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doctrine_n	apostle_n	scripture_n	tradition_n	4,180	5	9.2107	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A58958	The Second and last collection of the late London ministers farewel sermons preached by Dr. Seaman, Dr. Bates, Mr. Caryll, [brace] Mr. Brooks, Mr. Venning, and Mr. Mead ; to which is added a farewell sermon preached at Dedham in Essex by Mr. Matthew Newcomen ; as also Mr. Lyes sermon at the conclusion of the last morning-exercise at All-hallows in Lumbard-street, being a summary rehearsal of the whole monthly-lectures.	Seaman, Lazarus, d. 1675.; Bates, William, 1625-1699.; Caryl, Joseph, 1602-1673.; Brooks, Thomas, 1608-1680.; Venning, Ralph, 1621?-1674.; Mead, Matthew, 1630?-1699.; Newcomen, Matthew, 1610?-1669.; Lye, Thomas, 1621-1684.	1663 (1663)	Wing S2257; ESTC R41075	195,536	326

ever men call Truth or offer as Truth we must examine it by the un-erring Rule of Truth that is the Word of God In these things it is a clear Canon which we have 1 Thess 5.21 Prove all things hold fast that which is good Prove them by the Word of God and if they hold Truth by that then receive them and hold them fast Divine Scripture-Truths we are to hold fast Thirdly Scripture-Truths Truths that are grounded and warranted in the Word of God they are either such as are immediately and expresly laid down in Scripture or such as are mediately contained in Scripture and by deduction drawn thence Now those Truths that are immediately and expresly laid down in Scripture we are with out dispute to receive and hold fast But those Truths that are drawn thence we may make use of our Reason to examine them by the Word and so far as we see them to be drawn from Scripture we are to receive them and hold them fast Fourthly Divine Truths from Scripture are of two sorts Either the great and weighty things of the Truth of God and of Religion which we call Fundamental Truths or else they are those things that are of less weight in Religion and yet Truths of God Now we are not onely to hold fast those Truths of God that are the Fundamental Truths as That there is a God and but one God and That there is a Trinity of Persons in Unity of Essence Father Son and Holy Ghost and that there is but one Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Jesus and that He is both God and Man in one Person and that he hath given full satisfaction to Divine Justice for all that by Faith close with him and the like These are the great Points in Religion these we must be sure to hold fast And not onely these but even the lesser Those Truths of Religion that comparatively are far less then these we must hold them fast You know what our Saviour says of the Commands There are some that are the first and great Commandements and there are others that are the lesser But whosoever shall break one of the least of God's Commandements and shall teach men so the same shall be least in the Kingdom of God So whosoever shall renounce the least Truth God will be eaven with him for it For those Truths of God which are 〈◊〉 and small comparatively they may be of great weight and consequence in their Sphere L●ther said Let Heaven run together as a Scrowl r●ther then one Filing of Truth should be parted with Surely those Servants of God the Martyrs were not so prodigal of their lives but knew what they did when they suffered for such Truths as men now call Trifles and not worth standing for the least Truths of God must be held fast Thus you see What we must hold fast DivineTruths Scripture-Truths whether greater or lesser we must hold fast what we have received I should but that I fore-see the time will prevent me answer an Objection Is there nothing to be held fast but Truth Doth not the Apostle bid the Thessalonians in the second of the Thessalonians the second Chapter and the fifteenth Verse Hold the Traditions which ye have been taught whether by Word or our Epistle The Papists make much of this Place for their unwritten Traditions In a word know this Though there were some Doctrines of Faith and Matters of Practice which when Paul writ this Epistle were not expresly to be found in Writing that had been Preached by the Apostles yet this will not in the least infer that now when the Canon of Scripture is compleated there should be such unwritten Traditions to which we are to give up our Faith I go on to the second thing and that is to shew How we must hold fast the Truths of God that we have heard and received First In our Judgments being fully resolved and settled in our Judgments concerning them not wavering about them nor suffering our selves by ●ny means and ways to be removed from our stedfastness in them Says the Apostle 2 Pet. 3.17 Seeing you know these things beware lest you also being led away with the errour of the Wicked fall from your own stedfastness Take heed you be not removed in your Judgments Hold fast what you have received and suffer not every Wind to blow you off from them Secondly We must hold fast the Truths we have heard and received in our Wills and Affections in our love to the Truth we must receive the Truth in the love of it or else we shall never keep the Truth Love is the strongest hold-fast in the World no man will part with that which he loves What makes ●he covetous man so unwilling to part with his Money but because he loves it What makes the lustful sinner so unwilling to part with his Lust he will part with Heaven rather then with his Lust Why it is because he doth so love it If men did love the Truth they would hold it fast Thirdly You must hold fast the Truth in the Profession of it Heb. 10.23 Let us hold fast the Profession of the Truth or of the Faith without wavering We must not onely believe with the Heart but confess with the Mouth if we would be saved When Teter denyed his Master with his Mouth and said I know him not I am perswaded he denyed him not in his heart It is a dangerous thing in words or outward Profession to renounce the Truth or any part of it Hold fast the Profession of the Truth Fourthly We must hold the Truths of God fast in our Life and Conversation this the Apostle calls Walking in Christ and holding forth the Word of Life in a blameless and harmless Conversation We must hold fast the Truth of God in our Lives Fifthly We must do all this Constantly Hold fast the Truth in our Judgment and Affection and Profession and Conversation constantly and at all times as David I have inclined my heart to perform thy Statutes always even unto the end We must not onely in times of calmness and serenity when we may have all the peace and applause of the World hold fast the Truth and Profession of it but in stormy Times when Truth may burn a man's fingers if he hold it yet even then we must hold it fast Sixthly We must hold fast the Truths we have received Resolutely against all opposition whatsoever whether of Friends or Foes Paul would not bate an inch no not to Peter his Brother h●● elder Brother in Christ and in the work of the Gospel he resisted him to the face and gave not place to him no not for an hour Thus should we hold fast the Truth that we have heard and received in our Judgment in our Will and Affections in our Profession and in our Lives and Conversations And thus hold them fast constantly and resolutely against all opposition on the right hand and on the

Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God therefore he cannot be saved he that abideth in the Doctrine hath the Father and the Son Therefore as you would be saved hold fast the Truths you have received Now here but I have not time to speak to it is a Case of Conscience Whether every errour doth cut a man off from God Answer No God forbid But this we cannot speak to now Fourthly They that hold not fast the Truth of God are injurious to their Posterity Our Fore-Fathers holding fast the Truth of God in the day of their Trial and sealing it with their Bloud was the means of transmitting the purity of the G●spel to us their Posterity and if we in our Generation hold no fast the Truth of God but carry it loose in our Consciences and Judgments and we let it fall out of our hands and hearts we forfeit the Truths of God not onely from ou● selves but also from our Posterity Thus you see we shall wrong the God of Truth and the Truth of God we shall wrong our selves and our Posterity if we hold not fast the Truth we have received Thus we have the Reasons of the Doctrine Application For Application here first I might bewail the general want of the care of the performance of this Duty which hath appeared many years in this Land We have had little care of holding fast the Truths we have received For holding fast the Truth in our Judgments How many are there whose Judgments have been perverted with many Errours This is that which the Apostle calls A turning aside to another Gospel in the first of the Galathians and the sixth Verse And so for holding fast the Truth in the love of it How many are there that have failed in that which Christ calls 〈◊〉 forsaking of the first Love Revelations the seco●● and the fourth Verse And we should hold fast the Truth in the Profession of it and how many are there that have failed in that This the Apostle calls in the tenth of the Hebrews A drawing back unto Perdition And for holding fast the Truth in the Practice of it How many have failed in that that have been Professors and now are grown loose and debauched This the Apostle Peter calls A turning aside from the Holy Commandement All these things call for our Lamentation Exhortation But the whole Work that I will apply my self to is to exhort every one of you to the care of this Duty To hold fast the Truths that you have heard and received Hold them fast in your Judgment hold them fast in your Will and Affections hold them fast in your Lives and Conversations hold the Truths you have received constantly and hold them against all opposition on the right hand and on the left from Friends and Foes To press this upon you I think I shall need use no other Motive then what I have laid down before you in the Doctrinal Part onely this one thing more and that is Take notice how urgent the Spirit of God is in pressing this in Scripture Now saith M ● Hildersham If in those days when the Apostles were ye● living who taught th● People of GOD with more Power and Demonstration of the Spirit then any of us do or can Yet if then they had need of such Exhortations to continue in the Doctrine and to abide in it to stand fast and hold fast the Word and Truth of God How much more needful are these Exhortations in our days If any say No There is not more cause for then the Magistrate was a Mortal Enemy to the Gospel and the Professors of it but we are thanks be to God under a Christian Magistrate who doth not oppose but countenance the Gospel and the Profeffors of it If any makes this Objection I will give you Mr. Hildersham's Answer to it which I find in a Sermon of his Printed in the Year One Thousand Six Hundred Thirty and one which is now One and Thirty Years agone saith he Though through the great mercy of GOD we in this Land enjoy the Gospel in great Peace and have it countenanced by Authority and though through the Religious Disposition of the KING we may have great hopes of the continuance of the true Religion and seem to be freed from all fear of the altering of it Yet says he there is need of this Exhortation even in these days and that for these Reasons REAS. I. First Because of the great danger we are in of being over-run or over-spread with Popery and the Fiery Tryal before we are aware For says he The great increase of Papists that we daily hear of and the great declining of many who are ready to receive any Errour that shall be offered to them These things give us just cause to fear the danger of Popery over-spreading us And Brethren If it were so in his time so many years ago What is it now REAS. II. Secondly says he If he there were no danger o● Popery yet says he there are so many Errours newly sprung up that do shew how needful this Exhortation is REAS. III. Thirdly says he There is such a general decay of the love of Religion in all places and amongst all sorts of People and so much irreligiousness every where that it is the general Disease of the Nation Therefore he concludes That in these Times of ours though Religion hath the Magistrate to countenance it yet there is as much need of pressing this Exhortation as ever there was namely To hold fast the Truths that we have heard and received Now if you ask What you shall do that you may be able to hold fast the Truths that you have received I will give you some Directions First If you would hold fast the Truths that you have heard and received get into Christ rooted and established in him Brethren It is not all the Learning in the World and Abilities that man can have that will inable him to hold out and hold fast the Truths that he hath received If a time of Tryal come unless Christ be his Bottom and Foundation unless Christ be his strength if a man stands upon his own legs his own Parts and Abilities to argue and dispute and repel Objections alas these things will fall in a day of Tryal Prison and Death and a Stake are such Arguments Brethren that all the Learning and Parts in the World cannot answer but onely Christ and his Spirit and Grace in the Heart Therefore if you would hold fast the Truths which you have received and heard and not be beaten off from them in the day of Tryal get into Christ rooted and established in him then shall you stand not else 2. If you would hold fast the truths that you have heard and received then take nothing upon trust in matters of Religion what ever Preachers you hear or what ever Books you read take not things upon trust but examine them and prove

FRom this Verse we may observe three Doctrines Doct. 〈◊〉 That the peoples eyes must be taught by the Ministers holiness of life as well as their ears by the Ministers soundness of Doctrine Paul did not reach one thing and practice another he practised as he preached and he both practised and preached the forementioned Duties in the Verse before the Text. And to this end the Lord appointed a Ministry to be perpetuated through all ages of the World And it is the Lords appointment that peoples ears should be taught by the Ministers holiness of life as well as their ears by their soundness in Doctrine and this is necessary for the Minister himself and necessary for the people No marvel then that a faithful Ministry is the Butt of the Devils malice or his craft and cruelty and that the Devil hath in all Ages attempted and endeavoured utterly to overthrow the Ministry or topoyson and fly-blow it shamefully and this is the method whereby Satan hath endeavoured to fly-blow the Ministry Why then see the folly and madness of those people who affect or cry up those Ministers who do not reach their people with sound Doctrine or a holy life and whether there be not such Ministers which do not teach their peoples ears with soundness of Doctrine or their ey●● with a holy life and whether there be not such people as do cry up such Ministers and whether or no 〈◊〉 people are not guilty of spiritual folly and madness judge ye Doct. 2. A Ministers soundness in Doctrine and holiness of life and conversation doth lay a very great obligation on a people to a due conscientious practice of every commanded duty The Apostle we see maketh his Preaching and Practice an argument to excite the Philippians to the fore-mentioned commanded duties as is in the Text and the verse before the Text. As first of all the Appellations and Titles given in Scripture to such Ministers whose Doctrine is sound and whose Lives and Conversations are exemplarily holy They are called 1. The salt of the Earth as Mat. 5.13 read that saith Christ to those great Teachers of the Gospel and Dispensers of his Oracles and in them to their Successours Salt hath two things in it namely Sharpness and Savouriness and thus Ministers first must rebuke sharply that people may be sown in the Faith as Paul enjoyns Titus as in the 1. of Titus and 13. verse And secondly Ministers must speak savoury things to every person and to every palate that their people may be savoury both in heart and life but to be as unfavoury as stinking carion in the nostrils of Almighty God under such a savoury and seasoning Ministry this is woful It is the nature of salt to cause barrenness where it seasoneth not therefore we read of Abimel●● in Judge 9. ver 45. that be swed the City with salt So that people who live under a sharp and savoury Ministry and are not seasoned therewith and preserved from purrefaction in their fin and corruption thereb● their case is very dangerous 2. They are called again the Light of the World in Mat. 5.14 read that As for their Doctrine the Salt of the Earth so for their Lives the Light of the World and they must therefore lead convincing lives as John 5.35 read that it is there said of John the Baptist our blessed Lord and Saviour gives him this commendatory Character or Testimonial That be was a burning and a shining light burning in himself and shining to others Or as it was said of Basil Thundring in his Doctrine and lightning in his Life and Conversation Now if good Ministers be the light of the world then hence we may infer 2. Inf. 1. That without a godly faithful Ministry the world lyeth in darkness ignorance errour sin and misery It is said of Galilee in Mat. 4.16 That the 〈◊〉 who sate in darknese saw great light read that Why had they not Priests and Levites I answer they had indeed sorr Priests but they had not a faithful Ministry and therefore the Evangelists rells them they sate in darkness yea in the region and shadow of death notwishstanding the sorry sottish Priests they had But when they had a faithful Ministry they are said to see a great Light Again If good Ministers be the light of the world then we may draw this Corollary That to be offended at the light of a faithful and powerful Ministry argues and speaks a very sinful and wretched frame of heart Nothing is to excellent but some will be displeased at and with it as Eccles 11.7 Even the light it self we know is offensive to sore eyes and this the burning and shining light of a godly and faithful Ministry is offensive and terrible to some but who are they fore diseased souls the Lord knows The Ark of God which was the monument of his presence whom did it smite with Emrods but the Philistinet What then is the Ale-bench more easie to thee than thy Pew is to thee in this place than a Conscience Soul-searching Sermon what art thou offended at a powerful faithful Ministry Oh fearful plague-tokens 3. To do all that man can do to put out the Light this is worse It is the most horrid hellish plot that can be assigned or named and of this I am sure the the Church of Rome cannot plead not guilty which like the Scribes and Pharisees take away from the people the key of knowledge and shut up the Kingdome of Heaven against men How terribly doth our blessed Lord thunder-strike those stupid Pharisees for this Mat. 23.13 And as did the Pharisees so did the Papists For 1. Heretofore they made it a mortal sin to read Gods word 2. Afterwards they clogged the liberty they granted with such cautions and restrictions as tha●●●ry few escaped of those that were within the reach●● the Inquisition 3. Those clogs contented not but now it is thought fit utterly to deny liberty and can there be a more horrible hellish plot assigned than this to take from people their knowledge of salvation And thus the Church of Rome whether they have Church-snuffers or not to be sure they have Church extinguishers and various means to put out the light Oh fearful is this as in John 3.19 20. That is the reason men hate the Light because their deeds are evil Again If good Ministers be the Light of the world then hence may we draw this conclusion that it concerns people very nearly to believe in the light and-to walk in the light and to work while the light lasteth at our blessed Saviour exhorteth in John 12 35 36. read that God sets up his Ministers as Lights as Candles on the candlesticks of his Church to awaken men and to light men unto eternal life And ought not people to pray hard and work hard while the light lasteth Go● removes many times the candle and candlestick and makes the Sun to go down at noon-day as Amos 8.9 So darkens the

and perpetuating of them 〈◊〉 and herein we must depend upon the faithfulness of The great Shepherd of the Sheep Doctor BATES's Forenoon SERMON HEB. 13.20 21. Now the God of Peace that brought again from the Dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Bloud of the Everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good Work to do his Will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever AMEN IT would give light to these words if you confider the scope and design of the Apostle in this Epistle to the Hebrews the sum of which is He writes to to them that he might Antidore their Spi●ies as gainst A postacy from the Doctrine of the Gospel they were liable to this upon a double account 1 Partly in respect of those Persecutions to which they were exposed for the Jews were filled with a bruitish zeal for the Ceremonies of the Levitical Law and exprest the greatest rancour against those who left Moses to follow Christ This is the reason why the Apostle lays down so many Preservatives against their revolting from Religion and he spends one part of this Epistle in a most passionate Exhortation to perseverance and doth in the tenth Chapter insinuate himself into them You have already tasted the first-fruits of affliction ver 34. You took joyfully the spoiling of your goods knowing in your selves that you have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance This is that temper that Martyrs have exprest who have not onely parted with their goods but with their lives for the Gospel When they came to the Stake they would not so much as shed a tear to quench those flames wherein they should ascend to God as in a fiery Chatiot You took oyfully the spotling of your goods knowing in your selves that you have a better and an enduring substance Thus he insinuates himself by represening what they had done to encourage them to perseverance and partly he fortifies them against Back-sliding by those terrible Judgments which he threatned against Revolters as you may read Chap. 6. and 7. 2 As they were liable to this Apostacy upon the account of Persecution so upon the account of the unsettledness and instability of their own spirits There were several 〈◊〉 those who had given up their names to Christ who di●● compare the Ceremonies of the Law with the purity of the Gospel Now the Apostle to secure them from this mixture his great design is to represent the vanity and infectiveness of all the Ceremonial Law and to ●●press and prove the vertue and efficacy of the Lord ●●sus his death which was the substance of all the shadows And this takes up one great part of his discourse with them Now in these two Verses he sums up by way of Recapitulation all that which he had discoursed of at large and in them you may observe these two thing 1 A Description of God to whom he addresses this Prayer 2 The Substance of the Prayer it self The Description of God that he amplifies by these two things 1 From the Attributes and Qualities of God if I may so express it Now saith he the God of Peace 2 From the effects of his power and love That brought again from the Dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the sheep And these Titles they are not here set down to adorn his Discourse meerly as an Ornament but they have all a peculiar efficacy as to the obtaining of the request which here he makes for them I shall be●● with the first the Description of God from that Attribute Now the God of Peace The Title that is used in the Old Testament frequently is this The Lord of Hosts but in the New he is called The God of Peace There were darker Representations of the mercy and love of God then the more full discoveries of his grace were reserve●●ll the coming of Christ Their Discoveries under the Old Testament were but as the Day-Star whsch usher'd in the Sun of Righteousness Now this Title of the God of Peace imparts two things 1 That he is the Author of Peace and works it 2 That he loves and desights in Peace First That he is the Author of it And if you consider Peace in all i●s notions and kinds it is a fruit of God and that which descends from him First Peace in Nature is the Harmony that is between all the parts of the World the union that is between the dis-agreeing Elements this is from God for without him the whole Creation would presently disband and return to its first Chaos of confusion Secondly Civil Peace which is among the Societies of men that which is so amiable and lovely and which needs no other foil to commend it and set off its lustre than the miseries of War this Peace comes from God also When there is a subjection to just Laws this is from God Every rash hand is able to make a wound or cast a fire-brand but it is onely the God of Peace that is able to heal breaches to allay those storms that are in a Nation You know those showers which render the Earth fruitful descend from Heaven from God so all the counsels of Peace descend from above The fiery Exhalations ascend from the Earth Counsels of War and Disturbance proceed from the ●●vilish hearts of men Or thirdly If you consider that Rational Peace which is in the spirits of men i. e. when the Understanding exercises a coercion and restraint over our licentious Appetites when all our inferior Faculties are under the Empire and Conduct of Reason this proceeds also from God For since the Fall there is a great deal of Tumult many Ryots and Disorders in the Soul of a man Reason hates a bad Guide and our Appetito● those are evil Instruments and do many times hurry Reason from its regular actings But fourthly much more if you consider Spiritu●● Peace that Peace doth not onely import an agreemen● of a man within himself but the agreement of the So●● with God This is the fruit of the Spirit and it I only God that is able to convey this peace to us And upon a particular account this Title is given to him by way of eminency and propriety as 1 He is alone able to allow and dispense this peace to us for all our sins are injuries committed against him against his Crown and Dignity all the Arrests of Conscience are made in the name of God and therefore it is only He that can speak peace As in the Civil State it is an Act of Supremacy to give a pardon only he that can condemn is able to speak a pardon so it is that God that is our Judge provoked and incensed by us he that hath a judiciall power to cast body and soule into hell-fire is alone able to speak peace and passe a Pardon for us in the Court of Heaven and this is experienced

the World oh ● would there were not See that 1 Tim. 6.3 4 ● where the Apostle acquaints you with such men saith he If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesom words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Doctrine which 〈◊〉 according to godliness the wholsome Doctrine th● healing Word what then in the 4th Verse 〈◊〉 he He is proud knowing nothing but doating ●bout questions and strifes of words where●● Wines enter strife-railings evill surmisings perverse disputings of men of corrupt mindes and destitute of the truth supposing that gain is godliness or as most read it that godliness is a gain a meer Trade to get money by from such withdraw thy self If you be not baptized they will tell you you are not a Christion and baptized you shall not be unless you pay for it they will tell you eat flesh you must not at such and such times but if you will pay for it you may they will tell you you must not sin by no meanes but if you will pay for it you may and have a pardon for i● when you have done such a one as they can give Oh I beseech you when ever any make use of Religion to get money by take heed of them saith the Apostle from those that make godliness a Trade to get money by withdraw thy self and know that godliness with contentment is great gain Doubtless godliness is the best Trade in the world if closely followed but the worst if worldlily followed but to take up a Profession of the Christian Religion meerly for pomp and state and to get gain oh ruefull is Christian Religion made use of for such ends as this Oh take heed therefore as ever you would stand fast in the Faith and hold fast the Profession thereof take heed of all and every sort of men that make use of Religion to get money by Secondly Take heed of the errour of the wicked lest you fall from your own stedfastness this advice you have from the Apostle Peter 2 Pet. 3.17 Ye therefore believed seeing you know these things before beware lest you also being led away by the err● of the wicked fall from your own stedfastness the 〈◊〉 ●our of the wicked is like to make one as wic●● as they pray what was this errour of the wick●● it was this there were a generation of wicked men that said It was in vain to serve God for say they where is the promise of his coming onely Beloved it was as much as to say there were no reward for godliness nor no wages for ungodliness Oh take heed of this error of the wicked it is a wicked ●●rour and none but wicked ones hold it to wit The it is in vain to serve God therefore keep this still 〈◊〉 your hearts that Verily in keeping his Commandements there is great reward if there were no more but the very work it is a great honour to us that we may be servants to such a God but Beloved Be stedfast and unmoveable knowing that your la●●● shall not be in vain in the Lord. Mal. 3.13 there is the like instance Your words have been stout against me saith the Lord yet ye say what have we spoke● so much against thee this God is lwayes quarrelling with us and laying things to our charge what 〈◊〉 we said in the 14th Verse Ye s●id it is in 〈◊〉 serve God and what profit is it that we have kept 〈◊〉 Ordinances we have walked mournfully before 〈◊〉 Lord of Hosts and now we call the proud happy 〈◊〉 they that work wickedness are set up yea they 〈◊〉 tempt God are even delivered well now what 〈◊〉 lowes Then they that feared the Lord spake 〈◊〉 one to another as if they had said let not 〈◊〉 things take any thing off the edge of our affecti●● or quench any flame of our love did God ta●●●ny notice of this now that he had any such fri●● in the World yes saith he God hearkened and heard and a Book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his name and they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts in that day when I make up my Jewels and I will spare them as a man spares his own Son that serves him there is a time a coming the day will declare whether it be best serving God or the Devil well then Beloved as ever you would hold fast the Profession of your Faith take heed of the errour of the wicked never think it vain to serve God though you may loose by it for if you loose for him ye shall never loose by him Thirdly Would you hold fast the Profession of your Faith then lay up the word of Faith in a good and honest heart Luke 8.15 It is said there of the good ground they are they which having heard the Word keep it or hold it fast where do they lay it up now in a good and honest heart so that you must pull out his heart before that you can pull out the Word and will any man suffer his heart to be torn from him you will never hold it fast till you lay i● up in a good and honest heart if it be onely in the hands of a Bible is in your hands or in the head it will be gone but if it be in your hearts you will never let it go therefore observe saith he Having heard it they keep it and hold it fast in an honest and good heart and b●ing forth fruit with patience they had a great deal of sufferings to bring forth with patience for if they were not under suffering what 〈◊〉 were there of patience Well Beloved con●●●●● a little further as to this the connexion between the Verse preceding the Text and the Text saith he Let us draw near 〈◊〉 a true heart in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled with an evil Conscience and our bodies washed with pure water Let us hold fast the Profession of our Faith the purity of the heart is the best preservative of the Faith 1 Tim. 3.9 holding the mystery of the Faith in a pure Conscience a good and honest heart will never part with the mystery of Faith Lastly Would you hold fast the Profession of your Faith then look much to and often consider Jesus Christ the Authour and finisher of your Faith David had got the faculty of walking with God and how was it saith he I will keep thy loving kindness before mine eyes that I may walk with thee Oh if we do but keep the loving kindness of God in Jesus Christ before our eyes we shall certainly keep the Faith saith the Apostle Having a High Priest over the House of God let us draw near and let us hold fast a High Priest that is Jesus Christ our great High Priest Heb. 3.1 Wherefore holy Brethren be partakers of the Heavenly Calling consider the Apostle and High Priest of our Professi●● Christ

Priests and Levites were forced to flee their own places and possessions 2 Chron. 11.13 14. 4. Sometimes by Suspension Thus a time there was When it was said to the Seers see not and to the Pr●phets prophesie not Isai 30.9 10. Thus a time there was when People would have Pastors but would not endure faithful Jeremiah and a time there was that there was a Law made Look ye speak no more in the name of Jesus Acts 4.18 And a time there was when Paul and Timotheus and Silvanus were forbid to preach to the Gentiles as 1 Thes 2.15 16. Thus we see the Lord hath inflicted this dreadful Judgement on a people and the Lord hath divers wayes and methods and meanes to in●●●● it 3. Consider The Church and people of the Lord hath been very sensible of the Lords hand in this Judgement as we may see in Psal 74.1 and 〈◊〉 verses compared Why what is the matter as if they have said God was wont heretofore to give us signes and tokens he would even work miracles for us the Lord would send us some Prophets to converse with and instruct us we had those that could tell us how long our troubles should last but now we see no sign the Lord leaveth us as it were to the wide world and how sensible was the Lords Church in this judgement as ver 1. of that Psalm This is the first endeavour We are to he duely sensible and deeply apprehensive of the inflicting cause of such a Judgement and that is the Lord himself 2. Of the meritorious Cause and that is Sin Say not we it is long of such or such but it is long of our selves we may thank our selves for this and we appeal to your selves whether this judgement may not be charged 1. From the general unflexiblenesse untractablenesse of people under the Ministry of the Word For this very cause the Lord plagued and poured his vengeance upon the Ten Tribes as in 2 Kings 17 from ver 13 to 19. The Lord testified against Is●ael by all the prophets and by all the Seers saying Turn you from your evil wayes notwithstanding they would not hear And for this very cause did the Lord afterwards plague all Judah as Jer. 29.17 18 19. And for this very reason did the Lord Jesus Christ remove Paul from Jerusalem because the people ware a st●ff necked people and they would not receive Paul's estimony concerning Jesus as Acts 22.18 Paul had a great desire to stay at Jerusalem as appeared by his reasoning with the Lord ver 19 20. But what saith the Lord Christ ver 21. N●w can England can London plead not guilty of this hainous provocation a generval unflexiblenesse untractablenesse under a Conscience-ransacking a Conscience-searching Ministry 〈◊〉 shall the Lord do with such a people under 〈◊〉 Ministry Is it not just with God to let them al●● that are prophane and superstitious let there be●● people like Priests let the blind lead the blind 〈◊〉 let the wicked rebellious Minister lead a wicked lo●●● people that both may perish together everlastingly 2. The unfruitfulnesse formality luke-warmnesse declining of Gods own people and for this the Lord threatens the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2.4.5 I have saith Christ somewhat against thee thou hast left thy first love though not absolutely for nature yet eminently for measure And can England can London plead not guilty of this sad provocation Now indeed we cannot but observe and approve of your flocking to the Lords Ordinances as Doves to the holes of a window but did you do so some moneths agon Oh your voluntary and fearful distractions avocations diversions from the worship and service of God! And is it not just with the Lord to take away that bundance and choice of spiritual helps a people had when they approved not of them yea when th●● undervalued and despised and abused them 〈…〉 Lord God help us all to affect our souls and to ●ay our selves low before his all-seeing Majesty for our provoking him to do this and endeavour to be duly apprehensive and deeply sensible of the inflicting cause and meritorious cause thereof 2. Take heed of a prophane delight in loose lewd wicked dissolute Ministers And here we will premise two or three things 1. Too many people are too ready to cavil at many M●●sters without a cause The life of our blessed Lord and Saviour was it not traduced did not some say that he was a friend to Publicans and sinners We 〈◊〉 Christ was cavill that and 〈…〉 And thus the holy Apostles their 〈…〉 they went through evil report as well as good report 2 Cor. 10.2 And thus Ath●nasius who was traduced for an Adulterer by the Ariant and so Auther and Calvin are represented and reported by the Papists as if they had been the vildest creatures in the world The wicked man cavils at and finds spots a● least do w●at he can to find spots in the Sun some who are not so wicked do look for an Evangelical perfection in Ministers and all their● their wives and their children and their Servants and their company how ready are people grosly and uncharitably to censure a Minister for any yea the least they discern in him or his and is this their vertue nay is it not their vice and corruption 2. It is no breach of the Churches peace no argument of a contentious and unquiet spirit in a Minister to speak vilely of vile Ministers and enemies of the Churches peace Why who are they John-Baptist tells us he calls them vipers a generation of vipers why were they not Preachers Mat 3.7 and will you say that John Baptist was a man of a contentious spirit of an unquiet spirit And who were they whom our blessed Saviour calls a generation of vipers as Mat. 12.34.38.39 who were they that our Saviour calls a generation of vipers and an evil and adulterous generation were they not Preachers it is very observable both John Baptist our Saviour did call those Preachers th●● even in the hearing of them who were their ordinary hearers and do but observe what strange tearms of disgrace S. Peter gives them 2 Pet. 2.12 to certain Preachers in his time ver 14. what strange tearms doth the Apostle give those Teachers whose pernicious wayes many would follow as in ver 2. of that chap. but did not the Scribes Pharisets sit in Moses Chair and did they not preach some good Doctrine 〈◊〉 much that Jesus Christ bids the people hear them and observe what they said though not what they did as Mat. 23.1 2 3. Therefore may some say It seemeth strange that Christ should thus disgrace the Scribes and Pharisees was not this the way to make their Ministry contemptible First It is very clear and undeniable that there were a generation of pitiful sorry Teachers as in Mat. 9.36 Why did not the people enjoy the teaching of the Scribes and Pharisees yes they did but the Scribes and Pharisees were

it were but it hath a certain skum why then in the face of some who through grace are free from these miscarriages take heed and beware of being leavened with prejudice against all Ministers because of the vileness and miscarriage of some Sixthly Be earnest with the Lord for a godly faithful Ministry whose labour and pains among the people the Lord useth to blesse The Lord Jesus Christ is the great Patron of all Livings as a Reverend man now in Heaven once said He can present whom he will to a Parish and he can restore whom he will to their people as Acts 12.5.6 7. As he did Peter out of prison by the peoples prayers And thus when Paul was in prison at Rome observe how he writes to Philemon in Ver. 22. of his Epistle And thus when the Author of the Hebrews was restrained from preaching observe what an Exhortation he useth Heb. 13.18.19 Oh pray therefore pray for godly faithful Ministers their pains their labours the Lord useth to blesse among a people as Malachy 2.6 we read that the Lord blessed the labours of Levi so that he was an Instrument in the Lords hand to turn wicked men from their iniquity and Verse 5. Lo it was said of Barnabas that by his Ministry much people were added to the Lord. Acts 11.24 And if we would have godly faithful Ministers as we must pray for them so we must first repent us of our sins Jer 3.14.15 Repent we must of our sins and particularly our contempt of the Ordinances and Worship of God Secondly We must prize the Gospel more then we have done the Gospel loves to come and to stay where it is welcome Of all the seven Churches of Asia ●he Church of Philadelphia was the best that Church used the Word best and that Church enjoyed the Word longest Be earnest with the Lord for godly faithful Ministers whose pains and labours among the people the Lord useth to bless and prosper 7. Be earnest with the Lord that the refining work of a National-Reformation a City a Countrey a Family Reformation a Personal-Reformation may begin at the refining and purging of Ministers None will deny but that there is great need of Reformation there is none of you but will confesse that the seed of leaven had need sometimes to be winnowed out from among us as 2 Chron. 29.48 Hezektab began at the Priests and Levites Hezekiah began his Reformation at them and thus at our first Reformation the Protestants did then affirm that there could never be any good Reformation unlesse they began at the Court of Rome And it is very observable that when the Prophet speaks of the Lord Christs coming as a refining fire and as Fullers soap this also is prophesied of refining the Sons of Levi Malachy 2.2 When he shall purifie the Sons of Levi when he shall purge them as gold and silver As it was in Judah in that good Reign of that good King Hezekiah 2 Chron. 29 34. The Priests were too few there And as it was in Judah then whether it be not so in England now I affirm not but leave you to judge But a Minister soundness in Doctrine and holiness of life and conversation should lay a great obligation on a people duly and conscientiously to practice every command to duty And this may suffice for the second Doctrine Come we now to the third Doctrine deducible to be handled from this Text and that is this That in the due practice of commanded duties Gods people may warrantably and confidently expect much of the gracious presence of the God of peace even in the worst of times These things think on saith the Apostle Ver. 8. These things doe saith the Apostle in the Text and what then the God of peace shall be with you In the due practice of commanded duties Gods people may confidently expect much of the gracious presence of the God of peace in the worst of times Then take counsel fron this Doctrine that you may have the gracious presence of the God of peace with you and if this pulpit were my death-bed I should give such counsel as these following to you First Crown the Prince of peace the Lord Jesus Christ in your hearts and lives I say Crown the Prince of peace the Lord Jesus Christ in your hearts and lives receive him as your Lord and King set a Crown on his head here in your hearts and lives and he will Crown you with peace in this life and set a Crown of glory a Crown of immortality on your heads in the life to come If you have Christ you have all things all heavenly graces all spiritual comforts all temporal blessings if you have Christ God will God can then give you all things that are good for you without Christ you are not and you can do nothing that is acceptable with God Therefore this is my first counsel to you Crown the Prince of peace the Lord Jesus Christ in your hearts and lives Secondly Then maintain a constant and conscientious intimate communion with the God of peace It was good counsel which Eliphas gave to Job Job 22.21 Would you have much of the presence of the God of peace Oh then frequently fall down and lye at th● foot-stool of the Lords Throne for grace and for peace and when you do so be not unmindful of us who have often been your mouths to God and Gods mouth to you And to engage and encourage you herein consider First The Lord Jesus Christ hath promised to be with his poor Ministers always even to the end of the world Mat. 28. ult If alwayes not in the Pulpit only no the Lord hath promised to be with his faithfull servants out of the Pulpit as well as in the Pulpit in the Prison sealing the truth as well as in the Pulpit preaching the truth Oh then will you put this in suit by prayer that the Lord Christ will be with his poor Ministers to the end of the world 2. We shall not sail to pray for you 1 Sam. 12.23 Our sequestring from our preaching work from you will give us advantage to lay out more time to fetch sighs from our hearts in praying-work for you and I trust the Lord will give us hearts so to improve our time for you as Samuel said so God forbid we should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you As Peter did to the people with a promise as 1 Pet. 5.10 And not only for you but Secondly Even for such as have treated us somewhat uncivilly and unkindly to say no more of them although the number of them are very inconsiderable but for such I trust we shall not forget in our prayers As Moses fell down on his face for the Children of Israel when they treated him very unkindly and spit in his face I trust we shall not forget Moses's prayer for the people And so when they danced before their Idol Jeremiah wept for those in his time

as Jerem. 13.17 And that we shall not forget Jeremiah weeping for you And I trust likewise that we shall remember Stephen being on his knees for his Persecutours powring out his life and prayer together Acts 7.60 I doubt not but my Reverend Brother and my self shall remember Pauls willingness to spend and to be 〈◊〉 both in prayer and preaching for you all Though the more abundantly he loved the lesse he was beloved 2 Cor. 12.15 3. Maintain and nourish all tenderness in your Conscience all your dayes Oh go not without much lesse against the dictates of conscience rebel not against the light of it beware of stifling and suppressing a warning conscience lest a warning conscience prove a gnawing conscience and prove a tormenting conscience And consider first Remorse of Conscience hath an eye against all sin past Secondly Tenderness of Conscience which hath an eye to all sin to come Take heed then of all calmness of heart Fourthly Take heed of Apostatizing Chrysostome hath a notable saying namely That Ministers have a greater trouble because they never find their work as they leave it as other workmen do Oh in how short a time doth a poor Minister find all his work put out of frame and order Did not Moses find it so Exod. 32.8 Moses had no sooner turn'd his back as it were but the people were turned out of Gods way of worship And did not Paul find it so Gal. 1.6 The Galathians were quickly removed Paul was but lately gone from them and they were quickly apostatized Now this cometh to passe First It is by reason of a crafty subtil deceitful Devil as in the Gospel we read While men slept the Enemy came and sowed tares Mat. 13.25 And who this Enemy is we may see in Christs expounding the Parabl●● ver 39. And Secondly Partly by reason of mens own deceitful hearts as Heb. 3.12 observe it There is an evil heart of unbelief in the best it dwells in the best but it reign● in the wicked And what is that one of these evil hearts of unbelief in apostatizing in departing from the living God Thirdly It is partly by Reason of deceitful workers as the Apostle calls false Apostles It is partly by reason of such Then take heed of apostatizing either from truth of Doctrine purity of worship or practice of Conversation 1. From truth of Doctrine Be not weary of old truths take beed and beware of itching after novel Doctrines take heed and beware of admiring this or that opinion which as new lights drop down from heaven but indeed is but as the smoak of the bottomless pit 2. From purity of Worship also Let not your zeal be cold but kindled against every bracelet of the Scatlet Whore How often doth the Apostle call the people adulterers and adulteresses because they apostatize from the Word and Worship of God 3. In practice and Conversation Prize the Gospel love it and live accordingly to it With constancy look on every motion of thy soul and every action of thy life as a step to life or a step to death as a step towards Heaven or a step to Hell Heb. 10.38 To close this Counsel the Author of the Hebrews bringeth in the Lord protesting against apostatizing If any man draw back from Gospel-principle and Gospel-worship or froth a Gospel-conversation saith the Lord If any man draw back thus my Soul shall have no pleasure in him Tremble then at this thou Apostatizer whoever thou art wherever thou sittest or standest My Son shall have 〈◊〉 pleasure in thee I loath and abominate that person faith the Lord. 5. All of you then study peace and particularly you who do unfeignedly set your hearts and faces towards Heaven study peace and follow after it thou●●● run from you pursue after it You professe you● selves to be them that are truly fearing God an● truly honouring the King and truly loving one another Oh then seek peace You who do unfeignedly set your hearts and fac●● towards Heaven study peace alway and decline all dividing principles and practices among you and that you may not either breed or feed circumstantial differences or substantial divisions consider God 〈◊〉 the God of Peace our Saviour is the Prince of Peace our Comforter is the Comforter of Peace our Calling is the Calling of Peace our Way is the Way of Peace Oh that we may so live in Peace that the God of Love and Peace may dwell with us and that the God of Peace may live with us here that we may live with the God of Peace hereafter Mr. Bull of Newington-Green His Farewell Sermon in the Forenoon John 14.16 And I will send the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever THe Observation that I commended to you 〈◊〉 of these words was this It is the great work for which the Spirit 〈◊〉 Christ is given by Ged to comfort the hearts of 〈◊〉 people You may remember that I have 〈◊〉 ope●●● the truth to you and have shewed you what this spititual comfort is that the Spirit of Christ works in the hearts of his Disciples I gave it you in this Description It is that inward spiritual satisfaction that the heart of a gracious person finds in and through Jesus Christ in all the various dispensations of God towards him whereby he is enabled to go on in chear●inesse in the way that God would have him whether it be by a way of doing or of suffering And herein I shewed 1. The nature of the spiritual satisfaction 2. The Author of it It is God by his Spirit 3. The Object of it God through Jesus Christ 4. The proper Subject of this inward spiritual comfort the people of God 5. And lastly The effects of the spiritual comfort it is to strengthen the heart both to do and suffer I came the last time to shew you how the Spirit of God doth this 1. He doth it as an enlightning Spirit by shewing where comfort is to be had by opening the eyes of the understanding as he did Hagars bodily eyes to see the Well of water 2. He doth it as a quickning Spirit bringing the soul into that capacity to take in the comfort for what comfort can a dead man receive a Cordial and a Puddle is all one to a dead man 3. He works this inward spiritual satisfaction by discovering the truth of this vitall Principle in the soul for a man may have a principle of Grace and spiritual life in him and not know it that though he has the spiritual comfort yet it is all one as if he had it not Now this is the great Question that is debated in the heart of a Child of God Whether he be regener a 〈◊〉 born again whether he hath grace in his soul 〈◊〉 grace that will qualifie him for glory and if he was ●●risfied as to this he would not be a moment without comfort But he is afraid that he is dead

desire this is the Fourth beware of covetousnesse Fifthly You that have not taken warning yet I beseech you take warning now have a care and avoid evil company Ephes 5.11 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darknesse but rather reprove them come out from among them and be serarated from them Never go into a wicked mans company if before you go you have not a probability of doing good or getting good Consider with thy self is there any likelyhood that thou by thy wholesome reproofs may do him any good if there be then go on● if not draw back avoid them fly from them for their steps tend to perdition By wicked company those two things have been effected Good men made bad Bad men made worse Good men have been made bad by wicked company Jehosaphat that good King is in an example of this who by the company of wicked Ahab was drawn to fight against those whom God favoured and to help Ahab in his wicked enterprise Bad men have made those worse by evil company Ahab was made worse by the instigation of his wicked wise Jezabel Oh can you bear when you are in their company to hear them blaspheme the holy name of God and not repove them Truly if you can it is a sign you are not so good as you should b● Sixthly my sixth Caution is this Oh have a care of having the least finger on your hand against a Saint it is dangerous to have a thought word or act against the people of God it is dangerous to have a thought amisse of them Psal 62.3 They imagine mischief against a man that is against a Saint therefore they shall all be slain for their bare imagination they shall be cut off It is dangerous to speak against them How durst thou saith God to Miram to speak against my servant Moses and immediately he smote her with leprosie as white as Snow It is dangerous to act against them and it is forbidden by God Psal 105.5 Touch not my anointed nor do my Prophets no harm Perhaps you would say you would not do them any harm if you thought they were Gods people Oh but take heed lest they prove Gods people and then it were better for you if a milstone were hung about your neck and you cast into the Sea than to offend the least of them Seventhly Let me beseech you all to take heed of complying with this sinful world whoever doth do not you but take up that good resolution of Joshua's As for me and my House we will serve the Lord. Though all else forsake God yet will not I yet let not us I beseech you saith he that you would not conform your selves to the fashions and manners of this wicked world Oh take heed of conforming your selves to the Conversation of this world but walk harmlesse and shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation if we will comply with the world I mean to be as most of the world are that is temporizers time●servers preferring the pleasing of a man before the pleasing of God then we must lie in wickednesse as all the world doth 1 John 2.10 for all that in the world is either the lust of the flesh the lust of the eye or the pride of life and these are not of the Father but abideth in the wicked one the Prince of the power of the air after whom the men of the world walk This is the seventh take heed of Conforming your selves to this world Eightly Take heed of a hasty spirit when you are under sad dispensations when you are under sufferings you are apt to seek and 〈◊〉 with relief come it which way it will and on what terms it will 〈◊〉 spirit Esay 26. v. 18. He that believeth maketh not haste hat is he maketh not haste to get out of his afflictions the people of Israel was of hasty spirits and murmured because they were kept so long in the wilderness for which God slew an innumerable company of them Saul was of a hasty spirit and by it lost his life and Kingdom Jacob's Mother no sooner told him his Fathers intent but he was resolved to have the first blessing though he cheated his Brother and lyed for it and so told his Father that he was his eldest Son but he himself was afterward deceived by a lye with having the eldest daughter given him instead of the younger Take David for your example he waited Gods time the Kingdome was promised to him after Sauls death and when Saul persued him you know David had him twice in his power and with ease might have destroyed him but he would not ●ar be it from me saith he that I should touch the Lords annointed Let God smite him by the hands of his enemies I will not it is far better to be Gods Bond-stave then the Devils Free-man do not use any the least action whatever in an indirect way to deliver thy self but patiently set down and wait Gods good time which when once come thy deliverance will assuredly come with it Take heed then of a hasty and su●len spirit under afflictions Some men when God takes away any comfort from them are of so sullen a spirit there is no pacifying of them God will now this day take something from you which I believe you would willingly keep will you therefore be of so sullen a spirit that because you cannot enjoy all you will not enjoy any but will rob your selves of all what though you cannot enjoy your Minister any longer will you not make use of the Ordinances of God I beseech you refrain this spirit and let the deprivation of one mercy be a means to make you make better use of those that are left Ninthly My ninth Caution is this take heed of an ungodly Minister I speak not to any mans person in particular neither can I because I know not as yet who will succeed me but whosoever he be if he be wicked beware of him for if he be ungodly the people will follow him for like Priest like people and I pray God deliver you from such Ministers as for doctrine do teach the traditions of men and cry peace peace when sudden destruction hang● over their heads such Ministers may please you but believe me they will never profit you but at last you will find that through the ●ale of Security you are led to the pit of Perdition They will tell you you need not be so strict and diligent in your conversations nor Heaven is not so hard a●d difficult to gain as some would make you believe believe them not but remember that without holiness none shall see God and that neither Fornicators Adulterers Idolaters Thieves Murderers Covetous persons Drunkards Revi●era nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven Gospel only Christ when he was preaching to a throng of People as I am here this day said unto them Take ●eed and beware of the leaven of the