would prevent your fears if God would continue forfeited mercies dearer to you than your lives you would set apart some special thing for God something for the propagation of the Gospel abroad for the maintenance of a godly Ministry at home for setting up the preaching of the Gospel in the dark corners of the Kingdom c. This must have some cautions with it As 1. We must be sure our vow be of what is in our own power we must not make vows of that which is none of our own I hate robbery for burnt-offerings We must not make a vow to God of that which hath been unjustly or unrighteously taken away or with-held from any 'T is Sacriledge instead of a Sacrifice 2. It must be of things warrantable and justifiable by the Word 3. It must be of such things that we are not bound to do before vows by the standing obligation of Religion and of our profession but of something that is in our own choice that we will voluntarily make a free-will offering of it to God 4. We must take heed that we do not entertain a superstitious thought of our own vows as if we had merited a mercy at Gods hands by our vows God looks for some special vow at our hands that we may shew how much we prize and value the mercy we would have that we would be content to part with any thing though to the half of our estate for it 2. Another thing I find is that in the mean time we should do something by way of extraordinary bounty and charity to the relief of Gods indigent servants Thus the Prophet Daniel Wherefore O King let my counsel be acceptable to thee break off thy sins by righteousness and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor if it may be a lengthning of thy tranquility Dan. 4.27 The Prophet advises him to break off his sins by Righteousness there 's Reformation and besides Reformation that he would do something in an extraordinary way to the relief of the poor Mercy to the poor what 's that Interpreters conceive by the poor here he understands Gods poor i.e. the poor Jews that were now in the Babylonian Captivity he advises he would do something by way of sympathy to the Jews to ease their yoaks and oppressions break off thine iniquities by pittying and shewing mercy to thy poor Captives under thy power now at this time take off their yoak ease their burdens and restore them to their liberties again Thus do you and those that have been the instruments of your conversation or edification set apart something extraordinary for their relief and supply The Prophet Daniel seems to advise this to the King as it were by way of satisfaction There be two things in repentance in wrongs we have done there must be confession and satisfaction or restoration he seems to advise this to make up compleat repentance namely to make restoration and retribution of what he had injuriously taken from the Jews Oh then let me say without breach of charity that whatsoever except it be in this case of extraordinary supplies for his poor it will be found but making restitution and satisfaction It may be upon a twofold ground 1. With some it may be truly restitution and restoration of what he hath taken away by unjust means God knows how that 's between God and their own souls what unlawful means have been used to augment the heap and swell their Estate If there be any that hear me this day whose consciences shall tell them that they have increased their estate by undue and unwarrantable means Oh Restore Restore break off your iniquities by shewing mercy c. by making reparation as you can it will be but like Zacheus giving half his goods to the poor and restoring four-fold c. in a liberal Contribution to the poor 2. It will be restitution in another sense in reference to an unjust withholding some have injuriously and I am afraid too too many have kept injuriously Have we not rob'd the poor by an unjust denying of what God hath commanded us to distribute to their necessties there is that withholdeth more than is meet c. Prov. 3.17 and 11.24 It may be God hath given you so much there 's Gods share there 's the Ministers portion c. Now all that you have with-held beyond the Rule of Scripture is all stolen goods and is like a Wheat-sheaf on fire will burn down the whole Barn of Corn. That which I would exhort you to is for every one to set a part some considerable part of your Estate and account it as a hollow thing dedicated to God as a thing which to touch were sacriledge that you may be ready on all occasions in all regular and due ways to bring out for the relief of the poor you know objects abounding in every place and you may expect warrantable means for dispensing of what God shall put into your hearts in this matter Mr. Jenkin's Forenoon Sermon Heb. 11.38 The former part of that Verse Of whom the world was not worthy THe Apostle in this excellent Chapter that by some is deservedly called a little Book of Martyrs discovers the tryumph of faith or victory against all difficulty we meet with 1. Faith it assents to truths be they never so improbable 2. It puts men upon duties be they never so irrational or against carnal interest 3. It enables to sufferings be they never so afflictive These Worthies went through all by the victory that overcame the world the bitterness as well as the sweetness thereof In these verses the Apostle doth two things First he sets down the greatness and smartness of their sufferings which are by some learned men reduced to three heads First those sufferings that were to tempt them and draw them from God by those pains and tortures they were to undergo Secondly Those sufferings they underwent in dying Thirdly their sufferings in regard of wandering and leaving their comforts rather than they would lose God There were all kind of persecutions laid upon these Saints through all which they waded and never would be brought to forsake God and his truth for any of them 2. We have here the excellency of the sufferers and that is in that expression These men or these persons when they were under all these distresses from the world yet they were such of whom the world was not worthy Brethren the excellency of these saints and servants of God is considerable two ways that we may proceed distinctly and clearly First in reference to the wicked their excellency was so great that the wicked World was not worthy of them Secondly their excellency is discovered from the estimate or judgment that the Apostle passes upon them who tells us that he accounted them to be such though they were under such distresses and troubles yet they were a people of whom the world was not worthy I shall fall upon the due estimation the blessed Apostle
them not sink within us Secondly I argue from the abundance of praying people that are in this Nation there are many that night and day pray unto God that the Ark may not be taken and let me assure you God did never forsake a praying reforming people When God intends to destroy a Nation and take away the Ark he takes away the Spirit of Prayer but where God gives the Spirit of Prayer there God will continue the Ark. You all know that if there had been but ten good men in those five Cities God would have spared them We have many hundreds that fear God in this Nation that do not give God rest but night and day pray unto God for this Land And who knows but for their sakes God will spare the Ark. Thirdly another ground of comfort is this that God hath hitherto dealt with England not by way of Rule but by way of Prerogative we have had un-churching sins all the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and of King James and the godly Ministers have been threatned ruine from year to year but God hath hitherto saved England by way of Prerogative God hath spared us because he will spare us according to that Text I will be graciâ—us to whom I will be gracious God will not be tyed to his own rule and who knoweth but God will deliver us Fourthly another ground of comfort is that God is now pouring out his Viols upon Antichrist and all this shall end in the ruine of Antichrist God is pouring forth his Viols upon the Throne of the Beast and all these transactions shall end in the ruine of Antichrist though some drops of these Viols may light upon the Reformed Churches and they may smart 〈◊〉 a while and God may severely punish them yet it will be but for a little while but the Viols shall be poured out upon Antichrist God may scourge all the Reformed Churches before these Viols be poured out and persecution may go through them all the which I call drops of these Viols but the Viols are intended for Antichrist and shall end in the time of Antichrist and whatsoever becomes of us yet our children and our childrens children shall see the issue of the Viols poured out upon the Whore of Babylon This I speak for your comfort Fifthly I am to exhort you that you would all of you contribute your utmost endeavour to keep the Ark of God from being taken and here I shall shew you 1. What the Magistrate should do 2. What the Minister should do 3. What the People should do First what the Magistrate should do I shall say but little of them because I am not now to speak to them they are to use their Authority for the settling of the Ark for the Ark of the Covenant will be like the Ark of Noah always floating upon the waters until the Magistrates settle it Thus David 2 Sam. 6.12 he gathered together all the chosen men of Israel thirty thousand to fetch home the Ark. So Solomon he assembled the Elders of Israel and the heads of the Tribes the Nobles the chief of the Fathers of the children of Israel to Jerusalem with a great deal of pomp to bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord into its place O that God would encourage our Nobles Magistrates that they might be solicitous to settle the Ark Magistrates must not be as the Philistine they had the Ark but what did they with it they set it up in the house of Dagon but Dagon and the Ark could never agree where false Religion comes in at one door the true Religion goes out at the other you must not put the Ark and Dagon together Secondly what must the Ministers do to keep the Ark from losing They must endeavour after holiness the Ark wil never stand steddy nor prosper upon the shouldiers of Hâ—phni Phinehas A wicked prophane drunken Ministry will never settle the Ark it must be the sober pious godly Ministers that must do it How holy must they he that draw nigh to the God of holiness Thirdly What must the people of God do that the Ark may not be lost there be five thing I shal comemnd unto you then commend you to God 1. You must not Idolize the Ark. 2. You must not undervalue the Ark. 3. You must not pry into the Ark. 4. You must not meddle with the Ark without a lawful Call 5. You must keep the Covenant of the Ark. First You must not Idolize the Ark that was the sin of the people in the Text they thought the very presence of the Ark would excuse them and keep them safe and therefore they carried the Ark into the Camp though they reformed not and repented not yet they thought the Ark would save them So many there be that think the Ark will save them though never so wicked but nothing will secure a Nation but repentance reformation Secondly Do not undervalue the Ark this was Michal's sin 2 Sam. 6.14 15 16. When David danced before the Ark and Michal mocked him and despised him in her heart but saith he it was before the Lord and if this be vile I will he more vile Some men begin to say what need we any preaching will not reading prayers serve Others say what need so much preaching will not once a day serve Now this is to undervalue the Ark therefore let us say as David if to preach the word if to fast and pray for the Nation If this be vile then I will be more vile Thirdly We must not pry into the Ark this was the sin of the men of Bethshemesh 1 Sam. 6.19 They looked into the Ark and God smote them and cut off fifty thousand and threescore men Be not too curious in searching where God hath not discovered or revealed For example there be great thoughts of a heart when God will deliver his people and set his Churches at liberty and many men talk much of the Year 1666. that shall be the year wherein Antichrist shall be destroyed And there are strange impressions upon the hearts of many learned men as to this Year some go to the Year 1669. and others pitch upon other times but truly if you will have my judgment and I am glad of this opportunity to tell you This is to pry too much into the Ark Remember the Text Acts 1.17 It is not for you to know the Times or the Seasons which the Father hath put in his own power And thus to conclude upon any particular time if you find you are deceived it is the way to make you Atheists and that afterwards you shall believe nothing And those Ministers do no service or rather ill service to the Church of God that conclude of the Times and Seasons A Popish Author saith that in the Year 1000. there was a general belief over the Christian World that the day of Judgment should be that Year but when theâ— saw it happened
what 's the danger duty and particular temptation of every condition and in that condition you are most likely to expect a fall into prepare for affliction as the common lot of the Saints take it as no strange thing when it overtakes you know how to abound and how to want A great deal of a Christians safety and comfort lies in this to study the temptations and duty of every condition before it come that so you may have your remedy at hand and fall to your work and commit your selves to God 16. Be as conscionable and strict in the duties of your relations and dealings with men proportionably as in the duties of holiness more directly to be performed to God make as much conscience care study diligence about being just that you wrong no man in buying or selling as you do in duties of holiness hearing praying receiving In your trading make conscience of justice and faithfulness as well as in the Worship of God and in your own personal behaviour in your calling be diligent not sloathful in business c. And so in the duties of your Relations O that Parents knew what a charge lies on them concerning the soul of their children c. so Masters look to your servants be as conscionable in doing your duty for their souls good and being faithful to them and compassionate over them as in your duty to God keep up family duties with life seriousness diligence and vigour the life of Religion in the world must be kept up very much in families 17. Make it your study and care to do all the good you can in the world let doing good be the principal part of your business think that the safest and happiest life in which you can do greatest good suffer not opportunities to slip out of your hands take them where you have them and seek where you may have them look not only where you may get a good but where you may have opportunity to do good to others every Talent must be answered for your knowledge health c. use it as you will answer for it and know 't is one of the greatest mercies in the world for God to give you hearts in doing good with that he hath given Heb. 13.16 not for applause but be good husbands for God and consider which way you may attain your ends best by what you give or do Thus be rich in good works 18. Live still as before the living God approve your hearts to him as knowing you stand or fall unto his judgment Avoid carefully all offences unto men for the Lords sake and their conscience sake take heed of scandal and receive all the good from others you can but stick not too much on mans approbation dis-regard not suspicions or reproofs of godly men but make not mans praise to be any part of your reward it is a small thing for me to be judged of men Be not much troubled at it if you cannot please all the bawlings of the malicious should not disturb a soul that is quietly housed with God that soul is not well stablished in faith that can be so disturb'd and distemper'd by the wrath or words of malicious men Remember God himself pleases not all the most of the world are enemies to their Maker upon the account of his holiness justice c. and canst thou think to please all withdraw from the world and your selves unto God for the consolation of his approbation and for your felicity this will save you from hypocrifie and keep you from the temptations and vexations of the censorious world 19. Be every day as serious in your preparations for death and judgment as those that are always certain that it will come and know not the moment when it will come Mat. 24.29 Use often to think seriously before-hand what death is what thoughts what tryals death will put a man upon what temptations usually accompany our approaching death what you shall most need at such a time as that what thoughts are likeliest to possess you then what you are likeliest to wish for when you must needs dye about spending your time expending your estate conversing with others c. Ask your selves What will I wish I had done or been when I come to dye Think what will be most dreadful to a dying man for thus you have time to escape his judgement Will it not be to think on a life lost in vanity drencht in worldliness unreconciled to God or at least in utter uncertainty of his love God hath not fore-shewed what will be a dying mans terrour to torment thee but to get out that terrour that which will be most terrible at death conquer and destroy it presently They that were ready went in with the Bridegroom and the door was shut Mat. 25.10 Oh happy thou if while the door is open thou be found ready to go in woe if when the door be shut thou hast thy preparation to make thy graces to seek Bethink what you will either wish or fear when you come to dye and when you will say this should have been done c. let it be now done 20. Rise speedily after every fall by sound repentance and a fresh recourse to the Bloud of Christ Covenant of Grace and his intercession Lye not secure in any sin into which thou art lapsed take heed of delaying and trifling when thy particular repentance should be exercised Renew thy Covenant after thy rising deal faithfully with thy self and God favour not thy sin nor flesh go to the quick leave no corruption at the bottom If called to make restitution to shame thy self before men by confession stick not at it take the plainest course that is the way of God And let not any thought of shame dishonour or loss hinder it for the more it costs thee to rise from sin the likelier it is thou art sound in thy Conversion and the more comfort thou wilt have otherwise the fears and pains of thy disease will be upon thee when the thorow cure would have prevented it quarrel not at any mans reproof though they miscarry in it have mentioned thy faults with passion c. take that which is good and be thankful And after every fall sit not down in perpetual distress but as Christ takes the honour of thy cure take thou the comfort of thy cure when recovered See thou art truly risen by repentance and returned to him whom thou hast dishonoured Thy care must be to see thou be sincere in thy-return and then walk comfortably See that Satan make not thee walk so as to rob thee of thy comfort and God of his honour Thus having given you twenty Directions I shall reduce all to these eight Particulars 1. Do not think strength of grace will be got with ease you must do that that in other things is done for the attaining of strength increase and confirmation A man cannot attain knowledge in Law Physick or any Art without
your affairs that ye stand fast in one spirit with one mind striving together not to pluck out one anothers throats no more of that but striving together not against one another but for the faith of the Gospel So 1 Cor. 15.58 Therefore my Brethren be stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 'T is our Duty to stand But 2. Wherein must we stand fast I have no new Doctrine to preach now I shall but mind you of what I have formerly spoken when you would not believe I confess I do not begin to be of a new judgement now and should I be continued in the Ministry a mercy I can hardly hope for I should be of the same judgement and preach this Doctrine Stand fast God will certainly bring the people of God in England to his own terms or else fare them well for ever What is that we should be stedfast in I would advise to a stedfastness 1. Of Judgement 2. Of Resolution 3. Of Fatih 4. Of Conscience So stand fast in the Lord in your Judgement in your Resolution in your Faith in your Conscience 1. I would advise you to a stedfastness of Judgement Strange Doctrines are the greatest Fetters that do assault a sound Judgement they are like waves if they do not split they will shake the Ship to purpose therefore your way is to cast Anchor well to stand firm on the Rock of Truth I had almost said all in a word Protestant truth though the market may rise somewhat high yet stand firmly there while strange Doctrines like so many impetuous Waves are beating upon you break themselves in pieces they may but if you stand can never hurt you I am not to begin to warn you against Popery not that I have the lest reflexion on any thing in the World but on the Scriptures I am apt to think the wound of the beast must be healed however do not you spread a plaister for the Beast to heal his wound Be no more children tossed to and fro carried about with every wind of Doctrine with every wind of windy Doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftiness that can cog the die notable Gamesters there are in the world but you must stand steady in judgement you must be firm to your principles I would have you Stars not Meteors for Meteors are carried about with every blast of wind I hope better things of you I shall pray God would make you stedfast in judgement First be sure to get good principles and secondly be sure to stand in those principles that you have got And though I cannot say but some Tares are sown among this Parish yet I bless the Lord for the generality I hope I may say I have an Orthodox Ministry 2. 'T is not enough to stand in judgement but we must be stedfast to our Resolution 1 Cor. 15.58 Be stedfast unmoveable such as stand firm on some basis and foundation that doth not totter and stagger if they find you staggering to be sure the next moment they look upon you as falling Be as they say of one or both of the poles of the heavens though all the world turns the poles are immoveable If I mistake not you may see a great turn in the world and behold at this day the greatest turn that ever was in England but yet you must not move you must not stir be true to your Resolutions but just to your first Love go on in the Lords work let nothing take you off If I have preached any false Doctrine among you witness against me at the day of Judgement but if the things I have preached be true stand to the truth if you do not witness against my Doctrine mine 't is not but rather witness for it remember if you leave it that very Doctrine will witness against you at the day of judgement Oh! the excellent Heroe Queen Hester thus and thus will I do and if I perish I perish You cannot imagine against how many thousand temptations a stedfast resolution will guard you 3. There 's a Stedfastness of Faith too when we so believe as that we do not waver or do not deviate Will you give me leave to propose to you my dear friends though my Congregation I cannot call you that question which our Saviour did unto the Jews whom he hated though I love you The Baptism of John whence was it from Heaven or of men The Doctrines you have heard have they been from Heaven or from men Answer me if from men abhor them man is a false Creature man would make merchandize of your faith and Souls but if from Heaven why then should you not believe them I bless the Lord my Conscience bears me witness I never did so far propose a Doctrine to you I would have you believe without Scripture if the Doctrines have been from God believe them if not abhor them and any of those that shall dare to bring a Doctrine but dare not bring the Authority of the Scripture to warrant them You may not be like those in Jam. 1.6 That wavereth like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed The most godly man may stumble in his way i. e. tread awry but a wavering minded man is never setled concerning this way Blessed be God I am not now on this day that looks as like my dying day as can be in the World to begin to fix upon a Religion fix upon my way I know my way if God will but keep my steps and guide me in that way If God be God I appeal to your Consciences worship him if Baal be God worship him do not stand in disputing and doubting do not say shall I shall I if the ways you have found be the ways of God follow them God hath but one way to Heaven there is but one truth if Baal be God follow Baal do not stand wavering do not consult with flesh and bloud t is an infinite mercy that God will give any of us to leave Relations Estates Congregations any thing for Christ 't is an infinite mercy we do not split upon a Rock Be sure to be either for God or Baal a godly man many times halts in his way but never halts between two opinions 4. Stedfastness of Conscience Indeed the genious of my Ministry hath lain this way and here I could casily lanch out but I must be short I would speak a word in season to those that are weak it becomes you to be stedfast in conscience then have a God-decreeing a Christ-redeeming a Spirit-quickening a Gospel-promising a Heaven-prepared a God infinitely more ready to save him then he can possibly be desirous to be saved by him Be stedfast in Conscience against the guilt the filth of sin against the temptations of Satan c. Let us draw near with full assurancee of Faith you can never believe Gods
they may see God face to face and be for ever with the Lord which they cannot do till they dye therefore blessed by God that the righteous must perish If a man should always live on earth always be young rich and healthful it would be unwelcome news for while we are in the body we are absent from the Lord and subject to sin and therefore when Peter asked Christ what should be done with John Christ tells him If I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee from henceforth there went a report abroad that John should not dye Now the Apostle himself was much displeased with this report and looked upon it as a great affliction that he should not dye and therefore he himself confutes it But yet Jesus said he said not that he should not dye as if he had said God forbid that I should not dye Before I come to Application of this point give me leave to speak somthing to the second point and so I shall apply them both together The second Doctrine is this That the perishing of a righteous man is nothing but a gathering him to God Christ and the blessed society of Saints and Angels in Heaven This is contained in the second expression merciful men are taken away the word in the Hebrew is Colliguntur they are gathered it is evegetical of the former they did not perish but they are gathered to God and Christ there is a great deal of excellency and a Magazine of sweetness in this expression They are gathered It implies two things First That the righteous are in a scattered condition while they are in this world and that three ways 1. They are scattered among the wicked and ungodly of the world as sheep among wolves as lambs among Lyons rent and torn in pieces forced to wander up and down in Sheep skins and Goats skins 2. The righteous are scattered in the world one from another and that two ways 1. They are scattered by their different habirations for the godly are forced one from another as Lot from Abraham 2. They are scattered one from another by the cruel persecution of wicked men and therefore you read Acts 8. that at that time when there was a persecution against the Church at Jerusalem that they were all scattered abroad 3. The godly are scattered in this life from the glorious presence of God in Heaven indeed they are never scattered from the gracious presence of God but sometimes they are scattered from the comfortable presence of God as long as we live in the world we shall be scattered from the glorious presence of God for while we are in the body we are absent from the Lord. Secondly This implies a bringing of Gods people out of this scattered condition it is a gathering of the Righteous out of this world into another from a sinful persecuted world into a sinless glorious world from diversity of dwellings on earth to dwell altogether in one Heaven it is a gathering out of the reach of Men and Devils and a gathering them not only to the gracious but to the glorious presence of God and Christ and to the souls of just men made perfect and to the general assembly of the first born and to the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem where they shall live together never to be scattered again To understand this the better let me offer three things to you shewing you that the Godly are gathered to God three ways in this life at death and at the day of Judgment First The Righteous are gathered to God in this life and that is at their first conversion for by nature we are Aliens and strangers to God scattered from any union or communion with God not only scattered from the glorious but from the gracious presence of God God made men at first to enjoy communion with himself but Adam lost this by sin and now we are all Cains and vagabonds scattered from the love of God and from union and communion with God but when God converts any of the Elect he gathers them home to himself for conversion is nothing but Gods gathering them to himself in the second Adam that were scattered from him in the first Adam the first Adam was a Root of scattering a Root of separation from God but the second Adam was a Root of union and conjunction Christ is the head and the Elect are all gathered together in him that he might gather together in one all things in Christ so that conversion is nothing but a gathering of the Elect of God to Christ by faith and a gathering to one another by love and charity Secondly Gods people are gathered at death here they are gathered to Christ by Grace but at death they are gathered to Christ in glory here they are gathered to God by hope but at death by fruition here Christ is gathered to us he comes down and dwells with us but at death we shall be gathered to him we shall go up and be joyned with him There 's a great deal of difference between esse cum Christo and esse in Christo esse cum Christo to be one with Christ is a Christians great security but esse in Christo to be one in Christ it is a Christians great felicity in this life we are gathered to God by Faith but at death by vision Lastly We shall be gathered to God at the day of judgment it is called the day of the gathering of the Saints together a day when all the Saints that are have been or shall be shall be gathered together 2 Thes 2.1 I beseech you brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering together unto him at the great day At the day of Judgment we shall all be gathered together and shall all be taken up to Heaven I mean all the righteous and be ever with the Lord and so much for the opening of the Doctrine But here it may be objected Are not the unrighteous gathered by death as well as the righteous I answer it is true the unrighteous are scattered in this life and gathered by death as well as the righteous but with a great deal of difference First the wicked are scattered in this life but they are scattered from God but the Godly are scattered for God and for a good conscience many times as they at Jerusalem were scattered The godly are scattered from the glorious presence of God in Heaven but the wicked are scattered from the gracious presence of God on earth Again the scattering of the wicked is a curse to them and it is threatned as a curse Lev. 26.32 I will scatter you among the Heathen and draw out my sword after you and where-ever the wicked come in what part soever of the world the wicked are scattered they bring the curse of God with them and they bring the judgments of God on Towns and Cities where they are as plague famine and
know not any Minister in this City more careful in visiting the sick than he was 5. Another Jewel was his Prudence and Spiritual wisdom he was not onely a Pious and Godly but a Wise and Prudent Minister that had zeal for God but knew how to mingle his zeal with discretion discretion is nothing but frantick fury discretion without zeal will quickly eat out the heart of Religion and eat Religion out of the heart Zeal without discretion is not a coal from the Altar but a coal kindled by the wild-fire of passion that is able to set a Nation on fire but this Reverend Minister had zeal sweetly tempered with discretion 9. Another Jewel was his Patience God was pleased to exercise him with long and great afflictions by reason of the Gout that did often especially of late years affix him to his bed and afflict him with great pain but God was pleased to put his everlasting Arms underneath him supporting him under all his pains and giving him a great measure of patience insomuch that in patience he did possess his soul and patience had its perfect work in him The 7 Jewel was his high valuation of Jesus Christ a written coppy for us to follow and for you his people also Being with him in his last sicknesse he exhorted me and other Ministers with him to preach much of Jesus Christ and to speak to him of Jesus Christ and he said When I consider my best duties I sink I dye I despair but when I think of Christ I have enough he is all and in all I think these were his very words I desire said he to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him Crucified I account all things dung and dross that I may be found in Christ To this effect he spake in the morning before the evening in which he dyed speaking much of Jesus Christ 1. Another Jewel was his diligence in preaching the Gospel in season and out of season in the time of his health he was a painful laborious Preacher one that did not preach to tickle the ear but to wound the heart not to please but to profit not seeking the applause of the People but the salvation of their souls This you all know to be true 2. Another Jewel that did beautifie and adorn this Reverend Minister was his excellent gift in Prayer and herein he was very eminent and did exceed many nay I may say most of his Brethren As Apolies was mighty in the Scriptures so was he as you all know mighty in Prayer he was a Jacob very skilful in wrestling with God like Moses he often stood in the Gap and at most Fasts all the time of his health he was a Minister that was chosen to conclude with Prayer and this heightens the loss that we sustein by the death of this Godly Minister because we have lost the benefit of his Prayers which is an invaluable losse for though I doubt not but he prays in Heaven for the Church in general yet I believe he prays not for any in particular as not knowing what our condition is For Abraham knows us not for the Saints in Heaven know not what is done upon earth The losse therefore is the greater because we have lost not only a preaching but a praying Minister And give me leave to add that this excellency in this Minister is sufficient to prove 1. That there is a gift of Prayer which some against all reason do denie 2. That conceived prayers when uttered by one that hath the gift of prayer are not vain tautologies or empty repetitions and a rate of non-sence as some unjustly charge men with but they are the bleatings of Gods Spirit that pierce not onely into the ears and hearts of the hearers but into the ears and heart of God himself 10. The next Jewel was he had great acquaintance and communion with God for he was of a long standing in the School of Christ and a good Proficient in that School Much acquaintance he had with God he was often in the Mount with God and came down with his face shining though he in his modesty did not see it and when he came to dye he was able to say as Dr. Preston did when he lay a dying I shall change my place but not my company 11. Another Jewel was his comfortable passage out of this world dying with a great deal of calmness and serenity upon his Conscience The morning before he dyed I heard him say these words It is one thing to speak of Christ and of Heaven and another thing to feel the consolation of Christ and of Heaven as I do clapping his hand on his breast Another time I heard him say The comforts of a holy Life are real soul-supporting and that he felt the reality of those comforts and that by him we might know it was not in vain to serve God And I cannot forget this speech the morning before he dyed I am a little straitened but I care no more for my life than I do for this phillip That which was said of old Simeon Luke 2. may be said of this reverend Mr. Simeon Ash who was a Simeon a just and devout man an old servant of Jesus Christ one that waited for the consolation of Israel one that dyed though not with Christ in his bodily Arm yet with Christ in the Arms of his faith and when he dyed could say as it is there Now Lord lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation Lastly Another Jewel was his constancy and perseverance he was not a Reed shaken with every wind but as firm as a Rock an immoveable pillar in Gods house he was unchangeable in changeable times in Religion he was a house built upon a Rock not on the Sand and as he lived so he dyed holily even as the ancient Patriarchs that dyed in the faith and endured faithfully unto the death Now this excellent Minister of Christ thus beautified with these Jewels is now perished as to his outward man gathered to God to Christ and the blessed company of Saints and Angels The Application that I shall make of this discourse is this 1. To us Ministers 2. To you of this Parish and Congregation First to us Ministers God hath of late years taken to himself many famous men seven of the Lecturers of Cornhil are dead Mr. Burroughs Dr. Bolton Mr. Sedgwick Mr Whitakers Mr. Cranford Mr. Vines and now Mr. Ash I might name many other excellent Ministers that are dead as Dr. Gouge Mr. Walker Mr. Gataker Mr. Marshal Mr. Robinson and lately Mr. Cook with many more Now all these are warning-pieces from Heaven of Judgements approaching For the righteous perish and no man lays it to heart and merciful men are taken away none considering that the righteous are taken away from the evil to come Thus Methuselah dyed a year before the Flood Now Methuselah in Hebrew signifies a messenger of death Thus Austin dyed
Dungeon c. 'T is compared to Bread Manna Food Water Precious Stones Rain c. Nay 't is more necessary As they formerly we can better be without the Sun than without Chrysostom Love for God makes us sensibly to say we can as well be without fire or water as without the word of God As it is the more excellent because compared to those things what they are naturally it is spiritually so it is spiritual Bread spiritual Water spiritual Pearl c. 2. By its precious Properties Operations There is a Scripture to me tastes like honey in my mouth Ps 19.7 8 9. Where the word is discovered by its properties and operations The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul The testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple The Statutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart The Commandements of the Lord are pure enlightning the eyes The fear of the Lord is clean enduring for ever The Judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether What are these the Metaphors to which the Word is compared Are these the Properties and Operations of the Word No wonder then Job sets such a high valuation upon them as he doth in our Twelfth Sermon Job 23.12 I have esteemed the Word of his mouth more than my necessary food IN these words you have the matter and the measure of Job's valuation 1. The matter of Job's valuation i.e. the words all the words of his mouth precepts as well as promises threatnings and directions as well as promises and priviledges 2. The measure of his valuation as his food as his necessary food nay more than his necessary food Hence this truth was raised The Ordinances of God are exceeding precious to all truly Religious Persons All the Ordinances of God and amongst them his word which is not the least part of his worship This appears 1. From their desires after the Ordinances My Soul panteth longeth after c. 2. From their hearty content and satisfaction in them 3. From their bitter Lamentation under the want of them 4. From their diligent endeavours to enjoy them Religious Persons really understand their worth and want of them They know the Ordinances of God to be the food the spiritual fodder of the Soul the walks of God where God is pleased to take his turn the Instruments of Divine Glory the Legacy of Christians their Christian Armour and Accoutrements to contest with Sin Satan the World and as Stars that lead to Bethlehem no wonder the Ordinances are so precious in the esteem of all truly Religious Then 1. Know your priviledge yet you enjoy Ordinances 2. Lament the sad condition of those poor titular Christians on the one hand that have Ordinances but enjoy them not they know not the worth of them And true Christians on the other hand from whom the Ordinances are gone and whether ever they will return they know not 3. This reproves those to whom they are not precious But how shall I know the Ordinances are precious to me Answer If thou carriest thy self towards them as towards what thou lookest on as precious tell me 1. Art thou greedy of all opportunities of enjoying 2. Heartily troubled when hindred of enjoying them 3. Hast thou a dear respect to those that help thee to the enjoyment of them 2. By way of Conviction to those mad men that tell us of being above i.e. without Ordinances What was it ever heard of any of Gods Saints in Scripture that ever they said they were above Ordinances 3. For Instruction to Christians It will be seasonable to consider what you ought to do if God should deprive you of your Ordinances He did not say it is probable but such a thing is possible Therefore make provision lay in provision before-hand Provision of Knowledge of Grace of Comfort of Light against a day of darkness And if it should come here is Counsel given to us and Consolations laid before us 1. Counsel given us if ever it should be 1. Lament bewail mourn over the Lords absence weep till you can weep no longer 2. Seek after pursue them Let them go where they will be sure thou follow the Ordinances 3. Be more frequent and serious in the use of private Ordinances 4. Frequently reflect back on thy former enjoyments Oh the House the Tabernacle of God c. And reflect 1. To excite your thankfulness to God that ever you did enjoy them 2. To suck strength from the Ordinances To chew the cud and get strength of them 3. For Humiliation for finning away and provoking God to take them away 2. For Consolation that the People of God may not utterly fail then 1. Know in such a condition That though your condition be exceeding bad yet better than many thousands they never had Ordinances 2. God is able in such a case to support without Ordinances When he calls into the Wilderness he can carry along without Circumcision 3. Remember those that have had them but not now What is become of Sion Of the Church of c. 4. Your Salvation may be carried on without Ordinances 5. There is a time coming when you shall have no need of Ordinances In the mean time if you cannot get up to the Ark of God Take heed of bowing to the Calves at Dan and Bethel If you cannot serve the God of Israel Take heed you serve not the gods of the Amorites What you will do I know not to be sure Joshua would not Chuse you saith he this day whom you will serve whether the Gods which your Fathers served that were on the other side of the flood or the gods of the Amorites in whose Land ye dwell But as for me and my House we will serve the Lord. Which brings me to The Thirteenth Sermon Josh 24.15 As for me and my House we will serve the Lord. IN the words two things 1. An indefatigable Exhortation Take your own choice follow your own discretion If you will go and bow down to a dumb Idol to a captive God c. 2. An admirable Dehortation We are at a pitch we are resolved and if there be any attractive in me or my Family you have it in this I and my Houshold we will serve the Lord. The Observations were 1. Pious Governours of Families are very zealous that their Families as well as themselves shall serve the Lord. Never hope of thriving in godliness till you bring your Families right for God to be of the same Religion with your selves 2. A true sincere Christian is resolved to chuse and follow God what ever else the World chuse and follow 1. Sincere Christians have much more satisfaction in the judgment and practice of God his Word Saints than in the judgment and practice of the World He knows their judgment to be depraved their choice and practice corrupt their end and conclusion worst of all Therefore no wonder he makes a better choice 2. They have the best testimony in
first the Kingdom of God c. Two questions were propounded and answered 1. What is it earnestly to enquire after and seriously to pursue the Kingdom of God and his righteousness In this question three things included the Object the Act the Order 1. The Object The Kingdom of God the Kingdom of Heaven and its Righteousness The Kingdom of Heaven that is the Kingdom of Grace and the Kingdom of Glory the Kingdom of Grace as the means to the Kingdom of Glory The righteousness of this Kingdom that is Sanctification sincere holiness in heart and life which is the beginning or the way to and a sign or pledge of our interest in the Kingdom of Glory 2. The Act Seek i.e. Bestir your utmost thoughts about your utmost time care diligence upon these things 3. Seek i.e. Set your choicest affections upon these things 3. Seek i.e. Strive and labour go forth in utmost endeavours for obtaining of these things 3. The Order Seek first Seek it first in respect of time begin with God Remember thy Creature in the dayes of thy Youth Seek it first with the greatest care accuratest diligence industry with the greatest seriousness The Kingdom of God is the most necessary thing indeed that one thing necessary It is the most excellent thing eternal all other things are temporal get this and you get all you get above the terrors of the World The best way to have the things of the World sanctified is this Seek first the Kingdom of God c. 2. How is this a remedy against distracting cares and fears Answ 1. It is a remedy by diversion 2. Present things seem little compared with eternal things Vse 1. This reproves those that observe not our Saviours direction 1. Those that are drowned in earthly things give them Onions and Garlick take the Kingdom of Heaven and Righteousness thereof who will Let me have my part in Paris what care I for Paradise 2. Others that are for the Kingdom of God but not for the Righteousness of that Kingdom they are for the end but they do not care for the way they would have fruit but they will not climb the Tree 3. Others that could wish they had a portion in it but in a slight and perfunctory way If Heaven could be obtained with a few prayers this they 'd do but further they will not goe 2. Is this such an excellent way to cure our carnal fears and cares What advantage hath a Child of God above all other men in the world both in this life and that to come In this life under a watchful providence not a hair of his head shall perish but chiefly the priviledges of an everlasting Kingdom he hath a Bird in the bush and in hand too choice enjoyments in the hand and in hope much more but much more above and this hope of his shall not make him ashamed The vision of his appointed comforts is for an appointed time and it will come will come said I Faith looks our and sees it coming already let but Faith look to Heaven and he sees his Judge coming Which brings me to The Eighteenth Sermon Rev. 22.12 Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me THe Observation from the words was this The Lord Jesus will certainly and speedily come to Judgment when he shall give reward equal to every man These two questions were answered In what sense Christ comes quickly Answ In Gods account with whom a thousand years are but as one day In our account Faith sees him coming though Sense cannot Faith makes future things present it is the Prespective of the Soul Believers receive part of their reward at death and that is quickly 2. Why doth Christ defer his coming at all Answ 1. To stop the mouths of the wicked they will not have one word to reply they had time and space to repent 2. Out of his dear love he bears to his Elect There is many of his Elect not yet born and though born not new-born Now these must be born and new-born and brought all in and when that time is come then He will come Vse 1. Will Christ come quickly and with a reward then certainly remember this Athiest 'T is no vain thing to serve our Lord Jesus What profit is it if we serve him c. What profit Infinite profit there is a reward coming 2. By way of Exhortation Will Christ come Oh then 1. Prepare for his coming Labour to be prepared by his spiritual coming in thy heart that is the way to be prepared for his last coming get thy understanding enlightened in the saying knowledge of Christ thy will subdued and brought into subjection unto Christ thy affections renewed spiritualized thy conversation such as becomes the Gospel of Christ 2. You that have made all things ready for his coming look out after his coming The Table is spread the Trencher laid the Dinner ready the Guest not come Oh! when will He come I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ come Lord Jesus come quickly every Saint will eccho to Come quickly to every Believer it shall be a most welcome coming he shall come with a reward of absolution and pardon of all sin of vindication and clearing up of all names Believer's bodies shall not only have a Resurrection but their good names It shall be a reward of Coronation all their Crowns of Thorns shall be turned into Crowns of Glory 3. Is Christ coming Will he come This should bear up Believer's hearts in and under the sufferings they fear or feel Christ comes quickly therefore fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer This gives us advance into The Nineteenth Sermon Rev. 2.10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison that you may be tryed and you shall have tribulation ten dayes Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of life WHence observe 1. The people of God must suffer Through tribulation through many tribulations they must enter into the Kingdome of God from a Cross into Heaven Think it not strange no not of the fiery trial thou shalt suffer 2. Whatever sufferings the people of God either are or may be in they have no just cause ground or reason of fear i.e. of disponding distrusting distracting fear The Arguments of this point are in the Text. 1. The Consideration of who it is that brings the people of God into suffering it is God God is the Disposer but who is the great Executioner the Devil whom God hates more than thou canst The Devil shall cast c. 2. It is the Devil in a chain the Devil hath two sorts of chains 1. A chain of darkness in which he is kept to the day of Judgment 2. A chain of providence he is restrained in that c. 3. The Quality of the suffering should keep them from fearing He shall cast some of you into Prison not into Hell
others may call it let them call it what they will Then hearken to my words as the words of a dying man yet not dead but alive and perhaps shall not die but live and declare the Word of the Lord and hold forth the Word of the Lord to you many a time in this place when-ever it pleaseth God to set open a door for me If it be so That the Ministers foundness in Doctrine and holiness of life and conversation do lay great obligation on a people duly and conscienciously to practice every commanded duty Then from this Doctrine I would suggest and leave with you several words and hints of counsel And on that the Lord God of Heaven would effectually engage and set them home on every one of our hearts My first Counsel is this That when the Lord taketh away such Ministers whose Doctrine is sound and their lives exemplary holy you would then be duly apprehensive and deeply sensible both of the inflicting cause and also of the meritorious deserving cause thereof 1. For the inflicting cause and that is the Lord himself Isa 3.1 2 Who is it that taketh away from the people the natural staff and the civil staff the spiritual staff saith the Prophet The Lord the Lord of Hosts Whoever it be that is the Instrument it is certain it is the Lord himself that is the principal efficient cause of this judgment on a people and this will appear if we consider 1. The Lord hath threatned this judgment on a rebellious people Amos 8.11 12. I saith the Lord will bring this judgment on them A most dreadful spiritual judgment Gods Word is the spiritual food of our spiritual lives and therefore as the granting of it is a blessing indeed so the with-holding of it is a judgment This ireful dreadful judgment of the Lord we see threatens yea that is not all the Lord hath not oly threatned it but 2. Inflicted it as the Lord takes away his faithful Messengers and Embassadors 1. Sometimes by death out of the world out of the Land of the living And thus the Lord took away the Prophet Enoch Gen. 5.24 And 2. Sometimes by removal Thus the Lord took away the Prophet Jonas from Israel and sent him to Niniveb as Jona 1.2 And thus Paul and Barnabas went away from the Jews and turned to the Gentiles as Acts 13.4 3. Sometimes by deprivation A time there was when the good Priests and Levites were forced to flee their own places and possessions 2 Chron. 11.13 14. 4. Sometimes by suspension Thus a time there was when it was said to the Seors see not and to the Prophets prophesie not Isa 30.9 10. Thus a time there was when people would have Pastors but would not endure faithful Jeremiah and a time there was that there was a Law made Look ye speak no more in the name of Jesus Act 4.11 And a time there was when Paul and Timotheus and Silvanus were forbid to preach to the Gentiles 1 Thess 2.15.16 Thus we see the Lord himself hath inflicted this dreadful Judgment on a people and the Lord hath divers wayes and methods and means to inflict it 3. Consider The Church and people of the Lord hath been very sensible of the Lords hand in this judgment as we may see in Psal 74.1 and 9. verses compared Why what is the matter as if they have said God was wont heretofore to give us signs and tokens he would even work miracles for us the Lord would send us some Prophets to converse with and instruct us we had those that could tell us how long our troubles should last but now we see no sign the Lord leaveth us as it were to the wide world and how sensible was the Lords Church in this judgment as ver 1. of that Psalm This is the first endeavour We are to be duely sensible and deeply apprehensive of the afflicting cause of such a judgment and that is the Lord himself 2. Of the meritorious Cause and that is sin Say not we it is long of such and such but it is long of our selves we may thank our selves for this and we appeal to your selves whether this judgment may not be charged 1. From the general inflexibleness and untractableness of people under the Ministry of the Word For this very cause the Lord plagued and poured his vengeance upon the ten Tribes as in 2 Kings 17. from v. 13. to 19. The Lord testified against Isreal by all the Prophets and by all the Sters saying Turn you from your evil wayes notwithstanding they will not hear And for this very cause did the Lord afterwards plague all Judah as Jer. 20.17 18 19. And for this very reason did the Lord Jesus Christ remove Paul from Jerusalem because the people were a stiff-necked people and they would not receive Pauls testimony concerning Jesus as Acts 22 18. Paul had a great desire to stay at Jerusalem as appeared by his reasoning with the Lord as ver 9 20. But what saith the Lord Christ ver 21. Now can England can London plead not guilty of this hainous provocation a general inflexibleness untractableness under a Conscience-ransacking a Conscience-searching Ministry What shall the Lord do with such a people under such a Minister Is it not just with God to let them alone that are prophane and superstitious Let there be like People like Priests Let the blind lead the blind and let the wicked rebellious Minister lead a wicked loose people that both may perish together everlastingly 2. The unfruitfulness formality lâ—ke-warmness declining of Gods own people and for this the Lord threatens the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2.4 5. I have saith Christ somewhat against thee thou hast left thy first love though not absolutely for nature yet eminent for measure And can England can London plead not guilty of this sad provocation Now indeed we cannot but observe and approve of your flocking to the Lords Ordinances as Doves to the holes of a Window but did you do so some Months agone Oh your voluntary and fearful distractions avocations diversions from the Worship and Service of God! And is it not just with the Lord to take away that abundance and choice of Spiritual helps a people had when they approved not of them yea when they undervalued and despised and abused them Oh the Lord God help us all to affect our souls and lay our selves low before his All-seeing Majesty for our provoking him to do this and endeavour to be duly apprehensive and deeply sensible of the inflicting cause and meritorious cause thereof 2. Take heed of a prophane delight in loose lewd wicked dissolute Ministers And here we will premise two or three things 1. Too many people are too ready to cavil at many Ministers without a cause The life of our blessed Lord and Saviour was it not traduced Did not some say he was a friend to Publicans and Sinners We see Christ was cavilled at and quarrelled with by some And thus
depart from such persons God threatens it as a sore judgment upon Jerusalem Jerem. 6.8 Be thou instructed O Jerusalem lest my soul depart from thee When God departs in comes all judgments for it follows in the Text Lest I make thee desolate Desolation comes as soon as God is gone yea says the Lord Hos 9.12 Wo to them when I depart from them And though he depart from such by removing his Counsels Gospel and Ordinances He will still be with them in judgment when he is far from their affections he will be nigh to their Consciences then he will shew his terrour and his wrath and then they shall finde that as there is not a sweeter promise thâ—â— this I will never leave thee nor forsake thee so not a more terrible judgment than this I will not love thee nor abide with thee Thirdly A Vse of Lamentation Let us lament our selves who have had God and Christ making their abode with us for many years in their special Providences Gospel-Ordinances c. Yet have we not improved so glorious a Presence so rich a mercy especially we have cause to lament this four-fold neglect First That we have so little acquainted our selves with God and Christ so little prized and observed their presence with us that we have learnt no more of God and Christ but are yet strangers to them so that Jesus Christ may say to us as in John 14.9 Have I been so long time with you and yet hast thou not known me Philip so he may say to us Have I been so long time with you in my Providences Ordinances and by my Spirit and yet have you not known my Goodness my Faithfulness my Name my â—aws and Ordinances Sure it is with most of us as with Jacob Gen. 28.15 16. The Lord was with him when he was in his Dream and when he awaked he said Surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not So God hath been with us but we have been in a dream or in a sleep all this while but when God shall awaken us we shall say with him God was in this place and we knew it not Secondly We may lament our selves that we have so little conformed to God and Christ God hath been with us but we have refused his company as Ephes 2.12 And had our conversation as without God and without Christ in the world Oh when God and Christ shall depart from us it will be a heart breaking to us and we shall dearly repent the least miscarriages Thirdly We may lament that we have not lived more upon God and Christ to trust in them and depend upon them for Life and Salvation and made him our Counsellor Guide and Strength and lived upon his All-sufficiency we have not made them our Sanctuary our Treasury our Happiness though they have been with us in whom are all things Yet have we lived at so poor a rate as to our spiritual comforts as if we had been under the Hypocrites Curse Job 20.22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he is in straits Or guilty of that vanity mentioned in Eccles 6.2 To have Riches and Honours c. and not a heart to use them To have faith to use them for our comfort we have even starved our selves at the fullest Table and Spring head of plenty Fourthly We may lament our selves that we have not taken more pleasure in the enjoyment of God and Christ in the Gospel and Gospel-Ordinances accounting all Company and delights solitariness in comparison of the joy and comfort that is in the abode of God and Christ especially when God expects we should rejoyce in him and hath promised to abide with such Isa 64.5 Thou meetest him that rejoyceth and worketh Righteousness and remembreth thee in thy wayes Two Uses of Exhortation 1. To get the presence of God and Christ with us 2. To endeavour to keep God and Christ abiding with us The first Use of Exhortation Let us be exhorted above all desires to desire Gods presence And above all getting get God and Christ to make their above with you Oh with what ardency and heat of desire doth David express himself Ps 27.4 One thing have I desired of the Lord that I will seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his Temple and so in Psalm 42.1 2. As the Hart pants after the water-brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God My soul thirsteth for God when shall I come and appear before God O when wilt thou come unto me And in a multitude of such like Pathetick breathings after God And that we may the more earnestly desire this mercy the abode of God and Christ with us consider three particulars First Consider the presence of God and Christ is the special favour and honor that God bestows only upon his own people By this was Israel distinguished from all the world Exod. 33.16 My presence shall go with thee and in the last verse of the last chapt of Ezekiel it is the Church only that is called Jehiah-Shammah the Lord is there her Founder Preserver and Governor Secondly Consider that they that have God and Christ with them dwell continually at the Fountain-head of consolations as David says Psal 23. I shall want nothing the Lord is my shepherd my cup runs over Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life This Fountain keeps our cisterns full our channels run shal low sometimes but never are they dried up Hos 14.5 I will be as the dew unto Israel he shall grow as the Lilly and cast forth his roots as Lebanon they shall grow up as the Lilly beautiful and fair and as the Cedar well rooted and established He that hath the Sun hath Light he that hath the Well must needs have Water Ille possidet omnia qui possidet possidentem omnia He hath all things who hath him from whom all things come Thirdly Consider that when all comforts leave us God will not when friends forsake and riches profit not in the evil day God is a present help in time of trouble and loves to shew himself in dubiis arduis in the greatest difficulties and on the mount of straits Jesus Christ says truly to us what Peter said rashly to him Though all forsake thee yet will not I. Object I have found God and Christ gone from me says the soul when I have had need of him Answ First That God and Christ may and do sometimes hide their faces from their dearest friends Secondly Though God and Christ do sometimes withdraw from us yet every interruption of communion is not a separation The Sun doth not cease to be when it ceaseth to shine Grace may suspend its acting but doth not lose its being God will not finally forsake his people Thirdly God hath very many gracious ends why he sometimes withdraws and they are always
Christ Jesus Consult with flesh and blood and that will never teach you to believe but an ignorant presumptuous Faith This concerneth me not to have my thoughts plunged about this or that worldly care but to become a new Creature in the renewing of the spirit of the mind Fourthly Consider ever 1. To follow Peace 2. To follow Holiness 3. To exercise Patience 1. To follow Peace Two of these you have in the Hebrews Heb. 14. Follow Peace with all men and Holiness without which none shall see God Do not esteem it your interest to contend Let the Peace of God rule in your hearts Fret not thy self because of evil doers It is an easie matter to sin in our Anger a rare thing to moderate anger against sin so as not to sin in that anger 2. To follow Holiness Refuse Peace that cannot be enjoyed without Holiness It is upon the view of God I shall see what kind of love he is and Christ saith Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Resolve to follow holiness not greatness riches c. And he that will do so Christ saith shall suffer persecution in this present world Wherefore it will be good to consider 3. To exercise patience Let us add upon that account 1. Love not the World 2. Love not your own Wills 3. Value your own Souls 1. Not the World The Text saith 1 Joh. 2.15 Love not the World neither the things that are in the world If any man love the world the Love of the Father is not in him For all that is in the world the Lust of the flesh the Lust of the eye and the Pride of life is not of the Father but is of the World And the World passeth away and the lust thereof but he that doth the Will of the Father abideth for ever The love of this world maketh a man to be in respect of the Prince of this world as a Bird in the Fowlers snare There is no way sooner to sin away their everlasting Love than to love this present World 2. Love not your own Wills That person is neither prepared to do for God nor to suffer for him that nath not learned something of this lesson of Self-denial There is no divine service but in doing Gods Will and that I cannot do but by parting with my own delivering up my self unto him to be led and guided by his holy Spirit Christ saith If any man will be my Disciple let him deny himself take up his Cross and follow me 3. Value your own Souls The great care and consult is for gratifying the body if but part of that time were spent on the soul which is on the needless care of the body it might render it in a far better and more goodlier posture Let every one think I carry that in my bosome is of more value than the whole worlâ— neither can the whole world recompence the loss of it and if we have such jewels let us take care to secure them A careless common spirit doth not become a Christian Let none imploy their time in disputing this or that vain Opinion but spend it on your souls Secondly In order unto the particular divine Providence now ending of our Ministry unto you 1. Whatever happeneth on this account let it be your exercise to cry out for the holy Spirit of Christ he will grant you a greater supply than you may expect from any man whatever So Christ comforteth his Disciples Though I go yet I will pray unto the Father and he shall send you another Comforter and he biddeth them pray for it also Even so as for what concerneth us this we cannot be denyed to pray that God would send out his holy Spirit among you and upon you and while we may speak unto you we desire you to pray for it also Our work did lye but to bâ—ing men to Repentance by conviction of sin to believing by the shewing of Righteousness and to convince of both by Christs conquest over sin This Christ sheweth his holy Spirit the Comforter can do Joh. 16.8 9 10 11. And when he is come he shall reprove the world of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment Of sin because they believe not on me of Righteousness because I go to my Father and ye see me no more of Judgment because the Prince of this world is Judged This is a suitable and sufficient reply 1 Joh. 2.27 But the Anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lye and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him That Anointing was the Spirit pour'd out on our Head Christ Jesus and ran down the skires of his garments not that instruction should cease but this Spirit can either fill it administred or supply it being wanting And the withdrawing of this present Ministry may be to cause you to pray more incessantly for this holy Spirit day and night And Christ promiseth The Father will give it to them that ask it 2. Be more frequent in your converse with the Scripture It is the Pillar of Truth and by a frequent converse with it also you will find a pure mind stirred up to remember 3. Be more frequent in Meditation Let not the world swallow up all your time so as not to meditate on your Souls the Scriptures and Heaven The meditation on Gods Law keepeth us from the Counsel of the ungodly from standing among sinners or sitting down in the seat of the scornful Psal 1. It is worthy of our wonder any should read the Scriptures believing them indicted by a holy Spirit and yet scorn Holiness Religion c. 4. Be more usual in personal private and family Duties Devotion God doth call those that know how to address themselves unto him to a more earnest private devotion Jacob was alone when he wrestled for a blessing There are particular seasons in which God calleth his people into a retirement Isaiah 26 20 21. Come my People enter thou into thy Chambers and shut thy dores about thee hide thy self as it were for a little moment until the indignation be over-past For behold the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the Inhabitants of the earth for their iniquities So also Zech. 12.11 12. And in that day shal be a great mourning in Jerusalem as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon And the Land shal mourn every Family apart the Family of the House of David apart and their Wives apart the Family of the House of Nathan apart and their Wives apart the Family of the House of Levi apart and their Wives apart all the Families that remain every Family apart and their Wives apart In that day there shal be a Fountain opened to the House of David and to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem for Sin and for Vncleanness If I
wâ—th us all thine remember thy people from one end of the world to the other Thy people are very low this is a time of Jacobs troubles the Bush is burning every day Oh thou the Hope of Israel the Saviour therof shew thy self in mercy to these Nations We bless thee for all thy mercies that thy judgements do not seize upon us every day that thou dost not sweep us away that thou dost not rain Fire Brimstone on England as thou didst on Sodom our sins cry aloud to heaven for vengeance God is greatly provoked every day it is a miracle of patience that thou hast not destroyed us God can pardon the sins of the Nation at once but we are not fit for pardon we do not humble our selves O Lord humble us give repentance to England from the highest to the lowest that we may return unto thee We desire to bless thee that our Eemies have not had their wills over us they said they would pursue and overtake and satisfie their lusts but God did blow upon them and they did sink in the mighty Water and thou hast yet preserved thy Church we pray thee do not leave us nor remove thy Gospel whatsoever thou dost Pour down elle choicest of thy bâ—essings upon our Sovereign Charles by thy Grace of England Scotland France and Ireland Bless him with the Blessing of Heaven and Earth make him a blessing to all of us Bless him in all his Relations the Lords of the privy Councel Look on them that have desired an interest in our prayers known to thee are all of them know their souls in this time of adversity make their beds in their siekness Give Faith to them that complain of unbelief give the Spirit of Prayer to those that complain they cannot pray be a Councellor to those that wan councel in their affaires either by Sea or Land let thy blessig go with them whereever they go Spare the lives of Children if it be thy will Prepare us for thy good and holy Word let it be a savour of lise unto life and let it come with power unto us Oh let us hear it as thy Word not as the word of a poor man but as the Word of God and all for the Lord Christ his sake for whom we bless thee to whom with thee and the Spirit of Grace be given Glory and Honour for evermore Mr. Waltons Prayer in Walbrook O Lord God all our springs are in thee it is good for us to draw nigh to thee through Jesus Christ thou art all fulness thou art the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and in him our Father thou art our light thou givest us these blessed opportunities of enjoying communian with thy self God blessed for ever These mercies are forfeited mercies we have abused the blessings of thy House we have grieved thy blessed Spirit therefore it is just with thee to deprive us of these comforts and to make us know the worth of these mercies by the want of them Lord we desire to judge our selves that we may not be condemned with the world Righteous art thou O Lord and just in all thy judgements we confess we are unworthy to have any converse with so holy a God we are polluted dust and ashes not worthy to tread thy Courts and it is of thy mercy that we are not consumed how often have we pluckt fruit from the forbidden tree we have sinned presumptuously against the clearest Light and the dearest love alwaies have we sinned thy footsteps have dropt fatness thou hast shewen mercy to us but the better thou hast been to us the worse we have been to thee thou hast loaded us with thy mercies and we have wearied thee with our sins when we look into our selves Oh the poyson of our natures whatever the Leper did touch was unclean Thus do we by our spiritual Leprosie infect our holy things our prayers had need have pardon and our tears had need have the blood of sprinkling to wash them how vain are our vows how sensual are our affections we confess we are untuned and unstrung for every holy Action we are never out of tune to sin but alwaies out of tune to pray we give the world our male affections and our strong desires we should use this world as if we used it not and alwies we pray as if we prayed not and serve thee as if we served thee not there is not that reverence nor that devotion nor that activeness of faith that there should be Lord if thou wouldst say that thou wouldst pardon all our sins to this time only judge us for this prayer wo unto us what breathings of unbelief and hypocrisie is there now when we approach unto thee we pray thee pardon us for Christs sake Who can tell how oft he doth offend we can as well reckon the drops of the Ocean as number our sins we have filled the number of the Nations sins but we have not filled thy bottle with our tears This is that that doth exceedingly aggravate our sins that we cannot mourn for sin we can grieve for our losses but we cannot mourn for our unkindnesses we have crucified the Lord of life sin hath not only defiled us but hardned us nothing can melt us but the love of Christ nothing can soften us but the blood of Christ O with-hold not thy mercies from us O help us to eat the Passeover with bitter herbs let us look on Christ weep over him let us look on a broken Christ with broken hearts and on a bleeding Christ with bleeding hearts let us mourn for our dis-ingenuity that we should grieve that God that is always doing us good Oh! humble us for our unkindnesse and for Christs sake blot out our transgressions they are more than we can number not more than God can pardon Though we have lost the duty of children thou hast not lost the goodness of a Father Let us be held forth as patterns of mercy so shall we trumpet forth thy praise to all Eternity Whatever afflictions thou layest upon our bodies let not our sins be unpardoned let not sin and affliction be together upon us let their be peace in Heaven and peace in the Court of Conscience We have found this part of thy Word true In the world we shall have troubles let us find the other part true in Jesus Christ we shall have peace Oh let peace and holiness go together make us new Creatures that we may be glorious Creatures Without Faith Christ will not profit us when we can call nothing in the world ours let us call Christ ours Lord draw thine Image every day more lively upon us a more lively hope and a more inflamed love to Christ let us have a spirit of courage and resolution keep us from the fallacies of our own hearts keep us from the defilements of the times make us pure in heart that we may see God that we may have Gospel spirits humble spirits