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
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
dying man's terror to torment thee but to get out that terror that which will be most terrible at death conquer and destroy it presently They that were ready went in with the Bridegroom and the door was shut Mat. 25. 10. Oh happy thou if while the door is open thou be found ready to go in woe if when the door be shut thou hast thy preparation to make thy graces to seek Bethink what you will either wish or fear when you come to dye and when you will say This should have been done c. Let it now be done 20. Rise speedily after every fall by sound repentance and a fresh recourse to the blood of Christ Covenant of Grace and his intercession Lie not secure in any sin into which thou art lapsed take heed of delaying and trifling when thy particular repentance should be exercised Renew thy Covenant and after thy rising deal faithfully with thy self and God favour not thy sin nor flesh go to the quick leave no corruption at the bottom If called to make restitution to shame thy self before men by confession stick not at it take the plainest course that is the way of God And let not any thought of shame dishonour or losse hinder it for the more it costs thee to rise from sin the likelier it is thou art sound in thy conversion and the more comfort wilt thou have otherwise the fears and pains of thy disease will be upon thee when the through Cure would have prevented it quarrel not at any man's Reproof though they miscarry in it have mentioned thy faults with passion c. take that which is good and be thankful And after every fall sit not down in perpetual distress but as Christ takes the honour of thy cure take thou the comfort of thy cure when recovered See thou art truly risen by repentance and returned to him whom thou hast dishonoured Thy care must be to see thou be sincere in thy return and then walk comfortably See that Satan make thee not to walk so as to rob thee of thy comfort and God of his honour Thus having given you twenty Directions I shall reduce all to these eight Particulars 1. Do not think strength of grace will be got with ease you must do that that in other things is done for the attaining of strength increase and confirmation A man cannot attain Knowledge in Law Physick or any Art without studying diligence unwearied labour and patience through that time that is necessary to attain it Set your selves to the reading of the Scripture and other good Books study good Truths Think not to attain mastery in a day And if ever such a conceit come into your minds that you are strong confirmed Christians do not easily entertain it there must be time industry and diligence ordinarily suspect the conceit you may have of strength and confirmation you must grow by degrees God's Method is to begin like a grain of Mustard-seed we are not born men Labour in the proper means with patience infused gifts are given according to the manner of acquiring them God gives as if our acquisition did attain it never think of having this without patience labour and diligence 2. Grow up in the Church of God and under his Officers and Ordinances and among his people Do not transplant your selves from the garden and Vineyard of the Lord if you will thrive no prospering in the Commons where weeds will choak c. Keep within the Church of God in the communion of his People among his Servants under the guidance of his Ministers for that is the duty of Ministers to bring up train up and help the weak ones till they grow to be strong they are to be God's Nurses and helpers of the weak in the House of God Do not think to prosper by breaking over the hedge under pretence of any right of holiness whatsoever following any party that would draw you to Seperation 3. Make it amongst others the principal study of your lives to study the love of God in the Redeemer the nature of the new Covenant and the infinite goodness revealed in the face of a Mediator how it was his design to attract the hearts of men to the love of God by revealing his infinite love in the Redeemer unto what end Christ came for even to represent God's goodness in sinners hearts of their being reconciled to him and ravishing them with his love Study the glory and ravishing love of God and unspeakable goodness in a Redeemer 4. Live not by sense or upon wordly hopes nor in the exercise of it See that you live a mortified life take heed of glutting your selves with creatures or letting your hearts out to any creature or letting any creature be too dear to you live not too much on any sensible thing or upon any worldly hopes or expectations Shut your eyes to the world let not your desires run out to the world and live as much as you can upon the 〈◊〉 to come 5. Let 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suspition alwayes make you fearâ—… of tempâ—… and keep you out of the Devils way Would you keep your standing grow better and strong in grace Let not the pride of your hearts or confidence of your strength make you to meet among any unlawfull communion see any enticing spectacle or thrust your selves upon temptation you are never safe if you thrust your selves upon temptation Think with your self My weakness is great I must not gaze upon this entising object lest my heart take fire I am not so strong as to be able to stand against such c. 6. When you cannot attain unto that heat of internal affection you should be sure to walk uprightly with God sin not wilfully keep your garments clean Set his Law before your eyes sin not wilfully for a World be but found in the way of duty and God will blesse you and meet you in that way be as exact in obedience as if you had that frame of soul you desire 7. In a special manner keep all your bodily senses and desires in subjection mortifie the flesh keep under your carnal desires in due subjection to the Spirit let none of your senses take the reins out of your hands Keep a dominion over your Senses 8. Lastly All your life long be longing to die let the work of your life be to learn to dye Consider what necessity to the safety and comfort of death it is to consider frequently what assaults will be made upon dying men that you may every day fortifie against it to consider what graces and duties will be most needfull and usefull then that you may be most conversing with and exercising those graces and duties He that hath well learn'd to die is no weak Christian. The strength of your grace lies in the exercise of these things faithfully practise them and you will stand when others fall you will have comfort when others cast away their comfort you will die in peace when
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
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
that you might stand and what dishonour to the eternal Saviour of the world to a dying Savâ—…ur to see a flying Christian. 'T was never heard of that souldiers should â—…lye before a conquered enemy whose legs were cut off whose arms were broken whose sword taken from them 2. 'T is a dishonour to the spirit of Christ The same spirit that was with Christ in all his Agonies this very spirit he hath given to believers that he might bring them through with some victory therefore when we stand not 't is a high dishonour to Christ's Spirit 3. 'T is a dishonour to Christ's truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what a dishonour doth it bring â—…o the Truth 〈◊〉 but thought of some late experiments of poor 〈◊〉 that I hâ—…ve heâ—…rd of carried about in triumph look here 's the man here 's the man that hath done this that and tâ—…other thing and now look here 's his I cannot excuse Noah from his drunkenness yet me thinks 't is the part of a Cham to shew his fathers nakedness I remember that one hath told me 't is a great Truth That Religion never sâ—…ffers greater wounds then by the hands of her professed friends Oh? what advantage have the wicked Papists taken against us by the falls of English Professors both in principles and practice 4. ' I is a very great dishonour to Christs all-sufficiency Tell me man is thy Christ able to protect thee against all evil and is he able to supply thee with all good or is he not if he be not then deny him and whatever thou hast said concerning him if he be then stand close to him in the mount he will be seen 2ly I would argue from Saints the infinite advantage that at a long run I do not say presently will redound to those that are steady in judgment in resolution in faith in conscience in practice so far as all these are conformable to the word of God and no further The greatest advantage appears upon these four grounds 1. Whatever thou thinkest a steady condition is the safest condition 2. The fullest condition 3. The strongest condition 4. The freest condition Oh! that I could beat this into my heart as well as â—…tis in my head The safest condition in the midst of dangers the fullest condition in the midsâ—… of wants the strongest condition in the midst of assauts and the freest condition in the midst of straights I profess in the presence of God I have felt these things and knew them to be true many years ago 1. It is the safest condition never do the Saints take hurt but by declining moving from their center while at their center the Devil cannot touch them departing thence is like the poor Bird from her nest every one hath a fling at them Remember this let but a man once leave his Scriptural station and what temptation is he able to stand against it is just like a man thrown down from the top of an house no stopping till he come to the bottom 1 Joh 5. 18. He that is begotten of God keepeth himself and the wicked one toucheth him not 2. It is the fullest condition Oh! my Brethren Saints living steadfastly on their foundation are continually supplied by God as the fountain doth continually issue out it self into the streams I know 't is best living upon a single God How many thousands be there yet living in England that can tell you they never enjoyed more of God then when they enjoyed least of the Creature Some have professed to me their prison was to them as a palace that were troubled more with these things then ever you were and the God of heaven grant you never may 3. 'T is the strongest condition A man that stands steadfast is like a man on a Rock the waters come they may dash themselves in pieces but never shall be able to dash him in pieces he is fixed on a Rock and therefore stands A man that stands steady to his Scriptural principles is like Sanpson with his Locks about him let all the Philistines come what cares he he is able to conquer them all 4. 'T is the freeest condition A man that deserts his principles is a slave to every condition afraid of every humour of every Aspine leaf in the world thinks all those are informers that converse with him is afraid of some promooter or other But he that stands fast where the Spirit of God is there is liberty and freedome such a man in chains as Paul at Rome is in a far freer condition then others not in that restraint Well then 't is rational that you stand but it may be your lâ—…st and interest can hardly swallow these things if we stand we shall not fall nay if you do not stand be sure you shall fall at last The next thing I would do is to apply this truth Is it the most important duty of all sincere professors in the most shaking seasons to stand stedfast in the Lord then First by way of Lamentation and that 1. Over our own souls 2. Over hundreds of Congregatioâ—…s Lord must do we say hundreds nay thousands of Congregations that are this day though they do not accompany us in person yet mingling tears with us and especially as I hear on the West of England 1. Over our own hearts We must stand that 's our duty oh how should it cause us to lie low by reason of the instability of our hearts and their cursed declining from the true foundation every day Alas Beloved this is that that God complains of they are a generation whose spirit is not stedfast with God and therefore we have very much reason to complain of it oh that this sin might be forgiven oh what an unsetled people have we been to day we have been apt to cry Hosanna Hosanna to the Son of David to morrow our note is changed crucifie him crucifie him give us Barabbas to day the Lord is God to morrow Baal any thing is God provided we may keep our Estates Oh Lord what wâ—…lt thou do with such a people as this certainly it is a lamentation and ought â—…o be a lamentation Believe it Beloved I can now count seven years if not something more wherein I have most clearly expected the daies I now see no way but the severest waies to be taken with such a false people as we have been Judge in your own thoughts whether we have been true to God or Man to Saints or Sinners to the Churches of God at home or abroad whether or no this be not matter of lamentation 2. With respect to our Congregations 't is not against the Law yet to call them our Congregations This I confess I can rather weep then speak to I cannot speak my heart is too big for my head here Lord is it the duty of people of Saints to stand to be stedfast how then should we mourn over those poor souls that because their pillers are taken away must needs