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A61268
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A sermon preached before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen at the Guild-Hall Chappel, Jan. 20, 1683 by John Standish ...
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Standish, John, d. 1686.
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1684
(1684)
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Wing S5218; ESTC R13597
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15,137
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29
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of our Rejoycing It is the Natural effect of Adversity to make Men consider and grow Wiser To come to themselves to their right Wits like the Prodigal reduced to his last husk No Lectures of Morality make such Impression as those that are back'd with the Rod of Affliction no Law compels and forces its own Execution like that of Necessity which makes us say proverbially that hath no Law against it I remember Lactantius observes well that the very Pagans themselves when Scourged with depopulating Wars Contagious Diseases unusual droughts great Rains Inundations Storms Hurricans or any other grievous publick Calamity fall down on their knees presently to the GOD of Heaven and invoke him earnestly and unanimously with Prayers and Tears to divert and remove his Judgment from them To which he adds if any of them be reduced to extream Poverty and forced to beg his Bread from Door to Door he makes use of the Name of GOD as the most powerful Argument of his Petition beseeching Men for GODS sake to have pitty and Compassion on Him But then as he goes on postquà m metus deser uit c. So soon as ever they are well rid of that danger Fear or Misery they return in whole Shoals to the CONVENTICLES of their Idol Gods and Sacrifice all the time of their Prosperity to them Lact. Lib. 2. Divin Instit These were professed Heathen but what shall we say if some pretended Christians are not ashamed to Act the same part or something very like it I might bring in the Merchant in a Storm who will offer freely even to half nay all his Estate to Charitable uses rather then fail provided he may have his Life for a prey Skin for Skin will he venture for that but when that danger is once over and he got safe a Shore he forfeits his Vow and cheats his GOD by making some three-penny Largess or pitiful Alms to serve the turn Or I might tell you at large of the Woman in Travail who goes for a pure Saint a Seraphick Votress whilst the pangs of Death are upon her but soon after her more formal then hearty Acknowledgments she utterly forgets that great though common Deliverance But I shall only instance in the Man thrown into a Malignant Feaver by his own intemperance when the Disease grows upon him and begins to prey upon his Vitals insomuch that his ablest Physicians halt between two opinions whether he will Live or Die and himself finds small hopes of Recovery from within Oh! what Sighs and Groans are fetcht from the very bottom of his Heart what earnest Prayers what loud indefatigable Expostulations proceed out of his Mouth what an importunate Suit doth he present before the Throne of Grace that he may be spared a little little while and have space to Repent before he go hence and be no more seen what Golden Promises doth he freely pass what warm Protestations doth he make of his speedy Conversion Oh that I could but escape this one approaching Fiery Fit I would most certainly become a New Man I would Correct the dangerous Errors of my Ways Contemn the little Lusts and Vanities of the World and serve my GOD with all my Heart with all my Soul and all my Strength Sweet JESUS grant me but this one Request try me once more and if I be not henceforth a Reformed Man I ask no more Mercy then let me die the Death Truly the Man speaks well and who would not believe that he is in Earnest considering they are for ought he knows the last words he is to say Well! the Almighty hears and is overcome by his importunity He restores his Health and Strength beyond all humane expectation and renews the Lease of his Life for many very many Years Now is it possible for this Man to be worse then his word I am afraid No I am ashamed to tell you but rather refer it to your own daily and sad Experience Yet thus much I must needs say that if after all this he Relapse into his former wicked Life he is Vnjust as well as Ingrateful to his GOD and the last Estate of that Man must needs be far worse then the first Which that it may never be Verified of any of us I befeech you let us call to mind the time past and seriously reflect upon the Sacred Resolutions we took and Solemn Promises we made to GOD in our extreme distress and be careful with DAVID to pay all our Vows unto the most High 5. Lastly Consider we the true Reasons that moved GOD to turn our Captivity pluck down Enemies and Oppressors and Redeem us from a more than Egyptian Bondage to renew our former Peace and Happiness Restore our lost Religion and Ancient Government and give us Princes as at the first and Judges as at the Beginning For that Success must needs infer a good Cause is a Turkish fallacy which yet of late hath much imposed upon the Christian World Indeed it is an old mistake a Branch of Natural Pride in Men to attribute Victory and Deliverance to their own Sword their own Merit Prowess and Gallantry whereas they belong to a far different Cause But Moses hath long since determined against them in the Case of Israel Deut 9.4.5 Speak not thou in thy heart after that the Lord thy GOD hath cast thine Enemies out before thee saying for my Righteousness hath the LORD brought me in to possess this Land but for the Wickedness of these Nations the Lord doth drive them out Not for thy Righteousness or for the Vprightness of thine heart as he goes on for thou art a stiff-necked and gain-saying People Thus we ought not to impute our many and great Blessings and particularly the late Wonderful Deliverance of Our Gracious KING His only Royal Brother and all His Most Loyal Subjects out of the hands of those Blood-thirsty Men to our own Righteousness but to their Malicions Wickedness to GODS mere Mercy to us and Exemplary Justice upon them for their studied Marders Solemn Perjuries Notorious Sacriledg formed Conspiracies unwearied fowlest Treasons and which is the Spring of all their Motions their damnable Hypocrisy in making a mock of all Religion So many and such weighty reasons we have to remember HIM in the day of Peace and Triumph who remembred us when we were in trouble and saved us so lately when we were upon the very brink of Ruin and then especially to beware lest we forget the LORD To close up this Second general 't is a thousand pities that fair weather should do any harm that when the Sun is most prodigal of his wealthy beams and spends his richeft influence to maintain Natures Glory he should most tan her Beauty and scorch her Hair yet that it is so sometimes every drought can witness but it is not to be attributed to any blemish in the Sun that bright Eye of the World whose Rays are ever the same apt to cherish and preserve Life but
rather to the indisposition of the matter before him and thus it is no fault in the Sun of Righteousness that his healing beams do ruin and destroy us that 's the great imperfection of Men who make their own Happiness their Misery and turn their very Mercies into Sins such Fools and Brutes they are that they will be sooner affrighted into a sense of Religion by the Sword of GODS Judgments and the black Rod of his Fury then woed and courted to his service by those winning Arguments his Golden Scepter of Love and Staff of Comfort Wherefore that we fall not afleep in security when the World smiles upon us and all our endeavours are crowned with success I come 3. In the Third and Last place to â—ender you some 〈◊〉 Directions how we should manage a full and prosperous Estate how we may best reduce this useful caution to practice And 1. When thou thy self art happy don't trample upon or insult over them that are in misery but pitty them in some degree at least and if they suffer unjustly do thy utmost to relieve and help them out the Disciples thought they asked our LORD a very subtile Question Did this man sin or his Parents that he was lorn blind but he tells them neither as they meant he was not born Blind because he or his Parents were greater sinners than other men but for this reason that they and others if they were not blind might 〈◊〉 the glory of GOD in our Saviours working his cure in the opening of his Eyes and men are generally apt to make false constructions of GODS private Judgments in this Life where they see them fall heavy they presently cry there dwells a more then ordinary â—â—â—â—er as if there were no after-reckoning no Judgment to come from whence they think themselves obliged to help GOD to torment him and fancy they 〈◊〉 Him service when they hate scorn kick or buâ—â—et him and heap more coals of fire upon his wretched Head such fools are they and ignorant of the mysterious Tracts and hidden methods of the Diâ—ine Providence whose ways are all unsearchable and 〈◊〉 Paths past our finding out How were his Wise â—nd Rational Friends mistaken in the case of poor â—ob They concluded from his many and great sufferings that he was the most wicked wretch and notoâ—â—ous Hypocrite under the cope of Heaven when by GODS own Testimony he was the most perfect upâ—â—ght man in all the Earth and it stands upon everâ—asting record that in all this whether temptation or trouble brought upon him by Men or Devils in all this Job sinned not nor charged GOD foolishly wherefore let no Man judg before the time considering there is another World that will set all things right and straight which his Folly thinks go somewhat oddly and awry in this as we would that men should do unto us so let us do unto them in their straits and pressures their difficulties and distresses for if thou shouldst despise or oppress thy poor Brother when thou art rich and full it may be thou wouldst oppress a JOB a man of most admirable vertues and highest Integrity and thy weights and ballances are both false if thou measurest his sins by his sufferings Suppose he be a very Judas and known convicted Traytor yet what is that to thee Who made thee a Judge It is enough that the Law takes publick Justice of him all this while the Gospel requires thee not to exclude him out of thy private Charity besides ye know it is very foul play to strike a man when he is down and basest Cowardise to trample upon either a Living Dog or a Dead Lyon That 's the First 2. When thou prosperest in the World and livest according to thy Hearts desire then be sure to let Adversity be the frequent object of thy retired thoughts and meditations All things indeed go well with thee to day but boast not thy self says Solomon of to morrow for thou knowest not what a Day may bring forth Quamobrem omnes cùm res secundae sunt maximè tum maximè meditari secum oportet quo pacte advorsam aerumnam ferant pericla damna exilia c. saith the comedian willing us not to be secure in our prosperity but then learn to expect and bear any evil tidings or adverse fortune Holy Job now in his Wealth and Grandeur took an excellent course for this and well worthy all our imitation when his Children had been long Feasting together by turns from house to house the good old Man went and Offered burnt Offerings according to the Number of them all For it may be said he my Sons have Sinned and Cursed GOD in their Hearts Though he knew of nothing but a Lawful Recreation yet it may be for fear of the worst he went to his Devotions and offered Sacrifice as knowing there would be no hurt in that however but that it might prevent some unseen Mischief And indeed common Prudence may instruct us all to look for Mischances and expect Troubles before they come that when they do come we may be upon our Guard to receive them After Wit is for none but Fools to brag of a Wiser Man takes his Measures by looking 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as well before as behind him and so is able in time to take out the Sting of an Evil before it can reach him Then think of Losses when you thrive the most of Wars in Peace of VVant in Plenty of Grief in Joy of Sickness in Health and of Death it self in the midst of Life and then no Change of things can surprize or harm you but as St. Paul observes all things shall work together for good to them that love GOD. 3. Use thine abundance with all Moderation abuse it not to gratifie thy craving Lusts and Insatiable Affections for they are absurd and unreasonable men who think they do not truly rejoyce in GODS Blessings runless they may Sacrifice them by whole-sale to their greedy Appetites who madly fancy they cannot be happy if their desires be held to any Stint or Bounds hence comes all their excess in Eating and Drinking and other Lawful Pleasures They think to take their fill of Enjoyment and glut themselves with the Marrow and Quintessence of all Good things and so mistake the Quantity for the Quality whereas in truth all Earthly Pleasure Commends it self in nothing more than as it is more seldom-used Therefore if GOD hath given thee Increase of Corn and Wine use them with all Caution and Sobriety Ear not too greedily of the Corn For a full Belly is most unfit for Devotion and Contemplation besides that it breeds ill Humours and endangers Health And drink not too freely of the Wine for though it be good and Generous and move it self aright yet too much thereof will Intoxicate it will drown thy Reason and Parts enervate all thy Faculties and Powers and make thee forget or deny the Lord thy GOD or take his Holy