raises upon these persecuted Saints who was enlightened by the Spirit of God and so was able to pass a right sentence upon these persecuted Saints from this I raise this ensuing observation Observe That a godly man doth see a very great worth and excellency in the people of God in the midst of all their troubles and distresses or That a godly man a gracious heart one that hath spiritual spectacles does see an excellency and worth in the people of God in the midst of all trouble and persecution that can befall them Here I shall handle it first doctrinally according to my constant method then come to improve it by way of Application For the doctrinal handling of it there are two things must be discovered First wherein the high estimation of a gracious heart does appear wherein it doth discover it self wherein they shew they have such an high estimation Secondly whence it is and how it comes to pass that Godly men have this high and honourable esteem of the Saints and people of God in their troubles and distresses which befall them For the first wherein the high estimation of a gracious heart does appear I shall shew it in five or six following particulars First it appears in this in that they are not ashamed of owning their persons and faith that they profess in their troubles and distresses the society of the people of God and the fellowship of the faith and profession is highly respected by a gracious heart let the Saints lie under never so great distresses This is manifested in Moses in the 25. and 26. verses of this Chapter He chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God then to enjoy all the pleasures and preferments of Pharaohs Court The Israelites Religion the profession of the truth of God and owning the faith and those truths the Israelites stood up for this was that which Moses would not desert and thence it was he did not desert their company and society but went and visited them when they lay under those burthens under which they lay Secondly the second thing wherein is discovered so high an estimation of the Saints and people of God in suffering is their sympathizing and fellow-feeling with them in their suffering If it goes ill with the Church and people of God all the rest sympathize with them if one member suffers all the rest suffers Instance Nehemiah who had the greatest favour of the greatest Prince then on the earth he looks with a sad countenance because of the sufferings of the Saints and people of God Nehem. 2.2 Wherefore the King said unto me Why is thy countenance sad seeing thou art not sick This is nothing else but sorrow of heart Then I was very sore afraid and answered the King because of the distresses the people of God lye under The pleasure of Musick should never be with him says David in Psal 137.6 If I do not remember thee let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy As it is with two strings in an instrument rightly tuned if one be touched the other trembles if one servant of Christ be in a suffering condition the rest suffers with him this is the damp of all worldly delight if it be ill with any of the people of God the rest suffers in the way of compassion Thirdly in that they can plead for them and take their parts when they are never so much out of favour when they are never so much despised and abused This was in the case of Jonathan how he pleaded for poor David before his cruel father Saul though Saul called him a cursed Son and fell soul on his Mother because of him See this in the case of Esther though it was death to go into the King to plead for the Jews yet for all this she says If I perish I perish resolved I am come what will come of it in I will go I can dye but I cannot be silent Fourthly in that they will relieve them and help and supply them with all needful good things they can if they cannot do what they would they will do for them what they can See this in the case of Jeremiah Chap. 28. v. 8 11 12 13. Ebedmelech went forth of the Kings house and spake to the King So Ebedmelech took the man with him and went into the house of the King under the Treasury and took thence old clouts and old rotten rags and let them down by cords into the Dungeon to Jeremiah And Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine arm-holes under the cords And Jeremiah did so So they drew up Jeremiah with cords and took him up out of the Dungeon Jeremiah remained in the court of the Prison He would never be quiet till he got the Prophet out of the Dungeon and though the cords were lined with rags yet more with love and this favour of Ebedmelech God remembered 1 King 18.4 Obediahs master was not only an oppressor of the Saints and Prophets of God but a very great Persecutor This good man Obediah took and hid 400 Prophets of the Lord and led them with bread and water I will not undertake to prophesie to you this day yet time may come when bread and water may be good food for a faithful Prophet Here note the gracious disposition of good Obediah as well as the providence of God in this act 2 Tim. 1.16 17 18. The Lord give mercy unto the douse of Onesiphorus for be oft refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain But when he was in Rome he sought me out very gently and found me The Lord grant unto him that he may finde mercy of the Lord in that day and in how many things he ministred unto me at Ephesus thou knowest very well A most admirable Scripture to this purpose blessed Paul being thrown into prison being in bonds Onesiphorus often refresht him and was not ashamed of his chains How did he shew this When he was in Rome he sought him out diligently By the way note That Rome was the place where the cruel Nero was Emperour it was the place where much bloud of the Martyrs was spilt yet there this good man sought out Paul diligenly Mark what follows which is the prayer of Paul The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day I profess Sirs I had rather have the prayer of Paul than the preferments of the greatest Court on earth Christians it is the greatest treasure in your house to have the prayers of good men to God for you you that have shewn your great and abundant love to the Saints and servants of God in distress I do from my soul beg the mercy for you that whatever you have done for his may be ten thousand times made up by him that you may finde mercy in that day and truly Sirs in
the Father of all comfort and there are many gracious promises God hath made to this purpose that they may be as so many Aquavitae pledges of Consolation to his people So that this will appear That it is the best Office of a Minister both to Minister and People to commend them to God 1. To Ministers it is the highest expression of their love What greater testimony of their love can they shew to their people to do all that for them that he would willingly have done and ten thousand times more Is it not an expression of love from a dying Father to his children Dear Children I am now dying I can provide for you no more I shall leave you such a Friend that shall provide for you in a more abundant measure than if I had been with you It is the best demonstration of their Faith 1. That he will not leave them to the wide world and then 2. He will not take any one he will trust his people with none but God who is able and willing to give account of them 3. It is the greatest satisfaction to his heart A Minister leaving his People can never be satisfied in his own breast that he should leave them and commit them and not to know to whom but when he knows with whom he hath committed them when he hath delivered them over to God that first committed them to him this is a great quietment and satisfaction to a Minister's spirit God layes the people as a depositum and will require an account of them at the last day Now when a Minister is taken from his people he cannot be satisfied till he hath delivered back his trust to God Lord here they are and while I was with them I did what I could but now I am taken from them here I surrender them back into thy hand when I was in the world I kept them in thy Name And so it is best for the people to be left to such a one who will keep them in all their Dangers and comfort them in all their Afflictions 3. How should a people be commended to God 1. By Exhortation 2. By Prayer First By Exhortation Thus the Apostle before and after my Text. And then by Prayer for so doth Saint Paul Calvin looks upon those Words as a Prayer brought in Always making mention of you in my Prayers Rom. 1.19 Phil. 1.4 Col. 1.3 And I trust that I shall not only now at this solemn departure but as long as I live still recommend you into the hands of God though I shall not preach to you yet I shall still make mention of you in my Prayers that God would stablish and comfort and preserve you to his heavenly Kingdom 4. Why doth the Apostle commend them to the Word of his Grace For these two Reasons First Because all the good that any people can look for is from God it is declared and laid up in the Promises and in the Gospel there is the Treasure of God it is in the Gospel The grace of God which hath appeared to all men bringeth salvation Tit. 2.11 We could never have known of the glorious mysteries of Salvation had it not been for the grace of God we could never have expected good but from the Gospel that is the great Magna Charta wherein God hath made over whatsoever concerns the eternal good of his people We have nothing to shew for grace and comfort and heaven and glory but his Gospel That is the great deed of gift that God hath given to his People poor sinners might look a Saviour if the Word of God had not revealed it those people have no ground to expect Salvation if God had not declared it in his Gospel to bestow it upon them 2. The Gospel is the only instrument by which God brings and conveys all that good to the Soul that it stands in need of all spiritual and temporal good that accompanies salvation God works nothing immediately to the Soul but by the Gospel First If any soul be converted to God it is by the grace of God And as Conversion so Sanctification that is effected by the word of God so likewise is Edification Salvation and Preservation Vse I come now to the Application It may be I have been too long already but Gods knows that it may be the last time that I may trespass in this kind and I have the Apostles example who preached at Troas till midnight but I promise to have done in a great deal less time Vse In the Application I shall in the Apostles example Commend you to the grace of God My Brethren and dearly Beloved and longed for now God by his providence is taking me away from you in the exercise of my publick Ministry I commend you to God and to the word of his Grace This I shall do First By exhorting and counsel and then by Prayer First By way of Exhortation 1. In reference to God and then 2. In reference to the Word of his Grace First of all my Exhortation in reference to God is That you would commit your selves to God If it should be so much a Ministers care to commend his people to God it 's good reason they should commend themselves 1. A Ministers commending you to God will be to no purpose if you do not commit your selves I shall alwayes make mention of you in my prayers as long as God shall continue me in this valley of tears I shall pray that God would build you up and sanctifie you I shall pray for you but God will not hear my Prayers if you do not hearken to my counsel To commit your selves to God 2. Consider if you can so commit your selves to God as to get God to take charge of you you are made for ever 1. God will be an All-sufficient God in stead of all the friends in the world you shall not need any that shall provide for you to protect you God will be All in All in stead of Father in stead of Mother Houses Lands Relations God will be better to you than ten Husbands than ten Ministers Ah better than ten thousand Worlds God can sweeten all your enjoyments God can provide for you and make you happy in the midst of the wants of Creature-comforts God is a Sun and a Shield He will give grace and glory and no good thing will he with-hold from them that fear him God contains all in himself Eminenter get God and you get all Let the World frown or smile let it turn upside down Though the Mountain be thrown into the midst of the Sea though the World be set on fire yet a Soul that is in Gods keeping is happy God is a present help in time of trouble 2. As God is an All-sufficient Friend so he is a firm and fast Friend to them My Father and Mother forsook me but the Lord took me up Psal 27.10 My flesh and my heart fails but God fails me not though
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 deâ—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
injury to you that are alive and without wrong to the memory of my dearly beloved Brother but speak something of him at whose Funeral we are met this Evening not so much for his commendation he needs not but for our imitation it is pity great pity something should not be said that this Reverend Minister though dead may yet preach this night and I have so much to say of him that I know not where to begin and when I have begun I hardly know how to make an end I must confess the little time alloted me for the providing this solemn work and the necessary avocations in this little time have hindred me from enforming my self about his Breeding and manner of Education at Emanuel Colledge under Mr. Steaker and his excellent carriage and converse with Mr. Hildersham Mr. Dod Mr. Ball Mr. Langly and other Ministers famous in their generations and the many pressures and hardships that he suffered in those parts and times for the keeping of his conscience pure from that which he counted sin and therefore I must draw a vail over that part of his life and confine my discourse only to the time since his coming to live with us in London which is about the space of twenty two or twenty three years all which time I have had the happiness to be intimately acquainted with him insomuch as that I can freely and clearly profess and that with a sad heart that I and many others have lost a real wise and Godly friend brother and fellow-labourer in the Lord the Church hath lost an eminent Member and choice pillar and this City hath lost an antient faithful and painful Minister who by his Prayers and Holy life did seek to keep off the judgements of God from falling on us and the less sensible the City is of this loss the greater is the loss I fear we may too truly repeat the words in the Text The righteouus perisheth and no man lays it to heart and mereiful men are taken away none considering that the righteous are taken away from the evil to come I have read of Philo the Jew and by chance met with the same in the life of St. Ambrose that when they came to any City or Town and heard of the death of any Godly man though never so poor they would both of them mourn exceedingly because of the great loss that place had by the death of that Godly man and because it was a warning-piece from God of evil approaching But we have had many Godly men and Godly Ministers taken away of late and yet I fear me but few lay it to heart and therefore as I said the loss is the greater to this City because it is so little sensible of it It is a great loss also to his relations his Wife hath lost a dear and loving Husband his Sister a brother his Parish and Congregation a faithful Pastor The Ministerial excellencies of many Ministers were collected and concentred in one Simeon Ash he was a Bazalcel in Gods Tabernacle a Master-builder an old Disciple a Polycarp a Christian of long standing in the School of Christ a burning and a shining light one whom many Ministers and other good Christians called Father insomuch that it was a common proverb in this City Father Ash and I believe many experimentally weep over him as the King did over the Prophet Elisha My Father my Father the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof for he lived desired and died lamented not only in the City but I believe in many places in the Country where he was known But more particulary there were twelve excellencies I observed in this reverend Minister and my dear Brother that were as 12 Jewels or precious Pearls in that Crown with which God had crowned him I shall name them for your imitation and benefit He needs them not for he is above our Eulogy The first and chief Jewel that did beautifie adorn this our Brother was his sincerity and uprightness in heart which indeed is not a single Grace but the soul of all Grace and the interlineary that must run through all Grace what is faith if it be not unfeigned what will love to God profit you if it be not without dissimulation what is repentance worth if it be not in truth as the body without the soul is a rotten carkass so is all grace without sincerity this is the soul of all grace this is the girdle of truth Sincerity is that which girts all our spiritual armor together and makes them useful what advantage is it to have the breast-plate of Righteousness the shield of Faith the helmet of Hope if they be but painted things it is the girdle of sincerity that makes all the other parts of our armor useful Now this excellent grace of sincerity was eminent in our dear Brother he was a true Nathaniel in whom there was no guile I mean no allowed hypocrisie this was that which carried him through the pangs of death with a great deal of comfort for he was able to say with Hezekiah Remember O Lord how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart He could say with Paul this is my rejoycing the testimony of my conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity I have had my conversation in this world 2. Another grace was his humilicy this is a grace that he was cloathed withal and it is a rare grace for God dwells with the humble he resists the proud but he gives grace to the humble This Reverend Minister was low in his own eyes and therefore very high in Gods eyes he had a mean esteem of himself and therefore he was high in esteem with God He was as Jacob said of himself less than the least of Gods mercies and therefore he was made partaker of the best of Gods mercies He was like an ear of Corn full of fruit bowing down in thankfulness to God 3. Another Jewel was the fruitfulness of his discourse for it may be said of him as it was of Christ he went about doing good where ever he went he scattered his goodness this all that knew him knew to be true He was full of good discourse where ever he came when I was with him in his sickness he took occasion to complain much and not without just cause God grant his complaint may make impression upon our hearts he complained that it was a great fault of Ministers that when they met together they discoursed no more of Christ of Heaven and of the concernments of the other world and professed that if GOD should restore him he would be more careful in his discourse and more fruitful than ever yet he had been 3. Another Jewel that beautified this Righteous man was his mercifulness he was a merciful man which he manifested not onely in his charity to the members of Jesus Christ but in his frequent visiting of sick persons and persons that needed Spiritual physick I
as the Word of Truth The Word was written after the Church but as it is the Word of God it 's before it This therefore will break the snare if you be set upon by the specious name of the Church look that the Church hath warrant from Scripture-Institution and then submit to Church-Institution A second Rule I observe men would set up to betray poor souls from the faith once delivered to them is Ancient Custom our Fathers worshipped in this Mountain When they would hold forth that which the Scripture is short in they will send us to such and such customs of so many hundred years standing It is to be bewailed that the date the standing of false Doctrines and false Worships is so ancient for though at first they were but Innovations yet to succeeding Generations they become old And 't is a very great truth That what is the most ancient is the most true and therefore there lies a great snare in this Therefore when Antiquity is pretended if you find not their hoary heads in the way of Righteousness there is little reason for you to reverence them or comply with them no more than there was reason so suddenly to be taken with the Gibeonites mouldy bread and clouted shoes When matters of Antiquity are pretended say as Ignatius Jesus Christus est mea Antiquitas Jesus Christ is my Antiquity so say Truth is my Antiquity for though an opinion hath been practised a thousand years yet men may have the Word of Truth in their hearts that is ancienter than all A third Rule that men would set up is The general course of the World or Place the generality of those where they live This was that the Popish Party did often mention to the witnesses of Jesus Christ What! will you be wiser than others Can't you do as others do must you be singular And this is a taking Rule for to make you conformable to those things possibly the Word of God will not warrant if you bring not this custom to the Word of God 'T is not what the most do but what we may do 't is not what the practice of all in general is but what ought to be the singular care and strict holiness of Christians in particular that the Word of God will allow Christians are not to be conformable to the present World Rom. 12.1 The Word will tell you It is no more safe to follow a multitude to do evil than it will be sweet to be in Hell with a great company The Word will let you know the secrets of the Lord are with a very few and those them that fear him as for the whole world it lies in wickedness The Word will tell you The wayes of Jesus Christ and the profession of Jesus Christ is commonly called a Sect it is every where spoken against and men hate it every where Therefore set up a Rule in your hearts in your houses in your meditations in your practise Rule 2. Be very well rooted and established in the faith that hath been delivered to you I observe one of the great reasons why Christians so easily let go the profession they have made is because they were never well built upon it nor established in it There are many Christians that through their own itching ears heaping up Teachers to themselves have never been rooted or established in the truth the Lord pitty them and keep them this day Many Christians that have attended to establishing means yet never seriously considered nor laid things to their heart but are like those the Apostle speaks of Heb. 5.12 that had need to learn the first Oracles of God How many among us profess with the highest but have little ground for their faith onely with the Jews the Traditions of the Elders the custom of the place Education and because such a party of men say so because no body denies it because Ministers commonly preached it but to have any solid and serious ground they are yet to seek 'T is not with the things of God as with other Arts as Logick Rhetorick Astronomy in these Arts the principal is presupposed to be proved no man goes about to prove there is Reason that there is Number that there are Heavenly Bodies because sense and experience shews it But 't is quite otherwise in the things of God for you are not onely to run away with the notion that there is a God that this God is one and that these are his Words and his Works but you are to know this by experience because the knowledge of these things comes by infusion by faith by a belief that God is For by faith we believe the Worlds were made by the Word of God Hebr. 11.3 It is that therefore I would press you to that you would labour for an established Spirit Do not onely hear the things of God but see them the first will but blinde you or at best leave you at great uncertainties the last will settle you What was the reason of the holy Apostles zeal when they were under the greatest threatnings of the High Priests and were forbid to speak in the name of Christ and to speak of Justification by faith and the Resurrection of Christ from the dead and forgiveness of sins by him things that are further remote from sense and reason the Apostle will tell you Acts 4.20 We cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard Hence it is that poor silly women that in respect of their Imbecillity and Infirmity of Sex the terrours of the fire and faggot might have been such to have brought them to Apostacy yet they confounded the great Doctors and Rabbies when they were brought before them they were able to burn though they could not dispute they beheld things that were invisible It 's an excellent thing not to take up the Word upon notion upon opinion but to have an established heart through Grace I shall direct you in two words 1. Get the Lord by Prayer to teach you every truth what Jesus Christ teaches once is everlastingly taught no word is abiding but what the Lord Jesus teaches himself Look as it is with Satan when he comes to seduce men from the truth he will present such a fine notion without and commonly he darts in some dazling light within so that you never knew a Heretick take up a false opinion but it was with a marvellous deal of sweetness and comfort so when the Lord Christ teacheth by his Spirit he comes with that light that sweetness savour and relish of truth as will be impossible for you to let it go Hence when Christ would confute the Pharisees who had the witness of his Father in his work he saith Joh. 5.37 Ye have neither heard his â—oice at any time nor seen his shape It 's an excellent thing to see the shape and hear the voice of God 2. Be well rooted upon Christ or else you will never be established in any â—ruth of Christ
Conscience is awakened by the Spirit in the Ministry of the Word herein 't is powerful and efficacious There are divers instances in Seripture how powerful the Word hath been in point of Conviction in Felix the Apostle Paul preached to him of righteousness and judgement to come c. he trembles The Judge at the Bench trembleth at the Word delivered by the Prisoner at the Bar So powerful is the Ministry of the Word as to discover our sinfulness So the Disciples going to Emaus their hearts burnt within them when our Saviour opened to them the Prophets c. So it was with St. Peters Auditors Acts 2. they were pricked in the heart when they heard this he did preach to them in the power and demonstration of the Spirit and plainly discovered that sin that they were more especially guilty of and when they heard that they were pricked in the heart c. 2. It was a Word of Conversion also Conviction is one thing and Conversion in anoâ—her Sometimes men may be convinced and yet have no change wrought in them therefore Conversion is another work it is a turning men from darkness to light from the power of Satan to God c. To receive an inheritance among them that are sanctified Herein is the Word powerful viz. in Regeneration I have begotten you by the Word to a lively hope c. Of his own will hath he begotten you c. 4. It is a word of comfort and consolation it is a powerful word and able to comfort the heart and the Ministry is very effectual herein when set on by the Spirit to quiet satisfie and pacifie the Consciences of men which declareth the remission of sin and whosoever's sins are forgiven must needs be comforted Indeed it is not in the power of men to forgive sins yet they can speak a word of comfort in season by the administration of the promises the Spirit of God going along with them and then they are not onely declarative but operative Where I say it pleaseth God to bless and sanctifie the Word it is effectual for quieting of the minde for pacifying of the conscience and setling of the troubled soul Thus you see how powerful the Ministry is and seeing it is so this should teach us how to behave our selves under it it is powerful in it self and powerful in its dispensation and hath none of that weakness mentioned before of the dispenser of it 'T was with you saith St. Paul in much weakness and in fear and in trembling 1 Cor. 2 3 4. And my speech was in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power These may seem to be contradictory but 't is answered the Word is powerful in the demonstration of the Spirit though delivered by one of humane weakness as before is declared This spiritual power we should look at and labour after which power doth not consist in matter of elocution the inticing words of mans wisdom nor in matter of voice which indeed is a good thing and suitable to the nature of the matter A quick and powerful delivery is of great efficacy and power for the setting home of truths Yet this doth not make a powerful Ministry for a whisper in the ear may cause a thunder-bolt in the conscience the power lies first in the nature of the matter the matter consists in the nature and condition of Mankinde the certainty of the Judgement the necessity of Christ the Covenant of Graceâ— and the graces and priviledges thereof c. These carry a great deal of power and effiacy with them when they are carefully and frequently dispensed and Gods Spirit going along with them so they become powerful for the Ministry consists not in empty notions and speculations that will onely fickle the fancy but never reach the conscience Moral discourses though they be of great use yet if we rest in them they leave us as they found us Evangelical truths which are manifold are to be delivered in the Ministry Now as the matter of the Ministry must be powerful so the expression must be powerful there should be suitableness of expression to the matter i. e. with gravity sobriety and affection c. Strong lines make but weak preaching and take away the efficacy but delivering truths in the demonstration of the spirit and in power that is most effectual when we speak feelingly and from our hearts it comes then through the blessing of the Lord with it with power This is then to learn us of the Ministry viz. 1. Use Let us be careful that the matter of our Ministry be powerful so that the handling and dispensing thereof be powerful that so it may come home to the conscience thus we should deal with all The words of the wise are as goads and as nails fastened by the Ministers of the Assemblies c. So our words should have a force and power in them This as the Apostle says is mighty and powerful to the beating down of strong holds c. Vse 2. Secondly In reference to hearers seeing the Ministry is powerful you must then submit your selves to the power of it Many people are Sermon-proof and think to stand out against the power of the Word but if it comes in power to the conscience they will not be able to resist it as it is said of them in the Gospel They were not able to resist the Spirit by which he spake viz. Stephen And for those that desire the conversion of others what course should be taken by them for that end but by good counsel instruction prayer and good example to endeavour them and more especially to bring them to the Word and administration thereof which God hath sanctified for this end So much for the excellency of the Gospel viz. The excellency of the power c. I come to the second 2. The Author of it 1. Positively it is of God And 2. Negatively it is not of us First Positively it is of God and that in all the considerations of it in the full extent of it it is of God So the Ministerial gifts the performances of it and the success of it are all from God First Ministerial gifts are from God it is he that makes us able Ministers of the New Testament There are saith the Apostle Paul diversity of gifts to one is given the word of wisdom to another the word of knowledge by the same spirit c. 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6. It is God that bestows every good gift Secondly The performance also is from God his grace concurrs and assists therein the habit and the act are both from him God gives gifts to men and he enables them to dispense them Ministerial employments are not onely for general but particular applications and so need not onely general but particular assistances That I might be enabled saith Saint Paul to fulfill the work c. the Lord stood by me and strengthened me that my preaching might be fully accomplished It is God
the World for their choice the Spirit and Son of God that this is their choice Therefore no wonder c. But how do they chuse God Answer They chuse God as the object of their souls love as the chiefest of ten thousand as the lot of their inheritance as the companion of their souls to converse with him as the Commander of their ways to bt guided by him as a shelter of their hearts as a refuge to fly unto in the time of danger The first Vse was by way of Examination Is God chosen as the chief object of our souls love Can we truly say There is none in Heaven but thee none upon Earth I can desire besides or in comparison of thee Can we say in having God The lines are fallen unto me in a pleasant place yea I have a goodly heritage Is communion with God our Heaven upon Earth Is God the Commander of our ways as well as we hope to be the Saviour of our souls Is God our shield or buckler our retreat in danger The second Vse was by way of Consolation Believers have you made choice of God Happy are the people that are in such a case thou hast the best assurance in the world to come to the best possession in this world peace and joy Peace within if not Peace without And Joy the best Joy in the world Joy unspeakable and full of glory And truly if so be that this be thy portion in having chosen God 't is no wonder thou dost not Apostate from him It is no wonder that whatever comes upon a Believer yet for that his heart is not turned back neither his steps declined from Gods way And this leads to The Fourteenth Sermon Psal 44.18 Our heart is not turned back neither have our steps declined from thy way FRom these words two Observations 1. In times of sufferings and afflictions true Christians are to make a narrow inspection into their hearts to see how they stand affected Thus did the Church here 2. To keep stedfast and close with God notwithstanding all afflictions and sufferings we undergo either from or for God is the duty and commendation of Saints 'T was our duty and 't is our honour Lord c. In prosecution of this point these seven preliminary Theses were laid down 1. When man was first created his heart stood rightly bent towards God as his great centre and mark 2. When man fell his heart immediately drew off and turned back from God 3. Though this be the case of fallen man yet poor creature he sees it not 4. The very Formalis Ratio of sin that wherein the Formality of sin consists is in this not so much in finning against God by outward Acts as in the hearts departing from God 5. All true Conversion to God begins at the Heart 6. It is an Argument of infinite love in God to bring back our hearts to him 7. When once the heart of a Believer is brought back to God no suffering or affliction is able to turn that heart from him Quest When may a mans heart be said not to be turned back notwithstanding all sufferings and afflictions Answ 1. When a man still retains the same esteem and estimate of God that ever he had When Job looks upon God as a God fit to be lessed though God be plundering of him 2. When a man still retains the same affections the same love to him delight in him fear of him as much as ever 3. When we hope and trust in God as much as ever Though he kill me yet will I trust in him 4. When we have the same resolutions to cleave to God as ever If a God in Israel as long as a God in Israel 'T is all one makes not to the God of the Philistims this is for a mans heart not to be turned back from God By way of Vse 1. Learn The heart of man is very apt to turn from God in dayes of affliction our heart is not though theirs were 2. It concerns us in time of affliction and suffering to see if our hearts be not turned back from God But what means shall I use that I may not turn a base Apostate Answ 1. Be watchful over your hearts they are exceeding slippery and deceitful The veriest Thieves in the world 2. Be still bending of your hearts from the world and the flesh unto God as you bend a crooked stick to make it streight 3. Do not only bend but bind your hearts tie them shackle them as you would one that hath broken Prison by holy serious Scriptural necessary vows 4. Converse much with God That man that converses much with God it is not the frowns of men shall bring his heart off from God To spur you on to this duty with these motives 1. If you turn from God the soul of God will turn from you If any man draw back my Soul shall have no pleasure in him 2. Keep close to God in such a time and God will keep close to you Here 's a people that not all their sufferings could make them fall from me God glories in such a people 3. This will be one of the greatest comforts by way of argument of your sincerity that your heart is upright with God This will make an Hezekiah look up to God in the time of sickness with a Lord remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart 4. If you will not turn from God by way of Apostacy you may run to God and find in him a Sanctuary And so you have it in The Fifteenth Sermon Isa 8.14 He shall be for a Sanctuary THe words are an allusion to a City of refuge and from hence this Observation Jesus Christ will be for a sure refuge to all those that make him their fear and dread And the truth is there is the greatest reason in the world Christ should be so Saints stand in greatest need of this Sanctuary They are a poor weak helpless generation of Creatures but they have a Rock of refuge The Conies are but a feeble folk yet make their Houses in the Rocks Christ bears dearest love to them they are most precious to him they are his Jewels what will a man preserve if he will not preserve his Jewels Will Christ be a Sanctuary Then 1. See the true reason why the Saints of God are of such an heroick Spirit even when troubles look them in their faces and ring in their ears they have a God to fly to a Christ to rest on 2. See the reason of that consternation of spirit that seizes on wicked men in times of troubles Hide me from the wrath of the Lamb why they have no refuge to go to and however it is with them now you shall hear nothing but howling and lamenting when God shall come to avenge the blood of his Saints 3. Be exhorted to make Christ your Sanctuary get into this City of Refuge and for Motives
convinced of the need and want of Christ but such as have been partakers of the Spirit of Christ as a sanctifying Spirit labour after communion with him as a comforting Spirit and to this end I shall stir you up to this 1. By way of Motive 2. By way of Comfort First by way of Motive Though you have some comfort it is but little in comparison of what you may have and in comparison of what you may stand in need of though a Saint would not change the saddest hour of his life for the sweetest hour in his former condition If the Saints of God did enjoy the comforts that they might oh what blessed lives might they live but they are so full of trouble as if there were no Holy Ghost the Comforter The people of God are oftentimes troubled without a cause as that holy man Why art thou cast down oh my soul He could not render a true account of his trouble he was sad but he could not tell why or wherefore 2. When there is cause they are apt to be troubled without measure In those cases where it is a sin not to be troubled at all the people of God are apt to be troubled over-much as the Israelites in their bondage in Egypt It were a sin for them not to be troubled but they were so full of troubles that they could not hearken to Moses and Aaron And so the Disciples in the Text it were a sin for them not to be troubled for the absence of Christs body but so to be troubled as if God could not comfort them without him this was their weakness And to come to our Cases it were a sin to slight this Dispensation of God that is coming upon us if we should not be troubled for the loss of the Ministers of Jesus Christ but to mourn before God under the sense of this Dispensation to mourn so much as to think that when these are gone all are gone to be so much troubled as not to hearken to the words of the Text That we have a Comforter I remember an admirable expression of a Child to his Mother when his Father was dead to shew That out of the mouths of Babes and Sucklings God can manifest his praise Why Mother says the Child though my Father be dead yet God is alive May not I say so to you Though your Ministers be as it were naturally dead yet is not God alive Is not the Spirit of God alive Though you have some comfort yet you have little in comparison of what you may have if you seek for it 2. Study the excellent nature of the comfort how little soever a man hath of this spiritual comfort it will sweeten his condition be it what it will be When a Man hath communion with the spirit God he hath comfort in all conditions then though a mans condition be never so bad yet it is very good Hâ—b 3.17 Though the Fig-tree shall not blossome though the fruit be not in the Vines the labour of the Olive shall cease and the Fields shall yeild no meat the Flocks shall be cut off from the Fold and there shall be no Herd in the Stalls yet will I rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my Salvation He can fetch Hope and ground his Faith upon the Promises though the Providences and Dispensations of God be never so mysterious the comfort of the Spirit doth make up the want of all other comforts The comforts of Ordinances are sweet comforts Sermon-comforts are sweet comforts Sacrament-comforts are sweet comforts Ah but the comfort of the Spirit can supply the want of all these All outward crosses cannot hinder these inward comforts a man that hath these inward comforts may have a Feast with bread and water a little of this comfort is able to sweeten a whole Ocean of sorrow In the multitude of my thâ—ughts withâ—n me thy comfort delight my Soul Psal 94.10 So that when the hearts of God's people are filled with sad thoughts what will become of themselves what will become of their Families what will become of the Church of God what will become of the Ministery of the Gospel and of the Ordinances of Christ they are full of sad fears and distracting thoughts when they have a multitude of thougts in the midst of all these spiritual comforts can comfort and refresh the Soul Oh labour after a greater share of this comfort God hath cast us upon sad times wherein we shall have need of more than ordinary comfort We are like to have troubles without if we have not peace within it will be very sad we are like to lose much of Christ's bodily presence I mean in his Ordinances how many of those Messengers that present the person of Christ and stand in his stead If we should not enjoy the other comforter our estates would be doleful If we have darkness without and darkness within how sad will that darkness be 3. Labour to get more communion from the Spirit of God This will raise and sublimate your natural comforts and turn them into Spiritual comforts A man can never relish these outward comforts till he come to taste the ravishment and sweetness of the holy Ghost till he taste the love of God these give them a higher lustre than the men of the world though they enjoy much comfort yet they do not enjoy half that a child of God doth the little that the righteous hath is better than the great revenues of the wicked to a Child of God a dinner of green hearbs is more savoury and pleasant to him than the stalled Ox because a Child of God hath better sauce with it Worldly men they smell to their flowers it is the only godly man that sucks out the honey that all things are given to him in love out of this he sucks comfort A gracious heart sees all these outward comforts that they are purchased with the bloud of Christ and therefore these should do him good and he may take comfort that he hopes for what he hath not as wel as for what he may have and he may take comfort in his condition be it what it will he sees all is for his good such a one believeth what he readeth not So he believeth Gods ways are ways of Truth though some more sweet and some more bitter 4. Labor after communion with the Spirit in his comforing work is another This is the best preservative against all intanglements of sin whatsoever It is a great hour of temptation and if our comforts do do not lie above the world we shall be greatly insnared by the world If a man eat sweet-meats he cannot relish ordinary food so while these sweet comforts lie upon the soul he cannot relish these ordinary things in the world What do you tempt me with those things saith a child of God What are these to the comforts of the Holy God The heart of man will seek comfort one way or
continually in danger they are as a Lilly amongst Thorns as Sheep among Wolves as a besieged City in the midst of her enemies They have enemies without and enemies within enemies without the Devil is their adversary 1. They are in danger in respect of the Devil who is a very potent enemy a roaring Lyon and a malicious enemy malicious against God and industrious enemy He goes about seeking whom he may devour he compasseth the earth to do what he can to keep souls from Christ he is a subtil enemy that hath his stratagems to catch and enshare poor souls Now it is the endeavour of every true Minister of Jesus Christ to secure his people by his counsel and his prayers for we are ignorant of his devices 2 Cor. 2.11 As if he should say I have most experience of the Devils subtilty Satan sets to oppose them most and this is one thing to rob Ministers of their meditations of their prayers and therefore it is the design of Ministers to strengthen their people in regard of Satans temptations 2. They are in danger in respect of seducers that lie in wait to deceive 3. They are in danger by the World lest they should be frighted by its opposition 4. They are in danger by their corrupt lusts that war against their souls Therefore every faithful Minister warns his people of those that their souls may be secured this being that that a faithful Minister would do among his people while he is with them when he is taken from them he commits them to God to be socured from all danger as Christ in that place before Father keep them in thine own hands Lastly Every faithful Minister seeks the comfort and consolation of his people It is their desire to comfort the feeble hands they are not Masters of your grace but helpers of your joy 2 Cor. 4.12 Where the Gospel appears in power many will stand in need of comfort under doubts fears and afflictions and this is the desire of every faithful Minister of Jesus Christ at their departure from their people to support the weak to resolve the doubted to succour the tempted and when he is taken from them and can contribute little to this work he recommends them to God A departing Minister may say to his peoâ—le If God has made me an instrument of comfort to your souls you have cause to bless God for it Now I can do no more I must recommend you to God who I hope will be the God of your comfort when I am gone 2. This is the best office that a Minister can do for his people when he is taken from them and that whether we look upon Minister or People certainly it is the best office that a Minister can do for his people To commend them to God 1. God is omnipotently infinite able 2 God is gracious and faithful therefore willing to do it First God is infinitely able to manage this trust he is God all-sufficient Gen. 17.1 sufficient to make himself happy much more to make his people happy 1. God is all in all in the enjoyment of mercy 2. God is all in all in the want of mercy First He is all in all in the enjoyment of mercy When a people hath a faithful Minister placed over them by the providence of God he can do nothing of himself 2 Cor. 3.6 Our preaching iâ— from the assistance of God and when we have done all we cannot make this effectual we cannot give the success Paul may plant Apollos may water but it is God that must give the increase 1 Cor. 3.6 Why do you keep such a stir One would have this Minister another that One would have Paul another would have Apollo another Cephas Are they not the Ministers of God by whom you have believed Our profit depends not upon the parts and gifts of a creature but upon the blessing of God it is God that puts this heavenly Treasure into the heart and it is God that must disperse it for the use and benefit of his people The most eloquent Apollos cannot perswade obstinate sinners to lay hold upon the Gospel they may speak to the ear but it is God that must carry the Word to the heart either for conviction or conversion Secondly God is all in all in the want of means Let the instrument be never so weak if it be in the hand of God it shall prove effectual God can make a poor Fisherman instrumental to catch three thousand souls at one time and God chuses to do his work by weak Instruments that the praise may be of God It is not the Minister's parts or gifts but only the power of God that strengthens the soul and sanctifies and builds them up and comfort them God is able to convert all unconverted sinners in a Congregation God can say Ephata Be opened 2. God is able to build up those that are converted God is able to make all grace abound 2 Cor. 9.8 Those that have little grace God is able to make it increase God is the God of all grace God can make every Saint perfect entire lacking nothing he can sill all the void places of the heart 3. God can keep us in all tryals and troubles God can keep up his people in the midst of Apostacy Matth. 16.13 The gates of Hell shall not prevail against them God can keep them that all the power of Hell shall not hurt them 4. God is able to comfort the most disconsolate soul Ministers may speak comfortable words but they cannot speak them further than to the ear but God can speak them to the heart I will allure her into the Wilderness and speak to the heart God can comfort the poor soul let the case be never so sad 2 Cor. 1.4 2. As God is infinitely able so he is infinitely gracious and faithful See his Name in Exod. 34. Full of power and tender mercy Is not God willing for the Conversation of poor sinners as willing as Ministers yea a thousand and ten thousand times more Hear how patiently God speaks Turn ye why will you dye Hear and live He calls upon men every where to repent Secondly God doth not only desire it but purpose it and resolve it God that hath begun a good work he will finish it and so for their preservation he hath said That the gates of Hell shall never prevail against them Of all thou hast given me I have lost none John 17.11 Though God may suffer his people to be led away for a time yet they shall be brought back again and shall be kept through the power of God unto salvation Heaven and Earth shall pass away but not one jot or tittle which God hath spoken How willing is God to comfort all his comfortless ones What Mother can be more pitiful to her sick child than God is to them that are under affliction Though a Mother forget her sucking child yet God cannot forget his people And then he is
our Vriahs Where are they that lay to heart the dangers of the Ark you complain of Taxes decay of Trading of this civil burden and that civil burden but where is the man or the woman that complains of this misery the loss of the Ark Most of you are like Gallio he cared not for these things if it had been a civil matter then he would have meddled with it but for Religion he cared not for that every man is troubled about meum and tuum about civil concernments but who layes to heart who regards what shall become of Religion There is a strange kind of indifferency and lukewarmness upon most peoples spirits so they have their trading go on and their civil burdens removed they care not what becomes of the Ark. There is a Text of Scripture I shall not spend much time in opening it but I would have you well consider it Hos 7.9 Strangers have devoured his strength and he knoweth it not yea gray hairs are here and there upon him yet he knoweth not Shall I say gray hairs are upon the Gospel I come not hither to Prophecy I say not the Gospel is dying but I say it hath gray hairs for you have had the Gospel a hundred years and above and therefore it is in its old-age and I dare challenge any Schollar to shew me an example of any Nation that hath enjoyed the Gospel for a hundred years together Now that gray hairs is to a hundred years is no wonder well gray hairs are here and there and yet no man layeth it to heart Now shall I spend time to shew you what a great sin it is not to be affected with the danger that the Ark of God is in consider but three particulars First it is a sign you do not love the Gospel if you had any love to it you would be troubled more for the danger of the Ark than for any outward danger whatsoever Secondly it is a sign you have no interest in the Gospel for interest will stir up your affections it is a sign you are not concerned in the Gospel for if you were concerned in it you would be affected with it as those that were interessed in those persons that were in that lamentable fire the last week it is impossible but they should be affected and so it is a sign you have no interest in God and Christ if your hearts do not tremble for fear of the loss of the Ark. But thirdly there is a curse of God pronounced against all those that do not lay to heart the afflictions of Joseph Amos 6 1 2 3 4 5 6. Wo be to them that are at ease in Sion and trust in the Mountain of Samaria ye that put far away the evil day that lie upon beds of Ivory and stretch themselves upon their Couches that eat the Lambs out of the flock and the Calves out of the midst of the stall that chant to the sound of the Viol and invent to themselves Instruments of Musick that drink wine in bowls and annoint themselves with the chief oyntments but they are nongrieved for the afflictions of Joseph Wo be to you that enjoy your fulness of outward things and make merry therewith and never consider the afflictions of Gods people and the danger of the Ark. Vse 2. For exhortation to beseech you all that God by a providence hath so unexpectedly brought this day to hear me there may be a good providence in it possibly I may do good herein I say let me beseech you all to declare you are the people of God indeed and in truth by following the example of old Eli to be very solicious of the Ark of God and let me exhort you to five particulars First let me perswade you to believe that the Gospel is not entailed upon England England hath no Letters Pattents of the Gospel the Gospel is removeable God took away the Ark and forsook Shiloh and he did not only take away the Ark but the Temple also he unchurched the Jews he unchurched the seven Churches of Asia and we know not how soon he may unchurch us I know no warrant we have to think that we shall have the Gospel another hundred years God knows how to remove his Candlestick but not to destroy it God doth often remove the Church but doth not destroy it God removed his Church out of the East as the Greek Churches were famous Churches but God removed them and now the Turk overspreads that Country Secondly I would perswade you that Englands Ark is in danger to be lost were it not only for the sins of England those prodigious iniquities amongst us and that strange un-heard-of ingratitude that is in the Land but I will say no more of that because I would speak nothing but what becomes a sober Minister of the Gospel Thirdly I would perswade you and O that I could raise you up to old Eli's practice He sate watching for his heart trembled for fear of the Ark He had a thoughtful head and anâ—aking heart for the Ark of God that was in great danger and that I might move you to this consider what a sad condition we are in if the Ark be taken what will your Estate do you good or what will your concernments do you good if the Gospel be gone wherein doth England exceed other places there is more wealth in Turkie than in England And the Heathen Nations have more of the glory of the world than any Christian King hath What is the glory of England what is the glory of Christianity but the Gospel if the Gospel be gone our glory is gone Pray remember Eli's Daughter-in-Law the wife of Phinehas she hearkned not though a man Child was born and would receive no comfort but called his name Ichabod for the glory is departed from Israel The Ark of God is taken O when the glory is gone who would desire to live I am loth to tell you the story of Chrysostome he was but one man yet when he was banished Constantinople the people all petitioned for him and said They could as well lose the Sun out of the Firmament as lose Chrysostom from among them Fourthly let me perswade you not to mourn immoderately neither be discouraged I would willingly speak something to comfort you before I leave you I know not by what strange providence I came here this day and the Lord knows when I shall speak to you again therefore I would not send you home comfortless O therefore mourn not as without hope for I have four Arguments to perswade me that the Ark of God will not be lost though it be in danger of losing First because God hath done great things already for this Nation and I argue like Manoah's Wise surely if God had intended to destroy us he would not have done that he hath done for us He that hath done so much for us will not now forsake us And therefore though our hearts tremble yet let
and by our lively trust through the Covenant of Grace on our part let there be such a unity between Christ and us that all the powers of Hell may not be able to separate us from thee speak peace to our hearts still our consciences say I have received a sacrifice for you I shall befriend you I will be just and faithful to forgive your sins my Law is sully fulfilled by another though broken by you my Justice is fully satisfied by another though provoked by you my wrath is ceased by the means of another though incensed by you Oh Lord what a cordial would this be canst not thou amongst this great multitude of people espy some that through the Spirit of thy Son would worship thee in thine own way speak peace to every such soul Is there any soul before thee O Lord to whom thou hast given the grace of desire O lord give them grace according to their desire and thou which didst regard us when we were running from thee do not reject us now we are drawing near thee And thou which bidst us believe by the command of thy Word help us to believe by the operation of thy Spirit draw us that we may be able to follow thee thy loving kindness is better than life Some do say Who will shew us any good But Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us and thou wilt glad our hearts more than in the time when Corn or wine or Oil increaseth Let it be fair above head when it is dirty below let us see one contrary in another let us confute an eye of sense with an eye of faith and when we come to see nothing here that can gratifie our senses let us have something to quiet our souls We would fain be at war with sin that we may be at peace with thee though we cannot return as much as we have received yet help us to return as much as we can give us repentance unto life epentance from dead works a mourning fat greater for the remembrance of sin than we have pleasure in the committing of sin those secret distempers in our souls that no eye sees but thine let us cry out Wretched men that we are who should deliver us from this body of sin And as the fear of condemnation doth decrease so set the fear of transgression increase And because O Lord thou hast not made us to bleed with thy greatness O Lord make us to blush with thy goodness let us as truely desire that Heaven would enter into us into a way of holiness here as we desire to enter into Heaven in the way of happiness hereafter Let us see that our kindness to sin is cruelty to our Saviour let net that live quietly one minuite with us that would not let Christ live let us see there is nothing small by which the great God is offended and an immortal soul is damned We are to be in the world but for a while to take a turn or two and be gone Oh that we might make it the business of our life to get into Christ though it be the scorn of men and burdensome to nature yet this is that which will bring us peace at last Let us be what we profess our selves to be let us love Christ and evangelically keep his commandements let us live by faith let us keep thy Commandements let us be above the world in the world above the love of life and above the fear of death let not the smiles of the world allure us nor the frowns thereof affright us from thee but in all these things let us be more than conquerers through Jesus Christ Let us love him much whom we cannot love too much Help us to be above the power of Hell let us ever say My soul it is good for me to draw nigh to God Let us be willing rather to be faved with a few than go to Hell in a crowd let us live as if Eternity were long and life but short let us thrive in holiness and be brought neerer to thy self by every dispensation let us in this our day know the things that concern our peace before they be hid from our eyes and know the time of our visitation and though God suffer long he will strike at last O Lord bow the heavens and come down among us at this time and be with the unworthiest of thy servants and give unto him a door of utterance and to thin great people a door of entrance and let them be all taught of God and let them truly find that the great God is teaching to the heart when that a weak worm is speaking to the ear let all the work be done by theo and let all he praise redound unto thee and let him that is with us be greater than he that is in the world behold us in the Son of thy love smell aswee savor of rest on these our poor prayers speak peace to our consciences rebuke the tempter tread him under our feet shortly raise us up to newness of life let us remember when that which is perfect is rome that which is imperfect shall be done away Hear us and help us through our dear Redeemer let us live for him here and with him hereafter and all for his sake whom not seeing we love in whom believing we rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory to whom with thee and thy Sprit be Glory and Honour now an for ever Amen Mr. Cradocott's Prayer at St. Sepulchres MOst glorious and most gracious Lord God who art God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hast put thine own Name and stamp upon this Day wilt thou be pleased to appear now and prepare and dispose our unprepared and indisposed souls for holy Observation of this thine holy day Will the Lord vouchsafe us the incomes of his spirit and influences of his Grace whereby we may be inabled to offer up spiritual Sacrifice which may be acceptable to Jesus Christ Lord thou requirest praying hearts but thou hast not commanded us to use Prayer-books and if thou wilt give us the Spirit of Prayer we shall not need them Lord give us praying hearts at this time let us find by experience that the Sabbath is a day of Souls opportunity that thine Ordinances are full of marrow that thou hast not said unto thy Children the seed of Jacob seek my face in vain VVe acknowledge we are unworthy to lift up our eyes to heaven we have cause enough to cry out God be merciful to us sinners undeserving ill-deserving men and women we acknowledge our natures are blots of all wickednesses we are by nature enemies to thy Majesty heirs of death children of darkness slaves to sin captives to lust dead to sins and trespasses how are our understandings darkned and our hearts-hardened what are our hearts but a store house of malicious thoughts a brothel house of adultery a palace of pride we are by nature