accordingly 5. Love the holiness of the living members be not so much in love with the holiness of wood and timber bricks and stones but wheresoever you see the Image of Christ be in love with that soul whereever the presence of God shines and whereever thou seest one that gives up himself to God in holy duties do thou say Oh! my soul delight to come into the company of these men The righteous is more excellent then his neighbour If there be a heaven upon earth I tell you it is in the company of godly men I remember a famous man hath this expression saith he When I was in the company of the Saints and people of God I was as a living coal but when I was separated from them and was among the wicked swearers and drunkards me-thoughts there was a spiritual coldness and frozenness went over my soul. Though the people of God are best companie in heaven yet they are very good companie here on earth And Christians should stir up one another and be provoking one another to love and good works and where ever you have grace be sure to impart it Endeavour to love the holiness of Saints and be willing to impart your experiences to others for this is your duty Do not make a Monopoly of holiness but carry company with you to Heaven Lastly to name no more labour to preserve the holiness of Gods true Institutions those things which are of a divine consecration What is humane consecration without divine institution The Sabbath day is of divine institution labour to keep it holy this is a holy-day indeed and this labour to keep your families from profaning of but for other holy dayes and holy things they are much alike for holiness The Lords day is a holy day indeed and for shame do not let your children gad abroad on this day Truly I do verily believe that though here be a great company of people in the Congregation yet they are but a handful in comparison of what are drinking in Ale-houses and whoring and walking in the field that one can hardly get home to their house for the crowd of people that are going thither For shame let not this be told in Gath nor published in Askelon What! shall we stand up for the holiness of places and yet oppose the holiness of the Lords day which God hath enjoyned and instituted Oh! that the Magistrates of London Oâ—… that Englands King Oh! that Englands Parliament would do something for the reformation of this to oppose wickedness and prophanesse which will otherwise bring upon us the judgement of Sodom and Gomorrah and make us guilty and worthy of a thousand punishments And labour by prayer in your families to overcome that flood of prophanesse which you cannot by your strength prevent And then for the Sacraments of Christ Baptisme and the Lords Sâ—…pper these are Ordinances of Gods appointment they are holy and therefore should not be given to those that are unholy and yet those who are so much for the holinesse of places do not care who come to the Sacrament if they have but a nose on their face they shall come and partake of the Ordinances let them be what they will this is to prefer mans institution before Gods institution And then for the Lords Message and Word that is a holy thing and therefore love his Messengers the Messengers of God delivering his Message with fear and reverence you are to hear them with the same fear and reverence and resolution to be holy as if Christ were present And for the Word of God it is not enough for you to have a choice Sentence written upon the walls of your Churches but let Gods Law be written in your hearts and consciences and practised in your lives that all the world may see you live as men dedicated to the true God in all the duties of his wayes and obedience Many of these things might have been inlarged What I have given you with the right hand I pray you Christians do not take with the left for if you do you will make your selves guilty of a double sin First Because you do not obey the truth you hear And secondly For putting a wrong construction upon it But I have better hopes of you my Beloved Hearers and hope that the Lord will be better unto your souls then his Ministers Word or any thing else can be God blesse you and his Ordinances and discover his mind and will at this time to you Mr. Jenkins's Prayer after Sermon O Lord our God thou art never weary of doing us good if we either consider the mercies thou givest to us or the miseries that thou keepest from us that yet we have another opportunity of drawing nigh to thee we beseech thee O Lord let not our mis-interpreting of such opportunities as these are cause thee to take them from us or thy self from them if thou dost Lord we cannot but justifie thee and abase our selves and lie low before thee because we have sinned against thee O Lord we bless thee that we are yet alive to bless thee that yet we have not sinned our bodies into a cold grave nor our souls into a scorching Hell thou givest us our beings if thou withdraw thy self we cease to be and shall return to our first nothingness from whence we came the living the living they praise thee as if we know our own hearts we desire to do at this time Praised be God for Iesus Christ that he died and rose again and is now a pleading at thy right hand for poor sinners Praised be God that he is offered to us for his sake O God pardon all our sins let our lusts die that would not let the Lord of life live let not any one of them live one quiet moment in these hearts of ours let us give up our selves and all that we are or can do to the purpose of thy praise we beseech thee prepare us for a blessed eternity that we may not be ashamed before thee nor ashamed of thee nor thy wayes in the midst of a crooked perverse unclean idolatrous generation Dear Father we most humbly pray thee prepare us for communion with thy self assist us in the ensuing duties of this day let all the work be done by thee let all the praise redound unto thee prepare us by hearing for prayer by both for practice by all for glory Lord set up thy truth ruine Babylon build up Sion delight yet to dwell in the midst of us and do us good though we are a sinful back-sliding God-provoking Nation Mayest thou not say of us as of old what couldst thou have done more for us then thou hast done yet how ill have we requited thee for all thy benefits Poure down the richest showers of thy choicest blessings upon the head and heart of our Dread Soverain Charles the Second by thy especial grace of England Scotland France and Ireland King as follows in his Royal
all his people in these three Nations should lay to heart and repent of before the Lord. I gave you in a list eleven special sins that we should repent of and humble our selves for before the Lord. As 1. Omission of duty Prayer reading the Word Meditation c. Any thing will be for excuse to lay by duties and we are secretly glad of an excuse 2. Remisness in duty In things of the world we are all in all and all in every part a man cannot thrust another thought into us but in Prayer how many things are we doing 3. Hypocrisie How unlike are we at home to what abroad and in company to what in secret 4. Pride In apparel houses parts bloud birth-right yea of grace it self of humility Ministers Ordinances c. 5. Covetousness Never did covetousness invade the professing party as now The more goods men get the less good they do 6. Sensuality Voluptuousness wantonness Christians let themselves loose to the Creature lay out their affections on things below as if that part in the Serpents curse to lick the dust of the earth were theâ—…r own ss well as his 7. Animâ—…sities and divisions amongst Christians many have been active to kindle but few to quench divisions 8. Uncharitable censuring one anothâ—…r 9. Formality in duty Witness 1. Unprepared coming 2. Unsutableness of spirit to And 3. Want of reflection after duty how we have sped what we have got Sabbath Sacraments come and goes Monday morning finds us the same as before Misspent-Sablaths Some prophane others idle away the Sabbath c. 11. Neglect of our Bibles in our 〈◊〉 and Closets I pray God it forego not some great evil coming upon you as before the massacre in Germany it was observed c. I proceed 12. The want of mutual forlearance among Christians Alas Christians know not how to bear one with another in the least kind of measure Oh the short-spiritedness amongst Christians they cannot bear one anotherbâ—…rdens they cannot bear with one another 'T is very sad that we that stand in need of so much forbearance should express so little to our Brother 'T is an Argument we know not of what spirit we are of as Christ told his Disciples Oh! how unlike to are we that God whom we profess to be our God He is long-suffering patient full of goodness gentleness mercy c. we can bear nothing we can suffer nothing one from another 13. Our great murmuring against Reformation and Reformers God hath heard the voice of our Murmuring Exod. 16. As if there had been nothing that would have undone us but Reformation and truly God seems to speak such a word as that was Numb 7. 5. in displeasure and anger I will make your murmurings to cease I will take away the cause of your murmuring I would have reformed you and you would not be reformed As Christ to Iernsalem I would but you would not Mat. 23. The time may come when we would and God will not when we shall cry Other Lords have had dominion over us c. Isa. 26. 13. but thou Lord set up thou thy government rule thou over us and God may say No 't is too late I would have healed you and you would not be healed 14. The great neglect of the care of our Families Truly 't is not the least sin that threatens the removal of our Candlestick How generally have the duties of Religion been let fall in our Families reading the Word singing Psalms c. Time was when one could not have come through the streets into London on an evening in thee week-day but we might hear the praises of God singing of Psalms now it 's a stranger in the City even upon the Lords own day Oh! how have Governours of Families cast off the care of the souls that God hath committed to them How careless are they of the souls of their yoak-fellows that lie in their bosoms of their children the fruit of their loins Masters of their servants c And in the mean time are ready to stand up and justifie themselves with the boldness of Cain to say to God Am I my brothers keeper Am I the keeper of my yoak-fellow children servants souls yes thou art the keeper c. God hath put them unto thy trust and if they perish through thy fault they may die in their sins but their bloud shall be required at thy hand God will say to thee as he did to Cain Thy brothers blood cryeth in my ear 15. Our indifferences as to matter of faith and doctrine That we have not been more zealous for the truth of Christ that great trust and depositum which hath been committed to us We have accounted it no matter of what opinion or judgment men be in these latter times 'T is an universal saying No matter what judgment men be of so they be Saints as if truth in the judgment did not go to the making up of a Saint as well as holiness in the will and affections As if Christ had not come into the world to bear witness of the truth which was his great design as if it were no matter if God have the heart so the Devil be in the head as if no matter that be full of darkness so the heart be for God 16. The unsutableness of our conversations to the Gospel of Christ 'T is the only thing the Apostle puts the Philippians in mind of and commits to their care Phil. 1. 27. And truly in these unhappy dayes it hath been the only thing men have neglected and despised How little care that our conversations should honour the Gospel c. 17. Our living by sense and not by faith Surely my Brethren among all the sins in England that the people of God have cause to be humbled for there is not any whereby we have more provoked God than by that sin of Unbelief Murmuring and Infidelity have been our two great sins for which it is the wonder of Gods mercy that he hath not caused our carcasses to fall in the wilderness He may take up that complaint of us that he did of Israel Numb 14. 22. Because all those men which have seen my glory and my miracles which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness and have tempted me now these ten times and have not hearkened to my veice surely they shall not see the land c. And this is the lamentation we may take up that truly to this very day we have not faith enough to carry us from one miracle to another from one deliverance to another from one salvation to another let one deliverance pass over our head and no sooner one wave rises higher than another but we are ready to cry out with Peter Lord save mâ—… I perish and well were it if our fears did issue into tears and cryes after Christ we rather are ready to cry out as those in Ezek. 37. 11. Our bones are dryed and our hope is lost we are cut
whatever he wants God 's his debtor Hos. 6. 13. The want of a Complement undoth them in the midst of honour If we want but one thing our hearts would have surely Nature is proud and ready to pick quarrels with God on the least occasion nay if he will not give that mercy we would take all c. 3. Rebellion God strikes him for sin he strikes against God Ier. 31. 18. God draws one way and he another c. 4. Unbelief He that complains of his punishment never believed sin to be so great an evil or God to be such a One as revealed in the Word 5. Interpretative Blasphemy 1. While we dispute our afflictions and wrangle with the present dispensation what is it but to make our selves wiser than God We seem to tell God how it might have been better and so we do as it were give God Counsel When he calls for Obedience is not that Blasphemy to set up our wisdom against God's 2. While we complain of Punishment we take Sin 's part against God we do as it were justifie sin and judge God God is unrighteous to punish such a sin as this with such grievous Afflictions 3. By complaining we do as it were summon God to our Bar to come give an account of his actions at our Tribunal What poor miserable Creatures are we that in our Afflictions are so far from helping our selves that we commonly add to our own misery No Affliction is intolerable till Sin come in it The yoke God hath made easie we make intolerable and make God to be our enemy while he by Affliction would become our friend Now this being found not to be the way that which God counsels and advises is 1. Self-Examination Let us search and try our wayes Sin and Hypocrisie lies close and deep therefore we must take pains dig to the bottom set up a Tribunal in our own Conscience summon try judg our selves over and over in Gods presence He stands at our Closeâ—… Doores to hear what we will say Ier. 8. 6. before execution what Indictments we will bring in against our selves We can tell what such a Drunkard such an unclean person c. hath done but no man saith What have I done My pride my unthankfulness my unfruitfulness c. 2. Reformation and turn again to the Lord. Sin is aversio à Deo conversio ad creaturam Reformation is a turning again from the creature to God 3. Frequent and fervent Prayer Let us lift up There 's the frequency let do nothing else but pray le ts be continually lifting up our Prayers make your houses houses of Prayer Thus David Thou foughtest against me without a Cause Did he take Counsel against Princes to be disloyal To take up Arms No. But I gave my self unto Prayer Psal. 109. 4. Therefore if you prayed before now do nothing else it notes habitual and constant Prayer our hearts with our hands to crave and as it were to pull down mercy as if we would wrestle with God and say Nay I will not let thee go until thou bless me Gen. 32. 26. it notes our fervency And for our encouragement it is unto God in the Heavens which expresses his Soveraignty Omnisciency Omnipotency Everlastingness c. 4. Judging our selves or Confession of sin We have transgressed 5. Aggravating our sins and have rebelled i. e. we have turned sin into Rebellion Rebellion hath been the aggravation of our sins we have sinned against the clearest light dearest love c. Nehem. 9. Ezra 9. Dan. 9. 6. fastifying God thou hast not pardoned A word not of murmuring complaining or accusing God of hard dealing but by way of justifying God we have transgressed therefore thou hast not pardoned Why should'st thou repent of the evil of punishment when we have not repented of the evil of sin Thou hast punished us less then our Iniquities deserve So in the Text Do the first works Sin is a departure from God Repentance a coming back again to God Turn thou to him from whom the Children of Israel have deeply revolted The soul hath many turnings and windings but that 's the best motion of all when the Soul with the Dove returns to God from whom it came Apostacy is the loss of our first love Repentance is the Recovery of it and Reformation is the doing of our first works I have not time to enlarge as I desired I shall only offer a few things that may help to quicken you to this great duty My Brethren we have no great cause to boast of Englands first love Never so good as it should be yet many can remember when England hath been much better then ' t is Time was when Doctrines have been more sound Discipline more exercised for the suppressing of sin and profaneness Ordinances kept more pure from sinful mixtures when London kept Sabbaths better then now loved their Godly Ministers more then now honoured them that were set over her for their works sake would have thought nothing too good for a faithful Minister when Christians loved one another with a dear hearty fervent love when there was less Complement but more real love and affection among Christians when Christians improved their meetings converse Christian Conferences and other soul-soul-duties to better purpose then now not to foolish disputations or wanton sensual excesses but to their mutual edification when they improved their time for comparing their evidences communicating their experiences and building up one another in their most holy faith when there was more industry in Professors than now to bring in Converts when private Christians thought it their duty to be subservient to the work of their Ministers to bring in others to Christ especially their Family Time was when more care of Young Converts then now when none could have looked out after Religion but some or other ready to lend them their hand and shew them the way explaining it clearly to them but now Young Converts may be snapt into separations and errour and none looks after them Time was when more care of the truly godly poor when errour was more odious when Popery was more hated then now when the name of a Toleration would have made Christians to have trembled when Christians were better acquainted with their Bibles when more time spent in secret Prayer when more tender of one anothers Names and Honours would heal one anothers Reputations and would spread the lap of Charity over those mis-reports and scandals that might be cast upon them when Christians rejoyced more in one anothers good and mourned in one anothers sufferings when Christians did more earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the Saints c. Oh do you not onely your first works but our fore-fathers first works Be as zealous for God and his truths as tender mutually careful of one another as they Our fears be very great but truly our provocations be greater our dangers are great but our sins greater yet here is
they may after all attain to the Crown Answ. I shall leave with you twenty Directions and as many as there are there are not more then you must practise and take them as if they were the last Directions I should give you and take them as practicals not as notionals that you must live upon as long as you live First See that the foundation be soundly laid in your head and heart in matters of your Religion In your head i. e. that you well understand what Religion is what the Christian Religion is what God is what it is for God to be yours in his Attributes and Relations unto you what he is and will be unto you what you are and must be unto him what sin is how odious wherein its evil consists what is sin and what not what sin hath done in the world and what state it hath brought transgressors into what Christ is what he hath done for man's recovery and redemption what he hath wrought gives and offers to the world The end and design of God in the work of mans redemption The tender of the Gospel-Covenant of grace freeness largeness and excellency of the grace of this Covenant The end of our Religion the everlasting glory that is revealed in the Gospel what it is how sure and how great When you understand these things get a sound and radicated belief concerning the Truths of the holy Scripture revealing all these things And think it not enough that the Scripture is true or that you are resolved so to believe but get the best grounds for your belief be well established on those grounds Read the Scripture much till you are acquainted with and relish the matter and language and feel the power until all be delightful to your souls in reading And be not ashamed to understand the Fundamentals look to your Catechisms The Fundamentals of Religion you must understand and receive And when you have got them into your head be sure you get them into your heart and never think any truth received as it ought till it hath done some special work on your heart till you believe that God is Almighty Just Holy c. and all the Attributes of God have made their holy impression on your heart that the sanctifying knowledge of God hath warmed your affections captivated your souls that God be inthron'd in your hearts by the belief and knowledge of your minds Know your selves so as to be humble know Christ so as he may be sweet unto you and exalted by you set up Christ in your souls nearest to your hearts know sin so as to hate it c. 'T is the entertainment of the good things of the Gospel by the Will that is the principal part of your Religion 'T is a matter of lamentable consequence in all your lives when there is not a sound work at the heart how little life will there be from any truth in reading or hearing The Fundamentals of Religion must be so received as not only to have an old heart mended but a new heart made Thus understand believe and give up thy heart to that thou believest and understandest 2. Know and remember the work of your Salvation must be as long as you live and that you have never done till you have done living I give this direction because I find something in Christianity the remainds of Carnality is apt to hinder c. and some Professors when converted they are reconciled to God and safe c. but there 's a great deal to be done after c. 3. Understand well Wherein it is your confirmation stability rootedness and growth in Religion doth consist The chief part of your growth in Grace is not to know more things then you knew before but to grow in the knowledge belief entertainment and improvement of the same truths that at first you did receive not that you may not or should not know more for the clear knowledge of the Fundamentals guide you unavoidably to the sight of many other truths which a darker knowledge of those Fundamentals will not discover to you 'T is not an addition to your former knowledge but the clearer knowing sounder believing heartier entertaining and improving of the truths you knew at first as the health of a man consists not in having every day variety of food but in the partaking and digestion of the same food that 's fittest for him get but a more perfect conviction or concoction of what you knew before and this is your growth You may grow in the knowledge of Gods attributes by knowing them more clearly orderly distinctly satisfactorily and believingly then before There is a world of difference in the manner of knowledge between a dark and a clear knowing of things Grow in greater love to them and greater skill in entertainment improvement and practise of them 4. Grow downward in humility and inward in the knowledge of your selves and above all maintain a constant abhorrence and jealousie of the sin of Pride grow in humility and fly from Pride keep a constant apprehension of your unworthiness and weakness of the odiousness and danger of the sin of spiritual pride so called because exercised about spiritual things of being pufft up with pride of any thing in your selves of being too confident in your selves Below in own and expect not nor desire others good thoughts of you Humility lies not in humility of opinion speech garb or carriage but in opposition to high thoughts of our own parts gifts godliness when we think of these above their worth still remember Psal. 25. Prov. 26. 19. Isai. 57. 15. Ioh. 22. 29. As ever you would grow in grace and be confirmed Christians keep a low esteem of your selves be mean in your own eyes be content to be mean in others and hearken not to secret flatterers that would puff you up Take heed of any thing that would puff you up c. 5. You must understand that you are Disciples in Christs School where Ministers are his teachers and guides the Ordinances his means for his peoples good and the Scripture the Book you must learn therefore keep in this order keep under these Guides commit your souls to those that are faithful and fit for souls to be intrusted with And when you have done with humble submissiveness to their teaching keep in this School under those officers in their Discipline and dwell in the Catholick Church and Communion of Saints and understand the duty of Pastors and People Heb. 13. 17 18. 1 Thes. 5. 12. Obey them that have the Rule over you If God had seen the poor Christians sufficient to support themselves he would never have made it the duty of all to be marshalled and rank'd in several Schools Ranks Orders and all to walk in this Order to Heaven If you withdraw from under Christ's Officers and Ordinances you are in danger of being snatcht up as straglers Quest. What shall we do Whom shall we take for our guides
makes any think they have time to spare Eph. 5. 16. Col. 4 5. 13. Make a careful choice of your company you cannot travell well to Heaven alone especially when you may have company Thrust not your selves into every company Eph. 5. 7. converse as much as you can with those that will help you that are warm when you are cold knowing where you are ignorant believing when you are doubtfull c. Especially for your constant companions live with those that will be a frequent help to you Masters chuse the best servants that fear God Servants chuse to live with those that will help you in the fear of God for Husbands and Wives make choice of those that will intend upon Religion take heed of being unequally yoaked and of thinking to get well to Heaven while you presume to unite your selves with those that with great advantage will hinder not help your Salvation 14. Keep a constant guard upon the Tongue especially take heed of those common sins that disgrace hath not dâ—…iven out of the world but have got some kind of credit amongst some professors namely idle talk that wastes precious time makes us unfruitful to one another backbiting especially can they put but a Religious pretence upon it or if they backbite those that differ in opinion Remember that terrible passage Pro. 18. 21. â—…Ia 1. 26. 3. 5 6. Psal. 39. 35. 28. Avoid idle talk backbiting c. Watch over your tongues and if any are by nature addicted to a laxity of tongue and multitude of words there lies a double obligation on you in point of danger and necessity above all others to keep a careful watch over your tongue you should rather speak fewer words then others and if you find your selves inclined to speak against any behind his back reprehend your selves and avoid it 15. Learn the holy skill of improving every condition that God shall cast you into learn how to live to God in every condition â—… you have skill and heart there is advantage to be got by all that prosperity may strengthen you in God encourage you in his service that adversity may wean you from the world help you to repentance raise you to God and give you more then it took away Know the danger and duty of every condition study them before they come upon you that they do not surprize you learn to know what 's the danger duty and particular temptation of every condition and in that condition you are most likely to expect a fall into prepare for affliction as the common lott of the Saints take it as no strange thing when it overtakes you know how to abound and how to want A great deal of a Christians safety and comfort lies in this to study the temptation and duty of every condition before it come that so you may have your remedy at hand and fall to your work and commit your selves to God 16. Be as conscionable and strict in the duties of your relations and dealings with men proportionably as in the duties of holinesse more directly to be performed to God make as much conscience care study diligence about being just that you wrong no man in buying or selling as you do in duties of holinesse hearing praying receiving In your trading make conscience of justice and faithfulnesse as well as in the worship of God and in your own personall behaviour in your calling be diligent not slothful in businesse c. And so in the duties of your relations Oh that Parents knew what a charge lies on them concerning the souls of their Children c. So Masters look to your servants and be as conscionable in doing your duty for their souls good and being faithful to them and compassionate over them as in your duty to God keep up family duties with life seriousnesse diligeâ—…ce and vigor the life of Religion in the world must be kept up very much in families 17. Make it your study and care to do all the good you can in the world let doing good be the principall part of your businesse think that the safest and happiest life in which you can do greatest good suffer not opportunities to slip out of your hands take them where you have them and seek where you may have them Look not only where you may get good but where you may have opportunities to do good to others every Talent must be answered for your knowledge health c. cause it as you will answer for it and know 't is one of the greatest Mercies in the world for God to give you hearts in doing good with that he hath given Heb. 13. 16. not for applause but be good Husbands for God and consider which way you may attain your ends best by what you give or do Thus be rich in good works 18. Live still as before the living God approve your hearts to him as knowing you stand or fall unto his Judgment Avoid carefully all offences unto men for the Lords sake and their conscience sake take heed of scandal and receive all the good from others you can but stick not too much on mans approbation disregard not suspitions or reproofs of Godly men but make not mans praise to be any part of your reward it is a small thing for me to be judged of men Be not much troubled at it if you cannot please all the bawlings of the malicious should not disturb a soul that is quietly housed with God that soul is not well stablished in faith that can be so disturb'd and distempered by the wrath or words of malicious men Remember God himself pleases not all the most of the world are enemies to their Maker upon the accoâ—…nt of his Holiness Justice c. and canst thou think to please all Appeal from the world and your selves unto God for the consolation of his approbation and for your felicity this will save you from hypocrisie and keep you from the temptations and vexations of the censorious world 19. Be every day as serious in your preparation for death and judgement as those that are alwayes certain that it will come and know not the moment when it will come Mat. 24. 49. Use often to think seriously before-hand what Death is what thoughts what trials death will put a man upon what temptations usually accompany our approaching death what you shall most need at such a time as that what thoughts are likeliest to possess you then what you are likeliest to wish for when you must needs die about spending your time expending your estate conversing with others c. Ask your selves What will I wish I had done or been when I come to die Think what will be most dreadful to a dying man for thus you have time to escape his judgement will it not be sad to think on a life lost in vanity drench'd in wordliness unreconciled to God or at least in utter uncertainty of his love God hath not foreshewed what will be a
withdraw us from that watchfulness and diligence that is necessary in taking care for our souls then the heart is overcharged Voluptuous living is a great sin it 〈◊〉 the seeds of piety so soon as planted in the heart so that they can bring nothing to perfection it brings a brawn and a deadness upon the Conscience and affections there is nothing that hardens the heart so much as the softness of carnal pleasure Iud. 19. sensual having not the Spirit Sensuality quenches our natural bravery and briskness of spirit that becomes a man much more doth it hinder the sublime operations of the Spirit of God Well then remember Christians you are not only Travellers by the way but Runners in a Race If we were to speak to you only under the notion of Travellers in a way this were enough to wean you from the delights of the flesh 1 Pet. 2. 11. As strangers and Pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. The more you indulge these fleshly lusts the more you hearten strengthen the great enemy of your souls and starve the better part but you are as Runners in a Race by this Metaphor the duty is more bound upon you much more should you beat down the body and keep it in subjection the Apostle hath a notable word 1 Cor. 9. 27. I keep under my body and bring it in subjection c. I beat down my body you must either keep under pleasures or pleasures will keep you under for a man is soon brought under the power dominion and tyranny of evil customs and some bruitish pleasure by indulging the lusts of the flesh 1 Cor. 6. 12. Be but a little addicted to any one thing and you are brought under the power of it The flesh waxes wanton and imperious and slavery grows upon you by degrees The more you conquer carnal affections the more they increase upon you and therefore you must hold the reins hard exercise a powerfull restraint Solomon in his Penitentials gives us an account of his own 〈◊〉 and how fearfnlly he was corrupted this way Eccl. 〈◊〉 20. Whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from 〈◊〉 I with-held not my heart from any joy c. 〈◊〉 was that which brought him to such a lawless excess and at length to fall off from God When we give Nature the full swing and use pleasure with too free a license the heart is insensibly corrupted and the necessities of life are turned into Diseases and all that you do 't is but in compliance with your lusts your eating and drinking is but a meat-offering and drink-offering to lusts and carnal appetite I remember Solomon saith Prov. 29. 21. He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a Childe shall have him become his Son at length i. e. Allow a servant too much liberty and he will no more know his condition but grow contemptuous bold and troublesome so it is here We are all the worse for license natural desires unless they feel fetters and prudent restraints grow unruly and excessive And therefore it is good to abate the liberty of the flesh that the body may be a Servant and not a Master when you deny your selves in nothing but satisfy every vain Appetite a custom grows upon the soul and intemperance proves a Trade and an habituated distemper so that you cannot when you would upon prudent and pious respects refrain and command your desires And therefore 't is good sometimes to thwart and vex the flesh as David poured out the water of Bethlem that he longed for 2 Sam. 23. 17. not to deny our selves in what we affect and covet lust grows into a wanton and bold and imperious and so prescribes upon us and we are brought under the power of these things 2. The businesse and cares of this World For these immoderately followed and not in obedience to God are a sore burden and makes the soul heavie and allows no time and strength for God and his Service and those happy opportunities of private communion with him When we are incumbred with much service we neglect that one thing necessary Luke 10. 42. and therefore Christians must take heed that the lean Kine do not devour the fat that Sarah be not thrown out of doors in stead of Hagar that Religion be not thrust to the Walls which should be our prime and chief businesse while every businesse hath its time and course The Scriptures knowing the pronenesse of our hearts to temporal things deals with us as we do with a crooked stick we bend it so much the other way and therefore sometimes they forbid necessary labour John 6. 28. Labour not for the meat which perisheth c. the meaning is not chiefly but it bends the stick another way Set not your affections on things on the Earth A man must have some kind of affection to his Work here below but we had need to be bent the other way We may gather this from this Precept 'T is better to incroach upon the world then the world should encroach upon godliness In short Things are a burden and clog to us according as our delight and scope is If the pomp and encrease of the World be our end and scope then Religion will be looked upon as a burden that will be a weight and all duties of godlinesse as a melancholy interruption as they Amos 2. 8. When will the Sabbath be over The exercise of godlinesse will be a troublesome thing and we shall go about the Work of Religion as if we went about it not But on the other side if Heaven and Heavenly things be our scope then the World is a burden and then we shall use it in the way but not abusing as taking up our rest here 1 Cor. 7. 31 32. Man hath a body and a soul and he doth provide for both but for one in subordination the soul is the chief and therefore we must not so look after the interests and concernments of the bodily life as to forget the interests of the soul or to neglect them Many will not so grosly Idolize present things so as to renounce things to come I but they so often follow the things of the world that they neglect their eternal concernments The happinesse of a people lies in communion with God and therefore that must be looked after we must take heed that the cares of the world have not such a hand and power over us as either to divert us from or unfit us for these higher and nobler pursuits the enjoyment of God in Christ. This is the first thing the Apostle speaks to these spiritual Raâ—…ers to lay aside every weight i. e. the delights of the flesh and the cares of the world Secondly The next thing to be laid aside is sin which doth so easily beset us As we must guard against things without so we must mortifie our corrupt inclinations within or else it will soon make us weary of our heavenly Race
of Heaven against men What the Pharisees that pretended they had the Keys of Heaven and to be the Guides I that is it because there is nor room enough in Heaven for us and them too No saith Christ there is no such matter For ye neither go in your selves neither suffer ye them that are entring to go in I dare not tell you at this time what it is to shut up the Kingdome of Heaven against men you may better imagine it tâ—…en I can speak it but this did the Pharisees they would not go in themselves nor suffer them that werâ—… 〈◊〉 to go in I remember when I was a Childe we hâ—…d â—…uch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that would one Lords-day preach up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 next Lords-day would preach against the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And now my 〈◊〉 I am come in the next place to speak to â—…he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stand fast and because I see a Hurricane a 〈◊〉 â—…eep your ground stand fast and live in the Lord here that you may live with him hereafter Mr. Lye's Afternoon Sermon Phil. 4. 1. Therefore my Brethren dearly beloved and longed for my joy and crown so stand fast in the Lord my dearly beloved FRom this Scripture you have had these 3. Doctrines 1. That the highest officers of the Church of Christ though they are Rulers of them yet they are but brethren to the meanest Saint 2. That it becomes a true Scriptural Minister of Christ to have a most vehâ—…ment ardent strong melting tender affection to that Flock or People which the Providence of God hath committed to his charge 3. That the fixed standing flourishing and thriving of that Flock in the profession and practice of Gospel-knowledge and obedience is matter of transcendent joy and triumph to such a godly Pastor The fourth which is that I would now prosecute is this That it is the grand and indispensible duty of all sincere Saints in the most black and shaking seasons to stand fast fixed and stedfast in the Lord. This is the grand thing St. Paul had to say to his Philippians when he was ready to have his head cut off for so it was he was beheaded for the testimony of Jesus this is all he had to say when in Jayle when in bonds and that under Heathen Romans you are now my Joy you are now my Crown oh do but stand and my joy which is but two notes above Gamut will get to Ela. Oh! do but stand and my Crown 's studded with Diamonds We live if you stand though we die when you stand It is the great and indispensible duty c. Whether these are black and shaking seasons I have nothing to say but I am wholly now upon your duty beloved and for God's sake let the words of a Civilly dying Minister prevail with you There is a kind of a Maxim among some that in case a person dye seemingly and revive again that the last words that was heard of that person when in a rational temper are the only things that that person will remember when brought to life again It is most probable beloved whatever others may think but in my opinion God may work wonders neither you nor I shall ever see the faces of or have a word more to speak to one another till the day of Judgement Therefore I beseech you hear me as those that would and may live with me to eternity Mark your duty I have spoken something concerning the Pastors duty in the morning now for the Peoples It is the indispensible duty of all sincere Saints to stand fast c. I confess I have a love for the whole Auditory I have a Mess for them but my Benjamin's Mess is for those I once called my own people you are my Benjamins I wish I had a greater than a fifth for you This Proposition I shall 1. Prove and then 2. Improve In the worst of times in the most shaking seasons and if I do not greatly mistake there is an hour of temptation threatned by God now beginning to be inflicted if ever you would stand stand now and for your comfort let me but hint that a Christian may stand comfortably when he falls sadly that is he may stand by God when he falls by man I knew that a great many years ago First then 't is your duty to stand There be Scriptures more then enough to prove this to be your duty Col. 4. 12 Stand perfect compleat in all the will of God Ph. 1. 27 Only let your conversation be as becometh the Gospel of Christ that whether I come and see you alas poor Paul thou come see them thou wast beheaded before thou couldst come see them but or else be absent I may hear of your affairâ—… that ye may stand fast in one spirit with one mâ—…nd striving together not to pluck out one anothers throats no more of that but striving together not against one another but for the faith of the Gospel So 1 Cor. 15. 58. Therefore my Brethren be Steadfast unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch is you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 'T is our duty to stand But. Secondly Wherein must we stand steadfast I have no new Doctrine to preach now I shall but mind you of what I have formerly spoken when you would not believe I confess I do not begin to be of a new judgement now and should I be continued in the Ministry a mercy I can hardly hope for I should be of the same judgement and preach this doctrine Stand fast God will certainly bring the people of God in England to his own terms or else â—…are them well for ever What 's that we should be steadfast in I would advise to a steadfastness 1. Of Iudgement 2. To steadfastness of Resolution 3. To a steadfastness of Faith 4. To a steadfastness of Conscience So stand fast in the Lord in your Iudgement in your Resolution in your Faith in your Conscience 1. I would advise to a steadfastness of Iudgement Strange Doctrines are the greatest fetters that do assault a sound judgement they are like waves if they do split they will shake the Ship to purpose therefore your way is to cast anchor well to stand firm on the rock of truth I had almost said all in a word Protestant truth though the market may rise somewhat high yet stand firmly there while strange Doctrines like so many impetuous Waves are beating upon you break themselves in pieces they may but if you stand can never hurt you I am not now to begin to warn you against Pâ—…pery not that I have the least reflection on any thing in the world but on the Scriptures I am apt to think the wound of the beast must be healed however do not you spread a plaister for the Beast to heal his wound Be no more children tossed to and fro carried about with every wind of Doctrine with every wind or windy Doctrine by the
the Apostle Paul Do I yet strive to please men Gal. 1. 6. Am I then the Servant of Christ You cannot be the Servants of Christ if you strive to please men Wo be to you that please men and displease God He that would be my Disciple let him deny himself and take up his Cross c. What 's that deny Wife Children Learning Relations Comforts he must be willing to go out of all Those duties the Lord Jesus Christ is most glorified in they are either those your slothful hearts are most unwilling to do or that our fearful hearts are most unwilling to suffer for Therefore arm your selves with resolutions to suffer I intended to have taken up four Appearances and coverings that Saints usually take up for to hide themselves as under a covert to beat down the Gospel warrants and commands to suffer for the Faith delivered 1. The notion that a Christian hath of indifferency of things that they are but toyes and trifles that they may be done or not done It is not my work to tell you what is indifferent or name any thing in particular As I remember in the Book of Martyrs the usual argument was Why cannot you worship the Idol why cannot you bow down as well as others it's a small matter cannot you shew your outward reverence and keep your heart to your self Indeed if there were any thing that 's indifferent a Christian hath a marvellous latitude in point of Doctrine in point of Worship I would caution you therefore The term of indifferent I suppose 't is devised as a pillar to rest the conscience on which otherwise would startle and look with a broad face upon them Things that come under this notion had need well to be weighed and considered If they tell you plainly they came out of Rome and had the plague of Popery upon them they â—…ame from Hell were hatched there and the curse of God is upon them no body would entertain them They must pretend they came from the Church from the Apostles descended from the Scriptures and hence they are entertained with that freedome and willingness as that most Christians take no notice but fall down under them and so the very power and life of Religion and holy practise is eaten out The Devil hath three waies whereby he makes men seek after him 1. Commonly he doth cover holiness with other names 2ly He perswades that sins are but little 3ly That they may repent hereafter The first is suitable to my purpose That vertue or grace is covered with other names therefore if a man be holy he is called precise if zealous he is said to be rash and if it be really a sin it shall come under the name of indifferency a toy a trifle and things of that nature therefore you had need be cautious for 't is no matter what name the sin is what title it goes under as what it is really As to things of Doctrine and Worship I know there is no medium every man must give an account to the Lord of what he does therefore I do not tell you what is indifferent and what not but search the Scripture take heed what you receive for indifferent The second thing Christians will say is I hope without danger I may comply with them considering I bear them as my burthens This is very like the Young man in the Gospel he came to Christ and would have him come up to his terms and when Christ told him Yet he lacked one thing Go sell all c. he went away sorrowful So many Christians they would follow Christ but they cannot because there is not such security in it but they will go away sorrowful Thou Hypocrite art â—…hou willing to forsake all for Christ yet cannot leave life liberty and some of these small things Will you wound the name of Christ and pretend to be sorrowful for it I conclude thy pretence shall not excuse thee for so was Pilate loth to crucifie Christ and as a means and expedient he calls for water and washes his hands saying I am innocent from the bloud of this just man But do you think God excused Pilate no more will he you Whatever is brought to you is either forbidden or commanded by God If forbidden by God why do you meddle with it If commanded of the Lord why are you burdened with it why do you it heavily for the Lord loves one that is chearful in his service neither man nor God is pleased with such A third thing it is which satisfies many That they may follow in some things the opinions of wise men holy men and good men That they may do as they do I shall say but these two words First Many men are reputed good wise and honest that are not so A man may be accounted an honest man that yet may be covetous he may be accounted a very good man yet be really corrupt in heart and in his lusts therefore 't is good to try men I dare not trust mine own heart unless God give strength of grace and assistance every moment least I should betray the truth of Christ upon some advantage when the Devil would set abroach an evil opinion or practise it 's his common way to tun it up in some clean Vessel men of civil honesty and goodness You read the old Prophet drew the young one in though expresly forbidden by God himself When you do not fear a young Christian it may be the example of an old Minister shall draw you therefore 't is good to mind who you follow Secondly Grant they are all good and real they are men fearing God as there are some yet God will not let his people know all his mind There are some that would but cannot know all his mind and will the Lord is free and voluntary he reveals things necessary to salvation but for oâ—…her things he withholds But what is your rule Call no man Master you are to follow no man further then he follows Christ And indeed for a man to follow the example of others wherein they sin and do not know it it is just like the case of holy Noah who was a gracious man and knew not the strength of the Grape he was drunk with his own Vineyard But what is the fruit of it His son Cham saw his nakedness and discovered it If good and holy men taste of the intoxicated Wine that is too strong for them and know it not will you sip after them unlesse you will discover your nakedness and proclaim it from generation to generation and make your selves Chams not sons of the Prophet Therefore I know not what warrant you have to follow such examples The fourth thing is this Christians usually they do no good by standing out Answ. Whether we get or do good or no we are to do our duty The Lord will honour you for suffering for the truth 2 Thes. 1. 3 4 5. And by suffering you shall confirm the