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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34165	A Compleat collection of farewel sermons preached by Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Caryl ... [et al.] ; together with Mr. Ash his funeral sermon, Mr. Nalton's funeral sermon, Mr. Lye's rehearsal ... with their several prayers.	Calamy, Edmund, 1600-1666.; Manton, Thomas, 1620-1677.; Caryl, Joseph, 1602-1673.; Nalton, James, 1600-1662.; Lye, Thomas, 1621-1684.; Ashe, Simeon, d. 1662.	1663 (1663)	Wing C5638; ESTC R8646	623,694	660

of Gods Word at St. Leonards Foster-lane by T. Horton D.D. 2 Cor. 4.7 But we have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels that the excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us THere is nothing so excellent or compleat in this World but hath its diminishment and qualifications and something that doth rage it and abates it of the excellency thereof not the things of this World only but spiritual things in some sort as to enjoy them and partake of them in this life have their inconveniencies and disparagements annext and are mingled with something that abates of their worth an instance of which we have here in this present Scripture which the Apostle Paul signifies to us concerning the enjoyment of the Ministry of the Gospel of Christ He had in the Verse before the Text told us the great priviledge that both Ministers and others had in having the glorious Gospel viz. The light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ shining into our hearts the consideration of which is of great encouragement to us yet adds this as a qualification of it viz. But we have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels c. That which doth qualifie it is That this excellent Treasure hath its conveyances through weak and mean persons men of frailty and mortality In the words there are two main parts I. The Dispensation of it II. The Account of it I. The Dispensation it self This Treasure we have in Earthen Vessels c. II. The Account of it That the Excellency of the power may be of God and not of us I shall begin with the first the Dispensation it self which hath two branches 1. The Depositum the thing laid up 2. The Repository in which this Treasure is laid up First The Depositum or thing laid up which is a Treasure and what is this Treasure but the Gospel of Jesus Christ The Gospel is a Treasure according to a two-fold consideration In respect of the 1. Matter of it In respect of the 2. Ministry of it Both make up a Treasure The Matter of it the things of the Gospel are rich things and the conveyances of it the Ministerial gifts and ability by which the Gospel is administred do make up the Treasure 'T is a treasure in both respects 1. In respect of the Matter of it therefore it is we read of the Riches of Christ of the Riches of the Gospel The Scripture makes mention of three things wherein the Gospel is agreeable to a treasure 2. A Treasure is a thing of dignity and worth 't is not a company of Pebbles though many that will make up a Treasure Treasure consists of things of worth and dignity and thus is the Gospel in it are contained excellent and admirable truths the Mysteries of salvation by Christ the Doctrine of the Gospel b●ings glad tidings of peace and reconciliation with God in Christ there we have the gifts and graces of God there we have glory and immortality c. and those things in the Gospel are administred to us there is no Science in the world brings such Treasure as this 2. The Gospel is a treasure for variety and abundance and plurality 'T is not one thing of worth but many that make up a treasure if few yet much worth must be comprehended in them so in the Gospel we have the manifold wisdom of God the rich Treasures of wisdom and knowledge The Gospel though it be but one for substance yet 't is many for improvements 't is a chain of many links one faith but divers articles of it so it is a treasure in that respect 3. 'T is a Treasure for its closeness We do not open a Treasure to every one but it is kept close The Gospel is a secret mystery hidden not revealed to every one it is not discovered to carnal worldly men though it may be reveal'd to them in the outward proposition yet not in the spirituality of it But where shall wisdom be found and where is the place of understanding saith Job ch 28 v. 12. The peace of the Gospel is a treasure hid in the field not found by every one 2. The Gospel is a treasure in respect of the Ministry of it so the Apostle hints it is not only but a shining light which shined into our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God c. 'T is a treasure in this respect viz. In the discovery and shining of it the conveyances the several gifts and graces of the mystery by which the Gospel is conveved to us makes us a treasure and as the Ministry is a treasure so the opportunities and advantages thereof are Thus the Gospel and the Ministry thereof is precious and ought to be esteemed and made use of by us We should highly account of the Gospel and put a high value on it for it is a treasure yea it is a treasure in the want of other treasures they are rich that are made partakers of it Silver and Gold have I none saith St. Peter to the Cripple but such as I have I give it thee this is the priviledge of Ministers though it may be poor in respect of themselves yet are rich to others These excellent riches are committed to us and accordingly we must not only make use of them our selves but make them known to others the Gospel is a treasure not for us to keep but to discover reveal and manifest to others to give the light of the glory of God c. This is the work of the Ministry we have indeed this treasure but not for our selves only but for others We are to keep it to preserve and maintain it but so as to be diligent to impart what is committed to us for the edification of others Every Scribe instructed to the Kingdom of Heaven is as a good housholder bringeth forth things new and old The Gospel is a treasure therefore we ought to carry our selves answerable to it As 1. We must labour for it be diligent in the search of it dig for it as for hidden treasures Lift up thy voyce for understanding c. Pro. 2.2 3 4. Dig for it you know there is a great deal of pains-taking and labour used to get Worldly treasure What will not men venture for it they will go over Sea and Land go through fire and water expose themselves to all dangers for earthly treasure make unto themselves Friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness pass away a great deal of time and take a great deal of care for it 2. Esteem this treasure this heavenly wisdom this Evangelical knowledge even the Gospel of Christ labor to understand it and have the efficacy wrought upon your hearts 3. Rejoyce in it how do men rejoyce in earthly treasure so should we as the Merchant in the Gospel when he had found the Pearl of price rejoyced exceedingly so we ought as being made partakers thereof I greatly rejoyced at

that day mercy will be worth receiving Fifthly They supplicate to God for them they do not go to the throne of Grace for themselves but Sion is in their thoughts I am confident it is so with some and am perswaded it is so with all they never beg daily bread for themselves but they remember Sion In the 51. Psalm David was under trouble of conscience soul-trouble which is the soul of trouble yet at the latter end of the 51. Psalm he breaks out into this earnest supplication to God Do good in thy good pleasure unto Sion build thou up the walls of Jerusalem So long as it is ill with the people of God so long they are earnest with God and though they cannot overcome men with their prayers which by the way they are to endeavour yet they will never leave supplicating the Almighty till they have overcome As the sufferings of Gods people are precious in the sight of God so they are in the fight of the people of God I come now to shew whence it is that there is such an high esteem in the people of God of the people of God when under trouble and distress for this take two heads of reasons First In regard of those people of God that do behold their sufferings Secondly In regard of those people of God that are in sufferings First In regard of those people of God that do behold their sufferings troubles and distresses in three regards First Those of the people of God that look upon others in trouble though they are such as may differ from them in regard of outward estate one may be in honour the other in dishonour yet they have an interest in the same head and do belong to the same body that they do they are not wooden legs not glass eyes therefore Christ is called the common Saviour and the Saviour of the body the whole Church Faith it is called the like precious Faith 2 Pet. 1. Chap. in the beginning The Faith of one Believer does as truly lay hold on Christ as the Faith of another This Salvation is called common salvation my meaning is this outward disproportion as the birth and education puts no difference at all in a spiritual respect between Believer and Believer a King and a Beggar are all one in Christ a Jew or a Greek a great Scholar or a poor ignorant man as to the spiritual state all are made happy the same way Secondly because these look at Spiritual excellency and are able to discern Spiritual excellency they have a renewed judgement as they look upon their old courses and sins with a new eye so they look upon their company with a new eye those that before they highly esteemed they now dis-esteem those persons that before they esteemed a damp to their mirth they now look upon them as the excellent ones of the earth Prov. 12.26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour In the sixteenth psalm says David My goodness extends not to thee but to the Saints the excellent ones in whom is all my delight Here was a renewed estimation David saw excellency in those which Worldlings despised A carnal eye sees no glory but in carnal objects Worldlings bless the covetous whom the Lord abhors A gracious heart sees a spiritual worth in a man devested of worldly enjoyments as a curious eye may and does see a great deal of Art and curiosity in a Picture though in a broken frame A beast can see the shining of a Diamond but knows not the worth of it A Beast will rather lick up a lock of hay than a Diamond though of never so great value A wicked man wants a spirit of discerning The people of God are the workmanship of God which a godly man is very much taken withal not with the greatness but with the goodness that is in them The four Monarchs of the earth is exprest by four Beasts which shews their cruelty not their curiosity in observing that of God which may be observed A Child is taken with the Gay but a learned man is taken with the learning and art of a Lesson Thirdly A Child of God is one that highly esteems the people of God judging of them as God judges The child esteems as the father esteems if the father cannot love any one the ingenious Child cannot endure that he should come into the House The Courtier follows the favourite of the King whom the King honours they cringe to But to be sure it is true as to spirituals God judges not by the Gold Ring or Silken suit a sinner is a vile person in Gods account and so he is in a godly mans account God is more taken with a broken hearted sigh then with all the gaudery in Solomons Temple He did not chuse the Eagle or Lyon for Sacrifice but the Lamb and the Dove not many noble not many rich but the poor hath God chosen he that hath the choice of God hath the life of God The second Reason is from the people of God that are beheld And this will appear in five or six particulars First The people of God those that are truly such let their present condition be what it will their end shall be happy Men are not regarded in reference to what they have in possession but what they shall have in reversion the poor here are rich in Faith and shall be rich in Glory 1 Pet. 3. The people of God are Heirs of Glory co-heirs with Christ when he shall appear they shall appear with him in Glory they are not possessors here but they are heirs and are to be look'd upon as what they shall be hereafter Here they are Princes going to their Crown hereafter they shall be possessed of it Here they may be oppressed banish'd disgrac'd libell'd hereafter they shall shine as the Sun in glory Secondly They are not only such as shall be happy but they are very useful and beneficial in the world they are those for whose sake the world was made they are the great common blessings of the World like fire and water they are those for whose sake God spares the world If God would have spared the City for ten righteous persons sakes surely for many tens God spares the world those that are pulled down by the world are those for whose sake God doth not pull down the world they are the soul of the world as I may so say If God hath gathered in all his Elect the world would not continue one hour longer Thirdly the excellency of their performances is highly esteemed there is a worth in every holy work that worldlings are not able to discern every heavenly Prayer and sincerely bestowed Alms hath a worth that a carnal man doth not see Luther sayes I had rather do the least truly good work than obtain all the Conquests of Caesar and Alexander If their good works shall be so rewarded do you think a holy man can see them and not be

in Gods account the Angel smote him and he became worms-meat There is a silent dignity in reproached piety and a silent ignominy in advanced iniquity As it was with Christ so it is with the servants of Christ when he was on earth no man had more ignominy poured upon him yet there was a secret glory attended him in all that befel him though born in a manger yet worshipped there sometimes he was driven to be hungry the fish brought him money sometimes a weary at that very time converts a woman sometimes laid hold on by his enemies at that very time his enemies fell down before him Look through the whole course of his life there was a secret glory under all ignominy Just thus it is with the servants of Christ they are in trouble disgrace but there is a secret glory dignity shines in them the Spirit of God of glory rests upon them If ye suffer for righteousness sake blessed are ye To be in high place and yet to be a Drunkard a Swearer a Whoremaster or Prophane this spoils all thy glory be thou never so high 4. Inference This is the way for a man to have a good name wouldst thou gain a good report living and dying Take heed of sin take heed of dishonouring God then God will have thee in everlasting remembrance 5. Inference Note here the certain happiness of those beholders that do see certain excellency in holiness though disgrac'd under valu'd if there be any thing in the world that is a sign of sincerity it is this to love holiness when disgrac'd abused and spit upon to cross the stream and thwart the multitude is a sign of the truth of grace and strength of grace this is a sign of true sight and strong sight To see beauty in a godly man in sufferings the Lord will certainly have an eye upon thee in times of trouble Here is comfort in thine infirmities Dost thou love holiness when compassed about with sufferings and persecution God will take notice of thy grace though compassed about with abundance of infirmities the Lord will take notice of a little of his in a great deal of ours Here 's comfort in sufferings if you regard his in their sufferings the Lord will remember you in your sufferings the Lord will remember what thou didst for such and such a servant of his own in trouble or distress God doth not cast away any in their lowness that have kept clofe to him in their highness and this will be comfort in inward trouble when thou canst find nothing from which to fetch comfort And this will be comfort in the last day though we can say nothing in that day by way of merit yet will it be comfort to be able sincerely to say that thou hast owned God and his people in the midst of sufferings Do ye think that Judge would not save that Malefactor that had saved the life of his wife If thou hast owned Christ when he was in his Rags do not fear but he will own thee when he comes in his Robes 6. Inference and last The people of God should learn not to be discouraged under any misery or affliction that can befal them in this world at this very time God hath a high esteem of you at this time you are his delight his Garden his Spouse The Saints of God are the wise men of the world they have chosen that which cannot be taken from them I profess Sirs the love of one Saint makes amends for all the hatred you undergo for sinners the very wicked themselves have a good opinion of you when you do not basely comply their Consciences cannot but have an high esteem of you when peradventure their tongues might speak against you If all this will not do remember your own consciences are more than a thousand witnesses for you will then comfort you no man is a miserable man for any thing in the world that is done to him or said of him No it is a good Conscience that will give the best acquittance for thee to have the whole number of Gods people to look upon thee as an unworthy wretch and as a vile person I look upon it as a greater ignominy and disgrace then to have all the disgraces of wicked men cast upon thee That man that hath a godly man to be afraid of him had need to he very much afraid of himself I shall conclude all with this one word There is great reason to look narrowly to your hearts and ways when they stand at a distance from you and are afraid to come near you Mr. Jenkin's Afternoon Sermon Exod. 3.2 3 4 5. And the Angel of the Lord appeard unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush and he looked and behold the bush burned with fire and the bush was not consumed And Moses said I will now turn aside and see this great sight why the bush is not burnt And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see God called unto him out of the midst of the bush and said Moses Moses And he said Here am I. And he said Draw not night hither put off thy shooes from off thy feet for the place whereon thoustandest as holy ground LEt us take a short view of the foregoing Verses and that this may be the more useful and profitable to us we may take notice That as in the former chapter there is described Moses preservation to his future imployment so in this Chapter there is described his preparation and his sitting for that imployment i.e. by a Vision or rather 〈◊〉 suitable Apparition in which God discovered unto Moses his care of his people of whom Moses was to be a speedy deliverer You have here in the words read unto you the preparation afforded to Moses for the great work of being called to be Israels deliverer and in this preparation you may take notice of three principal parts 1. An Apparition that is here presented to the view of Moses a burning though not a consumed bush 2. Moses care to observe it I will turn aside and see this great sight why the bush is not burned And then 3. Gods Monitory Precept or Admonition which he afforded unto Moses when he was drawing near to see this wonder in which we have principally considered two parts 1. This Precept propounded 1. Negatively That he should not draw near 2. Affirmatively That he should put off his shooes from off his feet 2. You have considerable the Reason or Argument whereby God doth back this Precept or Admonition i.e. because the place whereon he stood was holy ground The time would fail me if I should go over all these parts we shall onely touch on the two former The Apparition which Moses saw and Moses's desire to observe it of the first I shall onely speak transitorily and insist on the latter more fully which I chiefly intend 1. For the Apparition or emblematical

the worm Jacob to thresh Mountains and the Mountains to become a plain before Zerubbabel Zach. 4.7 All the Nations of the Earth are but as the drop of the Bucket or dust of the Balance compared with him and all hearts are in his hands Therefore says the Prophet in Isa 26.4 Trust in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength or the Rock of ages He is no broken Reed but that strength in which we may confide As David says Psal 46.1 2 3. Si fractus illabatur Orbis If the world be dissolved God is our refuge and strength c. therefore we will not fear though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea c. Secondly Consider his Immutability We have standing comfort in the unchangeableness of this God Mal. 3.6 I am the Lord I change not therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed And for this we have the experience of David Psal 9.10 They that know thy Name will put their trust in thee for thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seek thee and the Churches experience Isa 63.9 He bears them and he carried them all the days of old This great unchangeable Saviour saves his people these four ways First He will save and preserve them from evils and will be a Chamber of safety when the indignation is abroad to hide from the storm Ezek. 11.6 Yet will I be to them as a little Sanctuary in the countries where they shall come I will be with thee is God's great Promise and his People's Security it was Joshua's Guard and Jeremab's Brazen-Wall Secondly He will save his people in afflictions as he did the three Children in the burning Furnace Thus he delivers in six troubles and also in seven as 't is promised in Isa 43.2 3. When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the Rivers they shall not overflow thee When thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee for I am the Lord thy God the holy One of Israel thy Saviour Job's experience is an everlasting proof of this that when the Lead is consumed the Gold is preserved in the Furnace Thirdly He will save or deliver out of afflictions 1 Cor. 10.13 In the midst of all temptations he will make away for us to escape them Many are the troubles of the Righteous but the Lord delivereth them out of all He is Emmanuel God with us Our Redeemer from Hell and from trouble Fourthly He will save by afflictions and by the evils they meet withal Prov. 29.15 The Rod and Reproof give wisdom and as David says It was good for me that I was afflicted All things shall work for good 2 Cor. 4.7 These afflictions work for us a for more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory The Vessel is usually covered with dirt by the cleanser's hand that it may shine with the more brightness So by afflictions God makes us partakers of his Holiness Afflictions and outward evils come alike to all but with much different effect All men fall into afflictions Good and Bad but as the Israelites and the Egyptians went both into the Red-Sea and the one was drowned and the other passed through to Canaan so the Righteous and the Wicked fall under Calamity the one finks through unbelief and the other passes through safely And by Faith and patience comes to inherit the Promise Secondly The Abode or Presence of God and Christ with Believers i● instead of a sure Guide and Light unto them They can never want a Guide who have God with them As the Pillar of a Cloud by day and of Fire by night was unto Israel in all their March the same and more is God to his People in all their Pilgrimage Consider three things First Consider That Man cannot be without this Guide The best of man have very great need of the presence of God to lead them that they be not mes-led and that they don't saint in the way What can the Sheep do without a Shepherd Such is God to his Psal 23.1 Without God 's abode with us it is as Children without a Father and none to direct them and so left to run themselves into mischief What is the World without a Sun Jer. 10.23 The way of man is not in himself it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps Secondly Consider That it is our great wisdom to commit our way to the guidance of this God and Christ Every wise man will commit his way to God and not move a step without him as Moses in the Conduct of Israel would not move a foot without God That was a good Petition or rather Resolution of David in Psal 73.24 That shalt guide me with thy Counsel and afterwards receive me into Glory I am resolved be guided by Gods Counsels and an excellent and imitable practice of Isaac in Gen. 26.24 25. that where he had met God at Beer-sheba and where God had blessed him there he pitched his Tent so we should move as God leads Thirdly Consider That if God undertakes to guide us we shall not miscarry he will certainly bring us safe to Heaven Our feet may be almost gone but shall not be altogether gone Psal 73.2 My feet were almost gone my steps had well-nigh slipt So it may be with the choicest of Gods Servants but in the 23. verse Nevertheless I am continually with thee thou hast holden me by my right hand The more dark and dangerous the times be the more we should desire Gods abode with us the nearer a night of trouble or of death is to us the more earnestly beg his stay as the two Disciples Luke 24.29 They constrained Christ saying Abide with us for it is towards evening and the day is far spent Thirdly The abode or presence of God and Christ with his people is in stead of a Treasury and Store-house of all Provisions Where Jesus Christ is and where God makes his abode there is a Spring-head of comforts that cannot be drawn dry Isa 33.16 Bread shall be given them and their waters shall be sure who have God with them So was God to Israel Deut. 29.5 6. He fed Israel in the wilderness forty years their cloaths did not wax old You have not eaten bread neither have you drunk wine or strong drink that ye might know that I am the Lord your God Consider three Particulars here First Consider God is such a store that he is alwayes full He hath an Autarchy in himself and says to his creatures as in Psal 81.10 Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it Ask what you will and there it is to be had There be full treasures of temporal and spiritual good things with them with whom God and Christ do make their abode As the Ark of God brought all kind of blessings to the house of Obed-Edom so when God comes he brings all

in mercy to his people Sad providences producing sweet effects Directions and helps how to get the presence of God and Christ with us First Repent and humble your selves because of all your sins that you have at any time rejected the counsels of God and resused grace and mercy and neglected opportunities of doing your souls good and drawing near to God Repentance and resolution against sin come like John Baptist to prepare a way and a place for God and Christ to come to and make their abode in Of the Hearts and Houses of impenitent sinners we may well say God is not there The way to have God to turn unto us is to turn away from sin as Ephraim Jer. 31.18 19 20. He bemoaned himself and repented and God came to him as to his dear Son and to his pleasant Child Secondly Believe in Jesus Christ and by Faith get an interest in him It is by Faith only that we get an entertainment to Jesus Christ It is by Jesus Christ alone that God and man come together No man hath seen the Father at any time but the Son and he to whom he doth reveal him and he that hath the Son hath the Father Rom. 5.1 Being justified by Faith we have peace with God Thirdly Own Jesus Christ in all his offices as your King Priest and Prophet First As your King let him have the Soveraignty of your souls that he may rule over you If Christ be your King God will be your Father God loves to come where Christ hath his Throne Secondly As your Priest that his Righteousness may give you the advantage of communion with God without which we cannot come near to him and he will not come near to us Thirdly As your Prophet that he may shew you the way if his Spirit be your Guide and his Word your Rule you may be sure his Promses shall be your portion even this Promise in the Text They will come to you and make their abode with you even God and Christ Four●hly Seek earnestly after God and Christ in the use of all appointed means till you come to see and enjoy their presence with you Here shall be fhewn these two particulars 1. Where we may seek God and Christ 2. How or after what manner we must seek them First Where we must seek after God and Christ First We may finde them in the works of Creation these will represent God and Christ unto us the power and wisdom of God and Christ by whom the World was made In omni re aspeciabili quaedam extant vestigia Dei In all the visible Creatures there be some prints of the invisible God so that he which lives altogether without God must needs be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without excuse having God so near him Secondly We may finde them in the Word 2 Cor. 4.6 The glory of God shines there in the face of Jesus Christ and to them that are conversant in the Word God hath promised to reveal himself Isa 66.2 To this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word And the Apostle gives this direction Rom. 10.6 7. Say net in thine heart Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ down from above or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead But what saith it The word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith which we preach Thirdly We may finde them in Prayer Jam. 4.8 Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you If you will be strangers to the duty of Prayer to the Throne of Grace God will be a stranger to you he hath promised to draw nigh to them that draw nigh to him and so in Exod. 20.24 In all places where I record my name I will come unto thee and I will bless thee Fourthly We may finde them in the communion with the people of God Where two or three are niet together in my name there will I be says Christ in the midst of them Therefore Jesus Christ directs us to go up by the soot-steps of the flock and they enquire wisely Cam. 6.1 that say to the Church of Christ Whither is thy beloved gone that we may seek him with thee And when the two Disciples went to Emmaus communing of Christ he came and joyned himself with them Secondly How or after what manner we must seek God and Christ Take these four following Directions First Affect your selves with the worth and excellency of this presence of God and Christ carry a high esteem of them in your hearts think with your selves how safely they are immured as the Prophet said unto his servant There is more for them than can be against them Isa 33.16 Their place of defence is the munition of r●cks c. O what sweetnesse and satisfaction have they within with whom God and Christ abides as the Spouse doth express it Cant. 1.3 Because of the savour of thy Oyntments thy Name is as Oyntments p●ured forth therefore do the Virgins love thee Thy Name of Mercy Wisdome and Faithfulness how doth it refresh their hearts that have the presence of God and Christ O sweetness and satisfaction beyond expression and then conclude Si tanius quaerentibus O quantus p●ssidentibus If he be so good to them that seek him how good is he to them that enjoy him Secondly Labour to affect your souls with the great want and need that you have of the presence of God and Christ while men do think in their hearts they can be well enough without God and Christ they will never seek after them but say as in Jer. 2.31 We are Lords we will come no more unto thee that is we have strength enough of our own we need no more of thy support and thus David brings in the wicked priding themselves in Psa 10.4 The wicked through the pride of his countenance as in the Original through the pride of his nose will not seek after God God is not in all his thoughts when these proud Laodicean spirits will not seek the poor hungry desolate soul that sees a need of God and Christ finde them Thirdly Quicken your selves to much diligence in seeking The Prophet complains No man stirreth up himself to seek the Lord. It is a business of the greatest concernment and must not be attended with a cold indifferency but as one set on by a true love and where that is Non quiescit amor sed quaerit amatum Love will be restless in the pursuit of the thing or person beloved See with what heat men seek the world with much more heat seek God and Christ We must do as the woman that had lost her groat she lights a candle sweeps the house seeks diligently so we must set up the light of the Word and to work with the besom of a serious repentance and thorow-reformation and

keep him from being dismayed at all the trouble and calamities that he meeteth withall in the world Fear not saith Christ little flock for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom In this Observation there is two things supposed First It is supposed in this Doctrine that believers have an interest in the Kingdom of Heaven This I need not now stand to prove having spoken to it already in the handling of the former Observation God being their Father he hath provided an eternal inheritance of glory for them in his eternal Kingdom Secondly It is supposed in the Doctrine that believers are like to meet with opposition from the world they are diligent in the practise of godliness are driving a Trade for Heaven they shall be sure to meet with abundance of trouble and hindrance from the world and the Prince of the world this is a truth exceeding manifest both from Scripture and experience We shall be hated of all men for his names sake Mat. 10.22 And because Christ hath chosen his people out of the world therefore the world hated him Jo. 15.19 And experience makes this evidence in all ages of the world those that are godly walk with God they have been sure to have their portion of afflictions and tribulations from the hands and tongues of the malicious and ungodly world my design is to shew what little cause the Servants of God that have an interest in the Kingdom of Heaven to be afraid or dismayed at any of these hindrances and oppositions that they meet withal in their way to Heaven For the handling of this Doctrine and the fiting of it for our improvement by Application I shall speak to these three things First I shall shew you by some instances from the word of God how the Saints that have had an interest in the Kingdom of Heaven have been incouraged in the ways of God and have had their spirits born up in their lowest condition and in their greatest tryals and troubles here below Secondly I shall shew you that believers are dehorted from dispondency and being dismayed under their sufferings upon the consideration of their Heavenly interest Thirdly I shall give you some Reasons why believers that have a Title to the Heavenly Glory should be couragious and undaunted and not dismayed at all their eternal Trials and Tribulations that they meet withal from the world and so shall come to the Application First For the first of these I might give you many instances from the word of God of the courage and magnanimity of the heirs of Heaven in their Tryals as David how couragious was he in the Lord even in his lowest condition Psalm 46.1 2 3 4. God is our resuge and our strength a very present help in Trouble therefore saith he will we not fear though the earth be removed though the Mountains be cast into the midst of the Sea though the Waters thereof roar and be troubled though the Mountains shake with the swelling thereof Selah Psalm 118.6 The Lord is on my side I will not fear what man can do unto me David he had put confidence in God and therefore was not afraid of man where the fear of God is and where the hope of glory is there the slavish fear of man will quickly vanish away this no doubt was that which made the three Children not to be afraid of the fiery Furnace nor Daniel of the Den of Lyons Dan. 3.16 and 6. We have a notable example to this purpose Hab. 3.17 18. Although the Fig-tree should not blossome nor fruit be in the Vine though the labour of the Olive should fail and the fields should yield no meat though the flocks should be out off from the fold and there should be no herd in the stall yet will I rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation The consideration of his heavenly interest and that God was the God of his salvation was that which not only kept the Prophet from being dismayed but also made him to rejoyce in the absence of all creature joys and comforts the want of these worldly things were not able to abate his heavenly joy which he had in the God of his salvation The consideration of their heavenly interest and their title to the everlasting glory was that which made the Apostles of Christ so couragious and comfortable under all their sufferings that they underwent for Christ This was that which made the Martyr Steven so fearless and undaunted when he was on the brink of death and when the stones flew about his ears when he could look up into Heaven the place of his Inheritance where he was going and take a view of that Heavenly glory Acts 7 55. A believer that can look up by an eye of faith upon Christ and Heaven and take a view of the unseen world the place of his eternal rest and felicity will be able in some measure to undergo with comfort the sharpest and bitterest persecutions that the malice of Men or Divels can expose him to This was that which made Paul and Sylas sing praises at midnight when they were shut up in prison and their feet in the stocks Acts 16.25 This was that which caused the believing Hebrews to take joyfully the spoiling of their goods even the consideration of their interest in the Kingdom of Heaven Heb. 10.34 For ye bad compassion of me in my bonds and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods knowing that in Heaven you have a better and a more enduring substance Their knowledge of this their interest in the Heavenly riches made them willingly to part with the earthly riches for the sake of Christ Secondly The next thing to be spoken unto is this to shew that the people of God upon this consideration of their interest in the Kingdom of Glory have been dehorted from fear and dispondence and exhorted to courage and magnanimity in the ways of God Upon this consideration it is that Christ exhorts his little flock in the Text not to fear because that God would give them the Kingdom of Heaven How often are the Servants of God in Scripture dehorted from fear Isa 41.10 Fear not I am with thee be not dismaied I am thy God Vers 14. Fear not thou worm Jacob and ye men of Israel I will help thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer Isa 50.7 8. Fear ye not the reproach of men be not dismayed at their revilings for the Moth shall eat them up like a garment and the worm shall eat them like wool but my Righteousness shall be for ever and my Salvation from Generation to Generation And again Vers 12. W●● art thou that shouldest be afraid of a man that shall dye and of the Son of man that shall be made as grass and forgetteth the Lord thy Maker that stretched out the Heavens and laid the foundation of the Earth And our Saviour in the New Testament to the supporting of Believers

wholly flesh totally opposite to the holy Laws of thy Majesty and were it not for thy renuing and restraining grace we should break forth into as vile abominations as the vilest of men our lives have been a continuall piece of rebellion against God who did make us and doth feed and cloath us all thy paths have been paths of mercy to us but we have requited thee evil for thy good and hatted for thy love Oh foolish men and women that we have been I we acknowledge our Gospel-sins are of a deep dye Thou hast not been a VVildernss or Land of darkness to us we have been exalted to heaven in the means of salvation but Oh! how short do we come of knowledge to the time and means we have enjoyed and our obedience comes short of our knowledge we have not walked up to that light which thou hast given us We desire to lay our selves low before thee Oh do thou open our eyes and present us to our selves show us the vilenss of our lives Blessed be thy Name that thou hast laid help upon one that is mighty to save all that come to thy Majesty by him and thou hast promised all that beleeve on him shall not perish but have everlasting life Oh help us to receive him in all his Offices in our hearts help us to give him the keys of our hearts and help us to live and die to him that died for us and let our souls be united to thee by him that his death may be ours and his life ours and his intercession ours Oh let our unity to Christ be demonstrated to us by our communion with and conformity to him in grace and holiness And we pray thee dearest Lord pardon our sins in the Court of heaven and in the Court of our own consciences besprinkle our conscienees in the blood of Christ and say to all before thee at this time that desire to fear thee more and serve thee better Sons and Daughters be of good cheer your sins are forgiven you And do not only justifie us but sanctifie us purge our consciences from dead works inform our understanding conform our wills to thy holy VVill let our hearts and lives be comformed to the Image of thy Son that beholding thereof we may be changed from glory to glory and let us have more knowledge of thy will that we may do thy will und suffer thy will with more patience and be filled with the fruits of Righteousness which are to the glory of God Let us not be empty Vines that bring forth fruit to themselves but let us bring forth fruit to God whereby thou maiest be glorified Oh plant that great grace of Self-denial in our souls and let us take the Cross of Jesus Christ and follow him wheresoever he goes Remember all thine extend thy favour to those thou hast cast on beds of sickness and let there be a saving change wrought in them before that change by death shall come and they that are drawing nigh their time of Travel let the arms of the All-sufficient God be under them and be better to them than their Faith or our prayers and look graciously upon poor children entitle them to an inheritance that fadeth not away make them a blessing in themselves and a blessing to their Parents And those that de●re the conversion of Relations that walk in waies of perdition do not let them find peace in any way against thy Majesty and let them know that sin will be bitter in the latter eud Look upon us that are before thee at this time before we go hence and shall be here no more make thy face to shine upon us let our coming together be for the better and not for the worse to any of us let thy poor Servant be able to deliver thy Message plainly and powerfull and give thy People hearing ears and obedient hearts and let us rejoyce that we did wait upo thee in thy Worship this day and all For Christ his sake in whose Name and Words we call upon thee Our Father ' which art in Heaven c. Doctor Manton's Prayer at Covent-garden O Lord God all that we can do is nothing of our selves we can do nothing Oh let us have the gracious Assistance of thy Spirit as this time let thy love constrain us say unto us Thou art our Salvation Do not say that we shall fill up the measure of our Iniquities and there shall be no hope for us O Lord we are ashamed that we have waited so long in thine Ordinannances and have got no more profit to our toor pouls but we have given up our hearts to the pleasures and vanities of this world that are but for a season even those that thou hast drawn out after thee do not walk worthy of thee anseerable to that blessed hope of future Happiness in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation Jesus Christ is to many of us become a stumbling-blook and a reck of offence while our hearts are caried out after the wirld with such strong affections Oh! when shall we carry our selves so as those that profess themselves to be secke's of a better life We come into thy presence now for strength do thou manifest thy self to us thou hast promised to pour out thy Spirit upon all Flesh Oh let it be unto us according to thy promise O Lord our hearts naturally are averse to thee so that of our selves we shall never be able to do any thing that may be wel-plensing to thee but do thou regulate us by thy blessed Spirit that we may observe thy statutes and do them and that thy Commands may not be grievous to us that it may not be burdensom for us to do the work of God O Lord when shall our hearts be made sound in thy statutes we wait upon thee in the use of thine Ordinances that we may have a new supply from thee that at length we may come to see that thou art at work with us to save our soules O help us to be followers of them who with faith and patience do follow thee to do nothing unbecomming our holy Call suffer us not to swerve from thy Commandments but let us have a constant and earnest desire after thee Let the choicest of thy Mercies come down on our Sovereign Charles King of England Scotland France and Ireland let His heart be guided by thee let him always set the before his eyes that under the shadow of his Goverment we may have Peace in all Godliness and honesty Bless him in his Relations in his Councils Teach our Senators wisdom Be with all thy Faithfull Magistrates and Ministers let them be a terrour to evil doers and an encouragement to them that do well Be with us in the way of thy worship we are here met together to hear and handle thy holy Word Oh do thou command it to light upon all our hearts let it come in the evidence and demonstratian