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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	church_n	earth_n	militant_a	5,036	5	12.4963	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89411	Several works of Mr. Iohn Murcot, that eminent and godly preacher of the Word, lately of a Church of Christ at Dublin in Ireland. Containing, I. Circumspect walking, on Eph. 5.15,16. II. The parable of the ten virgins, on Mat. 25. from ver. 1. to ver. 14. III. The sun of righteousness hath healing in his wings for sinners, on Mal. 4.2. IV. Christs willingness to receive humble sinners, on John 6.37. Together with his life and death. Published by Mr. Winter, Mr. Chambers, Mr. Eaton, Mr. Carryl, and Mr. Manton. With alphabetical tables, and a table of the Scriptures explained throughout the whole.	Murcot, John, 1625-1654.; Winter, Samuel, 1596?-1665.; Chambers, Robert, minister in Dublin.; Eaton, Samuel, 1506?-1665.; Manton, Thomas, 1620-1677.; Caryl, Joseph, 1602-1673.; J. G.	1657 (1657)	Wing M3083; Thomason E911_1; ESTC R202939	754,107	852

this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here we have had the sad surprisal of these poor Creatures that have their Grace to get at the last they are taken before they are ready for Christ for alas their Lamps ware out Let men put off the coming of Christ as long as they will and trifle away their day of Grace though he tarry a while yet he that shall come will come and will not tarry Well now he cometh But that is not all neither he cometh upon them not only while they are getting their Grace but while they are seeking up and down to the creature for it and never look at him at all and this maketh it so much the sadder indeed when Jesus Christ shall come to judgement particular or general to find men with their backs upon himself and their faces upon their formalities and profession upon their flattering false Teachers that at a venture cry peace peace though there be no ground will it not be sad brethren The Lord help us every one to look to it for I intend not to stay upon this either we are such as seek our oyl of Jesus Christ we live by faith in him or else we seek to the Creature we hang our hopes upon somewhat else if so whatever it be that relieveth us in the time of our trouble on this side Jesus Christ this is the object of our whoredom Now shall the Bridegroom find us in the very act of whoredom playing the whore in departing from him and will this be peace or comfort to our souls How will you lift up your faces before him brethren how can a Woman that pretends faithfulness to an Husband if he take her in the very act how can she hold up her head to him O the confusion and amazement will be upon us if Jesus Christ find us in the like Coudition can you think how poor creatures will hang the head and be filled with their shame whether shall they cause their shame to pass from them O then brethren If you have neglected the day of Grace and while oyl hath been offered you and that upon easie terms without money and without price and now you be convinced of your want of it because you know not how soon it may come upon you Let me beg of you that whenever he cometh he may not find you going up and down to buy of the Creature but coming to him waiting upon him as the Apostle did that you may be found in him hence the poor thief upon the Cross found mercy though it were at the last O take heed of deceit here for every one will say that they have no other hope but in Jesus Christ and him they wait upon all the day O that it were so brethren but I doubt he will find many of us going to buy when he cometh and not of him but of them that sell then they are running to their flattering parasitical Preachers then they must have an absolution a comfortable word though they have lived never so wretchedly as if a few comfortable words of a daubing Mountebank would transform them from Devils incarnate into Saints in a Moment which is not much better if any thing then the Priests mumbling over the bread and wine to change it into the body and blood of Christ Then when Christ is coming the Bride-groom cometh doth he not find many running then to a prayer then to a Sacrament if they can but have that they think they are secure enough poor ignorant creatures what is this but to go and buy of them that sell instead of going to Jesus Christ Well surely as this will much concern him to find men so undervaluing him who is a Saviour to the utmost to go any whether rather then to him so will it be confusion to your souls if you be found in the very act there will be no denying no excusing of it you will have nothing to say for your selves therefore let us be warned to take heed of this But so much for this Verse 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IN this Verse you have a twofold observation of the coming of the Bridegroom His coming is to make a full distinction and separation between the precious and the vile the end is the differencing thing Mark the perfect c. the end of that man is peace hypocrites and real believers promiscuously go in and out in this Church Militant this heaven upon earth but now there shall be a difference put to some the door of heaven is opened and they enter to others it is shut it is clapt against them We will in the first place a little consider the first they that were ready went in with him unto the Marriage There are divers things Note-worthy in this little clause I shall but briefly run over them 1. Some then it seemeth are ready for entrance into glory 2. Such as are ready do enter 3. That they enter with Christ with the Bridegroom And 4. That this glory is set forth by a Marriage or a Marriage-Feast as the word elsewhere imports of which afterwards I will wind up the two first into one Note or Doctrine That such as are ready when Christ cometh do enter into glory This is sufficiently clear from the Text the Parable setting forth the state of all the Saints as they shall be differenced from hypocrites at the day of their appearance before Christ for it is the Kingdom of heaven is here compared to the Virgins the Church visible to the wise and foolish the Church invisible to the wise Virgins so I understand it Now these wise Virgins they were ready prepared for the entrance in to the Marriage though the foolish were not they that were ready that is to say all the wise Virgins they entred in so that this reacheth the condition of Gods people in all times and ages who are a part of this Kingdom The Israelites when God had proved and prepared them by enuring them to the wilderness to so many hardships then they entred into Canaan 〈◊〉 not before fourty years they wandered before they must enter but when once prepared they enter So the Apostle when he had finished his course and fought the good fight then he was ready to enter and he entred into glory therefore it is that it is said of the righteous he is gathered like a Shock of corn in his due season that is to say when it is fully ripe and ready to the sickle a wise husband-man will not reap the field while it is green and unready no more will the Lord gather his Saints to him until they be prepared they must hang in the Sun so long and endure the nipping of cold and injuries of weather so long until they be ready and then they are gathered Two things I shall do before I come to the Application First a little inquire what is meant by this readiness and herein indeed only put you in mind

glory as it were of divine attributes they all shine forth in him each with his peculiar glory The Temple the glory of the Lord filled it so that they could not stand before him to minister sometimes So Brethren now the Lord hath placed his name in Jesus Christ he hath filled him with his glory therefore saith the Prophet the glory of the Lord is risen on thee that is Jesus Christ is manifested to thee was not his glory so great as to confound John though a vessel fitted to be filled with those glorious revelations from-him He fell at his feet as one dead at the sight of him in that vision How glorious is an Angel that the very sight of him was an astonishment to John what is the Lord of the Angels If the Moon be so glorious what is the Sun Thirdly the Sun is full of light in it self and filsall things capable of its light and yet hath never the less the twinkling Tapers of heaven they have each of them their light some more some less and the Moon hath much light and giveth much but what 's borrowed light First she hath it not in her self nor in such abundance as the Sun hath So it s here the Saints they are lights of the Sun as our Saviour saith but alas like poor candles that burn dim and sometimes through the thickness of the damps of corruption in our hearts burn blew and are ready to go out for the most part 〈…〉 but as the light in the socket sometimes up and sometimes down and every moment a man would think it would go out the Angels and spirits of just men made perfect are like stars shining more gloriously and constantly But alas nothing to the Sun he sheds the light abroad throughout the whole hemisphere at once Set up many lights at once in a dark night they will give light but a little way and how poor and weak a 〈…〉 light so that when the Sun shineth they appear not at all and that the Sun should so long fill the world with his light and have never the less this is admirable But this is but a shadow Brethren to the light of Jesus Christ he is the true light that is such a light as that nothing else deserveth to be called a light in comparison of him as far as the subject is recipient a glorious spirit is before a vile body so far is the light of Christ in its own nature above the Suns light And then for fulness there is no comparison though there be hardly any thing obvious to ou● senses which are to ●et in light to the understand 〈…〉 that is more glorious and so is more ●it to set forth the Lord Jesus his fulness of Light by Light maketh manifest all things and that that maketh things manifest is the Light now the light of the Sun its true discovers much that before it arose appeared not but its possible to hide from its light Brethren in the depths of the earth in the bowels of man it discovereth not any of those much less the secrets of hearts there 's no suitableness between such a cause and such an effect But the Lord Jesus he searcheth all the deep things of men the very Marrow of their bones which is the deepest and hath the most coverings upon coverings he searcheth them So doth Christ the ends of men which are the most hidden usually in all their designs they are deep as the Marrow in the bones cloathed over with flesh and skin and bones pretence upon pretence but Christ this Light is so piercing that there is no hiding any thing from it Fourthly The Sun his Tabernacle is in heaven there he made a Tabernacle for the Sun there is the seat of the eye of the world from whence he views all that is under his Government there is his Palace and from thence he dispenceth light and influence So Brethren it s with Jesus Christ he hath his Tabernacle in heaven that is in his Church for so oftentimes the Church is called there the Lord placeth his Tabernacle as he saith of Israel of old I will place my Tabernacle among them and dwell in the midst of them He walks in the midst of the golden Candlesticks to behold them to be nigh them to dispence of his light to them and of his influence So doth the Sun communicate of his light to the Moon and to the Stars in heaven and to the inhabitants upon earth We are not to understand all this of Christ his person meerly but Christ as held out in his Ordinances in his Church therefore he is said by the Church to make manifest the mercy and wisdom of God his Ordinances are the raies and beams as afterward we shall speak when we come to open that part of the Text. But his Tabernacle is the Church thence he shines forth on many others as the earth is lightned by the raies from heaven Fifthly From the warming of the Sun how cold and frozen are those Northern parts of the world because remote from the Sun how cold is the hemisphere when the Sun is set for a time ●ow warm when it shines So the Lord Jesus it is that 's the Author of heat the Winter is past the Summer is come the rain is over the flowers appear on the earth and the voice of singing of birds heard that is Christ is revealed in the power of his love to poor sinners this is that which warmeth the coldest heart when we are frozen in our affections and as waters frozen up cannot run this way nor that way so we can do nothing nor move towards God Then Brethren it s a sight of the Sun of righteousness the Lord Jesus a hot gleamfrom him that thaws all and melts all warmeth all again and therefore in this respect also he may be compared to the Sun Sixthly because of influence which may be they say where there is no heat nor light at least and therefore Philosophers tell us that by the influence of the Sun the gold is concocted in the bowels of the earth whither its light cannot come And this is that Brethren that calls forth the fruits of the earth that in the winter for fear of cold were retired the sap recoiling to the root there to be preserved until a season for it Now the Sun the heat and warmth and influence thereof calls it forth again so that the grass and fruits plants and herbs put forth bud and blossom as we see it in the spring so the face of the earth is renewed And so it s in this case the Lord Jesus from heaven shineth forth and conveighing secretly the powerful influences of his Spirit and of the Word to poor sinners though they were as dead and dry sticks before as trees that are starven with the frost and seem dead then they put forth again then they grow green and flourishing then

But who may say to God what dost thou He is in one mind and who can turn him and what his Soul desireth even that he doth He performeth the thing that is appointed for us and many such things are with him But though we have nothing to say to God the most wise God about this dispensation yet this saith much to Man This saith much to Ireland whither God sent this burning and shining light Have not they much cause to consider how they prized it how they improved it seeing God put it out so quickly and gave them so short a season to rejoyce in it That he preached so few years to them should be to them an everlasting Sermon And this question should come thick upon the heart of that Church there which was the Candlestick in which God placed this light why was it so why was it so why hath the Lord removed our Teacher into a Corner the very Grave so that our eyes cannot see our Teacher who was also a Pastor after his own heart any more Was he enough in our hearts or was he too much there We may forfeit our enjoyments by too high as well as by too low an esteem of them and by looking too much upon means provoke God to hide it from us But whatever moved the Lord to take him from you it well becomes you to be thankful that you had him though but for a short season in person among you and that so much of him this mant le which fell from him as he was ascending is gathered up and left with you and other Churches as his Monument and Memorial for ever Joseph Caryl Good Reader IT is often seen that good men die soonest our translation to heaven is delayed only till our fitness to enjoy heaven assoon as we are meet for that blessed inheritance we are gathered in like a shock of Corn in its season some ripen for heaven apace and are taken out of the world sooner then others now it is pitty that all their fruit should die with them Christ saith to his Apostles I have ordained you to bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain Intending I suppose not only their reward in heaven and the continuance of Believers begotten by them to God who in a very commodious sense are the surviving fruit of their labours but also their Doctrine consigned to the use of future ages by writing The writings of the Apostles I confess are more necessary then those of private men as making up the Canon and rule of Faith but yet the explications of ordinary Pastors and Teachers have their use and benefit and it is a commendable diligence in them that gather up the fragments of good men that nothing be lost It pleased God to call up this worthy servant of Jesus Christ to heaven betimes it were pitty that the Sermons coming from such a warm and affectionate spirit should die away with the breath in which they were uttered as his fruit remaineth I hope in the hearts of many that heard him so is it wrapt up in these papers by the diligence of his surviving friends to preserve it from perishing and forgetfulness It s an happiness though not to be hoped for yet to be wished for that none would write in this publick way but very holy or very learned men who either from their profounder knowledge of the mysteries of godliness or inward acquaintance with the workings of the Spirit are most likely to improve or keep alive the Doctrine of God in the Christian world this worthy instrument thou wilt find to be a man by no means of dispicable abilities but chiefly excelling in a gracious heart and much inward experience in the things of God and though deep speculations and luscious language is not here to be expected yet many wholsom and heart-warming truths delivered in a grave and unaffected stile which if my hopes deceive me not will be of great use to quicken this dull and carnal age to a greater study and vigour of holiness and therefore being desired I could not but recommend these Sermons to thy best acceptance I am Covent-Garden this 19. of Jan. 1656. Thine in the Lords work Tho. Manton De. Authore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Per Tho. Gloverum Warwicensis Scholae Ludimagistrum De Eodem FAllor an ipse tuo Murcotte per omnia vives Saecula cum terris corpus inane jacet Dignus es aeterna qui laude feraris ad astra Cui novi terras vix peperisse parem Mortuus es Murcotte at saeva morte triumphas Quem non Lethaeis sors dare quivit aquis Membra licet jaceant tristi resupina sepulchro Facta tamen nolunt saecula sera mori Per Eundem CHristian come hither read and reading mind And thou shalt here a Directory find A light indeed but borrowed from heaven Which will direct to keep thy foot-steps even Whilest that a darksom wilderness we tread The fiery Pillar will us safely lead See here 's a Pillar on which who casts his sight Shall see a flame out-shining all false light Through which maugre the spight of mankinds foe He shall to the coelestial Canaan go Where that Star shines now in perfection Which sparkled here for Saints direction per me Tho. Glover Warwicensis Scholae Ludimagistrum The Table of the Scriptures opened and explained in this Volumn   Genesis   Chap. Ver. Page 4 7 120 17 12 487 25 8 329   Exodus   1 13 490 16 25 370 20 20 553 32 12 395 34 7 636   Leviticus   19 23 89 25 41 517   42 ibid.   44 487   45 530   46 ibid.   Joshua   1 5 430 18 3 296   2 Samuel   3 16 523 9 13 219   1 Kings   11 13 394 22 29 159   Nehemiah   8 10 341   Job   2 22 393 5 26 326 8 07 558 16 00 066 19 27 137 21 from 7 to 9 133 31 1 364   21 236 33 26 182   Psalms   1 3 245 4 3 091 18 23 235 36 08 340 40 6 532 51 17 281 75 8 344 76 5 193 84 7 561 92 12 560 94 7 402 111 10 p. 81 See this in the first subject Circumspect walking 119 59 76. See this in the first subject Circumspect walking c.   Proverbs   1 26 315 3 14 367 4 27 61 See this in the first subject Circumspect walking c. 9 1 353   2 ibid.   4 357 12 10 396 24 5 605 26 23 399   Eccles   2 9 558   Canticles   2 7 81 See this in the first subject Circumspect walking   11 419 4 10 350 5 1 ibid.   2 158 168 184   3 160 161   Isaiah   1 5 442 443   6 ibid.  

is a solitary duty and requires a calm and undisturbed retirement Now the curtains of a sick-bed are often opened and the languishing Patient seldom at rest The weeping wife lamenting children sorrowful servants busie Physitian condoling visitants must all be heeded and hearkened to and answers returned to their enquiries so that our time is taken up in meditating on our pain and relating it to others Doubtless health and a closet are most convenient for self-reflexions which if procrastinated till the last period of our lives are rarely attended with a real conversion and turning to God in truth and sincerity How seldom are dying men new-born and they added to the Church that are going out of the world The sins of departing souls come crouding and thronging in so thick upon them so that a distinct consideration of them cannot be taken and now mens former golden dreams of heaven and high-flown hopes of after-happiness vanish like smoak and leave behind them in their stead despair destraction confusion consternation and a certain fearful expectation and looking for of fiery indignation to devour O that men were wise that they would remember their latter ends and whilest the light shines provide for the daies of darkness for they are many The Devil hath a jealous eye upon all Engines that might probably batter his Kingdom loosen his hold and weaken his interest besides the flesh loves to be abundantly favoured and therefore I expect that objections against this course of calling our selves to account daily will be multiplied Object 1. The work seems to be attended with many thorny and inextricable difficulties hence mens loathness to take it up Answ 1. He that withdraws his neck from the yoak of Christ because of its pinching weight is unworthy of Christ In vain do men hope to be saved who provide for their own ease when Christ is calling upon them for service Never expect to look him with comfort in the face unless you resolve to be indefatigable in his work 2. Do not men upon a worldly score take abundance of pains in casting up their accounts Will not the practise of many merchants rise up in judgement against themselves and others at the last day They can rise early sit up late and immure themselves in their closets and counting-houses and there at large set down their receipts and disbursments Marriners when at Sea set down in their Diurnals every turn of the wind and when it began how many hours nay minutes the ship sailed such a point of the Compass and how many another yea though they sleep but half the night yet they must find time to do this because their lives lie at the stake and the safety of the whole is concerned How come souls trow to be at such a low and cheap rate that the safety and welfare of the Body should be preferred before them 3. It is better to take pains then to run the hazard of suffering eternal pains 4. The greatest part of the difficulty lies in the Porch when you are once entred into the House you will not repent of the pains you have taken but find encouragement to take more A clear discovery of a mans condition hath in it much of satisfaction Object 2. Multiplicity of unavoidable worldly occasions by some may be pretended for their omission of this duty they have not time and leisure enough to do as others do Answ 1. One thing only is necessary other things are but convenient It s necessary that you have grace and be saved not so that you be rich and advanced to an high degree in the world 2. Lessen your business and contract your occasions within a narrower compass Have less to do in the world that so you may have more time to spend in a devout retirement Believe it Christians Time is a precious Talent that must be reckoned for See therefore that you husband it to the best advantage Be sure you reserve the morning and evening for converse with God and communing with your own hearts not neglecting a watchful jealousie over your selves all the day Religion is not a little obstructed by unnecessary visits frothy discourses unsaint-like gaming 's and Paganish pastimes Take heed of being late abroad out of your own houses It becomes not those who profess they look for and hast unto the coming of the Lord to come stumbling home and to be groping for their doors at midnight when they should rather be in the secret chamber dressing and making themselves ready against the marriage-Supper of the Lamb. I am bold to affirm that reading the Scriptures instructing our families praying to God and singing praises to his name c. make sweeter musick in his ears then the ratling of Tables and the shuffling of Cards the bane of great mens houses and it were well if the infection had not diffused it self to multitudes of inferiour families The plain truth of it is men and women for the generality of them chuse not God for their chiefest good they make not him the object of their delight their rejoycing is not in Christ Jesus Religion is a sapless yea a sour thing unto them and hence it is that they turn aside to vain sports and sensible delights If you find your hearts averse to the practise of a Diary yet let me intreat and ingage you to make tryal of it for a few daies do not obstinately decline a course which you have no experience of But if you are resolved through grace to take up and persevere in the practise of the duty proposed beware that it do not degenerate into a customary and empty formality Rest not in the bare doing of the thing but prosecute the work in order to its ends which are spiritual and of unspeakable advantage FINIS CIRCVMSPECT Walking A Christians Wisdom Ephes 5. 15 16. See then that you walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise Redeeming the time because the dayes are evil THE Apostle in this Chapter according to his manner doth build upon the faith in Christ Jesus to justification the Doctrine of good works and a holy conversation and matters of morality In this Chapter he devideth that his Doctrine as I may say into Ethicks and Oeconomicks rules more generally concerning the framing the conversations of all and rules more speciall and particular to Family ralations This he had begun in the former Chaprer ver 17. This I say therefore and testifie that ye walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind The Apostle descends to many Particulars in that Chapter and carrieth on the Exhortation in this Chapter wherein our Text is The general Proposition still being supposed That the Saints ought to be adorned with all manner of vertue and to keep themselves unspotted of the world he exhorts them to a freeness of pardoning one another wherein thy had the Example of God and it would declare them to be his dear children in the first verse of this

fore-runner or harbinger of death that cry from the Rod hath a voice and that voice is Gods voice he speaks in it and it is not an ordinary voice but a crying voice the word it whispers the loud crying of the word is but a whispering in comparison of the voice of God in the Rod it cryeth hear the Rod and who hath appointed it Mind it if a Judgement be upon a City is there any evil in a City and he hath not wrought it it cryeth to the whole City louder then Jonah did repent repent for you may perish and come to the tribunal within less then 40. daies or hours So every disease in a family cryeth to the family cryeth to the person prepare make ready that we need not such a message as the Prophet Isaiah brought to Hezek the voice of God in the Rod cryeth prepare make ready for he is coming here is a blow that the Tabernacle of Clay is ready to tumble and then soul where wilt thou appear if thou be not ready Or else Thirdly by cry it may be meant as Chrysost Theophyl Jer. Hilary Aret. and others understand it of the last trump of the arch-Angel Arise ye dead and come to Judgement this will be such a cry Brethren as will make all the world ring of it indeed that will pierce to the bottom of the deep to make it give up its dead to the bowels of the earth to make it give up its dead Then shall all arise the dead in Christ shall rise first Well this cry goeth before or accompanyeth this coming of the Bride-groom Fourthly Then he cometh For the heavens now must contain him until the Consummation of all things and then he will come to judge quick and dead he that shall come will come though he seem long to the people of God he that shall come will come then mockers shall know where the promise of his coming is they shall know their Judgement lingers not nor damnation slumbereth not He will come soon enough for all too soon for many poor creatures the Lord grant none of us be found in our sinful condition Fifthly The time is at midnight The Jews have a tradition that the coming of Christ to Judgement will be at midnight and hereupon the Primitive Christians it should seem did use to watch all night the Eve of the Pass-over expecting his coming as Jerom reports saith Beza but to be wise above what is reason you see whether it leads men in the dark for what is more directly against our Saviour his own words Of that day and hour knoweth no man no not the Angels in heaven but my father only At midnight with respect to the solemnity of the marriage that is to say later then usually and therefore unexpected when all was silent nocte intempestâ when deep sleep useth to seize upon men The man of the house at midnight his eyes are sealed up with sleep and when he least dreameth of the thief then he cometh and surprizeth him So the Lord Jesus like a thief in the night when men usually are least aware most uncomposed and unfit for his coming for the most part The rest of his actions in this Parable will come in under the other part which is the Church for you have in the general First the subject of this comparison the Kingdom of heaven and what that is I shall not need here to speak much of it hath various expressions in Scripture It is not I conceive here taken for the Kingdom of glory for there are no foolish Virgins members of that Kingdom No nor the Kingdom of grace which is within the Saints for the same reason Nor yet for the Administrations of the Kingdom as sometimes it is taken But it is taken here for the visible Church of Jesus Christ wherein some are wise some are foolish Some hold out some fall short of heaven and the glory of God and some are crowned enduring to the end and thus much for the opening of that expression Second thing in general to be noted is the time Then shall the Kingdom of heaven be likened compared or shall be like then when even when the Son of man shall come Brethren to solemnize the marriage with such as he hath here espoused to himself then when we come to appear before him all together it shall most evidently appear to be so But in a sort it is so in every mans particular Judgement at his death or dissolution there is a Specimen given to the truth of this parable and this appears from the connexion of this Chapter with the former the last ver of the former Chapter he speaks of cutting in sunder that evil servant that presuming upon the Masters delay should beat his fellow-servants and eat and drink with the drunken he shall cut him in sunder and give him his portion with hypocrites where is weeping and gnashing of teeth for ever Then shall the Kingdom of heaven be likened to ten Virgins And though then the spirits of many just men be already made perfect and many hypocrites already in the everlasting chains of darkness yet because they have been members of the visible Church in a sort all such may come under such a consideration at the great and terrible day of his appearing when the sheep shall be set upon his right hand and the goates on his left hand as you have it in the latter end of this 25. Chapter Now for the Church visible compared to ten Virgins There are two sorts brethren in a visible Church such as are Saints indeed and do enjoy the Lord Jesus and have that Kingdom of God even righteousness peace and joy in the Holy-Ghost within them and such as are only so nomine tenus they go for such with men who cannot search the heart ought not to judge the heart immediately but tenderly and alway with the greatest favour to judge of men Now such is this Kingdom of heaven here mentioned And therefore we will consider what is said of them two waies cast it two waies haply it may appear the more clearly and distinctly to our understanding First We will consider what in the parable is common to them both to Hypocrites and Formal Professors with real Saints who possess and enjoy Jesus Christ Secondly We will consider what is peculiar to either of them and set contraria juxta se they wil give light each to other and this briefly First then for the things wherein they agree or which are common to Saints indeed with Saints in appearance only or seeming and real Saints They are all of them called Virgins not in commendation of virginity as Jerom did childishly conceive as Calvin noteth But to Virgins they are compared either only because in the marriage solemnity the Virgins used to go forth to meet the Bridegroom and bring him to his Chamber So here they must go forth to meet the Lord Jesus Or else

your husband if you believe in him But I will not stand any longer upon this Doctrine I had now thought to have gone on with what is spoken concerning Jesus Christ according to the first proposal of a method But it may happily be as well if not better to many understandings to take things as they lye in the Text and therefore I shall so do Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened to ten virgins which took their Lamps and went forth to meet the Bridegroom For the Adverb of Time Then I shall happily speak somewhat afterward The Kingdom of Heaven that is to say the visible Church I might in●ist upon it and shew you that the Church visible is a Kingdom and that Christ is the head of this Church the King of the Saints and not onely ruleth the Saints which really believe by his word and spirit which abide and dwell in them but also he ruleth his Church visible by his word and spirit and Ordinances all the Administrations of the Kingdom But that Kingdom hath been lately spoken to by a brother therefore I will wave that I might also speak something to the heavenliness of the Kingdom the Kingdom of Heaven and shew you how it is heavenly in its Original in divine Laws Institutions and many other ways But you had it held forth largely by a better hand therefore I will not trouble you again with these things so soon It shall be likened to ten virgins There is another Note which floweth clearly I think from the words and that is this The visible Church for the matter is made up of visible Saints that this is so will appear from the very Text it self First It shall be compared to ten virgins he saith not to a mixed multitude or to 10 women five wherof are virgins and 5 harlots or strumpets but to 10 virgins and what that word doth import I believe you remember since the words were opened to you such are turned from Idols to the living God as he speaks of the conversion of the Thessalonians according to the judgement of Charity for else so far as a professed subjection to Jesus Christ and renouncing them reacheth he spake according to a judgement of verity for that they did profess and so escaping the pollutions of the world forsaking gross and loose courses and professedly subject themselves to the rule of the government of Jesus Christ To such the Church visible is here compared and the most the Lord speaks of his relation to his people it is after the manner of men under such similitudes as we can conceive of and as we may be led by as by a clew into the understanding of the deep mysteries of faith and salvation But if any will think or say this is not a sure bottom to build such a truth or point upon because the virgins here are not considered as virgins but as persons accompanying the Bride going forth to meet the Bridegroom I shall first say That as they are not onely considered as virgins so neither is the consideration of their virginity to be waved for as in the similitude usually they were those virgins which did accompany the Bride so I suppose in the Apodosis now of the comparison we are to look for somewhat which may answer that virginity And you finde it in Scripture to be answered by those things I have proposed that is to say their forsaking Idolatry turning to the true God and their renouncing their former prophane conversation And then secondly I say this is not the only bottom in the Text whereupon it is builded For in the second place besides that they are called Virgins or compared to virgins they are also said to take their Lamps and surely if we must expound what is meant by the Lamps we can understand and nothing less by it then a visibility of Saintship But if this will not carry it neither methinketh the Third should be undenyable they went forth to meet the Bride-groom that is to say they went forth from home and forlook their fathers house and mothers they set upon their journey heavenward Zion-ward to meet Jesus Christ who is the Bridegroom who will ere long come to take the Bride unto himself There are many Scriptures will speak fully to the proof of this Some prophesies there are as that in the Prophet Isaiah there he speaks of a high-way shal be cast up and the unclean shal not pass over it Again none uncircumcised in heart or flesh shall enter into his Sanctuary this applyed not only to the times of their returning from Babylon but to the Gospel-times What can it speak less then this Brethren that no visible unclean creature shall ever enter into the Church of Christ It should consist of visible Saints This is plain by the tares and the wheat which while in the blade are are so like they hardly discernable in those Countries as Jerom saith And so by the Apostles wherefore else do they call them holy to the Saints which are at Corinth at Ephesus c but either they were all such visibly and in the judgement of charity or else ought to have been such Mistake not I say not that none should be a member of a Church but he that is a real Saint and shall be saved for then there could be no Church wherein we could walk or administer or receive any ordinance de fide because we know not who are such nor cannot know as I conceive nor have any rule to make an infallible judgement of any man but only probably to conclude concerning the state and conditions of men that which is invisible to us it is true its visible to God and that which is visible to him is invisible to us But visible Saints surely they ought to be Now for the further opening of this what I mean by visible Saints and Saint-ship I shall endeavour to lay it down in these particulars as plainly as I can to your understandings First Then it is requisite to Saint-ship that there be a separation to God from the world that is holiness whether in things or in persons when they are separated to God for any special use of his they are called holy Common and unclean are convertible tearms as you have in it in the Acts and as appears by the sanctifying of the Vineyards and Orchards when the Lord had had the first-fruits of them then they themselves and others had the free use of them the word in the original is they polluted or prophaned them the common use of them is distinguished thereby from the holy use whereby they were separated before from them to the Lord whether persons separated to themselves to the Lord acti agimus the Lord turns them and they are turned or whether they be altogether passive as in the first work of God we all are if it be a separation to God this is a Holiness a Saint-ship he

world between the Sheep of Christ and dogs and swine Is it nothing to have the body and blood of Jesus Christ openly prostituted to such as though indeed they have the name of Christians yet their lives to every one that knoweth them deny that they have any thing to do with Christ No purging out the old Leven and therefore no likelihood to be a new lump O that we were sensible what a guilt is contracted every where by this means Alas Let the people of God take the greatest pains with their hearts to draw near to such an ordinance as the Lords Supper and they shall have cause to pray with Nehemiah The Lord spare us according to the multitude of tender mercies And with Hezekiah The Lord be merciful to every one that hath prepared his heart to seek the Lord though he be not prepared according to the preparation of the Sanctuary but when without any care it shal be promiscuously given to Drunkards Swearers openly prophane wicked wretches to the bane of their souls to the provoking God to bring wasting judgements upon the place and people where such things are done Surely it is time to look about us O! that we who can do no more but mourn for these things had such a sense of the dishonour of the Lord Jesus and abuse of his love and grace upon our hearts as to mourn And O that such of us as have power in our hands to command a Reformation in this kind the Lord would perswade the heart that there is such a power Hezekiah and J●siah not only commanded the true worship to be set up and turned the people from their Idols to the trne God but they commanded the purifying the Temple a type of the Church of Christ and purifying of the Priests and People that they should not pollute the Ordinances of God And this example of theirs is commended and surely it was done as they were types of Christ except they were types of Christ as they were Magistrates and if so it would follow we should have no Magistrates at all For Christ the substance being come the thing typified what should we do with the shadows any more 2. Then on the other hand they are to be blamed also who are stricter then the Lord Jesus would have them in their admissions to Christs fellowship and communion All visible Saints he would have admitted to communion and fellowship with his people in their several societies that is to say they seeking to joyn themselves to them Now here indeed there is a difference of apprehensions and I purpose not to enter into disquisition of such things at this time and in this place Mens charity may do something indeed to moderate them but it s not that which is to be the judge but the Scriptures what rules are there laid down according to which we ought to own persons as belonging to Christ his visible kingdom that is to say such as profess and contradict not their profession But surely it is blame-worthy if that upon niceties and trifles in comparison we shall dis-own such as truly fear the Lord so far as we can judge of them And truly Brethren I desire to speak it with a spirit of tenderness to them they are injurious in this respect who do deny Infants of Believers any room in the bosom of the Church for they are holy they are external Saints and separated to God and it is apparent that once they were members of the Church of Christ a●d by vertue of a Covenant of grace I will be thy God and the God of thy seed which he that denyeth any more to be comprehended in then a temporal blessing when God saith he will be their God I would pity them and pray for them that they might come to themselves again for then sure they would judge otherwise Now if they were such once members of that Church with which we are one now for so saith the Apostle plainly the Gentiles are made one with the Commonwealth of Israel we are graffed in among the branches how cometh it to pass they should be all cast off and cut off from the Olive and not a syllable of it mentioning any such thing in Scriptures no account given to the world of it and that it should be in such a time when the fulness of grace was revealed in Jesus Christ for grace came by him and now there should be less grace come by him and narrower priviledges to the Church will hardly be understood I think The third Doctrinal from the words will be this In the visible Church there are some good some bad Ordinarily they were not all wise virgins that the kingdom of heaven is compared to but five wise five foolish All within the visible Church are not wise to salvation Five of them were wise five were foolish The proportion of the wise to the foolish five to five in the Parable is not concluding that there are as many good as bad in the Church there may possibly be a visible Church where there are none bad but I doubt there is none such found there were but twelve Disciples and one was a Devil and all the parables whereour Saviour holdeth out the nature and state of the visible Church to us is we find there is a mixture So in the Parable of the Sower there are four sorts of ground to which the kingdom of heaven is compared and but one of them brought forth fruit to perfection the stony Ground it was quickly scorched from the sandy ground springs up quickly and withers as soon the thorny ground holds out longer and endures happily the scorching of the Sun the Persecution and yet is choakt when all is done And so the Parable of the tares sown in the field they grow up with the Corn and it seemeth by the ancient report even Jerom are so like it while in the blade that they can be hardly discerned from it but there they grow and partake of the juice of the earth and fatness of the soyl and are green and flourish and yet at last are singled out for fire And so the Barn-floor there is wheat and there is Chaff lying together until he whose fan is in his hand shall throughly purge it and then the separation being made Woe to the Chaff but at present c. And so the draw-net though it gather together somewhat naught which is to be cast away yet while under water it is hidden And so the Apostle All are not Israel that are of Israel Some are Israel that are of Israel but all are not Some are of Israel though they be not the Israel of God that shall inherit the heavenly Canaan I hope it is needless to waste more time in heaping up of Scriptures to make it good The ground may be because the Church here below the visible Church which admitteth of members hath not an infallible spirit to discern the

away their time in the world spending their strength for that which profiteth not labouring for the meat which perisheth which will not endure to eternal life you see the world was that which kept them from coming to the Feast in the Gospel one could not have while another could not have while a man cannot have two treasures except he had two hearts two contrary treasures earth and heaven both and where the treasure is there will the heart be also therefore Brethren while men are so altogether taken up with the world they cannot but neglect the main thing and so are found unready ●et worldlings hear this word and tremble if any others be likely to be found unready you are the men Even the people of God themselves if they be unready in part it is the world likely will put them out of order off the hinges take heed saith our Saviour your hearts be not at any time overcharged with the cares of this world because there is no time but that day may overtake you and then you will be taken unawares therefore much more a man that is drowned and buried in the world he will be sure to be unready Secondly Such as do but dally with God and Religion and the things of eternity they spend themselves and their strength to feed a formality to put forth broad and pleasant leaves and there is all but for faith and repentance and the great works of a Christian they scarse ever meddle with them at all they go to the creature here with the foolish Virgins go to the opinions of others to the graces of others to their flattering parasite Preachers to be seared and daubed up such as these are likely to be found unready none in more danger then a formal professor Thirdly Such as fail in the midst of their Christian course as you see these Virgins did usually such are hardly recovered again for you see how they wandered up and down from mountain to hill from creature to creature and come not to Jesus Christ So in the Gospel when the unclean spirit is gone out of a man c. Such are like to the Laodiceans spised out of the mouth of God which none returneth to again the Dog returneth to the vomit but not a man our time is fruitful in experiences of this kind you see the door is here shut against those Virgins which failed I mean it of a total Apostacy not partial declinings such the Saints themselves had the wise Virgins but the other lost all true saving grace they had none their form their profession it went out and then they were in darkness could not expect the coming of their Lord with their Lamps burning So much for the opening of it The door is shut the meaning of this is no more but that an entrance into heaven is denyed unto them that are not ready there is no mansion made ready for them that are not made ready for these mansions the Lord Jesus he is the door into the Church the Kingdom of grace and into the Kingdom of glory as you have beard they that enter must enter in by Jesus Christ have access by him now he will shut the door that is to say shut up his bowels and tender mercies for ever though they have been opened to poor sinners here upon earth then they shall be shut up he will have no more compassion on them but when they cry and call shut out their prayers they have clapt the door of their hearts and lockt them against him and now will he shut up his heart and lock it against them for ever Time was when the Jews might have found Jesus Christ but now saith he ye shall seek me and shall not find me but shall dye in your sins Indeed Brethren the door may be shut against a man here on earth after Gods waiting upon a people to be gracious to them he sware in his wrath they should never enter into his rest which was a type of heaven And so those that were invited to the feast they shall not taste of my dainties saith the King for they are not worthy If men refuse and reject the Gospel either professedly or in practise no marvel if the Lord turn the key of heaven gates upon them and they be shut out without any more hope for ever For the Arguments to confirm this a little First Because this feast in heaven admitteth no Guests without a wedding garment without holiness no entrance into heaven no man shall see the Lord except the Lord Jesus have known them and they have known him which is life eternal for so the Apostle puts them together we know that we know him or rather are known of him else Brethren there is no entrance he knoweth no man will acknowledge none then but with a wedding-garment here in the administrations of the Kingdom of grace a person may creep into the feast withont the wedding-garment indeed for the word preached it is for all but the distinguishing Ordinances men may be admitted to haply though they have no wedding-garment as you have it in that place of Matthew but he shall not abide there but shall be cast out he will bind him hand and foot and cast him out though he ●eaveth the admittance of them into the visible Church and visible communion in his ordinances to us who can judge but according to appearance and by the rules of charity yet himself cometh and vieweth the guests and who are fit to be owned as the guests of heaven that shall have entrance there he whose eyes are a flame of fire or like it piercing into the inwards of our souls to see what our spirits are cloathed with And if he takes it so ill of them that creep into the Communion of his Saints and Ordinances here below without a wedding-garment Surely then he will never admit any to this feast of new wine to eternity without such a wedding-garment Secondly Another Argument or Consideration to make this out may be this they that are unready shall not enter the door shall be shut upon them because they have neglected despised the Lord Jesus who is the door and hath the key of David and openeth and shutteth therefore now they shall be rejected the door hath stood open all the day long all the day long hath he stretched out his hands to a rebellious and gain-saying people he would have gathered them and they would not therefore now he will not now he will despise them as they have despised him and there is all the reason that can be that they that would have none of Christ by whom alone there is access to the Father and to this glory that he should have none of them neither they have resisted the motions of his Spirit the Holy-Ghost offering to convince them and now he will resist them clap the door against them Thirdly Because

Christ from our selves by such wantonness under the beams of Grace Ninthly Then Brethren learn we not to rest in the common influences of this Sun the Lord Jesus he shineth on the good and bad Brethren but he shineth only on the heads of some but into the hearts of others as the Apostle saith the passages between the head and the heart are opened and the light seizeth on the will and affections as well as the understanding the Sun may shine on thee thou mayst have much knowledge and an head full of notion and yet be but a weed for it shines on the weeds as well as on the flowers on the dunghill as well as on the garden the dunghil never savours so bad as when the Sun beateth most on it O what steams are there then enough to poyson a man Ah Brethren the shining of Jesus Christ on some poor sinners what doth it but raise steams of lust within men are more vile more wicked their guilt greater their condemnation surer their sins more loathsom to God then any others therefore stay not here Brethren except we find that the light we receive from Jesus Christ do scatter our lusts for they will not endure the light that is saving indeed except thou find that it change thee indeed and transform thy heart into his image from Glory to Glory if thou find thou art rather changed from dishonour to dishonour from one vile affection to another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Apostle cals them all the light thou hast received is nothing Tenthly They are not friends to Christ then Brethren that would make more Suns then one what is not the Lord of Glory a glo 〈…〉 s Sun enough is there not a fulness of light in him sufficient for us all a fulness of heat and influence in him for us all but we must be flattering our selves and others into a rivalship with Christ how gross are the Papists in this point making the Saints their mediatour of satisfaction and intercession both I do them no wrong they are the words of their Missall praying for pardon by the merits of their Saints and praying to them to intercede for them yea and to the Virgin to command her son O horrid but in them it s not so much because either they are in Egyptian darkness and denied the means of light or given up to strong delusions to believe a lye but for us that have the light of the knowledge of Christ in such a rich manner among us and yet have a Pope in our bellies the indignity is much greater to Jesus Christ how prone are we to set up our own works as our Saviour who can say his heart is clean and throughly purged from this evil O that we were but ashamed of it and were able to say that we do it not in our hearts for then it s not so deeply chargable on us as I doubt it s on many of us Therefore take heed of this Brethren of setting up any spark of our own kindling or of his kindling in us in defiance to the Lord Jesus in opposition against him or partnership with him in our salvation in our comfort or peace or joy of faith if we do and give him not the whole we do much dishonour him and shall find that we much wrong our own souls No readier way Brethren to bring an eclipse then when the Moon wil be interposing between the Sun the Earth Eleventhly What enemies are they then to Jesus Christ and to Mankind that would pluck the Sun out of the Firmament would we not account him a desperate enemy that would endeavour it and are they any better are they not much worse who would pluck away our Christ from us whether they be sins or lusts within which do indeed rather cloud or eclipse at most But there are some who would even pluck him out of his throne that the Father hath set for him in Heaven in his Church such as deny the Lord that bought them such as will not yield him to be the most high God equal to the Father though Christ counted it no robbery they count it a robbery for him be equal with him Can a creature-Christ be a sufficient Christ to give light and life and healing to poor sinners will this ever satisfie any tender conscience quiet any trouble 〈…〉 ul let it go then for a damnable heresie and let us abhor it and beware of it for nothing is so gross but in these times Sathan finds some vent for it and bewail it Brethren that ever any poor creatures that expect salvation by Jesus Christ should attempt such an high indignity against him what is it but to kiss him with Judas and yet to betray him with Joab to kiss the Son and yet to stab him he that would bring the Sun down to the light and condition of the Moon were a wretched man but this is nothing to the case in hand Twelfthly Then admire Brethren the tender mercy of the Lord that would give us such a Sun the Lord Jesus the Sun of righteousness if he had left the world in a Chaos at first and never commanded the light to shine out of darkness never set any Sun in the Firmament who could have charged any thing on him But he knew what a miserable world it would it be without the Sun and how little of the beauty and excellence and perfection of his works and wisdom would appear if there were no Sun But here Brethren shining forth more of his ●enderness and bowels unto poor Sinners in a dark and dead condition through the tender mercy of our God whereby the day-spring from an high hath visited us here are the soundings of his bowels toward us indeed when we were forlorn and helpless in our selves to cause this day-spring from on high to visit us And truly for us in this Land how long have we had the Sun of righteousness risen on us and that yet it is not set that he is not altogether eclipsed by the world of iniquity that he hath stood still as it were and not hastened to a setting this is unspeakable mercy admire it bless the Lord be filled with his praises Thirteenthly Brethren Then let us be exhorted to set our selves in the warm Sun I mean to wait diligently on the Lord Jesus in his Ordinances for these are the Orb in which he moveth in his Church the Heavens and doth as it were wheel about the Church in them as the Sun in the Orb to communicate his light and heat and influences and therefore its observable that David saith I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of God then dwell in the tents of wickedness why saith he The Lord is a Sun and a Shield Glory and a Defence round about them therefore he would be a door-keeper in the house of God because there and then and to them he

it formally consists are 1. In a desire of the soul after Christ 658 2. In passing all other stands and rests on this side Christ 659 3. In coming to him 660 4. In coming with heart-words 661 1. Words of Confession 2. Words of Petition ibid. 5. In closing with Christ 662 The Second thing in the Doctrine What is meant by not casting out 663 1. Not out of his heart 664 2. Not out of his Church ibid. 3. Not sending away empty either at the first or after-coming 665 666 4. Not out of heaven ibid. The Doctrine proved 1. From the promise of Christ 66 71 If otherwise Then 2. from Christs being argued unchangeable 668 3. From Christs slighting of his Fathers gift ibid. 4. From Christs failing in his trust 669 5. From Christs undervaluing of his blood ibid. 6. From undoing what the Father had done 670 7. From Christs bringing upon himself the imputation of delusion 671 1. Because of the many invitations made hy him to poor creatures ibid. 2. Because of his being contradicted of imposture 672 3. Because inconsistent with Christs bowels and tenderness ibid. The first Use is to lament the backwardness of our hearts in coming to Christ 673 The second Use shews the grievous nature of the sin of unbelief By considering 1. The unreasonableness of this sin 675 1. In respect of our selves 675 2. In respect of Christ 676 2. The injuriousness of this sin ibid. 3. The unkindness of this sin 678 4. The danger of this sin ibid. 1. Binding the guilt of all other sins upon the soul ibid. 2. Bringing blood upon a mans own head 679 3. Bringing the blood of Christ upon a mans head ibid. The third Use serves for Exhortation to every poor soul to come to Christ 680 From whence several considerations against the many hard thoughts of coming to Jesus Christ As 1. How injurious it is to grace 681 2. Christ leaves the soul altogether without excuse ibid. 3. How prejudicial to Jesus Christ 683 4. The experiences of all the Saints ibid. 5. The soul can have no evidence of being given to Christ until it come ibid. 6. How willing to run at hazard seeing there is so much certainty of speeding 684 7. It s a grief to Christ that the soul will not be perswaded of his good will ibid. The fourth Use exalts the riches of the grace of Christ to poor sinners 685 The fift Use declares that there is no falling away from Christ either from Justifying or Sanctifying grace once received 686 The sixth Use puts in a double caution 1. That impenitent sinners encourage not themselves in an evil way upon the account of Christs tenderness and mercy to poor sinners 687 2. That they that are in Christ take heed they abuse not this grace to wantonness 689 The seventh Use serves for a comfort to Gods people in all their fears and doubts that Christ will never cast them out 690 The first Objection That the soul thought it came to Christ c. but saies he is cast off and therefore concludes it was never truly in Christ is answered 691 The second Objection that the soul knows not whether ever yet it came to Christ and therefore is cast off is answered 692 1. Though Christ seems not for a time to own the soul yet he doth support it 693 2. When the heart is unsatisfiedly drawn after Jesus Christ ibid. 3. When the soul is willing to receive him as King and Saviour ibid. 4. When the soul is content to wait a while 694 5. When the soul is frequent in acting of faith to receive Christ ibid. FINIS Non loqu 〈…〉 nur mag●a sed vivimus 2 Tim. 2. 26. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est substantivum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Col. 1. 12. Iob 5. 26. Iohn 15. 16. Eph. 2. 10. 1 Cor. 3. 9. * How sparkling is knowledge when set off with the ●oll of a modest self depression Ignorance checkered with Impudence is all the stock that many confident Predicants set up withall * O the stupendious stupidity and dismal blockishness of those who having contracted the guilt of most monstrous and abhorred villanies are yet as sens●●ss as stocks as hard as rocks and complain not of any stirrings and gripes of con science Esa 57. 16. So sparks fly over from Dublin Zeal Ex. 32. 19. Mat. 5. 9. * Cap. Johnson W. Fisher Iohn 21. 17. * Though the Ocean bubble and boyl like a pot yet the falling tears of con●●ite self-condemning Christians do suddenly asswage the Seas rising roughness and check its mutinous and menacing motions * Oritic S. 5. Courage Ex● 4 13 14. Heb. 2. 13. 2 Car. 11. 23. Luke 9. 61. 1 Tim. 3. 5. * They are great enemies to their own comfort who live in the neglect of this Ordinance and whilst the Congregation is trumpeting out Gods praises sit like mopish mutes with a discontented eye and cloudy countenance as if the musick which they hear were howling rather than Singing † He was far from the opinion and temper of those whom the very thoughts much more debates of having their poor Babes Baptized do strangely transport with rage and an high indignation 〈…〉 inst any that shall attempt it Phil. 3. 19. 3 Tim. 6. 8. Phil. 3. ●o 2 Cor. 9. 2. Prov 3. 28. Eccles 11. 1. Prov. 19. 11. Prev 24. 29. Rom. 12. 20 21. 1 Pet. 5. 6. Prevented by his coming out of his closet at 11 clock in the night * Awake O sleepy sl●ggard and let not the rising Sun find thee fl●t on thy back and when the great eye of the world is up and open let not thine be shut me thinks its bright and penetrating raies should scatter that cloud of sleep and security that hangs upon thy dull and depressed brow Knowest thou not O drowsie drone that thou hast a great deal of work to do and but a little time to dispatch it in 2 Sam. 2. 23. Nov. 19. 1654. * 1. It produceth a calm a quietness in the soul against all distracting fears O he is come saith a Martyr and death was nothing to him 2. It is the most real good in heaven or in earth other goods are vain and empty this is ●ound and solid this is bread indeed and no delusion as the world and Satan would perswade 3. It brings-with it all manner of good which way soever God turns all the creatures that depend on him turn 4. It seasons prosperity to us it mel●eth out the sweet and giveth us the marrow and fatne●s of it 5. It will season the bitterest cup of affliction the valley of the shadow of death will be but as another place Hab 3. 6. It will work effectually deliverance out of affliction 7. It will make us more then Conquerors Triumphers Rom. 8. 31. 8. It is of a teaching nature Psal 119. 125. When the Lord shines on our Readings Studyings Meditating then we are taught indeed 9. It melteth the heart kindly in a