Christ then thou art so long as there is credit for the truth so long it is entertained but now suppose it be costly that it shouldbring beggery affliction with it is it now sweet to you doth this support thy heart I am in Gods way canst lye down and subscribe to the equity of Christs proceedings with thee though he should never shew favour to thee if it be not thus I dare not say thou art under the Kingdome of Christ And so for the correcting will of Christ many sad afflictions the Lord tries thee withall the Lord tries men marvellously when thou art under the hand of the Lord those very things that should make men cry to heaven and wean thee from the world those very things do harden thee and make thee grudge and repine The Lord be merciful to thee if this be thy frame the Kingdome of Christ never came into that heart you are begging for mercy and the Lord sayes you mercy you have abused it no saith the Lord Go to your lust that have despised the day of grace and so now you cast off the Lord because the Lord will not give you mercy when you would have it Will you now quarrel with the Lord no down proud heart pray still and mourn still and turne to the Lord and say Lord do with me what thou wilt I am clay in thine hand thou may'st make me a vessell of dishonour I deserve not the least bit of bread such a one as is above the Lord and his will is not under the Lord therefore submit thy self to the good will of Christ 3. When the soul doth thus submit to the will of Christ by vertue of the power and Spirit of Christ i. e. when the soul doth not submit by vertue of its own power strength or ability for this is forre gne power But as it do h seek to submit to the will of Christ so it would have Christ himself act it and rule it and so inable it to submit there unto Now is the Kingdome of God come neere to that heart And herein Christs Kingdome is different from Princes they give lawes that men may keep them by there own might hence they command no imimpossible things but the will of Christ is so crosse to a carnal heart that 't is impossible man of himself should submit to it But the Lord doth it for this end chat the soul should then come to Christ in its need that he would do all the good pleasure of his will and now the Lord himself reignes and that gloriously Rom. 8 1 2. For the law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death Acts 5.31 A Prince and Saviour for to give repentance and remisspon of sint It is part of his Princely power for to give remission of sins both in turning from sin and to God and all the wayes of God and now you exalt him when he is thus set up 1 Cor. 4.20 The Kingdome of God is not in word but in power The power of Christ Jesus is come into thy soul and the soul is under the Kingdome of the Lord Jesus when it doth lye under the mighty power of the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thess 1. 11 12. We pray alwayes for you that the Lord would work and fulfil the good pleasure of his will and the work of faith in power that Christ may be glorified Yea then is Christ glorified when God omnipotent reignes over sin and unbelief and when the Lord doth this not only the Kingdome of God is now come but the Kingdome of Christ in glory is come there is many a poor soul thinks Christ rules him not because he cannot do this nor that became he findes his heart unable and unwilling for to submit to the will of Christ I finde no strength at all saith the soul and I go to Christ and finde not strength conveyed and now he thinks he is not under the Kingdome of Christ I answer that is not the question but hath the Lord made thee willing in the day of bis power when the soul doth lye under the power of the Lord Jesus Christ when che soul doth lye like wax before the Lord Jesus when the soul saith Lord there was never any change of my nature the good Lord change it and if there be any change the good Lord increase and stir up the graces of thy Spirit in my soul and do thou lead me and guide me Brethren the Kingdome of Christ is come to this soul John 5.40 You will not come to me for life He doth not say you do not quicken your selves or ye cannot come to me but will not here is their wound they will not come to Christ for life Rom. 6.19 As ye have yeelded your members servants to sin and Satan so now yeeld up your selves servants to righteousnesse and to holinesse Psal 119.5 6. Thou hast commanded that we should keep thy precepts continually Oh that my heart were directed to keep thy precepts continually Oh that my heart were directed to keep thy statutes When a Christian is grapling with his own heart ye will never be able to overcome the unsubduednesse thereof but when ye bring them to the Lord Jesus Christ that he would take a course with them 1. Now ye please Christ 2. Ye take a sure course to have the will of God done he being in office for that end for Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and Saviour to Israel When the soul doth look up to the Lord Jesus and lye under the power and Spirit of the Lord Jesus 3. You now make the yoke of Christ sweet and his name glorious nothing glorifies Christ so much as this when Jesus doth work in a Christian now the Kingdome of Christ is come to the soul and that in power But now when men will not submit thus far to Christ 1. They can do nothing but will not come to him on whom God hath laid salvation you say you cannot understand nor edifie by the Sermons ye hear and you cannot part with your lusts Ay but now this is thy condemnation thou wilt not go to a Saviour that he may teach thee and help thee when men will not have the Lord Jesus to reigne over them or 2. If men do come they will not come to him where he may be found but say I can do nothing Christ must do all and so neglect the means wherein he will be found or 3. Will submit and come in means to him but not then at the speciall time when He is to be sought and may be found viz. in time of temptation But then forget and forsake him and cry not Hosanna Lord now save now help me against this lust When temptation comes when passion and pride come do you now go to Jesus Christ When the world begins to draw thy heart away dost thou say thus Lord I have prayed this
day against this sin and Lord I have no strength against it now Lord help me but here is the misery of the soul it doth not go to Christ and by this means live in complaints all their life-time 4. If lastly any thing be to be done they will do it themselves as Paul Gal. 1.12 Not but that a Christian should put forth himself a Christian is not a dead-hearted Christian at all times but the grace of God which comes from Christ doth act the soul in a continuall dependance on Christ and where Christ acts not there Satan doth Now I say the Kingdome of God is come when the soul doth thus submit to the stream of the blessed Spirit of the Lord that the Lord may guide it Oh beloved here is the skill that poseth the Angels how to tell you so to yield your selves to Christ as that Christ may come so to abide in the stock that all your fruit may be from him So to lye under the Lord as that the stream of the Spirit of life may fall on thee so to be implanted in the Lord as to fetch life from him and bring forth fruit to him But try this course submit to the will of the Lord Jesus be nothing in thy own eyes and if the Lord do give thee any thing blesse the Lord for it if any strength against thy sin be vile in thy own eyes and try and see if ye finde not the Kingdome of God the glory of Heaven come into thy soul Oh the light life prayers you might have the heavenly conference ye will have together that it would do a mans heart good to be with such a Christian that those that are with you might say Verily God is in this man verily there is joy in Heaven when the Saints keep in this frame 4 When the soul yeelds thus to the will of Christ for Christs ends for such is the subtil wretchednesse of mens heart that men would have Christ glorifie himself that he may glorifie and honour them like Simon Magus that would give any money for Apostolical gifts that he might be some tody that way also Now if a man shall submit go to Christ for gifts and parts that 's to set up another King to advance a mans self and so also sin and the devil and Christ must be made a servant for this end He is now no King like a Rebel that is not content that thousands of the Kings Subjects should serve him but he will have the Prince serve him also Every man will say this doth utterly overthrow the Kingdom of such a Prince When a man shall secretly fight against the Lord and be for himself and for the devil and sin within When a man shall make all the creatures serve him the souldiers of his army meat drinke and outward comforts this is a marvellous thing Ay but when a man shall make Jesus Christ and God himself and profession of Christ make these to serve him to raise up his name this the Lord takes very ill Only this I would adde when the soul doth look at Christ with a single eye that Christ is sweet and precious and lyes under the blessed Spirit of Christ for that end and now looks up to Christ that he may submit to him with a single eye that the name of Christ may be glorified by life and death true it is self will be in every duty and so is contrary to the Lord in all and not for the Lord. Yet though it be thus there is another thing in the soul that is wholly for God and Christ and hence seeks that he may do his work his heart loves him and so seeks him and he begs it with many teares Oh that my children might serve and love this God nay that all the world might see and blesse and admire this God and the Lord inlargeth his heart herein Psal 72.19 and truely now the Kingdome of God is come to thy soul Rom. 5. 17. As sin and Satan do reigne by death So Jesus Christ doth reigne by life to eternall life Matth. 25.14 He is the true Subject that improves his Talents for the King Christ will subdue all his to himself Psal 66.3 Through the greatnesse of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves to thee Rom. 14.17 For the Kingdome of God is not in meat and drinke but in righeousnesse and peace and joy in the holy Ghost When a man shall be picking fault with things and this and that offends him get ye gone the Kingdome of God consists not in that But when the soul do's go to the Lord maintain his peace with God and love to the people of God and joy in the holy Ghost here is the Kingdom of God He that serves Christ in these things the Kingdome of God is come into his soul He that thus submits to the Lord Christ he must first be a man wearie of his own counsels and must loath himself When the Lord hath wearied a man of his own wayes he sayes What am I that the Lord should shew me any mercy And when the Lord calls him to any service Lord What am I that I should now pray to thee Blesse the Lord when the Lord doth keep thy heart in this frame but now when men will honour Christ and yet Saul-like have Christ honour them Many poor creatures they think it a credit to be in Church-fellowship and they will seek to know Christ that they may attaine Church-fellowship and have honour but know it till the Lord do pull down thy base ends and make thee loath thy self and so to submit to his blessed will truely till then the Kingdome of God is not come to thy soul Think of these things for if the Kingdome of God be in our hearts then look for good dayes Brethren let New-England be confident of it but if this be gone from the soules and hearts of men and women in their severall families and places though they may have the outward Kingdome of Christ yet the inward Kingdome being not set up I say no more but what he said Go to Palestina and Bohemia Certainly if they had not cast off the Lords government they had nevever seen those lamentable dayes they had outward Ordinances Oh but here was the thing the inward Kingdome of the Lord Jesus Christ and subjection to the will of the Lord Jesus and to be for the Lord Jesus this the Lord saw was not in them therefore the Lord hath left them to be lamentable spectacles Therefore dear brethren I do beseech you pray and beg for this Kingdome Thou sayest I fall short of this Know this Kingdome of God is at first like a grain of Mustard-seed some little lying under the will of Christ if it be in truth blessed be God for it The Kingdome of God is come and the soul doth weep and mourne after the Lord that the Lord would bring every thought into subjection Know it the Kingdome of
if they be the Lords he will in time humble them for it and make them better after it I know the answer to two questions would cleare up all the doubts about this matter 1. What prudence should be used in making lawes 2. How farre those humane lawes and Town-orders binde conscience But I cannot attend these only six things I would here say 1 The will and Law of God only hath Supreme absolute and sovereign power to binde conscience i.e. to urge it or constrain either to excuse for doing well or to accuse for sin for conscience is at liberty without this this is a truth urged by all orthodox Protestant divines against the Papists so that no law can immediately binde conscience but Gods 1. Because he only is Lord of conscience because he made it and governs it and only knows it and hence he only is fit to prescribe rules for it 2. Because he only can save or destroy the soule hath only power to make lawes for the soul to binde conscience James 4.12 There is one Law giver who is able to save or destroy Isa 33.22 for the law which so bindes conscience to a duty that the breach of it is a sinne and that against God we know that the least sin of it selfe destroyes the soul bindes it over to death but none have power to destroy it but the Lord himself 3. Because the Law is sufficient to guide the whole man in its whole course in all the actions or occasions it meddles with or takes in hand even in civil as well as in Religious matters Prov. 2.9 wisdome teacheth every good path Psal 119 11. I have hid thy word that I might not sin Whatever one doth without a rule from the word is not of faith Hence the word descends to the most petty occasions of our lives it teacheth men how to look Psal 131.1 how to speak Mat. 12.36 it descends to the plaiting of the haire 1 Pet 3.5 moving of the feet Isa 3.16 and what is of Christian liberty hath its freedome from the word a man must give an account at the last day of every stirring of heart thoughts motives and secret words and if so then it must be according to the rule of the word and hence the word only hath absolute power to binde Masters Servants and Princes how they governe and people how they subject and this the Lord hath done to make men take councel from him and walk in fear before him and approve themselves to him especially Townsmen in their places not to consult without God 2. All good laws and orders inacted in any place by men are either expresly mentioned in the word or are to be collected and deducted from the word as being able to give sufficient direction herein For all the authority of the highest power on earth in contriving of lawes is in this alone viz. to make prudent collection and speciall application of the general rules recorded in Scripture to such special and peculiar circumstances which may promote the publick weal and good of persons places proceedings Prov. 8.15 By me Princes decree justice Joshua 1.7 8. Do what Moses commanded turne not on either hand Object But I cannot see my way from hence alwayes Meditate therefore on it much and then thy way shall prosper c. Many things Joshua did not particularly set down by Moses but may be collected from it Deut. 1.17 18 19 20. The King is to have it that he may prolong hit dayes in the midst of Israel in his Kingdome What made Rehoboam to turne from these wayes he thought he could not stablish his Kingdome without it that was therefore the ruine of him and his Kingdome 1. This appeares because the word is sufficient to direct as hath been shewn and hence all directions and rules are to be taken from hence 2. Because either men have rules to walk by or their own wills and apprehensions are to be rules but not so because mens wills are not only corrupt but it 's a peculiar prerogative to God to be obeyed because of his will The reason or wisdome which makes a rule binds which if it be right is part of the law writ in the heart which is most plainly seen and fully opened in the word whence direction is to be had 3. Humane lawes or orders thus either see down in the word or deducted from the word and applied by those that be in place in Townes though they do not binde conscience firstly as humane or by humane power i. e. as published and imposed by man yet they do binde secondarily i. e. by vertue of the Law of God wherein they are contained or from whence they are derived and deducted and according to which they are opposed they are like subpoenas in the Kings name or writ of arrest which by vertue of higher power challenge obedience And thus to break these is to sin against God and makes the conscience liable to punishment from God And the reason is 1. Because men sin hereby against the Lord and his holy righteous law because Gods law is contained in these and what is deducted from the word is Gods word 1 Sam. 8.7 They have not rejected thee but me 2. Because they sin against the power of the Magistrate hereby and against men in place and so against more means Rom. 13.2 He that resisteth the power resisteth the Ordinance of God i.e. when they command thee according to God which the Lord takes very ill and the meaner the power is as in Townes the more terrible will the Lord be when he comes to visit for it hence they receive to themselves damnation both by God and men 'T is true if they be not thus according to the word but rather against the general rules of it though men in Townes and places are not to be obeyed yet subjection is their due even then i. e. not to refuse obedience with contempt of their persons places power or scandal to their proceedings or profession of the Gospel Revile not the Lords high Priest speak evil of no man but rather come in private and conferre with them and hear what may be said and be willing to give and take reason 4. Humane lawes and orders may be known to be according to the word when they command or forbid such things as really advance or tend to promote the publick good This I adde to answer that great question in many scrupulous mindes I cannot see so ignorant when an order is collected from the generall rules of the word now this conclusion answers that doubt For look as the maine work of men in place is to promote publick good and hence publick-spirited men are to be chosen for it so the principal rule is that which God and his Word gives them to walk by whatever really doth tend to the advancement of that Publish that record that and execute that Rom. 13.4 He is Gods Minister to thee for good i. e. for
all other miseries and therefore as Joshua said so say I to you Choose you whom you will serve Mot. 2. Consider the difference between the service of the Lord and Shishak Mot. 2. 1. The government of others tyrannical proud men or sin or Satan or outward miseries 't is full of rigour force and cruelty Ezek. 34.4 With force and cruelty have ye ruled them But Christs Government is there shewen to be in mercy and full of mercy though sometimes lost he will fetch thee in again though sick and weak he will heal thee again vers 16. Deut. 4.6 'T is for thy good the Lord hath no need of thy service c. True it is the Lord may shew his people hard things and give them sad miseries but these wounds do not kill them only make way for healing the distempers of their hearts that are in his poor weak ones and his end is to bring them to himself 2. Their government is in it self hard and bitter To serve a lust now 't is a torment sometimes to conscience if that be awake if not 't is a curse of curses much reluct ancy against it much chiding after it and God hides himself dreadful fears and heart it self unquiet but Christs yoke is easie and his burden light his assistance and presence and love and peace makes it so and that daily and at death especially 3. There is little recompence for their service the best that Saul can give are Olive-fields and Vine-yards but anguish of conscience after the work is done But the Lord gives a Kingdome and not a word or thought but there is a book of remembrance writ not a cup of cold water or rag to any of Christs naked servants but it will be recompenced You have followed me you shall sit on thrones Mot. 3. Consider how fain the Lord would have you under his Government Mot. 3. for many will say I have refused so oft and what shall I now do the Lord will cast me by True he may do so and you may be glad if the Lord will honour you in doing his work Yet Prov. 2.23 Returne you scorners at my reproof and I 'le power out my Spirit upon you Jer. 36.3 7. Read sayes God the words of the Roll to them It may be they will hear and present their supplications before the Lord and turne every man from his evil way that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin Read the place if you can without tears You that have departed from God and Christ and provoked Gods wrath when there is but little hope left it may be Oh yet read the Roll. Mot. 4. Once Christs and under his Government Mot. 4. you shall never be cast off As sin hath reigned unto death so shall grace reigne unto eternal life Rom. 5.21 He will bestow on you the sure mercies of David by an everlasting Covenant Isa 55.5 Quest But wherein should I submit to the Lord Quest Answ None have power to rule conscience but Christ Answ give him therefore this glory that wherein he bindes conscience conscience not out of fear but love may indeed submit I have instanced the particulars formerly yet more distinctly There be two great commands or charges of Christ that ly upon all mens consciences to whom the Gospel comes and therein lyes our service of him generally Which two I name because there we think we are free or do not know our liberty First The command of Christ is that every one to whom the Gospel comes and is preached do believe i.e. receive Christ Jesus in all his fulnesse in the Gospel John 1.12 For that is to believe in which command lies Gods offer 1 John 5.23 This is his commandment that ye believe John 6.25 37 38. This is the work of God that ye believe Now here men think they are free 1. They say they are unworthy and hence they say Depart from me Lord I am a sinfull man as if Gods grace was built on mans worthinesse 2. Because unhumbled whereas Gods grace calls in men unhumbled Rev. 8.17 18. For Gods call and offer is general though none but the humble wil hearken to it But there are none but it may be said to them If they can believe let them 3. Because Christ is not theirs and are they bound to believe he is Whereas the first act of faith is not to believe Christ is mine then men were bound to believe a lie But to receive Christ as a woman her husband that he may be mine by faith and so a man may know and say he is mine The Gospel doth no where say to any man Christ is thine but if thou receive him he is thine and consequently the Spirit speaks so also 4. Because they cannot believe unlesse they should presume as if the Gospel bound the conscience of none to believe but them that were able to believe it and receive Christ in it yet 't is otherwise for it bindes all to receive Christ Jesus to go up and possesse him to feed eat and drinke and live for ever And I will leave this one undeniable argument If men are liable to eternal condemnation at the great and last day and to bear the eternal wrath of God and Christ also for disobeying the Gospel for refusing Christ and the offer of his grace therein Then those mens consciences are bound to obey the Gospel i. e. to believe and receive Christ now in this life But all that have the Gospel preached to them are liable to eternall condemnation for disobedience to it John 3.18 19. Psal 2.12 Kisse the Son lest he be angry So 2 Thess 2.8 9. He comes to render vengeance on them that obey not the Gospel Rom. 2.16 The Lord shall judge the secrets of all hearts by my Gospel That is whereever the Gospel comes for they that have no law having no law shall not be judged by it But men that have had the Gospel shall be judged by it and therefore are bound o obedience thereunto The serious consideration of which one truth is enough to draw all to Christ from the power of unbelief especially they that say I cannot or ought not to believe For the reason why men do not come is 1. They think the Gospel concerns not them what doth the Lord say to me come so vile and sinful yes that he doth if there was no such law there could be no transgression or condemnation 2. They think they shall presume No if conscience be bound to it 't is no presumption to keep a Sabbath aright or to receive Christ as God offers him Oh this quiets conscience 3. The Lord layes his chain on the most tender place of conscience as it will answer it at the great day or will have any peace take heed you refuse not so great salvation 4. 'T is a chaine not of bondage but of liberty and mercy and love Come and receive not a Kingdome but Christ Peace pardon and grace
binding to any and hence called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an ordinance of men Hence it is a foolish vanity to aske a warrant in Scripture for such a forme of Government for humane wisdome may teach this though not in Church-government Yet this supreme and inferiour Government hath been in all Kingdomes 1 Pet 2.13 14. to both which subjection is required to refuse to give it is to cast off the Lords Government and there are couched foure reasons in that place to prove this 1. Do it for the Lords sake for the name of Christ and that honour and majesty of Christ stamped on them submit hence cast them off you cast by respect unto nay the name of Christ Jesus 2. Because they are in the roome of the Lord to do the work of the Lord In punishing evildoers and for the praise of them that do well It 's true they may abuse their power otherwise bur yet their power is one thing and their abuse of it another 3. Because this is the will of Christ and you do well in it and so you shall stop the mouthes of foolish men apt to speak against you for sin 4. Because this is the liberty of Christ vers 16. and you are servants to Christ in it and to do otherwise is licentiousnesse and their liberty to exempt themselves from the power of lawfull authority was but a cloak of it For so it seems in those dayes some held it part of their Christian liberty to be free from all bonds and said that Christ had made them Kings on Earth c. So that if they did cast off subjection they did cast off the name of Christ power of Christ will of Christ liberty of Christ Jesus Even under heathen Magistrates what then do they that cast it off under others Quest 2 Quest. 2. When is Christs Government cast off in respect of the supreme power Answ Answ Those that know the questions about the power of Princes and people especially revived in these last dayes cannot but know the field is large where now I am I shall be wholly silent unlesse I saw greater cause of speaking then I do and only point out two or three particulars to prevent such sins as stand next to the door to break in upon this power 1 When men cast off secretly dread and fear and reverence of the Majesty Dominion and Sovereignty that God stamps upon authority and so come to have low mean thoughts of them and contempt of them It 's true none should be elected but such as men can honour for some eminency or other and that of God seen in them Able men fearing God chief amongst the people was the councell of God by Jethro and Moses but when they be Elected now to despise them and hence not to bow the knee or stir the hat and speak rudely before them it 's casting off not only their power in sight of God but the very root of it which is honour And hence in the 5th Commandment all duties to them are comprehended under the word Honour And who sees not but this is a sin which is apt to attend the spirits of men in a place of liberty and in our weak beginnings and day of small things Reports are abroad that no men or worth are respected and hence the Countrey is neglected I cannot say so after many thoughts for I am perswaded no place in Europe more ready to honour men of publick spirits of eminency in piety and humility without the seeing of which no Countrey more apt to vilifie because grace is the glory in the eye of a Countrey led by Religion But take heed lest such a spirit befal us lest the Lord put out our Lamps and cast our Crown down to the ground 2. When men seek to pluck the sword of revenge for sinne hurting the Common-wealth out of their hands without which the greatest power in a Common-wealth is but a pageant and a meer vanity almost a nullity Hence Rom. 13.4 He is Gods Minister yes when he gives good councell and when he is a revenger to execute wrath on him that doth evill So that be the evil what it will be if it hurt the Common-wealth or be against any wholesome Law thereof he is Gods Minister to punish it civilly In the first Reformation of Geneva there were as many heresies and errours almost as truths of God Servetus he denyed the Deity of Christ whereupon the Magistrate put him to death who died with extream horror Whereupon heresies being begun to be snibb'd and blasted Bellius writes a book 1. That men should punish no heresie at all but be merciful and meek is Christ was to the adulterous woman 2. If they did yet that Magistrates they should not punish for errors or heresies 3. If they did yet not with such severity as they begun To all which Beza hath given a most learned and solid answer detesting the hypocrisie of the man and the sad consequences of such opinions if their power should be diminished I conceive 't is calling off Christs power to take away power from Magistrates to punish sins against the first Table of which errors and heresies in Religion are part It 's as clear as the Sun that the Kings of Judah that were godly did it and were commended for it and 't is as clear they were commended for it not as types of Christ but because they did therein that which was right in Gods eyes and according to the commandment of the Lord Which judicial commandments concerning the punishing of Sabbath-breakers false Prophets Hereticks c. Gods fence to preserve morall lawes they are of morall equity and so to be observed to this day of Christian Magistrates c. To exempt Clergy-men in matters of Religion from the power of the civil sword is flat Popery by means of which Antichrist hath risen and hath continued in his pompe and power so long together The indulgence of Princes towards the Papal function in matters of Religion hath undone Christendome 'T is true every error is not to be immediately committed but when 't is like a gangrene of a Spreading nature then the Magistrate in due time must cut it off speedily Object Leave them to the Church Object Answ True leave them 1. there Answ But 2. Sometimes the Church will not sometimes they are not of any Church A Papist an Arminian may come in and leaven and damne many a soul for which they had better never been If it were but one and if he sayes I do it with a meek spirit their trick of late and none must meddle because mercy must be shewen to these wolves A wise shepherd had rather let a hunter come in and kill one of his sheep then let a wolfe or fox escape Act. 20.29 and see his people persecuted then their soules worried Heresie and Error hath this property it ever dies by severe opposition and truth ever riseth the more because Christ is against the
good things so the application of this purchase by the Word 't is of eternal worth peace but peace eternal life light favour joy but joy eternal like mustard seed though very little yet mighty in increase and never subdued again so that though it be but little yet 't is eternal and hence observe where God hath spoken effectually the longer the man lives the more he growes in the vertue and power of the word another though wonderfully ravished for a time yet dies most commonly outwardly in external Profession but ever in inward savour so that when you hear the word and it moves you affects you and John is a burning light and you rejoyce therein but 't is but for a season The evil Spirit comes on you and David playes upon his Harp and Ministers preach sweet things but as soon as the Musick is done the evil Spirit returns I say you never heard the Lords voice The peace and joy of the Lord enters into Eternity and the Apostle expresly calls him an unfruitful hearer James 1.24 that sees his face and forgets himself A gracious heart can say This peace shall go to heaven and joy and love and fear it 's part of eternal glory 3. The voice of the Lord comes not only thus particularly and with eternal efficacy but with such efficacy as carries unto and centers in Christ so 't is here For him whom God hath sent you believe not John 6.41 They shall be taught of God wherein in doth that appear the shall hear and learn so as to come to me if the law humbles them it 's such a humbling as drives them unto Christ poor and undone Rom. 10.4 if the Word gives peace to them 't is such a peace which at the last they finde in Christ Eph. 2.17 18. with 14. if it live holily it lives unto Christ not meerly as to God and to quiet conscience unto a Creator as Adam but for Christs sake 2 Cor. 5.14 15. We judge that if we were dead and Christ died for us we should then live unto him if they grow up by the word 't is in Christ Eph. 4.14 though Christ be not mentioned yet it is strange to see let the word speak what it will whether terrour Oh my need of Christ mercy and grace oh the love of Christ oh the blood of Christ Command Oh that I may live to honour Christ and wrong him no more Duties Oh the easie yoke of Christ They look upon the whole Word rightly dispensed as the Bridegrooms voice and truly his words are sweet For a man may have some such feare reformation affection as may continue but never carry him out of himself unto Christ The Pharisees knew the law were very exact even til their death profited as Paul said he did yet they had not the word abiding in them because not driven out of themselves to Christ to rest there Hence when men shall hear many things but to what end do you heare or what vertue have the things you hear Do they only please fancy for a time or do you hear to increase your knowledge and parts or do you hear for custome and company and to quiet conscience or are you affected and sunk but not driven by all to lay thy head on Christ the Lord never spake yet to thee when the word hath laid you on this foundation truly it's office is done and ended Gods end is now attained c. Oh try your selves here have you heard but never heard the voice of the Lord rushing upon thee with Majesty speaking to thy hearty and the very secrets of it but have said This is for others and when you have thought the man hath spoken to you your hearts have then swollen against him or have you thus heard but all dies and withers like flowers the same heart still or have you had some powerful stroke which remaines but it forceth you not out of your selves to Christ there to rest there to joy there to live there to die truly your time hath been spent in vain you never yet heard the Lord speak Oh mourn for it thou art still in thy blood if he never said Live in thy bondage if the Lord never said Come forth This is the condition of many to be lamented with teares But if thou hast thus heard particularly and though bat little light life and peace yet it is of eternal efficacy and all to draw thee to Christ then blesse the Lord For blessed are jour eares that hear and I say as Moses said Deut. 4.32 Ask if ever People heard God speaking and live The Apostle Heb. 12.24 makes it a greater matter to come to hear God on Mount Sion and yet live Blessed be God I live Object Object But may not many of the Saints hear and hear the Lord speak but not feel this everlasting power and efficacy Answ I would not lay a foundation of unthankfulnesse nor discourage any Answ and therefore note for answer these particulars 1. There may be an eternal efficacy of the Word and yet ly hid and not felt for a time The Word is compared you know to seed and that in this respect the seed it is cast under the clod in the winter-time and it hath a vertue in it to grow but it is hid and comes not to blade of a good while and when it doth blade yet it beares not fruit of a long time So here the Lord may cast the seed of his Word into the heart but it is hidden for a time it is not felt as yet but there it is a word of threatning a word of promise a word of Command a man may cast it by and say It belongs not to me a man may slight the command for a time Yet notwithstanding the Lord having cast his seed into the heart it shall spring up As many a childe the father speaks to it and applies the word home to it when it is of some years the childe regards it not But now stay some time till the Lord do bring it into some sad affliction now a man begins to think I remember what my father spake to me once I regarded it not then Now this seed which was cast when the childe was young it shall spring up twenty years after John 2.22 Christ had said He would destroy the Temple and raise it againe in three dayes Now when he was risen from the dead his disciples remembred that which he had spoken to them but they regarded it not before These things saith Christ have I spoken to you whiles I was with you but when the comforter is come he shall bring all these words to your remembrance that I have said unto you One sentence it may be that hath discovered a mans sin it lyes hid but when the time of ripening drawes near you shall see the word will have marvelous increase and that sin it may be will bring to minde twenty sins and that promise of God which
labour for a broken heart in the sense of your many infirmities and weaknesses darknesse and enmity vanity and unsavourinesse the Lord will have his time to speak to such a soul Break up the fallow ground of your hearts lest my wrath break out with fire the Lord hath promised to dwell with the poor and contrite Look as it was with our Saviour Christ they brought the sick and the lame ones to him and vertue went but from Christ to heal them all Bring thy sick and blinde heart to Christ and vertue shall go forth from Christ to heal it 2. Draw near to God in the Word by looking on it as God speaking to thee We are far from God and therefore we cannot hear him draw near to him when you come to the external Word when you come to heare the Word heare it as the voice of God You heard the Word at the Word of God which you felt in you 1 Thes 2.3 I do not speak that the soule should take every thing that Ministers speak as the Word of God but that which is the Word of God take it as God speaking I am not able to expresse the infinite unknown sweetnesse and mercy and presence of God that you shall finde thus coming I know it is a common truth but I am not ashamed to tell you I have not for many a year understood this truth and I see but little of it yet ye have heard of it but ye do not understand what it is to hear God speaking When God hath an intent to harden a mans heart and to damn him either he shall have aprejudice against the man or else if he hath not a prejudice against the man there is a secret loathing of the truth in regard of the commands of it and that is all and the Lord he hardens and blindes and prepares for eternal ruine all the men in the world by this meanes that live under the meanes When the Lord spake to Samuel Samuel heard a voice but he heard it not as spoken by God but when he took Elies counsel and saw it was the Lord that spoke now he listens to the voice of the Lord and now the Lord opens all his minde to him 3. Do not trust to the external word It is a heaven on earth to hear the Word exalted a glorious thing to hear the Word of God as Gods Word but trust to the free grace of God in it and the Spirit of God in Christ to set on that Word When they brought the lame and blinde and halt to Christ they looked for the Word and the Power of it Speak the Word Lord and thy servants shall be whole so bring your blinde lame and halt soules to Christ and trust to the free grace of the Lord Iesus Christ The Work of the Lord it shall prosper in his hand so the Word of the Lord it shall prosper in his hand also Lastly so seek the Lord and so heare the Word so seek the truth and so hear the truth as that you lay up your happinesse in this world in closing with the truth and with the word Brethren what is a mans happinesse in heaven but to close with God and Christ I cannot come to God now the most that I can have of God now is in his word if it be happinesse in heaven to close with God in Christ truly then it is a mans happinesse to close with God in his word on earth and if it be your happinesse lay up your happinesse in it My son saith Solomon if thou wilt hear my word Prov. 3. let them not depart from thine eyes keep them in the middest of thy heart place thy happinesse in them So shall they be life to thy soul Vers 22. Neverthelesse Brethren let a mans soul be set upon any thing in the world when he comes to hear besides the word if he lay not up his happinesse in closing with the word truely the word it will be like a song to him The Prophet Ezekiel tells them Their hearts were gone after their covetousnesse When a man comes to hear a Sermon there is a Sermon and the Market there is a Sermon and a friend to speak withall and so many young people will go abroad to hear Sermons What is the end of it It is that ye may get wives and husbands many of you but it is not your blessednesse to close with the Lord in his word I have known some men that have had a distaste against the truth of the Lord and I have known them for many a day they have not been able to understand the truth of the Lord. When it shall be thus with a man that a mans heart is set on something else besides the word of the Lord that it is not my happinesse to close with the truth of the Lord such a man shall never understand the truth of the Lord. Though the word be sweet to you sometimes if your blessednesse do not lye in this to enjoy God Oh this Gospel of God and these Commands of God that your blessednesse do not lye in cleaving to the Lord in his word I say it is a certain truth you shall be blinded and hardned by the word For here is a Rule Whatsoever a mans heart is set on as his chiefest good the presence of that good it comes with power So here the precious Gospel of Christ when the presence of it commands the heart nothing is good enough for it and it closeth with it and with Christ in it I beseech you therefore Beloved in Christ set upon the use of these meanes think within your selves What if the Lord had left me without the word I will tell you what ye would have been Look upon these poor Indians herds of Beasts look upon others on their Ale-benches enemies to the Lord such a one thou hadst been This blessed word and woice of God every very tittle of it cost the blood of Christ written all the lines of it in the blood of Christ Oh make much of it and it will make much of you it will comfort you and strengthen you and revive you and if the word come not with power ye shall be under the power of something else if not under the power of the word then under the power of some lust What is the reason that these poor creatures that are come to the tryall for life and death that have fallen into such sins as were never heard of What is the reason that they are under the power of their lusts I will tell you what Solomon saith My son if wisdome enter into thy heart and discretion be pleasant to thy soul it shall keep thee from the strange woman sinful companion If it be pleasant here is the reason the word of Gods grace it never came with power or if it came with power powerless the word of Gods grace hath been to them and because it hath not come with