Because here are the Lawes of Heaven Heb. 12. 25. Take heed speaking of the Ministry of the Gospel in the Churches that ye refuse not to hear him who speaketh from Heaven which Lawes are not only here promulgated as they be among the enemies of this Kingdom but accepted and received also without which Lawes what Kingdom could there be Christ's Kingdom in this world is neither tyrannical nor arbitrary to govern without Law no no but if he be our King he is our Law-giver also Isa. 33. 22. Nay the same Lawes by which we shall be ruled in Heaven we have here and we are now under That as our Divines say against the Papists though before Moses his time there was not scriptio verbi yet there was verbum scriptum which the Patriarchs had before the Floud and afterward until Moses his time So I say here though in Heaven the external Letter and scription both of Law and Gospel shall be abolished because they need theâ— not when the day-star is risen 2 Pet. 1. 19. Yet the living Rules of both for substance shall remain the end of the Ministry is to bring us to the unity of Faith in a perfect estate Eph. 4. 13. Therefore Faith shall not cease when Ministers shall and that perfect man shall come Our Faith indeed shall not then by such glasses see Christ nor adhere unto Christ by such means of Promises and Ordinances as we do now but without them we shall both see and for ever adhere to him who is our King at that day and though indeed the Law is now abolished as a Covenant of life yet it shall ever remain as a Rule of life perfect subjection to it is the happinesse of Saints in Heaven 1 Ioh. 1. as a heart contrary to it is the greatest misery of the Saints on earth Rom. 7. 24. 3. Because here are the Subjects of Heaven Eph. 2. 19. Fellow-Citizens of the Saints not only on earth but as Paul speaketh Phil. 3. 20. Our conversation or as it may be rendred our free Burgesse-ship is in Heaven God himself hath canonized all the true Members of visible Churches with the name of Saints throughout the whoâ—e new Testament here are the great heirs of Heaven nay possessours of Heaven by Faith as others are by feeling as near and dear to God in some respect as those that be in Heaven already because the same motive which makes him love them makes him love these though poor abjects and our-casts of the world there is but a paper-wall of their bodies between them and Heaven only here is the difference they there are Subjects in their own countrey these here are the same Countreymen only strangers for a time here upon earth Some define a Kingdom to be dominatus regis in populum subjectum If Christ the King was present and his Laws published but there were no people to be subject to him there could be no Kingdom but when the King Laws and Subjects of Heaven are here met together in the visible Church here is now the Kingdom of Heaven 4. Because here is the very Glory of Heaven begun that look as the same Sun which fils the Stars with Glory the very same beams touch the earth also so the same Glory which shines in Heaven shines into the poor Church here 1 Pet. 5. 10. God hath called his people into his eternal Glory And 〈◊〉 30. whom Christ hath justified them he hath glorified i. e. he hath begun it here 〈◊〉 in a special manner is the presence of the Angels in Heaven Eph. 3. 10. Here the pure in heart see God and that after another manner than many times they can in their solitary condition Psal. 63. 1 2 3. And what is this but Heaven SECT IV. 1. SEE therefore hence their happiness and honour whom God hath called out of the world and planted in his Church What hath the Lord done but opened the way to the Tree of life and let you into Paradise again Nay which is more What hath he done but taken you up into the very Kingdom of Heaven it self where you have the Lord of glory to be your King the Laws of Heaven made known his heart opened where you have the heirs of Heaven your companions and the Angels of Heaven your guard desiring to look into those things which your eyes see and your hearts feel 1 Pet. 1. 12. Where you have the love of a Father appearing the Son of God inhabiting and the Spirit of Heaven comforting Lord what is man that thou art thus mindful of him That when the Lord seeth it unmeet to take you out of this world up unto Heaven that Heaven should come down into this world unto you who were once enemies to this Kingdom shut up under the Kingdom of death and darknesse strangers to the Common-wealth of Israel without God and Christ in the world without promise without hope I do not cry the Temple of the Lord nor Idolize Order and Churches but I tell you what your priviledge is and thereby what Gods goodnesse is I know the world neither seeth not feeleth any such Heaven on earth but soon grow despisers secretly of all Ordinances who if they were in Heaven it self with their carnal hearts they would not abide there with much contentment yet verily Heaven hath been and is found here by Gods hidden one even such things which eye hath not seen nor ear heard and if it be not thus with thee blame thy self and mourn the more who in the midst of light art in utter darknesse and in the place where Heaven is begun to some it should be made a little Hell to thee 2. Take heed of defiling secretly the Church of God For what do you do thereby but pollute the Kingdom of Heaven it self And the better any thing is the greater is the defilement cast upon it It is said 1. Pet. 1. 4. that the Kingdom of Heaven above is an inheritance undeâ—iled never yet the subject place where any sin was committed and this is one part of the Glory of it Take you heed of coming into Church-fellowship with defiled hearts and so defiling Gods holy things for do you know where you are I know it is not in that Heaven where you cannot sin but yet 't is in such a Heaven where you should not sin much lesse defile the Church of God It was one of Gods heavy inditements against the Church of the Iews that when the Lord had brought them out of a land of pits into a plentiful countrey yet they defiled his Land neither Priests nor people said Where is the Lord Ier. 2. 7 8. It will be much more heavy another day with you that walking in the fellowship of Gods people shall be found guilty of defiling the Kingdom of Heaven it self which you should be careful to keep as an underfiled inheritance which 〈◊〉 whether spiritual or sensual as they stain the very glory of
dead weak 2. But you will say all the world want it and yet few in the world shall ever have any share there therefore all them in the world that hunger after all that good that is in him they may now in the absence of it content themselves with it that there 't is in him for them for the Lord fills the hungry and so hungry as 't is not something or other that they pick out but all Christ and all of that is in Christ now is the season to eat if bread and hunger meet now satisfie your self 2 Cor. 12. 9. Paul prayed and the Lord denyed yet now the Lord bid him feed on his Grace so that when thy heart asks what hast thou to do with him when so vile answer Yet the Lord hath all and I want him and hunger after him Take heed of despising his Grace if thou hast no hunger the Lord be merciful to thee 3. If you have so contented your selves with him as now you place all your felicity in him to this end to receive life from him as a man satisfies himself with bread that he may have life for as I would not damp the Faâ—th of the Elect no more would I patronize the sloth of the wicked Many a man it may be may say I have nothing in my self and all is in Christ and comfort himself there and so fall asleep hands off and touch not this Ark lest the Lord slay thee a christ of clouts would serve your turn as well Run not to this Temple to make it a Denn of your thievish heart no do you so content or will you so content your selves with him as to account your selves happy here that all the world is Dung in respect of this and this you do to suck and receive more from Christ and so to be like him now hold here and live here and rejoyce here for ever Phil. 3. 9 10 11. Isai. 12. 2 3. First The Lord is my Song and Salvation therefore we will draw hence if the Lord gives nothing yet I have it in him if he gives any thing the honour shall be given to him Oh take this course 1. Lest you lose Christ and all too 2. Lest the Lord ever keep you short in a complaining condition 3. That you may be every day and moment in Heaven and win the Crown from every Hypocrite who knows not what this life in Christ means 4. That the Lord may be your glory for he is not only the glory of God but of his people Israel too 5. That you may love your selves the lesse and the Lord the more SECT V. HEnce see a necessity of seeing knowing Christ before a man can believe or if ever the soul believe for if Faith closeth with the person of the Lord Jesus the same Faith must first see that person If it takes the Bride-groom himself it must see and know him first Did you ever see any espoused together that did not first see and know each other the eye must first see my meaning is there must precede this act of the understanding to see Christ before a man can close with Christ by his will for I aim not at this whether it goes before in time but in order of nature it does precede and absolutely necessary it is hence Iohn 6. 40. He that seeth and believeth in the Son hath eternal life this is so necessary to Faith that Faith it self puts on this name Isai. 53. 11. By his knowledg Luke 19. 41. Oh that thou hadst known Isai. 46. 22. Look unto me and be saved And hence unbelief in Scripture is exprest by being blinded Rom. 11. 7 8. for though Christ be absent from us on earth yet that 's the excellency of faith it makes things absent present and sees unseen things Heb. 11. 1. Iohn 8. 56. Abraham saw my day and that 's the wonderment of Saints there is light in Gosben when all Egypt is dark when others are blind they see Isai. 60. 1 2. What is this knowledg or seeing of the Lord I make this question partly because this is the first chief Evangelical work as it appears to us nay indeed 't is in a manner all hence Mat. 11. 27. I thank thee thou hast hid these things c. If this be right Faith is right c. And if this be not a mans Faith is but a Fancy and a mans Sanctification and Reformation hopes desires are but the works of death and darknesse if this Sun be not risen And partly also because all the policy and power of Satan is to blind the eye here for then he knowes men will stumble at every step 2 Cor. 4. 4. He will help to beleeve and joy in beleeving and reformation after thaâ— joy that a man might content himself with this joy and Faith and look not after the sight of Christ. And if I was to leave the world I should leave this to be thought of as Christ told the woman of Samaria Ye worship whom ye know not so men beleeve in whom they know not and pray to one whom they know not and depend on whom they see not and hence do not wonder at an adulterous generation rising up that deny all evidencing of a mans justification from his sanctification and that 't is but a fâ—ding thing because they never felt what it meant because they never knew what the Lord Jesus meant and therefore listen to it I say therefore first what this knowledge is not for every man hath some knowledge 1. There is a knowledge of the Lord Jesus by report the fame of a man may come where himself is not seen so of Christ there may be a fame spread of him and of some excellencies in him where he is not savingly known and this is not seeing of Christ for a man may live and die a damned creature with this knowledge The Samaritans had some knowledge by report of the Messiah Iohn 4. 25. When he is come he will tell us all things so many among us hear that Christ is come and risen and glorisied and the Saviour of the world and of sinners c. But how come they to know this By way of tradition and report only I confesse this knowledge may be a means in the Elect to bring them to saving knowledge as in the Qâ—een of Sheba that heard Solomons fame and the Disciples Iohn 1. Come and see But Reprobates are not drawn by it as Herod Luke 23. 8. heard many things of Christ but never saw him till he came to judge him So here because they can live well without Christ hence rest content with the bare report Whereas they that had diseases heard of his fame and came to see Jesus 2. There is a knowledg of Christ from his works as we know what Trade and what Artificers many men be because these are external things yet know not the man so there is a knowledg of Christ by his works
of Glory so that light God puts into their mind is the beginning of the light of Glory Hence as in Heaven the soul sees Christ by the full light of Glory perfectly face to face so in this life the soul sees Christ really as he is yet as in a glasse imperfectly Hence we are said to see in part 4. In regard of that abundant goodnesse and love of Christ to his people Love cannot lock up secrets Ioseph hid himself from his Brethren for a time but his bowels melt he must tell them that he is Ioseph Christ may do so but his love even constrains him afterward to let them see whom he is Iohn 14. 21. I confesse its admirable love to reveal Christ in the Word and letter of the Gospel to hear of him is happinesse and if the Lord saves you you will think so too But this is common to wicked men there is a manifestation of himself as he is unto his people And now he is in Glory hence reveals himself in his inconceiveable Glory that now a mans eye sees the Lord and such things he never thought of before which eye never saw 1 Cor. 2. 9. How doth the soul see him as he is I in this case rather desire to learn than teach even from the meanest yet what is obvious I shall suggest in this weighty businesse This seeing of him appears in three particulars 1. True saving knowledge and sight of Christ consists in the sight of the glory of his person especially now caught up to Heaven and sitting at the right hand of God in all the Glory of the Father Look as at the judgment-Judgment-day the Lord shall break out of Heaven in such Glory as shall amaze all the world and all eyes shall see him that he shall not only be admired in himself but in all his Saints by all that are round about him just so doth the soul see him now though nor by the eye of sense yet by the eye of Faith though not come to judge the world yet now ruling of the world though not in the clouds yet in Heaven though his Humanity only in Heaven yet his God-heads beams filling Heaven and Earth though not yet coming in the Fathers Glory yet sitting clothed with the Fathers Glory for if a man looks on Creatures he sees Gods foot-steps of power if on Angels and Saints Gods Image of Holinesse if in Christ there God himself 2 Cor. 4. 4 5 6 7. 'T is true then Christs Glory shall be seen by the Wicked but that 's by sense not by Faith that is only in their minds but there is no shining into the heart to the kindling of an infinite esteem of him and this the god of this World hides from people Christ the Lord of another world in spight of Satan reveals to his people Before a man sees Christ there is nothing more base than Christ even to the Elect and then the wayes and work of Christ Iâ—r 2. 11. Have any Heathen changed their gods these change their glory for that which doth not profit now the Lord will be must be esteemed of his people hence will and doth reveal this Glory of his to his Saints whereas here others are blind 2. In the beholding of the Lord as he comeâ— and appears in the Glory of his Covenant for when the Lord reveals himself so as to cause the soul to believe and thereby to make it one of his people he never makes any a people but by entring into Covenant with them Hence he ever appears in his Covenant first Isai. 49. nlt. Look as when the Lord made him a people at Mount Sinai Moses came down from 〈…〉 with Tables in his hands c. So when Christ comes to make any his people he comes as Mediator of a beâ—ter Teâ—â—ament Heb. 7. 22. On Mount Sion Heb. 12. 22 24. Noâ— look as it was with the Israelites 2 Cor. 3. they had the Covenant of Christ and Christ revealed but as Moses face was covered â—o theirs wâ—s and Christ theâ—e was vailed over with the Law even the Moral Law written in stone Hence there was a vail on their hearts too they could not see Christ the end of the Lâ—w but only the Vail viz. the Law and hence looked for life by that and hence weâ—e hadened against Christ Rom. 9. 31 32. So 't is the misery and blindnesse of many people at this day they see the Lord Jesus but with his vail on for people being not able to see and priâ—e the glory of Christ immediatly the Lord appears with the law first requiring this and that and they endeavour to do it and hence if they cannot they comfort themselves with this the Lord accepts my endeavours not seeing the hypocrisie of them or else they are never at â—eace or very seldom and why because they see not to the end of that which is abolished never saw the end the Lord Jesus Chrâ—st Now therefore when the Lord reveals himself the Lord makes himself known without the vail so that when conscience cries you must do what ever is commanded or dye the Lord Jesus now comes and appears and saith therefore see what need thou hast of me who have fulfilled all Righteousness and done all Receive mâ— that have done it and thou shalt live Oh but may I now live as I â—ist Am I now free from the Law No 't is to be thy Rule and life in Heaven but I will write my Laws in thy heart and cause thee to walk in my wayes Hence the soul sees all done for him 1. In Christ. 2. All that he is to do for Christ he sees it not in meâ—ns nor in himself but in the Lords promise and here Faith hangs and hath peace For two things trouble First I have broke the first Covenant of the Law Christ appears not as one that exacts the Debt but as one that comes to enrich him when poor Secondly I cannot walk after it as a Rule Christ appears in this Covenant and promiseth to cause him to do it and hence after all departings from the Lord he will not depart further by unbelâ—ef but sees the end of the Law which is Christ that in him he may perform the Covenant and by him be strengthned to walk with him as after a Rule For the Covenant of Grace is not Christ will be rigthteousnesse to thee if thou wilt walk after the Law as a Rule but Christ will do both and this the soul sees in it's Glory else it 's no sight Hence 2 Cor. 3. Gospel is called The ministration of Glory which no carnal heart can see for the vail is taken away when it turns to the Lord and sees him The Saints only with open face behold this 'T is true for a tiâ—e they may make of Christ a Moses as Peter Luke 5. 8. Lord depart from me I am a sinful man And the Lord may deal roughly with them to huâ—bâ—e them as Ioseph did to
the truth is when we make it our last end we cannot but desire it SECT III. BUT ought not a man to desire to live here in this world as David and Hezekiah did May not one sin in this desire 1. 'T is true precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints not only in regard that they are as precious to him when they come to die as while they live as Gold when 't is melting is as precious to the Goldsmith as when whole and it may be more too because 't is then made better but also because he will not lightly cast away their lives He that bottles their tears and will not let them be lost will not easily let go their lives and if God will not they ought not upon every slight occasion to desire their death and losse of their lives to be with the Lord. Now there are two cases Gods own people may not desire to remove hence where though there be some fire I confesse yet there is more smoak than fire more sin than Grace 1. In case they meet with much unkindnesse from and many sorrows in the world and behold the sins of it Thus it was with Elias 1 Kings 19. 4. Who when Iezabel threatned his life fled and would needs set sail presently and be gone so 't is with Gods people when they see enemies without the universal rot of Profession that they think they are almost left alone when God hath begun to do good by them as by Elijah but they think their best daies are past there is all they shall do and God himself it may be meeting them with some crosses in this world now presently they grow weary of their lives and desire to die which is nothing else but a pang of discontent truly God will not suffer it nor you ought not to desire it to die away in such a snuffe No the Lord hath work for them to do and a journey to go This desire is naught and 't is but a weed and to be pulled up that growes out of such a root as a discontented heart for crosses I confesse God useth sorrows as means to smoak us out of our Hive and we may use them for that end but not only or chiefly them nor from a pang or moody fit of discontent 2. In case they desire death and not life before they be ripe for death Husbandmen desire their Corn in but 't is folly to desire it before it be ripe and then they may I confesse 't is the commendation of some trees if not only good but if ripe betimes and 't is the honour of a Christian to be ripe for death betimes yet still before he is ripe he is not to desire it Now when is this 1. While the Lord hides his face and denies full assurance of his love in this case as a Christian cannot so he ought not if it were the Lords will desire to be gone as yet and this is one reason why David and Hezekiah desired life not death as yet God had broken their bones and his arrowes were yet in their hearts now a man is to desire he may stay a little while longer that he may sing the Song of the Lamb and tell the world what the Lord hath done for him and that he may not set in a cloud and die in horrour Mariners long to be on shore but before they come there they would not venture in a mist but see Land first so should we desire to see the Lord in the Land of the living Nay though the Lord gives his people a promise which staies their hearts and is a twig to keep them from sinking nay when he gives them some joy yet still God hath promised to reveal more of himself and his Christ in the promise seeing him but darkly now Now they ought not to desire but wait as in Simeons case now let thy Servant depart in peace having long waited for the consolation of Israel Children that will be up before 't is day must be whipt a rod is most fit for them stay till 't is day 2. While their work remains unfinished and the Lord hath got little or no Glory from them though they may have clear evidence of the Lords love Christ himself desired it not till now Iohn 17. 5. If thou couldest scale Heaven before thy work was done the Lord would send thee down from thence again as he did the soul of Lâ—zarus and truly to do the work of Christ one moment here is better than to have a thousand years felicity in Heaven nakedly considered in it self in as much as the Honour of Christ is a thousand times better than our own good It may be there is much work within doors many odd distempers to be cashierd spirituall decaies c. It may be there is work without Christ hath many enemies in the world many prayers are yet to be spent against them much good to do for his Church many tears to be shed for them for praying trade is past in Heaven It may be some friends yet to be converted thou hast been a scandal to them it may be as yet few have been or can say they be the warmer or better for thee that work is yet to be done It may be God hath some secrets to reveal by thee before thou diest stay therefore a while while your work is done 'T is true thou hast but one Talent but little thou hast or canst do yet God looks you should improve it whilst he is gone A man that will needs to bed at noon-day before night comes what deserves he but a cudgel So he that will die before his night comes and while 't is light to see and work by When therefore you apprehend your work even done then as not only Christ but Paâ—l not only Paul but Gods watchful servants have secret warnings of death And as Mariners when they can see no Land yet by their soundings can tell they are near Land or Sands then you may desire it for then you are ripe but its sin to do it otherwise And verily happy is that man that accounts not his life dear but only the finishing of his course with joy To conclude all we are to desire our fellowship with Christ as a man desires his last end which desire doth not exclude but include desire after all the means and the means first before the end Now many things are to be done by God upon us and by us for the Lord again before we appear before Christ which we may desire firstly for this our last end SECT IV. HEnce we see the vilenesse of the great yet hidden secret sin of the whole world which may be in part also in Gods dearest Saints viz. in their hungry lustings and dropsie desires after the sweet of the things of this world You shall have many a man that amends his life reformes his course forsakes his own
time be saplesse savourlesse things unto us Thirdly Because I have had strong fears lately of some unexpected trials among us and I should be glad if it might not be if the freedom from them might make us better else I say let them come But Fourthly Because 't is a rare thing among us to see such burning Lamps as look and long for Christs coming which when I consider though there be other causes yet one great one is this Oh the heart is gone away by violent lusts after these things here Oh therefore take heed of them And therefore consider 1. You shall have Christ and his fellowship if indeed you long for him Iohn 4. 10. That 's his love you are not so desirous but he is a thousand times more Thou maist desire these things and if God loves thee misse of them God will make thee poor when thou wouldst be rich base when thou wilt be honoured and when you would have honey he will give you stings and cause you have to thank the Lord too that he will not give you your portion here 2. If thâ—u hast them and dost desire them and God gives them and thou lettest Christ go thou hadst better a thousand times be without them Psal 78. 30 31. The meat was in their mouths and the wrath of God came upon them If the Lord gives thee Christ happy for ever if these things when thou dost so desire them oh wo for ever 3. The Fellowship of the Lord Jesus thou shalt never lose Death shall not part thee from that nothing shall rob thee of that but look after and long for these things they will perish and die away All flesh is grasse the Word of the Lord and the Lord himself much more endureth for ever 4. Why dost desire these things For some sweet in them Why is not all that in the presence of the Lord Jesus and enjoying him It pleaseth the Father that in him should all fulnesse dwell so that thou shalt drink as out of a pure Fountain all that is there If there be any sweetnesse here he gave it 't is much more eminently in himself Exod. 24. 11. They saw the God of Israel and eat and drank Had they meat up with them Oh no. But the sight of him was meat and drink and all unto them As therefore you desire Christs fellowship Oh long no more after these things here Hence see death is not to be feared but desired of all Saints It was an odd speech of a Heathen 'T is ill to desire death and worse to fear it he meant not because of any good in it but because we must die But death brings us into eternal Fellowship with the Lord Jesus It doth Saints more good than all Ordinances all afflictions wherein we complain we can get no good than all means It brings us into his Fellowship 1. Quickly as Christ was caught up so the Soul by Christ to himself 2. Immediatly for the next thing we shall see is Christ himself our Husband himself and then see the Kingdom and then wonder at the Lord. 3. Everlastingly never to part more Oh fear it not therefore Christ hath sweetned it to you SECT V. HEnce see a clear foundation and ground-work of longing for fellowship with the Lord Jesus in his Ordinances here This is that I shall exhort to For 1. You cannot shall not must not now go to him in Heaven nor enjoy fellowship with him nor meet him in the clouds though you do long for that day but in his Ordinances you may meet with him now And truly those whom we love and long for if we cannot go to their house or find them at home we are glad to meet with them abroad As with those who stand before Princes if we cannot be with them on the Throne or at Court we will desire to be with them in the Countrey Nay on the Dunghil Oh the Spirit of David Psal. 27. 4. One thiâ—g have I desired and that I will seek for though I never have it What is that David Is it to wear the Crown in Ierusalem Is it to have all thine enemies lick the dust of thy feet Is it to have thy Name spread and thine Honour great through all the Kingdomes of the world No but that I may dwell in the Courts of the Lords House all the daies of my life and that seeing I cannot shall not die presently and so go to see his Glory in Heaven therefore that I may see his Beauty here enjoy him here and that not for some years but all the daies of my life 2. Ought you not to long to tast and passe through the sorrows of death that you may be with him And are Christs Ordinances more bitter than death that you are loath to break through the difficulty of them that in them you may enjoy him The truth is so 't is with many a man that such is the strength of his hidden contempt of Christ and his love to his sloath that he had rather die than pray and be damned eternally than to follow the Lord in an Ordinance till he hath found him graciously How come Gods own people to lament this if there were not this 3. I remember a sweet speech of one with God That a Christian ought to prepare for a Sacrament as he would prepare to die for saith he there is but this difference when we die we then go to Christ in a Sacrament Christ comes to us What he said of a Sacrament I say of every Ordinance in every Ordinance Christ comes to us when we die we go to him Now ought you to long when you are absent from him to be with him and will you not care for him nor long to see him and enjoy him when he comes to you And so be worse than poor naked Indians Christ comes not to them no dews fall down on their Gilboahs no Manna at their Tent doors and hence they live without him and desire him not and when he comes to you do you see no beauty in him now why you should desire him Will you thus requiâ—e him for his love ah foolish children and â—â—wise 4. Truly Beloved you can have but little evidence you do desire the Lord Jesus company in Heaven at the last day that long not vehemently after him in his Ordinances now You have followed me in the regeneration saith Christ Mat. 19. 28. therefore you shall sit with me upon Thrones If Christs presence here a little of himself be burdensom What will it be in Heaven then Depart from me saith Christ I was in prison and you visited me not Shall you depart for not visiting an imprisoned persecuted sick sorrowful Christ in midst of miseries and shall not you depart for rot visiting a comforting Christ a teaching Christ an intreating embracing Christ in the midst of his Ordinances If the Lord tries you with water with a little of himself here and you care not
but opened the door for the five foolish Look as 't is said Job 1. 6. There was a day the Sons of God presented themselves before the Lord and Satan came in also so here I shall not do not speak of every particular Church but of the state of the Churches in general For its possible there may be a Philadelphia a new Ierusalem which comes down from Heaven a Golden Foundation and for a time no hay nor stubble built upon it But this is rare and not usuall nor general SECT III. FRom Satan the ancient enemy of the purity of the Church he being an unclean creature himself if he could he would make Heaven it self unclean but that is beyond his reach hence he seeks to make Heaven on earth unclean hence he will get into Paradise and if he cannot come in the shape of a man yet in that of a Serpent to beguile and pollute innocency there He will follow Christ into the wildernesse and tempt him there and hence will seek to get into Churches to pollute them And if he cannot pollute the Church by unclean Ordinances he will then seek to defile it by unclean persons Mat. 13. 25. The Tares be in Iudea like the Wheat yet indeed annoy the Wheat And how come they there They are sown there i. e. hid for a time and mingled and die there too Who doth this Why the enemy did it so that Satan will do it If there be a Devil in the Church he will sow his taâ—es Obj. But we see him not Ans. No 't is therefore said he went away his care is over now they are sown Look as 't is Jesuits policy at this day the end of their Order is to raise up the collapsed ruines of Rome and to bring all Christendom and if it be possible all the world to the Hellish bondage and blind obedience of the See of Rome Hence some Kingdomes because they cannot conquer them by power they seek to do it by craft hence they seek to lay their Leaven and make their party within from whom they may have intelligence and hence they shall do well enough with them So Satan seeking the ruine of the Church seeks to make his party within the Church for one of these three ends chiefly 1. Either that he may divide the Church that when any Errour shall be hatched he may have his party to maintain it and his faction to plead for it Or 2. That he may corrupt it if he cannot divide it that the Tares may suck out the heart and life and power of Godlinesse in the hearts of the Elect for you know 't is not the Briar but the Ivâ— that sucks out the life and sap of the tree and 't is not prophane pricking persecutors but seeming friends to the Church that suck out the heart and life of it It was not Ieroboams greatnesse but the old Prophets gravity and seeming Piety that suckt out the Spirit and Sap of the young Prophet 1 Kings 13. That so by this little Leaven he may defile the whole lump and so provoke wrath against them all 3. If he cannot do either yet that he may blur and stain the Glory of the Church For the greatest Glory in the world is to see a Temple built not of stoâ—â—â— of Gold or Pearl but of living precious Saints holy to the Lord only and his Son and the sight of which in Heaven shall be one part of the Glory in Heaven Hence Satan will do what he can to blur it that though the greatest Glory God hath shines in his Church yet that he may blur it And hence Iude saith Some that crept in unawares were Spots in their Feasts And 2 Pet. 2. 2. By reason of whom the way of Truth shall be evil spoken of 2. From the Officers chiefly of a Church who when they should be full of eyes as they are described Rev. 4. And these eyes should be ever watching they are then sleeping Mat. 13. 25. For 't is not the having so much as the actiâ—g of Grace that helps men to read and understand the Book of the Scriptures and the Book of mens hearts and lives 2 Pet. 1. 9. Hence in affliction and temptation we know the Lord and his mind and our own hearts and the world best When Ionathan eats the honey his eyes are open Now somtime the watchmen are not acting or watching but sleeping and hence those are taken for wheat that indeed are but Tares The Book hath a fair Superscription or Frontispiece and they so sleepy they do not read it through and so either see no fault at all or if any they be but Errata in the Printing and weaknesses to be 〈◊〉 with or if they do yet the man is commended and hath a Name to live when indeed he is dead and so this serves the turn and though he comes in yet they shall do well enough with him though indeed they herein have but a wolf by the ears 3. In regard of Hypocrites themselves who must be like themselves ever to act for their own ends for they ever have an evil eye now it makes for their ends to joyn themselves to the purest Churches of the Lord Jesus 1. Sometimes it makes for their honour Hence you know the Church of Sardis lost her power of life for that is a burden yet kept their name to live for that is an honour For if men live out of Church-Fellowâ—hip that is a great shame and now they have little love from Saints Indeed the wicked may honour them but what is that to the honour of the whole Church Who would think Saul should have cared for Samuel that dealt so plainly and sharply with him Yet Oh honour me before this people that 's the businesse There are many excellent gifts Christ poures down upon his Church Simon believes also Acts 8. and would give any money for those gifts that he might be wondred at as he was before A man seeing others gifts and the love they have thereby even a Simon may desire such gifts and a mighty power of Grace to animate those gifts and would give any money for this that be may be wondred at Some refined polished Spiâ—its scorn honour of base men and hence fish for it else-where 2. Their gain 't is strange that Iudas follows Christ for the bagg that was so poor yeâ— he did until he saw after three years and a half waiting so little came in So 't is â—â—ange men should seek to joyn to poor Churches for that yet they do and will so long as they have any lots to give or purses to lend or hearts to take care and provide for those that are joyned to them You shall have many poor Christian men that be but kind and bounâ—iful to them you may lead them into any errors catch them at your â—leasure with a silver hook until they see their gâ—in grows little and respect lesse and then they fall off 3.
that all the word shall stand amazed at them and then when Judgement is done up they go to Heaven the third Heaven with a shout and so be ever with the Lord. And then 3. Consider the fierce wrath upon Reprobates who shall rise like Toads coming out of their holes in winter time standing before Christ's Tribunal crying out of the day that ever they were born and receiving their final doom imagine the silence while the Lord is pronouncing the sentence and when past a cry and then Christ to depart and shut up himself in Heaven with his Saints the Reprobate never to see him nor his face any more are these things tales fables notions if they be blot out the Scripture but if real oh then who can but awake If God intends mercy to you the thoughts of these things will awaken you you shall see them really if not they shall awaken you by feeling of them 4. Consider how many will be found too light at that day Secondly Make this day present Optick glasses will take within them the present image of things afar off a Mud-wall cannot give the form of them so by Faith look at these things that be to come as near for if we see really the Lords coming but we look upon it as a thing that is afar off it will not affect Now a thing may be present to Faith which is not to sence It may be the last and great coming of the Lord is not very nigh although we are doubtless in the last times but the beginning of this thy Petty-Sessions before that general Assize may be nigh Oh therefore make it present Quest. How shall we make it present Answ. 1. By pondering that speech of Christ spoken to that end Matth. 24. 44. In an hour you think not of he comes so that either thy time is when thou thinkest it is nigh and then you attain the thing or when far off why then is the time and that he will not come presently is more then you can say you see with wrong eyes and wrong the Lords patience 2. By comparing the present time with eternity to come for look as it is with base and little things look upon them in themselves they are not base but compared with things excellent as the Prophet sheweth Isa. 40. 17. so the time of this life grant it be never so long look upon it in self it is long but compared with eternity it is exceeding short Set a prick alone and you may perceive it but when made at the beginning of a line it is scarce perceptible this time of life upon which we sit is but a point of eternity Oh eternity will amaze you and make this time short yea nothing Moses hence forsook Pharoahs honor because of the pleasures of sin for a season and Paul calls afflictions short when he saw the eternal glory which should be revealed Oh that you could think this time to be as the delivery of a childe by many pangs into the world so you by many sorrows are passing a short passage to eternity 3. By making earthly things nothing or not as great things A mans friend is night to him but there be trees and hills between them and if these were down or he could get above them he would easily see and say Oh I see him coming he is even at the door Iames 5. 8. So Christ is nigh unto us and we to him but the things of the world mountains and hills and cattel and ground this and that stands between us and our sight that we cannot see the Lord these things are so great that the Lord is little that though near we cannot see him now when God cuts down these things at sickness or when we can get above the world now we can see them whiles we look at them as they are 2 Cor. 4. Prov. 18. 11. The rich mans wealth is a tower in his conceit all things are swayed by conceit pull down that now you make all naked before you to see the Lord nigh Thirdly Do this daily else you will grow secure by little and little Oh that I could prevail with you to set before you once a day this time how would it keep your hearts from dreaming and doating upon these things When any sorrow that day will refresh 2. When any duty done that day will recompence 3. When in want yet full at that day 4. When in misery now blessed then When a man is ready with light and lamp at all watches of the night oh blessed then you can hardly keep from security and carelesness by this how will you then do without it you will die in security SECT V. LEt this be a warning to all those who have passed the first age of their Christian life after you have waited long and tarried for the Bridegroom take heed of security and think this may occasion it viz. The Bridegrooms delay In the first heat of your youthful affections there 's not that danger then as now lest you grow decrepit passive and dull and therefore think Whatever else I do I will be sure to keep this door it shall not come in here and yet do we not see men fall here one would think it should not be so in these times when God calls so many of his servants to Heaven to him and is hacking at so many posts and pillars of this Tabernacle especially considering withal that it is no time to seek great things to your selves Thou shalt have thy life for a prey as he said to Baruch Who is it that thinks it long to death that is within a days walk of his grave Oh if you have your life you are well you may be glad of a place to die in CHAP. V. Of Christs awakning cry before his coming VERSE 6 7 8 9. And at midnight there was a cry made Behold the Bridegroom cometh go ye forth to meet him Then all those Virgins arose and trimmed their lamps And the foolish said unto the wise Give us of your oyl for our lamps are gone out But the wise answered saying Not so lest there be not enough for us and you but go ye rather to them that sell and buy for your selves SECT I. IN these words is set down the preparation made sometime before the Bridegrooms coming and that is by a Cry that the Bridegroom cometh and therefore the Churches should meet him This is amplified from two things chiefly First The time when this Cry was made and that was at Midnight Secondly the effect that this Cry took upon the Virgins from vers 8. to 10. What should be meant by this Cry is disputed of by some Some think by it is meant the descending of Christ from Heaven with a shout the voyce of the Arch-Angel and Trump of God 1 Thess. 4. ult which as I do not wholly exclude because there shall be such a clamor before the Lord comes as at the giving of the Law so at
really and that in times of peace when he had far pastures and full cups Psal. 23. he saw the Lord as his Shepherd Ioh. 10. 1. who is known of his feeding leading restoring comforting by rods adhering to him in the valley of the shadow of death and then for outward things furnishing his table annointing his head giving necessities and superfluities he looked not only on second causes but saw God as really doing all these as carnal men see second causes doing these Nay he so sees the Lord as that he falls a wondering and indeed the Lord is never seen in his Providences till then as Manoah saw the Angel do wondrously Judg. 13. 19. Psal. 139. 14. Marvellous are thy works vers 17 18. How precious are thy thoughts â— he saw from the Lords works and gathered an idea of the thoughts of God so should we and hence when he did awake he was still with thâ— Lord the first thing that appeared was the Lord Psal. 73. 23 24 25. To the beasts the Lord is near but they cannot reflect upon their own actions much less upon the Lord The Heathens may see we are Gods off-spring and see God as a Creator at some times but let them that profess Christ see and finde out Christ as Mediaâ—or as Moses that desired to see the Lord passing by him whom he had seen a little before truly the Lord not only passeth by you but is with you proclaiming his name by the voyce of his Providence toward you patience pity love truth wisdom and yet truly this is very difficult and hard to see SECT XVI MEn see not Jesus Christ First Because second causes seem to work all this estate my friends gave me or my labor got me this house the Carpenter built for me these provisions my money bought for me and so the creatureslike broad leaves hide the boughs of the glory of God in Christ on which they grow and are opake and dense and not transparent through which the soul may see the glory of God abroad Secondly Because men have so many businesses and cares that they cannot have leasure really to see the Lord. Thirdly Because there is a malice in all mens hearts naturally which suffocates all that which may be known of him Rom. 1. 28. They delighted not to retain God in their knowledge the works of God grow vile and sordid through their commonness to them Fourthly Because men can live well enough without him hence like a childe at nurse that forgets friends and home because it is well enough without them thus mens minds are not fed with the thoughts of him Ier. 2. 6. Fifthly Because Nature never heard of a Mediator governing all their lives and comforts and all they see not all given them by the Almighty hand of Christ who hath all power given hiâ—â— in heaven and earth and who must reign not only friends till they are gathered but over his enemies also till they are subdued and to question this is to question Christ's sitting at Gods right hand He is owner of all and disposeâ— of all to the least growth of thy stature and the most careless fall of the least hair to do not only the greatest but the meanest offices of love for thee You say indeed you believe all is from Christ oh but you see it not come near therefore and see the Lord Deut. 8. 9. they were forty years a learning that Man lives not by bread nor is warmed by cloaths c. and though they had marâ—ellous wondrous works yet Deut. 29. To this day the Lord hath not given you eyes to see Oh therefore labor to see who it is that nurses you guâ—des you tends you leads you teacheth you lays you down and takes you up and let the works of Christ raise up your minds to the thoughts of Christ in heaven remembring thee in his Kingdom of glory who might forget thee and the poorer and smaller the mercy is the more do thou wonder that he should therein be a servant unto thee see all blessings growing upon this tree seated in the midst of Gods Paradise Rev. 22. 3 4. though thou layest thy head with Iacob upon stones and sorrows yet see this ladder of the Lords proviâ—ence towards thee common blessings sometimes descending sometimes taken ouâ— of thy hand and ascending and the Angels of God with thee ministring to thee but the Lord at the top of them the Lord his care his love in all and let not this be a dream but a reality to you It is a wonderful sin to be thus unmindful of Christ. 1. Because hence all whorâ—â—g from Christ ariseth Hos. 2. 8. Iudg. 2. 12. especially in times of peace 2. Hence the Lord is forced to hedge your wâ—y with thorns and to bring you to extremily of troubles that you may see the Lord Isa. 41. 17 18. nay sometime to bring ruine Isa. 5. 12 13. And truâ—y as it is a great sin so it is a very great shame Isa. 1. 2. The ox knows his ownerâ— is the Lord the owner of you and do you not know him when he comes by you and to you provides for you It is a worse thing saith Chysoâ—â—om to bâ— comparâ—d â—o a beast than to be so To let many days and streams of goodness pass by you and yet not to take any notâ—ce and still to be so far from the Lord I know in heaven this is perfected and then comes acknowledgement of the Son of God but here you may be near him I think unless the Lord did descend in cloudy pillars and of fire some men would never see him SECT XVII Secondly BE near him in his promises for Christ is near to us here also Rom. 10. 8. the word of faith is nigh thee so that you need not ascend to bring Câ—rist down from heaven c. When Parents are dead and gone children wâ—ll then search out their last Will and Testament and preserve that and keep that near them Christ draws near to his people 1. In his Promises according to his thoughts of them 2. In his performances joyning the soul immediately to himself and filling it with himself this we cannot enjoy yet the Lord laies it up in his promise which they have in liew of the performance Oh draw near not to words and syllables but to the Lord there apprehend him there as it is with the Attributes of God his Glory cannot be comprehended by us hence he manifests himself there according to our capacity God manifesting himself severally so in promises we cannot comprehend Christ as yet hence Christ manifests himself in his glory in several promises Oh embrace him there Heb. 11. 9 'T is not said that Abraham and Iacob were heirs of Canaan but heirs of the promise and Sarah first received her son in the promise so do you emâ—raâ—e Christ in the womb and bowels of the promises we live by faith in this life and hence all our enjoyment of Christ is
sometimes to come to the fellowship of the Saints 2. Hence if they do come they come late 3. If timely yet without prayer or prizing of them they have felt no good and now they expect little 4. If conscience force to duties yet they think them too tedious or too frequent Ezekiel 11. 21. they are losing and dying no man will tell you so particularly but the Lord tells thee so now 3. The Lord visits them with many sad and outward evils and strange unexpected Trials which they thought they could beare but indeed cannot puts them upon great losses and leaves them to sad wants their estates decay they run into debt and provisions are scarce c. and now they secretly repent themselves of the fellowship of Gods people but accout their course and hazards they have run either madness or rashness Moses Heb. 11. 25. did choose affliction and suffering that he lotted upon and upon nothing else hence forsook honour and preferments and pleasures men not doing thus hence choose the world and forsake the wayes of God the Israelites brought to the Wilderness they would go back why they questioned whether God was with them why because they wanted water bread and variety of blessings Nâ—â—b 16. 13 14. And this sets them off as a man that loves his friend very well but when he puts him to so much cost and is so costly by his company let him then even go so do many men the Lord and his Ordinances 4. Hereupon they come to call all into question again which were without 〈◊〉 before the wayes and Ordinances of God What warrant now say they have you for Covenant such constitution on of Churches of Saints stâ—ict exami ing of members and why not a forme of Prayer and why not a Ceremoâ—y lawful and now they want but a temptation and then they fall 2. Thess. 2. 10. They receive not the truth in love Why not because they feel loss by the truth or feel not the spiritual good of the truth and hence are given up to believe lyes the first beginning of which is to question the Truth not from tenderness of conscience though that be pretended but from carnal lust and hence Ezekiel 11. 24. whose heart goes after that derestable thing and this they are hardned in if any good men by violence of temptation fall therein Thus men fall from fellowship and sit lâ—ose you will fall if you look not to it which I say is fearful And as Christ said By this shall all know you are my Disciples if you love so all men shall know you are none of Christs if you fall here if you sit loose c. I have been searching and discovering that which is working in sundry and lies as leaven cast it out of your doores We may see hence one just ground of that diligent and narrow search and trial Churches here do or should make of all those whom they receive to be fellow-members with them the Lord Jesus will make a very strict search and examination of wise and foolish when he comes and will put a difference between them then may not men not Churches imitate the Lord Jesus according to their light now If indeed all the Congrâ—ation of the baptized were holy then as Korah said They take too much upon them if Christ at his coming would make neither examination nor separation not only of people baptized at large but of professours and glorious professours of his Truth and Name if Churches were not set to disceâ—â—e between Harlots and Virgins foolish Virgins and wise as much as in them lies that so some of the glory of Christ may be seen in his Churches here as well as at the last day then the gate might be opened wide and flung â—â— the hinges too for all comers and you might call the Churches of Christ the Inn and Tavern of Christ to receive all strangers if they will pay for what they call for and beare scot and lot in the Town and not the house and Temple of Christ only to entertaine his Friends But Beloved the Church hath the keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven and what they binde and loose following the example and rule of Christ is bound and loosed in Heaven and they judge in the room of Christ. 1 Cor. 5. 4 5. 2. Cor. 2. 10. Whom the Church casts out and bids depaâ— to Satan Christ doth whom the Church receives to it self Christ doth we should receive in none but such as have visible right to Christ and Communion of Saints None have right to Christ in his Ordinances but such as shall have Commâ—nion with Christ at his coming to judge the World hence if we could be so Eagle-eyed as to dâ—scern them now that are Hypocrites we should exclude them now as Christ will because they have no right but that we cannot do the Lord will therefore do it for his Churches yet let the Churches learn from this to do what they can for the Lord now There is a foure-fold Glory of Christ shining in his separating foolish and wise at the last day which when Churches imitate now they hold out now First Hereby he shews his wisdome in discovering the secrets of darkness and all the wily knots men have tyed to hamper themselves in their own miseries so Churches shew forth this wisdome not only in discovering such whom you may feel to be hairy rough Esaus with Mâ—â—onson but such as have Iacobs voice and are very wily when the secrets of hiâ— spirit are discovered they will say if not proud and passionate God is in you hence the wisdome of Christ Rev. 2. 2. Secondly Hereby the Lord Jesus shews hâ—s holiness who withdrawes himself from those that are foolish though outwardly most glorious for he will be sanctified so the Churches shadow out the holiness of Christ â—erein who are bound to be holy as he is holy Thirdly Hereby the Lord keeps the Communion of his Saints pure this is a wonderful glory in Heaven that only the Elect and faithful of God shall lie down together and is the last and greatest glory that ever shall be seen in this world Revelations 21. 27. One man or woman secret'y vile which the Church hath not used all means to discover may defile a whole Church and bring it under wrath as Achan and make work and sorrow enough for many a day and year after and bring that blemish and scandal as will not eaâ—â—ly be worn off again and then men will wish that they had kept their communion pure Fourthly Hereby the Lord abundantly vouchsafes his presence to his people in Heaven when the Goats are separated now come and take your fill of love and possess your Kingdome so the Church hereby gaines more of the presence of Christ Jesus in publick and private when â—das is gone out now Christ comforts the hearts of his Disciples when the Lord hath his Spouse alone then he sports himself with her Isaiah 4. â—â—â—
THE PARABLE OF THE Ten Virgins OPENED APPLIED Being the Substance of divers SERMONS on Matth. 25. 1 13. Wherein the Difference between the Sincere Christian and the most Refined Hypocrite the Nature and Characters of Saving and of Common Grace the Dangers and Diseases incident to most flourishing Churches or Christians and other Spiritual TRUTHS of greatest importance are clearly discovered and practically Improved BY THOMAS SHEPARD late Worthy and Faithfull Pastor of the Church of Christ at Cambridge in NEW-ENGLAND Now Published from the Authours own Notes at the desires of many for the common Benefit of the Lords people BY Ionathan Mitchell Minister at Cambridge in NEW ENGLAND The Shepard Son to the Reverend Author now Minister at Charles-Town in NEW ENGLAND LUKE 21. 36. Watch ye therefore and pray alwaies that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to passe and to stand before the Son of man LONDON Printed by I. Hayes for Iohn Rothwell at the Sign of the Fountain in Gold smiths-Row in Cheap-side 1660. TO THE READER And Especially to the Inhabitants of CAMBRIDGE IN NEW-ENGLAND THat to make sure of Life Eternal is the one necessary Businesse that we Sons of death have to do in this world and without which all our time here is worse than lost every enlightned mind will easily acknowledge This present life being by the Rule of it appointed but to this end to be preparation-time spent in a continual care to make ready that we might have a good meeting with him who shall be seen in this Aire one day And whether we look up to Heaven or down to Hell whether we reflect upon our own immortal souls or turn our eyes toward the Greatnesse and Goodnesse of that God in Christ with whom we have to do whether we pace over the time between this and Judgment-day or send our thoughts to view the Eternity that is to follow after All things put a Necessity a Solemnity a Glory upon this work But Difficilia quae Pulchra It is one of the Oracles uttered by our Lord with his own mouth Strait is the Gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life and few there be that find it It is not so easie a thing to get to Heaven nor so broad a way thither as the slight and loose Opinions of some and Practises of more would make it nor as the carnal hearts of all would have it Though thâ—t if it be examined is the common Scope of all Erroneous Conceits and how restlesly have the corrupt minds of men laboured therein in all ages and do in these our daies to widen the way to Life to break down the Boundaries of this narrow Path and make it broader than ever God made it Mans carnal heart finds it self pinioned and straitned in the way the good old way of effectual Faith and obedience that God hath laid out hence it breaks out on this hand and on that and will rather pluck up the ancient Land-marks of Gods Truth than not make it broader The Gospel will not afford men a way broad enough unlesse the Law be quite removed not only as a Covenant but as a commanding Rule of Life too and laid flat like an old Hedge that they may go over it at pleasure and not attend it any further than their spirit listeth Justification by Faith is too narrow a path unlesse they may be justified before and without Faith it is not free enough they complain of it as if it laid them under a Covenant of works Conditional Promises are of too straight a size they must be all absolute and give us peace without any qualification in us or else they are not large enough To be solicitous about Sanctification and inherent Grace is too troublesom to seek God diligently in the use of all means in a daily and hearty performance of holy Duties in a strict Sanctifying of Sabbaths in constant watchfulnesse c. this must be laid by as a Legal Businesse And if the Spirit immediatly will act us and carry us in a Bed of ease to Heaven without troubling us to act and strive well and good otherwise men will shake hands with the power of Godlinesse and run a drift before their own Corruptions But when all Stones are turned the way to Heaven is and will be found to be a straight way Truth hath said it is so God hath laid it out so and it is not all the Notions of men that will make it otherwise And hence those solemn Counsels of the Scripture Work out your salvation with fear and trembling Give all diligence to make all sure Strâ—ve to enter in at the Straight Gate So run that you may obtain c. though they be little attended by the loosenesse of these times yet they are of endlesse Moment and use and had need be awfully regarded by all that love their everlasting peace He therefore that is in earnest about this great businesse will be glad of any good help to guide him in this way this straight way to Life And though there be many choice helps herein already extant in the precious Labours of sundry of the Lords Faithful Servants for which this Age hath cause on bended Knees to blesse the Lord and which will be such a testimony against the wantonnesse thereof as it will never be able to answer Yet of those that do clearly particularly livelily and searchingly discover and mark out this straight way with the several practical turns thereof and shew where they that miss of the end at last do turn out of it although they go far therein of those that Pilot us when we come into the narrow Channel unto the very point of entrance into life and shew us the Rocks and Shoals on either hand distinctly of these I say there is not too great a number For to speak any good and useful Truths is good and commendable but yet it is another and a further matter to hold the Candle to the poor people of God even to the meanest to light them to Heaven or to take the soul by the hand and lead if from step to step through all the difficulties deceits and turnings at which the closest Hypocrites do misse their way and lose themselves and to do this so convincingly throughly and distinctly as that the secrets of hearts may be made manifest the secure self-deceiver discovered and awakened and yet the humble upright Christian confirmed and encouraged In this Skill and Work as the Author of the following Sermous was known to be among the first Three so these Lectures of his up on the Parable of the Virgins have been esteemed to excel in this kind having left such a relish upon the Hearers as that they have not forgotten the Taâ—t of them to this day It hath therefore been the instant desire of many that heard them and of some that have but heard of them that they might be imparted to the
serious in the great business of providing for Eternity 't is very probable thou maist be no stranger to the Name of this Reverend Author now with God whose Name in both the Englands is as an oyntment poured forth and then thou wilt be eagerly desirous to peruse these following Sermons in tendency to the further increasing thy stock of spiritual oyl and when thou hast read them and suckt forth the sweetness and nourishment contained in them and by the assistance of the holy Spirit turned them into good and healthfull nutriment to thy soul we question not but it will inhance the Authors worth in thy thoughts and estimation But perhaps thou hast never lighted on any of those Flowers which this Holy man hath planted in Gods garden and then we are confident thou wilt meet with such savoury sweetness in this Discourse as will make thee wish Christs Church had longer enjoyed so choice and skilfull a Workman If thou beest one who hath hitherto little considered of God and thy soul and the concernments of Eternity or only now and then had some morning dew thoughts of that which deserves and requires the choicest and most vigorous workings of thy soul we wish thou wouldst so far comply with Gods goodness in bringing this Book to thy hand and gratific thy self we mean thy Soul thy better self as to read over this Treatise in which thou wilt meet with those serious and soul-piercing Truths which by Gods blessing may be as poyson to thy lusts and awaken thee to a serious and hearty engaging in that work which none ever yet repented of For the occasion of publishing this Piece we refer thee to the larger Epistle of our Reverend Brother and only adde that though a vein of serious solid and hearty piety run through all this Authors Works yet he hath reserved the best wine till the last The Lord help thee and us so to reade and improve these and such like labours of Gods Harvest men that we way with the Wise Virgins have the Lamps of our souls trimed and furnished with oyl that when the Bridegroom shall come we may be ready to enter with him into his Kingdom Which is and shall be the prayer of us who are hearty well-wishers to thy Soul Decemb. 24. 1659. William Greenhill Edmund Calamy John Jackson Simeon Ash William Taylor THE PARABLE of the TEN VIRGINS UNFOLDED Out of MATTH 25. from the I st Vers. to the 14 th 1. Then shall the Kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten Virgins which took their Lamps and went forth to meet the Bridegroom 2. And five of them were wise and five were foolish 3. They that were foolish took their Lamps and took no oyl with them 4. But the wise â—ook oyl in their vessels with their Lamps 5. While the Bridegroom tarried they all slumbred and slept 6. And at mid-night there was a cry made Behold the Bridegroom cometh go ye out to meet him 7. Then all those Virgins arose and trimmed their Lamps 8. And the foolish said unto the wise Give us of your oyl for our Lamps are gone out 9. But the wise answered saying not so lest there be not enough for us and you but go ye rather to them that sell and buy for your selves 10. And while they went to buy the Bridegroom came and they that were ready 〈◊〉 in with him to the marriage and the door was shut 11. Afterward came also the other Virgins saying Lord Lord open to us 12. But he answered and said Verily I say unto you I know you not 13. Watch therefore for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh CHAP. I. SECT I. THese words are part of our Saviours Answer unto two solemn questions which his Disciples propounded unto him Chap. 24. v. 3. The first was concerning the destruction of the Temple at Ierusalem The second concerning the sign of his coming and so of the end of the world The first seems to be occasioned by our Saviours speech c. 24. v. 2. The second from his speech c. 23. v. 39. To the first therefore he answers from the 4th v. of the 24th ch. to the 23d v. of it To the second he answereth from the 23 d v. of the same chap. to end of this 25 th chap. Wherein he acquaints them 1. With some things which shall be before his coming viz. subtill and strong delusions mixt with sore tribulations and oppressions especially in the time of Antichrist's raigne as also great confusions in all hearts and Churches if not throughout all the world after the tribulation of those daies And then saith he v. 30. shall appear the sign of the Son of man and he shall be seen coming in power and great Glory but if you desire farther to know the day and hour when this shall be 't is such a secret as my Father revealeth not to any no not to the very Angels in Heaven and therefore you need not know it nor yet should seek to know it 't is sufficient for you to know that before my coming there shall be lamentable and sad times and that when they are at their worst that the Sun and the Moon through the horrours of mens hearts and the universal confusions in the world shall seem to be darkned c. that then it is time for me to come and set all in order again then the time of my coming drawes nigh Now this Christ doth from v. 23. of the 24 th chap. to v. 37. 2. Having thus spoken concerning his coming he breaks off his speech in describing his coming and fals to discovering the state of the times toward and about the days of his coming and this he doth from c. 24. v. 37. to c. 25. v. 31. by the consideration of which he perswades to watchfulnesse against his coming 1. Either saith he the times will be very sensuall and degenerate as in the daies of Noah in some places of the world c. 24. v. 38. which he illustrates from two Parables perswading therefore to watchfulnesse to the end of the 24 th chap. 2. Or there will be great security in other places and among other persons not given up to sensuality as in the daies of Noah but who are the chast Virgin pure Churches of the world not defiled with the whoredoms in the world and this our Saviour unfolds in this Parable 3. Or if any be awakened as some shall to look for Christ's coming yet among these some through hard conceits of the Lord Jesus shall be wilfully carelesse and not improve their Talents for the sake and use of the Lord Jesus and this is set down in the next Parable of the ten Talents from v. 14. to v. 31. You see therefore where this Parable stands and to what purpose it is brought in In which are two things SECT II. 1. THe Parable it self concerning the ten Virgins from v. 1. to v. 13. 2. The scope of the Parable v. 13.
him more when no tears shall ever prevail again Therefore if thou hast been found out this day confess and give glory to God and let thine eyes be tears that Christ would overcome and draw thy soul with love and espouse thee to himself for ever CHAP. VI. Containing Motives and Arguments to perswade us unto the Love of Christ and to be Espoused to him IS there no communion to be had with the Lord Jesus unlesse Virgins unlesse espoused to him Oh therefore here is a match for you chuse him get your affections if entangled to come off if ensnared to any other thing and set your hearts bestow your love upon him For 't is not a dead Faith but such a faith as is animated by love that doth espouse you to him Gal. 5. 6. Faith which works by love And therefore as the love of other things not worth looking after hath got the soveraignty and royalty of thy heart so this is a conjugal love when it bears rule in the heart let Christ have this love And as you have loved creatures for themselves now love the Lord Jesus for himself And as they have easily enticed you to set your hearts upon them now be perswaded to set your dearest affections on him It s said of Iohn Baptist he was the Bride-groom's Friend to speak for him Iohn 3. 29. And truly 't is the main work of the Ministry to wooe for Christ and so to present chast Virgins to Christ. This shall be my work now which may be seasonable in this decaying time Therefore I shall chiefly bend my speech to three sorts 1. To them that never yet loved the Lord Jesus unlesse it be from the teeth outward 2. Those that have been striving for this yet cannot to their own feeling come to this 3. Those that have so but their affections are dried up and love is parched away iniquity abounds c. And my Motives shall be these four 1. Consider the Glory of the person whom I shall be a spokes-man for this day 2. Consider he makes love to thee 3. Consider that all he seeks for is love 4. Consider what he will do for thee how he will love thee if thou wilt love him SECT I. 1. COnsider the Glory of the person for whom I plead for love What can you love besides him Where can you find any like unto him I know the Glory of the Lord is not revealed because the grasse withers not the flower fades not the creature appears not in his withering vanity Isa. 40. But if the Lord would but open your eyes to see him this would win your hearts alone to him Now I shall single out only these five things to give you a glimpse of his Glory Lift up thy heart and say Lord hide not now thy face from me 1. He is the Prince of the Kings of the earth Rev. 1. 5. The glory of the world is a Kingdom the glorious Diamond of that Kingdom is a Prince in his Glory now for a poor Beggar to have an offer of love from the greatest Prince in the world would it not tempt her Would she not forsake her lovers and set her heart on him Why look what a distance there is between the poorest Peasant and the highest Prince so base and a thousand times more are all the Princes of the world to Christ whose Dominion is from sea to sea from Sun to Sun who sets up and puls down Kings like Counters who rules their Courts their Kingdoms their hearts and they do not do they cannot do but what he will Other Kings are Princes are Rulers of men Christ Prince of Kings Now who would not be glad of his love who having tasted death is set down on the right hand of God on high cloathed with endlesse Glory who hath Kings in his chaines whose breath is not in his nostrils whose favour is not for a day but he lives and reignes for ever Now doth Christ reign Is he a Lord and in Glory upon his Throne Methinks I see Jesus at the right hand of God your foolish affections have undone you if you love him not 2. He is appointed by the Father to be Judge of quick and dead at the last day Iohn 5. 22 23. as well as to rule all now So that if you do maintain enmity against him he may let you alone you may live in health and die in peace in the eye of man and in thine own eyes too Yet there is a day coming he will break out of Heaven with a shout and appear in the clouds in the amazing Glory of his Father with all his mighty Angels and all the dead shall hear his voice and you shall appear before him with this body when the Heavens shall burn round about him and the earth shall tremble under him and all guilty eyes mourning and wayling because of him Then you shall know what 't is to despise him and wish oh that I had loved him Rev. 1. 7. You that say you love him yet by an imâ—enitent heart pierce him you shall wayl even so Amen Men do not see an end of these things not the Glory of the Lord another day Hence creatures are loved and the Lord of Glory is loathed A great Prince may not be so highly esteemed untill he appears in his state Prisoners would give any mony much more love for the Judges Favour 3. He only is the procuter and author of all the good that ever thou didst suck out here though thou hast neither known him not been thankful to him For look as it was with Angels so it should have been with man the wrath of God should have been poured out upon him and on all the world and creatures should have been tormentors of him but that the Lord Jesus begged and bought the world And hence 1 Tim. 4. 10. called Saviour of all but chiefly of the Elect. Micah 4. 4. In his daies men shall sit under Vines and Fig-trees So that if ever any creature did thee good it was Jesus that put that sweetnesse in it out of his fulnesse and set it awork sent it to thee gave it thee to do thee good Thou shouldst never have had winâ— of sleep never restrained from one sin but lived in blaspheming God never hà ve heard of a Gospel but for Christ And will you not love him Oh ungrateful world unnatural generation of men Why dost love any creature 'T is for the paint of it and good in it If there be so much in it what is there in Christ that gave it that dropt it into it Never love him if there be any thing good that is not by him Psal. 116. 1. The Lord hath heard my prayer I will call on him as long as I live Much more when the Lord hath delivered and thou didst never seek to him 4. He is the everlasting wonderment of Saints in Heaven the Queen of Sheba heard of Solomon which made her come to see him
glory out of thy ruine he was blessed before all worlds and by all thy sins thou dost but throw stones against the wind or snow-balls against the Sun why doth he do it O 't is thy good he pitties thee as once Ierusalem to look upon thy destruction and desolation as 't is with the Elect they have wrath before their eyes and hence perswade others so the Lord Jesus SECT III. 3. COnsider 't is nothing else but love the Lord looks for or cares for Love looks for nothing but love Prov. 8. 17. and this is the end of all Election to be holy before him in love and mark it if it be a stayed love that constrainâ— thee to him you cannot wrong him As if thou come and perswade one to murder his Child he cannot so if perswaded to despise oh bowels of heart-breaking love 2 Cor. 5. And surely 't is admirable love What if it were thy Goods thy Isaâ—â— to be sacrificed thy body to be burned it was nothing but he desires only love only thy heart which hath forged so much villany against him let him never be called upon or professed if not worthy of this After all is this all yes no Portion he cares for and when he hath this he hath all Wonder at this O Angels SECT IV. 4. COnsider what he will do for thee how he will love thee if thou wilt thus love him 1. He will set thee next himself in honour Psalm 45. 9. that as the Lord Jesus is next to God sits at his right hand so here which is an honour that the Angels have not who are no where called Christs Spouse hence never had such an union hence never shall partake of that honour of Saints 2. He will enrich thee as 't is with Man and Wife all that he hath is hers so himself and all his glory his God his Father his Kingdom is thine Prov. 8. 21. they that love me inherit something others nothing no nothing indeed only shews of good and they find it so when they awake nothing their own nothing long that let thy outward man yea thy inward be never so poor thou shalt by him be heir of all 3. He will cousel thee hence David Psal. 73. made choice of God Thou wilt guìde me by thy counsel no greater curse than to be left to the guidance of a mans own counsel but here there shall not be any strait but the Lord will shew thee a way out of it either by his prudence or providence there shall not be any secret of Christ that thou desirest to know but as Christ told them You are my Friends so you are my Spouse hence all his secrets shall be opened to thee there shall not be one act of thy life but ordered by infinite prudence and wisdom and love sometimes we are befooled in our own counsels and left to them to teach us to depend on the Lord the more yet thereby shall come out such good that it shall be among us as with Iosephs Brethren 4. He will dwell with thee as a man must dwell with his Wife Iohn 14. 23. that the great Mediator that passeth by Kings and Princes and will not look on them should come and dwell with thee this is better than to have the presence of Kings the guard of Angels better than Heaven it self that he should dwel where is nothing worthy to entertain him only something to grieve him Now this is 1. A constant assistance of the Spirit that let the Soul go where he will be brought to never so low an ebb yet Christ will not out but some stirrings sighings lookings pantings after Christ when heart and strength fail yet God c. when ready to give all for lost then consider as Psal. 73. 2. If he doth depart he will not be loug but return again and those that know his affection know it so to be Isai. 54. for a little moment c. so the Lord may depart and when his presence is a little more esteemed come again with everlasting mercies as a man may know many weaknesses by his Wife yet she having not bestowed her heart on any other he will return so if thou canst say yet I am the Lords he will return 5. He will rejoyce in thee and over thee Zeph. 3. 17. as a Bridegroom doth over the Bride Not because of any beauty in thee for there is none but because given in marriage of the Father and for his own sake This day thou shalt no sooner set thy heart on Christ but he falls in love with thee and will take thee with joy thou thinkest he will be angry if thou closest with him and love him no it will be the joy of Heaven of Jesus Christ himself 6. He will exceedingly comfort thee and look as 't is with tender husbands then they comfort most when most sorrowes beâ—ide them for who could endure his wife should be alway drooping So even then when nothing doth or can comfort thee the Lord will Isa. 54. 6. For the Lord doth not alway comfort but when in need as it was with the Patriarchs Then God appeared when they were at worst and these are abundant comforts 2 Cor. 1. 3 4 5. You shall not need to scramble for it as many do whose hearts do not love Christ in truth as yet 7. He will put up all Wrongs and bear exceedingly with thee Many think even when God hath sealed love to them if any little sin be committed then they are cast off no if under the Law so indeed but when espoused to him 't is not weaknesses nor wilfulnesse can make the Lord cast thee away but he will heal the one and afflict thee for yet not cast thee off for the other Psal. 89. 33. My loving kindnesse will I never take away Yea he will forgive both Luke 7. 47. Much forgiven because she loved much Nay thy wrongs shall be an occasion to make him love thee more Rom. 5. Where sin abounds Grace abounds 8. He will never part with thee Hos. 2. 19. Once love him and he will never lose thee 1. No sin shall part thee and him for Christ when he enters into marriage covenant doth not suspend his love on our Grace or Holinesse then he might leave quickly but on his own Grace to wash away out filthinesse Eph. 5. 25 26. If a husband marries a woman only for so long as she is in health then when sicknesse comes he may depart But è contra if to take away her sicknesses then they cannot hinder Nothing but Adultery can part Now that they cannot do for nothing breaks till covenant is broken And the covenant here is everlasting and so undertaken for by the Lord that it can never be broken 2. No miseries can Rom. 8. 35 36 37. Can tribulation It makes man leave us but this is peculiar to Christ he will not leave 3. Death cannot it must part man and wife though loved never so dearly before
to Prayer and Word and want many things but find them not Oh come therefore Lord I must have I cannot go without supply Not but that a Christian must wait and be content humbly but not careâ—esly Therefore think within thy self 1. What is there that I need but this the presence of God the life of God c. Is it not enough in Heaven where 's no wealth nor comforts else and is it not suffâ—cient now 2. May I have it oâ— this condition I must have it I am resolved not to go without it Rev. 22. 17. if you will come take it Are the termes so sweet 3. Do wicked men thirst more and more after their lusts and is Christ and his Grace and his Presence no better that I have enough of them quickly God forbid there should be such a heart 4. Doth the least sin so exceedingly go to the heart of my God and shall I suffer it not only to act here and tempt here but remain alive here 5. Is not the Lord after all love shewn me worthy of infinite not a little honour from me and doth he deserve all and must I not shall I not give it him before I dye it must it shall be so Now when here you feel a need know it that you are at the very door of relief I conceive this is the great door at which Christ enters into the soul. The root of Faith i. e. the author object and foundation of Faith is out of a mans self the door of Faith which opens to all treasures is in a mans self This door is not any good in us for then we should have somewhat to boast of nor sin in us for that shuts out God from us nor knowledg of want for that the Devils have but sense of want which when the Saints have now the door is opened for the Lord Jesus in all his fulnesse to come in Now if you know these things blessed are you if you do them SECT VIII TO all the Churches of the Lord Jesus here planted in these Western parts of the World to maintain your Church-chastity and Virginity you have a name of it abroad pure chaste Virgin-churches not polluted with the mixtures of mens inventions not defiled with the company of evill men pure Ordinances pure People pure Churches which is the cause of the scoffs and enmity of some but of the desire and joy of others O if there how happy I and how blessed they Take heed you do not defile your selves again Open whoredoom is too gross too shameful to yeild to mans inventious to open the door for all comers into the Church but take heed of secret whoredoms and departings from Christ for think of this speech when you see me dead that of all Churches in the World the Lord Jesus carries a most jealous eye over these for whom he hath done such great things and I know it he takes exceeding ill your secret wantonnesse and whoredoms of heart the Lord hath kept you hitherto look you maintain it for you may be soon defloured again few Churches retain their purity long aged gray-haired purity is seldom seen I will tell you of the several Temptations some at least that may prevail to the defilement of you First Spiritual defilement is forsaking of the Husband a total secret forsaking of Christ for here is the temptation to it viz. Gods withdrawing himself in his Ordinances from his Ordinances For three sorts of Temptations make men fall back 1. By Persecution and there many fall though some hold out as in the stony land 2. By Peace and here many fall like the thorny ground like Saylors that in a storm at Sea every man is ready and will be pulling his rope but when a calm then go to their Cabbins and there fall asleep and here many fall in this place and others stand it out 3. By the Lords withdrawing from them as those Mal. 3. 14. and here the great ones fall Many come to enjoy Ordinances and persecution vext them not world it 's base it troubles them not and they think to find much but do not but the Lord withdraws and they can get no good hereupon their false hearts discover themselves they draw back from God and lie still whereas Saints cry the more after him and look the more into themselves and find out the cause of it and then the Lord helps them Isai. 63. 17. Oh take heed of this 1. Shall I forsake the Lord that hath done these great things for my Soul 2. Shall I now do it after I am so near Heaven 3. Shall I forsake him when he departs from me but for a time it may be when as he followed me when I departed long from him 4. Is it not Hell to dye without him and shall it not be Death to live without him 5. Doth he depart without a cause he hath no cause to follow me I have all reason to follow him the Lord grant you may do so Secondly Secret defilement is by neglect of private communion with him this is whorish in a Wife Here is stronger Temptation to neglect private Prayer and Meditation partly by want of room partly by multitudes of businesses and work and cares hereabout that being weary in the day sleepy at night busie in the morning Prayer Meditation daily examination are sent away as Paul from Faelix we will speak with these at some more convenient season and hence straitnesse of heart toward Christ and no means do good Oh Beloved have you such a Husband as Christ in Heaven that loves thy looks thy company thy sighs thy speeches and will you neglect him thus what no love 2. Is he not broken with this whorish heart 3. Is that speech worth any thing with you We shall ever be with the Lord doth it comfort you to think of being ever with him and now neglect him where are your hearts Thirdly Secret defilement is by bringing other lovers into the same bed the same heart with him and here the Temptation to this is strong for most men have lost and sunk in their Estates and it 's hard to live lower than we did and this is a grief and here 't is possible to recover estate again and here grief for losse hath a vent by greedinesse and pursuit after more In other places men had a very coâ—fortable estate hence rejoyced in what they had and did not greedily desire more but now want makes men hungry and greedy and now when a man hath thought and lookt about him and seen what he may gain by his labours of many acres by his Goats and Cartel in so many year now he casts himself into the world and also will not forsake Christ utterly but bring both into the same heart Christ shall have some love some desire but the world as much and so the heart is divided and hence some set high prizes on their corn commodities cattel others look for large wages
he was not only ready to go to prison but to dye with him Christ hath poor respect and love if men will not so much as be alway ready to receive him it certainly argues a carelesse heart that sleights Chrâ—st that is not ever prepared to receive Christ. 2. Because the time of Christs coming is then when we least look for him vers 13. Hence a christian ought to be ever ready to receive him Many of eminent parts when the Church had most need of them then are cut down Many at their first conversion before they or others almost could tell what to make of them the Lord hath cropt them in the bud Men find their hearts unfit and unready they think hereupon that hereafter they shall get their hearts into better order and tune when these businesses are over but yet will live at liberty a little while why then it 's most likely is the Lords time of coming even now when they think least of it Luke 12. 40. 3. Because the Lord hath set apart every one that is espoused to the Lord Jesus only for the fruition of Christ and use of Christ 1 Cor. 3. ult You are Christs and Christ is Gods A Woman that is not chosen nor set apart for the fellowship of a Prince she may go how she will and do what she will any base drudgery work but she that is chosen to be next unto him and only to behold and love him she is not to plead she hath so much businesse to do and so many Friends to speak with that she cannot make her self ready she is set apart for a better person and for more noble employment So here men of the world not loved of God nor chosen and set apart for him may do what they will but when the Lord hath chosen and set you apart of purpose for this end Ephes. 1. 4. Chosen to be holy before him in love i. e. to stand ever in his presence before him with a spirit of dearest love unto him Hence the Lord hath taken the care of all things else 1 Pet. 5. 7. that we might mind and do this thing It in danger he will deliver if in want he will proviâ—e if weak he will strengthen only noâ— be ready for the Lord Psalm 45. 10. Forget thy Country and thy Fathers house so shall the Lord desire thy beauty You are not now free to love and follow whom you please the Lord hath bound you to himself by love and you have bound your self by promise to the Lord again Therefore now a christian after once espoused to Christ is better than all the world being the Bride of the Lamb and he hath a better and greater good for to enjoy therefore he should scorn and abhor to march himself to or to do any thing for any other creature and therefore methinks should sit as one upon a watch-tower looking out and telling the clock now day is near waiting only for Christ Oh let it be so If in Heaven you shall have only Christ Oh prepare for him much more now As a Woman that is Maâ—cht to a rich man all the servants attend on her and follow her she is wholly and only for her Husband so it should be here 4. Because he hath prepared and made all things else ready for the soul it 's hard if he hath prepared a place in Heaven and Grace in Heaven not to prepare an heart and make it ready for him Iohn 14. 1 2 3. his Kingdom was ready long ago and his Father ready to accept and entertain thee and his heart loves and desires all are ready after thee hence be ready to meet with him I am my Beloveds SECT V. HEnce see the great unkindnesse of many a soul immediatly after his espousing to Jesus Christ who having once given himself to Christ and received comfort thereby presently grows more carelesse than before he was matcht unto the Lord Jesus who should now stand in a holy watchfulnesse and readinesse to receive Christ as 't is Psalm 85. 8. Let them not turn again to folly because they are very apt so to do Many say when in some distresse and after long waiting if the Lord would pitty once then happy I I would give away any thing all I hâ—ve unto himâ—â—well the Lord pitties the soul when in its low estate and then it blesseth God but like the Israelites soon forgets his works his love and after great peace from God comes greatest carelesnesse can this stand with Grace and Christ very hardly but yet it may for there are Two things that make for it 1. Because at first conversion there is much seeâ—ing of Christ for healing the horrour and smart of sin as well as for the curing of the wound and scar of sin hence when espoused and horrour being past that wheel being broken a man draws more heavily now and neglects seeking now the Knife is out of his heart he cries not so earnestly 2. Because when espoused and much affected commonly a man trusts to his affections when he hath a fulnesse of them hence the Lord lets Satan prevail Luke 22. 31 33. Satan hath desired to winnow thee as wheat and I saith Peâ—er am ready to dye with thee but you see he feâ—l and then when the Lord looked upon him he went out and wept bitterly How shamefully hast thou fallen should any love him more than you if ever he pitty well for his Name-sake he hath done it But how oft hast thou broken Covenant how forgetful of the Lords kindnesse The Lord looks upon thee this day why hast thou so soon forgot me and forsaken me have I not took thee from the Dung-hill nay from Hell and whereas I had so many thousands to set my love on I chose thee and whereas thou couldest not love me when I offered my self thou couldest not return me love again I gave it therefore to thee yea and have given my self to thee for ever Hast thou thus forgotten me when as I take little wrongs from thee more heavily than great ones from others Oh that this might make you go out and mourn bitterly so if ever you have tasted that love as Peter did Christs looks will humble you Hence see the reason why some Godly People dye so uncomfortably and with such distresse of spirit why they have not lived in an expectation of Christ and hence they cry out of themselves not knowing whither they go insomuch as some have not been comforted by all former experiences and by all present consolations of Ministers Oh no 't is now too late to speak they thank them for their love but God hath otherwise thought of them yet if any hope be given them 't is ever pickt out from some word and they cry Oh I thirst for a little mercy and then dye and what is the reason of it what need I speak Themselves will tell you and have done it Oh I have lived thus and thus
stake gave away her cloaths some to one some to another Now farewell friends and world welcome Love welcome Christ. So if the Lord comes to take away all from thee the child of thy body the husband of thy youth the wife of thy bosom the comforts of thy life provisions from thy family bread from thy mouth bid farewel to them give them into the Lords hands and now say welcome Christ. It s usual for Christians at first conversion and espousing the Lord loves them dearly and tenders them shews nothing but love to them and then their love is fresh afterward come hard Frosts and Winter-storms and cold blasts of displeasure Christ departs from the Soul withdraws himself hides his face and sends sad afflictions now the Soul apprehending anger and nothing else it grows discouraged and so dies when if it could stay and wait it should see all from love and doing it the greatest good Oh remember this he doth afflict me he doth depart from me he doth fear me with Hell yet I 'le love him never a whit the lesse Though the Lord buries all the Blessings he gives me yet my love shall live and if it do fall it shall arise 4. He loved thee when in thy low estate Psal. 136. 23. even when as no eye pittied thee Ezek. 16. nay when thou wert vilest at the height of thy sin under deepest depths of misery and straightest captivity after Friends had almost ceased to counsel Word and Spirit could do no good after Conscience had warned thee Oh love him when he is in his lowest estate when his enemies persecute him and his seeming Friends forsake him Before you came to this Land you thought Christ and persecution Christ and the meanest condition nay Christ and death would be sweet the Lord it may be doth or will try your love and here you find Christ and losses in Estate Christ and crosses in your Family Christ and many fears and toils and cares Do you love him now as well as ever you did for all this Oh never was my heart worse I doubt not but a discerning Christian may see how all the world is against Christ nay many Traytors in his own Family who love the bagg more than Christ. Many foolish Virgins who love their sleep and sloth more than Christ nay the hearts and Spirits of his own Friends declining that there is not that life of Christ that presence and savour and power of Christ in Hearts in Prayers in Lives and no complaints of this Now is the fittest time of love when no eye sees when no heart loves him or cares for him Psalm 119. 126 127. Therefore I love thy commands when he is shut out of every heart when none to receive him if any love it will appear now 5. He doth love thee constantly every moment Iohn 13. 1. 2. He hath thee every moment in his own bosom every moment thou art sinning and he is pardoning Sin and Satan and Hell and wrath are every moment waiting to hurt thee and he is every moment watching over thee redeeming of thee Every moment sin and justice cry against thee and yet he is continually making intercession for thee Isai. 27. 2 3. Every moment he is blessing when thou art sinning Oh the unknown love of the Lord Jesus Oh these fits of love are not fit for him Love him every moment delight in him every moment When a man hath a fire every moment warming him but still is cold it 's a sad sign that Death is near You can love him sometimes in a Sermon but soon after cold again or in a Sacrament and presently heart-dead again or after answer to Prayers and some special deliverances and then the heart is un-affected again and so a little pang of love must content Christ if he ceaseth one moment to love thee and to manifest it to thee then cease to love him if he ceaseth not to love thee dearly never to leave thee Oh then ever love him But we have such distractions and cares Men in love will follow their work and Women will do the Huswifry of the house and yet love is at notime to seek to their Husbands and shall the Lord have lesse 6. He loves thee with an unmeasurable love Rom. 5. 20. Where sin there Grace hath abounded hence Eph. 2. 3 4. Love and great love vers 7. Exceeding riches of his Grace For there is in Christ. 1. A created love One man loves another exceedingly as Ionathan did David Now he hath the perfection of all humane or Angelical love towards his people put in him 2. Increated love infinite love of a God and hence 't is immeasurable He thinks nothing he doth too much nothing he gives too dear hence when world is slain Satan cast out when he is out sin must out when some sins removed the rest must when they are out then death must when Death then Hell And when there is no life no Grace he works it it decaies he restores it it cannot act he quickens it it cannot doth not grow he waters it He hath given thee the earth and the dayes of peace and patience those are too little he calls thee and when thou canst not come draws thee and gives thee pardon that is too little he gives earth to thee that is too little world is theirs he gives Heaven to thee that 's too little for they are made Co-heirs he gives promise to thee that is too little he gives himself and Spirit and can he do more Yes we cannot drink in all that goodnesse and love hence he gives eternity to thee and he shall more and more enlighten thee not only let thy Soul live to blesse him but thy poor body and every dust of it to be raised up to Glory with him What the Lord promised to Abraham In blessing I will blesse that portion is thine Oh now love him without measure Oh how I love thy law how did David love it I cannot tell but if he loved the word of Christ then much more the person of Christ the presence of Christ everlasting fellowship with Christ. Oh take heed of giving Christ and measuring out unto Christ his portion his allowance that when the Lord comes to you for more love as he doth daily you give him that answer which many do in their practice you have let him have as much as you can so that you cannot spare any more from your selves from a base world from Wife and Child and Creature from a slothful course you hope the Lord will accept of that little he hath I confesse a little water in a Spring is better than much that comes by Land-floods but be sure it be a Spring else not accepted Beloved time was you lived without Christ did nothing for him now you do and what thou dost this year did'st last year and no more what love Christ had yesterday the same he hath to day and no more Will you thus
near Heaven too Angels were hurled down for one sin 2. Set a high price upon a little Grace a man will be exceeding humbly thankful for the giving a little of that which he highly esteems much more for giving much of what we value The poor Woman of Canaan Mat. 15. was glad of crumbs How thankful do you think she was for loaves that made her ready to receive all Be it as thou wilt so it shall be with you for if you prize a little Oh when all shall be given this will swallow you up into Grace And it 's certain there is never a mercy but 't is great if you consider him that gives it who receives it him that bought it But the most of Gods Grace in us appears to be but small hence we prize it not and hence never ready to give all to the Lord again 3. Learn to put a difference between your double being for every Christian hath a double being 1. In himself 2. He hath a subsistence in Christ. Now look upon your selves as in your selves you will ever complain there ever dead and never have your hearts ready to bless the Lord. If you only look on your selves in Christ you will be proud and never give the Lord honour I say therefore put a difference between these two for men appropriating to themselves what is Christs they rob Christ of his glory Hence Paul so humble 1 Cor. 15. 10 11. For if you look upon your self I am dead guilty damned weak here will be shame if any life or Grace this is Christs As a man on a Mount is the same man no taller only the Mountain makes him so so think of thy self Or as a mud wall the sun shines on it but in it self it is a mud-wall still all the warmth and lustre is from the Sun 4. Learn to love Grace what we love we will seek the good of more than our own and commend it First It 's the only first mover of all our good thou shouldst never have had a dram of peace or mercy Why hast it the Lord will have it so Grace pleads it may be so this is the only Petitioner at Court against the cry of sin against the cry of Justice Secondly 'T is the only support under the heaviest evills sometime God frowns and Hell smokes and Satan tempts and sin rageth and it may be no feeling of Grace no reason to shew there shall ever be any now what have you done what will you do Fly for refuge to the Promise of Grace Heb. 6. 18. It is such a Friend as holds up the head when sinking when dying holds that when all fails and against which the gates of Hell cannot prevail To him that laies hold on Grace this is wonderful Paul was a man taken with Grace hence he every where commends it I was received to mercy c. 1 Tim. 1. 13 14. 5. See how the Lord loves that thou shouldest honour it for the greatest honour Grace hath is by Faith hence they are put for one Rom. 4. 16. and the great cause why Faith stirs not is because he sees not how the Lord shall have by it the praise of his rich Grace nor how the Lord loves it should do so For if a man did see how by Faith he shall honour Grace and how the Lord is pleased with it it would draw the heart to be assured and to bless Grace for when the Soul feels it self at worst why doth it not believe I shall presume True if you have this only in your eye to save your self but if the Spirit presents the glory of Grace and this draws your will that you will glorifie Grace then you will say 't is no presumption so to do and so to believe for the Lord loves his Grace and all means for the glory of Grace Hence he will use Faith for that end to honour Grace Oh therefore see how the Lord loves to have thee honour it This gives Gods heart full rest this is that which he desires most because 't is his end This is that which all the business of the world is for Oh see how he loves it and then you will love to act thus Now set upon this last work look over all your life and like Bees gather honey from every flower and then come loaden home so do you and look over all the Lords love turn over all the leaves of it The Lord hath now called me why it's because Christ hath redeemed and why that because the Father hath chosen and why me to glorifie his Grace And why me rather than another No reason but he would This I doubt not will be the work of Heaven I am glorified because called because redeemed because elected for none other reason why and here astonished You have not christian hearts in you that will now have no care to do this work there before you are turned off the stage you poor doubting Spirits that see so much vileness and cannot be perswaded be not discouraged Wait for the Lord and say if he shall save I shall for ever love him the more Now hold here anâ— be ready to do so and it 's certain thou art a vessel of Glory ready to sing the Song of the Lamb and shalt follow him where-ever he goes CHAP. IX Concerning the Souls immediate closing with the Person of Christ as the proper Object of Saving-Faith 3. Went forth to meet the Bride-Groom SECT I. Here needs the Explication of Three Things 1. VVHo is the Bride-groom Answ. The conclusion of this Parable is the Explication of this viz. the Son of Man the Lord Jesus Christ who according to the several conditions or dispositions the Church is in appears to his Church under several relations and titles The Church is oppressed by her enemies he appears now to her as her Prince and King the Church wants wisdom light and life he appears now unto her as an head The Church hath been seeking of his love and yielding her self to the obedience of him as her Lord at last he appears more fully to her as an Husband or as a Bride-groom with whom she is to have her nearest and everlasting fellowship and communion and so here And when Christ comes to shew most special love and to have most special fellowship with his people he thus stiles himself Isal. 54. 5 6. So Iohn 3. 29. And when the Church hath tasted that love she calls him so II. What it is to meet the Bride-groom Answ. To enjoy fellowship and familiarity with him III. What is it to go forth to meet the Bride-groom Answ. There are but three wayes of going forth to meet with Christ in Scripture 1. When Soul and Body at the last Day meet the Lord in the clouds of the air 1 Thes. 4. 17. Thus the whole Church the Bride shall appear in glory to meet the Bride-groom 2. When the Soul only goeth out of the Body by the ministry of Angels to
meet the Lord in Heaven as Paul that knew not whether in or out of the body 2 Cor. 12. 3. We know it here shall go out of the body as Christ is said when he went to Heaven I go to my Father and your Father so it goes forth then to Christ Eccles. 12. 7. and neither of these can be meant here for First â—his shews the 〈◊〉 of the Jewish Church long before Christs coming at least among many of them Secondly Because the shutting out vers 10. is by and at Death hence letting in is so too Now this was before 3. When the Soul goes out or it self by Faith hence Iohn 6. 35. 't is called coming to Christ and this not any Physical natural departing of the Soul out of the body but Ethical supernatural by the operations of the Soul out of 〈◊〉 self And look as the whole Soul by unbelief departs from God in Christ so the whole Soul by Faith comes again unto God by Christ. The mind sees affections make after him will fastens on him and there depends This is the first work of Faith or the first Faith the coming as in all motions there are two extreams of the Soul from a nothingness emptiness in it self to an allness and fulness in Christ And as 't is in other motions if there was a vacuum there would be motus in instanti so if there was an emptiness seen in the world and all the works of it and in all fears that all mountains were cast down Faith then would suddenly come by the Spirit to the Lord Jesus and this coming to Christ is not meant here For First These Virgins were espoused to Christ by Faith already Secondly At the first coming to Christ it goes to the Lord for life in him and from him but here having life already they go forth to live with him there the Soul goes out to meet him in the Gospel in the Promise here the Virgins go forth to meet him in Glory There the Soul goes to be justified by him here the Virgins go to be glorified with him and therefore 't is meant of a second going out of the Soul by some special acts of Faith after that it doth believe and after 't is ready for him And for Explication From whence doth the Soul go It 's chiefly going out of this world by trampling this Moon under her feet by forgetting this her Fathers house by a holy contempt of it and a holy dying to it and all the glory of it For 't is a thousand to one if Satan doth not intangle here if Lot be not taken with Sodom though burnt out there and if this going out is to enjoy the Lord in another world chiefly then going out is from the opposite terme from this world Hence Paul singles out this mercy Gal. 1. 4. Christ gave himself to deliver us from this present evil world Oh say men 't is a good world and good being here 'T is an evil world 't is so when Death comes but for present 't is best No 't is a present evil world By what acts of Faith doth it go forth There be two affections of the Soul that chiefly look to a good absent yet loving that good go forth to meet it and those are Hope and Desire like the blind man and the lame both together can make a shift to go Hope like the eye goes out and looks Desire like the feet runs out and longs The going forth therefore to meet Christ is 1. By a real expectation of him 2. By a longing desire to be with him Hope gets on the top of the world and cries Oh I see him Desire stands by and longs for him Oh come Lord. A careless blind world look not for him nor after him the Saints do Heb. 9. 28. An earthly-minded world longs not for him the Bride doth Rev. 22. 17 20. Oh come Lord Iesus come quickly by love and joy we imbrace and entertain the Bride-groom by hope and desire we go forth to meet the Bridegroom Hence many things are to be observed and yet not all I might SECT II. THat the object to which Faith chiefly looks and closeth with is the Person of the Lord Iesus 'T is the Bride-groom himself that the Virgins chiefly have to do withall they are espoused to him as in Marriage there is a giving of themselves one unto another they make themselves ready for him they go out to meet him 'T is him they love 't is him they want 't is him they look for 't is him they close withalâ— Whorish lovers look not after him but his his peace to comfort them when in horror and fear his mercy to save them from eternal flames but Virgins look to him they look to His indeed but 't is himself chiefly they care for Iohn 1. 12. to so many as received him he gave power to be Sons Iohn 6. 27. when the people followed him but it was for loaves Labour not for bread that perisheth buâ— c. for him hath the Father sealed Mat. 13. 44. The man did not buy the Treasure but bought the field 't is him Faith seeks for Ier. 50. 4. They shall seek the Lord weeping 't is him Faith chuseth and is contented with Whom have I in Heaven but thee Psal. 73. 25. 'T is him Faith glories in Isai. 45. 25. In him shall all the Seed of Israel glory SECT III. 'T Is chiefly and firstly the Person of Christ that the Father gives unto the Soul Isai. 9. 6. hence Faith laies hold on him 'T is not seemly to keepâ— Portion from any much less Orphans Portion Faith empties a man so as it makes him the poorest Orâ—han in the world now the Father cannot will not keep back his Portion but gives it him Wicked men have their Portion in this world Psalm 17. 14. and they think the Lord loves them because he blesseth them they have many moral excellencies given them which makes them honoured and lovely in the eyes of men and they have honour and that is their reward they have bread but not the staff of bread they have Ordinances but not the Lord in them the Lord gives them answer to many Prayers but never gives them himself nor his Son this is highest love But 't is his Son himself he gives to Orphan fatherless helpless creatures for the Lord is their Portion Lam. 3. 24. The portion of Iacob Ier. 10. 16. hence 't is him that Faith receives and pitcheth upon so that the Lord may deny them many outward many inward Blessings yet they have himself that 's better than all better as he said than Ten Sons Children may be Prodigals for a time but when in want they will then sue for their Portion Saints for a time may mispend all Times Talents Ordinances the Lord gives but the Lord will bring them to want and then they will sue for their Portion and the Lord will give and they
wrath is to come what that is they see What their escape from it is they see Hence they look for Christ when he shall appear like the rising Sun and like a Bride-groom from his chamber to comfort them 1 Thes. 1. 10. For the Devils look for this day and natural men but seeing wrath wish themselves under rocks and mountains and seek to smother it But Saints seeing themselves delivered hence calmly look for it The sense of this love makes them say Oh when will he come that I may see him with these eyes They fear not for why should they the terrour of this day 4. Because the Lord hath given unto them the first-fruits of Glory and of that day of Glory hence they look and wait for it You know the first fruits were part of the whole vintage hence they gave thanks for all because they then looked for all Exod. 23. Rom. 8. 23. We having the first-fruits of the Spirit wait for the 〈◊〉 That look as 't is with the wicked that have rejected Christ and counted his Blood â— common thing and done despite to Gods Spirit there remains nothing 〈…〉 for of vengeance so here è contra Rom. 5. 1 2 3 4 5. Being 〈◊〉 by Faith now 1. Peace with God 2. Accesse by Christ to God 3. Standing in that Grace 4. Shedding of love hence not only hope but Glory in hope of the Glory of God There is none espoused to Christ but tast this love feel the warmth of his fellowship feel the abundance of his love but 't is but in a little measure in the first-fruits hence they look for and expect the rest at his coming They are somtime full of fears what if shut out at last But when they feel the first-fruits of Glory at that day now they verily look for his coming Christ dies we know but it was not possible for him to be held long and hence rose again and then looked for Glory and then was taken up to Glory So here the Saints lie dead in the grave of sins and fears but it s not possible for them ever to be held here hence when risen with Christ they look upon things above and are waiting for Glory and at last are taken to Glory with himself That look as Iacob Gen. 49. 18. said My soul waiteth for thy salvation when the stakes and pins of this fleshly Tabernacle are loosing and so the Lord is loosing him from the excellency of this world though he minds other things yet he recalls himself My soul waiteth for thy salvation Oh Lord. SECT III. HEnce let all flesh take notice that there is such a time and day and coming of the Lord Jesus This was the Apostles Argument to prove a resurrection Christ is risen and to prove this and so the resurrection from the dead at Christs coming else is your Faith vain i. e. Expectation of him vain 1 Cor. 15. 14 17. Men think it easie to believe a resurrection and a second coming of Christ for that end but an hoverly sleight work is quickly done and an hoverly Faith is quickly wrought But when a man comes to look considerately Is there such a day indeed Is there one now in the third Heavens that will fire this whole world and gather his Saints to his Glory Now it s very hard It s usual with Satan to pierce with extremities that when they do begin indeed to close with Christ and receive comfort from him to smite them with thoughts Is there a Christ and is there such a time of coming Now of all the Arguments to convince and perswade me-thinks none like this viz. That there be a Generation of men in the world that verily look for this day and see it and have the first-fruits and beginnings of it already in their souls A number of people that once never minded it heard of it but looked not for it now to see it flesh and blood could not Satan would not reveal it hence God that cannot lie hath shewn it unto them so as they are in a manner eye-witnesses of it Men will believe eye-witnesses of any thing especially if many Such are the espoused of the Lord in all ages The things which we have heard and seen we speak But may they not be deceived and conceit that which is not True but Divine revelation of any Truth that cannot deceive for that is no fancy of the head nor delusion of Satan Now this is a secret the Spirit makes known 1. In that it fils the mind and feeds the heart with it that it carries unto God with wonderment of blessing him that ever he saw this Fancies cannot feed especially in greatest agonies Now they chuse misery on this ground rather than present peace here Heb. 11. 35. Not accepting deliverance 2. In that it works effects crosse to Nature nay to all a mans lusts in them Noah foresaw a Flood nigh but he might be deceived No 't is said he feared kept close to God and it came so here 3. This Light whereby they see it is not only sweet and Glorious and cross to heart and lusts but its sudden that as with Paul when going to persecute suddenly there fell a great Light and so he saw Christ. So when a man goes on in his sin and suddenly the Lord reveals this and that by a word else 't is a deceit which all Angels could not do before so as to see it and that none can reveal it as he sees it especially to bring this light out of darknesse this must be miraculous power and no dream But what do I speak of seeing they feel the beginnings of it in the first-fruits of it For two great things shall be at that day First Then all the Elect shall have their fill of love Secondly Triumph in Christ when in the clouds with him Have they not the first here Rom. 5. 5. The feeling of which love cannot be a Fancy foâ— it cannot conceive of it nor hold it This is an infinite love and that in the midst of the sence of sin and death That many times they are even fain to say Lord hold 2. Triumph Rom. 5. 3. and that in afflictions which make them by experience so to feel God in parâ— that they triumph for time to come 'T is â—rue at times they look down the Tower and so tremble but while they look up here then they triumph having accesse to the Grace wherein they stand So then look for it there shall be such a day and such a coming of Christ Rev. 1. 7. The Father hath exalâ—ed the Son to inesfable Glory But Lord Who sees him as these in his Glory or to come forth out of his Glory 'T is but Table-talk But behold he comes and every eye shall see him The Lord pities you and holds out bowels of love and Faith Oh receive me Oh cast away those bloody kniveâ— that have pierced me and sends his good
for him long not after him and hence let all leak out again How shall the Lord trust you with wine with full fruition of himself in Heaven 5. Oh Beloved have you ever found him in his Ordinances If not Oh the heavy wrath of the Lord Jesus upon thee If you have if ever he hath comforted thee when sad and sorrowful if ever quickned thee when death and darknesse did lie upon thee if ever he did deliver thee when distressed Oh then take heed of despising him in his Ordinances now but long for him again That I may see thee as I have seen thee Psal. 63 2. Let them that never found him deal so with him Peter when he saw Christs Glory on the Mount Lord saith he ' t is good for us to be here Hath the Lord ever transfigured himself before thee so as he hath appeared in another manner to thee in his Ordinances than ever thou sawest before Then say seeing Lord I cannot come to Heaven to thee 't is good being in the Mount in thy Ordinances with thee its good being here 1 Pet. 2. 2 3 4. I know Brethren you have many employments in the world and are called away to them and cannot ever be with the Lord yet let your longings be there nay though cast out of Gods sight yet look to the Temple this will give you peace 6. This if I may have leave to speak plainly is the great sin one of them of New-England Men come over hither for Ordinances and when they have them neglect them or if it be too horrible to live in a grosse neglect of them yet who maintains his Fellowship with Christ or longing after the Fellowship of Christ in them And therefore I shall stay a while on this point Men that are sick of consumptions have somtimes a mighty stomach after meat and when 't is brought them they are weary of the very smell of it and then say truly I had thought I could have eaten so much so men loath Ordinances nay the Cooks that dresse and the Dish that brings and the Ministry of Christ Jesus that provides the meat because consuming and pining away in their iniquities I know many use Ordinances but are they not indifferent whether they find him therein or no Now 1. When men had enough by them to live comfortably upon then God and his Ordinances were desired by them but here mens removing begetting want want of the creature joyned with fear and distrust of Gods Providence to provide for them and theirs either sink their hearts that Ordinances are not sweet no more than Moses message to a people in anguish or meat to a wounded man or else makes them hungry after the creature and hence lavishing out their desires that they have none after the Lord himself 2. When men are persecuted by enemies driven into corners or to Townes six miles off to find a Sacrament or hear a Sermon then the Gospel of peace and them that brought the glad tidings of peace their feet were beautiful and then men thought if one Sabbath here so sweet where Ordinances are much corrupted if some of them be so comfortable in the midst of enemies Oh how sweet to enjoy them all among Saints among Friends And so I know they be to some and I hope to more than I know but New-Englands peace and plenty of means breeds strange security and hence prayer is neglected here There are no enemies to hunt you to Heaven nor no chains to make you cry hence the Gospel and Christ in it is sleighted Why Here are no soure herbs to make the Lamb sweet And if I get no good this Sabbath this Sermon this Sacrament this Prayer I hope I shall some other time when my heart is better and my businesse is over Not considering that the daies of trouble may be near or Gods final farewel may be quickly taken 3. It was a sad speech of a Brother lately which hath oft affected me that a man may pray out hear out all the Grace of his heart Meaning this when God begins to work upon a mans heart at first then prayer and Word is sweet stay a while they hear out their hearing and pray out their praying so as in praying they pray not and in hearing they hear not Would to God there were noâ— a generation of those men among us that having been so oft Sermon-trod and Prayer-beaten that now their hearts are hardned and being used to Ordinances and being so long ridden under them I wish they were not tired and jaded under them before they come half way home that they had rather lie die in the high way than get up and with mighty groans and invincible wrastlings of heart seek after and so find the Lord in them 4. There is no place in all the world where there is such expectation to find the Lord as here and hence men blesse the Lord for our rising Sun when 't is setting every where else Here therefore they come and find it not hence not considering the great and last temptation of this place whereby God tries his friends before he will trust them with more of himself viz. deep and frequent desertions they give in and therefore care not for nor desire after those plaisters which they feel heal them not nor that food which they find nourisâ—eth them not 'T is strange to see what a Faith some men have that can close with Christ as their end and comfort themselves there 't is not means say they but Christ not duties but Christ and by this Faith can comfort and quiet themselves in the neglect and contempt of Christ in means as infallible a brand of Gods eternal reprobation of such a soul as any I know So that this is New-Englands sin Is not Prayer neglected wanting place and heart if not in family is it not in secret so that you have none nor poor servants have none If any Prayer in secret yet doth it not die Didst ever find thy Spirit so straitned Where are the mighty groans What is become of meditation Dost not let Sabbaths Sermons passe over which shall be preacht over again at the last day and find no Christ no Spirit in them and thus lie famishing and â—et not cry for bread If it be not so I am glad God Angels Saints and al the world shall call you blessed If it be so I dare be bold to prophesie ruine to this place and people and that you or your posâ—erity shall either in woods or in the Land or hands of your enemies in this place lament with tears the contempt of means and you even Disciple of Christ shall desire to see one of the daies of the Son of man and shall not see them Jer. 8. 13 14. Let us go into strong holds c. I know there are many that do meet the Lord but are you not apt to fall asleep again Oh therefore let me entreat you if the Lord hath
that never looking to behold his face that gave it that wrought it The poor blind man Iohn 9. had a mighty cure upon him and some seed of Faith the Lord wrought the work but hid himself He wondred at the great change was affected with his love at last the Lord Jesus comes himself Dost thou believe saith he Lord who is he I am he then he worshipped him v. 36 37 38. So 't is with the Lord in his way of working Grace Oh therefore long to see him here in his glasse and in Glory in his face fully Truly there is no work of Christ that 's right but it carries the soul to long for more of it and to be with him that hath done it Many Christians when they have the work run away with it as a good sign and look to the promise Oh but long not look not to behold the Lord Do ye thus requite the Lord Oh ye foolish people and unwise Were it not enough that your sins make but will you make works promises also a partition wall between the Lord and your souls I professe the Lord will fire such work about your eares and drie up all your pits that you may long for to drink out of the Well of life it self And 't is a black mark of Unbelief that shall keep thee from rest Heb. 4. 3 10 11. Oh but when you long to see him Oh when shall I appear before God! Psal. 63. 2 3 4. Then the Lord will fill thee As Leaden Rings with a Pearle so Promises and Christ put together not divided are exceeding precious 3. Do not look to see the work or promise yours nor receive any consolation from either unlesse the Lord appear in both John 10. 16. They shall hear my voice for so most men bring home Humane not Divine consolation from a work But Oh fetch it you from Heaven as in Peters redemption Acts 12. You reason and others tell you and yet you are full of fears and doubts and thou criest Lord perswade me Lord perswade me yea hold you here now you are where you ought for to be Do you think Christ is filled with Grace and Life for you and not with Consolation for you too Only use means and so look up to him SECT V. OH therefore content not your selves with any hopes your estate is right until you find this difference for the Lord speaks peace only to his people and his people are differenced from all others Hence how can you say peace is yours till this be cleared up unto you I shall speak to two sorts of people 1. Those that content themselves with any thing that may stop and quiet Conscience any slight work any poor desires any hedge-Faith any moral performances any groundlesse conjectures will serve their turn And being full they can hear all Sermons no wind will shake them no searching threatning Truths concern them they are so good that they think the Lord means not them Well I say no more to you but this know it that the time is coming that the Lord Jesus wil try you and examine you to the very Bran and will descry all thy paint and open all thy lusts and thoughts and thy nakednesse and shame and confusion shall be seen of all the world II. Those that content themselves with the revelation of the Lords love without the sight of any work or not looking to it I desire the Lord to reveal himself abundantly more and more to all that have the Lord savingly revealed unto them For this is the misery Christ is a hidden thing and so is his love Yet consider 1. God reveals not his love to any Hypocrite but to his people that have a work far beyond them 2. That the testimony of the Spirit doth not make a man a Christian but only evidenceth it As 't is the nature of a witnesse not to make a thing to be true but to clear and evidence it And therefore whether the Spirit in the first or second place clears Gods love I dispute noâ— because 't is doubtful ye be sure you find out the difference viz. some work in you that no Hypocrite under Heaven hath Else what peace can you have 1. Hereby you come to prevent the strongest delusion that Satan hath to keep men in bondage to himself viz. to give men great peace and somtimes great ravishment while they are in their sins that so he may harden them there still Luke 11. 21. Now by taking this course and going to Christ to untie the knots of Satan you do now undermine the main plot of Satan you break his head having recourse to Christ to do this His policy is Let you heart alone let Christ alone with that But now you may be sure all your consolation is of the right make 2. Otherwise you quench the Spirit and resist the testimony of the Spirit at least one great part of it For the Spirit when it doth come to witnesse Gods love iâ— answers all the doubts and objections of the soul that it had before Now the great doubt of Gods people is not only Am I elected am I justified and accepted But am I called am I sanctified are not my desires my Faith my love counterfeit which I may have and yet go to Hell Now the Spirit when it comes clears up all doubts not fully but gradually for 't is the most clearing witnesse and therefore John 14. 18 19 20. At that day you shall know that I am in you and you in me and I in the Father The Spirit doth not only say Christ is out of you in Heaven preparing and interceding but in you sanctifying preparing thee for Glory that art a vessel of Glory and you in me by Faith by Love desire c. Now when a man shall say I look to no work but only for the Spirit to reveal the Lords Love in seeming to desire the Spirit he doth resist the Spirit of God 3. Otherwise you shall be deprived of all that abundant consolation which the Word holds out before you For suppose you say I look not to the work of God in me to receive any consolation from that or any promise made to that I look only to the revelation of the Spirit Ans. 1. There is never a promise but the Comforter is in it and they are given for that end to give strong consolation now if you look to no work nor no conditional promise nor to find the condition in you which yet Christ must and doth work Lord what abundance of sweet peace do you lose Rev. 7. 17. The Lamb leads them to the living Fountain of waters and God wipes away all tears And for ought I know you shall die for thirst that refuse to do it Oh slow of heart to believe all that the Scriptures have writ all that God hath spoken Ought you not thus to be comforted But 2. If you look to a Spirit without a work whilest you
indeed desire life but he would use all means wits and friends nay cut off his Limbs to preserve it But however put that name upon it say you do desire and prize the end yet if the Lord leaves you or you forsake the Lord in a neglect of means that lead thereto and that effectually what you may be and what the Lord may do I know not but to this day your estate is no better than a painted salvation and pictured hypocrisie before the Lord. That stone at which the closest hypocrites have stumbled that rock on which the best hypocrite hath been broken thou art fallen upon that enemy of sloath which hath carried Kings men that have worn the Crown of Profession in the world miserable Captives notwithstanding their lamentable cries Lord save us to hell the same enemy hath already bound thee up in Chaines and what will become of thee 't is only known in his Breast that by the voice of his Trump can awaken the dead and break the bonds of sloath and death it self But you will say there are no Virgins among us that neglect to take their oyle that so far forget themselves as to neglect the means that are come so many thousand miles for means there is not a day but some line is drawn not a Sermon Sabbath but some good got or else they think themselves half undone not a prayer but one step nearer to glory The day is not long enough and therefore the nights are spent in wrastlings with the Angel nay in prevailing with God for themselves and Churches and blessing on both Sabbaths are the day breaks of heaven the fellowship of Saints beâ—ter then to stand before Kings the fellowship of Christ in heaven so sweet that in seeking of him men forget themselves nay to eat their bread that if the Lord should have let out the vineyard of Ordinances to any Husbandmen in the world who could or would have taken more pains to dig it to dress it then we doe Beloved those enlargements that are in any after the Lord the Lord cherish and increase them but I fear we may go five times about the tree before we see such loaden boughs I am much mistaken if the best may not be discovered here the fairest flowers in the field must wither they cannot last and the best affections that are but temporary that have acted men mightily for a time in the use of means must perish in the neglect of means at last I shall not therefore meddle with profane or carnal Gospellers so much as with close deceivers of their own souls and look as 't is in all sores you may know where the sore is by the lappings so you may know a sluggard that neglects means by his shifts For if you observe no sin hath so many shifts and colours for it as this Saul when he had not gone through stich with the Lords work in slaying the Amalekites what adoe had Samuel to convince him He tells a lye lays the blame on the people propounds the good end and affection he had So here Thus it is with many as Viz. 1. Those that live in a secret neglect of means and yet hope to come to their end because of their desires we shall finde the Sâ—â—ipture gives us two sorts of desires 1. Of the righteous 2. Of the sluggard 1. The desires of the righteous Prov. 10. 24. shall be granted being breathings of Gods eternal Spirit not a sigh or groan unanswered 2. Of the sluggard Prov. 21. 15. The desire of the slothful kills him for his hands refuse to labour the desires of the righteous are ever spurs to quicken them up in the use of means mightily the desires of the sluggard bridle him up they binde his hands and fetter his feet that he cannot but neglect means Some desires there be that arise from the need of a good and here will not only be desires but all means used as in point of famine some only from want of a good and here a man usually contents himself with bare desires never hath a heart to use the means mightily for that end Many a one is convinced his state is miserable and fears it and Balaam-like sees the blessedness of the people of God and knows he wants pardon and life and peace and promises and Christ and desires it oh that I might die their death oh that I might live and drink that water that I might thirst no more oh that my sins were pardoned oh that my heart was humbled But what if the Lord grant them no peace nor pardon Do they make earnest enquiry after the Lord Christ with restless pursuits and groans because they need it is it worth that Oh no but yet they hope God will be so merciful as to accept their desires and so they rest and live and die in that rest oh poor creatures your desires kill you as a man is undone with slothful servants that cannot earn their own much less get their masters bread And many in Hell say I had thought my desires would have carried me to glory but now I see they have been slothful and here I must perish and famish for ever had I known of this I would rather have wept out my eyes and filled the world with my sorrowful complaints my meditations of the Lord should have been at midnight I would have deceived my eyes of sleep at night and deprived my self of bread at day and lost my limbs had I but known that by contenting my self with these desires I should have lost my life Here many Christians are falsly bottomed they are troubled about their estate come to some or other and professe their desires are after Christ and grace c. And then comforted as in sinking fits a man snatcheth at any Flag or Twig with them desires before they have followed the Lord in the use of all means to get the thing they desire And here is the first beginning of the Lords forsaking of them and theirs of the Lord and he is left alone only with his desires that if any duty be neglected desires comfoâ—t him if grace resisted desire quiet him if sin keeping him captive desires fill him Luke 13. 24. And so like a Bird that lies in the nest but its wings never grow there it perisheth I know Saints may comfort themselves with desires before the things be given because promised but you shall see an endless reach in them in the use of all means Phil. 3. 13. Others think their neglect of means to be but an infirmity that their desires will serve hence abuse that Scripture Rom. 7. 2. They that neglect the means and yet hope to come to their end because of worldly clogs and incumbrances here for this is the very spirit of many a man If God keeps the house from being burnâ— and family from being sick it may be family prayer is neglected if not that yet secret is omitted if not that
are small things with men but the World is great and this is your delight truly 't is but your dream What will your souls be when death opens its mouth what a sad thing is it to see men spin Copwebs that must be swept down I. To those that never sought the Lord effectually to this day not to neglect him now those that are like children born before their time that have had some sorrow after the Lord but comforted before it was deep enough have some desires but eased with other things before they were satisfied with Christ himself that have run for a spurt but are grown weary before they come half way home and so sit down in the way like Clocks set slow in the first hour of the day run slow all the day after So these set back and think they are set right too run slow all their life after That as he said of a covetous man he had a strong desire for heaven if any would bear his charges thither So these And to you I speak not that never sought but that have been seeking yet effectually to use all means this you never did 1. Consider how far men have gone What means they have used yet have never found to this day Luke 13. 24. Strive saith Christ. This I speak because men think they may neglect their seasons of earnest pursuit after grace men may sit still and put all care from themselves to God and live in their sloth Oh no Consider so many snares so many by paths so many deceits within so many sins and lusts to subdue all time and means is little enough Take heed of spending prodigally and think Christs grace will bear you out Oh! look upon the cries at death-bed to see some men that have been like famishing men that have wanted bread and then have cryed bread bread but could not eat it Oh saith Paul I beat down my body lest in preaching to others my self become a cast away 2. Consider how others have broken down the greatest difficulties and are now in glory as Rev. 12. 11. They loved not their lives to the death They have not only spent their time lost their name their comforts but their blood that have passed through waters fires bonds imprisonments and with Paul have not accounted their lives dear that they might finish their work David was full of God one would think sometimes he had enough yet when he awakes he is with God at midnight his thoughts and reins instruct him the Law was his meditation day and night You shall see him in the Temple blessing God on the Throne advancing the Lord on the dunghill in banishment longing after him when he sate among Princes meditating and was there here too much cost might any of this ointment have been spared Consider Christ himself Heb. 12. 1 2 3. cast off sloth Looking to Iesus who for the joy despised the shame endured the Cross and that not for himself it may be for thee that thou mightst not now he is at the right hand of God So are the Saints in Heaven and now rejoycing that ever they sought him that they spent so much time on him 3. Consider There is a time of neglect of Christ which when past you shall never finc'e him again Iohn 7. 3 4. Ye shall seek me but never finde me You have had many Diamond-days and seasons and God gives you a space to repent and saith My Spirit shall not alway strive it may be some are but within that space that the Lord is at the last cast with you 4. Consider whatever your condition be shake off your sloth and set upon the means the Lord will be found do it in good earnest This will be good news to you that think he will never but be thy heart like steel and hard the Lord will break it Hebr. 11. 6. he will be found of them that seek him diligently And the greater things thou seekest for the more like to get them as one of the Fathers thinks that to pray with repetitions is to pray for small things Open thy mouth wide I le fill it and it may be presently in a moment when thou thinkest least of it it may be at that time when thou findest most unwillingness and difficulty to seek seek then and the Lord will be found Oh this damps many a man in the use of means he thinks the Lord will never help and hence is tormented with this thought and sits down and rests If you would keep a Labourer from work or a Traveller from walking put thorns in their feet now the work is neglected there is pricking sâ—uffe he cannot follow on his business now So 't is here Prov. 15. 19. Take heed therefore of sitting down with such thoughts as these its strange thou shouldst be killed for every cut and because wounded for sin to fall off from the Lord by unbelief too II. Motives to you that have followed the Lord but now have begun to neglect him For what cause I know not but I am sure the Lord hath given you none Yet a spirit of slumber and sloath is upon you that you are not the men you were It may be some for want of place want of time many occasions many sorrowes and temptations in this wildernesse and hence no means sweet no bed easie your bones are broken It may be a little time of neglect hath emboldned you to a custome It may be loose examples the spirits of others flat and thine is so too whom God sent into Church-Fellowship to quicken them It may be an ill Husband is an hindrance a bad wife as Iobs wife or whatever 't is Oh that God would speak this day to you 1. Consider thou art nearer to thy salvation than when thou didst first believe and then you thought no time no pains too much but all too little Rom. 13. 11 12. Mariners near the Shore look out for Rocks Lord that I may not split now Truly as it was with Christ the longer he did live the more sorrows so with you God hath carried you near salvation Oh now being neerer there are worse rocks look about you now Satans last temptations are strongest Oh give not in now It may be not many daies nor weeks hence thou shalt come to thy journeys end Awaken then out of sleep 2. Consider how glad the Lord is of thy company he hath been so and will be so again thou canst not come in too late 1 Sam. 12. 21. as poor and vile as thou art Prov. 8. His delight is with the Sons of men Witnesse mercies witnesse afflictions Oh then seek him Witnesse desertions then seek him witness his sweet entertainment of thee many a time when he hath given thee meat that the world knows not of witnesse so many hindrances which Satan laies in who knowes how crosse 't is to Christ Jer. 2. 1 2 3. I remember the love of thine espousals when thou didst follow me
hated Iacob for the blessing Gen. 27. 41. This Spirit of Grace is the blessing which Saints account as the evidence of the â—â—â—rest love to separate from Churches from Messengers of God for this will yield you sorrow enough one day I tell you you shall not be found fighters against men but against God and the Spirit of his Grace and the Life of him who liveâ— in Heaven for us Take heed you forget not oyl in your Vessels 〈◊〉 Thoâ—e that acknowledge in their judgemenâ—s all these things but deny it in their lives regard not the having this principle of Life and have peace in this from a double ground 1. By a fruitless Faith which hangâ— on Christ but never receives nor brings in this principle as those Iohn 2. 24 25. and hence though they receive none yet they hang on him And so their Faith like a bucket without a bottom draws up nothing 2. A form of godliness before men If a man should neither speak well nor pray c. He would have no love no respect no receiving into Church but he cannot do it with life and hence a form contents him and there rests So that now if Conscience troubles and says those duties are done with no life of Christ and Spirit he answers yet I goe to Christ If this be all why do you not cast off your form Oh then I should have no love from men oh this life of Christ is not prized till with these Virgins they feel the want of it and 't is too late know this will be your woe at last Look upon thy dead Soul all thy glory is gone and wait upon the Word that the Lord may make thee live Could you know this Well of water and ask he would give it you Oh beg for it then as for your life Only first 〈◊〉 it in Christ and so from Christ. SECT IIII. VVE live in a Country which hath goodly trappings rich hangings glorious Profession burning Lamps and hence many think themselves â—ich when indeed poor many look to meeâ— the Bridegroom when indeed they shall he shut out-from the fellowship of the Bridegroom How shall I know that That all my sorrows prayers reformation profession is but a paint an appearance a fashion a Church-craft which will stand me in no stead when the Lord shall appear who shall judge the secrets of all hearts by the Word you hearâ— this day Try it therefore by this Rule doth it come from a principle of life or no Your Lamp burns but look what is in your vessel that feeds this flame That as our Divines speak how the Disciples could do greater works than Christ and others wrought Miracles besides Christ how then do they prove that he is Christ 'T is answered in all his miraculous works we are to consider not only quid fecit i. e. what he did but qua virtue fecit from what power he did it The Apostles and others wrought Miracles but it was alienâ virtue Christ did them but it was propâ—â— virtue So many an unfound heart he may do greater works them Saints and his lamp burn brighter Therefore in this case we are not to look so much to what is done as from what power and principle it is done for therein the best hypocrite ever falles We shall ever observe in some beasts there are ambraerationis 〈◊〉 yet there is no raâ—ional soul nor any wise man will beleeve that their acts proceed from such a Principle So there are shadows of the power of grace in a carnal heart and yet no Judicious Christian will say they come from an inward soul or principle of life Consider therefore whether there is this principle or no you see there is profession you have a name to live in the judgement of all the Church but search your hearts and see from what principle it proceeds for if this be wanting all is naught As he that had Beer given him when Milk and Wine and Sugar was put into it to mend it said The Wine is good and the Milk is good but the Beer is naught So Profession affection is good but the heart the man is naught Ier. 2. 22. Though thou wash thee with Nitre thy sin is marked before the Lord. And that the Trial may be full and fair I shall shew Negatively the several sorts of men that act not from an inward Principle yet carry it out as though the bitterness of death was past and the Bridegroom theirs 1. When a mans Principle is nothing but the power of created nature expressing it self and setting the best face forward in the gilded rottenness of some moral performances wherein a man saith he doth what he can for there is this principle in most men a desire to be saved nature saith so and according to the intenâ—ion of this desire so accordingly will men do more or less and hereupon sooth up themselves when they see they cannot do as others do or as the Lord commands I do as well as I can Nay when condemned by the Word which meets them I do as well as I can I beleeve I repent I pray I remember the Word I do as well as I can and so they hope God accepts of that and though I beleeve no man but may be hired to do more than he doth yet nature may do much hence I heard an Arminian once say If faith will not will not work it then set reason a work and we know how men have been Kings and Lords over their own passions by improving reason and from some experience of the power of nature men have come to write large Volumes in defence of it and it s known the Arminians though they ascribe somewhat to grace and in words all to grace yet indeed they lay the main stress of the work upon a mans own will and the royalty and soveraignty of the liberty of that But to leave them and come to our selves Is it not a common thing for men to â—ake lies their refuge and to say I was in a woful condition once and never looked after God but now I blesse the Lord 't is otherwise with me How Now I beleeve repent c. And so I confess all I do is full of weaknesses yet I do what I can and thus they are like to men that have old garments new dressed they have made them as good as they can and like the young man Luke 18. 21. All these things have I dâ—ne from my youth yet one thing was wanting which was to forsake all and so himself that the Disciples said Who then can be saved With man 't is impossible but with God all things are possible You say you do as much as you can I say do so but 't is impossible with man from any strength of man and you have no more yet Iohn 1. 13. Born again not of the will of man but of God There is in some men a birth like to the new birth which
with 11. 2 Pet. 3. 11. 12. Some securelings thought all things were past No saith he there is a time a coming when all things shall be dissolved what manner of persons then should we be Hence this being lost men fear not sin men prize not mercy men wonder not if ever they escape hence men live and hang between doubt and fear never make sure because they know not what Gods wrath is Nay lastly hence nothing awakens them that though they know their misery yet they will go on the highest degree of spiritual security Oh then keep these thoughts awake what it is to be forsaken of God! what it is to grapple with him 3. When men have lost their foresight and hence provide not against an evil day when Christians keep their profession and go on sweetly in their course but to lay up for after-claps that they do not when Christians like Grashoppers sing all the summer but what have they to live upon in the winter time the An t can learn them that Prov. 6. 6. Go to the Ant thou sluggard that provideth her meat in the summer the Ant by a secret instinct though simple and little considereth there will be a winter and that summer is her gathering time so a Christian if awakened though simple will be taught to do something which may serve him not only now but hereafter also when men in times of peace and enjoyment of Ordinances never fear muchless provide for that time that all these treasures shall be taken away and carried to the King of Babel Isa. 39. when men in their life time think not of setting the house and heart in order before the evil day when men are not that now which they would wish themselves to be another day when men lay not up treasures of tears and prayers in heaven nor are provident for eternity noâ— think this will be my peace nay my glory another day though I lose now men will lay up treasures on earth and provide for themselves and theirs hence their hearts are lost here and lay in nothing spiritual for the future Prov. 10. 5. he that gathereth in harvest doth right but a sluggard will not his heart and mind is taken up to provide this and that for future and hence 't is that the Christian is full of sorrow and tears in times of peace but when the day of trouble comes he can lift up his head now redemption draws nigh when another in times of trouble hath most terrors because the one was not laying up against another day as the other did 4. When men go to prayer without receiving any answer now a man begins to slumber Prov. 13 4. men that are fast asleep speak not all but when awake a little they speak a little and then sleep and then awake and sleep again so men pray and sleep again it is a deep slumber also when men shall beg for bread and money and then fall a sleep constantly and so lie down satisfied Oh take heed of this Hence comes First Snarling at God Secondly Heartlesness to the duty Thirdly Formality in it Fourthly Prophaness of course at last 5. When men do gain something from the Lord in the use of means but now stand still they go no further they lose not what they had but they gain no more they grow not Matth. 25. 26. Thou evil and slothful servant that hid his talent and did not imploy it and here is usually the beginning of a mans fall when like one in a journey he goes not forward or backward but stands still and so falls Prov. 18. 9. 6. When men do duties that are easie but when any difficulty is in them now they fall down asleep Prov. 20. 4. and 12. 27. and hence beg the sweet and gain of Christianity it 's sown in difficult duties when the Soul denies it self most But when men not breaking through the difficulty finde not the sweet of it Lord what a tattered profession is there that men come to be the shame of Christ not his glory It 's easie to pray and outwardly to fast but yet to have a whole heart in the work is hard it is easie to cleave to the Lord when quickened but when God forsakes you now more than ever to cleave to him is difficult 7. When men fear not the danger of little sins they are not asleep yet so as not to fear great sins but in a slumber and hence however they fear not lesser sins hence come to commit them hence also to be hardned under them Many complain of hard hearts but consider is not this the reason of it you fear not sinful thoughts nor carelesness in your Christian course your slumber is now upon you thy Conscience startles at Whoredom but not at a wanton word or playing upon the Sabbath but unprepatedness for it that 's nothing sin in a manner with thee the reason is because spiritual slumber is upon thee 8. When men are deceived and deluded by appearances or colours as the Israelites when the Gibeonites came to them confident of themselves but deceived as the men of Ai by stratagems if ever your Souls be hurt it will be by appearances if ever this Country receive a blow it will be by appearances error will creep in by appearances the most vile wickedness hath been found to be hatcht under fairest colours If ever any shall come under an appearance of piety and promise of protection safety liberty onely your Government must be a little altered slumber here and you shall sleep in your enemies arms Grace and the love of Christ and the Spirit the fairest colours under the sun may be pretended but if you shall receive under this appearance that God witnesseth his love first by an absolute promise where neither grace nor life is seen take heed there for under this appearance you may as well bring in immediate Revelations and from thence come to forsake the Scriptures and then no wonder if men fall to deny all foundations in Christianity and Scripture also take heed of meer appearances of repentance in evil members be not deceived there Never was the world more full of craft be not laid asleep with appearances of truth Thus you see the point opened Stop security when it is risen to your anckles lest you be drowned in it and perish in it afterward CHAP. III. Security the last Sin of good and bad SECT I. THat carnal security is sometimes the last sin which doth surprise and overcome the hearts of good and bad wise and foolish in Virgin-Churches That as it is said That the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death so this death like sleeping is one of the last enemies that surpriseth the souls of the wise but Christ doth destroy it and of the foolish but it destroyeth them Thus it was here with the Virgins what was their sin that were ready with their Lamps burning waiting for the Bridegroom you see the wise
price with men It is with them as it is with Glow-worms and Stars that keep their shining and are very glorious because the Sun is set so Christ is hid in his glory and whilst men are led more by sence than by faith men doat upon these things they know nothing more vain yet nothing more glorious When Christ comes a man shall see all the world the honor comforts wealth crowns greatness of it buried before his eyes and when an end of these things shall be seen now the Lord will be precious as doubtless when they saw the Ark floating upon the water happy are they that are there might they say and hence Mal. 3. ult those that said the proud were happy what was the reason of it but because of this The day of the Lord was not yet come to make up his Iewels Now when once the eye is bewitched with the glory of the world nothing causeth security sooner as strange fancies in the head work a man first asleep Psal. 73. When David beheld the prosperity of the wicked he began to dislike all Religion and to account it simplicity to be holy until at last he saw the end of these things Fourthly Because in Christs absence men feel not the evil of sin which doth befall them in their security nor yet the evil of their own hearts for if men should be presently punished and smitten by some revenging invisible hand of God upon them after every sin and as soon as first they begin to sleep you should never see the heart secure and hence the Devils live in horrors daily in apprehension of the judgment of the great day thus it will be at Christs coming then the secret things of darkness shall be brought to light but now is a time of forbearance hence a carnal heart is set to do wickedly and to go on securely Eccles. 8. 11. Fifthly Because while Christ is absent conscience lyes still most commonly and seldom is throughly awake and hence a man sleeps for conscience is the Lords witness accuser and notary now the witness then speaks most fully and clearly when the Judge is come Now however God doth awaken some mens consciences throughly in this life yet it is not universal but in few to be thorowly awakened and hence men are very secure Isa. 33. 14. Who shall dwell with everlasting burning c SECT III. HEnce we see the vileness of the hearts of men that Christ his absence which time is given to us to make us watch should make us secure that men should turn day into night a day of forbearance into a night of forgetfulness for if the Lord should not delay his coming how many thousands would be swept away before any peace made with God or before any work finished for God! now he in pity gives such days delays his coming for this end and do we thus requite the Lord 2 Pet. 3. 9. Christ himself doth his work while it is light the night cometh wherin no man can work Ioh. 12. 35 36. Now what a crossing of the Lord is this If he should come thou shouldst be consumed by him and if he doth not come you will grow secure before him Hence see the reason why the hearts of men are so secure in times of health and peace but they cry out and look about them in times of sickness and when the approach of death is near because Christ now begins to come and Christs presence is near in great terror and severity and glory but be these are afar off now the soul begins to see Christ and how he must shortly stand naked alone stript of all comforts and friends before an all-seeing God and now they look about for evidence but before the Lord would not come as yet he delays his coming I may live many years and provide thus and thus for my children c. Oh men complain of secute careless hearts and the cause is this they see not this day a coming Hence see one special way to prevent and remove security when it is fallen upon the hearts of any and that is by daily setting before you the coming of the Lord the Apostles penned this and Saints believe this 1 Thess. 1. ult I am perswaded some men have had in their dreams the visions of the Almighty of which Iob speaks and have been awakened in terror and fear even with the dream of it but how would this awaken if seen and beheld whilst indeed you are awake Many Monkish spirits have been much awakened in their superstitious way by this but the spirit of a Paul will be much more for by this means he awakened all the world to look about them 2 Cor. 5. 11. And for himself this did make him exercise himself Acts 24. 15 16. so it will be with you you will not only be awake your selves but keep all awake about you and this is not legal neither thus to do It is certain if you complain of security I dare complain against you that this is the cause you look upon the comming of the Lord as a long time off and see it not daily it converted some in scoffing Athens to the Fith much more if converted doth it awaken Let us therefore commend Three things to you SECT IV. First MAke the coming of the Lord real see it real and set it really as it shall be before your eyes Heb. 9. ult to them that look for him c. Why do not men look for him truly very few do look for him really it is only a report a noise with many men where there is the power of grace it presents things as they are which shall be so Faith is the substance of things not seen it puts them in their being it is the evidence of things not seen for otherwise it will never work upon you Especially think on these Four things at that day 1. The consuming of all things here in the world which your hearts are so ready to doat upon and of all carnal and fleshly excellencies which you trust unto 2 Pet. 3. 11. Seeing these things shall be consumed what manner of persons ought we to be If a man that is to make a sea voyage did know that whatever he brought to shore beside Gold and Pearls should be consumed as soon as he comes to shore he would not fraught his ship with those things if men were assured here is a house where you and yours shall be burnt they would set it elsewhere men come from one Country to another because sin will consume 2. The amazing glory of Christ Jesus when Christ shall come as a deliverer to refresh they sad heart and all his Saints at that day look upon Christ as sitting on the clouds of fire raising the dead then them that are alive changed in the twinckling of an eye coming with all his Angels Heaven left empty of them and Saints sitting at his right hand shining like the Sun so
death of thy friends or by secret feares of thine own heart thy time is not many hands breadth longer and it may be this shall be the Funeral Sermon of some of you you have been flying like Bees abroad in the world to gather your honey and the Lord haâ—h been smoaking of you and that in your own Hive you have thought to dwell long in Tabernacles the Lord hath let it fall to decayes and repaires it not again If you live unready it may be the Lord will try you with some sore conflict with fears of death and terrors of darkness and all your preparation is too little for your combate then The place of glory is made ready for you how shall I so unholy see God Christ is there Iohn 14. 3. waiting for thee longing after thee Thou art it may be yet in many respects unready As 1. Not yet planted in the House and Church of God not yet gathered to communion of Christ in his Saints on earth I know men may have just reasons to deferre but if they have none I would be loth to die in their room Hezekiah Isa. 38. ult Psalme 26. 8. I have loved the habitation of thy House Oh gather not my soule with the wicked I am perswaded some deare to Christ linger here and you cannot finde this not that saving good in your selves you say I had rather hear one mourn for emptiness than boast of his grace 2. There are many sinnes not yet mourned sufficiently for in daye of youth and in a secure condition in heaven is no mourning oh therefore take time now for want of this grace is not so sweet 3. It may be some main duty is neglected to the souls of them whom thou hast a charge of as not Caâ—echising thy family children not careful for their souls 4. It may be thou hast been little in prayer for the Churches though for thy family and children which is usually the last work of the Saints there 's no praying for them in Heaven as Christ at the end of his life like a Priest shed blood and prayed for them so Saints are made Priests to God and Christ 5. It may be thy house is not yet set in order nor thy Will made Reckonings between men not yet set right and even and then there is Quarrels when thou art Dead and trouble when you dye 6. It may be thou art grown secure and art lost and driven away and many wrinckles be on thy face and heart c. you cannot say with Paul 2 Tim. 4. That you have fought c. but are rather at truce with sin you run not but have slipt and fallen down and so lost all SECT XVI THerefore to help here in this readiness Get a heart more loosned and weaned from the world Solomon he did launch out his heart herein too far not in Epicurisme but Eccles. 2. 3. applying his heart to wisdome all this time so may you and be unready How I cannot but God will teach it you by affliction Psalme 39. 6 7. You are Sojourners here with God as all your Fathers there 's nothing proper nothing long to be enjoyed Own the Lord Iesus he is yours but you own him not as Simeon came to the Temple and there found him and there blest God and now saith he let me depart in peace hath the Lord stirred up unutterable sighings and groanings and mournings you think it may be if Christ was present you would not doubt of answer and they continue still and do you think Christ is hard-hearted hath the Lord come to thee in the Temple and manifested his love by his own promise sure and faithful and wilt thou not yet own him hast had and hast now the first fruition of the Spirit and wilt not yet own him and art afraid to go to him when others are in glory that trod in thy steps Oh be humbled for it I know there is nothing which makes thee feare it but a Rebellious vile heart and nature and can the Lord love such a one Yes such a one if he mournes under it Rom. 7. 24. Isaâ— 57. 18 19. The Lord will create peace he hath seen thy wayes and heâ—will heale them And when you have him thus own him daily keep your peace do nothing which may make you lose boldness in prayer and therefore reckon daily with him and Remember the promise stands when feelings are lost Object But I can do but little for him Answ. True Isa. 64. 6. Thou the Lords clay his Vessel though of little publique use yet in thy place do what thou canst for Christ Jesus Servants Masters Members Rich Poore bestirre your selves For Christ you shall lose nothing by it c. VERSE 10. The Door was shut IN these words is set down the consequent of that which immediately followed the Wise Virgins gracious entertainment with Christ the door was shut by which is signified the exclusion of the foolish from the fellowship of Christ as also the greatness of Christs love to the wise opening the door of glory unto them and when they are gathered shutting the door against every one else Hence Observe That the endeared love of Christ to his Elect doth much appear in this In opening the door of glory unto them and shutting it against others of great esteem and name in the Church of God for this is one Scope of the words Gen. 7. 16. To open the Kingdome of Heaven to all the world and save all would be great love in the eyes of the Saiâ—ts but to save them and condemne others to receive them and exâ—lude others and that of great name and esteem Virgins this sets out the Lords love exceedingly Christs distinguishing separating love is his great love Mat. 11. 25. If we consider the multitude of the one and fewness of the other not only in regard of the world but in regard of others in Churches Luke 13. 24. Many shall seek and many that are first shall be last Matthew 19. 30. If we consider that there is as much reason appearing outwardly that the Lord should choose thee one as well as the other what difference is appearing outwardly between these Virgins I 'le warrant you the wise did think the foolish as good and it may be far better than themselves Iudges 6. 15. Saith Gideon How wilt thou save Israâ—l by me I am the least in my Fathers house yet saith the Lord I will be with thee so the Saints may say and do say Why Lord wilt thou save me I am the least and poorest of all others If we consider the reason why the Lord doth this and that is because of nothing but the Will of God his good pleasure Matth. 11. 25. For why should their Vessels be filled they received and not others only the Will of God I know not you c. Of which hereafter If we consider the intolerable torment of those who go farre
go away with a sad heart Oh I cannot see him and canst not find out the cause why so heavy and vile and so loathest thy self Oh now think of this day 1 Cor. 15. 28. Then God shall be all in all then thou shalt have thy fill of love and fill of God 4. In case of sorrow for the uproar of the world against God and Christ and the wrongs done to Christ and his people to see Christ crucified and crying spare my life and saying If you seek me let these little ones depart yet they are abused and every one against Christ as this day the world is coming to the last fit of madnesse against the Lord of Glory Oh now remember and look for this day 1 Cor. 15. 25. He must reign Lord what a comfort will it be to see Christ King then Men come to see him King here but Oh what will it be when he shall come himself To see all secrets open and the Lord glorified in himself and people of all creatures Look for this to see the great and last plot of God brought to perfection Oh think that is our day that is our victory 5. When you come to die and to think of leaving thy carcase to rot in the dust a long time Oh think and look upon this day They that hear shall live Why do I die John 5. 28 29. They shall then come out of their graves c. Thus look for this Motives 1. All creatures look for this in a manner Rom. 8. 22 23. Nay Christ and Saints in Heaven look for this day Heb. 10. 13. From thence expecting till his enemies c. Nay Devils look for it but tremble Only a secure world rockt asleep to their eternal wo look not for it 2. This will help you to ride all storms bear all knocks chearfully Our Hope is our Helmet Our Hope is our Anchor Heb. 6. 19. Eph. 6. 17. You will meet with them here it may be before you die 3. The Lord hath called you out of this world he might have left you in it and given you your hope your portion here and then wo to thee but he hath called thee to this hope that if Princes of the world knew they would lay down nay cast away their Crowns at thy feet for it and say Oh that I were in that mans case Eph. 1. 18. Hope of his calling 4. Hope and expectation of all other things shall fail if God loves thee he will make you know what 't is to forsake your portion If not they shall fail you when you die this shall not it makes not ashamed 5. Me-thinks this is the Glory of a Christian that he turns his back upon the world and lives and waits for the coming of the Lord. 6. Oh this will give Christs heart full content when he shall come Luke 12. 37. He will make thee sit down to eat and serve thee The Lord Jesus himself shall only then poure out to thee and give thee whatever thou callest for honour thee as it were above himself When thou art at rest in Heaven he will be at work for thee 7. If not he may come in an hour thou lookest not for him Christ may say to thee from henceforth sleep on What Means are there to make me look for him 1. Get some promise that thou maist beleeve the Lord is thine else thou wilt never look for him or if you do you will be deceived for hope is of things not seen Nay commonly when the Lord brings any man to his hopes having given him a promise and Faith to beleive it the Lord in the mid-way seems to cross his promise When the Lord promiseth life glory peace honour joy fulness Heaven they shall then and never so much before feel darkness death shame trouble sorrow Hell For the Lord tries them by this and tribulation breeds experience and experience hope Hence you must first get a promise of Christ and Glory before you can hope for it or expect Glory and then you may Heb. 6. 18. For the promise will support hope when heart and strength and all shall fail Nay it will expect contraries out of contraries Gen. 22. 5. I 'le come again to you Compared with Heb. 11. 18 19. So that soul that hath a promise may say when he considers Gods power and what Glory he gives to God by beleeving it God hath said he will comfort me he will cleanse me he will give me Glory I will have all these out of my sorrow my sin my Hell Take heed therefore of two extreams First Of hoping without a promise for that is but Faith scared out of its wits when it comes to be examined I hope so and I have had joy and perswasion of it Secondly Of not expecting when God gives a promise Can you live one day without it It may be you have no feeling yet But Isa. 25. 8 9 10. Dost wait for the Lord i. e. From a sense of emptinesse for all fulnesse thou shalt find it in part here and fully then and say Lo this is our God we have waited for him When a mans anchor is strong and in good ground he will look for safety when at anchor in the Harbour Oh thou afflicted tossed with tempests the Lord hath brought thee at last to Christ after many drivings to and fro and it clasps about him according to a promise if God changeth then thy comfort may not be If revelations come I know they may deceive but a promise cannot 2. Fear the terrour of the Lord at this day fear parting from him I speak not of doubting but the holy fear of Saints for that is the nature of fear it makes a man eye the thing feared As Iacob when Esau was meeting of him Noah he fears and looks to safety in and by an Arke Heb. 11. 7. Lots children took not his counsel they feared not but he seemed as one that mocked to them Paul 2 Cor. 5. 10 11. knew the terrour of the Lord hence looked for him sought to approve himself unto him Men that fear not parting with Christ will never look nor care for him And let it be a strong fear else it will never carry you above your cares and surfettings of the world How shall I fear thus 1. Unlesse the Lord put it into your heart none can for the security of the world is not sleepy but deadly Men are bound up as strong as with chains of death that till they feel the misery they cannot fear it strongly Oh look up to the Lord to unchain those chains of death 2. Know the happinesse of them that shall ever be with Christ what is the sweetnesse of Christs love and worth of it Imagine the last day come and all the dead raised Christ with flaming fire all the wicked on the left hand and then sent away with depart ye cursed all the Saints on the right hand and then Oh come and
when all is dispatched then to go up to Heaven and when gone there to be for ever rejoycing triumphing in the presence of God Almighty and now what it will be to be far off from Christ weeping never to be pitied more Oh he that was so full of pity no heart then to pity no hand to help I can but only paint this fire Oh that the Lord would help you here that so you might look out for him Saylors sleep in calms and so it may be have many here in this place of rest Others of you take heed I le tell you your bar It may be most estates are brought low and sunk when you see that now you either look back or look for Lots accomodations and such an estate as is lost it may be you will spy some hope of it and then follow the game and never look out till you die The Lord keep you from it You then will not look up for Christs coming at the last day or in his Ordinances here If thou dost so had it not been better thou hadst been buried in the Sea or left in sorrow on the Shore Oh take heed therefore look for the coming and company of Christ and let this be enough and because you cannot look for him in the the clouds now Oh look and wait for him in his Ordinances and consider if espoused ones look for his coming then and for perfect knowledge of him and communion with him then think Lord what a heart have I that look not for him here But Lord who will believe our report Thus they went out by hope and expectation of his coming Now the Second thing follows they went forth with longing desires after his coming CHAP. XI That Believers do long and desire for the appearance and Second Coming of Christ. SECT I. THat all those that are espoused to Christ and beloved of Christ they ought not only to look but to long for the coming of and their everlasting communion with the Lord Christ Iesus For the consummation of their marriage with him that though he be gone our hearts may be with him before our souls be or before our souls and bodies be that though we may die and lie down in the dust our desires may live and lie in Heaven and cry come Lord. Now do not think this point true and so far good if we could reach it but this is a high pitch for you must long for it God forbid a Christian espoused to Christ should plead that work too much which Hypocrites the five foolish Virgins in their kind attained to See Presidents for this in all ages Abraham and those in his time who was Father of the Faithful Heb. 11. 15 16. A better Countrey where they might have fellowship with the Lord and hence God is not ashamed c. As if the Lord were ashamed of all them to be his people that professe themselves so but desire not this In Christ's time Simeon Luke 2. 29. with 25. Where he waited for the consolation of Israel c. to enjoy more of him In the Apostles time 't is also that which they all felt 2 Cor. 5. 2. In this we groan earnestly c. But you will say It may be this was because of miseries and want of Ordinances c. Therefore see in the last age of the Church when the new Ierusalem was built and when peace and when Christ's face was seen in his House yet then the Spirit and the Bride say come Rev. 22. 17. They are the last breathings of Iohn and the Spirit in him Lord Iesus come quickly But Cent. 8. 14. The Church there intreats her Beloved to fly away to the Mountains of Spices that she might enjoy him out of this world SECT II. 1 BEcause they are bound to love Christ and his appearing to love his looks when he shall appear to the world 2 Tim. 4. 8. The Crown of Glory comes as it were by succession not only to me but to all them that love his appearing Now can there be any love of him and his appearing and not so much as any desire after him and after it Certainly there is no love or if there be any it lies languishing For answerable to our love to any thing is our desire what we love only we desire only what we love not at all or but little we desire not at all or but little so here Now therefore to question May a Christian desire it is to question whether a Christian ought to love the Lord Jesus or no. We are bound not to love earth hence bound to love Christ and his fellowship in Heaven Let him be Anathema that doth not so 2. Because the Lord Jesus longs for them Iohn 17. 24. Throughout which Chapter he prays as if in Heaven already Hence I am no more in this world and where I am let them be also He was on earth but looks on himself as in Heaven That as it was with the High Priest he carries the Names of the twelve Tribes on his heart bese◠with precious Stones very dear to him 〈◊〉 the Holy of Holies so Christ. Not that he sees any beauty in them of their own why he should desire them but because he freely loves them and dearly loves them as being given him of the Father and as having cost him dear and hence if he loves them he longs for them Now if he longs for them ought not they much more to long for him Psal. 27. 8. Thou saidst seek my face thy face Lord will I seek 1. He longs for thee now in Glory when one would think his thoughts and heart should be swallowed up with it and shall not we long for him here in the valley of Myrtle trees in misery on the dunghill 2. He longs for thee when thou hast nothing to make him desire thee he hath all that thy heart can desire being the very bosom-delight of God himself Rev. 22. penult He did but say he would come and Iohn desires Oh come But doth he long for thee Now not to long for him If this love be not worth longing for truly 't is worth nothing 3. Because this is our last and ultimate end that we are made for chosen for bought for called for sealed for that at last we might be with the Lord and be made perfect in one 2 Cor. 5. 5. He that hath made us for this is God c. For the whole Trinity enjoying infinite sweet fellowship with himself hence desire it might be communicated in Christ 't is so and now the last end is attained Now if this be our last end ought we not to desire it Then we ought not to desire to be blessed nor to desire the Lord may be glorified Nay you know that whatever we make our last end it will swallow up all our desires after any other thing This is the Center and rest and journies end of our tired weary spirits And