the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge till these calamities be overpast O when there is nothing standing up between God and the soul and God stands up between it and all that would harme it but the man is safe This blessed shield it both beares the man who bears it and it beats back all the blowes of adversaries so as by a rebound their sword enters into their own heart He knew of what use this was to a soul who said I have prayed that thy faith faâ—l noâ— And the peâ—son to whom this was said having got a dangerous fall and having been shamefully foiled through the failing of his faith yet being by grace recovered gives this advice to â—â—eâ—e who â—ould stand when the devil is assaulting them on all hands 1 Pet. 5 8 9. whom râ—sist stedâ—ast in thâ— faith And when he is thus resistedâ— he flees he sees it s in vain to tâ—râ—w his fiery daâ—ts at him who can make use of this shield hold up thy shield and Satan cannoâ— hold up his face but will flee why because as God hath in mercy and love engaged himself to the soulâ— to stand by it and with his omnipotent strength support it in the evil day so faith laies hold on his promise and takes him at his word and thus interposeth an omnipotent God betwixt it and all enemies and then he stretches out his right hand against the wrath of an enâ—aged enemyâ— hence amongst the rest of the great things aâ—cribed to faith Heb. 11. these are not the least v. 33 34. Who through faith subdued Kingdomes stopped the mouths of lions quenched the violence of fire escaped the edge of the sword ouâ— of weakenesâ—â— were made strong waxtd vâ—liant in fight turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens in a word he that makes use of thiâ— shield is safe and compleatly sheltered with the saving strength of the right hand of an omnipotent Goâ— and shall be made to sing when all his enemies that compassed him about as bees buzing and burning in their hatred are quenched as the fire of thornes the right hand of the Lord hath done valiantly the right hand of the Lord is exalted the right hand of the Lord hath done valiantly O what a compleat securitie is this shield in an ill day and therefore when the Apostle was solicitous about the Thâ—ssalonians at a time when their Adversaries dealt with them as men of the same Spirit and malice deale with you he saies 1 Thess. 3 5. â—or this cause when I could forâ—eare no longer I sent to know your faith Importing that all would be well and they would be victors if that was well Secondly see well to faith's companion and that is Love this is faiths second or the way how faith engages and goes to actionâ— is by affection O Love is a great Champion It will not be boasted or buâ—â—eâ—â—ed into a base deserting of the beloved by what all the power on the earth in a conjunction with the gates of hell can do It hath said it and sworne it where ever Jesus Christ is there will I be whither in life or in death And Satan is so wise as not to assault a soul in it's warme fits knowing well that many waters of affliction cannot quench that flame but resistance will make love the more fervent and the Lover the more fervid and forward and therefore to the end he may prevaile his methoâ— is how to make souls first luke-warme by stealing away the fewel whereby that holy fire is fed or by his slight turning the current of the affections that they may â—un in another channel than God-ward and Christ-ward and heaven-ward as knowing well hovv poor and pusilanimous creaâ—ures they quickly become vvhen their coal is cooled oâ— quenched and hovv easily they are overcome and foiled when they fall from first love O my Brethren see to get and keep your hearts warme worke hard in gathering fewel for loves fire O how much is it of the concernement of every Saint to have fire burning in his bosome in this day when the fire of fiery tryals is burning abroad and about him when enemies are in rage and hell hot this flame of God this holy Love burning heaven-hot will afford the soul true courage to resist that rage whereby they assault and are acted And to this purpose it is remarkable that the Apostle Iude having written his Epistle for this end alone to excite to an earnest contending â—or the faith In order to a readinesse and resolutnesse to undertake this heavy work of holy contention he onely exhorts to this one for all v. 21. Keep your â—elves saith he in the love of God It is is true he mentioneth faith in the foregoing verse but it is as relating to this love and as that which furnisheth fewel to its fire And he speaks of prayer in the Holy Ghost also as that which blowes away the ashes and blowâ—s up that fire into a holy flame And then he subjoines hope as that which poures oile upon the fire and makes the soul â—horowly candent And this leads me in the Third place to say See to your hope also When ever you get an allarm or are called to the conflict call â—or your helmet and clap it on your hâ—ad and claspe it well and so the head being gairded the heart is much withouâ— feare while love to Châ—ist makes a man venture upon swiming thorow the salt sea in following of him And faith is his skill in svvimeing and the strength of his armes so when the waters goe over his head hope is the Cork that keeps his head above till he swime safe to the other shore and thorow all the seas betwixt him and heaven And therefore the Psalmist perceiving himself ready to sink saith why art thou cast down o my Soul hope thou in God c. O how vvell will this helmet of lively hope guard the head against all the daâ—ts shot from the fury of enraged Adversaries and likevvise against all their fraud and flattery for these are the two deadly enemies hope hath to deale with by raiseing the soul into a contempâ— of what the vvorld can offer from the noble and none such expectation it hath laid up in heaven Nay this Grace is of so much use to the saints as the Apostle saith we are saved by hope Now therefore make use of your hope yea hold fast the reâ—oycing thereof firme unto the end and it shall prove to you a helmet of Salvation indeed It 's exercise is to raise up the desponding soul above all dark and dismal appearances and to strengthen faith and therefore we are said in hope to believe against hope Novv Deare Friends having interjected these few things of many with a necessitat briefnesse and blunt abruptnesse Let me returne to where I left Viz. Resolve for suffering and feare none of these things which you shall or can suffer onely feare to offend your God
great goodnesse to them who went before you you need not in order to your establishment run so far backward as to the records and experiences of former generations but I may say as you have heard so have you seen in the Ciâ—ie of our God Call to remembrance what you have been witnesses to what not a few of you have seen with joy and all of you have heard with gladnesse yea your enemies have beheld it with confusion of â—ace shame griefe and astonishment to wit that singular heart solacing and shining presence of God under which these your martyred Brethren were at their death It was evident he did not so much leave them into the hands of them who hated them to take away their lives as because he was so well pleased with their zealous fervour their fidelitie and fixednesse in his way which made them in Testimony of their love to him not to love their lives unto the death he therefore brought them forth to Crown them in the sight of these who killed them and in that Crucified their Master againe while they with a keen crueltie killed he crowned with loving kindnesse and kissed their souls out of them kepped them as they fell carried them off the scaffold in embraces to present them to his Father and set the Martyrs Crown upon their head I â—eed noâ— insist in a matter so manifest as it is beyond the hidings or denyings of those who put them to death and hath also caused so many thanksgiving unto God amongst the Saints so that I may aske you what do you feare Do you feare fruition Do you feare that they who cast you in the fiery furnace shall see the Son of God walking with you in the midst of the flames Do you feare to be seen made more then Conquerours through him who hath loved you Do you feare that when the incensed world hath yoked a fiery Chariot for you to cary out of the world that the world who hate you and hurry you thus off the stage shall see the King come and pave the bottome thereof for you with love Do you feare that while they stretch out their hand against you to take away your life he manifest his love in putting his left hand under your head and in embracing you with his right do you feare that while your blood is shed he give convincing significations to all that look on of his she ding abroad his love in your heart and that your blood is precious in his sight Are these things to be feared which have been the ambition of many righteous men yea and a piece of so great honour as they durst scarce even themselves to a sharing in it Or hath he deserted one of all the sufferers see if you can say it why then are you daunted with danger why do you doubt but he who hath glorified his name in others will glorifie it again in you Nay did he not most signally defeat the expectation of advâ—rsaries and out-do the hope of his poor servants by the remarkablenesse of his assistances given to some who were looked upon as such weake wriglings as they could noâ— stand it out but how by standing by them and strengthning them did he still the enemy and avenger and how did he by the marvellous supporting of his Grace perfect praise out of the mouth of such babes and sucklings I may appeale to the conscience of any present at these executions who savoure the things of God and saw under what a shining presence and with what joy uâ—speakeable and full of glory these dying men went out of the world and these murthered martyrs mounted their triumphant charriot if they would not at that time upon assuâ—ance to be carried off the stage under the same sun-shine and sweetnesse have left all they had in this world and gone with gladenesse in their company in to the other world If any one of all that now glorified company had been deserted you might be discouraged and shrink away and say what is our strength that we should hope But since everlasting armes underneath have been so visibly seen supporting every one whom he called to suffer it saith nothing if it say not this â—eare none of those things which you shall suffer For my grace shall be sufficient for yâ—u And my strength shall be made perfect in your weakenesse Therefore be not affraid but approach your duetie with humble confidence and courage even when death it self is in the way and you shall â—inde it with you as it was with the Priests beâ—ore whom Jordan recoiled not till their feet were within the brink Waite for your assistances and supports in the hour of conflâ—ct and in that very hourâ— it shall be given you and you put in case to say when we are weake â—hen are we strong And to compleat this account and make it appeare that the most daring and desperat enemy cannot ease his own soul by giving one instance to the contrair I can not here passe the death of Mr Miâ—chel which the Lord hath so excellently ordered both as to time and circumstances for whereas they who put him to death did hope to give thereby a daâ—h to the people oâ— God at this time and by their severitie exercised upon him to make them shrink into a fearefull compliance with their iniquous Contrivances but the supporting presence of God with him was such as no man needs for feare to forsake the way of the Lord because of what befell him I mentione not here the cause but leave the world to the account himself hath given thereof with what his Advocats had to plead on his behalfe And shall onely without making a parallel or instituting a comparison between the two allude to Samson's death in this execution Not that I mâ—y take occasion to tell the world that he who was aimed at may passe any day in the yeer for a Lord amongst the uncircumcised Philistims For that is no newes nay the world may judge I do these Lords wrong and him too in not associating him with But First Sampson was a rackel and rough-handed saint ready to peâ—t the Philistims upon all occasions yet secondly the Holy Ghost for all the faults that followed him hath recorded his name and enrolled him in thâ— number even while the names of many other are left out of these eminent worthies Hâ—b 11. And so he hath made the name of Mr Mitchell savovrie and as he tooke many Testimonies from him at all his appearances to the cause so he owned him in the end and honoâ—red him to die witnessing a good confession which will be on record to posâ—eritieâ— Thirdly as Sampson did more mischeâ—fe to the enemies of the people of God at his death than in all his life for when they sent for him to make themselves mirry with a sight of his misery the Lord helped him to spil â—heir sport so I judge it is beyond question with every sober man
is a heat also which scorches and troubles their Conscience and therefore they cannot endure themâ— but take all opportunites to deale with them as Persons come to torment them before the time by their shineing and burning Besides these general and unâ—ailing Considerations which ought to fortify us in a resolution to make ready for the worse the world can doe there is somewhat peculiar in our lot which should make us resolve and determine not onely to suffer but to have a mixture of gall and wormâ—wood in our cup. wherewith Saints are but at some special times exercised There is a must be now for all who will live Godly in Christ Iesus to suffer persecution and it were a madnesse to entertain other thoughts since our time is a time of Defection and shameful Apostasy which hath ever been found a â—ime of hot persecution This hath been ever observed to be the practice of Apostats to hate as hell and to handle as the worst of men such as stand fast fixed in owning that cause of Godâ— which they have relinquished a man who resolves to keep a Conscience void of offence towards God must take his life in his hand and be â—n readinesse to part with it when his lot is to live in a time and place where there is power in their hand who have made shipwrack of Faith and of a good Conscience For as Apostasy is the special sin of Devils and as Satan the great Apostat hates all who set their face heaven â—aâ—d and are Servants of that God and seekers of that blessednesse from which he for his â—postasy is everlastingly banished so whomsoever he withdrawes from the wayes of the Lord and drawes with him into the guilt of Apostasy he drives them on also to the same sin of persecuâ—ing those who hold on their way and who adhere to those precious truths which they have foâ—saken and are followers of God as deare Children and these â—wo have so neer and native a connexion together as he doth not onely drive without any difficultie those over whom for their Apostasie he hath obtained a sole soveraignity and dominion into these desperat and damnable courses of persecuting the truth which they have foresaken and the Professors â—here of who hold faâ—â— his name Bâ—t which is more strange and sad and should alarum every man into a watchfulnesse against the very first and smallest-like degrees oâ— defection from the good old wayes of Godâ—r It is observed that let a man though sound in the main slip from one degree of his zeal ond integrity thougâ— it werâ— but in omission to stand-up for the defence of the Gospel when the assaultings of Adversaries makes it duty much more if there be a doing of any thing which will give the enemies of the work of God the least advantage he forth with slides also ere he be aware into a censuring despising contemning if it stop here and go no further it is well of his Brethren whom he cannot carry alongs with him and becomes frequently more active and indnstrious to draw them whom he hath in so far lâ—ft his length then he is observed to be active in strengthening the things that remaine and are ready to die amongst a people in a declining time Now these things are so plain in our case as it were supeâ—fluous for me to make them more plaine Need I tell you in whose hand the power is or of what spirit and principles these men are after all the desolation they have made amongst you Neither are they yet at an end and therefore you would be preparing for new assaults and laying in provision against the evil day O blessed shall the man be who in this dismal day shall not be offended in him but shall endure to the end Lay your account therefore with the worst that violence and enmity armed with power enflamed to the height of revenge can make you suffer for withstanding this course of iniquity now carried on by all means methods in the Nation This fore-sight providence will be our wisdom for when we have done so we will not be amazed when that comes to passe we had resolved before hand to meet with or put out of our postour when these things do emerge with which we had laid our reckoning But deare Friends for fixing yourselves into a firmenesse of resolution to hold out and hold on though it should come to a resisting unto blood after you are robbed and spoiled of your goods Consider that there is nothing in all these fires and waters you have to passe thorow in all these dangers and deaths which are before you in all these trials in all these hazards nay in all these hells that are betwixt you and heaven whch can prevail with a soul that knowes in whom he hath beleeved or perswade him to cast the blessed bargan or go back from his Master and walke no more with him Whither shall we go from thee for thou hast the words of eternal life was the disciples deliberat and warme answer to that heart-moving question will you also leave me Leave thee Lord Leave thee who will we are for ever tied to an attendance upon thee and continuance with thee both by choice and by the chaine of our own advantage that eternal life which is in thee and is to be had by abiding with thee arrests us with a pleasant violence to wait upon thee while we must foresake all in following â—hee and be foresaken of all But secondly let us exercise spiritual reason and reckon right we will perceive there is much of present real advantage to be found in and reaped from the worlds hatred and the greatest heat of persecution who is he that will harme you if ye be followers of that which is good is a question that puts it out of question they cannot be harmed even when hurt and therefore it is immediatly added 1 Pet. 3 14. But and if ye suffer for righteousnesse sake happy aâ—e ye c. It is true there are none to whom moe injurâ—es are done then to the poor persecuted people of God for as men they are not only borne to trouble but as Christians they are borne againe unto trouble and appointed thereunto But it is as true that there are none who are so little iniured by injuries for they get meat out of the â—ater all these things work together for their good For first hereby the Saints are keept in a right temper towards the world and the things thereof whereas iâ— they meet with kinde usage in it and from it they would take too well with it and sit down short of heaven and forget to say arise let us go hence for this is not the place of our rest there remains an unrenewed part in the saints which would agree too well and comply with the courses and customes of the world and therefore it is their speciall adavntage to be driven off from it
by being distressed by it this bitter potion which the world prepares for the people of the Lord and puts all the gall and worm wood in it they can to make it deadly poison when drunk down and digested by faith and patience dissipats and discusses these ill humors which did weaken the vitals of Religion and brought a consumption upon the inward man and so proves a soveraigne antidot to drive out that poison which would have killed the soul if not purged out And as it serves for dissolving that union between the Saints and the world so secondly it knits them the more closely to him who hath chosen them out of the world for when they finde themselves dealt with as strangers and pilgrims in the earth exposed to all manner of hurt and hardship they then are in earnest in seeking that satisfaction in God which they misse in this howling wildernesse of sorrow and as they never seek it so earnestly and ardently as at such a time so they never so readily finde it that they may have a proof that their own portion is fat enough and can still afford them royal dainties and so sit down satisâ—ied with the enjoyment of God even their own God and sing amidst all wants and miseries the lines are fallen to us in pleasant places The reason then why the people of God are often in so much heavinesse and frequently hunted harrassed with trouble tentations is that they may be hunted by the worlds hatred and evil handling of them out of the world home to heaven that since they see what they have to expect here they may gird up the loins of their mind set their affections on things that are above where Christ is there treasure hence it is said when the scourge slaieth suddenly he laugheth at the trial of the innocent which is not for want of affection being aâ—flicted in all there afflictions but if I may say so besids that he meens them not to command a calme in the greatest storme to have a consort of most sweet musick in their soul amidst all their miseries who have an interest in him as their God he rejoiceth to think how the happinesse of his people is promoved by their pressures and persecutions and how much their persecuters are befooled who contrare to their purpose contribute their service to the Saints whom in their rage they intend to ruine All men of reason have judged the mustering and marching of this host against you a high transport of malice and madnesse in the mean time you mourne and the enemies laugh amongst themselves and the Lord notwithstanding he takes pleasure in the prosperity of his people he rejoyceth also But why is it so It is so not only in regaird of your Adversaries at whom he laughs because he sees their day is coming but because he hath such a complacency in the soul prosperity of his people that Court and Councel and all the Nation must be set a work to scoure the Saints the vessels of honour that they may shine in the beauty of holinesse and sing in the begun fruitions of God And thus by the effects of this fury this malice and madnesse of persecuters a company of his poor people whom they intended to eat up as bread and to destroy are made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light the place to which neither they who gave the orders nor they who obeyed and put them in execution shall ever be admitted except they mourne and amend their manners too for heaven is not a place for impure and polluted persons there is nothing that defileth or worketh abomination that can enter-in into that City there is neither swine nor puddle there But to come more particularly to the purpose to show and set before you what grounds of strong consolation you may have while handled as you are by the persecuting enemy Consider first That it ought not onely to remove the strangenesse to alley the bitternesse of your present sad lot but also comfort you over it and while under it that your sweet Lord and Mastâ—r was handled by the world as you are If the world hate you saith Christ you know that it hated me before it hated you And therefore for sweetening your lot and supporting you Consider him lest you be wearie and faint in your minds O what weight of sorrowes and variety of sufferings did he undergoe both in his life and at his death What pinches was he put to What Pressoures were upon him Reproach Shame Calumnie Hatred Persecution met upon him to make it appeare he was a man of sorrowes What alley is this to your griefe under your pressures and Persecutions that your Lord and Master drunk of the same cup he met with much worse handling Cease then to think strange concerning this fiery trial but rather rejoyce in as much as you are partakers of the sufferings of Christ this may comfort you that herein you are conforme to your Lord and Master If they have persecuted â—e saith he they will persecut you But secondly to make the consolation strong indeed Consider that he not onely was hated of the world and persecutâ—d by them before you were but he is such a feeling-head as he still suffers with you for all the after fufferings of his servants do â—irâ—t light upon him there is never a stroke given to one of his members upon the earth but the stound of it is felt in Heaven Saul Saul why persecuts thou me being the word of our glorified Master puts the matter beyond debate The quarrel is at Him and he will own it as such in as much as you did it unto one of these little onâ—s you did it unto me holds true here And this is so cleare in your case as it passeth the parts of your most pregnant Adversaries to palliat this persecution with any colourable pretence which will hide it from being a plain fighting against God Is it not the purity of their malice and perfection of their hatred against Christ as King which pouseth them on Prompts them to this persecution Let them â—ender any other reason for what they have done if they can For when to compleat the revolt of the Nation from its sworne subjection and obedience to Iesus Christ as Supreme in his own-houseâ— they have substitut and constitut another in his place and have framed a Supremacy in to a Law to be the rule and standarâ— according to which our Kings in all succeeding generations shall of right King it over the house of God as knowing no Superior with a more simple absolutnesâ—e then the Law of the Nation will permit them to do over the house inheritance interest or concerne of the meanest subject in the Kingdom by which Law our Lord Iesus Christ is most explicitly exaâ—torat he is declared to have neither house people nor propertie in Scotland Leâ— any read over our
the source rise and conduct of the Rulers procedour against you and their barbarous câ—uelty give you not onely confidence to pour out your heart befoâ—e him and present your câ—sâ— and cause in this General for thy sake we are killed all the day long we are counted as sheep for the slaughtâ—r But more particularly when you can sist your selves bâ—fore him and sob out your sorrowes in these words of a truth Lord against thy Holy Châ—ld Iâ—sus whom thou hâ—st anoâ—nâ—ed are all thâ—se gathered together and it is for our owning of him as thy anointed and râ—fuseing to be on that conspiracy that we ore thus used I know not vvhat can give ground of gladenesse in a mans life or vvhat can be cause of gloriation in death if resisting unto blood upon such a quarrell and not loving a mans life unto death in such a cause will not give ground for it Beloved Friends and much honourâ—d sufferers for Christ you know since you are taught of God that the way to overcome all trouble here and to carry as becometh Saints under it is to look above it and beyond it above it to the high and supreme hand that sends it and disposeth of it so as it may subserve your great Interest for in despight of the malice and madnesse of all inferior agents all these dire and dreadful things shall together with him who worketh mightily in his people and for them work together for your â—ood and beyond it and above it to the end of it and the recompence of reward following after it This is the way to profite by pressures to be gainers in all losses This is the ground of sweet peace and serenitie of mind amidst all trouble and the solid foundation for patience of Spirit For he is only in a capacitiâ— to possesse his spirit in patience whose spirit hath received these impressions without which the soul will be still disquieted Trouble will still tosse it as a ball in a large place and it will prove unstable as water I suppose since you are Saints and so must have some impressions of the absolute Soveraignitie of God that though in your searchings you could not finde out or fixe upon the cause of his contendiug with you thus yet you would either be silent or say it is the Lord let him doe unto us what seemeth hâ—m good And if he have no pleasure in our liveiâ—g and dwelling in our little huts and houses Bnt will drive us thence the will of the Loâ—d be done But not to insist on this which yet you will grant to be infinitly rational for who hath enjoyned him his wayâ— or who may say unto him what doest thou there is sufficient to keep you and me aâ—d the Christians of this generation from frâ—tingâ— and saying while in the fire and while the rod of the wicked rest upon your lot and these plowers plow upon your back and make their furrowes longer and deeper than all these plowersâ— which went before them did O when will God Loose the plough by cutting asunder the cords of the wicked and confouâ—ding turning them all back that hate you He is the Lord who will hasten it in his time to shew that he is righteous Let us weep for what we have done And wait in hope for what he will do why are we thus Surely a sight of our sin would make us wonder that we are not worse yea admire his goodnesse who will be at all this pains about us to heal us of these mortal diseases whereof our immortal souls are sick even unto death I am sure that the crimson dye of our crying iniquities would curb our impatience and cure us of that evil of quarrelling with him because of our suffâ—rings Consider therefore however you suffer very unjustly from men against whom you have done nothing justly to procure their indignation yet if you look within you and lift up your eyes above you and consider how the cry of your transgâ—essions is come up into his eare you will be constrained not onely to justifie him in this seeming severiâ—ie but to confesse from clearnesse and conviction you are punished lesse then your iniquities desâ—rve And that it is of the Lords mercâ— you are not consumed because his compassions fail not Hence is it thaâ— when the Apostle Peter hath been speaking of the fiery trial 1 Pet. 4â—12 13 14 15 16. which this day in our case and hath been encouraging and comforting them to a paâ—â—ent endâ—reinâ— while schorâ—hed with these flames by many noble arguments yet when he looks upâ—n thes heavie afflictions as coming from God he calls them verâ— 17 judgements intimaâ—ing thereby that his precious and peculiar people how upright and innocent soever as to men yet they are guiltie before God the righteous judge and that they muâ—â— acknowledge when â—hey â—ist thâ—mseâ—ves in his sight that what ever they suffeâ— is the fruit of their own doings and that by their provocations they have procured these things and rewarded all these evils unto their own soul by not walking worthy of him nor befoâ—e him to all pleasing If his people by their multiplied and manifold sins did not extort if I may say so strokes our of his hand he who doth not aâ—â—lict willingly nor grieve the Children of men but hath pleasure in the prosperitie of this people would not so often take the rod in his hand or would soon cast it into the â—ire for he doth not love to lash beyond necessitie and therefore when he hath performed his whole work upon mount zion he casts the rod into the fire and punisheth the fruit of the stout heart of his and his peoples enemies and the glory of their high looks The saints you know Brethren how graciows and grown so ever they are but Children and therefore must be under Chastisment The best of them are given to many Childish toyes and not a few of them in whom the root of the matter may be yea will be found are so far from abideing witâ— God in their callings and from adorning the Doctrine of God the Saviour that so men by seing their good works may glorifie their Father which is in heaven that there is a groffnesse in their way their iniquitie is ofâ—en found upon the skirts of their garmenâ—s and their spots are so unlike the spots of the people of God and Persons made partakers of the divine nature that because of these mouths of enemies are opened to blaspheme the name of God and reproach the blessed Profession But seting thsee aside Alas how doe they who escape such grosse pollutions yet often trifle in the matter of communion with God How formal and luke-warme in their addresses So that he who seeks the heart and will be worshiped in Spirit and Truth misseth their soul in their service How seldome arâ— they in Heaven How little dwelling upon the thoughts of Jesus Christ and the great sâ—lvation purchased by him on purpose
of these frowards who will wrestle with him to wring the scepter out of his hand shall be carried head long Hath he said it And will he not doe it hath he purposed it and shall it not come to passe And you Tennants vvho are turned out of all and put in the condition of beggars O rich and to be ambition at beggarie yea you poor Labourers and Servants who have parted with your all and it may be you thought it to little For vvhen love to Christ gives it is so liberal and open handed as it gives all It first gives the heart to him and then the house and goods for him hath a kinde of sorrow it hath no more to give therefore at last to fill up the measure the giver throwes in himself and that with a blush to be made use of in doing and suffering for God and therefore did it vvith a kinde of shâ—me and regrete you had no more to lose for him be assured he vvill not forget this your woâ—k and labour of love shevved for his names sake nay be assured he vvill repay it with an inconceivable over-plus of everlasting advantage Feare not little flock it is the Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom are the words of your Lord and Master O! hovv great is your revvard in heaven it exceeds both your faith your fansie both your imagination and expectation in the dimensions of infinit goodnesse and eternal endureance O! hovv great is that Goodnesse vvhich he hath laid up for you vvhere theeves cannot break thorow nor steale nay it is above the rage of men or loose handed devils to reach it who now have been helped to give such a proof that he who alone is to be feared is your feare and your dread and which he hath wrought for you who have witnessâ—d before the sons of Men that you can follow him whither soever he goeth and that where the King is there will you be whether in Life or in Death and trust him with all your concerns when exposed to the worst that the violence of the vilest of men can make you suffer What should I say He hath pronounced you blessed who makes you so amidst all your miseries and therefore blessed you must be and shall be so that you have no more to say but be it unto thy suffering servants according to thy word neither have I but Amen and Amen Now Deare Brethren though your not having keep as became you the Word of his Patience hath provoked him not to keep you from this hour of Temptation which is come upon you yet how hath he both multiplied to pardon and magnified his grace even while he punished in keeping you in it And as the observation of your former way occasioned great feares on your behalfe lest there should have been a further defection so when it was seen and pâ—t beyond all debate though no man would suffer himself to believe that ever such a thing which had no colour of reason to cover the barbaritie of it's rage would be put in execution lest an easie credulitie of what was not to be beleeved till rage had quite extinguished reason should have argued a weaknesse unworthie of a man For to have said they are men who Rule though stated enemies to the wayes of God might have secured a person against the feares of such a course that this evil was determined against you wherein Religion and Reason had the defiance at once in the resolution of your ruines I judge there were never moe payers put up to God on the behalfe of a partie in the land then there were for you that you might be keept in this hour of temptation strengthened with all might according to his glorious power helped without fearing the wrath of those whose furie was armed with all the force of the Nation and to be execute by the most formidable and barbarous Instruments to stand it out and to endure as seeing him who is invisible And now in that God hath not turned away these prayers nor his mercy from you But hath stood by you helped you held your hand with held you from that Bond of disloyaltie to Christ strengthened you and keept you from the snare laid for you and this grin of these workers of iniquitie for this gift I say bestowed upon you by the means of mâ—ny persons thanks also are given unto God by many on your behalfe And this aboundance of heart-establishing and hand-strengthening Grace bestowed upon you by the thanksgiveings of many redounds to the Glory of God Deare Breâ—hren you are now in a manner become our joy and crown This eminent exercise of your faith and patience in that while crâ—shed by these cruel men you have carried as not being moved by any of these things which have be fallen you but as knowing you are appointed thereunâ—o hath comforted your Brethren over you in all your aâ—â—liction and distresse And your standâ—ng fast in the Lord hath put many who stood in doubt of you lest the temper by this means should have tempted you and turned you aside to a compliance with the crooked wayes of these workers of iniquitie who shall be led forth with all that â—oine with them to condigne punishment but what that shall be is unutterable hereby I say your friends the favouâ—ers of the dust of Zion are put to a new diâ—â—icultie on your behalfe for his doing for you above what they could ask or think now this is the Echo of their pulse O what thanks can we render again to God for these who haâ—â— been thus helped to glorifie him by standing and withstanding in this evil day and for all the joy where with we joy for their sakes before ouâ— God Yea what gladnesse what glorying is there amongst the saints for your patience and faiâ—hâ— in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure But now Deare Brethren to the end that you may hold on and hold out and so be more than conquerours through him that hath loved you let me put you in mind you have not yet done although you have been helped to doe much by suffering much yet there is a much behinde to be done and suffered Having therefore taken joyfully the spoiling of your goods and carried as knowing in your selves that in heaven you have a better and an enduring substance Now consider that you have yet need of patience for you see that the enemies teeth iâ— hereby set on edge to teare you they are still eager in the pursuite There is need of patience I say therefore that after you have done the will of God which hath been by a suffering of his will in this juncture you may receive the promise Now take unto you the whole armour of God that you may be able having done all these noble things to stand Stand therefore as resolved through grace and in the power of his might to keep your grouâ—d and to
withstand that you lose not the things which you have wrought and let not go a victory so neer gained Read over Râ—v 12. and see how that after Michael and his Angels have encountred the Dragon and his blake Legions and I must say however these who marched against you were called a glorious host I doubt if ever there were legions who more compleatly were clothed in Satans livery and it was very suteable since there was never a company of men gathered together since man was upon the earth wherein the quarrel was so formally stated against the Prince Michael and have overcome by the blood of the lamb c. A victory in kinde and qualitâ—â— much like yours Now take notice that the Devil thus cast down even while he casts them down that with stood him and thus defeat in the death of those who loved not their lives unto the death studies a revenge and comes down having great wrath Be suâ—e theâ—efore he will endeavour to be avenged upon you for the broken head got at this bout He will make war upon you and mannage it with all the foâ—ce and â—urie he can yea wiâ—h all the fraud and Hellish Sâ—ratagems whereof yet I am most afraid against that remnantâ— by whose keeping the commandment of God and holding fast the Testimony of Jesus Christ he finds hiâ—self cast down He hath had great wrath against a poor feeble company these many years by whom after he had hurried all the Representatives of the Nation into this diâ—ch of dreadâ—ul Defection Aâ—ostasie carried them the length of that heaven-daring act of Supremacy he found himâ—eâ—f resisted all the homage he got by this Apostasie did avail him nothing so long as these base-lâ—ke and beggarly Mordecaies did not onely not bow the knee to him but resisted him and wiâ—hstood him and by their runing to and fro he found the knowledge of God hiâ— great eye-sore encreased his old nests herried his ordinary haunts invaded and these daâ—ke Deâ—s wherein he had dwelt without disturbance taken in â—ossession and his old servants and slaveâ— vindicat into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God Seeing himself at such a loss that by a company of un doughts as they are judged yea nothings the fittest things for this opposed Christ to work by and the fittest â—ime too for by his reigning and conquering thus and by these noble and notable inroads he makes upon Satans â—erritories he proves himself the Captain of Salvation and that King who is in Zion against whom there is no rising up against whom there is neither counsel nor strength and so no prevailing however exautorat by ouâ— Law that Law put in execution by all the methods and strength that they who fâ—amed the Law can enforce it by he is more incensed And as to you my Deare Friends oâ— the Weâ—t oâ— Scotland more particulaâ—ly suffer me to say That he seems to have devised that this storme should have first fallen upon you not onely because of old Long-syne But as hoâ—ing that now after so much ease you have had while others were in trouble and some remaâ—kable abatemen of that zeal which sometime was observed to be amongst you O let never such a sight be again seenâ— he would finde you unprepared to stand it out and withstand such a furious assault and so by your fainting and being â—oiled he expected that all the rest of your brethren should have been either frighted into the like compliances with this course of defection and have been made to couch as Asses between the burdens or their resistance when relinquâ—shed by you to be but feeble at best and at last such as would end in their own ruine But now being so far disappointed in finding that you have been helped not with a little help but with a great help and that you have been enablâ—d through Grace to shake your selves as at other times and that the Lord hath stood by you while â—uch a Lion was let loose upon you and hath strengthened you and helped you â—o aquite your selves in this conflict as the good Souldiers of Jesus Christ he hath now more wrath against you than ever How doth he now meditat revenge How doth he now grin and gnash his teeth upon you when having stretched out his hand against you as nothing doubting of the victory he finds himself foiled and made to draw in a stump You may expect then to meet with all that the Gates of hell can do to uâ—do you therefore be upon your guard you may expect to be attacqued upon all quarters now battered with fury then underminded bâ— fraud Be sober therefore be vâ—gilant for this roaring Lyon is walking about seeking how he may devour you whom resist stedfast in the faith and to the end he may get no advantage againâ—t you see that you carry as not ignorant of his devices beware of his wiles beware of his smoothnesse for when he speakes you fairest then there are seven abominatiâ—ns in his heart Be sure where ever you watch or what ever you do to double your gairds at this passe for it may be you shall be yet assaulted at this postâ— and be in greatest hazard to be put out of your posture by his smooth insinuations And in order to your resistance and standing it outâ— both against the wiles of the Divil and against his open wrath let me drop these things and bring them to your mind First Let me beseech you to considâ—r what your treasure is and see to the securing of that in the right â—and and the right place for if that be safe anâ— well laid up all is well you may then suâ—fer and sing we will not feare what fleshe in do unto us I need not tâ—ll you that your treasure is yoâ—r precious and immortal soâ—â— and that you have nothing woâ—th keeping nay nâ—thing that is truely tenable or that can be keep 't but that for it is Christ's own account who knew the worth of souls what hath a man profited saith he if he should gaine the whole world and lose his own soul and the words added or what can a man give in exchange for his soul are resolveable in this other question whâ—â—â— haâ—h a man lost if he should lose the whole world and save his own sâ—ul O what can be gaine where â—he â—ainer is eternally lost or what can be loss where the loser is saved and for ever made up Nor need I tell you that it is for this precious treasure that loose handed Devils â—unt and to the end your enemy may get hold of this and run away with it he houâ—dsâ—out such emissaries as you have had to deale with that you may be hurried by their hoâ—rid savagenesse into a solicitousnesse how to preserve some things out of their grips till he run away with his prey while you are noised into an oblivion of your gâ—eaâ— Interest Nor need I teâ—l you that the alone way
that Mr Mitchells death hath done more hurt to it's contrivers and furious drivers than ever his lâ—fe could have done even though he had shot againe and hit that un hallowed marke For now where as he hath died desired they who drove it have in breathing out their crueltie against him brought an indelible infamy upon themselves and entâ—iled upon their posteritie a reproach never to be rolled away yea they have missed their marke so far in hiting him as I suppose the most confident scoffer amongst all those who promised them selves matter of mirth by his death and some thing on which they might breake their jest will be more loath to heare Mr Mitchels death mentioned than the death of any of those worthies that went before him lest concerning themselves it also be remembered how And thus was that prediction fulfilled with a witnesse contrary to the mind of him who in saying so did both mock and menace at once that God did glorifie himself by Mr Mithels death in the grasse market Yea glorifie himself he did and glory to him for having done so Is not this then Brethren heart-comforting and hand strengthening that all who went off the stage thus died under these refreshing manifestations and ravishments of spirit as their enjoyments would be the measure of mens desires for their own soul as they were the measure of the desires of these dying Martyrs for all the people of God For what could they wish more or seek more on the behalfe of these But O that it were with them in all things as it is with us except as to this scaffold which yet to us while under these manifestations is preferable to all the thrones of the Earth and the Pharadises and Pleaâ—ures wherein they live who put us to death Nay so marvellous was the presence of God with these his dying witnesses as I doubt nothing but some of the enemies who looked on and had a hand in sheding that innocent blood have said with themselves since O let me die the death of thâ—se righteous men and let my latter end be like theirs And I much doubt when death shall look the greatest Desperado amongst them in the face and he finds himself ready to be dragged before the judgement seat of Christ if the question were asked him whether he would have his soul now gathered with the souls of these suffereâ—s or with their souls who shall be brought in before the Tribunal with their fingers droping with the blood of those whom they killed upon such an account that he would be at any demurre what to choise Feare not then to follow Deare Brethren since you see how honourably the charges of all that have gone before you have been borne you have the same good God the same Christ the same Spirit the same cause the same covenanted strength have therefore the same confidence and courage as they did so doe you carry as in nothing terrified by your Adversaries which as it was in them so it will be in you an evident token of perdition to your proud and implacable persecuters But to you of salvation and that of God Suffer me ere I close to put one drop more in this cup to make it cooling and never-the-lesse cordial for that Endeavour Deare Friends with a Zealous prudence while you are in this fire of fiery trialls to prevent or exstinguish the wilde fire of unnecessare and hurtfull animosities amongst your selves by the flame of fervent and true love to God and one another this fire will burne out the other you see the enemy thrusts sore at you that you may fall therefore to the end they may misse their marke and you may stand fast in the Lord stand close together I shall not enlarge upon this head onely let me put you in mind of that notable place to this purpose when the Apostle Philip. 1. after what he had said of himself V. 20. O for a company in case to say the like comes to persuade to a carriage such as becometh the Gospel he pitched particularly upon this piece of a Gospel-becomeing conversation and perswads to it That I may heare saith he that ye stand fast in one Spiâ—it with one minde striving together for the faith of the Gospel c.. And knoweing well how much true unitie did strengthen the saints while put to this striving he doth in the following Cap. Viz. c. 2. v. 1 2 3. with a mervellously sweet emphaticknesse inculcat and commend the same thing with such a warme varietie of heart-melting and affection-moving words and arguments as are sufficient or nothing can be to cement and souder into a samenesse the souls and affections of all saints If there be therefore saith he any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the spirit if any bowels and mercies fullfill ye my joy that you be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory but in lowlinesse of mind let each esteem other better than themselves Now what can be said after this Here you have union nobly qualified and arguments powerfully quickening to pursue after it O fall a striving therefore while put to strive against enemies who shall love God and his precious interests most and one another best who shall be most ready to forbeare and to beare one anothers burdens that so in fulfilling this law of Christ all may the more cheerfully beare the Crosse of Christ have there been amongst you animosities contentions jealousies whisperings evil surmiseings c. the more is the pitieâ— well then now is the time to confirme your love one towards another Now set your selves to provoke one another to love and to good works Now see if you who have discoursed and disputed your selves a sunder can pray your selves together and so meet in that blessed center I little doubt if your heart be heaven-hot in praying together in weeping before God together in wrestleing with him together but you will walk after the Lord together in a sweet zealous singlenesse of frame when your hearts have been warmely poured out together before God a spiritual harmonie and famenesse of soul in working the work of the Lord will follow upon it And if my observation do not fail our contentions never became hot till we were cooled and much taken off from praying together Consider what your enemies are doing driveing and designing Is it not to make you fall asunder that you may not be able when divided amongst your selves to stand before them or to withstand them take that door of them by shuting the door upon them at which you see they designe to enteâ— and that their accesse may be the more easie they will flatter some of you or forbeare some of you while they fall upon others that so they may run down and ruine all and raze foundations at last with ease Set your selves therefore with an onenesse of
soul and shoulder to defeat this desperat designe and in order to the frustrating of the projects of these peruerters of the right wayes of God let union in the Lord amongst his servants and people be studied and endeavoured Let us carry in this day as men of understanding who know the times and how the true Israelits of God ought to behave one towards another while the Adversaries lye in wait to prey upon our divisions and is it sutable while they gnash upon us with their teeth that we should bite and devour one another or is it not more Christian and Christ-like that while we suffer together we smile one upon onother and support one another yea and if it should come to dying die embraceing one another Let therefore all unsuteable and unseasonable striving and unbrotherly and unchristian contending be prevented or exstinguished ere they come to a flame for that is fatal It is well known how small a wedge of the same timber driven by the policy of an enemy especially when in power hath made great and grievous breaches amongst such who once took sweet counsel together and walked to the house of God in company how frequently in all ages of the Church have they carrried away many first to a connivance then to a compliance for he who is once cheated into a connivanee is easily charmed into a compliance with their designes and so rendered the opposition of the rest who stood and withstood lesse significant Let us therefore be wise Let us take notice of the Adversaries stratagems whose maxime is Devide impera And in this they are so cunning and closs as sometime they can personat a division amongst themselves that they may the more certainly effectuat it amongst us which when it comes to passe it hath ever deplorable and dismal effects For there is ever a sad and certain connexion observed betwixt a dividing time in the Church and a further departure from the truth and a hotter persecution of those who cleave to God and his truth with purpose of heart But becaufe I know the greatest pretenders to what is now pleaded for and persuaded unto are really the greatest enemies to that union and concord intended by the Spirit of God And to the end they themselves may be applauded in their not strivings as becomes for the truth they of all men are most ready to represent such as doe as fire brands and Church renders And therefore let none mistake what love to union amongst all the serious servants of Jesus Christ in such a day hath caused me to drop as if thereby I did intend to plead for or perswade unto an union with a disadvantage to the precious truth of God and the true interest of the Gospel or did insinuat in order to peace and union either an approbation of forbearance of dutie in its proper season or of taking such courses as in regaird of circumstances may be construed a compliance with the men who have made themselves and the Nation guiltie before God of this high transgression to wit of destroying what they once built and building againe what they destroyed what shall we leave any thing undone or shall we do any thing under what speciouâ— pretext soever that may seem to say we have said a confederacy to such who call us to a confederacy after God had instâ—ucted us with a strong hand not to say so since that confederacy will be found a conspiracy against him should we joine again with the persons of these abominations and breake his covenant would he not be angry with us till he had consumed us The woe upon woe and wâ—ath upon wrath which was denounced against Scotland by a great Seer and eminently faithful Master-builder amongst us upon the apprehension of a relapse into a compliance with the haters of the Lord and the work of reformation whereto he preceived a propension and saw the Nation begun already to be leavened with the dreadful leaven of Apostasie is so sadly accomplished upon us that unlesse we be a people devoted to ruine and utter destruction we will learne from what is past to stand aloofâ— and stop our eares at the Syren-songs of those who pipe to us that we may dance a compliance with them in their breach of covenant with the most High and secure them into a quiet possession of all which they have taken from our blessed Lord Jesus Christ for this is the substance and sense of this now pressed Boud and these newly required Lawborroweâ—s O if ever there was a day to be unite in crying uâ—ite our hearts to feare that glorious and fearefull name the Lord our God If ever there was a day to be unite in watching in standing fast in the faith in quiting our selves like men this is that day when these God-provoking courses are carried on and our compliance and concurrence therein required Oâ— now when thâ—re is such a combination against the Christ of God such an onenesse iâ— opposeing his Anointed let us studie an union in abiding with him in owning â—im as King and Supreme let us continue with him in these temptations and contend for him let us contend with one another for that confirms true union to excite to this contention Let us studie and promove onenesse in walking in the good old way without turning aside to the right hand or to the left because of the lion that is in it aâ—d without laying other foundations in whole or in part than what were laid Let us not disorder these foundations nor pick a stone out of that beautiful fabrick and then put our invention upon the raâ—k to forge a consistency betwixt some cessions to the adversary old principles and finde out a way how to go some length with them or how not to oppose them while they with so high a hand overturn the work of God and yet retain our integritie and set off this our novel invention to our Brethren with the embrodeâ—ie and vermilion of uâ—ion and think there is sufficient ground to call all dividers and stigmatize them as such who will not with us gâ—ude about to change their way and lay as much weight upon our notions and darke yea benighting Distâ—ngoes as we do Let us studie an onenesse in promoving the opposed work of God Alas under the pretence of being unite amongst our selves we were charmed and chained into a forbearance of many things in theiâ— proper season which may and ought to send us mourning to our grave and keep a closâ— union between sorrow and our soul till death make a divorce between soul and body let us studie an onâ—nesse in endeavouring some thing â—o signifie our sorrow and shame for the ground which we have lost and the advantage the Adversary by our faintings hath goâ— to tâ—â—mple upon and triumph oveâ— our case An onenesse in seeking of God a right way by fasting and praâ—er not daring â—o listen unto rush upon or receive overtours