is not onely basenesse and covetousnesse but also profanity and irreligion and to detainâ alienate what God hath proportioned for publike Ministery Sacriledge Mal. 3.8 4. It was not onely of the Fat but of the Firstlings of ãâã Flock the first fruits of our life the prime years of our agâ while vigour and strength is full are to be Consecrated to aââ employed in Gods service We are to sow our Seed in thâ Morning To remember our Creator in the dayes of our Youââ to beare his yoake from our Childhood to goe into his Vinâyard at the first houre and continue till the twelfth to seââ him early in the height and excellency of our dayes not ãâã our declining dawning dotage the services of old age aââ death-bed resolutions and performances are lame sick Sacrifices Mal. 1.8 God will not be thus served 3. From Gods Acceptation 1. Abel Offered to God of his own gifts and for this he ãâã famous to all generations God honoureth them who honoâââ him though the World deride and maligne them yet he wâââ procure them a name and memory in his Church though theââ be for a while overclouded with a storme yet their righteouânesse shall appear as the Sun at Midday 2. It is not the applause or admiration of men but Goââ testimony and approbation which will yeeld solid comfort anâ content the good word of men is as uncertain as themselves its Hosanna to day Crucifie to morrow But he who receive honour from God holds it for eternity his testimoniall hâ Letter Patents are never out of date vainly and ambitiously ãâã covet the prayse of men is Pharisaicall hypocrisie Ioh. 5 4â a touch of infidelity which when the secrets of all counselâ shall be discovered will bring with it shame and confusion ãâã face before God and his Angels but that prayse which is of God is a tended with honour glory immortality eternall lifeâ Observe Saint Pauls Exhortation Phil. 4.8 and obey it and you shall obtain Abels reward and honour Gods testimony For certainly if we by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory we shall finde it If as Abel we Sacrifice and suffer for it doe well and are persecuted for it the blood of sprinkling which speaketh better things then the blood of Abel will consecrate and sanctifie all our Sacrifices services and sufferings and make them accepted for that Sacrifice which Jesus Christ the first borne of every Creature offered to God the Father on the Crosse for the Salvation of Men. Neque enem in sacrificiis quae Abel Cain primi obtulerunt munera eorum Deus sed corda iutuebatur Abel pacificus justus dum Deo sacrificat innocenter docuit cateres quando ad Altare munus offerunt sââ venire cum timore Dei cum simplici corde cum lege justitia cum concerdiae pace Cypr. Serm. sext de Orat. Domin 3d. Part which contains a Prayer or Meditation O Eternall Lord God who dwellest in the highest Heavens in hat light which is inaccessible yet admits thy sinfull creatures he e on earth to have accesse unto thy Throne of Grace by humble Prayers and Supplycations O thou Infinite all perfection and all sufficiency who art cloathed with Majesty and Honour yet gracioâsly accepts the Oblations and devoirs f tây faithfull servants though accompanied with many imperfections and weakenesses pardon and remit we beseech thee the infirmities and defects of our holy things and let the Words of our Mouthes and the Meditations of our hearts be alwayes acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength and our redeemer Compose our minds and frame our hearts into such a temper of spirit that with devotion of spirit with submission and reverence of affections with holy and heavenly resolutions of obedience we may serve and worship thee that our Sacrifices be living our services reasonable such as may advance thy glory and expresse our sincere repentance and holy Faith We renounce all sufficiency in our selves all merit in our workes and have recourse to thy mercy and thy Sons merits for the acceptance of both We humbly confesse our persons are burdened with an infinite guilt which our wounded spirits cannot of themselves sustaine O holy Jesuâ who was wounded for our transgressions and bore all our iniquities disburden and cleare us from the weight of our sins take us into the armes of thy mercy beare our griefes carry our sorrowes that we sincke not into perdition Master save us else we perish Sonne of God Lanâs of God then that takest away the sins of the World take away our sins protect us from thy Fathers wrath and reconcile us into his favour Our Natures are deeply infected with an over-spreading Leprosie ô thou the great Physician of our Soules wash and cleanse the plague of our hearts with thy blood and by the vertue of that precious application cure all our distempers heale all our infirmities our sinnes are in number and quality above measure sinfull O holy Redeemer absolve us from them by the Oblation of thy Soule offered for sinne expiate them with thy satisfaction kill them by thy death and let thy righteousnesse be unto us for a garment of salvation Our Services Prayers and Religious duties are defective and blemished O all-sufficient Saviour by thy Incense and Intercession supply all their defects sanctifie all their adherent corruptions and present them as acceptable Sacrifices to thy Father Suffer us not O omnipotently gracious and graciously omnipotent Lord God when we are called as Abel was to suffer for thee and for righteousnesse sake to fall away from the steadfastnesse of our Faith strengthen us with all might by thy glorious power unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulnesse Let thy holy Spirit be our instructer and comforter that we never Sacrifice to any strange Gods that we never swerve from the rules of Piety and Justice alwayes obeying thy will alwayes submitting to thy will The Lord heare us in the day of trouble the name of the God of Jacob defend us fend us help from his Sanctuary and strengthen us out of Sion Remember all our Offerings and accept our Sacrifices O let us alwayes offer and doe thou gratiously accept and when thou pleasest let us chearefully suffer and doe thou gloriously reward Whatsoever thy dispensations shall be let them be in love and mercy to us and let our demeanour under them be as becommeth the Gospell of Christ Jesus if they share out unto adversity let us take up our crosse and follow thee resigne our selves offer up our wills and affections to thy infinite wife and good providence If thou portion out unto us prosperity let us not dare to Sacrifice unto our own nets ascribe it to our own wit or industry or carnally glory in our own wealth or power but to offer and returne to thee all we have and enjoy in a gratefull acknowledgement receiving all from thee depending for all on thee enjoying all in thee referring all
hardnesses tend much to his gloây for by this means God is worshipped served and obeyed ãâã himselfe and not upon a pretence a designe or interest this plainly demonstrates the ingenuity and sincerity of ãâã Addresses and Attendance on God when we lay aside all oââ respects and have no ends or stratagem in our service but serve him to glorifie him and to be glorified with him whââ no ingredient in our service but love and hope when wiââ out secular ends and not for secular advantages we proseââ the cause of God when we make not use of Religion to drââ on a designe to satisfie a passion and lust when we preseââ Gods Honour and service before our own interests when quit for him all those endearements and relations whââ most naturally and orderly doe take up our affections no ââger or clearer testimonies of great love can be showne ãâã good reason we have to doe so God had no motive to love but his good pleasure no end in setling his love upon us to save and glorifie us and it s but justice that we love ãâã for himselfe that without any selfe ends we strive to please ãâã and conforme to his will who willeth nothing but our saâââ fication and salvation and no greater argument of love ãâã if God Calls us to it to suffer to dye for God he that ãâã part with his God to keep his Coyne he that will desert station and neglect his duty because he shall finde troubââ and hardships and miseries in the engagement and serviââ turnes Renegadoe and Apostate and speaks plainly by his section that the satisfaction of his lusts and interests were cheife ayme of his desires and object he sought for God ãâã not at all in his thoughts his intentions were base and unwââthy servile and mercenary he wore Gods livery not for section but gain he pretended to him not for duty loyaâ or honour but for pay pillage or promotion The Dââ thought Job an hypocrite and therefore he thus Argued Dââ Job serve God for wought c. Job 1.9.10.11 Well he knoââ salse-hearted double-minded men would not for they are ââstable in all their wayes off and on as they spy advantage the reason of their service and pretences is their successen prevalencies if otherwise it happen they curse murmure fret with impatiency are apt to thinke God hath forsaââ them hath no mercy for them they despaire and in this sperate humour speake evill of Dignities But the Devill ãâã deceived in Iob he was an upright man there was truth in his ânward parts By his patlence and constancy in his sufferings âe declared his own sincerity and confuted the Devils fancy âe evidenced strongly his love to God and effectually baffled âhe malice of Satan that he Preached the Devill was a Lyar ând a Murderer Iob a sincere true man who had not been so âmously known had he not suffered This cleares his sinceriây and teacheth us this duty That God is to be served whether âe be pleased to reward our services with Prosperity or try them ây Adversity thus we glorifie God And 2. We advantage our selves Nothing more conduceth to âhe advantage and honour of a Christian then to suffer for his Profession to obey Gods Call for these adversâies detect and âiscover their concealed Graces and Habits and makes them âminently conspicuous and notorious Many wise and good ââen had dyed under the Notion of weake men Ideots harmeesse well-natured easie Spirits unlesse while they had lived they had been pât to the tryall many affronts indignities cornes and dishonours have been cast on them but indeed they gained reputation by them whilest their Deportment were so âeroicke so Christian under their Afflictions that as the tramâing of dirty feet gives brightnesse to the Brasse so all those ontumelious aspersions and dishonourable useages made them âore glorious beloved admired As the fire clenseth the Gold âo affliction manifests Religion 1 Pet. 1.7 it is that we may âe found to the prayse and honour c. These exercise many Graces which otherwise are not so usefull Faith Hope Patiânce Selfe-deniall and makes us exemplarily appeare which otherwise we should not to be humble meek charitable constant Beleevers such Starres as these cast not forth their light âât in such Nights of temptation trouble and adversity But âs an addition and complement of honour God stamps upon them by their sufferings the Character and Image of his Booved their Head he conformes them to the Image of his Son âom 8.29 and bestows on them the distinguishing note of ãâã Children He deales with them as with Sonnes Heb. 12 6. â 8 and after rewards them with an eternall weight of Glory âow 8.17.18 2 Cor. 4 17.18 That man knows little of the Gospel who is offended at the sufferings of Gods deareâ Servants or deelines the Honour and Mercy of sufferings for Righteousnesse sake The more generous Spirits of the Heathen had the same thoughts of their suffering fellow Citizens and of their sufferings Cicero saith Qui nunquam certavit cuââ fortuna nullum nomen meretur And Fler. lib. 2. cap. 2. account the Romans greatnesse from their sufferings in the cause ãâã their Countrey Magnitudo Populi Romani comprobatur calââ mitaâiâus And it was a true Observation which Minutius Faliââ hinted at to Cacilius Adeò omnes vostri viri ques in exom plum praedicatis aerumnis suis inâlyti floruorunt All the Româ Presidents of Vertue and Valour were notorious sufferers aââ the most calamitous Persons for their Countries sake were thâ most renowned And this their Phylosophers determined concluding the Passive part of Fortitude to be most Heroiâââ and Honourable But now if we consider that our preseââ sufferings gaines us not onely Honour but bringeth ãâã Profit that they are Advantages as well as Glories Thââ thought would almost perswade the most engaged Earthwormâ to parr with his clay god and wedge of confidence for Christ sake and for Heaven And the Apostle tells us in plain term they are so All things even the worst of things worke together contrary to their nature and intentions by a secret over-ruling Power are engaged to plot and act for the best the advantages of them that love God and no greater lovers ãâã him then the resigned sufferers for him Rom. 8.28 A strange way of exchange to gaine by the worst to purchase by losse to conquer by suffering and yet so it is Rom. 8.37 2 Cor. 4.17 Heb. 12.10 and we experimentally finde it so Noâ have so great a share of the consolation of the Spirit are ãâã much renewed in the inner man have such serenety of Spririt and contentation of mind as they who possesse their soules in patience that is who suffering according to God will commit their soules to him in well doing as unto a faith full Creator and this is a reason why we should submit so alââ so why God useth this Method He brought Light out of Darkenesse all things out of
restitution of the same in specie though that every respect may not be presumed or the reward commuââ into Eternity And this holds in many dispensations of ãâã goodnesse without a removall to Heaven if God exalts ãâã understanding and spirits to strong and serious apprehensââ and contemplations of his excellencies and perfections whâ we are here in an otherwise sad and tragicall Estate as foââ stance If he permits us to be indigent and sharpely neceââous yet gives freely of the treasures of his Wisedome in Spâââuall Understanding to make us rich in Faith and abound good Workes If he suffer us to be persecuted and afflicted aâ yet affords peace of Conscience and joy in the Holy Ghostâ in these interims the love of God be shed abroad in our heaâ and we be rooted and grounded in our hopes If in ignomââ and dishonour and yet the Spirit of God and Glory rest ãâã us If in maladies and bodily infirmities yet the distempâ and diseases of our Soule be removed and cured and spiritââ health and life substituted If dispossessed of our Inheritanââ and yet we possesse our Soules in patience this is not to ââceive hard measure at the hands of God but good measâpressed downe shaken together and running over God ãâã these dealings is not hard or austere but good and graciousâ us And O that we had the spirits to discerne and the ligââ to distinguish and hearts to come taste and see how graciââ the Lord is Lastly Abrahams Heavenly mindednesse is considerable â severall instances In Canaan he sojourned in Tents Ambââtory and uncertaine Lodging In Heaven he expected a City â Mansion firme and immutable of perfect and lasting repose ãâã Canaan he lived in the open Ayre seperated from the soââty of the Natives In Heaven he should finde a foundatââ where are resident the innumerable company of Angels ãâã sanctifying Spirits the generall Assembly and Church of the âârst borne the Tabernacles he moved in were the Workes âf Mens hands of their composition and fashioning the Ciây of the living God was his owne Fabricke God the Arââitect and Builder 2 Cor 5.1 So this City was not a terâene Habitation subject to mutations and casualties by seâerall contingencies and modes of Governement but an heaâenly whose Foundations cannot be removed or shaken Here âelow Cities are many times broken with divisions factions and Interests where we may not abide unlesse we be a parây and there is hazard or newters and then we are liable ãâã be hated of all and to be abused by every prevailing factiân This City of God is furnished with the peace of God ââaintained in a perfect and indissoluble unity of the holy âaints and Angels O let the same minde be in us that was ân Abraham despise the World because we thinke of Heaven not to be intangled with the lusts of the World because âere we are Strangers in vaine doe we look for a Mansion ââere unlesse here as Strangers and Pilgrims we abstaine ââom fleshly lusts 1 Peter 2.11 Unlesse by Obedience and âatience in well-doing we goe out of Babylon into the place which we shall after receive for an Inheritance Unlesse we âvoyd and flee from the occasions of sinne unlesse we deny âur selves and become Humble Patient Chaste Liberall Mercifull and Obedient Invitamur ergo à Deo Patre ut faâice beata commutatione Patrâm Diabolum relinquamus If ââe come not or be not entertained when we come Perditiââua ex te our destruction is of our selves The whole I shall âhut ãâã with Saint Augustines words lib. Serm. de temp Serm. 68 Novum hoe probationis geâââ habenti propria exiâia iudicere peregrina ingerere laborem itineris quiescenti imâerare penuriam possidenti tantarum facultatem Domiuâ nââissiâatem imponere peregrinandi Libenter tamen fides accepit quicquid arduam videbatur incredulis sententiam Dci tanâuam qui optare videretur accepit fidelis And thus I passe to the third Part. The third Part. The Prayer O Incomprehensible Immutable and All-sufficient Lord Gââ whose wayes are in the great Deeps and whose Foot-sââ are not knowne who by secret methods of mercy ordereth ãâã saddest contingencies to the advantages of thy Servants and ãâã thy Wisedome and Power bringeth good out of evill We glorâ thy Wisedome celebrate thy Power magnifie thy Mercy ãâã thy Goodnesse admâre thy Providence and doe most humbly ãâã plore thy Grace and assistance that we with great attention ãâã devotion and much humility may hearken to thy Heavenly ãâã the expresses of thy Will and the motions of thy Spirit and ãâã as ready to Obey as Heare that at all times we may expresse ãâã obedience by an effectuall dereliction of our sinnes and moreââtion of our lasts and when thou pleasest we may with a qââ and week Spirit be contented and resigned in all changes of Pââson and condition and when thou callest reddily forsake all ãâã naturall Interests Relations and Converâences Let ãâã our lââ to our Worldly endearements or the feare or losse of our Eâââ thy Possessions be ever able to dispossesse ãâã of our hopes of Hââven Let us never practise any indirect or unwarrantable âonses either to procure or preserve an Estate that we being ââgrims and Strangers here in affection as well as condition ãâã long after and labour for a continuing City demeaning our seââ as Strangers in all modesty and sobricây acting as Strangers moving homewards to our Countrey the Heavenly Jerusaleââ over-looking the presect and eââing the future the Heaven Maâsions not made with hands the Inheritance incorruptible ãâã defiled that fâdeth not away eternall in the Heavens Abraham bâsomâ the place of âost to the Sonnes of Abraham to live foâ ever with the God of Abraham To which God Father Soâââ and Holy Ghost be all Glory Honour and Imââtality ãâã and to all Eternity Amen SARAHS Seed Heb. 11.11.12 Through Faith also Sarah her selfe received strength to conceive Seed and was delivered of a Child when she was past Age because she judged him faithfull who had âramised c. SArah was formerly Abrahams consort in his Exile shee is now his Partner in the Promised Seed they were conjoyned by God in holy Wedlocke they are not separated or divided in their holy Faith and so as neer as might be âhe Apostle joynes them in his discourse for honoured Examâles of Faith and Magnanimity Abraham followed the Voyce ând Call of his Lord and God Sarah followes the example of âer Lord and Master for so she acknowledged him 1 Pet. 3.6 ând is therefore the immediately following Example here and ândeed for the Honour of her Sex is put into the Gatalogue even that Sex though the weakest may for all that be strong in âaith and therefore it is emphatically expressed ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã and also for the encouragement of the Hebrew Women that they would submit to any conditions with their Yoke-fellows and not through softnesse delecacy or wantonnesse decline âopartnership
therof but the other hath only some slight acquaintance with him some pretences onely to his favour and bounty or hath onely this hope that if he come first possibly he may provaile neither hath he any friend on which he dare rely to negotiate and meditate for him therefore he Posts Night and Day stormes and frets at every obstacle quarrels and fights with every shadow of opposition and allowes himselfe no refreshment ãâã ease because his suspition and jealousie chafeth and chaseth hiâ In this ease we may certainely resolve he who made most haââ had the lesser hopes and his haste was lesse whose hopes ãâã greater and surer for he that hath a promise from a man ââ Power and faithfulnesse whereof also he hath an undoubââ assurance is not too eager or over-vehement for the performance but is willing to stay the time and pleasure of his friend neither is there amongst men any thing which makes them ââ forward for security or payment in contracts but distrust aââ dishonesty And yet this Phrase is varied by the Apostle 1 Pââ 2.6 shall not be ashamed he will not onely not make haste ââ if the merey be delayed he will not be ashamed his Faith bene him out against all inward serupulosities and outward ignoâânies if his own heart shall dictate God is slacke or if his enemies jeere and deride his confidence yet he is still the same no reproaches shall haste or deject him no carnalities seduct oâ alter him to be disappointed on his relyance and hopes thââ shames a man but to be rooted in hope is to gather considence and comfort which David observed of himselfe Psal 27 1â.14 I should have sainted except I had beleeved to see the goodnesse of the Lord c. In three things saith Bernard doe I plaâââ âny confidence and they are such as will not suffer us to be ashamed In charitate adoptionis veritate promissionis potestate redditunis for Gods goodnesse truth and power cannot faile them that trust in him and wait for the appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ The third Part. The Prayer MOst mercifull and gratious Father most glorious and eternall Lord the God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob blesse us thy Children by Adoption with the Dew of Heaven and Fat of the Earth blesse and prosper unto us the workes of our hands and satisfie us early with thy mereies that we may rejoyce and be glad in thy salvation give us such a proportion of temporalties as are most sutable to our dispositions and abilities but they be no temptations and provocations to sinne and let the blessings of thy right hand descend plentifully upon us thy heavenly and spirituall graces that we may grow up and flourish in the house of the Lord. Be pleased to regulate and direct all our actions to thy glory and our salvation restraine all our passions and inordinate affections and bring them under the dominion of grace Blesse and sanctifie all thy blessings upon us that we may improve them to thy Honour and our own everlasting advantage that we presse forward to the marke For the price of the high calling of God in Iesus Christ let thy promises of grace be the objects of our Faith and let our Faith rest in them that we be not confounded in the perillous time and we may waite with patience till the Sun of Righteousnesse appeare with healing in his wings Raise up our thoughts from the consideration of the present pressures and threatned calamities which may happen us to a contemplation of the love of God in Iesus Christ Adopting us and promising good things to us the truth power and faithfulnesse of God in performing the expressions of his love to us and to a setled meditation of that Eternall Rest those sure mercies and honourable felicities which the Father hath made over to us in his beloved Sonne and which he hath assured unto us by the Revelation of his Spirit To which holy blessed and undivided Trinity be ascribed all Honour Blessing Praise and Worship now and for ever Amen IACOBS Piety Heb. 11.21 By Faith Jacob when he was a dying blessed both the Sons of Joseph and worshipped leaning upon the top of his staffe OMne bonum est sui diffusivum Goodnesse is communicative of it selfe And a very Heathen can resolve us That Nullius boni sine socio jucunda est possessio there iâ no content in the possession of any goodnesse unlesse we have a Partner with us and every good man is of that temper and disposition that he freely communicates what he hath received if God blesse him he is willing others should have some part or profit with him and what he freely received he freely gives as for example If God hath bestowed a Talent of Knowledge Learning Wealth and Authority on any good Man he will imploy it teach others with his Learning enflruct with Knowledge supply with his Wealth releive and protect by his Authority or if he doe not he ceaseth to be a good Man and these advantages cease to be good things and blessings to him Abraham received a blessing from God he bequeathes this to Isanc Isaac leaves it to Jacob and Jacob imparts it to the twelve Tribes All these holy Patriarches succeeded one another in the blessings here was Personall Succession both in the Place and the Faith they Lineally descended and succeeded one another both in the Chaire as formerly the Elder Father still blessing the following and in the donative of the blessing and in the Worship and Service of God Religion it seems then was heredetary and these Patriarches came to the blessing by discent and the Legitimate Children were the Heires of the Promise and therefore as by Faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esan so by Faith Jacob blessed both the Sonnes of Joseph By Faith Jacob when he was a dying c. The first Part. This benediction was the same which Isaac before imparted to Iacob it was Paternall Sacerdotall and Propheticall the subjects of it were the Sons of Ioseph but with this difference the whole blessing was enstated on Iacob by Isaac whereas Iacob divided it to Iudah Lovy and the Sons of Ioseph Reuben indeed was his eldest Sonne the beginning of his strength the excellency of dignity and power and so in an ordinary course it belonged to him but he forfeited his Birth-right by desiling his Fathers Bed and so his dignity was gone Gen. 49.3.4 and so the jus Regni the Kingly Dominion and Soveraignty over his Brethren was setled on Iudah the Honour and Office of Priest-hood was collated on Levis and the double Portion was allotted to the Sons of Ioseph Ephraim and Manasseh and the blessing on them was That his Name should be named on them and the Name of his Fathers Abraham and Isaac Gen. 48.16 that is they should be reputed for his Children for the Grand-children of Isaac and great Grand-children of Abraham and so the Heires of the Covenant of Promise and they
pretenders to Faith to be employed in designes and undertakings for the satisfaction of their irregular extravagant and disordered lusts and appetites 2. His Faith appeared in this That though the time of the accomplishment of the Promises was above a century yet dying be looked upon it at hand he would not have them to think of departing Egypt till that the time of restitution come and so untill then the order was his Bones should stay in Egypt among them Doubtlesse it was to admonish them againe that they âhould not set their hearts on Egypt but think on the Land of their Inheritance and not to anticipate or dispute the time but âo waite patiently till God should be pleased to deliver them and satisfie âheir hopes and desires Faith is so zealous and charitable that where it resides it maketh the subject to abound not onely to have a stake or treasure for himselfe but to communicate to others it makes him industrious and sollicirous to promote Gods glory and the edisication of his Church not oneây for the rerâ e of their life naturall but even that also after death these Memorandums or Breviates may remaine among them be helps and assistances to their Faith and Memories This was Saint Peâers care and endeavour as he reports of himselfe 2 Peter 1.14 13. I know my time c. I will endeavour therefore c and this was Iosephs thought and labour by the reservation of his Coffin to teach his Posterity to slight the delights and advantages of Phâraohs Court and to unite themselves to the People of God Thus we see Ioseph himselfe notwithstanding the many proâocations and engagements to Egypt still by Faith keeps himselfe unsâoâted of the world he walkes not onely wisely but also piously in the middest of a crooked profane Generation he retained the old principles and instructions he had received in his Fathers house and after the fruition of all the contentments Egypt could afford yet to acknowledge them not the true desireables but imaginary perishing vanities and therefore perswades his Children never to think of them but in their expectations and resolutions to quitt them and to strive and purchase that Inheritance which they had in reversion they should after so long time actually possesse which no man could take from them And O that we would like Ioseph emply our pretious time and happy opportunities for the honour and repute of our Christian Profession and for the advantages and benefit of all Christian People that as Ioseph did we may live well and so dye well live unto the Lord and dye in the Lord and so rest from our labors Nâw as Ioseph had a word of Prophesie so have we a sure word of Prophesie 2 Pet. 1.19 even this That though now for a season if ââbe we are in heavenesse through manifold temptations c. temptation on the right hand the promises perswasions slatteriâ and complyances of the world on the left frownes persecââ onâ scornings and tribulations yet these are for the tryall ãâã our Faith being much more precious c. the spirit of Christ tesââfying before-hand the sufferings of Christ and of these after aâflictions of Christ which we are to suffer in our flesh for ãâã bodies sake the Church Col. 1 14. and the glory which should follow therefore we should gird up the loynes of our minds ãâã sober and hope to the end and he that hath this hope purifieâ himselfe for the grace that is brought unto us at the revelatioâ of Jesus Christ therefore we should take heed lest there be ãâã any of us an evill heart of unbeleife in departing from tââ living God and no more sad symptome of this then that ãâã are loth to depart out of Egypt unwilling to forsake our ãâã loved darling bosome sinnes our pleasures and profits we thiââ not on the afflictions of Ioseph we desire no fellowship with ãâã Israel of God we travell not for our Calestiall Canaan but ãâã Ioseph did to his Children so we should exhort one another dayâ whiles it is called to day c. and once more we ought to gââ the more earnest heed to the things we have heard lest at any tââ we should let them flip Heb. 2.1.2.3 and Heb 3.12.13 3. Ioseph in the tendernsse of his affection premonishââ and remembreth the Israelites of their hard servitude and ãâã their deliverance Christ also in greatnesse of his love to us had forewarned us what we shall expect from the world and whââ we may receive from him if we doe adhere to him even muââ to the same purpose In the world ââ shall have tribulation lââ no godly man fancy the contrary but be of good cheare I haââ over come the world John 16.33 and he overcame it not âoâ himselfe but for us that when all the world lyes in wickednesse in him we might have peace And we know what thâ Poet resolved Sperat adversis metuit secundis alteram sortââ bene praparatum pectus if we doe not yeeld to nor complâ with any temptation but resist and oppose it no adversity shall ââfle our hopes no prosperity shall corrupt our feare loyalty and ââedience to our Soveraigne Lord and Maker and still ãâã sends his Prophets unto us admonishing and charging us in seaâon and out of season not to trust in uncertain riches not in more uncertain pleasures and honours but to trust in the living God who giveth us all things richly to enjoy and at whose right hand there is honour and pleasure for evermore and in whose presence is the fulnesse of joy 4. Ioseph gave commandement concerning the buriall of his Bones Buriall in a decent solmne manner is an honour due to the bodies of our deceased Friends and Kinsfolks and if occasion be of any Christian neighbour The Earth is a common field wherein every man may chalenge his share and part when âhe falls for the bodies of dead Persons to be sowed in where also they are to rest in peace without trouble or molestation till they appear and spring forth again at the generall Resurrection 1 Cor. 15. 5. What Ioseph commanded they observed The commands of Superiors are to be obeyed not onely for feare but for Conscience sake If they constitute or decree an Act or Statute for the regulation of disorders or the advantages of humane society or the Publique Interest or wherein they doe not oppose or contradict Gods Laws they are to be religiously kept and observed much more should we obey the Commandements of the Supreme Law giver in Heaven and Earth our Lord and Creator for to bring this home reade and peruse the whole five and thirty Chapter of Ieremy But these Children of Ioseph did more then he commanded expressely of their own heads they buried him in Sichem where God leaves his orders in generall but determines not the particulars or instances in those things the Fathers of the Church have liberty to determine and their orders therein are to be observed what is of Divine Institution in any Ordinance is not alterable is not capable of addition or diminution but many circumstantialls for the decent and orderly performance of the Institution are to be ordered by the guides and governors of the Church according to the rules of Christian prudence and the generall rules of the Word of God In fome caâes therefore to demand a particular warrant from Heaven is presumption and folly so long as the general order will supply that supposed defect even ãâã every Christian some circumstantialls are left to his disârââtion and prudence as in private Prayer whether it be doââ sitting standing c. is matter of counsell onely we are tââ observe the generall rule to glorifie God in our bodies as weââ as spirits and we use that posture which doth experimentalls most elevate our affections and heighten our spirits The third Part. GIve Eare O thou Shepherd of Israel thou that leadest Ioseph lik ' a sheep shew thy brightnesse thou that sittest between the Cherubims Before all People stir up thy strength aââ come to help us Turne us O God againe and cause thy face ãâã shine that we may be saved We hate wandred in desorts falâ wayes and still follow our own inventions We are lost sheep ãâã astray and wander to and fro as Sheep having no Shepherds ãâã thou the great Bishop and Shepherd of our soules turne thee to ãâã againe returne us unto thee and doe thou restore unto us ãâã Shepherds and Pastors that we may be gathered into one fâllââ Les not us want spirituall guides which may make us rest itâ greene Pastures and may leade us by the still waâers which mââ restore our soules and leade us in the paths of rightâousnesse let thy Rod and thy Staffe comfort us Be not angry O Lord about measure neither remember iniquity for evâr see we beseâch thuâ behold we are all thy People we are all thy People and the Sheep of thy Pasture Returne we beseech thee O Loâd looke down from Heaven and behold and visit this Vine and the Vineyard thââ thy right hand hath Planted so we that are thy People shall sing of thy prayses and declare thy salvation from Generation to Gâneration And forasmuch as thou hast given us a sure Word of Prophesie to guide our feet in the wayes of peace let us take the more earnest heed that this Word slip not from us Let us alwayes remember what thou hast ordered and commanded and what thoâ hast âromised that us prosperity corrupt us and make us forget our duty no adversity tempt us that we relinquish our hopes And continue unto us the Houses of thy Prophets and of thy Prophets Children Sââd forth Labourers into thy Harvest Moââââ of thy own making and have their Mission from thee and let not us despise the Word of Prophesie lest we quench the Spirit and of thy goodnesse bring us out of this Egypt first in our Affections and then in our Persons that we may receâve our Inheritance in the Calestiall Canaan with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdome of Heaven Grant us this and what else is necessary for the scattered Flocke thy Catholique Church or for our selves for the Merits and Mediation of our Great High Priest Jesus Christ the Righteous to whom with the Eternall Father and blessed Spirit be all Honour and Glory now and over Amen FINIS