eternall condition Thou didst not consider in that day those things that concerned thy peace Now if at that great day of judgement the righteous shall scarcely be saved where shall the wicked and sinner appear What will be the doome of ungodly men The Apostle tells us 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. and the Holy Ghost tells us of their doome Rev. 21. 8. Rev. 22. 15. At that day however wicked men have been flattered and idolized in this world they will appear vile and abominable The swearers are those dogs that are whipt out of the presence of God The drunkards are swine unclean beasts these shall not come to heaven The unclean persons are the goats these stand on Christs left hand and shall hear the sentence of condemnation pronounced against them Then will the wicked sinners wish that the mountains might fall upon them and that the hills might cover them from the face of the Lamb. The wicked shall appear in judgement but they shall not be able to stand in judgment I might further inlarg this Use but there are many who have in print bestowed fruitful pains on this argument as Carthusianus Drexelius Gerrard Vossius Alsted Among our own country men Babington Perkins Smith Bolton c. In an especial manner I commend to your serious reading and meditation that powerful and patheticall application concerning the day of judgement by the reverend and learned Dr. Hackwel in his 14th chapter and 8 Hackwell Apology â—ib 4. c. 14. last sections of his 4th book of the Apology for the power and providence of God in the government of the world I must professe that I conceive that Application which that worthy Dr. there useth to be one of the most full pithy and particular Applications of any that ever I met with-all on that argument I commend the perusal of that to you And in the second place I proceed to an use of instruction Let the Vse 2. Instruction coÌ„sideration of the day of judgment be our instruction and put every one of us according to our several stations capacities in mind of the great duty incumbent upon us Let Magistrates from the consideration of the day of judgement be instructed in their duty to be a praise unto them that doe well and a terrour unto â—evil doers Let them execute justice impartially let them in the distribution of justice be like Levi who knew neither father nor mother nor brother nor sister Let not a Magistrate shew more pitty to a blasphemer then to a murtherer or theef considering that those that murther souls are the worst of murderers and those that robbe God of his honour are the worst of theeves Let Ministers be instructed in their duty to cry aloud and spare not to speak as the oracles of God to divide the word aright and walke aright Such as are Pastors and Doctors let them discard that Antiphrasis Pastores à non pascendo Doctores à non docendo That rotten distinction per se per alium will not excuse a lazy Minister at the day of judgement Let Governours Tutors and all that have the inspection over others remember the day of judgement It is Apostolical counsel Rom. 12. 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whether he be Secular or â—cclesiastical Ruler the duty is of weight by both sorts to be put in practise The Maxime is most true Every onthat ruleth ought to rule with diligence Let there not be any among you who as Diogenes his servant was called Manens à non manendo because he used to run away I say let not any be called Prafecti à non praeficiendo and Tutores à non tuendo â—emember the day of judgement Then those young-ones those Deposita Parentum charissima Pignora will be required of you Let all tradesmen be instructed in their duty from the consideration of the day of judgement to deal justly to use a just weight a just measure a just ballance a just â—phah Sophisticated wares false lights false weights adulterated wares cousenage in the trade will ly heavie upon their account at the day of judgement Let young schollars whose witts are green wanton and frothy remember the day of judgement then they would not adventure upon Platonick fansies vain speculations and bend their wits to mâ—intain them after they have discovered them for no other reason but that they are new discoveries like some new African monsters It 's a sad thing to consider that men now a daies bend their wits to be sceptical to defend any Chimaera or abortive issue of their sterile brains Men are so sool-hardy as they will venture upon any opinion any notion that so as Simon Magus designed they might be accounted some great ones like Erostratus that burnt Dianas Temple to get himself a name Many that have parts care not whether they imploy them for the truth or against it Hence it comes to passe that Judaisme Sociniaâ—isme Familisme Enthusiasme all these shall have their patronage Many will plead for them and defend them with eagerness I will tell you a story though I use very few stories in a Pulpit which is recorded by Matthew Paris an historian of good repute among us There was one Simon Carnatensis a Master of Paris Anno 1201 who having most subtilly and acutely disputed about the Trinity some of his familiar friends perswaded him to put his disputation in writing that so the memorial of such excellent things might not be lost whereupon he proudly brake forth into this blasphemous speech O little Jesu how much have I confirmed and advanced thy Law in this Question but if I list to deal crosly I know how with stronger reasons and arguments to weaken and disprove the same Which proud blasphemous speech was no sooner spoken but hee was strucken dumb and became an errand I deot and stark fool and so made a Ludibrium a laughing-stock to all that saw him Let all wanton Scepticks Novelists and Platonicks take heed by this sad example Let this be their Warning-peece Now that I may more particularly set forth your duty I shall commend these serious lessons of special concernment for your instruction and practise 1. Let us entertain frequent and serious thoughts and meditations Less 1. Entertaine frequent and serious thoughts concerning the day of Judgement 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost Bosil concerning the day of Judgment It was a saying of Hierome that learned Father Whatsoever I am a doing whether eating drinking reading or writing me-thinks I hear the shril sound of the Archangels Trumpet summoning all flesh to appear and crying aloud Surgite mortui venite ad judicium Chrysostome profest that whatever others doe think of it for my selfe it makes me often tremble when I consider of it wherefore upon this very Text he saith that its a dreadful Judgment and a Tribunal to be trembled at When thou art tempted to sin be it Pride Passion Uncleanness Covetousness Oppression Dissimulation
c. O! consider seriously there will be a day of Judgment wherein thou shalt be called to an account for all by thoughts words and deeds It 's excellent counsell which Basil gives Cum senseris te ad aliquod peccatum provocari ad mentem revoca formidabile illud judicium hoc quasi fraeno paedagogo utere i. e. when thou art tempted to sin call to mind the dreadfull day of Judgement and this will be as a bridle to curb sinne and as a School-master to instruct us in our duty Let this be a Monitor a Frontlet before thine eyes a perpetual vade mecum In all places and companies consider there will be a day of an account a day of Judgement will come O that this consideration were more frequent in our thoughts Through the grace of God it would be a special preservative against sin 2. Let the consideration of the day of Judgement engage you to Less 2. Labour to be holy holyness of life and conversation That 's the practicall use which the Apostle commends to our practise 2 Pet. 3. 11 12. Onely holy persons shall be able to stand in judgement This consideration moved the Saints to have their conversation in Heaven Phil. 3. 20. 3. This consideration should read us a Lecture of Patience Amidst Less 3. Learn Patience all sufferings persecutions losses crosses hardships evill entreaties amidst all perils at home abroad and among false brethren Let us consider that a day will come which will make amends for all sufferings Be patient saith the Apostle for the comming of the Lord draweth nigh Jam. 5. 8. Let us therefore bee patient under crosses yet a little while and the day of the Revelation of Christ will come when the righteous shall be delivered out of trouble and the wicked shall come in their stead Learne hence by patience to possesse your souls 4. Hence let us be put upon continual watchfulness The time Less 4. Learn watchfulness of Christs coming is like a theif in the night We know not the time to the intent we should alwaies keep strict sentinel alwaies stand upon our watch and be in procinctu like the wise Virgins with our Lamps trimmed and oyle in our Lamps Watchfulness is commended at all times Mark 13. 33 34 35 36. Shake off all security and drowsiness If the Watchmen sleep the City will soon be surprized Invadunt urbem somno vinoque sepultam Let our Saviours caution ring aloud in our eares Luk. 21. 34. Take Less 5. Learn to fear God heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged c. 5. Hence learn to fear God Rev. 14. 7. Ungodly men though Preachers amplifie these things looke upon them but as so many Scare-crows But that which they now fear not shall make them tremble and wish that some Rock would so much favour them as to fall on them and hide them from the wrath of a sin revenging God O Christian fear God and walk in his fear all the day long tremble at the consideration of this day and let it be thy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to work out thy salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2. 12. Less 6. Learn compassion and charity 6. And lastly hence learn compassion and exercise of Charity towards the poor Members of Christ Not a cup of cold water but shall be rewarded in that day The visiting the sick the cloathing of the naked the releeving of the distressed shall be all remembred in that day Christ brings them all to remembrance Mat. 25. Let us then cast our bread upon the waters and after many dayes we shall finde it Eccl. 11. 1. The Apostle prayeth for Onesiphorus his benefactor that he might find mercy in that day 2 Tim. 1. 18. What day was that but the day of Judgement and recompense Then God will remember all the Saints good deeds but all their bad deeds shall be blotted out of the Book of Remembrance or brought in only like a cancell'd bond for the further manifestation of the riches of Gods mercy And now here 's onely one Vse more of the Doctrine which shall Use 3. For Consolation be for consolation unto the godly In these respects the consideration of the day of Judgement administers unto them abundance of consolation I shall name a few particulars and so conclude this Doctrine 1. From the nature of the day the Saints reap comfort for that 1 Comfort from the nature of the day day is a day of Redemption a day of restitution a day of deliverance Wherefore in expectation of this day they lift up their heads Luke 21. 28. This is the day of the appearance of Christ and this is the foundation of the Saints comfort Col. 3. 4. 2. Here 's comfort in respect of the Judge and that is Jesus Christ who is their Head their Husband their Elder Brother their 2 Comfort in respect of the Judge Advocate their Intercessour He is their Judge who is their Saviour and he will pronounce the sentence of Absolution Christ is their Judge who hath loved them and washed them in his blood Rev. 1. 5. Christ is their Judge who is their peace and reconciler Eph. 2. 14. 3. Here 's comfort in respect of the sentence which Christ shall pronounce Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared 3 Here◠comfort in respect of the sentence for you before the foundation of the world 4. And lastly their happynesse shall be to all eternity Psal 16. 11. 4 This comfort shall be to all eternity And of this presence the godly shall be partakers They shall see the blessed vision enjoy an uninterrupted communion with the holy Trinity I le close up the first Doctrine with leaving you to meditate upon 1 Thes 4. 16 17 18. And so much for the first Doctrine I proceed to the second Doctrine That at the day of Judgement the secrets of all mens hearts shall be judged Though men digge never Doct. 2 so deep yet shall they never bee able to hide any thing from God God will bring every work to judgement Eccles 12. 14. The reasons of the Doctrine may be drawn 1. From the Omniscience of God Psal 44. 21. Hee knew the secret whoredomes of Aholah and Aholibah all the chambers Reas 1. From Gods Omniscience of imagery and all their wickednesses done in the darke Ezek. 8. 12. Darkness and light are both alike to him Psal 139. 12. All things are naked unto him with whom we have to deale Heb. 4. 13. God knoweth all things 1 Joh. 3. 20. So that words secretly whispered actions secretly done nay more thoughts purposes intentions before ever they are thought purposed and intended are fully known to God Thou hast set saith the Psalmist our iniquities before thee our secret sinnes in the light of thy countenance Psal 90. 8. A second Reason shall be drawn from the Justice of God which is to render
opinion of Religion and think any thing will serve as if any thing were good enough for God Such a slight service was done by Gehazi he went on before and layd his staffe upon the child and there was no appearance of life in the child but the Prophet Elisha layd his hand on the childs hand his mouth on the childs mouth c. and in good earnest set upon the work and the spirit of the child revived It 's the observation of a Reverend Mr. Jerem. Burroughs and precious Divine that of all spirits hee desired to be delivered from a frothy spirit it 's therefore a matter of lamentation and ought in good earnest to be bewailed to consider with what irreverence formalities and slightnesse of the spirit many set upon duty some will pray partly between sleeping and waking so drowsily that they can scarce pronounce their words aright Others will mumble over a few words of course in their beds Neither of these think of that reverence that belongs to the great God of heaven and earth and that he requires the Male the best we can offer unto him A third Impediment is a worldly spirit A heart swallowed up Imped 3. A wordly spirit with the love of the world will never give God the best such spirits wil grudge any thing for God because the world hath seized on their spirits and took up their affections Their breath words conversations even all favours of the world Now this love of the world is the root of all evill and enmity against God Demas forsook the Apostles society The young man preferred earthly treasures before heavenly where the world sits close and the heart is enamoured with the love of the world there Christs riches and his excellencies are undervalued A fourth Impediment is an unbeleeving heart Christ is not a Imped 4. An unbeleeving heart whit regarded amongst unbeleevers onely beleevers account him precious 1 Pet. 2. 7. He that knew the worth of the pearl of price and beleeved there was such vertue in it sold all to purchase it Mat. 13. 46 47. These Impediments being removed some speciall duties ought to be practised 1. Alwaies set before thine eyes the great God of heaven and Dut. 1. Set God before thine eyes earth as omnipresent pure and omnipotent who seeth knoweth and searcheth all hearts This consideration will make thee afraid to present any thing vile and refuse unto so great so holy a Lord God How thou prayest in thy closet what thy secret reserved thoughts are what thy intentions are in any duty all are naked unto that great and glorious Majesty with whom thou hast to deale 2. Labour for sincerity of heart That 's it which will carry thee Dut. 2. Labour for sincerity of heart through all brakes bryars difficulties and perplexities whatsoever It 's said Asa's heart was upright there 's a neverthelesse put in 2 Chron 15. 17. It 's this which comforted Hezekiah when the sentence of death was past against him 2 King 20. 3. It 's that which God requires even truth in the inward parts Ps 51. 6. It 's that which is the cause of rejoycing 2 Cor. 1. 12. Nathaniels character to be an Israelite indeed without guile Joh. 1. 47. The upright are they which love Christ Cant. 1. 4. And they are Gods delight Prov. 11. 20. Their Tabernacle shall flourish Prov. 14. 11. Their high way is to depart from evill Prov. 16. 17. They walk surely Prov. 10. 9. and no good thing will God withhold from them Ps 84. 11. Their end is peace Psal 37. 37. Upright walking with God will carry a man through all troubles whatsoever and in life and death will yeeld matter of abundance of consolation 3. Embrace the present season of Grace Seek ye the Lord whilst Dut. 3. Embrace the present season he may be found call ye upon him whilst he is near Isa 55. 6. Now give God your strength and marrow and lay aside all delayes Apologies and Procrastinations 4. Be much in Prayer and Supplication that what ever thou Dut. 4. Be much in Prayer dost what duty whatsoever service thou offerest unto God that he would accept thee through Jesus Christ As the Ancients held the Plough and prayed so hear and meditate on Gods Word keep the Lords Sabboth holy and pray for a blessing upon all from heaven Blesse Lord his substance Deut. 33. 11. 5. Make Religion thy work the grand design thou drivest Let Dut. 5. Make Religion thy work thy generall calling as a Christian have the preheminence of thy particular calling in the world Seek first the Kingdome of God Mat. 6. 33. The last Use is for Consolation unto those who to the utmost in Vse 5. For Consolation sincerity of heart endeavour to walk before the Lord. Thus Enoch walked with God Gen. 5. 24. Zachary and Elizabeth walked in Gods Commandments blameless Luk. 1. 6. David was a man after Gods own heart Yet the best of Gods children have their failings Jacob confest himself not worthy of the least of Gods mercyes c. David confest himself as foolish as a bruit Beast and wise Agur acknowledged that he had not the understanding of a man It 's a great cause of greif and a burthen to the spirits of Gods dearest children to consider how much they faile in duties Their dulnesse deadnesse disorder of spirit much afflicteth them What I shall further adde shall be comprised in these ensuing considerations Consid 1. Infirmities are incident to the best 1. Infirmities are incident unto the best of Christians I sleep saith the Spouse Paul complains of a body of sin and of flesh and of an antipathy between flesh and spirit 2. Gods children allow not themselves in sinne but mourn Consid 2. Gods childrē allow not themselves in sin Consid 3. Sincerity is accepted Consid 4. Where sincerity is there is an endeavour after more grace Consid 5. Others examples are not just standards Consid 6 Perseverance shall obtaine the Crown for sinne Sinne is their exceeding great grief and burthen 3. Where the heart is sincere it is accepted a willing mind is accepted 2 Cor. 8. 12. 4. Where the heart is sincere it is not contented with what it hath already attained but labours for more grace Phil. 3. 13 14. 5. Consider that others examples and attainments are not that standard for every one to measure himself by No examples but that of Jesus Christ is every way authentique Some will say on one hand Such and such goe no further and will not this serve my turne others say such goe so farre and if I cannot come near them I may justly suspect my self to be an Hypocrite Neither this nor that must determine us 6. And lastly consider that Perseverance shall obtain the Crown Rev. 2. 15. Many beginne well and fly back Of all Apostates are most hated by God But as for such who persevere in Grace and
and so thou wilt be better prepared to suffer A great power must be given thee from above over thy corruptions before thou canst grapple with a suffering Violent Storms and Thunder clear the air so strong afflictions clear the heart by them we are as it were by them powred from vessel to vessel Read Jer. 48. 11. Moab hath been at ease from his youth and he hath setled on his lees and hath been emptied from vessel to vessel neither hath he gone into captivity therefore his taste remained in him and his sent is not changed Hereby the ill savour and distemper of our heart comes to be took away Every affliction doth as it were preach to us a Sermon of Mortification An unmortified man and an unsanctified heart will never suffer 4. The last preparative is still to bear in minde the sufferings of Prepar 4. Bear in minde the suffering of the Lord Jesus our Lord Jesus Consider his innocency meekness and humility often keep in minde the dying of Christ an exact pattern for our imitation Let not the Disciple expect to be above the Master The ornament of Christs Livery is persecution But I proceed to another Use which Is for direction I shall onely direct in two particular cases Vse 4. For direction Q. 1. When have we a call for suffering 1. When have we call to suffer 2. When we have a call how must we behave our selves in suffering For the first of these In this case I conceive we have a clear call 1. When we have no warrant for active obedience So the three A. 1. When we have no warrant for our active obedience Children made choice of a hot Furnace rather then they would worship Nebuchadnezzars Image Dan. 3. 21. Then these men were bound in their coats their hosen and their hats and their other garments and were cast into the midst of the fiery furnace So Daniel made choice of the Lyons Den rather then he would obey an ungodly command Dan. 6. 16. Then the King commanded and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lyâ—ns The rule is infallible Acts 5. 29. We must obey God rather then man The Martyrs chose rather to embrace the flames then to worship a breaden God of the Papists devising we must rather suffer the greatest punishments then wound our consciences with the least sin 2 When it comes to this Dilemma that either thou must suffer 2. When either we must suffer or Gods glory must suffer or else Gods glory must suffer then thou must determine to suffer any thing rather then Gods glory should suffer rather then Religion should lie at stake or the Gospel lie a bleeding We must have a tender care of Gods glory we must not be afraid to be good we must not be ashamed of Christ dispossess then this dumb devil that makes thee silent when Gods glory suffers If God have given thee suffering graces as faith love zeal and 3. When God hath given thee suffering Graces patience and a brave heroical spirit assure thy self they are not given in vain to be buryed in a napkin but for duty and employment If God have given thee a Martyrs courage thou must endure a Martyrs tryal When God calls thee he intends thee for a Souldier but it s to fight his battles The second Case is how we must suffer least we spoil a good duty in the miscarriage I will leave with you a few rules Q. 2. How must we suffer A. 1. We must suffer as Saints 1. In suffering be sure that you suffer as Saints and not as evil doers Matth. 5. 10 11 12. Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my names sake Rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you And saith the Apostle 1 Pet. 2. 19 20. For this is thank-worthy if a man for conscience toward God endure grief suffering wrongfully for what glory is it if when ye be buffeted for your faults ye shall take it patiently but if when ye do well and suffer for it ye take it patiently this is acceptable with God 2. Suffer prudently Matth. 10. 16. Behold I send you forth as 2. Suffer prudently sheep in the midst of wolves be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves Wisdom and innocency are joyn'd together Wisdom is a necessary ingredient in suffering When men rashly bring evils upon themselves they loose the glory of their sufferings And when men suffer and are boisterous clamoring and reviling and reproaching such and such instruments these do much discredit their suffering 3. Christians must suffer believingly Faith acts though the vision 3. Suffer believingly be dark Faith approximates a promise and amidst Euroclydons storms and tempests can say Nubecula est cito transitura 4. Suffer patiently By patience possess thy soul Heb. 10. 36. 4. Suffer patiently For ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God ye might receive the promise Moral men have had great patienco Do thou discover more patience that art a true Believer say with good old Ely It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good and with David Psalm 39. 9. I was dumb I opened not my mouth because thou didst it and with Hezekiah Isa 39. 8. Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken he said moreover for there shall be peace and truth in my days 5. Suffer joyfully 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 5. 3. and James 1. 2. My 5. Suffer joyfully Brethren count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations The Apostle mentions this to their joy Heb. 10. 34. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods knowing in your selves that you have in heaven a better and an enduring substance So did the Apostles Acts 5. 41. and they departed from the presence of the councel rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name 6. Suffer profitably labor to profit by the rod to get corruption 6. Suffer profitably purged out and grace wrought in Labor to suck sweetness as the Bee doth out of bitter hearbs and to eat honey out of the carcass af a Lyon A wise man will gain by every dispensation of providence The fifth and last Use in one word is for Consolation Many promises Vse 5. For Consolation are made to them and they shall get the performance of them Rom. 8. 17. And if children then heirs heirs of God and joynt heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together Matth. 19. 29. And every one that hath forsaken houses or brethren or sisters or father
David so to be overwhelm'd in sorrovv for Absalom and in Jonah so to lament the loss of his Gourd The loss of Revenues profits in the Trade Liberty Oh how doth it stick near a man But where 's the acting of Faith Now the just shall live by faith and if any man draw back my soul Heb. 10. 38. shall have no pleasure in him A true Believer lives by Faith when Trading decays Lively-hood and Profit decays Now let 's learn to live by Faith Though thou shouldst loose all there is enough in the Promises to make up all with Interest if thou canst but make them thine ovvn by particular Application Much time is thrown away in passing our censures one upon another reviling this or that instrument I plead not in the least for any but utterly abhor any irregular practices or indirect ways but I press patience and submission unto Gods will to look thorow all instruments and secondary causes unto the first cause to hear the rod and who hath appointed it The Lords voice cryeth unto the city and the man of Micah 6 ◠wisdom shall see thy name heare ye the rod and who hath appointed it It 's a doggish quality to snarle at a stone and not look at the hand that throws it Pray then fervently and watch against infidelity and an impatient and murmuring spirit The Lord lay them not unto our charge We might have been in Canaan long ere this had we not been murmurers in the Wilderness I know well that our condition is so lamentable that we can neither bear diseases nor remedies And complaints finde no better entertainment then in those times wherein the best of Historians lived and said in his Presace That complaints Querclae ne tum quidem gratae cum sorsan necessariae Liv. Praef. are not pleasing no not then when they are necessary There 's much bitterness and implacableness upon mens spirits devouring and calumniating one another Such expostulations are rise where is the promise of his coming Where 's the reformation so much spoken of Where 's the removing of the burthens letting the oppressed go free breaking the bread to the hungry cloathing the naked such are peculiar duties for a Fast Is there not rather fasting for strife and debate to smite with the first of wickedness I aggravate these things no further but onely let me tell you as there were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so there are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spots in your Fasting-days Let 's bewail them with tears of blood let 's fast for our former Fastings and be humbled for our out-side Humiliations and lay to heart our negligent services and deprecate that curse that hangs over our heads for performing the work of the Lord negligently The Lord may call us to an account as justly as he did the Jews Zech. 7. 5. Did ye at all fast unto me even to me In the second place I proceed to an Use of Exhortation Let me Use 2. For Exhortation press home the duty of the Text to wait for the fulfilling of the Vision in these concussions and commotions when men are at their wits end and wonder what vvill be the issue Oh let 's take heed of impatience and murmuring let 's bevvare of tumultuous murmuring spirits of tempestuous affections Though there be a storm abroad vve should endeavour after a serene quiet spirit at home A calmness upon our spirits vvill be of singular use for us amidst the fluctuating condition of the Kingdom Every one will be ready to ask What shall we doe How shall we demean our selves in these dark times Such questions as these require an answer and a word spoken in due season is like apples of gold in pictures of silver I will advise nothing as a States-man that 's out of my Sphere nor as a subtle Politician for such Policy is the bane of Religion but from direct warrant out of the Word of God By way of advice I commend unto your thoughts these ensuing Propositions which I take to be Propositions of Eternall Truth 1. It 's unlawful to do any evill that the least good may come Prop. 1. It 's unlawful to do evil that good may come thereof Rom. 3. 8. thereof And not rather saith the Apostle as we slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say let us do evil that good may come whose damnation is just God needs not our lies to maintain his cause This was Rebockah's and Jacob's fault for the compassing of a good end to betake themselves to indirect means This is a broken refuge Isa 28. 15 17. and will fail Because ye have said we have made a Covenant with death and with hell are we at agreement when the over flowing scourge shall passe thorow it shall not come unto us for we have made lies our refuge and under falshood have hid our selves Therefore thus saith the Lord Judgement will I lay to the line and righteousness to the plummet and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies and the waters shall overflow the hiding place Augustine is resolute that if it was possible by an officious lie to compass the Redemption of the whole World yet so weighty and universal a good must be rather let fall then brought about by the smallesst evil 2. Another Proposition for confirmation is That no good intentions Prop. 2. Good meanings cannot justifie a bad action 1 Chron. 13. 10 and meanings can ever justifie the doing of any evill action Vzzah's intention was good but because against the rule he was punished with death He invaded the Priests Office and therefore the Lord smote him dead upon the place 3. It 's the duty of Christians to walk by rule and keep close to Prop. 3. We must walk by rule Isa 8. 20. it and that 's the written Word of God To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to these it is because they have no light in them Let 's not be a rule to our selves nor follow extraordinary impulses upon our spirits and revelations but bring all to the touch-stone Let 's try all things and hold fast that which is good and let the Scripture be the Umpire let 's acquiess altogether in its determinations As many as walk according to this rule peace be on Gal. 6. 16. them and mercy and on the Israel of God 'T is not any rule but this rule If an Angel from Heaven Preach any other Doctrine then what is contained in the Scriptures let him be accursed Whatever Seekers Familists Enthusiasts c. pretend to live above Ordinances and so they are indeed as much above Ordinances as a Swine is above a Pearl which it tramples under feet I say all their Lights however new are but Ignes fatui false Lights to lead us into dangerous destructive ways Let 's therefore for every action look unto the rule bring every thing to rule and square all by
sensible of their thirst and therefore they will not come God affords food for our body and food for our soule in abundance now an hungry man will goe apace for corporall food and had we a spirituall appetite a soule hunger we should quicken our pace and run as fast for the sood of our soules see Heb. 2. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation God puts a prize into our hands if we neglect to use it our condemnation will be the greater A sluggard will tell of this Lyon that mountaine and that shrubbe in the way so your lazy negligent people will tell and reckon up all the difficulties they can to flatter themselves in their idlenesse whereas indeed when we consider the battell we are to fight the race to runne the strait gate to passe through and the great difficulty to attaine salvation this should excite and provoke us to beg strength from God and act in his strength tugge hard at the Oare wrestle harder mend our pace that we may enter in at the strait gate fight the good fight of faith and so runne that we may obtaine A third sort of persons to be reproved are unbelievers They believe 3. Vnbelievers not such worth and excellency in the soule as we speak of This is the grand capitall damning sin of the Gospel Unbeliefe is a complication of many sins made up of a fraternity of iniquity See John 8 24. Unbeliefe as well as covetousnesse caused the yong man to preferre treasures on earth before treasures in heaven Unbeliefe as well as covetousnesse made the foolish Gadarens to preferre their swine before a Saviour Did people in good earnest believe that the soule is more worth then a world that the soule is of a heavenly-borne beeing and runnes parralell with eternity they durst not graspe the world make an Idol of Mammon Volupia c. and put their pretious soules in jeopardy What hindred Christ's miracles see Matth. 13. 28. What 's the portion of unbeleevers see Luk 12. 46. Rev. 21. 8. The Jewes had a saying that every sinne that they committed had a spice of the golden calfe Every sinne without question hath a spice of infidelity Unbeliefe and misbeliefe are destructive to the soule 4ly Impatient sinners are to be reproved these are worst of all 4. Impenitent sinners they throw away the remedy spurne away the plaister that God ordaineth for their cure Wee say falling into the water drownes not but lying there for a man may fall into a water and may be plucked out alive so falling into sinne damnes not but lying in it without repentance 'T is true that every sinne deserves damnation but all sinnes doe not actually damne otherwise who could be saved There are two sorts of sinners penitent and impenitent sinners Penitent broken hearted sinners are received into mercy through Christ their sinnes are wash't away in his bloud their sinnes are imputed to his score and his righteousness imputed to them for justification But impenitent sinners such as sweare and will sweare are drunke and will be so breake sabbaths and will doe so without remorse or regret of conscience these shut the dore of mercy against themselves An impenitent person is Felo de se his own executioner see Rev. 16. 11. Rom. 2. 5. Impenitent persons take not the dignity of their soules into consideration little doe they think what will become of their soules unto all eternity The law requires exact obedience will not abate a tittle not the least transgression God hath given us a Court of mercy the Gospel and in it a surety Christ and the instrumentall meanes faith and repentance Now impenitent Persons despise the Gospel the suerty the remedy they reject the great salvation tendred in the Gospel and so they are left unexcusable Their bloud be upon their own heads God would heale them they will not be healed they are filthy and impure the Lord proclaimes a fountaine to wash in it but they will not come unto it and so their damnation is just and they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 selfe condemned and their destruction is from themselves Of all judgments deprecate this of impenitency The Lord never give you over to impenitency 2. The next Use shall be for expostulation and here I would expostulate Vse 2. For expostulation the case as Isai 55. 2. Rom. 6. 21. Who of any understanding would serve so unprofitable a master as sinne is who would bee so mad as to be penny wise and pound foolish as to get riches lands revenues by cozenage fraud oppression and hazzard their pretious soules What if you could get never so much gold purchase never so much land honestly and justly and yet with the care and turmoyle of getting and keeping all you neglect your soule what advantage would all this be unto you Call your selves to an account and reckon what you get by purchaseing the world and loseing your soules cast up your accounts and you will find you have made a miserable bad bargain ' I le draw this Use unto particular instances 1. Let me expostulate the case with the voluptuous persons who eate and drinke and rise up to play Hawkes hounds cardes dice whores cups are the voluptuous man's companions Hee 's lul'd a sleep on the lap of pleasures and followes his own swinge and careere against the counter-blasts of a reclaiming conscience Let me aske the voluptuous liver what doe all his pleasures conduce to the advantage of his soul what comfort can a man take at night when he goeth to bed when all the day he hath past away in gameing drinking and carrowsing How many spend more upon their houndes then they doe towards the maintainance of a faithful Ministry How many preferre a pack of cards a pack of houndes a cast of hawkes before the word of God How many preferre a drunken merry meeting before a Sermon They can sit whole days and nights at cards and dice and at their cups upon ale-benches and yet how weary at a Sermon Double duties are tedious to them sabbaths fasts are heavy burdens unto them This sin of voluptuousness is the crying sin of the nation for which God lets us bloud by his heavy judgments at this very time O that all voluptuous Epicures would seriously lay to heart the sacred Irony of the wise man Eccles 11 9. O! that God would perswade you to have special regard of your pretious soules O that God would open your eyes to see your vanities and wicked pleasures and turne the streame into the right channel as Prov. 3. 17. To account the wayes of wisdome the only wayes of pleasantness 2. Let me expostulate the case with the covetous Mammonist He riseth early c hee 's a scrapeing and carking for the world the trash and pelfe here below filling his barnes with corne his coffers with gold still labouring for corne and oyle never satisfied never thinking he hath enough But what 's
he that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price A second is Mat. 11. 28. Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest A third invitation is John 7. 37. If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink Rev. 22. 17. A 4th is The Spirit the Bride say Come and let him that heareth say Come and let him that is athirst come and whosoever will let him take of the waters of life freely The lâ—st I shall name is the most prevalent obtestation in all the world Rom. 12. 1. I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service Put forth thy labor to make a Catalogue of the mercies of God they exceed all Arithmetick measure them their dimensions are infinite The Apostle makes four dimensions breadth length heighth and depth Eph. 3. 18. The mercies of God reach to the Heavens his faithfulness to the clouds All the pathes of the Lord are mercy and truth to such as keep his covenant and testimonies Psal 25. 10. His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting his mercy is above all his works Had we the tongues of Men and Angels we could not sufficiently set forth the mercies of God yet let us summon up all the members of our Bodies and all the faculties of our Souls to praise the Lord for his mercies and tell the wonders which he hath done for the children of men How many National mercies and signal deliverances have we received and we yet are in peace even to a miracle of mercies our fleece is yet dry whil'st others are wet with blood Thousands have faln beside us and ten thousand at our right hands and no evil comes nigh our dwelling What variety of personal mercies do we receive How many deliverances have we received from the Grave being ready to fall in and yet we are reprieved and have space to repent How many deliverances have we received from Fire Water Pobbers unreasonable men and all the plots and projects of Malignant Enemies unto the Gospel of Jesus Christ Further What mercies do we receive for our souls Do we not injoy Sabbaths Ordinances publick assemblies Blessed be God our eyes yet behold our teachers and our Gospel is not driven into corners How many mercies Quot misericordiae tot ora Isa 30. 20. so many mouthes All these mercies have so many mouthes calling upon us to thankfulness and amendment of life Now the holy Spirit of God strives by all these mercies to win us to repentance It is our obliged duty as God strives with us in mercy and loving kindness so we should strive with him in our return of thankfulness and reformation of our lives Every mercy should be a Lord-stone to draw us up to Christ Every mercy should be as a foot-stool to raise us up higher to Heaven Every mercy should be as a Looking-glass wherein we should behold the visible resemblances of the loving kindness of God O then take heed of neglecting the voice of the Spirit when he calls by mercies For if he be neglected when he speaks in the sweet musick of mercies he will speak terrible things in the thunder of judgement 5. The Spirit strives by the exercise of patience 5. Yet further The Spirit strives by the exercise of patience forbearance and long sufferance towards sinners God is not willing that any should perish but that they should repent and be saved O the unwearied patience of a merciful Father How long did God bear with the old world with the Amorites Jerusalem The Lord waits to be gracious he delights in mercy It is his nature to be merciful Judgement is called his act his strange act Isa 28. 21. The Lord will rise up as in mount Perazim he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon that he may do his work his strange work and bring to pass his act his strange act This is to shew his unwillingneâ—s to punish sinners till needs must He is said to hyer a Razour to shave them as if he had none of his own Isa 7. 20. In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired namely by them beyond the river by the King of Assyria the head and the hair of the feet See and admire the wonderful patience of God though we provoke him every day O wonderful patience that the Drunkard dies not in his vomit that the Swearers Blasphemers tongues fall not presently out of their heads Still the Lord waits knocking at the doors of our hearts exercising infinite patience and forbearance towards poor sinners He whets his Sword and bends his Bow Psal 7. 12. He might cleave us asunder presently but there we have experience of singular patience God was but six days in creating the world yet as Chrysostome observes he was seven days in encompassing the Walls of Jericho before he destroyed it Patientia laesa fit furor but let us take heed of abusing patience patience abused breaks forth into extremity of fury Mercy pleads I am slighted I am abused I will no more have mercy on them then patience interposeth I will wait longer but patience being abused it pleads I will be no longer tired out nor abused At last comes long-suffering I am gentle and merciful and I will wait longer and longer but if long-suffering be wearied out What will plead for us What will become of us The long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah whilest the Ark was preparing as the apostle Peter speaks 1 Pet. 3. 20. 2 Pet. 3. 9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slackness but is long-suffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance We should account the long-suffering of the Lord our salvation Rom. 2. 4. or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long suffering not knowing that the goodness of the Lord leadeth thee to repentance 6. The Spirit of God strives by many signal exemplary Judgements 6. The spirit strives by many signal and exemplaâ—y Judgements inflicted upon others inflicted upon others We have read of the Wars of Jerusalem in Josephus but more pathetically set forth in the â—ook of the Lamentations We have read of the heavy Judgements of God upon Germany and Palatinate We have read of the barbarous butcherings of those blood-sucking Caribals in Ireland upon the Protestant Party We hear now of a Sword letting out blood in Scotland good blood and bad blood being let out together the Sword destroying one as well as another We hear of sad breaches and heart-divisions widened more and more in England You hear a general complaint of poverty and decay of Trade By all these Judgements the Spirit of God strives with us and woes
to love Jesus Christ so the Martyr in the flames cried out None but Christ Thus highly did John Baptist testifie of Christ Joh. 3. 30. so Christ may be exalted hee cares not what becomes oâ— himself So every faithful Minister puts the highest value upon Jesus Christ so Christs honour may be advanced Christs cause and interest promoted he cares not what sufferings what persecutions he meeâ—s withall Though he encounter with Beasts at Ephesus Sons of Anak and frie at a stake none of these things move him so Christ may be glorified in him and by him It 's a signe of true grace to prize Christ highly and enhaunce his esteem and honour above all things besides 3. The heart is in love with holynesse for it self â—olynesse is Charact. 3. The heart is in love with holyness the image of God Ephes 4. 24. and there is beauty in Gods imâ—ge to enamour the soul What was said of Moral virtue may be much more said of Theological Si â—erreno oculo possit cerni admirabile sui desiderium excitaret Could we discern by a spiritual eye the lustre and excellency of Holynesse O how would our hearts bee in love with it Multitudes followed Christ for the Loaves and accounted gain their godlynesse Self-seeking interests covetousnesse is that Master-wheele that sets many on working but a true Beleever accounts Godlynesse his gain Christ his honour â—eligion his preferment His eye is single his heart sincere He 'l do his duty do his work faithfully and trust God for his wages Nay Jsa 49. 4. Psal 119. 7 the work is a reward O how I love thy law saith David It was his delight he loved the Commandements above sine gold And what was the Law it was holy just and good Holynesse was the object of his love To love God for himself Holynesse for it self is a good sign 4. There must an ingenuous sorrow for sinne I call it ingenuous Charact. 4. An ingenuous sorrow for sinne in opposition to all slavish howling under the rod. There is a vast difference between Ahab and Paul between that sorrow which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 7. 10. and you have there seven Apostolical characters of godly sorrow 2 Cor. 7. 11. There 's a vast difference between the howling of dogges and crying of children between the crying of wicked persons as Pharaoh Ahab Cain under a heavy judgement for the punishment and smart upon them and the crying of Paul Peter and Mary Magdalen Pharaoh said Take away this plague the plague of Locusts Caterpillars c. he never was affected with the plague of his heart which was the greatest plague of all But take away my sinnes cries David Wash me throughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sinnes here 's a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of godly sorrow it mourns for sinne more than the punishment it mourns for sin because it is sinne because it is a breach of Gods holy Law because thereby God is dishonoured this sorrow is kindly ingenuous when the heart is melted and mourns and is broken for displeasing so good and gracious a Lord God 5. There wil be a cordial mourning for others sinnes This affection Charact. 5. Thheres mourning for others sins Psal 119. 136 was singular in David Rivers of water run down mine eyes because men keep not thy Law A godly man layes to heart the sins of the times and the place where he lives It grieves him at the heart to see God dishonoured by any Bradford that rare spirited man grieved at the miscarriages of one of his Scholars and laid the fault upon himself for not looking better to him If he so charged himself surely our faces will gather blacknesse and a great deal of guilt will lye at our doâ—es for not discharging our trust as we ought to doe concerning so many Scholars as so many Depositums committed to our charge But let 's doe our duties and mourn over them that are refractory and keep them strict to discipline Le ts pray for them and mourn over them and questionlesse praiers and tears are prevalent weapons When thou hearest a man swear feest him drunk break Sabbaths takes no heed nor makes any conscience to walk in the way of the Lord O mourn for him and weep that God is dishonoured and reflect upon thy self thy nature is as bad as his Who art thou that differs from thy brother What difference there is it is not of thy making it 's Grace free Grace that makes all the difference 6. The heart approves it self to God so did David put himself Charact. 6. The hearts approving it self to God upon Gods Examination Such a one walks alwaies as in the presence of God knowing that God is all eye to see all ear to hear all hand to write down all He stands not to mans day and mans judgement he appeales to God the searcher of all hearts whose eyes are ten thousand times brighter than the Sun Hereupon Job raised a ground of comfort and confidence because his Redeemer was his Judge he that was his Saviour should acquit him his Witnesse was on high See his excellent protestation that his heart should not reproach him Job 27. 4 5 6. Now when a Christian is hardly censured and condemned by the world yet if he can approve his heart to God that hee hath walkt before God with an upright heart here 's ground of abundant comfort If God be for us who can bee against us If God speake peace who can speak trouble It 's God that justifieth who 's he then that condemneth Let 's all then labour to tread even paths to keep close to the rule of the Word alwaies Rom. 8. 31. to set the fear of God before our eyes that whatsoever evil entreaties we may meet withall from abroad wee may have comfort at home having approved our hearts to God who searcheth all hearts and tryeth the reins and rendereth unto every one according to the fruits of their doings 7. There wil be a pressing forward toward perfection A heart Charact. 7. There will be a pressing forward towards perfection that approves it self to God as it labours for truth of every grace so it labours for growth of them Joshuahs Sun stood stil Hezechiahs Sun went back Neither of these are for their imitation but they are like Davids Sun which like a Giant refresht with wine runnes its course I wel know that there are Lambs as wel as Sheep weak as well as strong Christians Christians of the Lower and of the Vpper Form and that Faith admits degrees yet every true Beleever contents not himself with that measure of grace whereunto he hath attained but labours after perfection as you may see Phil. 3. 12 13 14. Psal 48. 6 7. 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7 8. There are many things which a godly man finds lacking in his Faith Love Humility and therefore
with that Apostolical Doxology Rom. 11. 36. For of him and through him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen I shall adde a fourth consideration and that shall be drawn from Consid 4. Drawn from the credit reputation of Christian Religion the Credit and Reputation of Christian Religion which we should with our lives livelyhood and all endeavour to uphoâ—d Shall Heathens think no cost great enough no paines no service sufficient for their false Gods and shall we grudge at every thing which we doe in the worship of the true God We read in the Text that the name of God is dreadfull amongst the Heathens i. e. Gods greatnesse is astonishing amongst the Heathen They have some dread and fear of a Deity Pharaoh Nebuchadnezzar and others Drusius in loc have been forced to confesse the power of God Quod merito vobis pudorem incutere debet so Drusius on the place i. e. This consideration ought to make you ashamed that ye who are my people doe not reverence me yet the Gentiles reverence and fear my name The Christian Religion gives not its Professors a Writ of Ease but presseth upon us running racing fighting wrestling striving to enter in at the strait gate contending for the Faith taking heaven by violence working out our salvation giving all diligence to make our Calling and Election sure If we sit loose from duties or do them superficially and slightly we open the mouthes of Heathens and ungodly men to speak evil of Religion Uncircumspect carelesse walking of many Professors causeth the enemies of God to blaspheme What will Turks say they give Mahomet the best service they can and shall Christians be carelesse in their service to Christ shall Mahometans be more zealous to serve their false Prophet than Christians to serve the great true Prophet Jesus Christ Pliny tels us a story that Alexander when he had conquered Arabia he presented his School-master with a ship laden full of Frankincense bidding him to spare for no cost when he offered sacrifice unto the Gods Let not Christians think much of any cost any pains and service offered unto the great God of heaven and earth As for instance our prayers must be fervent Jam. 5. 16. In giving Almes we must give with simplicity in Ruling wee must rule with diligence Rom. 12. 8. Love must be without dissimulation Rom. 12. 9. Faith must be a working faith 1 Thess 1. 3. In every duty we must put our whole strength to it remembring the counsel of the Wise man Eccles 9. 10. to do with all our mâ—ght It was a great wickednesse in Aigolandus King of Africa to scorn the Christian Religion because he saw many Christians poor and ragged But it is much more evil in Christians especially Professors by their loose and carelesse walking to give advantage to prophane men to asperse the Christian Religion Religion receiveth many a wound by licentious Professors How nearly then doth it concern all Professors to look more narroâ—ly to their paths to walk worthy of God as becommeth the Gospel that to their utmost they may keep up the reputation of Christian Religion A fifth consâ—deration shall be drawn from the greatnesse of the Consid 5. From the sin in offering the vile and corrupt 1 It is a great folly sin in offering that which is vile and corrupt unto the Lord. This sin is compounded of four ingredients Folly Contempt Presumption and Sacriledge 1. It argueth great Folly to put off God with the worst to present unto an omniscient God a worthless sacrifice is exceeding great folly and such folly shall not escape unpunished The heart is known to God it 's that which God principally looks after He it is which searcheth the heart and tryeth the reines A sacrifice without a heart is rejected In praying if iniquity be regarded the Lord will not hear Psal 66. 18. Wherefore is Ephraim called a filly Dove the Prophet renâ—ers the reason because he was without Mr. Totshel of Hypocrisie a heart Hos 7. 11. Now the heart is the chiefest thing which God requires and he requires the strength and bent of the heart the integrity thereof It must be one entire and undivided heart Let 's not dare to collude with God though we may deceive our selves and the world yet we cannot deceive God It 's exceeding great madness and folly to offer to the All-knowing sin-revenging heart-searching God any thing vile and contemptible 2. It argueth great contempt v. 13. the words next proceeding 2. It argues great contempt v. 7 8. The lame and the blind are abhominable God expects an intelligent reasonable service Blind devotion ignorant services are abhominable That Popish opinion deserves an Anathema that Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion God requires the strength and vigour of the whole man Therefore cold languishing services lame halting services are abhominable A governour on earth would not be put off with a refuse sleight present Jacob commands Take of the best fruits in the Land Gen. 43. 11. And shall we present to the great King of heaven and earth a contemptible vile service we read Zech. 11. 13. its called a goodly price by way of scorn and disdain that such a sordid price should be given And what was that price but thirty pieces of silver about five Marks of our mony which as Josephus and other Hâ—storians mention was the price of a slave And indeed abhominable sinners do what in them lies to put the great God to the condition of a slave Isa 34. 24. Consider what a great affront and contempt it would be for a Beggar in his nasty ragge to come and set himselfe down at the Table of a Prince How much more is it for prophane persons to sit themselves down at the Table of the Lord No uncircumcised person ought to eat the Passeover and no uncircumâ—ised in heart ought to eat the Lords supper The blind and the lame ignorant and scandalous have no right to this Ordinance because they discern not the Lords body It's childrens bread holy food In the Primitive times when the Sacrament was to be administred one cryed out aloud holy things for holy persons Though unwarrantable separations do much harm as one extreme so I am perswaded that promiscuous Communion will doe as much harme on the other extream 3. It argueth great presumption to presume of acceptance of 3. It argueth great presumption that service which is cheap sordid and sleight For any to think any torn beast would serve well enough for a sacrifice this was the great presumptuous sin of the Jews And for Christians to think a base out-side Profession will serve the turn is a formall lazy cheap devotion The bare sitting out of a Sermon the mumbling over in bed those few words between sleeping and waking Lord have mercy upon me For people to lick themselves whole and think to be cured by such sleight Medicines what 's this but
is any 2. Prayer must be in Faith whit available in the sight of God It s the prayer of a righteous man which availeth much And only beleevers are accounted righteous in the sight of God 3. Prayer must bee fervent James 5. 16. Qui timide rogat docet negare 4. All Prayer must be put up in the name of Christ Joh. 15. 6. 3. Prayer must be fervent 4. All Prayer must be put up in the nāe of Christ 5. Prayer must be with perseverance 6. Prayer must proceed from the spirit of Adoption No petition can be excepted unlesse it be prefer'd in the name of Jesus Christ 5. This Prayer must be with perseverance 1 Thess 5. 17. Will the Hypocrite saith Job pray alwayes will he alwayes call upon God 6. Prayer must proceed from the Spirit of adoption Gal. 4. 6. Many have a gift and are strangers to the grace of prayer Many use a form and yet are unacquainted with the Spirit of prayer Many use prayer as a duty few as a meanes Wherefore we must shaddow forth the spirit of prayer by these propertyes 1. There 's a warming of the heart the heart powreth out its selfe before the Lord Hence comes grones sighes supplications The heart is seriously affected Prayer is rather heart labour then lip labour and the heart breakes and pants after God in prayer So was Hannah affected in powring out her heart before the Lord. 2. There is a Child-like language There is Abba Father 2. Gal. 4. 6. There is much difference betweene the language of Children and Slaves Gods children learn his language and they come as children unto a Father 3. Their aime ends and designes are Gods honour and glory 3. Self-ends and interests doe not set men on work to pray the spring that moves is love to God his honour and glory and the end and aime they drive at is the glory of God In the next place its inquired How may we give God the Q. 2. How we may give God the Male in receiving of the Sacrament Male in receiving of the Sacrament For Answere hereunto we are to note that if we rightly examine our selves we may participate of the Sacrament To which purpose I will set down Self-examining-objects Self-examining-propertyes and Self-examining-graces 1. For self-examining-objects and they are either thoughts Words and Deeds as 1 For our Thoughts we must examine whether they are sanctifyed 1. Self-examining-objects 2. Self-examining-Propertyes 3. Self-examining-graces Jer. 4. 14. 2. As for Words they must be such as minister grace to the hearers Col. 4. 29. and 3 As for our Actions they must be such as become the Gospell Phil 1 27. 2. For self-examining-propertyes they must be 1. Thorough and Impartiall we must take notice both of lesse and greater sinnes No sinne must escape us without due and serious examination 2. Regular The rule of the word must be that whereby we must try and examine our whole life we must bring all to the Law and Testimonye Then 3. For Graces we are to examine in these especially 1. Knowledge is required whether we discern the Lords body An Ignorant blind devotion is abominable and rejected by God we must know the nature of a Sacrament the Institutor the end of it we must know our happynesse by creation our misery by sinne in Adams fall our restored condition by Christs Redemption the benefits of Christs purchases viz. Justification Sanctification and Glorification 2. Faith is required and this must not be Temporary Historicall Dogmaticall but a Justifying faith such a one as purifieth the heart Act. 15. 9. as is unfained and worketh by lowe 3. Repentance this must be Evangelical This Repentance must have these fruites 2 Cor. 7. 10 11. 4. Love both love to God and love to the Brethren Joh. 13. 47. Love is the badge of a Disciple 5. New obedience newnesse of life is required Isa 55. 7. And thus we must give God the Male in the celebration of his Ordinance But the next Question hath some affinity unto this Q. 2. Whether we give God the best in our graces Q. 2. Whether we give God the best in our Graces Not to instance in what I instanced before I le propound other instances viz. In Humility Meeknesse Temperance Wisdom 1. Doe we give God the Male in the exercise of the grace of Humility There may be a voluntary Humility and a naturall humble carriage but the question is whether we have that Humility which is of the same stamp with spiritual Poverty whether self be emptied Christ advanced 2. For Meeknesse there 's in some a more natural inclination to Meeknesse But when we are provoked to wrath do we then shew meek spirits to bear and forbear with others to overcome evil with good to heap coales of fire upon enemies heads 3. For Temperance where is our sober temperate carriage in Abstinence and Moderation Phil. 4. 5. 4. For Wisdome doe wee labour for Wisdome Divine Wisdome and honour God with it lay forth our parts interests and all to honour God withall Q. 3. Whether we give God the Male in our whole life conversation Q. 3. Then the last Question is whether we give God the Male in our whole Conversations To which purpose by way of character we must decypher out such a Conversation 1. It must be holy 1 Pet. 1. 15. 1. Holy 2. Sincere 3. Universall 4. Wise 2. It must be sincere 2 Cor. 1. 12. 3. It must be universall Ps 119. 6 101. 4. It must be wise and ordered with discretion the wisdome of the Serpent is required as well as the innocencie of the Dove 5. Fruitfull 5. It must be fruitfull in the exercise of good works A Christian Conversation is not barren it must bear twins 6. Regular 6. It must bee regulated according to the Gospel Phil. 1. 27. Vse 4. For Direction The fourth Use in order is for Direction For the better setting home this Use as may be most profitable for you I shall endeavour to answer two Queries The first whereof is what impediments and obstacles we should remove that hinder us from giving God the best Then secondly What special duties are required to shew the Q. 1. What Impediments are to bee removed Imped 1. Ignorance sincerity of our hearts that we offer God the Male even the best of all our services For answer unto the first Question the Impediments are these especially 1. An ignorant blind mind when people understand not the excellency of Jesus Christ they will brayd of the Gaderenish humour they preferre their swine before him There 's ignorance sufficient when they askt what is thy Beloved more than another beloved Cant. 5. 9 10. But the Spouse gives an experimental answer v. 10. My Beloved is white and ruddy the chiefest of ten thousand 2. A frothy and vaine spirit How many entertain a low and Imped 2. A frothy vain spirit cheap
prisoner of the Lord beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called A third exhortation is exceeding pathetical 1 Thes 2. 11 12. As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a Father doth his children that ye Phil. 1. 27. Tit. 2. 12. would walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his Kingdome and Glory All these exhortations redound to this issue that such persons as are already reconciled should produce evidences of their Reconciliation by their holy conversation and that is to walk 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seemingly meetly as becometh the Gospel And according to those 3 Adverbs mentioned Tit. 2. 12. * Haec tria perpetuo meditâ—â—da adverbia Pauli Haec tria sunt vitae regula sancta tuae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 soberly righteously godly Now the Ministers of the Gospell are sonnes of Peace Ambassadours of Peace and the Gospell which they preach is the Gospell of Peace and this is the fruit of the lips which the Lord creates and the main Isa 5â— 10. Quasidicat per praedicationem Evangelii renovationem Spiritus pacem dabo atque eo modo sanabo hominem peccatorem Bulling in loc Mat. 5. 25. design which they drive and the scope they aime at is to perswade men to make their peace with God and to throw down all their rebellious weapons and yeeld themselves unto his mercy Sinne hath made God their adversary wherefore that counsell must abide upon them Mat. 5. 21. Agree with thine adversary quickly whilst thou art in the way with him At this time God hath sent me with an Olive-branch in my mouth with a Commission of Peace which if it be neglected this day for ought any of us know it may be expir'd and out of date to morrow But I need adde no further Scripture proof in so clear a point In the next place I am to enquire after Arguments for confirmation 2. Proof by evidence of Reason of the Doctrine Amongst many I shall reduce them to three heads of Reasons which I promised for the farther proof of the Doctrine The first Reason shall be drawn from the Office of the Ministers Reason 1. Drawn from the office of the Ministers of the Gospel of the Gospell Their names point out their office they are called Watchmen Seers Workmen Stars c. But I shall go no further than the Metaphor of my Text they are called Ambassadors a name of great Dignity and Duty and the great Duty incumbent on them is to perswade people to be reconciled to be at one with God as Mr. Tindal's Translation appositely renders it Let 's then view the name of Ambassadours and therein we shall finde 4. speciall properties which may very appositely be applyed 1. Ambassadours are gifted and qualified for so great an employment unto the Ministers of the Gospell The first whereof is this that Ambassadours are select Persons gifted and qualified for so great an employment Princes never send ignorant unfit Persons on their errand So the Ministers which are of Christ's sending are qualified and fitted by him for the manageing of so great and weighty employment The Priest under the Law ought to be a man of knowledge * Mal. 2. 7. his lips should preserve knowledge And the Prophet †Isa 50. 4. ought to have the tongue of the Learned to know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary He ought to be an * Job 33. 23. Interpreter one among a thousand And such a one ought the Minister of the Gospell to be †2 Tim. 2. 15. a workman that needeth not to be ashamed * 2 Tim. 3. 17. throughly furnished unto all good works Ambassadours are men of renown and estimation they are highly honoured for their gifts and employment they do not negotiate concerning sleight trifling impertinent matters but they intermeddle about weighty affaires of State and their transactions are about their Prince's matters of highest concernment And the resemblance holds alike with the Ministers of the Gospell They are persons of †Honor iste ista sublimit as nullis poter it comparationibus adaequari Si Regum fulgori comparaveris Principum Diademati longe erit inferior comparatio Ambr. in Pastorali honour of ability and fitnesse such I mean as are of Christs sending and their business is to treat about matters of the greatest consequence even of Reconciliation between God and Man Secular Ambassadors deal about weighty affaires of the world but Spirituall Ambassadors deal about Soul-affaires even the great things of Eternity * Isa 52. 7. How beautifull then should their feet be who bring such glad tydings Such are †2 Tim. 2. 17. worthy of double honour who labour in the Word and Doctrine 2. Ambassadours are Persons in Commission for they have 2. Ambassadors are persons in Commission received a Commission from their Prince by vertue whereof they act accordingly They dare not negotiate with other Princes without the Authority of their Master They are commissionated by the Prince that sends them they are bound up by instructions from him neither dare they go beyond their Commission So the Ministers of the Gospell are Persons in Commission they are ordained Ministers into the Universall Church for the benefit of the Church in generall though they may exercise their function ad hic nunc in a particular Congregation yet their removall from one place to another which ought not to be done without a clear call doth not in the least null or make invalid their Ministeriall function They are Persons called approved and set apart for this great work * 1 Tim. 4. 14. by the laying on of the hands of the †2 Tim. 1. 16. Presbytery which gift ought not to be neglected but * Sensus est Timotheum quum Prophetarum voce ascitus fuit in Ministerium deinde solenni ritu ordinatus simul gratia spiritus sancti instructum fuisse ad functionem suam exequendam Calv. 1 Tim. 4. 14. stirr'd up as the Apostle gives an especiall charge These are those peculiar Persons who have dedicated themselves to the service of God they have put their hands to the plough with a resolution never to look back They have given themselves up as Hannah gave Samuel for a loane unto the Lord all the dayes of his life But as for such who have no other call but from their own high conceited fancies and others such as themselves flatteries as a †V. Mr. Burroughs Irenicum Reverend Divine instanceth who through the pride of their own hearts as Novatus consecrated himselfe a Bishop runne before they are sent and make hast more hast then good speed to invade the Ministers office let them consider if ever they once come to themselves that God who is the God of Order and not of confusion will never blesse their
For every wise man Char. 3. this Conversation must be prudent must order his affaires with discretion We usually say Ignis in foco is good but not in tecto Many have a good cause but through indiscretion spoile it in the carriage There is required as well the wisdome of the Serpent as the innocency of the Dove Every wise woman saith Solomon buildeth her house but the foolish pulleth Prov. 14. 1. it downe with her hands Now by wisdome I meane not the wisdome of the times we see too much of that Machiavilian wisdome which is a turning and returning and complying with all times and humours be they never so bad for personall interest This wisdome hath no portion in this businesse But I understand spirituall wisdome that which cometh from above such as the Apostle mentioneth with distinguishing qualifications which is pure peaceable gentle easy to be intreated full of mercy and good Jam. 3. 17. fruits without partiality and without hypocrisy Neither would I be mistaken I count not that wisdome which alwaies joynes with the winning side at a venture nor that which suites with the fashion of ancient Persians now adaies revived to worship the rising sun Too many we have of that temper in these times whom we account wise though indeed they be errand fooles and their wisdome like Achitophels may in time be turned into foolishnesse But that I account wisdome which hath a spirit of discerning to understand the things that differ to understand what is the right rule and to walk accordingly And to adde no more I l'e rest in the determination of Job The feare of the Lord that is wisdome and to Job 28. 28. depart from evill is understanding 4. And lastly This Conversation that consists in the departing Char 4 this Conversation consiâ—ts in departing from iniquity from iniquity and accords with a holy profession is Universall thorough-paced and every way compleat There 's a threefold Universality of Subject Object and Time 1. For the Subject The whole man is ingaged to Obedience all the members of the body and faculties of the soule With my whole heart have I sought thee saith David O let me not wander Psal 119. 10. from thy Commandments 2. There must be Universality of the Object Then shall I not Psal 119. 6. be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy Commandments 3. Universality of Time Being delivered out of the hands of Luk. 1. 74. our enemies We must serve him without feare in holinesse und righteousnesse before him all the daies of our lives 3. I proceed to a third Use for Exhortation to presse home Vse 2. For Exhortation unto us all the duty of the Text To depart from Iniquity If we be Christians let 's evidence it by our Conversations let 's walke as becometh Christians What will Heathens Turkes and Jewes say when Christians walke loosely and carelesly they will blesse themselves in their owne erroneous waies and thus by our loose walking we give advantage unto the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme Amongst others take two or three motives to perswade you to your duty 1. Consider the eye of God his omniscience and omnipresence Mot. 1. Consider Gods Omniscience Job 10. 14 15. His eye-lids try the Children of men The eyes of the Lord are every where beholding the evill and the good This was a monitor to Joseph to David to Job If I sinne then thou markest me c. The Lord knoweth all hearts seeth the inmost recesse and diverticles of thy spirit All things are naked unto him with whom thou hast to deale 2. Consider the eyes of men Good men observe our carriages Mot. 2. Consider the eyes of men professours are much observed how they walke They are Beacons set upon a hill top multitudes behold them Good men observe that they may gaine some spirituall advantage They expect the performance of our duty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to stirre up and exuscitate graces to quicken or inliven them and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is expected to edify and build them up in their holy faith Now if we are not what we pretend if we be no more but formall professours if our practice accord not with our profession we sadden the hearts of the righteous And likewise bad mens eyes are upon us they watch for our haltings as Benhadads servants they lye at the catch Now if we do not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 walk with a straight foot if we are loose in our lives and carelesse in ordering our footsteps notwithstanding our profession be never so strict we strengthen the hands of the wicked A bad life is a confutation of a good profession Although the Profession it selfe is not the worse because there are some hypocriticall professours yet ignorant and malicious men endeavour to wound the profession it selfe and asperse it by reason of scandalous professours 3. Integrity and uprightnesse of heart and life will comfort us Mot. 3. Integrity of life will comfort uâ— when pretences cannot help us 2 Cor. 1. 12. when all pretences formes outside professions will no whit availe us This was the ground of the Saints rejoycing Oâ—r rejoycing is this the Teâ—timony of a good Conscience This was the Apostles exercise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Duties of both Tables must be regarded respectively To pretend to the duties of the first and neglect righteousnesse and equity to thy Brother as the second table injoynes this discovers thee to be an hypocrite To pretend just dealing according to the second table and neglect keeping the sabbath Act. 24. 12. and other duties of the first this sheweth thee to be only a Formalist But in the last place The fourth Use is for direction in two Vse 4. For Direction particulars 1. How we ought to depart from iniquity Q. 1. How we must depart from iniquity 1. We must depart speedily Ezek. 47. 3 4 5. 2. What meanes may be of speciall Use conducing thereunto 1. For the first particular how we ought to depart from iniquity 1. We must depart speedily We must not excuse sinne and say at such a time I hope to leave it Give not quarter to Benhadad sinne reprived resembles Ezekie'ls waters first up to the ankles then to the knees then up to the loines and afterward a River not to be passed over If thou delayest to depart from sinne to day it gaines ground and gets more and more advantage against thee to morrow 2. Depart willingly Do not leave a sinne as Phaltiel was forced 2. We must depart willingly to leave Michal and afterwards followed her weeping that he could not injoy her Some are restrained against their wills who for feare of the law dare not sweare in some companies neither dare be drunk and yet their hearts are as bad as ever 3. We must depart from sinne thoroughly Ps 119. 110. 4. We must depart constantly 2 Pet. 2. 22. 3. We must
Children they are true believers and must needs be such as to whom comfort appertaines for they have great priviledges As first Accesse unto the Throne of Grace Rom. 5. 2. By whom also we have accesse by saith Secondly They have Interest in all the promises 2 Cor. 1. 20. For all the Promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen Thirdly They have Interest in speciall providences distinguishing mercies viz. 1. For their provision Psal 34. 9 10. They shall want no good thing 2. For their Protection Heb. 1. ult The Angells are their Guardians 3. For their direction Christ is a Counsellour and he directs them 4. For their Consolation he comforts them Joh. 14. 18 26 27 5. They have all sanctified what ever they injoy The Creatures are sanctified unto them Fourthly Christ is theirs 1 Cor. 3. 20 21. Rom. 8. 32. And with Christ they have all things Fifthly They shall injoy the presence of God and be made pertakers of the blessed vision Mat. 5. 8. 1 Joh. 3. 2. Here they injoy God in his Ordinances they have Communion with him and feele spirituall Illapses upon their soules but this Ebbes and flowes they have many Interruptions and Intermissions but hereafter they shall injoy an uninterrupted Communion with God to all Eternity Yet notwithstanding what hath been said there are many doubts and scruples raised for there are three sorts of persons who make objections viz. 1. Vnbelievers 2. Misbelievers 3. Weak-believers 1. I begin with Unbelievers and these are to be considered under a double capacity Either such as are Heathens to whom the Gospell hath not been preached in whose land the voice of the Turtle hath not been heard i. e. no publick preaching of the Gospell or else such as live under the sound of the Gospell who have heard of Christ and his Gospell preached and yet they remaine in a state of unbeliefe Obj. Concerning the first sort of unbelievers it 's objected that Obj. 1 the Heathens and Infidells have not had the meanes how then shall they believe on him on whom they have not heard can it agree with the Justice of God to damne them for their unbeliefe seeing they never had the meanes of grace afforded and never heard the Gospell preached Ans I answer God is a most free agent he is bound to none Ans On whom he will he hath mercy and whom he will he hardeneth Faith is Gods free gift to some he gives it to others he denies it And God may do what he pleaseth with his owne God is said to conclude some under unbeliefe Rom. 11. 32. The Phrase is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shut them up hampered them And the God of this world hath blinded their minds 2 Cor. 4. 4. See what their Conversation is Eph. 4. 17 18 19. And see their doome Jer. 10. 25. Ignorance excuseth not nor exempeth from Judgment though Ignorance may sometimes extenuate and make a sinne lesse comparatively yet it is a damnable sinne For a sinne of Ignorance there was an offering to be offered unto God Lev. 4. 27. And a blind mind is both a sinne and a dreadfull judgment Act. 28. 25 26 27. Let none therefore lavish charity upon Heathens If ever they be saved they cease to be Heathens and become Christians For assuredly there 's no salvation but by Christ Act. 4. 12. And no coming to Christ but by faith Joh. 5. 40. Let God be true and every man a lyer God is Just in all his waies and proceedings Shall not the Judge of all the world do right Concerning the second sort of Believers who live under the meanes it 's commonly objected It is not in our own power we Obj. 2 cannot believe God commands things impossible for us to doe For Answer hereunto Those who thus argue do not say they Ans would believe if they could they lay not the fault upon their own will which is refractory and disobedient but they lay the fault upon God To give a full Answer I le lay downe these Propositions Prop. 1. Man cannot by his owne power turne himselfe to God Prop. 2. Conversion and all the fruits thereof are the Graces of Gods spirit Prop. 3. Good inclinations come from God Prop. 4. We may not neglect our duty Prop. 5. There is no Injustice in God to command things impossible 1. It is not in the power of man to turne himselfe unto God O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himselfe c. Jer. 10. 23. 2. Conversion and all the fruits thereof even all the Graces of the Spirit are the gift of God so is faith and love Every good and perfect gift comes from above 3. Our wills and inclinations to any good all come from God He giveth to will and to do Phil. 2. 13. 4. Yet we are called upon to do our duty to thirst come to the waters buy and eate Isa 55. 1. We are called upon to believe and repent Mat. 4. 17. We must use the meanes that God hath appointed we must do all we can and put forth our endeavours to the utmost and yet expect no salvation from what we can do but when we have done all we can we must confesse we are unprofitable servants some complaine I cannot profit by a Sermon Will this be a sufficient excuse to say I can not profit thou must go to God and pray him to reach thee to profit dost thou pray and meditate and call thy selfe to an account and examination of what thou hearest let me aske such as complaine that they have no power to believe would you believe and do you study Scripture Do you read the promises Are you swift to heare Do you use the meanes to get faith If you neglect Gods meanes and Gods waies your destruction will be from your selves altogether Hos 13. 9. 5. It 's no injustice in God to command things which are impossible to flesh and blood to performe and that I will evince by these Arguments 1. God is not bound to give and keep a stock both he gave us power and liberty of will in Adam we lost it and therefore it s our duty to be made sensible of that great losse and to be thoroughly humbled for it 2. God hereby sheweth us our duty what we ought to do 3. Hereby we are put in mind to use the right remedy i. e. going to Jesus Christ for strength of assistance For through his strength we can do our duties and without him we can do nothing Let none therefore plead that they are not able to believe nor repent but though they are not able of themselves they ought to goe to Christ for strength for God hath laid help on one that is mighty Christ is mighty to save he it is that gives grace and glory Let men examine their wills are they not unwilling to come unto Christ though life and salvation is tendred yet they will not come unto Christ they frame multitudes of