thought doth passe through us because we sit as outcasts 2. An evill disease hath taken hold of us we are all overspred with the leprosie so that we cannot speak nor have any dealings with one another but we are in danger of being infected and tainted whatever we do or say or designe a selfish taint getâ— in and spoils all Let all your words be seasoned saith the Apostle but how unsavoury a breath runs in all ours unsavoury to our selves and unprofitable if not infecting to all that hear us 3. The famine is sorely upon us also and like to that which was in Samaria a Famine that puts us to it so hardly that we are made to eat our own children the fruit of our own thoughts and wisdom and reason we have no Bread from Heaven now rained upon us but Bread from the earth that is from beneath our own fleshly thoughts and counsells we have nothing else in a Strait to refresh our weary Souls withall all is spent and the Prodigall seeks to fill his belly with the Husks that the Swine eat and they fail him also 4. There is an Host of enemies hath beset us Troops that continually seek our lives and wait for our halting both from within and from without and they threaten like Goliah never to give over till they have given our flesh to the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air till they have undone us when the poor soul sits sadly bemoaning it self alas I am an outcast shut out from the favour of God and of his people and am made to sit alone in my chains Alas I am a Leper and unclean My wounds stink and are corrupt a loathsome disease hath all over-run me there is no sound part from head to foot Alas I am ready to dye of the famine the word takes no place hearing is not blest to me that which was once dearer then thousands of Gold and Silver sweeter then the Hony and Hony comb more sought for then necessary food yet now all is gone the Soul is empty and dry and heartless the famine hath consumed all and yet must an Host too come against the Soul in this case this adds to all our misery greatly Here new fears perplex the Soul lest the enemy come unawares and slay it The Lepers know not what shall befall them and they are sensible of all these miseries now upon them Alas you that go and come and sit here as pictures and are no more sensible then the stones in the wall all this is nothing to you and I am wondering sometimes how it is possible you should thus sleep away your time and never consider you are going apace to Hell and
they should not enter into his rest and so they that were invited to the Feast and draw back and make excuses see what comes of it he swears they shall not taste of his Supper I could desire you might never come hither to hear unless there be a heart indeed to go on it is not easie dallying with the truth not like going to ordinary Chuâ—hes and meeetings there you may hear many years and never be touched to the heart nor found so guilty for not going on in the Truth but it will not be so here the Word will surely take place and be either a savour of life to life or of death unto death And thus I have opened to you the present miserable condition the Lepers sit in and brought it home to our own case and the case indeed is miserable to sit down in it and if ever we rise it will be a wonderful recovery You that are sat down O consider and think of it for if you are left here it had been good for you you had never been born Then I have shewed you how they were hem'd in with Death if they go back they dye if fall to their Enemies in all appearance they dye I apply'd it to our particulars and shewed you three Things we were brought to from which if we turn back it is no less then Death 1. We have seen the end of all the Doctrines of the world an end of all the ways of false worship 2. We know how we are short and what we want and that nothing but a certainty and clear evidence of the love of God opened and sealed to our Souls and that we may be made like to him nothing else can ever content and satisfie us 3. We are come to receive and entertain the Proclamation of a self-denying way to bid farewell to ease and quiet and self-pleasing and take up the Cross dayly and if in any of these Cases we fall back we are surely undone And now to speak of the last Thing observed from the words III. THE GREAT SUBMISSION AND BUCKLING OF THEIR SPIRITS Come and let us fall into the Host of the Syrians for we can but dye Can but dye Alas and is that little How are their Souls ground to powder and their hopes layd in the dust and they venture with their lives in their hands In this Buckling of the Lepers I would observe to you three Things 1. They rise for they were set down but are made to look about and say If we sit here we dye And must they rise now This is a strange time and case to stir in what when out-casts when Lepers when almost starved when cast off on all hands I now they rise need makes the naked man run They do not stand to dispute the case as our hearts sometimes do Alas I am unclean and an out-cast and filthy and should I now look towards God But if the famine pinch'd you to the heart it would make you up and be going and not reason the case I am ragged and torn and uncomely 't is not a time to look for any message from God whilest the case is thus with me Alas Hunger stands not upon manners and modesty it says Give me bread or I dye The sore famine buckles the heart and makes it stoop to any thing It turns to the hand that smites it falls at the foot and says Let him say and do with me what seems him good Lo here I am 2. In this submission of theirs they fall into the Host of the Syrians they fall upon the sword Now the Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God with this it cuts and divides and pierces to the heart and when the Soul is brought to this pinch it bows indeed it accepts of all Let him read and say and do what he will let me hear all his mind the judging part the cutting part that which most strikes to the quick The heart is not now coy and nice and stands upon those terms of picking and choosing it says not This is too sharp and the other too cruel I cannot bear that hard saying or the other dealing No but now to the hungry Soul every bitter thing is sweet Every word of God is good saith Agur. And Paul under this buckling of heart cries out The Law is holy just and good but I am carnal c. Thus the Leper crouches down and lays his neck to the block if the sword will spare it well if not it lies to take the blow I can but dye and with Esther If I perish I perish 3. Consider the carriage of the Lepers in this great strait They rush not on furiously and desperately and say Come all shall be well they take not the Kingdom by force nor do they go utterly fainting and despairing shutting out all hopes of their lives by hard conclusions but with a sober submitted spirit they venture ready to take up what ever befalls bâ—â— whether life or whether death that they leave and conclude not the matter And in this posture doth the Soul truly buckled ever draw near to God And therefore when ever you are upon your hasty conclusions one way or other saying Sure I shall come to nothing or sure all will be well with me you say you know not what both are alike false and come not from a submitted heart that stands in the strait and gives not up all for lost in the worst time How did Josephs Brethren expostulate the case and plead with him when he seemed most harsh to them and though they buckle and own We are all my Lords bondmen we are guilty yet they plead and hang on him and cannot give over but O my Lord saith Judah let thy servant I pray thee speak a word in my Lords ears c. This is a token of a Soul that is at a want indeed Many talk of a Heaven of a God and of an eternal life but 't is but in way of complement they are not at a want indeed their Souls are not fired with a thirst for the living God but want will carry through all Though the Soul be an out-cast and the enemy reproach it and upbraids how ill it hath dealt with God and how can it ever hope for mercy yet nothing can stop or hinder it the needs press it on and the noyse continually rings in its ears If we sit here we dye Now for Use of this Consider 1. Do you indeed hear this voyce in your Souls ever living and speaking and giving no rest If I sit here I dye O that it were the Lords will to thunder it in your ears that you might ever hear it sounding If we sit here we dye Who of you have attain'd to that certainty that are sure you shall never fall short There is a two-fold Death A Death of your good and light and love and enlargements and attainments that may be come to in the Truth and here you
that are to be saved may dye in this Wilderness And there is an everlasting Death to be utterly cut off and separated from God And can you have any rest till you are satisfied in both these for your state and for your attainment Can you get off from that voyce within you If I sit here I dye 2. You that indeed hear this noyse in your Souls do you learn of these Lepers venture into the host fall under the hand let nothing keep you back not because you are forlorn and miserable and all overspread with sin shall this keep you back But it shall not keep back all some must enter and come as they are in their rags and unclean garments they must venture upon the swords point and if ever you get bread it must be this way not by ease and sitting still and shunning sufferings No but by venturing into the midst of the Host in taking up the Cross dayly not by picking and choosing here a bit and there a bit but if hungry indeed the whole Lamb must down and the bitter herbs nothing must be too hard 3. The manner of these Lepers going without conclusions one way or other for or against themselves this may shew you the right way of coming at a peradventure not propounding to our selves what will come on it but to venture and leave the success to another to lie before the sword and say Let him do his pleasure Lo here I am let him do what seems him good If it please him he is able he can cure and heal and save us but if not lo here we stand in his presence and lie at his mercy Thy Will be done OR Christs Amen to the bitter Cup. SERM. XV. July 6. 1651. MATTH 26.42 He went away again the second time and prayed saying O my Father if this Cup may not pass except I drink it Thy Will be done The Analysis FOur General Things observed from the words I. This Cup must in no ways pass from Christ without drinking II. Christ certainly knew this by proving and trying to the utmost to escape III. The ground why it cannot pass was the Will of God IV. Christ submits and bows to this at last Thy Will be done In this Submission of Christ seven Particulars considered 1. He submits to be betrayed by one of his Disciples that eat at his Table they took sweet counsel together this a great woe 2. Submits to be betrayed into the hands of sinners not righteous persons and here seven Aggravations considered 1. They are a multitude that which is the Betrayer of the Soul le ts in a multitude an Host swarms of ungodliness 2. They come against him with swords and staves not only swords to kill but staves to defend and prolong the misery 3. They lay hold on him sins get upon the Soul and are too strong it cannot shake them off 4. They bring him before the High Priest an Enemy and unequal Judg so the Soul brought befo e the Devil to be judged 5. When He begins to speak they flap him on the mouth so is the Truth snib'd within if it speak a word to clear it self 6. They crown him with thorns so the Truth pestred and cumbred with thorns cares fears c. 7. They seek false witness against him to put him to death so the great search in the Soul is to prove all has been deceit c. 3. Christ submits to be put to death unjustly no just thing is against him but only false accusations yet he submits to dye 4. He submits to a most base unworthy and ignominious death 1. Crucified between two Theeves Truth dies between the man and Devil 2. Buried in the field of blood the place of a skull 3. The Souldiers part his garments Lusts share the garments of Truth 5. Submits to be left of all his Disciples and Friends they all fly away so all the labours and good that ever the Soul hath done now forsake it 6. His Father hides himself from him He cries My God my God but not now my Father His bowels are hid 1. He hides himself because his Son is to dye and he will not see the death of his Child 2. He doth it that the Son may learn obedience from what he suffers Nothing so crushes the Soul as the absence of God 3. He doth it that the blow may seize whilest he is present 't is impossible the Soul should dye Three children burn not 7. That which adds to all He submits to be dumb and silent not to complain under all this and that for three Reasons 1. That he may stand to his word He had consented Thy Will be done and if now complain he contradicts all 2. Dumb to give no evil example of murmuring to others 3. That he might not lose all his recompence and reward All was brought home practically and Application made 1. To enquire every one What is my Judas that lurks and lies hid what will be my Betrayer need to know it 2. To inform what we are to meet with if we will go to life we must drink the same Cup therefore let it not be strange MATTH 26.42 He went away again the second time and prayed saying O my Father if this Cup may not pass except I drink it Thy Will be done HAving spoke several times to you of the General Points observed from the words we came at last to the fourth Point viz. After all means used by Christ to avoyd this Cup after all strivings intreatings and prayings O my Father if possible let this Cup pass yet at last submits Thy Will be done In the conclusion he bows and buckles and is ground under and made to cry out Thy Will be done And in this saying there is so large and vast and deep a thing contained that truly it swallows up all things else Heaven and Earth and all creatures are as nothing before this Will of God All things must come to buckle and be crusht and lie in the dust before it Alas it will make the sensible heart to shake and tremble and the ears to tingle to hear and see what Christ here submits unto what he gives consent to in saying this word Thy Will be done an unfathomed depth of submission and bowedness of Soul lies up in it to take up all sufferings and sorrows and miseries that can befall For more plainness I branched out the thing into seven Particulars which Christ here submits to and to which all the saved ones must consent and follow in the same steps In which seven particulars ten thousand miseries and sufferings are layd up which no heart can conceive nor tongue express what all they must pass through that go to life and shall be made to drink of the Brook in the way before they must lift up their heads 1. In this saying Thy Will be done He submits to be betrayed by one of his Disciples one of his own house lifts up himself against him
one that eat of his bread and was his familiar friend as 't is expressed in the Psalmist We took sweet counsel together and walked in the House of God as friends And this is a wonderful misery to take up Had it been an enemy I could have born it but thou my friend my familiar c. This cuts to the heart This very case befalls the Soul in which Truth is There is something that sticks near to it a friend that lies in its bosom and is nursed and favoured by it something that walks in the House of God with it and pretends to be for God and Truth and pleads hard as if all were intended for the Souls good and this will be a sad day when this very thing shall be found to be the Betrayer and yet this Christ submits to when he consents Thy Will be done 2. Fâ—rther He submits to be betrayed into the hand of Sinners And here are seven great Aggravations of misery 1. They are a multitude into whose hands he is betrayed This flattering and smooth-mouth'd Betrayer this Judas that comes with a kiss and salutes Hail Master a great multitude is at his heels he brings in a whole Troop after him Oh that you could read the thing in your selves in the work upon your own Souls For there is all this to be fulfilled if you go in the same way with Christ and tread in his steps if you drink of the same Cup as all the saved ones must for there is no other way to life but to be planted into the likeness of his death the likeness in all cases though not the very same particular Tryals that he had And now this you shall find true that when ever this Judas that betrays the Soul gets in when by his counsel or wisdom or flatterings and fair promises that cursed Betrayer gets in his foot and deceives the Soul with a kiss then he lets in a multitude of enemies against us then come in the swarmings of wickedness They compassed me about like Bees saith David Then come in all the floods of ungodliness and make the Soul afraid Then all the fountains of the great deep are broke up and come with violence ready to sweep away all before them Then the Sea brings forth abundantly all manner of creeping things Then a night presently overtakes the Soul and all the beasts of the Forrest creep forth Strange monsters and things we never saw before mire and dirt and strange wickednesses appear that we never thought had been in us This Betrayer brings out all against us We had thought we had been knowing and well seen into the ways of God but now ignorance and mists and confusion beset that the Soul cannot see nor know one distinct Truth We had thought we had been good-natured and tender-hearted and friendly however but now rage and madness and desperateness get up We had thought sure we had a will and desire towards God and were willing to be ruled and ordered by him but now the punctual fightings and opposings and resistings shew themselves that the Soul is made clearly to see it chooseth Death rather then Life All monstrous wickedness gets up when this son of perdition is to be revealed in the Soul and hath once betrayed it I would you might read these things as we go for all this a written for our learning and if this was done to the green tree then what shall be done to the dry This is no other condition then what hath befallen our fathers in their day When God hath brought them to Judgment and this work of bringing them through death to life was in hand they ever had a Betrayer that lay close and did them all the mischief and brought these Troops of Enemies against them and it cannot be prevented This son of perdition will thus act he will betray and bring the Soul to death and he lies close he is in all the saved ones and there is no other way to life but by having him cast out But he will first surely spit his poyson and play all his pranks if it were possible to undo the very Elect Such an Host such a multitude he brings with him that sometimes it agasters and amazes the man to see how he is beset what swarms of iniquities strange unthought of lusts appear And we shall all surely find this true in our selves when God shall have that work in hand of bringing us down to death the house appointed for all the living which all the saved ones must pass 2. This multitude come armed and provided against him with swords and staves and herein lies a great mystery if you were able to read it Thy rod and thy staff sustain me saith David The Enemy also he hath swords and staves to destroy and mind there are staves as well as swords Now staves are dull weapons and though they may bruise and batter yet they kill not and this is a great aggravation of the misery that the sword may not come alone suddenly to cut off and make an end but there are staves too that bruise and batter the Soul and yet touch not its life but it must hang in death And this Job cries out against O that I could find the grave then should I be at rest I but in those dayes it is said men shall seek death and it shall fly from them They cannot dye and this wonderfully adds to the misery that the Soul is wounded and cut and pierced and yet cannot reach to dye the staves keep off the sharpness of the Sword that it doth not quite kill The Sword of the spirit is the Word of God the true Light that the enemy makes use of that searches and cuts and judges and finds guilty every where and leaves no thought unjudged and this Sword would soon cut off where it let loose Thou writest bitter things against me saith Job and this though it be cruell yet it would seem easier to the Soul in that day and under that anguish if it might but go on to make an end then should I yet have comfort c. saith Job Iob 69 10. But there are staves too that keep off the blow from coming to the heart There are secret hopes from the Devil steal in and get up do the Soul what it can that so it cannot dye but lies thus miserably hattered to and fro and can get no wayes as David cries out Thou hast beset me behind and before that the Soul can neither get to God nor from God nor to death nor from death O Lord who can read the Riddle 3. This multitude lay hold on Christ and lead him away they are too potent and strong and he hath no might nor strength to withstand them This is your hour and the Power of darkness but it is the day of his weakness his wings are cut that he cannot get away He cries out I am a worm and no man a scorn and reproach
among the People and this the Soul shall find true in it self there is a time when Christ is strong and can get away from them a time when the Soul could deal with its lusts and curb and beat them in when ever they appeared and like Sampson when ever the Philistins came to bind it It could but arise and shake it self and get loose again I but there is a time when Sampsons strength is departed and the Philistins prevail and carry him by force and put out his eyes and make him grind in a mill and he cannot withstand such hold do sins lay upon the Soul They take such fast hold on me saith David that I cannot loook up and again speaking in the name of Christ My sinnes are gone over my head as a burthen too heavy for me to bear they stick close to the Soul that it cannot get loose they stick as the flesh to the bones that the Soul is no wayes able to shake off these Lions and Tygers and devouring beasts that lay hold upon it it is impossible for the soul to get them off but it â—s led captive and made to serve and follow whither this wicked rabble will lead it and here Iob cries out That which my Soul refuseth to touch is made my sorrowfull meat and so Paul cries out that he was a slave and sold under sin and that which I hate and would not do that I do saith he such a strange haling is there and leading captive by sin And this you will all have a time to find true that your iniquities will be too hard for you you will not be able to stand before them they will prâ—vail and have the victory else what need that challenge to Death and Hell where is your victory if they had not the victory once yes they surely will have the victory over all but now not to be left in Hell not to be holden of the grave but to be raised up by the same Almighty power which raised up Christ this will be the Salvation but this will be the sad day to the Soul when it shall be thus left in the hands of Sinners In those dayes they shall mourn c. We promise fair I can submit to be ruled ordered and part with this and other and be denyed of my wil and runs of heart alass you know not your heart nor the multitude and strength of your enemies They wil surely come to be too hard for you that you shal not be able to get out of their hands but a base rabble company of unworthy lusts which somtime the Soul hath scorn'd should touch it now lay hold lead it away like an ox to the slaughter and as a fool to the correction of the stocks and it cannot help it nor wring any ways out of their hands 4. They bring him to the high Priest and set him before a partial unequal judg that is set against him and right or wrong will certainly do what he can to put him to death and thus is the Soul dealt with in this day when it is betrayed into the hands of its lusts They presently lead and hale it to be judged by their own King the Devil he sits in the seat of Judgement to hear and cast the matter he who never favoured Truth was never a friend to it but a murtherer from the beginning seeking all wayes and means to destroy yet He must now be Iudge and condemn and accuse and upbraid the Soul in this day of its calamity Now Shimei comes out and upbraids and curses David Come out thou bloody man Now all the blood of Sauls house is come upon thee Alas there was another hand in it he was clear and innocent concerning Sauls blood he had spared his life when it was in his hands to slay him and had done good to Sauls house but yet this false charge must be laid in his dish and he must bear the railing and go away as guilty O Lord if your Souls be awake and do but mark the carriages within you will see what a stir this wicked Judge makes to find some false accusation or other for which he may pass a sentence of death against the Soul how doth he bestir him to prove that all that ever the soul had or did was but a deceit and in hypocrisie and no truth was in the bottome of it and this is a token you were a deceiver saith the Judg and this proves you will come to nothing you ever had a base taint in all you did a base selfish end and here the poore creature stands amazed and silenced at these cruell charges when presently this wicked Judge is upon its back and will not give a breathing time but asks an answer Answerest thou nothing to what these accuse thee of he calls for an answer in a moment when the Soul stands amazed and nonplust and knows not how to get up a sober thought or word at such an instant to plead for it self yet then they press to have the Sentence pass against the Soul as if there were nothing of truth and singleness but a dissembling hypocriticall heart in all 5. When Christ begins to speak for himself presently one smites him upon the mouth answerest thou the high Priest so why saith Christ If I have spoken evil bear witness of it but if good why smitest thou me So if you can read the Parable when ever the Soul in this day goes about to speak a word for it self though never so fairly and soberly and according to truth opening the thing as it is presently one or other of this Rabble multitude flap it on the mouth some base fear or discouragement comes in What dare you look towards God Dare you speak or plead a word for your self Are not you found guilty and deceitfull here and there And do you look for mercy so that when this work must pass of bringing the Soul to death all things must work to that purpose it may not have liberty to speak a word to clear it self how innocent and clear soever it be 6. They crown him with Thorns A Crown of Thorns indeed 'T is said of the Thorns that they choked the seed and made it unfruitful A Crown of cares and pesters come in which way to take and what to do to escape this hand and get from the blow Oh that the King of Glory should wear such a Crown as this He that was born to a Crown of Glory a Crown of Gold yet he too must be rent with these Thorns He was under cares and fears and therefore 't is said He was heard in the things he feared He looked about to his right hand and to his left to see if there were any to help but he found none This Crown of Thorns rends his head the cares and fears which in the day of his flesh did beset him Then they put on a Purple robe in derision and scorn they mock
at him Hail King of the Jews and make a sport at his misery And thus many times the cursed Lusts within insult and triumph and mock the poor Soul when it is in this miserable strait and upon the nick of Life and Dâ—ath Can you read it 7. They sought false witness against Christ They were busie to search and enquire out all that could come against him right or wrong they matter not And if you mind in this day there will be a most strict search and enquiry made if any can come in against the Soul to prove it a Deceiver and Hypocrite in all it hath done or said for Truth Can you not read the Parable What inquisition is made by the high Priests to prove against the soul that all its best good was tainted all it hath ever done or spoke for God that all this was in deceit and a base selfish taint ran in all that there is no singleness in the bottom to carry it through This is the thing the Enemy mainâ—y aims at and this cuts to the heart as a sword to be thus upbraided and dog'd with accusations and outcries within that all was but deceit and the Soul shall come to nothing c. And this I would have you mark what will surely befall us in the day of our calamity what dealing we may look for and expect if we will follow our Master and tread in his steps Many speak much of the Death of Christ but they come not to it to know and feel it in themselves But if we never be planted together with him into his death never shall we partake of his resurrection if we come not to the same submission of heart to say Thy Will be done And in this word I told you seven Things were considerable which Christ accepts of and consents unto though the Execution was yet to come and pass upon him 1. He submits to be betrayed by one of his own House by a Disciple one of the Twelve one that goes for a Friend and had another heart given him though never a new heart 2. He submits to be betrayed into the hands of sinners a multitude come against him and there I opened to you seven particular Aggravations Now to come to the next Thing 3. He submits and yeelds to be put to death wrongfully He is falsly accused falsly judged falsly condemned They bring nothing truly but only lyes against him and yet he submits to take up death though never so unjustly condemned They lay that to my charge which I never did and therefore their Witnesses could not agree there is ever a jar will be between lyes One comes and witnesses This man blasphemed and said I am the Son of God another says This man said I will destroy the Temple of God made with hands and in three days raise one made without hands And this was a lye He had said no such thing but spake of the Temple of his Body And thus is the Soul dealt within this day false Witnesses come against it and upbraid it Well you said once you should never be moved you should never be left nor forsaken of God but that he was your Father for certain and you should be saved When alas the Soul that is to be saved never durst conclude any such thing till it be sure indeed but in its best day ever it stands in fear and jealousie what the end shall be Other Witnesses come and bring in a false charge on the other hand ' Well you said once there was no God no ' Heaven no Hell nor Life to come And this is a flat lye also The Soul to be saved could never nor durst ever say there was no God though it hath truly complained and bewailed that it knew not God nor Heaven nor the life to come it was dark and ignorant in these cases as a blind creature and this was its heavy woe and bitterness And all this while the Witnesses agree not they differ in their Tale and their Accusations are all false and unjust and groundless no one true thing is brought against him and yet he must dye still they cry Crucifie him crucifie him and he submits to take it up But what is the reason why must he dye when no just Cause is found against him 1. Because it is determined so it is the determinate Counsel of God it should be thus though brought about by wicked hands 2. He dyes for the glory of God that his Power and Might and Truth and Faithfulness might appear the clearer in raising up from the dead As Christ said of the blind man Not for this mans sin nor his parents was he born blind but for the glory of God Alas were man to dye for sin for that very cause and no other he might dye again and again ten thousand times over and never have done the work No but precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his Saints They dye not to satisfie for their sin but for the glory of God Did the Father lay any thing to the Prodigals charge when he came home No his sin was that he came no sooner the father was ready to receive him notwithstanding all his rags and riotous behaviour this hindered not his acceptance but his keeping away from his father that was his great sin When they accuse Christ as a glutton a wine bibber a Companion of Publicans and Harlots a Breaker of the Sabbath a Blasphemer and would put hâ—m to death for these alas they charge him unjustly he is not guilty of these So all that is layd to the charge of the Soul in that day by the Enemy all the hypocrisie and deceit and envyings and coverings and lustings alas all this belongs not to the Son of God the Truth is clear But these are the Devils goods his ware and he and his goods must perish together The Truth is free and disowns and hates all and the man take him as separate from that evil Spirit as standing alone and he is harmless and innocent only his woe add misery is to be cumbered and pestered and plagued with these goods of the Devil lodged within him But now the Accusation and Charge is never layd rightly and truly for then the Enemy must accuse himself which he will never do He never hits rightly on the sore where the Souls great woe and misery and weakness lies that is hid from these false Witnesses but they venture to speak desperate and punctual lyes if it were possible to destroy the Soul by them if you do but mind how the wheels move within when ever the man is indeed put to a strait and stands in anguish then the Lyar steps up and witnesses falsly then they say acted by this Spirit 'T is you Moses and Aaron that have made our savor stink in the nostrils of Pharaoh and his servants and you have brought us into this Wilderness to slay us with thirst It was all
false they were sent to be their Guides and Deliverers to bring thâ—m to the good Land But the Lyars mouth was open and this Christ is made to submit to to have his Life taken from him unjustly and without cause 4. Another Thing Christ submits to when he says Thy Will be done is to be put to the worst and shamefullest death of all The Circumstances aggravate the Death 1. He is crucified among two Thieves as one of that company guilty as they He is numbered with transgressors The Truth suffers as guilty though it be clear as Deceivers and yet true saith Paul Truth suffers between the Man and the Devil they are the two Thieves The Devil he is the great Thief he steals to himself Lordship and Power and to sit in the seat of God and to be Disposer of things He brags and vaunts All this will I give if thou wilt fall down and worship c. Alas they are none of his goods Then the Man he is a Thief too he steals a little hope and ease and rest a little release of his burthen when it presses very sore and this Thief steals for his want to satisfie his hunger and therefore he may be saved with Christ But between these two the Truth must dye as one of that number as a sinner and transgressor We have looked amiss as if the man only and the Devil were to suffer but the Truth in us because clear therefore that might scape No no that must suffer and lead the way to the man or else he alas can never suffer nor go through death But the good shepherd when he puts forth his own sheep he goes before them He suffers first and drinks the first cup. But 2. Where do they crucifie him Out of the City out of the place of blessing and carry him to the place of a skull as one of the Evangelists hath it a field of blood as another calls it but by both it appears to be a loathsom unworthy disgraceful place a place of filth and rottenness Out of the belly of Hell have I cryed unto thee c. No better a lodging for the Soul in this day then the belly of Hell it self and this Christ submits to 3. Yet further The Souldiers part his garments among them And truly this is a very sad case to consider How the Lusts that crucified the Truth yet they will divide its garments and put them on and they 'l be covered with a garb and covering of Truth The wisdom of the flesh that puts in for a share the hasty and eager zeal and affections they plead for a share the strange imaginations they plead a share and all will seem to be Friends to Truth notwithstanding they have but now put it to death yet they part his garments among them And this is a sad case to the sensible Soul that is bereaved of the Life of its Truth and of the garments also that hath lost all such a Soul can cry out bitterly with Mary They have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have layd him 5. Yet further He submits to be left and forsaken of all his Friends His Disciples left him and fled Might he but have had them to stick to him in this day of his calamity it had been a great support and stay but they all leave him and are scattered every one to his own And herein lies a sore aggravation of misery if your Souls can read it that now in this woful day when all these woes are upon the back and press the Soul to death almost yet this must come in to add to all the rest That all the good that ever the Soul hath done and thought and laboured in the Truth all is now scattered and leaves it What ever it hath done singly and honestly and out of the good-will sown in its heart towards the Truth all the labours under the Sun now take their leave and seem vanity and vexation of spirit And here Christ cries out I have spent my labour in vain time will come you will forget that ever you had a good thought or a good word or did any thing for the Truth all wil leave you and be gone when now your Souls can sometimes hold on the innocency and single mindedness within and truly pray to be remembred according to that inward cleanness yet a day will come when all this will be laid aside and forgotten I forgot prosperity saith David and in another place he compares himself to the Dead that are forgotten for ever How had Christ once his Disciples about him and ready to his command when he sent out the Seventy two by two and now to be left of all and not one to stand by him this is a hard Trial and if it were not hid from the Soul if it could foresee what a day of Scattering of all its good and labours would come upon it as though they had not been it would discourage and make it flag in all its actings for God if it thought such a day of stripping all were to come They pierced my hands and my Feet saith Christ His Hands that had laboured in the Truth and his Feet that had ran the way of his Commandments These are now nailed fast to the Cross and he is not able to stir them The day will come when your Souls will hate all the Labours you have taken under the Sun when that Strait shall be upon you to crie out My God My God Why hast thou forsaken me Mark what I say for the day will surely come upon you and then all your Works and Labours will leave you All the good that ever hath passed upon you will not stand you instead in that day nor answer that Strait O Lord how is my Soul troubled when I feel how senselesse you are and far off from having the thing seise upon you indeed But it will surely come and then you will remember what hath been told you this Condition will befall you to be left alone as Christ complains Lover and Friend hast thou put far from me and my acquaintance into darkness 6. Another misery greater then all is this His father hides his face from him he seems to forsake him and become an enemy that he cries out my God my God c. My God he can yet say but not my father he hath hid himself from the house of Jacob all the bowels are hid But why must this befall Christ that his father leaves him 1. He hides himself that he may not see the death of his childe the father cannot endure that and therefore he turns aside and hides his face his bowels and tenderness and puts on another habiâ— Cloaths himself with vengeance as with a garment when this work of death must pass then he seems all anger and hardens himself against the cries and tears of his Son then he comes with Refiners fire now the fire that hath no mercy