that hee put up to the Lord in the dayes of his humiliation If any sins were stirring or any iniquity abounding hee laboured by fasting and prayer to oppose the same I knew him sometimes in Cambridge in his younger dayes at which time the Lord had wonderfully inriched him with spirituall gifts In the exercise whereof he was so industrious that hee did weary himselfe and even consume his spirits by reason of his constancy in holy duties Hee was so taken with love of the Lord Jesus and his blessed truths that hee was faine to bee checked and by many good friends to bee hindered in his pious service and indeavours How oft hath hee stood in the gap and laboured by fervent prayers to avert Gods wrath and remove his heavy judgements Witnes his strong cries and intercessions to the Almighty in the time of common calamitie when the pestilence raged so violently amongst us Witnesse also those painefull imployments that hee tooke up in season and out of season exhorting rebuking with all long-suffring and patience Some times alluring the heart with sweet promises otherwhile denouncing vengeance threatning judgement against obstinate sinners Preaching ordinarily every Lords day and extraordinarily upon the weeke as occasion was offered for the good of his people Witnesse also and I pray brethren thinke of that the many sweet comforts and heavenly consolations wherewith hee refreshed and supported many a fainting soule Thus this blessed Saint weakned his body and wasted his spirits out of love to Christs little flock which now he enjoyes the fruit and comfort of For though our griefe cannot bee expressed having sustained so great a losse yet it cheereth my heart me thinks how now he resteth from all his labours Oh the sweet repose that hee enjoyes Now his eyes that were full of teares and his tongue that did almost cleave to the roofe of his mouth for the good of the Church doe all cease and lie still We leave his pretious soule in the hands of his Maker and his body to bee laid in the dust there to sleep in a bed of downe untill the Trump shall awake both him and us all at the great day of appearing Againe Vse 2. Are faithfull Ministers the helpe and fortresse of a Nation then the losse of an able true hearted Minister is to bee greatly mourned for O my Father my Father saith good Elisha So though we must leave this our deare brother yet let us look after him as hee did Hee looked wishly on him had his eye fixed constantly towards him and when he could see him no more hee cryeth out O my father my father Why should not wee bewaile this great losse of ours in like manner Me thinks every one of us should take up this sorrowfull complaint mee thinks your spirits should relent and mourne at such an object Yea I am perswaded many here present doe so Mee thinks I heare one say O my father by whom I was converted and another O my father by whom I was directed a third O my father by whom my soule was comforted and the little children that are left fatherlesse they cry O my father by whom I was begotten maintained and nourished in spirituall things Brethren let us looke after him though wee must now part with him yet let us call to minde all his prayers and humiliation and fasting and supplications to the throne of Grace All his teares are now dried up all his complaints are now finished all his paines and labours are now accomplished and hee to receive a plentifull reward of them Let us mourne for our neglect of the means of salvation whiles he lived amongst us O his labour and teares and painfull studying are now all gone they are now in heaven whither he himself is gone before us The Lord give us to follow his steps that we finishing our course as he did our latter end may be like unto his To conclude briefly Vse 3 Is one of the Horsemen of Israel gone Are the Charrets of Israel taken away What must wee then do Certainly we should double our forces now and make a new presse because a Generall is slain The Lord hath brought us hither at this time O let us lay this dolefull spectacle to heart and be affected therewith as we ought I should speak as if I were never to speake more You should heare as if you were never to heare more Men Fathers and Brethren what hath befallen this Saint before you may be any of our portions ere long wee know not how soone Death may knock at our doores Our times are in Gods hand who can take us to himselfe when hee pleaseth Happily this day may be thy last day and this very season the last opportunity that ever thou maiest have to meet GOD in his Ordinances Oh therefore bee encouraged to adde one prayer more Goe home I beseech you and consider with the departure of this our deare Friend how many prayers and teares are departed with him How did hee importune the Lord for the good of the whole Land in generall and for the Country and place wherein he lived in particular Thinke you all his earnest striving with God was in vaine Or seemeth it a small thing in your eyes to lose so many fervent effectuall supplications I beseech you lay it to heart and every man in his place put to his helping hand for repairing of so great a losse Now make a presse of prayers raise up armies of petitions Goe your wayes home bee humbled pray one praier more that the Army may be increased still You that were of his Parish and enjoyed the worke of his Ministery Oh you have lost a good Pastor a faithfull Labourer in Gods harvest one that had a longing desire after your salvation But know this how ever your provocations are increased yet the Lord who for your sins hath made this breach among you hath further blessings in store if you seeke to him He can supply your place againe with a faithfull able Minister and with a couragious Generall Therefore brethren if ever you pray pray now if ever you fast now fast if ever you humble your selves now bee humbled in dust and ashes before the Lord never more need never greater want By this meanes the Land will be strengthened and our peace and safety continued What though our enemies are many and our sinnes great fervent prayer hath to doe with a God stronger and mightier then they all This will undermine the most subtill underminers of Gods truth and children therefore set your selves seriously upon the work however the flesh is awkward yet stirre up and provoke your spirits hereunto It will never repent you upon your death beds of your prayers and teares put up unto God It will bee a great refreshment to your drooping soule at that day if you can say in truth as Hezekiah did Good Lord remember how I have walked uprightly before thee This is that which will continue a mans comfort and support his soule in the greatest extremity An unpraying heart is a dismall thing Therefore be incouraged to the duty Pray pray pray FINIS
Phil. 2.12 13 Let us worke out our salvation with feare and trembling for it is God that workes in us the will and the deed even of his owne good pleasure how ought wee daily to feare lest hee that now offers mercy never will offer it more and least hee that now perswades the heart will never perswade the heart more If all depends upon the Lord and wee have no grace except hee give it and if wee cannot maintaine our grace nor have any use of it except hee inable us then let us bee willing to stoope to him in all obedience and submission Is it so Vse 2. that we have daily need of strength and quickening from Christ then you see the fountain opened oh look up toward heaven upon all occasions and have resort to the Lord Jesus for the having and continuing of whatsoever grace may bee profitable and comfortable for you I would not have a Christian only lay hold upon Christ to be justified by him no no you must have your quickening grace from Christ for the performance of every action This is the excellency of a Christian to be all in all in Christ here in grace as hee would be hereafter in glory This is the reason why many Christians lay open their nakednesse and why they have so many weaknesses The ground is from hence wee have not recourse to Christ for grace as it is with a scanty garment a great part of the body is naked because the garment is not able to cover all so grace in our selves is marvellous scanty wee have little patience and are therefore peevish at every turne a little wisdome and little humility and therefore pride ever and anon lifts up the heart thus the mouthes of the wicked are opened and the Name of God is dishonoured by us and the reason is because wee doe not resort to Christ to increase our spirituall growth and to receive new strength and ability from him to helpe us in all duties that no offence may be seene in our lives and conversations as a man that hath a long garment is covered over from head to foote and as our Saviour counsels the Church of Laodicea saying Thou art wretched poore miserable blinde and naked and therefore come buy of mee gold tryed in the fire Rev. 3.17 18. that thou maist be rich and white rayment that thou maist be cloathed c. So if we would goe to Christ to have our garments lengthened how chearely and sweetly might wee walke beyond all exception of the devill himselfe Now it may be Quest some poore soule will bee ready to say oh it is true indeed I confesse there is grace and power enough in the Lord Jesus to be had and I have daily need to goe to Christ for succour and strength but how may I get this grace from Christ For answere hereof consider two things Ans First in what regard wee must put on Christ What it is to put on Christ Secondly by what meanes we may put on Christ and fetch vertue from him If we can apply this we may walke chearfully for ever after Now wee must put on Christ in three respects or three wayes 1. Put him on as a Saviour 1 that our sinnes may bee pardoned and that joy and peace may be continued to us for there is no pardon of sinne no assurance of Gods love no peace of conscience no joy in the holy Ghost but onely from Christ Luke 1.47 Luke 1.47 Elizabeth saith My soule rejoyceth in God my Saviour so though wee bee guilty in our lives of the breach of Gods Commandements and lyable to all his judgements threatned for the same yet let us put on the Lord Jesus Christ to save us and when wee are at odds with God by reason of our sinnes let us put on Christ as a peace-maker betweene him and us 2. Wee must put on Christ as a Prophet to teach us and as a Lord to cover all our sinnes and corruptions for us for he comes not onely to save us from sinne but to give us power to overcome all our sinnes as David saith Ps 51.12 Vphold me with thy free Spirit or as the word is in the Originall Lord stablish me with thy Kingly spirit Hee cals it free because Kings give great gifts freely as if hee had said My heart is very weake and my affections out of order and marvellously overcome good Lord give me that Kingly Spirit of thine and though I cannot command my heart Lord command thou it and though I cannot conquer these mighty lusts of mine Lord doe thou conquer them for mee Thanks be to God who hath given us victory 1 Cor. 15.57 through our Lord Iesus Christ saith the Apostle Rom. 8.37 for wee are more than conquerours through him that loved us onely here is the difference men conquer not without losse but we do Againe they are not sure of victory though they doe fight but wee are through Christ Heb. 2.14 For as much as the Children are partakers of flesh and blood Christ himselfe also tooke part with them that hee might destroy through death him which had the power of death which is the Devill See how the Lord Jesus did conquer all our enemies by his death and by his satisfying the justice of GOD and domineering over the power and malice of sinne and Hell for us Put on Christ dying therefore put yee on Christ a dying Saviour that by vertu of his death Sathan may bee subdued and brought under 3. Put on Christ as an anoynted Priest 3 that you may bee fitted for every duty which GOD requires at your hands Wee are made Priests to God the Father through Christ Rom. 1.8 I thanke my God through Iesus Christ It is a strange phrase as though the prayers and thankes of the Apostle were given up to GOD the Father in the vertue and power of Christ By whom you also as lively stones be made a spirituall house 1 Pet. 2.4 A spirituall house and holy Priesthood to offer up spirituall Sacrifices acceptable to God in Christ The Lord Jesus is the head stone of the corner and if wee would come to him as a living stone Vers 3. Verse 3. then wee shall bee made a royall Priesthood Onely thus much see how Christ did triumph over sinne and hell it was by the power of his resurrection therefore as before wee put on Christ dying Put on Christ rising so now wee must put on Christ rising it is he that hath the keyes of Hell and death therefore let our soules be enlarged to rise from the grave of sinne and to walke for ever in newnesse of life Some will object and say Quest Wee know there is comfort enough in the Lord Christ and he can conquer all our sinnes for us and wee ought to put him on daily but how may we doe this The meanes whereby we must put
to master them take thou away the inquity of thy servant free my soule from the dominion of these lusts teare them from mee doe what thou wilt with mee onely slay this corruption in thy servant Thus a gracious heart seekes nothing so much as the death of sinne that there might be a new nature and through-change wrought in him therefore hee argues thus Lord thou hast said that thou wilt take away the heart of stone thou hast promised to subdue a stubborne spirit and master a malicious vaine minde I beseech thee let it be according to thy good Word take away these distempers as thou art faithfull say Amen to the desires of thy servant and help me against my strong corruptions When the truth of Christ layes battery against a good mans heart the soule willingly lies under the blow and closeth with the rebuke saying more of the Lord there againe good Lord. A man that is troubled with the tooth-ach when the Tooth-drawer comes to apply his Instrument and hee findes hee hath hold of him he saith that is it pull it out leave nothing behinde So when the soule is under the power of some violent lust when the Word comes home to the conscience and meets with that distemper the soule saith Lord pull it out all that I may never see that pride more nor that covetousnesse more leave not a stumpe remaining Lord but free me wholly from this vile accursed condition It is a fine passage Zach. 13. one meetes him and askes him Zach. 13.6 Where hadst thou that wound It was wounded in the house of my friend saith hee the messenger of God spake friendly to me he wounded my heart fully I saw the coare comming out and this is a speciall meanes of divorcing the heart from sinne when it closeth with such truths as tend to the awaking of it But this is not all 6. For as the soule wisheth and welcomes such powerfull truths 6 so is it restlesse till GOD be pleased to worke this till it see every corruption and the frame of every sinne tottered It is restlesly looking and waiting upon God Oh when shall this once be Such a mans heart is broken such a wretched liver is reclaimed and such a proud spirit is brought low Lord will nothing prevaile with me The Irish-man being malicious and fearfull never thinkes his enemy killed till he hath cut off his head he will bee sure to leave him past all hope of recovery So a gracious heart never thinkes sinne mastered till it see the very life and blood of his corruptions removed till it see the strēgth and power of sinne subdued more or lesse within him Therefore it is that the Apostle cries out O wretchedmā that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death Marke the waight of his complaint he doth not say who shal deliver me from this action of sinne but who shall deliver me from this body of sinne There is a body of pride there is a body covetousnesse and a body of anger which cleaves unto us Now a gracious heart is not content to be delivered from a tongue of pride haughty speeches and the like but Lord free mee from the body of pride and selfe-love from the frame and bent of this distempered spirit 7. Lastly 7 as the soule welcomes the truth that it may worke and is restlesse before it doe work so it is content that the Lord should bee pleased to worke upon sinne and subdue it upon the hardest termes in the world I remember the speech of a wise man having a cause in law that was like to bee out-bidden hee comes to his Lawyer and asks May such a thing be done who answered the thing may be accomplished it is possible why then said he let me have it done what ever it costs me So say thou Lord though I had as much pride as the devill I may bee humbled though I bee over-spred with sin as with a leprosie I may bee purged from my filthinesse It may be done Lord let it be done what ever it cost me If a man be covetous and if nothing but beggery will loose his heart from the world he ought to pray for a low estate and contentednesse with his condition If a man be unable to subdue the pride of his spirit there is no other way sometime to cure a man of this Timpany but with a desperate extremity there is no way to cure a proud heart but to blow upon its excellencies and lay all its honour in the dust This is harsh yet a gracious heart is content though it bee never so sharpe and cost never so deare though I bee the off-scouring of the world slighted and trampled upon by every one though I lie in the dust all my dayes and goe to the bottomelesse pit for the while I care not any thing rather than a proud heart Though I lose my parts and abilities am never so much loaden with disgraces free me from a lofty spirit and I care not This man now meanes in good earnest to part with his corruptions But what shall wee thinke of those that are content rather to part with their blood and lives than with their base corruptions I mean the prophane wretches of this age that are so sarre from being divorced from their sins that they are not willing to heare thereof or to have the Minister meddle therewith they will not endure the least reproofe to come neare them or touch them no meanes can prevaile to tear their distempers from their soules to plucke the cup from the drunkard or the pleasure from the Adulterer or greedinesse of gaine from the covetous worldling but upon the opposition to their lusts they are up in armes presently A man must beware how hee meddles with these things they will take away a mans credit and his life many times rather than they will suffer their corruptions to be removed by the power of the Word Iohn Baptist must rather lose his head than Herod his incestuous adultery Nay the league betweene these men and their lusts is so firme that they will not heare of any breach When the Prophet came early and late admonishing the people This is the good way Ier. 18.12 walke in it marke how they resolve We will walke in our owne wayes and follow our owne devices and as they resolved so they did for when he enformed them of their wicked courses and would have pluckt away their beloved corruptiōs They tooke hold upon their deceits saith the Text the phrase is strange Here is all the quarrell in the world betweene Gods faithfull Ministers and the people we come to pluck away your sinnes wee would pull downe a proud heart and subdue an unclean lascivious spirit but you take hold of your lusts you cling unto pride and will not part with it you nourish malice and hypocrisic in your soules in despight of God and his Ministers and all admonitions and
every lust and wickednesse that lodges within you and lay them downe at Christs feet be content to part with all that you may enjoy him that is more than all who would not leave a sinne for a Saviour exchange darknesse for light or part with an empty contentment to be satisfied with the true never-fading good But if profit cannot prevaile with you let danger force you hereunto know there is a great misery in the neglect hereof if you will not have GOD take away your sinnes the truth is God will take away his grace and holy Spirit from you if you ever had it Nay you shall never have it upon these termes Was there ever a man such a baby in nature that hee would not part with the wound that will kill him Was ever any man so foolish that hee would not let the Physitian purge him when hee was sure to recover upon it Consider it seriously you must either take part with sinne or with your souls either suffer God to deprive you of your lusts or deprive you of heaven Psal 5.3 Thou art a God that lovest not wickedness saith David If you will have sin dwell in your hearts God will not dwell with you nor you with him If you will harbour and hold your sinnes you must hold fast shame and sorrow too A stranger to grace and a stranger to God Gratifie your lusts and you gratifie the devill Without holinesse no happinesse Heaven is too pure a place for any uncleane thing to have admission into Consider what I say and the Lord give you understanding in all things FINIS Spirituall MUNITION A FVNERALL SERMON Psal 20.7 Some put their trust in Chariots and some in horses but wee will remember the Name of the Lord our God LONDON Printed for Robert Dawlman at the Signe of the Brazen Serpent in Pauls Church-yard 1638. Spirituall MUNITION 2 KINGS 2.12 And Elisha saw it and he cryed My Father my Father the Chariots of Israel and the Horsemen thereof WHen the Lord had revealed that hee would take away Eliah in a whirlewinde as appeares in the first verse of this Chapter you shall observe that Elisha one that lived with him and was trained up by him did two things 1. He followed him marvellous closely while he lived And 2. he mourned for him at his death The Lord sent post-haste for Eliah to heaven and in a fiery Chariot suddenly transports him thither Now when Elisha could see him no more nor enjoy him any longer then he cryeth out O my Father my father As though he had said Eliah is now gone he is past all recovery yet though he be a gainer we are all losers having lost a maine prop and support unto us therefore I cannot but breath and pant after him O my Father my Father In the verse I have read you may observe two things 1. The affection of Elisha to his Master 2. The commendation or description of Elijah The words repeated imply his passion as that of David O Absolom 2 Sam. 18.33 my sonne my sonne would God I had dyed for thee O Absolom my sonne my sonne 1. The affection of this holy man appeareth in three things 1. 1. His honourable esteeme of him Father 2. His humble subjection to him My Father 3. His lamentation and mourning for him O my Father wherein the great griefe and passion of his soule appeares by rending and tearing his clothes apieces as you may see in the Chapter I beginne with the first The word Father is sometimes taken for a word of nature as a naturall father sometimes it signifies a terme of time discovering Antiquity as Fathers in Israel that is such as are aged of long continuance and standing in the Church The point hence is this Doct. 2 King 6.21 The Ministers of God should be as Fathers to the people And this appeares in three things 1 1 They should have a stayednesse and gravity both of spirit and life 1 Tim. 4.12 Let no man despise thy youth saith Paul to Timothy but be an example in life and doctrine If thou livest holily without exception and yet men will speake against thee thine heart tells them they lie let them raile their fill 2 2 In regard of the power and authority committed unto them by God Paul had a rod as well as meeke words Ministers must bee Fathers not cockerers nor flatterers of men 3. 3 In regard of the instruction that they give unto the people which must bee according as their necessity and ability requireth They must be eyes to the blind eares to the deafe Isa 40.11 and feete to the lame First Vse 1. this should teach the Lords watchmen to shine as burning lamps to be examples of piety and strict obedience in their severall places Alas what is it to have the highest place and the basest practise the best calling and the worst kinde of living Secondly Vse 2. it should instruct you that are hearers to deale with the Ministers of Gods word as with Fathers you must not despise them in a captious censorious manner undervaluing the Lords Worthies 1 Tim. 5.1 as many doe Rebuke not an Elder saith S. Paul but intreat him as a Father It is not for a childe to call the father to his tribunall Doe wee see any thing in the Minister that is faulty wee should mourne for it and wisely suggest it to him Say to Archippus saith S. Paul he doth not bid you controule Archippus But here mistake me not It is a point of Popery to beleeve and doe in all things as the Minister saith or doth but wee must search the Scriptures and try mens doctrines whether they bee according to God or not This is one passage My father Here is further set down the deare and respectfull carriage of Elisha unto Eliah whence observe 2 That loving subjection is that which all people ought to give unto those that are in the place of the Ministery Doct. 2. Heb. 13.17 Submit yourselves What Elisha himselfe did all the sonnes of Elisha will likewise doe Now this appeares in three things 1 1 They must have a reverend esteem of them and the places unto which God hath called them they must entertaine them as Ambassadors Gal. 4.14 as Co-workers with the Sonne for their salvation 1 Thes 5.13 to bring the poore creature and his Creator together that they may be one Men are apt to say Ministers are weak and passionate and full of failings Why brethren who is not so It is our happinesse that we have this heavenly treasure in earthen vessels Should God speake to us face to face who were able to abide him Secondly 2. submitting subjecting of our selves to the truths delivered Tell not me of intertaining a Minister or bidding him to your Table Thou must subject thy soule to the word and labour to bee under the power of divine truths revealed Otherwise