good and wise men declare it to be the safest and best or that you have long professed it but see with your own eyes give it heart and time when no mortal eye can be witness as you have a value for these immortal substances that are yet breathing in your bodies for the retaining whereof you have no price to give and for the annihilation whereof you have no price to give but must endure an eternity whether we will or not what can we think of but is a very trifle when this eternity and what concerneth it is considered The necessity therefore of establishment in that religion which the eternal God hath appointed as the way to lead us to a blessed Eternity is great if we consider First the innat Atheism of our depraved natures whereby there is not only a privation of that primaeve knowledge God honoured man with but many perverse and erroneous apprehensions of God of happiness in him and the way to it Atheistical doubts concerning God Christ Heaven and Eternity These seeds of Atheism not only lurk undiscerned by many but often make horrid eruptions shaking yea overturning all the religion some have professed for many years because they have made it no part of their religion to be fixed in it then they are ready to cry out is there a God is there a Christ is there an Eternity can there be a Resurrection is there a Heaven or Hell Yet some are tormented with the fears of that the very being whereof they doubt orhers again forsaken of God speak blasphemously of the God of Heaven avow Atheism and tempt others to it while people are not established and their house never built on the rock they are obnoxious ro the worst of these Wo's nor hath religion power upon their Souls not knowing whether it be true or false many living as unconcerned with the religion they profess as if they had none being uncertain but all may prove otherwayes in the end and this uncertainty is an argument in reserve that the Devil improveth against seriousnes in religion labour therefore to have your feet fix'd on the rock that cannot sink under you that so your goings may be established knowing in whom ye have believed And that you may be established believe the Scriptures to be the very word of God the Scripture of Truth that cannot be broken trust fully the testimony and Veracity of God for if you fluctuate and waver in this every wind of temptation will be ready to shâ—ke you at the very Root and build what you will all will be overturned if this foundation be not firmly laid that all Scripture is by Divine inspiration And because I had known many poor Souls oppressed with temptations to doubt of all that is wâ—itten their hope and comfort burn'd up and almost consumed with such fiery darts before they would utter them to any and some such at this day fainting under such suggestions as they are ashamed to make known to their dearest Friends for the establishment and help of such to believe the Scripture of Truth First observe what you have by nature of the Image of God yet remaining what awfull indelible impressions you have of a God over you which you cannot shake fully off it 's written on your heart that there is a God that he is infinitely great and Omnipotent that he is just Holy wise and good now that which you yet find written on your heart you find the same in the written word of God whether would you go What can you betake your selves to but to the Testimony of God written both in your hearts and in the word of God revealed to us If you should reject the Scriptures you reject also the witness of God in your Souls this meditation God hath made very conducive for quieting and fixing some Souls Consider also that what the word of God publisheth of the depravation of our nature you find even as it 's written natural enmity against God which inclineth us if we could to hide our selves from him as Adam to say depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways we are informed by the word of God that the heart is deceitful above all things that every imagination of the thoughts of our heart are only evil continually that we rebell and are disobedient to God that we are slow of heart to believe and bent to backsliding c. All these things and many moe we find by nature and wofull experience What is predicted and promised in the word of God concerning the salvation of sinners by a Redeemer his death Resurrection conquest and Kingdom c. Are exactly found as the written word of God hath revealed them what God hath promised of pouring out his Spirit in the latter days is found as it 's written the power of God still appearing in converting sinners making many new creatures and all things new with them making them love what they hated and hate what they loved making a warfare against sin daily where sin was committed with greediness c. This Sanctifying grace of the Spirit is a continued witness multitudes of miracles both under Old and New Testaments were wrought for confirmation of Gods Holy Word and promise which without violence to our very reason cannot be denied either to be wrought or the finger of God being wrought these are blessed helps which our merciful God hath provided for confirming unstable Souls and to secure us that the Scriptures are the word of God our maker and judge and above all to depend on the Spirit of Christ which leadeth into all Truth When God in his mercy hath determined and fixed your judgements that the Scriptures are Gods word and Truth so as you can with confidence adventure Soul and Eternity according to the doctrine there delivered then make choise of the Truth receive it in love and gratitude blessing God for so great a benefit that many millions of Souls are deprived of be diligent in reading of it labouring and praying to understand it make Gods Testimonies the men of your counsel let it dwell richly in you seek the law of God written in your hearts sell not the Truth at any rate be not ashamed of any of his words lest he be ashamed of you let no flatteries or threats of men make you wander from the commandments of your God Search out especially for the great Salvation recorded in the word of God and published by a Gospel Ministry search until you find the sent Saviour of the world accept of him subject and devout your selves to him joyn and give your own selves to the Lord do this personally distinctly and deliberatly and leave it no longer as a duty you hope will be done but while it 's called to day allow it heart and time as the most enriching work you ever were or shall be about under the Sun blessing God that he allows and requires to subscribe our selves the Lords and to
persons in the place both Citizens and Strangers who were acquainted with calling on God long before they came into this distress these prayed without ceasing and the hearer of Prayer did graciously so far condescend unto some of them that during the whole Siege and in greatest extremities were comforted by the hope of deliverance in Gods due time and some of them being Ministers of what perswasion I shall not so much as name that all may joyn together in due praises not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name give glory for thy mercy and for thy truths sake for when humane strength was gone then did the God of mercy appear and his own Arm brought Salvation sending food to the fainting remnant thorow the Fire of their Enemies on every side they gnashing their Teeth and melting away and thus by Divine Power and Mercy the place of Deaths was made a beginning of Reviving and Life to the whole Nation Who at this day out of their graves have it to say they came out of their graves as the remnant of Derry when this people were as if their bones had been scattered at the graves mouth who could have answered that question but God can these dry bones live who but he alone could put flesh sinews and skin upon them and breath Life into the dead making them to stand up as an Army so terrible that their besiegers were frighted from their Walls hastning far away when nothing pursued them but the Terrour of God Shall he remember us in our low estate and we forget him shall he to whom it 's a humbling of himself to behold the things that are in Heaven and earth look down and send from above drawing us out of these depths and we not so much as look up to the hand doing it Hath God appointed Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks when there was no strength to defend our walls of Stone and Clay shall it be said of this City thou hast forgotten the God of thy Salvation and hast not been mindful of the Rock of thy strength Hath God frustrated and rejected the confident expectations of our enemies hath he given them wine of astonishment to drink and taken the cup of trembling out of our hand hath he amuzed and confounded them with his works of wonder for Derry insomuch that some of the besiegers being surprized that the gates were not opened unto them and afterward finding that the flower of their Army fell before these walls said God doth fight for Derry but blasphemously added God was not just in so doing this I can instruct by some of deserved reputation to whom it was spoken and yet alive Oh! that men would Praise the Lord for his Goodness and for his Wonderfull Works and not be as these who Sung his Praise but soon forgot his Works For Preventing of this Forgeting Chrysost on Math Homil. 25. Saith that great Mercies and Deliverances should not only be Carefully committed to the Memory but actual Praises Rendered to God for them every day and the same Author on Tit. Hom. 1. If Saith he we receive a Benefit from a Friend or if we but know he hath spoken a Seasonable Word for us with what Warmth of Love do we Remember him How much greater love should we have to God who hath delivered us from the greatest dangers It is great Mercy to be helped of God to understand the Depth of our Mercies for some are Preserved who were not ready to Die if by the Furnace we have been in our Dross be not Purged away and we become not a Refined People meet for the Master's Use we have reason yet to fear a Furnace more hot where God in his Justice may Melt and leave us Let us therefore fear him and his Goodness let us Live to him who made us Live in the Jaws of Death let us take Pleasure to speak of his Mighty Acts and testifie our Gratitude by an Holy Just and Exemplary Conversation provocking one another unto Love and good Works walking by the same Rule minding the same Thing as men of one heart and one way Our Gracious God hath not only Delivered but put severals of you in Places of greatest Trust and Honour in this City and as by the Grace of God ye have happily begun so go on in the strength of the Lord God by your Authority and Example to promove the Power of Godliness and the publick Good of the City Ministring Justice to all of all Perswasions Impartially which I know to be your Principle and to maintain by all Laudable Means Peace Love and Concord in the Place that so all the Inhabitants may find you a Blessing from God and that the whole City now raised from it's Ruines and Desolations may Flourish in all Godliness Righteousness and Felicity is the Prayer of Much Honoured Your Servant in the Gospel ROB. CRAGHEAD London derry April 18 1694. The BOOK now under Consideration Is Intituled A DISCOURSE Concerning the Inventions of Men in the VVorship of GOD But after Perusal appeareth A Discourse for the Inventions of Men in the Worship of GOD. THE whole Scope being a Tenacious Defence of such Inventions and Commandments of Men in the Worship of God as he hath no where prescribed in his Word nor are warrantable by the general Rules of Scripture and such Acts of Worship maintained as are forbidden by the Word of God and these only accused as guilty whose conscientious abstaining from such Inventions hath occasioned their sufferings for many years By this Araignment the Author hath cast himself into some Labyrinths out of which the Egress may not be so easie as the Ingress nor so pleasing to his Friends as if he had imployed his Pen some other way since by his Discourse Dissenters are necessarily engaged to discover the firm Foundation of their Principles and practice in the Worship of God and the infirmness of all the Author's Arguments said against them Whereby some by a more explicite knowledge may be fully fixed and determined to the Communion whereof they are now Members INTRODUCTION THE Author beginneth his work with a Scripture so awful and apposite that it would have been a singular help to his memory if the same had been written on top of every Page before his Book had been filled up the words are Mark 7. 7. In vain do they worship me Teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of men this obligeth every man who hath a concern for his Soul to examine the Worship he offers to God whether it be such as God hath instituted c. Ans All this is good and necessary wanting nothing but due observation for all of us should testifie the veneration we owe to so important warning from the Mouth of Christ. Let us come then to a fair Tryal who are most guilty of teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of men and what he offereth according to reason shall be admitted whether it breath a Spirit of
worship be often at Prayer though the Sabbath must not be your only praying day read much Scripture and what profitable Books ye can purchase not books of Controversie being unsuitable for a Sabbath of Holy soul rest but such Books as do most press the Power of Godliness and Heavenliness of mind helps to prepare you for an eternal rest and in a special manner be requested not to neglect Meditation ye have much time on Sabbaths besides what is spent in publick worship and as you have much time so have you much necessary Holy work and it will be your Advantage to fix on some Method for the seasonable managing of every Duty and among other duties take some portion of the time for Meditation by it self when you are alone to mind the great works of God specially the great love of God manifested in the work of Redemption particularly to Meditate on the Blessed Redeemer and his Resurrection from the Dead and whether your selves do partake of the Power of his Resurrection if you be risen with Christ from your Death in sin For we have the Lords day in Memory of his Resurrection therefore the Meditation of it's Benefits is a most proper Lords days work most sweet to such as can say he hath begotten us again into a Lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Dead being Children of God and Children of the Resurrection It is profitable also every Lords day after puklick worship to Meditate what hath been the Voice of God to us that day in particular that there may be suitable returns in our Practice I shall add only one word to you who are Masters of Families that you make Conscience of calling your Children and Servants to an Account of what they Hear in publick and of their proficiency in knowledge of the Principles of Christianity I must now Contract what I would say further though your true Comfort and Peace be much desired that you may Rejoyce and work Righteousness finding all the Paths of Wisdom Pleasantness and Peace the Joy of the Lord is your strength and the peace of God shall keep your hearts and minds when men are loading you with Reproaches God will plead the Cause of your Reproach and give Joy that no Stranger shall intermeddle with And that ye may be enabled not only to Suffer but to take pleasure in Reproaches for Christs sake possessing your Souls in Patience and Rejoycing in hope of the glory of God Labour 1. To have your Calling and Election made sure blessing God for such a Command and that many poor sinners on Earth have been made to know their Interest in a Building of God eternal in the Heavens that God had wrought them for the self same thing and given unto them the Earnest of the Spirit see that ye be wrought and made meet for that Inheritance for as Christ prepareth the Mansions so he prepareth the Inhabitants this requireth Diligence and let it not be wanting If God in his mercie give you the earnest of this Inheritance then grieve not the Holy Spirit whereby ye are Sealed unto the day of Redemption Beware of all sinning against Light and Wounding your Conscience for the Spirit beareth witness with our Spirit that we are the Children of God that is with our Consciences therefore be most tender of your Consciences that they be not defiled and so Rendered incapable of witnessing for your Comfort Endeavour to so grow in Grace and Spiritualness of mind that you may understand what it is to Delight in God blessing him also for this that there is such a Command in the word of God that ever any sinner on Earth is allowed so great a Dignity and Comfort but since it is allowed and required seek by all means the Experience of it that what ever be your Lot in the World you may declare your Lines are fallen out in pleasant Places and ye have a goodly Heritage and in all your Trials or Distresses may go unto God with humble confidence as your exceding Joy great is the Wo of that man who is miserable in this Life and God a Terror to him also a Christian therefore should not cease his endeavours until every thought of God be a Pleasure knowing him to be his own God and Father in Christ this will make you think no way so Pleasant as going to God this will make frequent Praying no Burthen this will make continual Resorting unto God in some respect easy as constrained to it by Love this will raise you above your worldly Griefs and above the Censures or Revilings of men here you find a Retiring and hiding Place from the Tempests and Storms which overturn others do not ye then Depend upon Creatures for your Comfort let every man prove his own Work and then shall he have Rejoycing in himself alone and not in another do not so much Idolize men either good or bad as to have your Comforts Ebbing or Flowing as they Frown or Smill it being below a Christian indeed the Sourse of whose Comforts is he alone who saith I even I am he that Comforteth you who art thou that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall Die and of the son of man which shall be made as grass FINIS