an Emblem The Palm-tree doth grow up when it is most prest down When there are the heaviest weights hung upon the Palm-tree then the Palm-tree rises up highest It grows highest when it is as it were kept down Thus it is with the Righteous they flourish like the Palm-tree And that 's the Note that I shall give you and speak a little to DOCT. That Righteous persons such as are righteous in their state in a justified state and Righteous in their course walking in holiness they do improve and grow under greatest pressures When they meet with the greatest pressures in the world they thrive and grow Heaven-ward This only I shall speak a little to When the world would crush the Righteous press them down to the earth yea press them down to Hell if they could yet like the Palm-teee they grow up more and more It is said of the people of Israel who were the Church of God in Exod. 1. that when Pharaoh put weights upon them the weights of very heavy oppression when he set over them Task-masters to afflict them with their burthens at ver 11. it is said ver 12. But the more they afflicted them the more they multiplyed and grew This was just like the Palm-tree Pharaoh burthened them but they multiplyed and grew And surely we are to understand this not only of their multiplyplying in number but of their multiplying in goodness too or their increase in goodness they multiplyed and grew Doubtless there is that sense in it not only that they had a greater company and more fruitful as to the production of persons but that they were more fruitful in their lives And that 's it which hath been said of the Church at all times when under pressures and burthens Saith One They were bound they were beaten they were burnt and yet they multiplyed and increased And doubtless it was with the two-fold increase I spake of before The more persons were added to the Church and those persons that were added advanced more in wayes of Grace in wayes of Holiness And so that other saying of the Antients upon this very point That the blood of the Martyrs was the seed of the Church It was like seed indeed and it brought forth as the seed spoken of in Matth. 13. The good seed falling upon good ground brought forth in some thirty in some sixty in some an hundred fold This is flourishing like the Palm-tree And that we find in Dan. 11. 35. And some of them of understanding shall fall Shall fall How Shall fall into the hand and under the hands of persecuting Tyrants they shall fall into trouble like that in the Proverbs The Righteous falleth seven times a day That is he falls often into trouble yet God helps them up again Now saith he some of them of understanding that is of a spiritual understanding of a holy understanding they shall fall into afflictions for them of understanding we may explain it by Dan. 12. 10. None of the wicked shall understand but the wise shall understand The godly wise they shall understand Now of these men of understanding Many shall fall Well what shall be the effect of it To try them That 's the First And not only so but to purge and to make them white To purge out their corruptions and to make their Graces very conspicuous You see the improvement they made of their afflictions and sufferings for the truths of God and that in Zach. 13. 9. teaches the same thing I will bring the third part through the fire through the fire of persecution And what shall they be burnt there No saith he I will refine them as Silver is refined and will try them as Gold is tryed and they shall call on my Name and I will hear them I will say it is my people and they shall say The Lord is my God Thus they shall grow up in the actings of their faith to an assurance Faith shall come to an appropriating act they shall say The Lord is my God And when Even when I bring them through the fire I will refine them so that their faith shall be exceeding transparent and they shall say The Lord is my God And we know what the Apostle Paul found by the sufferings which befell him and in him the Church of God Phil. 1. 12. saith he I would you should understand Brethren that the thing which happened unto me Why what things were these that hapned to Paul What was it some great preferment as we say some great Benefice some great honour No the things that befell him were troubles and afflictions Bonds as he doth express it in ver 13. Now saith he These have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel How to the furtherance of the Gospel Why because persons by this affliction upon me which threatned them also and 't is like took hold of some of them why saith he They waxed confident by my bonds and are much more bold to speak the Word without fear ver 14. They grew up like the Palm tree they grew to a confidence They were not only honest and faithful but they were confident and bold They had not only integrity for Christ but a great increase of strength for Christ and all upon his sufferings They flourish like the Palm-tree And that in Rom. 5. will reach it too saith he We glory in tribulation knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope Why tribulation did not hinder their Graces but did further them Tribulation did work patience It seems to be a very strange sting Tribulation doth exercise patience indeed But how It did work patience or make them more patient for that 's the meaning of it Now it seems very strange yet thus it doth And then Patience experience and experience hope Here 's a flourishing and a growing up in all Graces even in a time of tribulation And it 's the same thing that we have too in 2 Cor. 4. 17. Our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory That is it works us into a greater fitness for glory the afflictions that are upon us We grow more up into Heaven more into glory Our hope doth as it were rise up into glory by our affliction And this is flourishing like the Palm-tree Affliction will make us the fitter for Heaven they will make us better than we were and so fitter for Heaven fitter for glory Grace improved is very near to glory Thus we see how the Scripture holds out this thing that the righteous flourish as the Palm-tree They are bettered and made fitter by their afflictions for glory I will give you an account in some grounds of it why it is so how it comes to pass First The pressures and weights that are upon the Righteous from the world do wean them from the world takes them off from the world Why now the love of the
GOSPEL-LOVE HEART-PURITY And the FLOURISHINâ— Of the Righteous BEING The last SERMONâ— of the late Reverend Mr. Joseph Caryl London Printed and are to be sold by 〈◊〉 Hancock Senior and Junior at the sign of the three Bibles in Popes-head Ally over-against the Royal Exchange in Cornhil 1675. THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Christian Reader THese Sermons were preached by the Reverend Author of them a little while before his Entrance into â—â—â—st I cannot learn that the ocâ—â—â—ions of them were extraordinary or that he had any design in them beyond that which accompanied the ordinary course of his Ministry much less a purpose to publish them aâ— conceiving them either more useful or more needful or more laboured than the rest of his constant and frequent Exercises in the same kind Neither did he leave any such Copy of them as might be helpful towards such an end But they were taken from his mouth by the diligence of a Dexterous Hand who at first designed nothing buâ— his own use and edification by them untill observing how soon after thâ— preaching of them God was pleaseâ— to call him off from his Painfuâ— Labour in his Vineyard and so tâ— cut short all expectations of fartheâ— administrations of Truth and Grace by the Trust and Dispensation committed unto him he resolved tâ— make them publick for the good anâ— benefits of others And as hereiâ— he followed his own Inclination and Judgement So if any thing be found in these Discourses as to Phrase of Speech or manner of Expression not answering that Accuracy which this Author was known to have used in all his Writings published by himself he alone must bear the blame of it from them who think such defects blame worthy These things I could not but acquaint the Reader withal that he may look for no more in these Sermons but what he might have found in the Constant Ministry of the Reverend Author But yet I must say upon their perusal that take them under the Circumstances mentioned they give no ill or disadvantageous Account of the Ordinary Labours and Endeavours of this Eminent Minister of the Gospel Thus did Mr. Caryl use to preach sometimes twice sometimes thrice in the Week alwayes shewing himself a Workman that needed not to be ashamed And if I mistake not whoever shall consider these Sermons with Sobriety Candour and Judgement as part of his Constant Labours will readily acknowledge what rich and excellent Talents he was entrusted with and how the great Reputation which his Ministry had for so many years in the Church of God was no way undeserved For my Accession to this Work in a Prefatory Discourse it arose meerly from the importunity of the Publisher and Bookseller as they both well know and will acknowledge wherein I see nothing my self of use or advantage but only that I may tender satisfaction to the Reader that he is not Imposed upon by any Spurious Offspring fathered on so great and worthy a Name Somewhat also I was inclined unto a Compliance with their desires that I might make use of this Advantage dirty Rode wherein there is not any thing of Christian Sobriety or common Ingenuity from first to last to be found Yet what Violences have been offered unto the Sacred Truths of the Gospel in Important Articles of Faith and other things scandalous to Christian Religion will in another way be called to an Account as some of them have been already whereunto a Return may be expected of raging and bestial Calumnies and no other Here I shall not farther Indispose the Reader unto the serious perusal and Improvement of the ensuing Spiritual Discourses wherein there is more Worth and Use more that will turn unto a Refreshing Account at the last day than in a thousand Clamorous Contests managed with Pride and Passion what ever pretences they may be gilded withal That he who ministred this seed to the Sower would multiply the seed sown and give it an Encrease in the fruits of Righteousness among them that through his Providence shall be made partakers of it is the Prayer of Thy Servant in the Work of the Gospel John Owen Books Printed and are to be sold by John Hancok Senior and Junior at the first Shop in Popes-Head-Alley at the Three Bibles Who sells all sorts of Divinity-Books c. to Chapmen or others TWelve Books lately published by Mr. Thomas Brooks late Preacher of the Gospel at Margarets New-Fish-street 1. Precious Remedies against Satans devices Or Salve for Believers and Unbelievers sores being a companion for those that are in Christ or â—â—â— of Christ that slight or neglect Ordinances under a pretence of living above them that are growing in Spirituals or decaying that are tempted or deserted afflicted or opposed that have assurance or want it on 2 Cor. 2. 11. 2. Heaven on Earth Or a serious Discourse touching a well-grounded Assurance of mans everlasting happiness and blessedness c. 3. The Vnsearchable Riches of Christ Or Meat for strong Men and Milk for Babes held forth in two and twenty Sermons from Ephes 3. 8. Preached on his Lecture-nights at Fish-street-hill 4. His Apples of Gold for young Men and Women c. With the Young Mans Objections answered and the Old Mans Doubts resolved 5. A String of Pearls Or The best things reserved till last delivered in a Sermon preached in London June 8. 1657. at the Funeral of that Triumphant Saint Mrs. Mary Blake late Wife to his worthy Friend Mr. Nicholas Blake Merchant 6. The Mute Christian with Soveraign Antidotes against the most miserable Exigents Or a Christian with an Olive-leaf in his mouth when he is under the greatest afflictions the sharpest and sorest tryals and troubles the saddest and darkest Providences and Changes 7. An Ark for all Gods Noahs in a stormy day Wherein is shewed the transcendent excellency of a Believers portion on Lam. 3. 24. 8. The Crown and Glory of Christianity Or Holiness the only way to happiness discovered in 48 Sermons on Heb. 12. 14. 9. The Privy Key of Heaven Or a Discourse of Closet-Prayer twenty Arguments for it with the Resolution of several considerable Questions c. 10. A Heavenly Cordial for all that have had or have escaped the Plague c. 11. There is now published an excellent new Book of Mr. Brooks Entituled A Cabinet of Choice Jewels or a Box of Precious Oyntment Containing eighteen special Maxims Considerations Rules and Directions that are seriously to be minded and observed in order to the clearing up a mans interest in Christ the saving-work of God upon his own soul and his Title to all the glory of another world Also declaring several Evidences and Marks of True saving Grace 12. There is now printed Londons Lamentations Or a sober serious discourse concerning the late fiery dispensation wherein the procuring causes and the final causes of that dreadful dispensation are laid open both upon those who havâ— been burnt up and upon those who havâ— escaped
and Humility and Love to Jesus Christ if one increase in these things What is worthy the name of good in comparison of an increase of these things That 's one thing we may take notice of from it Secondly We should be hence raised up in our hearts to magnifie the power wisdom and goodness of God who doth thus over-rule these things for his people for certainly this doth declare the wonderful work of God In Isa 28. where he hath a notable Allegory and speaks of the troubles and sufferings of the faithful people of God For all that that is spoken of the Plowman and of the Thresher and of the bruising of the Corn with threshing Instruments they do respect affliction and troubles which come upon the people of God as is clear But now saith he in the close of that Chapter This also cometh from the Lord of Hosts which is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working We may wonder at the counsel and wisdom of God who doth his people good by threshing them and bringing the wheel over them Here are several sorts of afflictions and sufferings some lesser and some greater Now all this is but to separate the good seed from the chaff and to make it more fit for use for while the Corn is in the ear it is not fit for use and we cannot make bread of it untill it be thresht Now the Lord hath several wayes to do it But saith he This cometh forth from the Lord of Hosts which is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working Truly we may say How wonderful is the counsel of the Lord How excellent is his working that he makes the Righteous to flourish like the Palm-tree to grow upwards by that which one would think should bring them down As when we fee the Corn laid at and thresht with a Flail one would think there were great hurt intended to the Corn but it is only to separate it from the chaff that it may appear in its own beauty and usefulness So the Lord hath a flail of tribulation to separate the Chaff from the Wheat Those acts of Providence towards Gods people which seem to be for their hurt and undoing when they are thresht as it were by the world it is only to make them appear what they are That which we find in Psal 69. 22. concerning the wicked by that we may observe the wonderful difference and dealings of God with the wicked who flourish as the Grass and the righteous David speaks there of such and saith he Let their table become a snare and that which should have been for their welfare let it become a trap that is the Lord doth curse their Comforts By Table he means the good things upon their table when they have a full table a plentiful table And so all outward prosperity saith he it shall be a snare to them And that which should have been for their good that is that which in the nature of it is for their good It shall be an occasion for their falling they shall grow more hardned by it more proud by it and more impenitent by it and more strangers to God by it But now when the Lord speaks of a righteous man here the thing which was appointed for his snare as the troubles and persecutions which lye upon him in the world shall be a table to him his very snares shall be a table to his inner man where his Graces shall come and feed and grow fat and flourish and increase The things which the men of the world have devised for his falling they shall be to him an occasion of good This is wonderful and we are to bless the Lord for it when we find such effects of it when we see it so in others or have any experience of it in our selves that our afflictions do not snare us but are a table to our Graces That 's another thing to give God the glory of it for it is not in the nature of these things to do it No things would work quite otherwise but that God is wonderful in his Counsels and excellent in his workings towards his people they would rather drive us from God and destroy our graces Thirdly Seeing it is so that righteous ones do flourish as the Palm-tree then when any weights of affliction either personal or publick or persecution or whatsoever are upon any of us let us mind the purpose of God towards us Let us not think that he comes to hurt us but to make us grow and flourish like a Palm-tree Let us mind this and joyn with God in this Counsel in laying such things upon his people Let us joyn with God and promote the Counsel of God in our own hearts and lives and in the hearts and lives of others that they may be bettered by their sufferings and be encouraged by their sufferings to believe more in God and more for God than ever they were God doth not intend us hurt but good by it and so we should find it if we were wise to joyn with him in his Purposes Fourthly And then I would say yet further This may be matter of Tryal to us We may take a tryal of our selves both as to the state of our persons and as to the state of our graces First As to the state of our persons Why how is it with us under sufferings Do we improve by them Do we grow do we flourish though we have these weights upon us Why truly it is an argument and evidence that our state is good for a bad man is not made the better by the evils that are upon him I know God may use afflictions to change a man but unsound hearts they that have been unsound and false in the profession of the Gospel they do discover themselves in such a time shew their rottenness and their naughtiness And it is a very great question whether they that are not bettered by afflictions were ever good Though I would not speak it to lay a trouble upon any Our betterings sometimes under afflictions is not very discernable at least at present But I say it may put us much upon a doubt whether we or any were ever really good if we are not bettered by afflictions and by tryals and by the troubles that are upon us and by our fears and by our dangers And likewise we may hence have a great tryal as to the state of our graces whether our graces are in good plight yea or no. For indeed if faith be down and the like we shall make little improvement of all our afflictions and crosses If love to Christ be down we shall rather be upon the losing side But now if we find that we are increased and are growing and flourishing in spirituals when the weight and pressure is upon us it is an argument that our graces are in a good state and grace is in a good state when it thrives and thrives by such means as seem rather for the quenching of grace and the hinderance of grace and therefore truly we should consider our selves at this day for certainly the Palm-trees are now with their weights upon them and many have discovered themselves sadly as to their persons states and the state of their graces that they have very little love to and faith in Jesus Christ because they have not flourisht in such a day but rather have declined and withdrawn and been ashamed of what they have formerly been And therefore let us remember that which the Apostle speaks in Heb. 12. speaking of afflictions which are sufferings for Christ that 's taken in the Chapter not only those afflictions which are fatherly chastisements from the hand of God but those which are from men for righteousness sake Certainly that is the purpose of God it is all for our profit Therefore let us consider whether we profit yea or no. We have had Fathers of our flesh which corrected us and we gave them reverence Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live Submit to the will of God if he will lay any tribulation upon us for his Name sake for he hath done all for our profit What profit For the profit of our purses and estates in this world No for a better profit than all that for our profit that we might be made partakers of his holiness And truly that is another thing with which I shall conclude We say this That we have no reason to be impatient under afflictions and persecutions under the troubles we meet with in this world for the Name of Christ Why for they are for our profit for our growing and that we may be made more partakers of the holiness of God That we may be better while we live and fitter to dye and to glorifie him both living and dying And thus I have only toucht these things That the Righteous do flourish like the Palm-tree with their weights and pressures upon them FINIS