and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye And we have added to that Scandal which we have brought upon our Holy Religion that we have intitled Christ to all our reproachful Disorders and the Argument runs now to divide to quarrel for Christ's sake when 't is for Christ's sake that we should Unite and be at Peace And yet farther have we aggravated our Guilt in a foolish thought to exonerate and justify our selves by burdening and loading others when the impartial can easily judge that all are wrong but never determine who is in the Right Thus are we blindly falling upon one another when every Man should strike his hand upon his own heart and cry out What have I done Wherein have I contributed to that Reproach and Scorn that has been thrown upon our Religion We are sharp-sighted to espy the slips of our Brethren but blind to observe our own scandalour Falls And as the Rain that falls upon the Hills is discharged upon the Valleys the Valleys again empty themselves into the Rivers the Rivers throw all into the Sea Thus are we discharging our selves charging our Brethren who with equal Zeal and Passion and perhaps with equal Justice and Reason are retorting the same Crimes upon us In the mean time we are mutually throwing Dirt in one anothers Faces tossing of Firebrands at one anothers Heads and thereby setting all in a Flame that may â—…nvolve us all our Liberty and Churches in the saâ—…ne common Desolation I cannot comfortably yet know not how to forbear enlarging a while upon this ungrateful Subject First Let us bitterly Lament that any of the Precious Doctrines of the Gospel have been so miserably abused their Gracious Designs frustrated upon us and perverted by us For Instance 1. What more endearing Truth than that of the Patience of God waiting upon and striving with Sinners to lead them to Repentance Rom. ii 4. And yet what Doctrine more impiously abused God is long-suffering and Men will be long sinning God waits and they will find Work for his Patience Thus he gave Jezâ—…bel space to repent and she repented not Rev. ii 21. He affords Day after Day to repent in and they turn them into Days to be repented of Like zealous Gamesters that have but an Inch of Candle left and they will play it out and if the Light had laâ—…ted longer they would have drawn out their Sports longer and go to Bed in the Dark Such are all impenitent Sinners who having a Day of Grace an Hour of Mercy a Moment of Life wherein to turn to God sport away those precious Hours and Moments not lent them for those Ends and if Life were prorogued a thousand Years they would sin those thousand Years if their Days were Eternal their Provocations would be Eternal And thus that Goodness of God which should mollify hardens their Hearts and they will be worse and therefore worse because God is better As if it were not enough to be Evil tho' God be Good but they will be therefore Evil because God is Good But this Treatment of the Divine Patience has been foretold 2 Pet. iii. 4. There shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their own lusts and saying Where is the promise of his coming For sincâ—… the Fathers fell asleep all things continuâ—… as they were from the beginning of the creation Where is the promise A Promise indeed it is a most Gracious one to them that wait and prepare for his coming but a Threatning a most dreadful Threatning to them that harden their Hearts by it Impenitency turns a Promise into a Threatning But upon what Presumptions do they thus harden their Hearts Because all things continue as they were from the beginning of the Creation O most perverse Gloss upon the Text of Divine Forbearance for ver 9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slackness but is long-suffering to us ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance 2. And what more comfortable Doctrine than that of the Free Pardon of Sin and Justification through Faith in the Righteousness of Christ. Rom iii. 24. Bâ—…ing justifiâ—…d freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ. We cannot mention this without bitter Tears that Men will therefore freely sin because God will freely pardon If his Grace abound they will abound in Ungraciousness His Mercies are Great and they will therefore provide great Sins to employ and exercise his great Mercy What a poisonous Heart must that be that converts or rather perverts so sweet a Doctrine into Mortal Poyson 3. Nor has it fared better with the Doctrine of the Perseverance of Saints which has not been cried down only by such as deny it but Reproached by those that own it The Gospel would teach us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling because it 's God that works in us to will and to do of his own good pleasure Phil. ii 12. Not to be slothful because God works but to work more diligently because we have the Divine Assistance The same Gospel would engage us 2 Pet. i. 5. To make our calling and election sure To make it out that we are effectually brought home to God and from thence to infer our Election and not to delude our Souls with the Sophistry of Hell If I be elected I shall be saved tho' I wallow in all manner of abominable Filthiness Secondly Let us renew our Lamentations that the Lives of Professors express no more of the Power of the Truths and Precepts of that Gospel which they do Profess The Temper of Religion as described in the Scripâ—…are is Meekness Humility Compassion Beneficence Charity Heavenly-mindedness but these are so ill Copied out by them that we may seek for Religion among those that are Religious and not find it And by this means Christ himself is represented unlovely undesirable and the inward Enmity in the Hearts of Men is provoked exasperated and inflamed in Persecution And from hence it is that wicked Men think they have got sufficient Matter to justify all their Revilings their Blasphemies against our Saviour and his Doctrine and think they do God Service while they are endeavouring to root out of the Earth a Religion which is rendred Odious by the unsuitable Conversations of those that seem to glory in it The Offences that are given will not justify those that take them There is a Woe denounced against the World because of Offences and there is a Woe denounced against those that give them Matth. xviii 7. Wo be to the world because of offences for it must needs be that offences come but woe unto them by whom the offence cometh Thus they that take the Offence fall into Hell and Justice sends him thither that gave it II. Improvement by way of Exhortation I Must conclude with one word of Exhortation To all
be convinced that they are treasuring up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God 2. When Man will be and do evil that God may be good in pardoning such there are who say Rom. iii. 8. Let us do evil that good may come Let us Sin that Grace may abound Against this presumption the Apostle thunders out a just Damnation and because that they might pretend that this was only the Consequence of that Doctrine of Free Grace which he Preach'd he abhors it as a scandalous report and that his Doctrine abetted no such abominable Inferences he owns indeed Rom. v. 20. That where sin aboundâ—…d grace did much more abound but he denies the Consequence chap. vi 1. That therefore any should continue in sin that grace might abound The Apostle Jude ver 4. notes those ungodly ones who turned the grace of God into lasciviousness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where it will deserve observation 1. What it was they thus wretchedly abused It was the grace of God not the work of Grace upon their Hearts for that they were Strangers to they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as had thrown off all worship of God but it was the Doctrine of Grace which is indeed sometime called Grace because it is a revelation of free rich Grace offered to the Sons of Men. 2. Into what did they turn this Grace into Lasciviousness or an unbridled Licence to commit all manner of iniquity with greediness 3. But how could they do this Abominable thing They did it by a Metathesis most wickedly transposing inverting and perverting the Order Method and design of God and his Gospel in every thing and what should have been the strongest Argument to withdraw them from sin they made their great encouragement to sin and thus they turned the point of God's argument upon himself 2. Secondly When Men take up a Profession and form of Religion but deny the power of it upon their Hearts and in their Lives this is one of the Characters of those perillous those last and worst of days 〈◊〉 Tim. iii. 5. Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof for the great end of the Gospel is to Convert Sinners unto God to subdue them to the Authority of Christ but these Wretches represent it as a weak and inefficacious Doctrine that has no power nor prevalency upon their Souls they deny the power of it There 's nothing more certain than that if Mens Religion does not drive out their Lusts their Lusts will drive away their Religion and yet these will be lovers of their own selves covetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to parents unthankful unholy without natural affection truce-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce and despisers of them that are good and yet which is wonderful they will maintain a form of godliness If you ask them Do you believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth They will tell you they firmly believe it Ask them again Do you believe in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary that he suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified dead and buried that he descended into Hell And all the other Articles of the Creed All these they stedfastly believe But when this Doctrine commands subjection of Soul to all these Truths That we should live to him that died for us and rose again 2 Cor. v. 15. In this point they desire to be excused which is an evident affront to the Gospel whose design is to turn them to God from Idols to serve the living and true God 1 Thess. i. 9. This is it which evidences that the Gospel comes not in word only but in power and in the holy ghost ver 5. And so the same Apostle Rom. vi 17. gives thanks to God that they who had once been the servants of sin had obeyed from their heart that form of Doctrine which was delivered unto them or rather that unto which they had been delivered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Men may be sound and Orthodox in their Heads and yet Heterodox and rotten in their Hearts They can afford to lend Christ an Ear and give him a civil hearing still reserving their Lusts to themselves and their Hearts for the World and when the Word demands entrance into and to have a Throne in their Hearts they deny it the commanding power and bid it sit below at the Footstool sending away the blessed Gospel disappointed and ashamed 3. Thirdly The Gospel has been exceedingly stained when it 's entertained for no other end than to subserve some base low design of the Flesh and made a slave to some worldly interest This Reproach the Pharisees cast upon their own Religion Mat. xxiii 14. who under the Covert and Colour of long Prayers devoured widows houses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A pretence indeed they had but it was so thin and transparent that an ordinary Eye might see through it and discover the wicked Design at the bottom Such were they 1 Tim. vi 5. who supposed Gain to be Godliness But most notable was the Instance of Simon the Sorcerer Act. viii 13. This famous Hypocrite was baptized nay believed and adbered to Philip and was free of his Money too but all was that he might make his Markets of Religion that he might purchase the Gift of Miracles for himself and his Disciples and so maintain his former Repute that he was some Great Thing the very Power of God amongst the deluded People But all this Project was defeated and blown away with one breath of St. Peter's Mouth thy Money perish with thee We have a Generation of Men in our Age denominated from this Simon who have driven a mighty gainful Trade by the Gospel who buy or sell the Superintendency of Souls whose Money and we may justly fear their Souls too and those of their Flocks perish together These are a horrid Scandal to Religion not seeking Christ but themselves not feeding the Flock but their own Pride and Ambition who when the Great Shepherd shall appear must be compelled to stand before his presence but will not dare to lift up their Faces with a holy and humble Confidence and shall receive a just Recompence of Reward 4. A fourth thing that has blemish'd the Doctrine of the Gospel is those swarms of damnable Doctrines which have been poured out upon the World of these the Apostle 2 Pet. ii 1 2. has prophesied That there shall be false teachers who privily shall bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction And many shall follow their pernicious ways by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of That they shall bring upon themselves swift destruction is very sad but the least part of the evil they have justly deserved it but that the way of Truth should be evil spoken of which
wast false to my Honour and Interest thou didst betray me Thou that didst call me Lord and Master and yet disobey my Commandments And if Christ and his Gospel finds no fairer Quarter from Friends what may he expect when he falls into the Hands of Thieves It was this which cut David to the heart to be so treacherously dealt with by a pretending Friend Psal. xli 9. Minâ—… own familiar friend in whom I trusted that did eat of my bread hath lift up his heel against me May not we take up the same heavy and doleful Complaint on the behalf of Religion They that have eaten her Bread and drank her Wine have kicked and spurned at her Hear the Psalmist again mournfully bewailing his Case Psal. lv 12 13 14. It was not an enemy that reproached me sor then I could have born it neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me then I would have hid my self from him But it was thou a man mine equal my guide my acquaintance We took sweet counsel together and walked to the house of God in company This was the cutting killing Stroke And this aggravates the Case of Religion in this dismal day Religion has been wounded betrayed reproached by pretended Friends when yet the Upright like that holy dying Woman 1 Sam. iv 22. know not how to out-live the departing glory but are willing to die with it It 's a matter of the greatest Difficulty to persuade us to Repent of our guiltiness in this Thing and before I can hope to prevail I must premise a few Particulars 1. Whatever Reproach the Professors of Religion draw upon their own Persons will certainly be fastned upon their Profession Now tho' this be an unjust Procedure to Reproach a Holy Truth because he that owns it holds it in Unrighteousness yet thus it will be in Fact the Crimes the Excesses of Men will reflect upon the Doctrine They that will Reproach Men for their Duties will much more revile them for their Iniquities and from thence take a welcome occasion to revile their Principles and Professions 2. Whatever Reproach falls upon Religion will reflect upon the Author of it even our Blessed Saviour himself And this should sway with all our Consciences to walk inoffensively to give no just Occasion to them that seek it and watch for it to blaspheme the Name of our God Hear how affectionately the Psalmist prays Psal. lxix 6. Let not them that wait on thee O Lord be ashamed for my sake let not them that wait on thee be confounded for my sake O Lord God of Israel And he had reason to be sensible that some Pious Souls might be justly offended at him and reproached for him when by his sin he had caused the Enemies of God to blaspheme 2 Sam. xii 14. But that I may more effectually Prosecute this Use in inviting you to Humiliation for and Lamentation over those Scandals which our Holy Religion has contracted upon our Account I will endeavour to lay before you these three things 1. I will shew what an Excellent Religion we have reproached 2. I will lay before you the great Zeal of the Primitive Christians to Adorn their Religion in those purest Times 3. I will further open how unworthily we have defiled it in ours § 1. Let me shew you what an Excellent Religion that is which we have thus shamefully Reproached Amongst the many Great and Glorious Excellencies of the Christian Religion as it stands described and recorded in the Scriptures of Truth this is one 1. It is a sound Doctrine 1 Tim. vi 3. wholesome words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as are sound in themselves and make sound Tit. ii 1. Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All is sound all sincere nothing rotten 1. This Doctrine imbibed will make a sound Head not filling it with empty Notions aiery Speculations much less with rotten Matter which will breed Impostumes and break out into Ulcers but with such due Conceptions of God as will settle our Faith engage our Fear provoke our Love command our Obedience and in all secure the Souls everlasting Interest 2. It will make a sound Heart the Psalmist prays Psal. cxix 80. Let my heart be sound in thy statutes that I may not be ashamed As the Truth received into the Head will keep us sound from Heterodoxy so the same Truth entertained in its Power into the Heart will secure it from Hypocrisy 3. It will make a sound Conscience for herein alone is that Doctrine of Peace and Reconciliation with God revealed through Christ whose Blood sprinkled on the conscience purges it from dead works to serve the living God Heb. ix 14. 4. It will produce a sound Conversation we may lay it down for a Rule that Religion which begins in Hypocrisy will end in Apostacy And there 's little difference whether we go in a True way with a false Heart or forsake that way through a false Heart a sound Heart is the great preservative against both Now here we have cause to mourn till we have exhausted the Springs of Tears and can weep no more Lamenting over the rotten Doctrines of our Days which have defied and defaced this Holy and Sound Doctrine the rotten Conversations that have shamed it and rendred it contemptible The Truth is we can neither bear our Remedy nor our Disease we are sick with our Food and sick with our Physick The Scripture gives us True Notions of God but Men are ignorant and too proud to be taught 1 Tim. vi 3. Proud knowing nothing This Doctrinâ—… would be a lamp to our feet but we shut our Eyes against it and a light to our paths but we will not use it nor admit it to be our Guide in the ways of Holiness 2. Another Excellency of the Gospel is that it 's a Doctrine according to Godliness 1 Tim. vi 3. And a Doctrine after Godliness Tit. i. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As if the whole System of Divine Truth were squared and modelled by Godliness It 's not only true that Godliness must be tried and proved by this Doctrine but that the Doctrine is formed and fashioned by the Rule of Godliness every Leaf Line Proposition is adapted to the advancement of Godliness Here 's no Indulgence for Sin no Toleration for Lust not one loose Principle in the Body of Scripture Divinity and if any Doctrine offers it self that breaths not Purity we may safely reject it as that which is not after Godliness And let this also renew our Lamentation that such a Doctrine has been tortured upon the Rack of unsanctified Wits to abet filthiness and uncleanness Men have reap'd what God never sow'd and gather'd what the Holy Spirit never strew'd when this Grace of the Gospel is turned into lasciviousness and Men have abounded in sin because the Grace of God has abounded towards Sinners 3. It has this Peculiar Excellency that in every respect it
him both at the Foot-stool and at the Throne but wherewithal to come or what to bring that I may be accepted in his sight I find not my own unrighteousness I see now to be abominable and my own righteousness I am convlnced is not justifiable wherewithal then shall I come In this distress the Gospel discovers Christ and his righteousness and when the Sinner accepts receives lays hold and rests upon it It has encouragement to say Isa. xlv 22. In the Lord have I righteousness In the Lord shall all the seed of Jacob be justified and shall glory Here then shines out the glory of the Gospel-Doctrine it never designs a more perfect Cure than when it makes the Sinner sick at Heart Thus the Spirits Method is first to convince of Sin and then of Righteousness Joh. xvi 8. Of sin that the Sinner may be abased and made willing to accept a Pardon upon Christ's Terms and of righteousness that the wounded Soul may not die of its Wounds for thus was the brazen Serpent lifted up that they who were mortally stung by the fiery ones might look and live John iii. 14 15. Secondly Another Strong Hold which Man would build up and God will demolish is Man 's own strength 'T is unaccountable that Man should thus Idolize his own often baffled often foiled strength which was never yet able to make him stand against his own Corruptions the Worlds Allurements or the Assaults and Wiles of the Tempter It is the Grace of God alone that must take us off our own and place us upon a stronger bottom and teach us how to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Eph. vi 10. And now whereas the late difficulty was Wherewithal shall I appear before the Lord Another difficulty appears And I find that I can no more appear against the Devil in my own Strength than I could appear before the Lord in my own Righteousness he is subtle and strong I am foolish and weak yet the Gospel has relieved me Isa. xlv 24. Surely shall one say in the Lord have I strength 3. A third Peculiar Glory of the Doctrine of the Gospel is that as it lays the Creature low it exalts and lifts up God on high When the Sinner lies prostrate at Gods Foot it sees the Lord most gloriously exalted upon his Throne Isa. vi 1. There 's no Doctrine that so vilifies Man none that so much glorifies God in all other Systemes which Philosophers had fram'd to themselves they provided well to advance the Creature they furnished him out with his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with a Free-will and put him into the hand of his own wisdom to carve himself out a happiness they made a God of their own Moral Virtues and those Virtues were at their own disposal so that upon the matter they were Creators of their Gods Nullum Numen abest si sit prudentia That thou art happy owe to thy self was one of their highly celebrated Maxims But the Doctrine of the Gospel gives a clear other Scheme of things that Man is nothing knows nothing can do nothing cannot think a good thought nor pursue it to any gooâ—… Resolution nor manage the good nor bear the evil by his own Wisdom or Strength This Doctrine teaches us to think meanly of our selves highly of God to look upon our selves as Worms as Moths à s nothing and less than nothing and worse than nothing but how honourably does it teach us to think to speak of God how reverently to Worship him how holily to walk before him with what confidence to trust him with what fervor of Soul to love him and in short to make him the first and last of all 4. The fourth and last Peculiar Glory of the Doctrine of the Gospel which I shall name at present is that it never exalts one of the Divine Attributes to the derogation of another Here is Mercy exalted but withal Justice satisfied and while the Free Grace of God is upon the Throne Holiness is enthroned with it God can no more Pardon without security to his Justice than he can punish with inconsistency to his Mercy The minds of Men are strangely deluded in this matter for looking only upon Mercy they forget the severity of his Justice and if an imaginary Mercy would but answer thâ—… ends of their Presumptions they take no further thought what becomes of the essential Holiness of God But infinite Wisdom has secured and sweetly adjustâ—…d the Interests of these two great Attributes Rom. iii. 2â—… That hâ—… mâ—… be just and thâ—… juâ—…r of 〈◊〉 that believeth in Jesus God will justifie there 's Mercy but he will be just in justifying there 's provision made for his Justicâ—… The Justice of God satisfied on Chrisâ—… The Mercy of God magnified on the believing Sinner Thus God will not lose his Glory and the believing â—…inner shall not lose his Soul There seems to be a difficulty in Exod. xxxiv 6 7. A God pardoning iniquity transgression and sin and not a God that will by no means clear the guilty A perplexing Riddle If God will by no means clear the Guilty how does he pardon transgression But his Justice is as peremptory as his Mercy is free he will no more pardon Transgression without due compensation to his Justice than he will condemn the Sinner that by Faith lays hold on that Compensation which his Wisdom has provided and his Grace offered in the Gospel Here then Mercy and Truth are met together Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other And all the Attributes of God do sweetly embrace and harmoniously agree when the Satisfaction of one makes way for the exerting and exercising of the other Psal. lxxxv 10. 2. That we are so earnestly pressed to Adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour presupposes that however beautiful this Doctrine is in it self it has been miserably blackened defaced defiled and much dirt thrown in the Face of it which is done various ways 1. First when from the Doctrine of Divine Grace Mercy Forbearance and Forgiveness Corrupt Heads and Rotten Hearts draw Conclusions of Licentiousness that is when thay interpret Grace into Presumption which is evidently to subvert the End and Design to invert the Order and whole Method of the Gospel Doctrine for though the Gospel proclaims Pardon of all Sin to the Repenting it Indulges none to the impenitent Sinner He that by sinning presumes to find Work for Mercy shall find to his cost that he was making Work for Vengeance The Corruption of depraved Nature has discovered it self in many instances these especially evidence its malignity 1. When Men will be evil because God has been good The design of his goodness patience and long-suffering is to lead them to repentance Rom. ii 4. But if this goodness be despised and because God is long-suffering they will be the longer in sinning and because Mercy is still striving with them they will out-strive that Mercy they will
word in season even amongst the Profane has proved a seed of God lodged in the mind which Divine Grace in due time has awakend to Conversion Let us therefore earnestly beg of God this mixture of holy Zeal and holy Prudence That when Providence shall cast our Lot into evil Company though we must have some Commerce with wicked Mens Persons we may have no Communion with them in their wickedness I conclude this Head with that blessed Advice of 1 Pet. ii 12. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speak against you as evil doers they may by your good works which they shall behold glorisie God in the day of visitation 1 Pet. iii. 13. Having a good conscience that whereas they speak evil of you as evil doers they may be ashamed that falsly accuse your good conversation in Christ. 8. In all things In all those Relations wherein the goodness and wisdom of God has placed us It has pleased the Soveraign disposer of all things in his own World which he powerfully made and wisely Administers to set his Rational Creatures in several Relations some he has appointed to govern others to obey but whatever Post the Divine Pleasure has allotted us to keep our business must be to Adorn the Doctrine of our God and Saviour in All things Rom. xii 6 7 8. Having therefore gifts differing according to the grace that is given us whether ministry let us wait on our one ministring or he that teacheth on teaching or he that exhorteth on exhortation or he that ruleth with diligence that so we may fill up that Relation with a holy Zeal to glorifie our God and Saviour 1. There is the Master and his Servant the Master perhaps may think he 's above the Control of his poor Servant but he must know that he has also a master in heaven Col. iv 1. Let him then remember that with this God there is no respect of persons Let them make a Conscience to give unto their servants that which is just and equal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It 's just that they receive the Reward of their Labour which by Compact or Desert they may claim It 's Equal that as Masters exact of their Servants time for their Service that they allow them competent time for the service of God nor let Servants think that their Relation to God does exempt them from Fidelity to their Masters on Earth 1 Tim. vi 1. Let as many servants as are under the yoak count their own masters worthy of all honour that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed To plead or pretend Christian Liberty as a Manumission from Christian Subjection and Duty is an open blaspheming of the Doctrine of God But because the Case of Servants seems hard the Divine Goodness has made the Promise adequate to the Precept Col. iii. 23 24. Whatever ye do do it heartily as to the Lord knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance This Exhortation is inculcated in our Text and Context Ver. 9. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters and to please them well in all things not purloining but shewing all good fidelity and all upon this great Consideration which has its influence upon all other Relations and their respective Duties that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things 2. Upon the same Reason and account it is that Wives are strictly commanded 2 Tit. iv 5. To be sober to love their husbands to love their children to be discreet keepers at home good obedient to their own husbands and all this enforced with the same great Motive That the word of God be not blasphemed All inferior Relations carry some inconveniences with them they have the labouring Oar which renders their Case somewhat difficult and furnishes corrupt Hearts with matter of discontent but still this one thing may abundantly satisfie them that in whatsoever Station the wise God has fixt them they are yet capable of adorning the doctrine of our God and Saviour 3. This consideration is also pressed upon the Consciences of Subjects 1 Pet. ii 13 14. Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake whether it be to the King as supreme or unto Governours as unto them that are sent by him for so is the will of God that by well doing ye put to silence the ignorance of foolish men Abundance of reproach has been thrown in the Face of Religion on this score which we can never wash off without Tears 't is well it was not washt off with our Blood nor shall we be able to do it till Obedience for Conscience sake shall convince the World that though the Ordinance be of Man yet the Authority is of God by which they Reign and for which we obey Ver. 10. As free and yet not using our liberty as a cloak of maliciousness but as the servants of God 9. Lastly In all things In all those various Conditions to which we are obnoxious in this Life Plenty or Want Sickness Health good or evil Report Liberty Restraint in all these or whatever other diversities of Providence the wise God shall try and exercise us with the Gospel of Christ must be Regarded and Advanced As Poverty gives no dispensation to Murmur Repine or Steal so Riches gives no indulgence to Oppression Luxury or Riot The Doctrine of the Gospel reacheth the highest bindeth the lowest Hath God favoured thee with Prosperity Bless his Name but humour not thy self in Vanity Hath God humbled thee Humble thy self under his mighty and righteous hand that he may exalt thee in his due time 1 Pet. v. 6. A Garment may be made decent and comely as well for a Funeral as a Wedding In Prosperity God invites us to Rejoice Eccles. vii 14. But yet to wear our Garments of praise with humility In the day of Adversity we are called to Consider that God has set the one over against the other Of this excellent Spirit was the Apostle Phil. iv 12. I know both how to be abased and how to abound every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need This one instance fairly Copied out upon our Hearts and expressed in our walking would convince the World of the excellency of the Doctrine of the Gospel and the Grace of God that can teach the Soul to maintain an equipoise of Mind in all Estates To have a humble Heart in an elevated and a high Faith in a low condition Afflictive Sorrows and exalting Comforts divide our whole Lives between them yet both of them are capable of glorifying God Jam. v. 13. If any man be afflicted let him pray Prayer under Affliction witnesses that we believe our God to be good and gracious in it that he can support us under it can do us much good by it and deliver us from it But if any be