now away to the Lord if ever help now 't is when most helplesse 2. If you can do any thing savingly good the soul is bound now by the power of Faith to stir up it self to act though not to trust to it alone for somtimes the soul hath the regenerate part uppermost and the prevailing Spirit of God Psal. 21. 3. which comes to him and gives it power to act before the soul come to it Now a man is bound to act because 't is from Christ now Hence Timothy was to stir up the gift 2 Tim. 1. 6. Hence complained of them Isa. 64. 8. None stir up himself to take hold on the Lord. A man must stir up himself to believe as well as other Graces hence the Kingdom of Heaven is taken with violence and though corruption is stronger than Grace yet Grace assisted with the Spirit is stronger than it which is never quite out of the soul but 't is in the soul 1 Iohn 4. 4. Stronger is he that is in you And 't is said professedly He purgeth himself and keepeth himself the evil one toucheth him not 1 John 5. 18. But mark trust not barely t◠this but when you do this withall remember Lord I cannot hold out in this unlesse thou dost help me But know Isa. 26. The Lord is the rock of my strength And if you by the Spirit mortifie c. Rom. 8. 13. Therefore ever hold up sailes but look for a wind And if a man be not to do this then when any sinful temptation comes if a man do not find the Spirit and strength ready at hand to help if he be not to stir up himself against it he is to suffer himself to be carried down by it Hence a man may neglect all duties a long time if he do not find the Spirit assisting if so be a man must not stir himself up and so will some say a man may May What shall I say to such sluggish soul but sleep on But know it the Lord will awaken thee when you shall say Oh that I had improved the Talent I had And if you do find Christ in such a condition know it they be but the last visits of Christ before he departs You can do more than you do and the Lord will have you do it But I cannot do it for good ends without Christ. Yet do the thing as far as you can else if you owe another a debt and will not pay because not for a good end that excuse will not serve So you owe the Lord your lives your spirits your abilities lay them out for the Lord though evil be in them be humbled for that Is this good requital to say you find your hearts dead in prayer and God must do all and there leave it 3. You are to expect and look for power from the Lord Jesus in the use of means all known means For Faith fetcheth all from Christ hence we must go thither where Christ is to be found and he dwells in his House in his Ordinances Therefore there you must depend upon him As 't is with a Merchant he wades not over the Sea for Pearls but gets into his ship and there he sits still so here Mat. 13. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a Merchant man Hence you that know you can do nothing being under a spirit of conviction and hence do nothing under a spirit of sloth and neglect of means by vertue of a spirit of presumption and say Christ must do all I say you take not the right course for the Lord to help you in The Lord will never be a slave to thy sloth but thou shalt be like a shrub never to see good when it comes and shalt die in horrour with this Oh I might have done more Hence you are worse than the other that think if a man fasts prayes watches against his distempers mourns for want of Christ and Grace and followes God hard here he is a Legal Christian Why these are but his own works and this is not living on Christ. I confesse bare using them or trusting to them is not but he that lives not on Christ in use of means these and all other means to find Christ or enjoy more of Christ shall never have him Neither do I know what turning Gods Grace into wantonnesse is if this be not and under a conceit of liberty to be a servant of corruption I know not whether it be thus with any but if I did I would pity them 4. If the soul cannot every moment live on Christ i. e. for every particular act have a distinct act of Faith for this cannot be yet every fit season that it can it ought to look up to the Lord for life and fresh strength Pray as 't is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every fit season And as he brings forth fruit so he goes for fruit in season Psal. 1. 3. And when the soul doth this the Spirit of the Lord helps when the act is ceased Now the fit seasons are 1. At beginning of any action as prayer hearing reading All the time a man is in his journey or in his work he is carried on by the act of Faith at first setting out The reach of Faith is long and continues all prayers all the duty throughout the act of faith is short Now the Lord looks to his people according to the first 2. When our act beigns to die as Moses lifted up his hands and when they were heavy Aaron and Hur supported them again 3. When a man feels himself strong now apt to be self-confident now Lord for an humble heart And thus you are to live on Christ which if done would make a Christians life glorious and give infinite content to the heart of Christ. But here is the misery either hearts are full and need not or slothful and care not for living so That truly I do not wonder to hear and see so many withering trees as though blasted by wrath because you fetch not all out of this stock and Christ is such a stranger because you are so seldom with him to act and bring forth fruit to him SECT VI. 2 COnsider of the means to act from Christ Jesus and indeed herein lies the skill and life of a Christian and this is the complaint of many a Soul Christ is full and he is not for himself but for those that want and I come to him when I want it and yet I find no help and hence many are brought to think either it 's in vain to come to Christ or else I have no Faith in Christ I will therefore premise these three things 1. That a false double treacherous disloyal heart to Christ cannot expect to receive any thing it comes for unto Christ. As 't is with a Woman that though others do not yet her Husband knows she is fallen in league with some other man he will be strange to her and will not do any thing for
of Glory so that light God puts into their mind is the beginning of the light of Glory Hence as in Heaven the soul sees Christ by the full light of Glory perfectly face to face so in this life the soul sees Christ really as he is yet as in a glasse imperfectly Hence we are said to see in part 4. In regard of that abundant goodnesse and love of Christ to his people Love cannot lock up secrets Ioseph hid himself from his Brethren for a time but his bowels melt he must tell them that he is Ioseph Christ may do so but his love even constrains him afterward to let them see whom he is Iohn 14. 21. I confesse its admirable love to reveal Christ in the Word and letter of the Gospel to hear of him is happinesse and if the Lord saves you you will think so too But this is common to wicked men there is a manifestation of himself as he is unto his people And now he is in Glory hence reveals himself in his inconceiveable Glory that now a mans eye sees the Lord and such things he never thought of before which eye never saw 1 Cor. 2. 9. How doth the soul see him as he is I in this case rather desire to learn than teach even from the meanest yet what is obvious I shall suggest in this weighty businesse This seeing of him appears in three particulars 1. True saving knowledge and sight of Christ consists in the sight of the glory of his person especially now caught up to Heaven and sitting at the right hand of God in all the Glory of the Father Look as at the Judgment-day the Lord shall break out of Heaven in such Glory as shall amaze all the world and all eyes shall see him that he shall not only be admired in himself but in all his Saints by all that are round about him just so doth the soul see him now though nor by the eye of sense yet by the eye of Faith though not come to judge the world yet now ruling of the world though not in the clouds yet in Heaven though his Humanity only in Heaven yet his God-heads beams filling Heaven and Earth though not yet coming in the Fathers Glory yet sitting clothed with the Fathers Glory for if a man looks on Creatures he sees Gods foot-steps of power if on Angels and Saints Gods Image of Holinesse if in Christ there God himself 2 Cor. 4. 4 5 6 7. 'T is true then Christs Glory shall be seen by the Wicked but that 's by sense not by Faith that is only in their minds but there is no shining into the heart to the kindling of an infinite esteem of him and this the god of this World hides from people Christ the Lord of another world in spight of Satan reveals to his people Before a man sees Christ there is nothing more base than Christ even to the Elect and then the wayes and work of Christ Iâ—r 2. 11. Have any Heathen changed their gods these change their glory for that which doth not profit now the Lord will be must be esteemed of his people hence will and doth reveal this Glory of his to his Saints whereas here others are blind 2. In the beholding of the Lord as he comeâ— and appears in the Glory of his Covenant for when the Lord reveals himself so as to cause the soul to believe and thereby to make it one of his people he never makes any a people but by entring into Covenant with them Hence he ever appears in his Covenant first Isai. 49. nlt. Look as when the Lord made him a people at Mount Sinai Moses came down from 〈…〉 with Tables in his hands c. So when Christ comes to make any his people he comes as Mediator of a beâ—ter Teâ—â—ament Heb. 7. 22. On Mount Sion Heb. 12. 22 24. Noâ— look as it was with the Israelites 2 Cor. 3. they had the Covenant of Christ and Christ revealed but as Moses face was covered â—o theirs wâ—s and Christ theâ—e was vailed over with the Law even the Moral Law written in stone Hence there was a vail on their hearts too they could not see Christ the end of the Lâ—w but only the Vail viz. the Law and hence looked for life by that and hence weâ—e hadened against Christ Rom. 9. 31 32. So 't is the misery and blindnesse of many people at this day they see the Lord Jesus but with his vail on for people being not able to see and priâ—e the glory of Christ immediatly the Lord appears with the law first requiring this and that and they endeavour to do it and hence if they cannot they comfort themselves with this the Lord accepts my endeavours not seeing the hypocrisie of them or else they are never at â—eace or very seldom and why because they see not to the end of that which is abolished never saw the end the Lord Jesus Chrâ—st Now therefore when the Lord reveals himself the Lord makes himself known without the vail so that when conscience cries you must do what ever is commanded or dye the Lord Jesus now comes and appears and saith therefore see what need thou hast of me who have fulfilled all Righteousness and done all Receive mâ— that have done it and thou shalt live Oh but may I now live as I â—ist Am I now free from the Law No 't is to be thy Rule and life in Heaven but I will write my Laws in thy heart and cause thee to walk in my wayes Hence the soul sees all done for him 1. In Christ. 2. All that he is to do for Christ he sees it not in meâ—ns nor in himself but in the Lords promise and here Faith hangs and hath peace For two things trouble First I have broke the first Covenant of the Law Christ appears not as one that exacts the Debt but as one that comes to enrich him when poor Secondly I cannot walk after it as a Rule Christ appears in this Covenant and promiseth to cause him to do it and hence after all departings from the Lord he will not depart further by unbelâ—ef but sees the end of the Law which is Christ that in him he may perform the Covenant and by him be strengthned to walk with him as after a Rule For the Covenant of Grace is not Christ will be rigthteousnesse to thee if thou wilt walk after the Law as a Rule but Christ will do both and this the soul sees in it's Glory else it 's no sight Hence 2 Cor. 3. Gospel is called The ministration of Glory which no carnal heart can see for the vail is taken away when it turns to the Lord and sees him The Saints only with open face behold this 'T is true for a tiâ—e they may make of Christ a Moses as Peter Luke 5. 8. Lord depart from me I am a sinful man And the Lord may deal roughly with them to huâ—bâ—e them as Ioseph did to
have no will my heart is endeared to my sin Therefore resign up thy self to him to give thee a will put it into his hand as bad as it is this is Spouse-like and to take away that will to sin so thou shalt have him I am my Beloveds he is mine For the Father looks to the Law and saith Sinner if thou believe thou shalt be saved now lie under the Spirit and you are where you should be resist here you resist the Holy Ghost Oh but sin is dear Consider 1. What good did it ever do thee 2. Hath Christ shed his Blood or no if not Oh the wrath of God is to come if he hath Oh wilt thou offer this wrong to his Blood that a Lust shall be dearer than it thy bloody Knives dearer than the life and death and mercy of a Son Oh therefore if any Soul hath any lust dear I beseech you by all the bitter sorrows of Christ not to reject so great salvation But must I receivâ— Christ with my own strength No you cannot nor ought not but if the Lord puts strength in thee put itâ— forth Many followed Christ for loaves but none that ever came to him for himself that ever he put away Psalm 81. 11 12 13. I shewed much love but they would none of me Oh that they had hearkened At this instant God may give thee a heart But I fear I shall never get my sins removed that I feel which I think cannot stand with Grace Gods Promise and Reason is cross to thy fears if a Son all things also though many years hence Rom. 8. 32. If not by receiving is iâ— by rejecting that thou shalt attain thy end 'T is true thou hast fallen off by thy sin from Christ because thy falls have made thee fall off by unbelief from him and made thee say either I do not believe or the Lord intends no good to me you have had no strength because not satisfied with meat But I may presume Is it presumption to honour Christ and to have him honoured in thee No Dost think if the Lord shall after all thy sins and in the midst of all thy miseries give thee Christ shall he not be honoured by this yes who can ever have such cause to love him as I Shall not thy receiving of him by Faith honour him yes Rom. 4. 20. Canst dishonour him so much as by rejecting him when he hath laid down his life shewed his love offers himself now to reject him 't is to offer greatest contempt to him and his love that can be hence can you honour him so much as by this Do never so much without him he is unsatisfied do this he is well-pleased Nay after all thy sins yet he saith Return to me Nay nothing else is such a means to honour him by doing for him If so grant thou art vile unworthy poor yet for the honour of the Lord Jesus do it who is but little honoured in the world and stand out no longer thus receive him and then know it you are Sons and rejoyce in it and do it now while the Spirit is upon thee and remember now not to change Ier. 2. 11. As Women Oh I would not change see how happy is thy choice But Lord who hath believed our Report How may the Soul come to close with the person of the Lord Iesus 1. Before any man can close i. e. see and say he doth close with the Lord as his own he must feel a want of the Lord and his presence not only of his comforting but of his holy presence for some people there be that never felt a want of Christ at all they are great and grievous sinners but they trust to Christ and though he kill them yet they will trust to him others are in misery and they feel a want of redemption and hence close with Christ for that Psalm 78. 35. Oâ—hers are in horror and know not what to do and they feel a want of the comforts of Christ and hence close with Christ for that and if they find it they depart from Christ by looseness of life if not by despair of heart as Saul 1 Sam. 28. God answers me not by Urim c. Others feel a want of some righteousness from Christ the having of which supports and sustains them without Christ till with the Prodigal when all is spent then they think of Bread at home and the want of which makes them to have lesse esteem of and desire after Christ but they are full of Objections against the thoughts of closing with him but hence they close with Christ for that Others there are that feel a want of the Lord himself and hence close with him for himself so that let a man have all blessings in the world the purity of Ordinances never so many illapses and droppings of divine light and life and comfort in these Ordinances that he wonders the Lord should be so good to him yet he shall find if right his soul secretly unquiet and unsatisfied till he hath the Lord himself As the savour of meat makes a man that wants it cry the more after it long the more for it so the savour and sweet of all creatures all Ordinances all Duties do not stay but stir up the soul to seek Christ when he is himself Ier. 50. 4. They shall seek the Lord weeping Hence first they felt a want of him The full soul loaths the honey-comb Let the Lord be never so sweet let him do them never so much good the more good he doth them the lesse they regard him Ier. 2. 6. They said not where is the Lord Therefore that soul that truly closeth with the Lord must first feel a want of the Lord and say these Ordinances are not bread these creatures are not bread all these parts gifts duties are not bread bran not bread All this savour this sweetnesse 't is not bread Hence I perish for want of bread I have creatures Ordinances Affections comforts Duties but Oh no Christ. Like the Prodigall Luke 15. 17. Oh therefore do not only see but feel the want of the Lord Jesus you that never had him yet nay you that have him you cannot have more of him but by feeling more the want of him Oh it was a marvellous expression of Moses when the Lord began to grow weary of their company Exod. 33. 15. If thou goest not with us carry us not up hence i. e. Let us rather die than live without thee Mary when Christ was crucified the carcase of the Lord was gone she sate there weeping Oh much more for the Lord himself It s observed by some for the saddest spectacle to see a desert Town Oh what is it to see a desert heart where no Christ inhabits Or a city and no Inhabitants And hence its Romes curse to be made an habitation of devils so here What is Hell but this to see not
Spirit like his hand to draw you But Oh do you not kick his bowels do you not pierce his hands and feet daily And when you have done no tears But he cometh and you that pierce him shall see him c. Consider of it therefore you that doubt of this you that think not of this and hence live and lie in your lusts and despise him Behold he cometh SECT IV. HEnce behold the happinesse of all them that be espoused to the Lord Jesus in that their hopes are laid up in another world at the day of the coming of the Lord Jesus 1 Cor. 15. 19. If we had hope only in this life we were of all men most miserable Because none so foolish or so sensible of misery as they but our hopes stretch to another life to the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Suppose a man had all the Crowns of the world cast at his feet but at last to be dragged before the judgment-seat of Christ and there to stand quaking What should he be the better What though Saints have all the miseries in this world but at last with these eyes they shall see the Lord and stand triumphing before him and have a real sight and certain expectation of this What people in the world so great as these What do they wait and expect for Great things which may astonish the whole Creation 1. They look for him to change their vile bodies that this their Husband at the marriage day should take away these rags make them like unto his Glorious body brighter than the Sun so that burn them cut them to peices as some by the Indians have been Lord help they see Christ loves both and hence holds sword and soul in one hand and scabberd in another c. 2. They expect he should take away all their sins and make them like unto himself engrave on their souls perfectly his own Image that their enemies they feel now they look they shall never see them more 1 Iohn 3. 2. And as no evil like it no mercy like this and no evil to Saints like this that yet they should grieve the heart of such a Husband 3. They look he should take away all sorrows and tears from them for this the Lord promiseth and begins to execute now but it shall be perfected then Isa. 25. 8 9. And hence called the times of refreshing Acts 3. 19 20. 'T is true the Spouse and Church is now sorrowful to the very heart many times but there is a time coming that they shall never sorrow more 4. They look he should take away all shame from them For no people in the world loaden with more calumnies and reproaches by the wicked and by hypocrites and hard speeches from the Godly and they doubt whether they be Sons or no. Now then the whole world shall see they are Sons and shall stand amazed at them and shall not doubt of it nor themselves foâ— the Lord shall proclaim it and they shall hear these are my Jewels And this they look for 1 Iohn 3. 1 2. 5. They then look for recompence to all their labour of love to him and his Hence 1 Cor. 15. 58. Knowing your labour is not in vain in the Lord. Hence the Apostle oft defers men for that recompence till now The Lord shew mercy to the House of Onesephorus in that day 2 Tim. 1. 18. So that some Hereticks have thought souls sleep till then They may pray and no answer seek to do good and do none Oh but the Lord will recompence then abundantly 6. They look then to be ever with the Lord 1 Thes. 4. 17. Never to be parted from him never to live without him nay never to go away from under his wing out of his bleeding bosom of love and endlesse and unspeakable compassions any more And being with him to see his Glory and never see the depth of it and to have the Lord to serve them Luke 12. 37 38. and giving whatever they call for and all this when thousand thousands shall at this time be crying for a drop of water and cannot get it Now all this they look for and more too Which is 1. Certain For hope maketh not ashamed 2. Which fills their hearts with Glory and unspeakable Glory too for it makes it so clear and certain that they have it all already for though absent hope makes it as present Rom. 8. 24. He doth not say we shall be but we are saved by hope Faith takes hold on the beginning hope on the end Oh the heavy wrath of God upon a world of poor blind ignorant men that have no hope no hope of Christ no hope of Glory unlesse a flattering dead hope What a sad thing is it to think of a number of men that are buried in the world and never to awaken until they see Christ in the clouds of Heaven coming to be revenged on them Oh me-thinks I see them falling down before the Judgment-feaâ— and crying out Oh that we had known of this day Oh alas that I had hope but not such an hope but am now deceived Oh 't is otherwise with Saints they shall find what they hoped for and infinitely more What hurt can any do them Let all the world come against them their husband will come and will kick them under his feet Let them load them with reproaches fill their hearts with sorrows and their eyes with tears their Lords coming will comfort them Let Satan tempt and a Father hide his face behold the Lord cometh that shall deliver and redeem them Oh see their blessednesse and let it draw you to make up the match with Christ that never did it yet He hath bin wooing of you longing for you and you wooing of him again Lord take me What hinders you then from striking the match and concluding it To give thy self this day to him and take him only rejoyce in him only when nothing thou dost can be so pleasing to him And now you may look and believe what one day you shall to your comfort feel And account your selves most wretched creatures until the Lord be pleased to espouse you to himself SECT V. OR hence learn what to judge of those that never look for the coming and company of the Lord Jesus but 't is with them as it was with the Israelites when Moses was gone into the Mount and stayed there long the people made their Calf and went to their feasting and rejoycing So the Lord Jesus being gone for the Spirit of life and to prepare a place of Glory it being now long since they make Idols of their Jewels and of their own excellencies and of whatsoever is glorious in their eyes in this world Or as Christ compares the secure world as it was in the daies of Noah so shall it be or as in the daies of Lot when they never knew nor look't for it though told of it so 't is with
them Do you think these are espoused to Christ or made ready for Christ whose glorious appearing is never or seldom or the least thing in their thoughts and are far from seeing and setting it before their eyes Now because if you ask most men Do you look for such a time to see the world consumed and the Lord revealed and your Glory with him Every one will say yes because indeed they have a dead hope I shall therefore give discoveries of it 1. Those whose hearts prize though their heads do not and whose eyes are dazeled with the withering Glory of this world When men lie under not for a fit for Christ's Disciples wondred at the Beauty of the Temple a gâ—eat mistake of all things here and put that good in them which is not and that worth upon them which they ought not For he on whose eyes the Sun of Glory hath risen and looks for the Glory which shall be revealed looks upon a Dunghill world as strangers upon their Inne and as Travellers do on their Tents make a shift to rub it out there for a time but Oh home Oh that Glory that shall be revealed Heb. 11. 13. They were strangers because they looked for a City Nay they look upon these things as God and Christ judge of them for they have Christ's mind 1 Cor. 2. 15. Which stand for Cyphers in the Lords Book Nay they look upon the very miseries of this world for Christ greater treasures than the happinesse of it and hence chuse it and account their scars their Crown their shame their Glory their losses their gain their sorrows their joys as Heb. 11. 25 26. Moses chose to suffer and esteemed Christs reproach his Glory And why He had an eye to the recompence of reward and saw the God invisible And 2 Cor. 4. 17. It works an exceeding weight of Glory That look as 't is with a man that is born to great hopes of a Crown and Kingdom and therefore brought up not in the Countrey but in the Court let a poor man offer him his thatcht house and promise him if he will come and live with him and serve him in his patcht cloaths What will he say No be gone to your friends I am a greater man than you can make me so here A man that is born and begotten to a lively hope of a Crown now by the resurrection of Christ and brought up under the wings and care of Christ to the hopes of a better world offer never so much promise never so fair I am greater than all the world can make me I must not have if I love Christ and I cannot have if he loves me both and hence looks to honour then and peace and glory then Col. 3. 1 2 3. It s clear then thou lookest upon the things of the world as great things Oh to have such honour such an estate so many Cowes and Goats so much ground paled in so many ploughs lands and oxen fit to labour so much gain to come in every year and such parts gifts and duties to get me a name to live before the best men and to be good signs to comfort me of the favour of God This is a goodly thing the very hopes heat and warm the heart 1. If you do not find pangs in parting with a friend a bosom-blessing so dear you are not dead yet to it nor risen to a lively hope of better things 2. He that doth not prize the evils of the world more than the good in it his eyes are dazeled with it If the life of the world be not death to thee the comfort of the world sorrow to thee Oh they draw thy heart from God Hence called lying vanities Look as 't is with a King or Master that gives Talents to use they cast them by and fish for themselves they look not for the coming of their Masters So the Lord gives you his Ordinances and Word to use for him and you scramble for your selves to enrich and honour and comfort your selves you look not for the Lord. Factors that go far for wealth they will not bring home stones and rubbish which they know will not go in their own Countrey hence other things that are of more price he spends his time for So here What do you do You that eat the bread of carefulnesse sell your commodities dear and set your buyers on Tainter-hooks I look to be rich You that can speak well and have parts and professe fairly but go into your Closets God is neglected in your hearts your constant union to Christ dependance on Christ approving your selves to Christ is not maintained I would fain be honoured You are come far from your own Countrey Why did you depart thence To be free from trouble And now here what stay you for Oh for ease Will these Coynes go and be taken at the last day No you look not for that II. They that say they look for Christ but do not rejoyce abundantly in hope of this time Sometimes the hopes of Gods people begin to die and then comfortlesse but when their hopes are up and stirring and not wounded by some sin or sleeping there is a double joy that now they have 1. This alone comforts them and fils them Iohn 14. 1 2 3. So that they wonder at God though they have never so little here to have these blessings now and everlasting Glory endlesse compassions and mercy at that day Iohn 16. 22. 2. This joy is Glorious joy highest comfort Rom. 5. 3. We Glory in hope of the glory of God Disgraced but then honoured hated of men but then loved of Christ poor but then enriched miserable but then blessed empty but then filled fatherlesse friendlesse but then glorified Oh I tell you miseries thus considered are sweet Can it be otherwise Now you say you hope and look for this day Where is your comfort of it Where is your glory in it Acts 1. 11 12. Compared with Luke 24. 52. So thou wilt be in the Temple nay in the fields rejoycing and blessing the Lord that ever he should intend to set thee at his right hand at that great day of his coming No man but hath something to joy his heart Is it Corn and wine and Oyl and not the Light of Gods countenance at this day It s a sign they never look for it Do the world rejoyce in their hopes and not Saints III. They that content themselves with any measure of holinesse and Grace they look not for Christs coming and company For Saints that do look for him though they have not that Holinesse and Grace they would have yet they rest not satisfied with any measure 1 John 3. 3. He that hath this hope purifieth himself as he is pure Christ finds us not lovely but makes us lovely by putting on his own garments imprinting his own Image Hence Saints content not themselves with any dressings till made glorious and so fit
peace with them too 2. Those that fâ—ie not from the light of the Truth but give it the hearing but yet let it slip either not minding it then or not pondering it afterward that before they come thirst not for more light look not up for it nor are mourning when the Lord hides it from their eyes Some there be that be such all-sufficient men so good they need be no better so wise that they need know no more some insufficient indeed to know and hence ever learning hearing but never coming to the knowledge of the Truth If Light breaks not in they can lie in darknesse still and not mourn and think no more of it than a tale that is told or neâ—â— that is brought Oh look to your standing for you are in the high rode to hypocrisie and its impossible you should be kept from it that lie so John 12. 35. 〈◊〉 while you have the light lest darkness come upon you Satan knew if light came in Christ would come in And therefore know it all that time thou hast heard and heard but not with Divine Light hast got only somwhat to prate on now to be of another opinion now from what thou wast Oh now Satan hath been â—et loose by the dreadful vengeance of Almighty God to blind thee that so thou mightst die in thy hypocrisie and sin Oh poor Captives mourn under this and behold your danger for time to come Hence see the reason why many that have had mighty strong Affections at first conversion afterwards become dry and wither and consume and pine and die away and now their hypocrisie is manifest if not to all the world by open prophanenesse yet to the discerning eye of living Christians by a formal barren unsavoury unfruitful heart and course because they never had light nor conviction enough as yet You shall have some ignorant creatures awakened by some thundring Ministry weep and mourn for sin and after vanish into sâ—â—cak being never convinced of sin Land-floods of sorrow without a Spring of light are dried up and make the heart more fruitful in sin afterward Many go under fearâ— of wrath and never get peace because never convinced of wrath Many are affected with Christ and with joy of the Gospel as the stony ground but they wanting depth of earth of conviction die away again and hence all the world can never stop a Christian in his shining Profession no more than they can the Sun in his course as Paul 2 Cor. 5. 11. We knowing the terrour of the Lord perswade men And hence Moses Heb. 11. 27. feared nofrowns of Pharaoh cared for no honours from Pharaoh he saw the God that was invisible and hence Christ praies for his Disciples to be kept from evil The world hath not known me but these have known me Iohn 17. When men are condemned to die they take on because now they see death but here in time of health they see it not If men wrong a child their heart smites them and grieves but the Lord is abased dishonoured and men are not affected because they want light and see it not If men be to match with a Prince or stand before him 't is counted blessednesse but before Christ 't is a burden because men know it not 'T is strange to see some people carried with mighty affection against sin and Hell and after Christ. And what is Hell you fear A dreadful place What is Christ They searce know so much as Devils do but that is all Oh trust them not Many have and these will fall away to some Lust or Opinion or Pride or World and the reason is they never had light enough John 5. 35. Iohn was a burning and shining light and they did joy in him for a season yet as glorious as it was they saw not Christ by it especially not with Divine Light It s rare to see Christians full both of light and affection And therefore consider of this many a man hath been well brought up and is of a sweet loving Nature mild and gentle and harmlesse likes and loves the best things and his meaning and mind and heart is good and hath more in heart than in shew and so hopes all shall go well with him I say there may lie greatest hypocrisie under greatest affections especially if they want light You shall be hardned in your hypocrisie by them I never liked violent affections and pangs but only such as were dropt in by light because those come from an external Principle and last not but these do Men are not affrighted by the light of the Sun though clearer than the Lightning Hence take heed of contenting your selves with every kind of knowledge Do not worship every Image in your own Heads especially you that fall short of Truth or the knowledge of it for when you have some there may be yet that wanting which may make you sincere There are many men of great knowledge able to reach themselves and others too and yet their hearts are unsound How comes this to passe Is it because they have so much light No but because they want much and therefore content not your selves with every knowledge There is some knowledge which men have by the light of nature which leaves them without excuse from the Book of Creation some by power of education some by the light of the Law whereby men may know their sin and evils some by the Letter of the Gospel and so men may know much and speak well and so in seeing see not some by the Spirit and may see much so as to prophesie in Christs Name and yet be bid depart Mat. 7. Now there is a Light of Glory whereby the Elect see things in another manner to tell you how they cannot it s the beginning of light in Heaven and the same Spirit that fils Christ filling their minds that they know by this anointing all things which if ever you have you must become Babes and Fools in your own eyes God will never write his Law in your minds till all the Scriblings of it are blotted our Account all your knowledge losse for the gaining of this 'T is sad to see many a man pleasing himself in his own dreaming delusions yet the poor creature in seeing sees not which is Gods heavy curse upon men under greatest means and which laies all wast and desolate Isa. 6. How long Until all be wast V. II. Hence see the right way of living a life of Truth of being an Israelite in whom is no guile Keep light in your minds and you will keep Truth alive in your hearts and lives Many a sincere heart may have Hypocrisie and much unsoundnesse in him though he be no Hypocrite But how comes it so to be and whence so little Truth and hence so many fears and doubts about their estates continually Oh! men lose that Glorious Light that somtime they have For when you have it in an Ordinance Oh how
sweet is the Lord and all his waies to you Afterward you have lost your hearts truly 't is because you have lost your light Two waies Hypocrisie vents it self which Gods people oppose 1. In secret withdrawing of the heart to sin Oh now get light for sin never draws away but by appearance of some good at least pro hic nunc Iam. 1. 14. Now put off the covering keep the mind from being deceived you will keep the heart from being hardned deaded and withdrawn from God 2. In performing duties but not for Christ as their utmost end now the heart is bent this way yet it failes because light is gone to see and behold the Glory and blessednesse of this Men that have honour or gain in their eye are carried violently after it Men that are bound for a voyage will go through their eye leads them Stephen speaks till the stones were about his ears I see Iesus saith he at the right hand of God 2 Cor. 15. 58. Be abundant in the Lords work knowing that your labour is not in vain Hence David Psal. 119. begs for knowledge of this and that and then he will do it Oh therefore keep it in your minds as precious Prov. 2. 10. If knowledge be pleasant c. And pray to God to keep it for you Light is in the Sun and not ceased to this day so if the Lord would put in this Light and be the perpetual Fountain thereof to you it would abide c. Thy Word I have hid in my heart c. Psal. 119. SECT IV. HEnce learn the cure of hypocrisie viz. Remove the cause which is folly and if you would be sincere Oh prize and beg for more light and love it and you shall then after you have digged for it find it Would it not be sad to be led blindfold like them till they were in the midst of Samaria so till in the midst of Hell Would it not be sad to be like Sodomites groping for the door Especially you that are come over to this Countrey for more of the Knowledge o◠Christ. Oh then Beloved take heed you bury not your minds in the earth lose◠not your thoughts in the dung And you must stand one day before God when the Book of the secrets of your hearts shall be opened when if found too light then would it not be a doleful parting to lose the Lord Jesus after such light and affections for want of a little more Light Oh look to your selves now 1. Stick close to the guidance of the Scriptures and love them Moses saith Then other Nations shall say what people so wise Deut. 4. 6. And these make the men of God 2 Tim. 3. 15. full of Gods Spirit wise unto salvation and for neglect of this the Lord gave and doth give men up to strong delusions that they believe lies viz. because they loved not the Truth Never a Truth but is unsealed by Blood and revealed to be the infinite wisdom of the Father and love to poor lost men where God opens all his heart if men will despise these 't is pity but they should be blinded Do not scoffe at those that know the Lord here they are Scripture-learned men if not never Spirit-learned Take this for your Counseller in all your doubts and fears it will teach you A man gets an opinion or falls in love with a sinful corruption both deceive him Why so Is there no word against it Oh yes but they will not hear it but make God and Scripture bow down to them they will not be led by it Oh intreat the Lord to keep thee from that 2. Be abundant in meditation dayly Psal. 119. 99. 'T is an hundred to one else if not miserably deluded And as the Spirit convinceth first of sin righteousnesse and judgment so let your thoughts be This makes a man see far and see much 3. Practise what you know and tast the sweetnesse of it there Psal. 119. 100. And then the heart will grow savingly full of Divine Light Nothing makes men foolish but this Oh tast and see Oh if men knew the sweet of this way of Truth they would ever walk in it and bring others to submit to it Shall I hide from Abram that will teach his Family Gen. 18. 17 19. 4. Cast up your eyes to Christ glorified being full of the Spirit for thee and beg of him as if he were with thee to send it down As Solomon asked this See Iohn 7. 39. Oh learn to be exceeding thankful for any saving light the Lord hath kindled in you if ever it hath been powerful to discover and remove the hidden hypocrisie of thy heart that now the Lord hath made thee plain and serious for him that its death not to live Heaven for to live unto him Oh then blesse the Lord for that means that did it for thee that mightst have perished in thy own delusions and dreams Time was when thou wast deceived now the Lord hath made thy eyes brighter than the Sun to see such things as are hid from great ones in the world Oh though it be but a little yet if real and saving light blesse him A man that hath been in midst of Sands and without a Pilot afterwards looks back and saith there I might have split Oh this is wonderful to him Oh Christ did thus 1I thank thee thou hast hid c. Mat. 11. 25. The Lord hath hid them from heads and hearts of many wise and prudent and ever they shall be hid and è contra revealed them to thee a babe a weak one a poor ignorant one Mat. 16. 17. Flesh and blood hath not revealed it so as to build here on this righteousnesse to fetch all light and life from Christ and cleave alone to him Oh remember you are called out of darknesse into marvellous light to shew forth his vertues What canst desire more than eternal life And this is it 1 Iohn 5. 20. Iohn 17. 30. CHAP. XVI That Hypocrites discover themselves in an uneffectual use of the Means of Grace Secondly The difference between the wise and foolish Virgins is set down more particularly v. 3 4. SECT I. THIS particular difference is declared by the different practise of the foolish and wise Virgins each from other 1. That the Foolish though they had so much wisdom like the wise as to take Lamps yet so much folly was bound up in their hearts as that they took no Oyl in their Vessels for their Lamps 2. That the wise did not only light their Lamps but they did also fill their Vessels with Oyl that either their Lamp might never go out or if it did it might be soon kindled again More plainly The Foolish contented themselves with the name and blaze of outward Profession kindled from some inward yet lighter and more superficiall strokes of Gods Spirit neglecting the great work within But the wise did not only carry their Lamps of
long fasting till the time of extremity comes and then he pours waters on the thirsty Hence better for those never to have known 2 Pet. 2 21. and an hypocrites last end is to satisfie himself hence he hath enough a Saints is to satisfie Christ hence he never hath enough 5. Those that do neglect the Lord under this colour of receiving Christ they can do nothing themselves and Christ must do all and hence neglect the Lord secretly and sometimes quarrel with the Ministry privately when pressed to a duty or to beleeve Alas what can a man do when all the Ministers in the world have preached their hearts out at last they must bring us to Christ what else should the Apostle mean Rom. 4 5. Not to him that worketh but beleeveth is faith accounted for righteousness I must not live I must let Christ live c. And hence say they the cause of perishing is not mens wills but Gods he elects not he gives no heart such hypocrites the Lord prophesies of Mat. 7. 21. Many that say to me Lord Lord i. that advance the Lord Jesus and live in neglect of all duties and bring the Lord of glory not from his Throne in Heaven to Hell but which is worse debase him from his glory to sin to be the cover of sin and protector of it Beloved I know no surer sign of a vessel that God intends to break in peeces then this to live in this neglect 2 Tim. 2 20. Nay 't is an evidence there is no hope no living hope 1 Iohn 3. 3. He that hath this hope purgeth himself as Christ is pure Many it seems boasted of hope in Christ so do Saints but he gives this Note He purgeth himself he will not sluggishly put all on Christ. T is true 't is the mighty working of Christ that must conquer thy lusts but must this put you to neglect striving Col. 1. 29. I strive according to the working And for mine own part though I le not dispute the point at large I beleeve there is a constant assistance of the mighty power of the Lord Jesus in the souls of all the Saints 1 Pet. 1. 5. And hence 1 Iohn 4. Greater is he that is in you then in the world The Saints as they receive the Lord Jesus to rule them that he alone may be Lord and King not only in heaven but in their heâ—rts So a false hearâ— receives Christ lastly for to ease him Sometime for to ease him of the burden of Conscience sometime to ease him of the Lords work the burthen of his will and hence some at last have complained though hardly convinced of it that they could be contented the Lord should act them but their end was that hereby they might be rid of their burden and so eased by him I have heard a Question should be askt What is the difference between the workings of Gods Spirit and the Saints And that the Answer was 1. The one is by graces the other immediatly 2. The Spirits is when a man labours least quite cross to the stream of truth Take heed how you understand these points aright the depth of the most hellish villany in the world lies unâ—er them Wo to thee that canst paint such a Christ in thy head and receive such a Christ into thy heart as must be a pander to your sloth the Lord will revenge this wrong done to his glory with greater sorrows then ever any felt To make Christ not only meat and drink to feed but cloaths to cover your sloth Why what can we doe what can we doe Why as the first Adam conveies not only guilt but power So the second conveys both righteousness and strength as Christ is now triumphing by his eternal Spirit and his life is heavenly so if you be in Christ there is a Spirit of Christ whereby a never dying life is begot that can and doth conquer though it be but a spark Christ maintaining it it shall come to victory You are forsaken of Christ if you want this or else take heed this colour make you not forsake him 6. Those that neglect the means and yet look for the end in hope of future time and so neglect the present season Thus 't is with many a one the day of life and health and day of Ordinances continues and hence the sluggard cryes Prov. 24. 33. Yet a little more slumber i. I le have but a little while longer c. Hence when Conscience checks Ministers warn the Lord wooes the Spirit cries a man puts off all with this I hope it will be better And hence it falls out with them as with those Matth. 24 The Lord comes in a time they look not for him and of this many on their deathbeds have cryed out Think of this you convicted persons that know its miserable with you before God stop your breath you have nothing to plead for your neglect but hope of time Know it Gods present seasons are golden one moment worth eternity and now is the time if you neglect his season he will not regard yours God is never found in your time but in his time Oh lay these things to heart especially you that are grown weary of means that faint in your way God is not yet weary of continuing means art thou weary of gaining by means Oh consider this you that have had many hopes desires purposes but all blasted your time and means neglected Think on this you that have had marvellous affections but your spirits are gone Nothing can make you mend your pace not all Ministry and Word but you are clog'd with means Remember that Isai. 65. 8 9 10 11 12 13 14. For my people that have sought me c. SECT V. TO all those that do effectually seek the Lord in the use of means And for discovery thereof Consider 1. If ever the Lord gave you a hearâ— effectually to seek him in means you will finde mighty opposition temptations springing up one after another c. from within from without and the oppositions will make you seek him the more Hence Rom. 13. 11 12. he bids us put off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light When man desires and lies in his sloth he meets with little opposition or trouble of his own heart but here 't is otherwise therefore put on armour And I say the soul is made hereby to seek the Lord the more as the blinde man Mark 10. 48. Redeem the time because the days are evill As 't is with Mariners they will not only use fair but side and almost contrary winds to come neer the shore they are bound for let the Lord give any grace oh more of that mercy as Moses Deut. 3. 24. Let the Lord deny yet the soul cries the more let agonies come Christ prays the more let the will oppose he will yeeld himself to the Lord to cross his own will and deny himself peâ—ce makes him love and
especially when with most difficulty when little strength within when little hope without yet I le not give over He never forgets this The Lord hath never such sad daies as when thou turnest thy back on him and thou never so good as when thou seekest him 3. Consider thy gaines there shall not be the least endeavour desire pursuit after the Lord not the least Word Prayer Thought time spent but an abundant recompense is in Christs hands 1 Cor. 15. 58. Ever abounding knowing that it shall not be in vain A man that rowes against the stream a little neglect of rowing carries him down again But oh be ever abounding in the Lords works for your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 4. Consider if after admonition again and again yet you nourish sloath there is some heavy stroke neer thee Believe it he will not alway bear with thy neglect As nothing joyes him more than your company so nothing cuts him more than your neglect But though he save you from eternal misery yet sometimes your greatest comfort is lost by this means Mat. 26. 38 40 44 45. First he stirs them up once and again then leaves them and comes again and saith nothing but the third time sleep on the Son of man is betrayed So your comfort and Christ and his presence are betraied Some have had their husbands wives children estates gone but which is worst of all the Lord betraied the comfort of their hearts gone and hence horrours and fears surprize them III. Motives to us especially in this Countrey 1. God hath put the price and wealth of the world better than all Gold and Silver into our hands who are most unthankful most unworthy and will you come so far for means and here neglect them Will you thus neglect the Lord Like men in Consumptions they long for any thing and when it comes they cannot touch it If it were night you might fall to sleep but the day approacheth Shall God plant his Vineyard but you never come to eat the fruit of it 2. Your Temptations are greater here to neglect the Lord. Others are tried with the scorching Sun there is no sleeping there God tries us with the shadow sets us under the Vines of Ordinances others are in storms we in calms When thou eatest and art full saith Moses Deut. 8. 10 11. Oh forget not the Lord You lose in your estates and now you are hungry after the same again Satan when Christ was hungry assaults him 'T is a thousand to one if he makes you not fair offers and overcomes Things that cost us much we prize and keep and improve if of any use When we go Twenty mile to a Sacrament Oh then its precious While under the bondage of oppressors oh liberty of Conscience and Ordinances are precious But when at liberty we have liberty to have them hence take liberty to neglect them 3. Our enemies will be upon us Who sees not that observes the Lords dealing that some sorrows are toward unlesse the Lord awaken some sudden blasting blow If any wind be stirring men on the tops of the mountains will feel it The Lord hath set his mountain above all others and its fâ—lly to think to flee from the Crosse unlesse we flee from Christ. 'T is part of the portion he doth owe us here if he loves us Yet seek the Lord neglect no seasons to gain him and you shall he hid Zeph. 2. 2. Nay when worst times come 2 Chron. 15. 3 4 5. when there is no peace they that seek him shall find him I do fear there is at this day as deep mischief plotting against New-England as ever the Sun saw Enemies will first deal subtilly before cruelly but subtilly that they may deal cruelly When Pharaoh deals wisely he means to kill Yet the Lord shall be with us as of late hath he not been seen in the midst of us for a refuge Whatever any think I believe never did the Lord stir up such prayers Faith c. amongst us 1. Oh therefore seek the Lord still in private If you find no good find out the sin Is not meditation neglected Communion of Saints not improved Do not say we can do nothing and why are we prest to it If you cannot yet 't is your duty and you must be prest and perish you shall if you seek not or if you be called there is some spirit of the Lord in you that is mighty 2. Being come hither for publick helps and means and all Ordinances Oh do not betray your Liberties but lose your Bloud before you lose them and the Lord in them Bear the Arke still on your shoulders that the Lord may dwell with you Hence 1. If you would have the Walls of Magistracy be broken down the means to preserve the Church and means among you If they make Laws deride them if they execute Laws appeal from them 2. Would you have confusion the mother of discord among the people let every man then once one day in the year turn Magistrate and out-face Authority and profess t is his liberty Would you have rapines thefts injustice abound let no man know his own by removing the Land-mark and destroying Proprieties 3. Would you have Gods Ordinances in the purity of them removed keep out the load of Superstition but yet for peace sake suffer a few seeds to be sown amongst you 4. Would you have all the Messengers of the Gospel at first revised at last massacred Profess they are no better than Scribes and Pharisees persecuting Egyptians enemies to the Lord Jesus and the more devout the worse as those that stirred up storms in Germany said Christ had four great enemies The Pope Anabaptists Martin Luther but especially Iohn Calvin 5. Would you ruine the Gospel set not Popery against it but Gospel against Gospel Promises against Promises Christ against Christ Spirit against Spirit grace against grace and then he is twice beaten that falls by his own weapons 6. Would you have oppressors set over you to remove ordinances to encrease your burdens Maintain this Principle then that they will not assault us first by craft and subtilty but openly and violently 7. Would you have this State in time to degenerate into Tyranny Take no care then for making Laws When they are made would you have all Authority turned to a meer vanity Be gentle and open the door to all comers that may cut our throats in time and if being come they do offend threaten them and fine them but use no Sword against them You Fathers of the Country be not offended this I speak not to disparage any the practise speaks otherwise I onely forewarn I hope the Lord hath prepared better days and mercies for us I am sure he will if what means we have we preserve and what we preserve we through grace shall improve CHAP. XVII That the hearts and souls of Believers are made as Vessels onely for the reception of Christ his
measure Iohn 3. 34. and fountaines alway run though men seldom drink What then Is it because they bring not their hearts hold not their vessels under the Lords horn of oyl Yes that they do but their vessels are naught they are not only for him they feel their want of grace and Christ but not only or chiefly of this Special Grace shall never be poured into a common vessel a common heart that lies in common for God and lust and world too The honour peace life gain of a God are sweet and precious Lord ever give me that water to drink But you have five husbands and seek not this only Hence if the Lord deâ—ies you you can be content because you have something else to fill your vessels if the Lord gives you undervalue it and grow worse and the very rising of that common grace you have is the beginning of your apostacy and setting off from God And hence no wonder why you pray but never have Iam. 1. 6 7. you want and crave but never find your vessel is naught though the Lord is good 'T is a black mark that thou art in bondage to the creature and didst never know what the liberty even the glorious liberty of a son means And 't is a most grievous bondage to be half unloosed and yet to be in bonds And I assure you if you knew the gift of God if ever you tasted how sweet the Lord is this is the only thing your souls will cry for That when you come to ask and the Lord saith what would you have Oh the spirit of life Oh the anointing of my blessed head And what else It only this is it only my vessel is made to hold I am not made for my lust nor sins nor world I would I had a bigger vessel a larger heart to receive thy Grace only I confess a gracious heâ—rt may for a time be carried too violently after other things and yet seek the Lord too as Solomon Eccl. 2. But after it knows Christ better it 's more reserved now for him as Gen. 39. 3 4 5 6. Iosephs master for a time kept things in his own hand but when he saw the Lord was with Ioseph and that he was prosperous and blessed then he made him overseer and he knew not 't is said what he had save only the bread that he did eat So it is in our Ioseph As the poor woman that knew the Messiah she leaves her vessel her water-pot with him and now would have all the City to come and see and believe in him and depend on him only trust to him only c. Dost therefore seek and find not Hast bin long waiting and feelest not And thou wondrest at it Others comforted and I not Search if this be not the cause it may be thy heart is not set only for this but on thy back belly lots ease what shall I eat drink c. As some women because God doth not feed so liberally their sweet tooth their licorish longings build them seiled houses measure their present condition according to their sinful humour nothing can please them neither husband servants Ministers nor Gods Ordinances Is this a vessel for the Lord and his Grace only You must you will have a longer coat than you can well wear Hold here Never think to have one prayer answered If this night thy day of misery should come cry thou mayst but no God to hear thee or help thee Oh a little oyl now a little grace now a little mercy Lord now Oh no you have no vessel to hold it But oh bless the Lord you know it Others it may be are noâ— so full of these sores of impatiency but you pray for God and Grace and have it not Why so These are not the things that you are only set for Why Because you are content without them I am not you will say But you are for you doe not lament daily after the Lord for these things only that which only satisfies that thy heart is not at rest till it find I hope I may have help for all this No saith Iames think not so Oh therefore bless the Lord. You know what hurts you Saints have hurts thus but they purge themselves and hence are blessed vessels still When Moses was begging for Israel mine Angel saith God shall goe with you I will not No thou only else let us die here Exod. 33. This prayer wins the field wears the garland The evils of the Churches are many an hour of temptation is coming on scandals are like to be great the subtilties of enemies many Now we pray and yet these have come and we fear they will come Oh beloved go to the Lord and plead with him only for this and when thou canst procure nothing for thy self yet let it fare well with Sion and this only I must have Psal. 27. 4. One thing have I desired You shall have it then else not See the great sin of those that lose their life preserve not the Spirit when he comes to them in Ordinances you are vessels onely made for the Lord and will you lose that which He drops in There is no others can receive him Iohn 14. 17. and when He comes to you do you thus requite Him c. CHAP. XVIII That the Holy Spirit is in beleivers as the Principle of their Spiritual Life and Holinesse SECT I. THat within these Vessels is an inward Principle of Life and Grace Or The burning shining profession of all the faithful it proceedeth from an inward Principle of the Spirit of Grace by the means of which their Lamp burns and their Profession shines For this I understand by oyl in the vessel the Spirit of Jesus not out of us but received in us not coming only upon us for so he may on foolish virgins by Balaamitish ravishments and hypocritical pangs and land-flood affections but abiding in us and that not as it doth in hypocrites but as it is in Christ Jesus without measure both Spirit and Graces so it abides in us in measure in Him as the fountain in us as the vessels from whose fulness we receive the same So that by oyl is not meant the external Principle of all Life the Lord Jesus having Spirit and Grace enough but keeping our hearts empty of it but the Lord Jesus in us who is not in us but by his Spirit even the Spirit of Life from whence all our actions spring and from which oyl our lamp burns This therefore I say the Profession of the faithful springs not from outward motives or principles of motion as the actions of hypocrites sometimes sudden praise sometimes gain sometimes feâ—rs sometimes fleshly hopes sometimes sudden conceipt and fancy some times irruption and rushings of the Spirit upon them but there is a spring within there is a life within there is oyle in the Vessel to fill the lamp and so hence it burns Eph. 2. 1. You hath
a conjugal love here is now a degree of love but not of the same love for 't is not a whit conjugal it might then be sinful in some men so 't is here A man that hath filled his stomâ—ck with meat may have some desire after it but not an hungry deâ—â—re not in that degree hence not hungry at all So the sluggard desires and hath not a carnal heart desire and another desires the Lord Jesus a carnal sluggish heart desires and hath not but another hungers and is filled he hath not any degree of the same hunger 'T is therefore granted there are desires and joyes and light and growth in false hearts but there is not that fulnesse of joy that fulnesse of light that fulnesse of the Spirit which is in the Faithful and here they ever fall short Yet note 1. There is not a perfect measure noâ— the fulnesse that shall be when our souls shall be gathered to them that are made perfect 2. Nor yet that there is that fulnesse the Saints aim at for 't is the resurrection they aim at Phil. 3. 12 13 14. 3. Nor yet a glutting fulnesse that men have Manna enough and say the main work is wrought and that is enough Not such a fulness as satisfies their appetite from longing for more But which satisfies and quiets their Conscience in regard of the uprightnesse of their souls before the Lord. SECT II. BUT for the more full and clear explication of this point I shall shew you these three things 1. That Hypocrites may have some inward touches of Gods Spirit 2. That the very reason of their falsenesse is because they have no more than such touches or stroaks 3. That there is a fulnesse the Saints come to which others want To be shewed 1. Positively 2. Negatively I. That Hypocrites may have not only outward shews but some inward lighter stroaks of Gods Spirit As 1. Of the Spirit restraining and confining nay benumming of corruption as Paul was blameless nay he had no mind nor will to many sins nay did not think he had any living contempt and enmity of God in his heart Hence Rom. 7. 9. 't is said When the Command came sin revived Was it not living before Yes but it was asleep it was benummed like cold Snakes but not killed 2. Of the Spirit preventing and exciting unto many nay to any duty of the Law in general and that sometime by fears of misery and terrours of the Law Deut. 5. 23. And somtime by love and mercy morally affecting the heart Exod. 19. 4 5 6. You have heard what the Lord hath doâ—e Will you now enter into Covenant Yes yet what is said of them Psal. 78. 37. They were false in Gods Covenant 3. There may be some operative and quickning Grace of the Gospel Heb. 6. 4. They were enlightened c. 4. There may besome edifying and cooperating gifts of Law and Gospel whereby a man may not only be useful and helpful to some but to the Church of God as those that did prophecy in Christs Name And these may be so inward that they think themselves clean and sincere as Abimelech II. That the reason of their unsoundness is because they have no more than lighter stroaks of Gods Spirit As I might shew in all these Paul is blamelesse yet far enough from having sin mortified by Christ and hence professeth We did serve divers Lusts Tit. 3. 3. The Israelites cry out they will do what God will have them Yet Oh that there were such an heart Deut. 5. 29. They in Heb. 6. were enlightened and tasted yet fell He therefore adds We are perswaded v. 9. better things of you They did prophesie in Christs Name Mat. 7. Yet depart from me you workers of iniquity But see it more particularly Mark 12. 33. Saith the Scribe to him To love the Lord oh ' t is better than all burnt Offerings Some Iews did rest there but neglected the inward work but this man the inward work was prized in his judgment he had both profession and some affection And was he now entred into the Kingdome of God No. Here was his wound he fell short of it some degrees Hence it s said thou art not far from the Kingdom of God So the Israelites Why did not they enter Was not the Land good Oh yes That report the worst of the Spies brought But their hearts were not taken with the goodness of it as Calebs and Ioshuahs were And hence they were shut out Numb 13. 27. 14. 7 8 24. So it is here So an unsound heart may be enlightened as 't is there Heb. 6. 4 5. But there is a marvellous light which they never have they have not such a degree 1 Pet. 2. 9. And hence Deut. 29. 2 3 4. The Lord hath not given you eyes to see to this day Did the Lord give them no eyes to see no hearts to be affected with what they did see Why came they then out of Egypt Why did they sing when they saw Pharaoh drowned Why they had not such eyes and such hearts as Moses had not unto that day So for turning to the Lord. Do not many unsound hearts turn over a new leaf Do they not not only outwardly but inwardly too Where is the flaw then In the degree Jer. 3. 10. Iudah hath not turned with her whole heart but treacherously So there may be some growth and life in false unsound hearts that may after fall away But where is the wound Look in the Parable of the Seed Some grew not at all some did grow but not having depth of earth fell again Others fell not in persecution but there were the roots of Thorns that choakt the Seed the good grounds seed came to ripenesse and fulness of fruit though some in a greater degree than others yet none at all no ripe fruit in the rest Hence the Lord is said to weigh the heart Prov. 16. 2. Men think they are humbled and do believe but God finds them too light as Belshazzar was weighed and found too light And thus it will be seen at the last day when Christ Jesus shall appear that all the most glorious Profession of many a man is therefore rejected because found too light III. That there is a fulnesse which the Saints have and which others fall short of Which I shall shew I. Positively and affirmatively from what hath been said Prov. 12. 26. The righteous is more excellent John 14. 17. Whom the world cannot receive because it knows him not There is that Spirit in Saints which no unregenerate man knows hence desires not Because he dwells in you he doth not only send some gifts or work somwhat there but he dwells there he fils the heart Hence the end of Christs death is to purchase to himself a peculiar people Tit. 2. 14. Of such a spirit such holiness that only themselves know So 't is that which all the Prophets press to to a higher pitch and
hence that charge of Iosh. 22. 5. And 't is a peculiar fruit of Election Eph. 1. 4. 1. To be holy 2. Before him 3. In love II. Negatively If there should not be such a distinguishing fulness 1. Then the whole Ministry of Christ is in vain and so destroyed for what is the end of that that God raiseth up any Ministers in the Church but this Acts 26. 18. To turn men from darknesse to light If this light was only that in Heb. 6. 4 then the end of the Ministry was to work hypocrisie And from the power of Satan to God there the Lord leaves them not but that they may receive remission of sins c. 2. If there should not be this fulness most of the Promises should be destroyed and Gods Faithfulness fail and the Saints be deceived For Promises are made to them that mourn to them that hunger to them that believe c. Now many Hypocrites mourn and desire and the stony ground believed Then it seems the promise is not true Yes and therefore there must be another kind of mourning another and higher degree of the Spirit of Faith c. i. e. not of the same Faith but of another kind of Faith 3. If not then all Christian endeavour after a higher measure of Grace should be destroyed For if any man only hath Christ in his eye that he may have him I say that is sweet but I say you shall never have him unless you receive him Oh but many receive him as Iohn 2. 23. yet Christ commited not himself to them for he saw what they were Now therefore if you regard not the measure i. e. such a kind of receiving of him you will never seek for it pray for it nor learn to know it And hence 't is said Prov. 15. 24. The way of life is above to the righteous If it were not above of that height he would never come over difficulties to it 4. If not there is no true hope that any man can have But 't is utterly destroyed 1 John 3. 3. He that hath this hope purgeth himself I am as good as such a one But as Christ is pure That is his Copy and his Pattern 5. The very people of God are destroyed from having a being in the world if this measure makes not the difference If it be replied the Lord Jesus makes the difference 'T is very true those that are in Covenant they have God to be their God that makes one difference but if there be not some peculiar workmanship of the Spirit in them then though they have God their God yet the second part of the Covenant is destroyed i. e. They are not the Lords peculiar people that have more than common wash-work For we are not only the Lords people by choyce and purchase but by new Creation also Isa. 64. 7 8 9. SECT III. HEnce we see the sight of no Grace is no part of a Christians Grace and Holiness The five Foolish Virgins were not shut out because they did not see they had no Oyl but because when they did see it as the Lord will make you see it first or last they did not get such a measure and quantity of it as might fill their Vessel You may go down to Hell with complaints I have nothing unlesse the eternal Spirit work somthing at last in you Hence take heed of quenching and limiting the Spirit of God when it 's working upon and breathing in your hearts at any time in any means Because you may then fall short of this measure of it and so be shut out at last Look as it was with the Israelites 't is said of them that they could not drive out the Canaanites i. e. they would not by reason of their sloath and â—â—nce they were pricks nay snares to them So the Lord begins to work strangely upon some men but they are presently humble enough and have comfort enough and Grace enough and cannot be better and hence God makes their sins snares and thorns to their sorrow and ruine afterward Nay Beloved many a one will quench the Spirit Oh take heed of it Thus 1. The Spirit not only convinceth but humbles his heart and shake his spirit with fears of sin Now what should he do He should welcom it and say oh blessed Spirit dost begin to cast me down to the dust for my sin before I am cast to Hell for my sin What wilt have me to do Oh humble me more Give me not only an act of heaviness but a spirit of heaviness As she said of affliction I pray God this Plaister may never cease cleaving till healed Now what do many men Why either game it or work it or sleep it away The young man will not so soon lose all his mirth The man that hath thought his estate good so long will not believe 't is so with him now Or as Solomon speaks of Gods hand he groâ—s weary of his chasâ—isement and so casts it off and catcheth hold on Christ and comfort and there staies before the Spirit hath done it 2. If they dare not shake it off thus till the Spirit easeth then they satisfie themselves with some hopes the Lord gives and some tast of his sweetness before they are satisfied with it as those did Heb. 6. 4 5. And hence Psal. 90. 14. Oh satisfie us with thy mercy so shall we be glad all the daies of our lives So satisfied as to live upon it alone As many say they could be contented it should be so but they do not live upon it As if you should ask a man could you be content to be made King and come from Beggery Yes but he is left there 't is not so and hence lives a Beggar still Men cannot live without their lusts Yet saith Christ My flesh is meat indeed and drink indeed i. e. This gives real consolation satisfaction indeed And here many a Christian sinks and goes up and down short of saving good 3. Hence many walk in some desires which the Spirit hath wrought but to break through all difficulties and follow the Lord indeed and come to that they know they must indeed this they will not do but depart from Christ sorrowful and hope the Lord will accept of them and hence the Lord complains Mal. 1. 8. of this generation that had desires in their flocks but lame ones Will thy King accept this And so all their work is overly and superficial by stinting the Spirit Thus far you shall go but no farther Oh Beloved this is the frame of a sincere heart the Lord empties him but he is never content till the Lord fills and when he finds it he sits not down content that the work is done but as his want made him beg before so his tast makes him long more now as Moses to see more of the Lords Glory As Paul Phil. 3. 12 13. Oh therefore when the Spirit comes intreat it to go on and
those lusts are seated It hath been a Question What a mans raigning master sin is and many discoveries have been made of particular sins as that which riseth and awakeneth first in the morning with us that which rides and labours a man upon the Sabbath day when the Lord or sin must ride in triumph yet that is the misery of a carnal heart that when he gives his beasts rest yet such is sins tyranny he being sins beast that he shall then have no rest Now if their meaning be that some particular sin may be a raigning sin or a mans personal reigning sin then 't is true Iudas loves his bag best and Achitophel and Hâ—mâ—n his honour most and 〈◊〉 his whore most But if they mean a mans natural reigning 〈◊〉 the reigning sin then 't is not any particular sin so much as this For no sin is able to reign over any man but by commission and power from this As the Weeds can never grow â—all but by vertue of their soil where they grow Mat. 15. 19. All the boughs flourish by vertue of the root whence they grow And hence we shall see let Satan sow his seeds of pride or lust or passion in a man whose nature is changed its impossible they should come to any perfection there bâ—â—â—â—ey will die away within a time because the heart of the soil is gone and power of sin removed and hence also it comes to pass that a mans master sin may be changed Those sins that are his master-sins in his youth are not in his old age those that are at one time in one place are not in another Now there could never be such change of Governours and Vice-roys unless there were some great King that sets up one and pulls down another satis pro imperio This is therefore the raigning sin which hath taken possession of every part which hath its hand in every act which pulls down one sin and sets up another under it which gives strength to every sin that hath any which fights it out till the last This is I say the reigning sin hence think not that then the reigning sin is down when your personal sins are destroyed though it be with a most sudden and fearful destruction III. That when the Spirit of God humbles the soul indeed he strikes the head and wounds the â—eart of this sin he doth not only cut off some limbs of it not only binde it but slay it of its life and power That as 't is with some men they may have many pains gripes diseases yet live and recover again but the pangs are not so strong as to separate soul and body for then the man is gone So a carnal heart he may be troubled and have many gripes of Conscience and apply the promise Come to me you that be weary and so he may finde rest and as he recovers his peace his sin recovers its strength but when the pangs are so strong as to separate body and soul sin of nature which hath lived there now the man dies now the soul falls down indeed Now this effectual humiliation carries the soul unto Christ and hence Acts 26. 18. turned from the power of Satan to God Col. 1. 13. He hath delivered us from the power of darkness And hence Gal. 5. 24. They that be in Christ have crâ—eified the flesh as well as the affections and lâ—sts For if the Lord should only humble a man for the sins of a wicked life and some wants in the heart the Lord should only bruise Satans heel but never strike his head the Lord should slay the Aâ—alâ—kites but spare the Agag 't is true the Lord usually at first conversion sets one sin upon the soul that brings to minde many other and the Lord humbles for them and here the soul is apt to rest as many do but when the Lord comes indeed to work he cuts thus deep as now I speak 1 Cor. â—5 'T is said The Lord must reign till all his â—nemies are put under his 〈◊〉 Look therefore as this sin is the greatest enemy Christ hath so if he reigns in heaven he will be sure above all other sins to strike the head of this and disthrone this and wâ— shall find that there may be deep terrors upon the false hearted Virgins but they only assault the soul So on Saints but Christ then strikes at the sin and saves the soul Isai. 57. 16 17. And this I add there may be a great power of Christ put forth to humble the soul but mens hearts resist this and even Pharaoh was humbled but it s never saving unless it strike the very power and throne of sin and so this sin and now the soul is humbled indeed IV. That no unregenerate man ever had such a measure of humiliation as ascended to and ended in this though he may have all that Humiliation which is precedent unto this As 1. The Lord may arm first some few and then many of the sins of their lives upon them so as they may feel the most intollerable burthen of them not only to stand convinced they are most grievous sinners but to shed many tears nay to be sore troubled and distressed oh the heavy wrath that lies upon my soul Thus Saul 1 Sam. 28. 15. And hence many make heavy complaints oh the Lord hears me not Send for Moses saith Pharaoh My sin is grâ—â—â—er than I can â—ear saith Cain Nay not only so but they may feel more terrors â—han many of the Saints as the damned now for the Lord lays this burthen upon his peoples backs in measure but the Lord empties out the whole sack upon them and the ground of this is but the sting of sin or the gnawings of particular sins in the Conscience not the burthen of the sin of nature as yet 2. You will say these fell from God never looked to Christ not left their sin but I have done so I have seen the mercy of God in the Gospel the Lord Jesus hath been revealed there and I have seen sin I must part with my sin if ever I have him and so I have And this you may have you may see an excellency in Christ and be so affected with hope of his mercy and melt at the thoughts of his Love as to cast off all outward evils that thou hast or the world lives in 2 Peâ— 2. 20. So that thou maist escape these by coming to him to remove them and by seeing that else thou shalt have none of him and hence hated thou maist be of the world The reason is Christ hath only washed thy skin but never changed thy nature as yet so that you may thank God my Conscience is clear 3. You may have not only outward acts but for a time inward lusts quenched that a man hath no mind nor heart to any sinful way nor to the dearest sins he hath lived in whilst horrour lies upon him As in Iudas when God did heaâ— his
the finding of the Pearle Maâ— 13. 45. III. He so beholds him in his Glory as that he now esteems of him in all his Glory For a Balaâ—â—â— may see the Glory of the Tents of Israel and the Star of Iacob but they esteem not of him in all his Glory The damned in Hell see a Glory in Christ else they would never grieve for the loss of him but 't is only in regard of somthing in Christ delivering Saints from sorrows they feel Nay many Reprobates under a lively Ministry shall see some Glory in Christ and in Saints to think them the happy men yet not esteem of him in all his Glory but 't is otherwise here The Lord ariseth as the Sun upon the earth which makes all things that have any Glory to appear therein and it puts a Glory on every thing that was hid before So Christ puts a Glory on every thing of himself So that 1. The soul sees a Glory in the Grace of Christ Iohn 1. 14. For the Glory of Christs Person is not seen without these excellencies Luke 1. 46. My soul 〈◊〉 the Lord. 2. A Glory in the Holiness of Christ Isa. 6. 3. Especially to consider it 's in him to make me holy 2 Cor. 3. 18. 3. A Glory in his Covenant and Promises Psal. 45. 1 2. Oh that all those Promises might be made good to me This is all my desire 2 Sam. 23. 5. 4. A Glory in the Government and Commands and Will of Christ. Oh if once I could in every thing give content to his heartâ— Psal. 19. 10. Thâ—t the soul had rather lose all than cross his will in a small thing seeing a Glory in the least Truth in casting off a Ceremony c. Zach. 6. 13. 5. A Glory in all the Ordinances of Christ. Oh how amiable are thy Taâ—ernacles oh God! Oh the Fellowship of Saints Oh the peace on Sabbathâ— 6. A â—lory in all his carriage Let him bless me with outward estate though but a little This is the allowance that Christ in Glory provides for 〈◊〉 Let him threaten me good is the Word of the Lord. Let him desert me his anger is love Oh that is Glorious Let him take all from me reproach me Moses esteems Christs reproach greater riches than Egypt which is our estate here It sees a Glory in all Christs waies and quiets it self here it is the Lord as Eli said Thus Saints see and esteem of Christ in all his Glory and we shall find a false heaâ—t ever falls short here a sincere heart never but commonly is so taken up with it that if you ask suppose you should have all Grace Holiness Promises of Christ c. Would not this be mercy Yes enough I should then boast in him and bless him for ever And hence Christ is called Lâ—ke 2. 33. the Glory of Israel because they so esteem him And Isa. 28. 5. In that day the Lord shall be a Diadem of Glory Others may in horrour priâ—e Christ above the world but 't is only to ease them IV. I add he esteems him thus 1. As his present good so that if the Lord doth withdraw or deny himself now unto him noâ—hing in this world can for the present quiet him Ier. 50. 4 5. Hence those in their judgments acknowledge Christ the greatest good and when they are dying and see he will be so at last day yet now for the present a little more liberty in sin sloath lust honour gain Lots large accomodations are 〈◊〉 You never saw him Oh vile world the Lord will one day condemn 〈◊〉 out of thine own mouth thy own will was more dear to thee than his this worlds ease better than his peace c. When you 〈◊〉 on your Death-beds you esteem him then Why Because serves your turn then Hence before you did not 2. As the greatest good Deut. 33. 26. Ier. 10. 7. Hence those that see some good in Christ and desire him and offer fair for him but prize him not as the greatest good And hence with the young man though content to part with somwhaâ— not with all they will cast their rags down at Christs feet and intreat him to take away their sins but will not cast their Crowns down the deaâ—est things they have And hence the thorny-ground-Profesâ—ors ever fall away The good things of this world which they forsook in time of persecution were dearer than Christ and hence they fall away 'T is a dishonour to a King to be valued as other men are Zach. 11. 12 13. 3. As the only good Isa. 24. 23. The Sun shall be confounded c. And though other things may steal into their hearts for a time yet they recover themselves this is the one thing Psal. 27. 4. that they beg in this life And hence do fall short 1. Those that esteem Christ as men do Merchandise they would fain have it but are loath to fetch it Men may esteem Christ as they think the only good but herein their falseness appears that they neglect means to it because they have some good else to quiet them And here is condemned all lazy Profession 2. Those that would have Christ and esteem him highly and use means for him diligently but they must have Christ and world and lust and ease too Christ to quiet their Consciences and the world their hearts Christ to rest on when their duties fail them and world to rest in when the Consolations of Christ are denied unto them The Lâ—â—d is good go up and possesse it 1. But do the Saints come to this pitch 2 Cor. 4. 3. If our Gospel be hid 't is hid to them that be lost Who are those from whom Christ is hid When is he hid When his Glory is hid I know Saints may feel a want of and mouâ—r for it but it will appear if they are the Lords at some time Nay this they will find some and much contempt remaining which they oppose yet this is here and at parting times it is seen â— But Saints cannot know this Yes as well as they can know their contempt by means of Gods Spirit he 〈…〉 carried from one contrary to another shall know it â— But Hypocritâ—â— may attain to this â— Then the â—ospel may be revealed to an hypocrite and to them that are â—ost 2. Then they may believe for to them only the Lord is precious 1 Pet. 2. 7. Then a 〈◊〉 is preâ—â—ous when we value it according to the worth of it Now the Lord is the greatest and only goodâ— and then when we esteem him so this is the 〈◊〉 of Believeâ—â— only 3. Then Christ may be a 〈◊〉 Treasure For that is our treasure which we esteem most 4. Then a carnal heart may honour Christ with one of the highest degrees of honour which consists in this high esteem Luke 1. 46. My soul magnifies the Lâ—â—d 5. Observe we thaâ— never any lost Christ but because they undervalued him
they could why do men on their death-beds then prize it then pray then hear then oh a little mercy then send for Moses then the Lord is righteous and if he shew mercy never such a pattern as I because now death and Christs coming is near you do therefore undervalue the gain of Ordinances because of this if you did you would glory in nothing but the Lord Ier. 9. 21 23. 5. Why do men go up and down without any assurance of the Lords love or the truth of any grace and that after conviction why do men upon their death-beds seek for it and then fall a searching and then open their estates and then desire peace because the coming of the Lord is near you put the day of the Lord far from you if you saw it near you would get on your armor in readiness against the day of battel if your Husband be at door you would get on your apparel Psal. 89. 46 47 49. 6. Why is so much time spent unfruitfully that a Christan is not abundant in doing and receiving good who is the better for thy speeches for thy prayers for thy example when Moses Psal. 90. had numbered mens days then v. 17. stablish thou the work of our hands upon us Look upon a Christian at first conversion he thinks he shall not live long it 's strange to see what prayers what tears how fruitful how diligent he is Oh therefore see your sore this day 't is nigh almost O therefore up and be doing SECT IV. OH therefore if ever you would be freed from this infectious this damning sin and plague of security make the coming of the Lord near unto you and come you near unto it be ever near it number your days they are soon told over and often think of your latter end when the Bridegroom comes for this will awaken you out of your secure fits and make you fall hard to your work First This will make you do much work for the Lord in a little time when Moses was to be gathered to his Fathers now he provides for the Church now he instructs the people more than ever concerning their eâ—â—ates c. Secondly It will be very sweet it is but a very little while though it be bitter and it will put strength to do it work is wearisom for want of strength so Christ's work is wearisom because we want strength now this doth put strength into the soul Iam. 5. 8 9. Thirdly It will be very glorious works even of dying men are very glorious and successful Speeches of living yet dying Christians sink deep for then God is near unto us when we are near unto him and see things as they are and hence such speeches are commonly blest to men the speeches and works and carriages of Christ were never so glorious as when most near his end SECT V. Object BUt should â— Christian in Christ use this as a motive to stir up his heart or no this is mockery this Philosophy sends men to doth Divinity do so a Christian must be acted by love not fear Answ. 1. That which God hath sanctified for this end we may make use of for the attainment of it now God hath sanctified afflictions death and the fear of them for this end to awaken the secure sinner Iehosaphat fears and proclaimeth a fast Noah feared and built an Ark Christ himself to the Church of Sâ—rdis to awaken her professeth he will come as a thief in the night suddenly 2 Pet. 3. If the heavens shall be dissolved what manntr of persons should we be It is true it is hypocrisie for a man to be led only by fear but it is prophaness the original of the Sadduces not to be terrified at all it is not hypocrisie to be awakened partly by fear to the apprehension of these things for God hath sanctified them for this end and though these do not work grace where there was none before barely yet the awakening of conscience is that whereby the Lord prepares for grace and this is good in its kinde and it stirs up grace where it was before as here this cry makes the Virgins to kindle their oyl and set that a burning Objection 2. But the time is not near Should I apprehend an untruth Answ. It may be 't is near the apprehension of this is not false and this the Lord gives verse 13. as the ground of constant watch for you know not when he comes now if men love their goods they will watch 2. It is near if you had but wisdom to see into eternity and the nature of time you would say so also Psal. 90. 4. A thousand years are but as yesterday and as a watch in the night Vers. 5. our time is as a sleep short and vain Ver. 6. it is but as a flower of one days glory nay it is but as a thought vers 9. It is so when you see things as they are and you will account it so Oh therefore let me beg this of you make Christs coming and death near to you thaâ— you may be delivered from your dead palsies deep slumbers and dying sick sleeps especially seeing the signs of the Lords coming to reckon with you do you think to escape Masters that betrust Servants with most will they call others to account to whom they have betrusted less and not you what people under heaven be trusted with more mercies and liberties than we and do you think he is gone to a far Country and will never return He let Palatine and other Churches enjoy the means long he summons them to an account by famine sword and pestilence wilde beasts and cruel Souldiers and shall he never ride in his circuit this way yes verily Do you boast in the goodly stones of this Temple If the Lord by your security be despised and his Messengers and Ordinances and Kingdom he will not leave one stone upon another When will this be not yet that 's true yet awake at the signs of it Mat. 24. Wars rumors of wars famine aerthquakes deceivers that come in the name of Christ Apostacy of Professors whence many comâ— to be offended Divisions and scatterings of one Brother against another Iniquity abounding in the World and Love growing cold in Churches If these be not amongst us now we have the less cause to fear if so have we not cause to awake one hour considering our time is nigh if not yet Christs time is nigh of coming to particular persons SECT VI. Quest. HOw shall I make it near Answ. Truly till the Lord teach us the number of our days we can never do it yet three things do First Convince thy soul of the sin and evil of looking after to morrow and reaching after that time which is to come Prov. 27. 1. 1. It is none of thine â— Nothing draws the heart so much from God 3. You will never find what you expect hence these are lying vanities therefore come not
he and others were the off-scouring of the world and this was their glory vâ—rse 16. Look upon Christ himself he had as much excellency as could be yet he cast it off despised all the glory of the world was a worm and no man he professeth he sought no â—onor of men â—ut the will of him that sent him this was his glory 2. Look upon the excellency of your estate in Christ 1 Cor. 2. 21. Glory not in men for all things are yours take any Prince that hath a Kingdom will he house in a cottage or spend his time and care to thatch and repair that no all the Kingdom is mine and hence he will have Kingly thoughts and Kingly aims and ends and acts that ennoble him indeed So here 2 Cor. 5. 9. Knowing we have a house above that there is but a breath between us and glory we labor are ambitious that whether absent or present to be present to be accepted of him The very reason why the hearts minds lives of men are so debased as to seek their glory in that which is their shame is this they know no better estate no greater glory the God of glory and Kingdom of glory and promise of glory and Ark and Cherubims and Oracles of glory in Christ have been to this day hid from their eyes hence Heb. 12. 2. Christ for the joy set before him despâ—sed the shame 3. Make the Lord present with you and see him shine about you in his glory when poor men come to the Court and see no King there they bow down to his Chair whereas if he was seen he should have all the honor then so when men see creatures but see them like empty chairs the God of glory not filling of them we bow down to creatures but when God is seen now the soul gives all glory to him a man that lives without any in his house as chief all servants attend on him but when the Prince comes with his train now all his Servants with himself are too little to attend on the Prince so here when men come to pray or preach or speak Oh how doth a wicked heart seek it self but when the Lord is seen now all attend on him hence when God sends his people to honor him he first appears to them in his glory and it never is long out of their minds hence Abraham forsook his own Country Acts 7. Moses forsook Egypt he saw God invisible Heb. 11. 26 27. Psal. 22. ult All nations shall remember and turn to the Lord when the Lord is seen all our glory is shame Isa. 6. and now glory in that and make him as present as at the last day then all shall fall down before him 4. See how every service you perform unto him every act of holiness quickned by the Spirit of life is pleasing to him if a Prince be with a man and cannot be pleased nothing can content him or we hear not one word from him whether we please him or not we shall grow weary of him at last but to consider this he that serves me him will my father honor that every cup of cold water shall have a Disciples reward that every groan shall be heard that what you do to one of these little ones you do it to Christ and Christ takes it as kindly as done to himself that the Lord remembers the love of your eâ—pousals Ier. 2. when you follow him in a land not sown that the comfort of all your labors tears sufferings shall follow you to heaven and for ever lodge in that blessed brest of thine Oh Brethren saith Paul always abound and spend your time here knowing your labor is not in vain in the Lord why do men seek to please men and place their glory there because men see and approve them Oh what is this to the approbation of a God SECT VIII OH then preserve this your glory when men have any thing in the world that is their glory their Crown their Treasure Oh they will keep that especially rather lose life than lose their names and glory in the world Oh preserve the spirit of holiness especially in these places this hath been this only shall be our glory and that not in name and yet dead but in deed and in power we have had our Christian conversation and that not by contenting our selves with a little but to be exactly holy a little spot is soon seen in your coat you shall observe it 1. When the Jews shall be made the glory of all the earth their glory shall not consist then in immediate Revelations but in Sanctification there shall be holiness and sanctification there shall be holiness on pots and horse bridles 2. When the Lord will be a defence to his people and a shadow from heat and from the Sun it shall be when the Lord hath purged away the filth of men by a spirit of burning not which burns up all holiness but filthiness and self-confidence in any holiness and hypocrisie and so they shall be holy Isa. 4. 3 4. 3. How many men stumble by opinions divisions c. the fruits of a corrupt head and streams of a dunghil heart that had rather live in sorrows among enemies than divisions among friends Oh the spirit of people as soon as any new Calf is made fall down and worship it and break the antient Land-marks which the Word hath set and then make prognostications of all ill weather to arise from opposing their opinion never shall our glory be recovered till these evils are confessed and lamented and the sin of the heart which begat them 4. I have wondred why so few be converted though blessed be God some the Lord doth pick out a few Servants Children and Natives is it not because either this exemplary holiness which is our glory is not or not so shiniâ—g but our lamps are dim Ministers preach and hearers are â—troubled but they then look upon scandals and offences from others and so are beaten off again Zach. 8. 20 21 22 23. Oh therefore preserve it 5. HOw will all the world ahhor the ways we walk in if we miscarry 6. God will have holy Churches he is refining the whole world now for that end and will do so more and more and go on SECT IX Quest. How shall we preserve it Answ. 1. Take heed of harboring an ill opinion of holiness for then if your judgements dislike it your tongues and your lives shall disgrace it Take heed of imagining that First there is no grace in Saints only immediate actings of the Spirit this is no spirit of holiness no more than in Baalams Ass through which God spake to him Secondly That these graces are only common who will seek much after that or esteem that which is but common this is to despise the Spirit to contemn the blood of the Covenant whereby the Church is sanctified Thirdly That grace is so dark and obsâ—ure a thing always as no
evidence can be had by it though it be peculiar grace this is a high degree of disgrace to the Spirit of Grace if one should say here is a man but believes not his testimony 't is doubtful and very questionable what ever he saith it is a dishonor to him take heed of this When the Spirit of Holiness comes to us in form it comes thus with little peace but when in power with much assurance 1 Thess. 1. 5. It is a sad thing if that which was the complaint of the Prophet shall be the complaint of the Spirit Who hath believed our report and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed 2. Take heed of decaying in a spirit of bounty and love and in largeness of heart to all the people of God nay to all men so far as you have time and strength let a man be never so great a Prince if he once lose his bounty he loseth his glory so here Isa. 58. 8. Give bread to the hungry then shall thy light break out of obscurity Many complain that New-England hath so little love Non-members not visited not regarded though many times unjustly Oh they thought to see so much love and care and pity but here they may live and never be spoken to never visited Oh take heed of this Nothing beautifies a Christian in the eyes of others more than much love hypocrisie is naught Oh excel here visit poor families sit one half hour and speak to discouraged hearts shew kindness to strangers such you were I le warrant God will bless you this was the glory of Christ full of grace and truth 3. Be very careful in receiving in of Members into Churches one ill man will be a spot and pollution to all the rest Iude 12. spots in your feasts you know how many come over how it begins to be pleaded for What not baptised and Professors and yet how many are disfigured therefore try them well take heed of thinking Elders or Churches are too strict Fourthly be much in prayer for the Churches Isa. 62. 7. Give the Lord no rest till he make Ierusalem the praise of the whole earth that 's the way do you see any sins in the Country go and stand in the gap with Moses and though the Lord offer to do good to you yet turn him not off so till he promise to relieve his poor Churches also beg and this will do it be much in fasting it is a shame for us who are laying the foundations of many generations not to be much with God in prayer and fasting and that when in other places there is so much sowing of this seed CHAP. X. Shewing that counterfeit Grace is not lasting VERSE 8 9. And the foolish said unto the wise Give us of your oyl for our lamps are going out But the wise answered saying Not so lest there be not enough for us and you but go you rather to them that sell and but for your selves SECT I. IN these words is set down the effect which this awakening cry took in the foolish Virgins only First They come to feel and so to complain of the want of oyl Secondly They petition the wise that they would give them of their oyl which latter is amplified in vers 9. from the answer the wise made unto them We shall open the words as we come to observe any thing from them and begin now with the complaint Our lamps are gone out or going out it is all one The wise Virgins lamps did grow dim but yet their oyl was not spent but here their oyl was spent and hence their Lamps were going out That counterfeit and câ—mmon grace of foolish Virgins after some time of glorious profession will certainly go out and be quite spent It consumes in the using and shining and burning Luke 8. 18. To him that hath shall be given but he that hath not shall be taken from him that which he hath Joh. 15. 2 6. Every branch in me that beareth noâ— fruit it withers then it is taken away and so it is consumed and in time burned and hence many that are first are â—n time last Matth. 9. 20. and many that are last first Men that have been most forward decay their gifts decay life decays and these are last and last are first many newly brought home to Christ excel them and live so and die so that one would think should never hold out I need not speak more Scripture is so abundant I say it is after some time of profession for at first it rather grows than decays and withers but afterward they have enough of it it withers and dies And look as it is with some bodies when they are healthful they grow by all means but when once Nature is spent and now declining nothing recovers them though they may be kept at a stay for a time but dye they will with their best cordials in their mouths so it is here For Explication of this Point we are to attend how and why this is thus and that not in the worst but in the best of the foolish Virgins First The Spirit of God comes upon many hypocrites in abundant and plentiful measure of awakening grace I say it comes upon them as it did upon Balaam Numb 24. 2. And as it is in overflowing waters which spread far and grow very deep and fill many empty places they fall upon the ground they come not from any spring within the ground and hence though they last not always yet they last some good time so it is here the Grace and Spirit of God come suddenly and plentifully upon many a man which gives them a time of flourishing it comes not from imitation or education or moral perswasion only but physically from the Spirit of God 1 Sam. 10. 12. when they wondred that Saul was among the Prophets one answered who is their father who gave them this gift of prophecy is it not the Lord so the fame Lord is rich to Saul also And I say it is only awakening grace for renewing grace savingly to change their nature is not given but awakening grace which works upon conscience and conscience upon the whole man and thus it was here with these Virgins they had wonderful light and a spirit of illumination to see the Lord Jesus and hence to look for him with much affection and forwardness as well as the wise and to keep them company in Church-fellowship and though they were secure to complain of their decays and desire the spirit of grace which they saw in the wise Secondly Though it doth come upon them thus yet it doth never rest within so as to dwell there to take up an eternal mansion for himself Isa. 11. 10. his rest shall be glorioâ—s Isa. 57. 15. This is a favor the Lord shews only to the 〈◊〉 above all people in the world besides Rom. 8. 11. If the Spirit which raised up Iesus Christ from the dead dwell in you it shall
the Lord hath given himself to thee and saith Suck my blood take my life and more I would have given and hast thou looked after Bathsâ—eba other lâ—vers and despise the Lord Oh say I have sinnâ—d and mourn for it 2 Sam. 12. 9. There are two evils in this 1. Forsaking thy own good nay blessednâ—ss Ionah 2. 8. own mercies 2. It is despising the Lord and his fâ—llowshâ—p for other things base things that whereas you shall be for ever beholding of him hereafter yet you should proclaim him not to be worth looking on now Object But I would have fellowship with the Lord and he will not Answ. First Never did any desire thy fellowship so much as the Lord when he wants it Secondly Nor love it and glad of it when he had it Thirdly Nor mourn and lament more when he wants it as Ier. 2. 2 5. God pleads for it Fourthly he calls to the heavens 2 Ier. 10 11. Did ever nation deal thus with Idols If this will not break thine heart for strangeness I know not what will do it It is your sin that breaks off communion not the Lords unwillingness SECT XI HEnce see the exceeding great worth and excellency of Iesus Christ and learn hence to esteem a right of him there is no blessedness in the fruition of all the creatures together good there is but noâ— blessedness or if there were yet it lies in many things no oneâ—hing noâ— twenty blessings can make blessed and it is but a broken blessedness in divers pieces or if there were a kind of blessedness to be found in one yet it is not a lasting blessedness it is so but for a time and so the loss of it at last will trouble us more than the having of it for a time But as he saith Iâ— him is light and no darkness blessedness and no misery peace and no trouble fulness and no want beauty glory and no blemish life and no death pure dear infinite love and no anger and it is in him alone Psal. 148. 13. His name alone is excellent all our glory and the glory of God also is met together in him all things iâ— one thing whatever good there is in other things it is borrowed from him base beggaâ—ly things but the fulness and plenty of all is in the Lord so that we shall not need to cumber our selves about unnecessary things we need not a candle when the sun shines and our last blessedness is here when every thing else will make them wings to hasten from us this will continue and last when all our vessels we are tossed in here are sunk and where our entertainment hath been very good yet the shore sinks not it is above over-whelmings here alone we are fast However the world sees not this because their blessedness lies in preserving themselves by creatures from feeling that misery which lies upon them now as also because they shall never share in it yet the Saints have been exceedingly taken with this that David accounted them blessed that might dwell in his Courts in this world Solomon was blessed that might but wait at wisdoms gates and so be ready to be received when they be opened Abraham rejoyced to see Christ's day afar off Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ great riches what did he then esteem of the presence of Christ here but what iâ— glory â—â— Think of this you that say you cannot finde in your hearts to esteem of the Lord Jesus especially let him be precious to you you espoused of the Lord for others may say he is precious but I shall never enter into this fellowship No no but you shall but he will take you to fellowship with himself It was a great favor to Moses Exod. 24. 1 2. when others might come towards the Lord yet Moses alone might only come near and he was in the Mount alone with God so that the Lord should let others come towards him but that you alone above many thousands in the world may be suffered to draw near to him this should make the Lord precious to you at least Lev. 13. 46. The Leper was to dwell alone without the Lord might have dealt so with thee but when thou wert vile indeed and most vile nay when thou didst separate thy self from thy self then for the Lord to come near thee and as if thou couldst never be near enough to manifest himself to thee forever in glory When David found out Meâ—hibosheth saith he What am I â— dead dog that I should sit at the Kings table 2 Sam. 9. 7 8. It was a great favor to Christ himself that when rejected of men yet that he was chosen of God and precious and taken up to him it may be thou thinkest thy self unworthy of fellowship of any man and men do or men man reject thee yet for the Lord now to receive thee it is much but whereas thou wert not only rejected of men but of God also Isa. 54. 6. now for Christ to take thee to him that as he lies in the Fathers bosom because thou couldst not for sin immediately lye there he should lay thee in his bosom and say Father love this soul as thou hast loved me Besides the Father took Christ because he had worth but for Christ to take thee when thou hadst no worthiness for one to take dross and prize it when others cast it away it is much it is no wonder if pearls be so esteemed of but for dirt to be prized Oh therefore let the Lord be precious and his fellowship precious to thee seeing thou and thy fellowship is so to him Object But I cannot believe it why should the Lord do so Answ. It is hard to believe it when we look upon our own vileness but consider the reason why the Lord doth this it is not because he loves any for fleshly respects as we do but First Because of his own grace and glory the Believer is infinitely beloved of him without moving him thereunto and hence if his grace be exceeding dear and his glory dear to him thou art so to him Secondly Christ loves not first because men are holy but that he may make them so Thirdly He loves because the father loves them SECT XII HEnce learn to be content with the Lord alone Heb. 4. 9. there is a rest hence labor to enter into it so if he will have rest and blessedness hereafter that you shall be content and for ever glad in him and with him alone Oh labor to possess this blessedness now You are in your worst condition now your best is behind shall the blessedness of thy best condition not be blessedness in thy worst condâ—tion unto thee shall that which satisfies thy soul in heaven not satisfie thy soul here Mosâ—s Deut. 32. 10. reckons this as the happiness of Israel viz. That God alone did lead them when they were in a wilderness a land of drought and pits and wants and the shadow of death
really and that in times of peace when he had far pastures and full cups Psal. 23. he saw the Lord as his Shepherd Ioh. 10. 1. who is known of his feeding leading restoring comforting by rods adhering to him in the valley of the shadow of death and then for outward things furnishing his table annointing his head giving necessities and superfluities he looked not only on second causes but saw God as really doing all these as carnal men see second causes doing these Nay he so sees the Lord as that he falls a wondering and indeed the Lord is never seen in his Providences till then as Manoah saw the Angel do wondrously Judg. 13. 19. Psal. 139. 14. Marvellous are thy works vers 17 18. How precious are thy thoughts â— he saw from the Lords works and gathered an idea of the thoughts of God so should we and hence when he did awake he was still with thâ— Lord the first thing that appeared was the Lord Psal. 73. 23 24 25. To the beasts the Lord is near but they cannot reflect upon their own actions much less upon the Lord The Heathens may see we are Gods off-spring and see God as a Creator at some times but let them that profess Christ see and finde out Christ as Mediaâ—or as Moses that desired to see the Lord passing by him whom he had seen a little before truly the Lord not only passeth by you but is with you proclaiming his name by the voyce of his Providence toward you patience pity love truth wisdom and yet truly this is very difficult and hard to see SECT XVI MEn see not Jesus Christ First Because second causes seem to work all this estate my friends gave me or my labor got me this house the Carpenter built for me these provisions my money bought for me and so the creatureslike broad leaves hide the boughs of the glory of God in Christ on which they grow and are opake and dense and not transparent through which the soul may see the glory of God abroad Secondly Because men have so many businesses and cares that they cannot have leasure really to see the Lord. Thirdly Because there is a malice in all mens hearts naturally which suffocates all that which may be known of him Rom. 1. 28. They delighted not to retain God in their knowledge the works of God grow vile and sordid through their commonness to them Fourthly Because men can live well enough without him hence like a childe at nurse that forgets friends and home because it is well enough without them thus mens minds are not fed with the thoughts of him Ier. 2. 6. Fifthly Because Nature never heard of a Mediator governing all their lives and comforts and all they see not all given them by the Almighty hand of Christ who hath all power given hiâ—â— in heaven and earth and who must reign not only friends till they are gathered but over his enemies also till they are subdued and to question this is to question Christ's sitting at Gods right hand He is owner of all and disposeâ— of all to the least growth of thy stature and the most careless fall of the least hair to do not only the greatest but the meanest offices of love for thee You say indeed you believe all is from Christ oh but you see it not come near therefore and see the Lord Deut. 8. 9. they were forty years a learning that Man lives not by bread nor is warmed by cloaths c. and though they had marâ—ellous wondrous works yet Deut. 29. To this day the Lord hath not given you eyes to see Oh therefore labor to see who it is that nurses you guâ—des you tends you leads you teacheth you lays you down and takes you up and let the works of Christ raise up your minds to the thoughts of Christ in heaven remembring thee in his Kingdom of glory who might forget thee and the poorer and smaller the mercy is the more do thou wonder that he should therein be a servant unto thee see all blessings growing upon this tree seated in the midst of Gods Paradise Rev. 22. 3 4. though thou layest thy head with Iacob upon stones and sorrows yet see this ladder of the Lords proviâ—ence towards thee common blessings sometimes descending sometimes taken ouâ— of thy hand and ascending and the Angels of God with thee ministring to thee but the Lord at the top of them the Lord his care his love in all and let not this be a dream but a reality to you It is a wonderful sin to be thus unmindful of Christ. 1. Because hence all whorâ—â—g from Christ ariseth Hos. 2. 8. Iudg. 2. 12. especially in times of peace 2. Hence the Lord is forced to hedge your wâ—y with thorns and to bring you to extremily of troubles that you may see the Lord Isa. 41. 17 18. nay sometime to bring ruine Isa. 5. 12 13. And truâ—y as it is a great sin so it is a very great shame Isa. 1. 2. The ox knows his ownerâ— is the Lord the owner of you and do you not know him when he comes by you and to you provides for you It is a worse thing saith Chysoâ—â—om to bâ— comparâ—d â—o a beast than to be so To let many days and streams of goodness pass by you and yet not to take any notâ—ce and still to be so far from the Lord I know in heaven this is perfected and then comes acknowledgement of the Son of God but here you may be near him I think unless the Lord did descend in cloudy pillars and of fire some men would never see him SECT XVII Secondly BE near him in his promises for Christ is near to us here also Rom. 10. 8. the word of faith is nigh thee so that you need not ascend to bring Câ—rist down from heaven c. When Parents are dead and gone children wâ—ll then search out their last Will and Testament and preserve that and keep that near them Christ draws near to his people 1. In his Promises according to his thoughts of them 2. In his performances joyning the soul immediately to himself and filling it with himself this we cannot enjoy yet the Lord laies it up in his promise which they have in liew of the performance Oh draw near not to words and syllables but to the Lord there apprehend him there as it is with the Attributes of God his Glory cannot be comprehended by us hence he manifests himself there according to our capacity God manifesting himself severally so in promises we cannot comprehend Christ as yet hence Christ manifests himself in his glory in several promises Oh embrace him there Heb. 11. 9 'T is not said that Abraham and Iacob were heirs of Canaan but heirs of the promise and Sarah first received her son in the promise so do you emâ—raâ—e Christ in the womb and bowels of the promises we live by faith in this life and hence all our enjoyment of Christ is
first in the promise First Labour to draw near unto and enjoy the Lord Jesus by the Promise Secondly Labour to enjoy him in the Promise First By the promise or by means of it all that which the Lord conveys to his is not by meeâ— providence but by promise Psal. 25. 10. He was free before their calling but now he hath bound himself by an eternal covenant to be all and do all for them Gen. 17. 1. So that the Saints may and should bring all their empty pitchers to the wells of the promise Isa. 12. 3. and draw out of thoâ—e breasts â— and get Christ Jesus Spirit in your hearts by them now some think the Promise is not theirs hence they go not thither for spiritual refreshments or at least they let other things come by providence especially common blessings without going to the promise for their daily bread or looking to the promise out of whose bowels they are begot Heb. 13. 5 6. the Apostle there sends them to the promise Or else they use not the means or faint in the use of it whereby they come to enjoy the Lord by his promise and that is restless wrestling with Christ by prayer for it Gen. 32. 12. Thou saidst I will surely do thee good He might have said I have a promise what need I pray or he might have said I had a promise of safe convoy but now I see the Lord is coming out to brâ—ak it and so he might have perished yet he prays and wrestles acknowledging himself unworthy of all the truth c. So Nâ—h 1. 8. Men have so little of Christ because so little of the Spirit of Prayer pressing Gods promise thou hast a barren empty weak heart because the promise is not improved as it should be Secondly Labour to enjoy him in the Promise sometimes the soul hath a Promise fair and seeks and finds not now the heart goes on to seek but is exceeding unbelieving or sad and troubled whiles it doth not feel and unthankful also and accounts it self miserable whiles it wants and so doth not glory in the Lord and his fulness which is his in the Promise unless he feels the good come from the promise like a man that doth not account himself rich while he hath it in his treasure a most safe and sure place where it is kept for him unless he gets a little out of it into his pockets and fears he shall be slain with thirst though he stands by the Spring and that be full if his dish be empty oh this is vile Heb. 11. 13. These received not the promise i. e. things promised yet saw them believed and embraced them i. e. in the promise You say you are sinful and born down by your distempers and base and poor I say you have power victory over all sin and misery and have eternal glory already in the promise only here is thy wound you think you want it because you have it not out of the promise though you have it in the swadling clouts of the promise lapt up there and by means of this sinful distemper of heart you partake not of Christ because you apprehend not your exceeding great riches in the promise 2 Pet. 1. 2. 2 Sam. 23. 4. God made an everlasting Covenant this is all his desire sweet was Davids spirit 2 Sam. 7. 22. Who is like to thee when he had no accomplishment of the promise Oh so do you say Heb. 6. 17. The Lord hath appointed we should have strong consolation by promise and oath not by dreams it was the complaint of Christ unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe so you call in question like Thomas unless you feel Oh close with the Promise keep it as most precious and then Psal. 25. 10. He saith not to them that keep their covenants or their feelings but his covenant as their portion and get the Lord to undertake to keep it for them and so make sure SECT XVIII 3. LAbor to be near the Lord in all his Ordinances also both privately and publickly for there is his presence Ezek. ult ult Psal. 26. 8. he not only loved Christ's presence but the place where it was it was an argument of his integrity Psal. 102. 13. They did love the dust of Sion never think there is a time of mercy till then First Be with him in secret as oft as you can prayer meditation daily calling your hearts to an account time hath been that you have been so when in affliction or at first conversion but now twenty hindrances and now you cannot only neglect but think you have reason so to do there have been tears and prayers and thoughts and pressings hard after the Lord but now no words nor groans you women have children to suck and families to tend you servants love your sleep rather than the bosom of Christ and though Conscience cry out against you for it yet you hope to be better one day and so you grow strangers to Christ and no publick Ordinances profit because private duties are neglected and thy heart like the sluggards garden is andressed is this to be as near the Lord as you can no if the Lord oves you look for the death of thy Husband Wife or Childe shortly look for terrors and then you shall account it an honor if you may but once more speak to the Lord. Secondly Be with him and as near him as you can in all publick Ordinances and not only to have them which some care not greatly for because they see no glory in them unless glorified souls should come out of heaven to be members and Moses and Elias to build tabernacles here and â—o be Elders but come through them look beyond them to the Lord look at them as empty and weak unless the Lord fill and be powerful in them David did enjoy God secretly yet there was more in publick hence Psal. 63. 2. The Saints are a generation of Seekers Psal. 63. My soul followeth hard afteh thee mercy and truth follows you many times when you forsake it Psal. 23. ult much more when you cleave to it Hezekiah's frame of heart Isa. 38. ult is imitable Act. 1. Christ promised to send the Comforter wait at Ierusalem as there they did in prayer and at last the Lord came You have forsaken all for Ordinances and now you have them you despise them I conâ—ess they are meer outsides yet the Lord is there there is a glory which wiâ—e men can see in Christ in the mangeâ— SECT XIX Fourthly LAbor by thy desires to be 〈◊〉 him Rev. 22. 20. So desire as to wait for thy change all thy life look for it 1 Theâ— 1. ult 1. Christ's desire is that thou wert with him when thou art ready and when thy work is done Oh let this make thee to desire it also 2. If you cannot keep your hearts from vain hopes and foolish and noysoâ— lusts without desiring him do not then desire
is an end of it then a man is stript naked of all his greatness and honor friends blessings and when a man sees an end and is come to an end of a sinful way now all a mans delights and hopes perish the beginning of a sinful course is sweet and beautiful like pictures seen afar off beautiful but the end is gal and woormwood for every sinful secure course is sweet in appearance or indeed if only in hope and conception as in a dream when the end comes all a mans hopes perish If indeed it hath been sweet now there 's the more grief now my heart my life my blood must be taken from me and what profit is there now in this my stubborn way when a man is sinking and the boat is breaking what a miserable wretch now Lord help hence Ezek. 7. 3 6. when an end is come now they fling their silver in the streets Oh the stumbling-block of mine iniquity verse 18 19. now they shall seek peace and shall not find it verse 25. now they shall seek a vision of the Prophet verse 26. Like a man that is drawn into a fair way and is out of that his way when he comes to an end and is forsaken of all and left in a wood now what 's the profit Because at his coming there is the entrance and passage into eternity and into an eternal state of weal or wo now though the apprehension of the end of a secure sinful way may and will awaken yet when eternity is apprehended it will amaze for this time is but a little spring or river which runs into eternity and carries all men living down with it to eternity Now when men see an end of time and the beginning of eternity and themselves posting thereto it is as when a man sees himself floating upon the waters where there 's no bottom and all stay gone though he hath been long secure now he will cry out if he sees it It is with men now as it is with those that are ready to be cast down from some Towr it makes the heart tremble oh where shal I alight oh it 's impossible but if men do apprehend eternity and that also near unto them but it will awaken them it will make a stout stony-hearted Saul to run to Urim it will make Kings and Princes run to Monasteries and men to Cells and Deserts It will make the proudest Felix tremble when Paul reasons of Judgement to come It 's usually the first thing that doth awaken the people of God eternity doth amaze them and them that have fallen to all â—asciviousness Oh eternity Because of the terror at the coming of the Lord Revel 6. ult to them that be unprovided and unprepared hence it is and will be when an evil is near fear will flie out Men as men will do it unless they be walking blocks and bruits For 1. Then they are to stand naked before the Lord so great and holy 2. Then they shall have all their sins set in order Psal. 50. 21. and especially those secret sins which they never saw and whereby they did perfect their own perdition 3. Then the final sentence past never to be recalled again and they shall know it for if there might be a day to repent then some hope but if not oâ— this awakens 4. Then to be surrendred up into the hands of Devils to be kept by that Jaylor in Prison 1 Pet. 3. 19. until the coming of the great day and so to be kept in their custody and to be in their fellowship looking back and mourning for time mis-spent looking to time to come shortly to meet my body and then to be parted for ever from the Lord oh when this evil is apprehended it will awaken a man to search and look about him SECT III. HEnce see a great cause of the deep and long security of many a man and that in Virgin-Churches under all awakening means Ordinances and Providences of God men put far from them this day of death and time of Christs coming they think seldom of it come not near to it nor make it near to them sometime they complain of a dead sluggish spirit secure heart and yet remain so and wonder sometime at the reason of it why it shou'd be so why this is one reason of it either you think not of this coming of the Lord or see it not near even at the door but number many days to your selves and this is the cause of it you do not lodge in nay look to your Coffins and walk to your graves side often and so stand there and hear the cry and see the Lord a coming there will be more in what I say than what you see at first blush of this truth but this I know and the Word proves it universal security ariseth from hence As for instance 1. Why do men minde the things of the world so much that there is such care for them such eager desire after them that many times prayer is neglected Sabbaths neglected when will they be at an end God neglected Souls of wife children servants a mans own soul neglected and overgrown with nettles that there is such an high opinion dreams of worldly goods and when a man hath them then at rest because with the glutton they think they have goods for many a year and hence we shall see when a man waketh death is near to him and when it is near to a man now he thinks he hath been deceived in all the things of the world that they are not good for him 1 Cor. 7. 29. The time is short and the fashion of the world passeth away Nothing makes these things so sought after and good but only esteem now this is because men look only to things present 2. Why do mens hearts sink with the meanness of their outward condition and the troubles of it for this is security it is because of this they do not remember the nearness of the coming of the Lord it is but a little while longer and then the God I have chosen will alone be sweet and he will make me amends for all my troubles and therefore let me bear up my head a little while Psal. 39. when Davids heart began to be troubled by seeing others prosperity his own misery Lord saith he make me to know my end and the measure of my days mine age is as an hand breadth hence ver 7. Lord what hope I for truly my hope is in thee 3. Why are men puâ—t up with their own excellencies and filled with such pride and high conceâ—â—s of themselves sometimes of their beauty sometimes of their apparel sometime their friends sometime their esteem and they value themselves much by this men consider not the coming of the Lord which shall stain the pride of all glory Isa. 23. 8. and that this time is near 4. Why do people complain they cannot prize the Lord or his Ordinances as
be called for out of the Word it is a way of works almost flat Popery in their books If Ministers have had the Spirit burning within them seeing people led from the truth and so speak against them that deceive them 't is passion and bitterness if they have sought to keep the hearts of Gods people close one to another the strong man then keeps the palace What should I name all Quest. But for what is it that they are thus sâ—andalized Ans. 1. For preaching that we are justified by Faith and that Faith is required to the entertainment of Christ as a condition of the Gospel here is not bread say men 2. For preaching that Sanctification is an evidence of Justification and though it be granted the Lord never justified any without a work of vocation at least and this is not against Gods Grace to justifie by Faith yet it is against Grace and 't is a way of works say some to see my self justified by Faith If the Word did reveal a second Justification by Faith and a first Justification without Faith then our first evidence might be without sight of Faith because there is some word which reveals our being Justified without it But the Word reveals all our Justification to be by Faith and thus for preaching the Gospel of Christ have the Servants of the Lord been reproached And though they keep it in yet how many are there whose hearts go after these detestable things 3. Some resist the Spirit by despising inwardly and so casting off the Word of the Lord Heb. 2. 2 3. if we neglect or slight so great salvation and when was the Gospel more slighted by many every thing we say is dear but Gospel which should make us mourn that ever it should be said so in this Country you despise the Spirit of God a man of greatness suffers by nothing so much as by contempt so it is with the Spirit of Grace And it is a thousand to one but that there will be something to make them despise at last the Lord himself But the Word comes thus to be despised and cast off SECT IX First PArtly by the false reports of others as if they were factious disturbers of peace men under a Covenant of Works c. It is the Jesuites policy to raise up lyes and though all will not beleive them yet some will stick Secondly Partly by covetousness the glory of the things of this world is greater than the glory of the Gospel tell them of living by Faith and Promises they deride you in their hearts tell them of a Kingdom and the excellency of holiness they slight them to be so rich and honored it is glorious indeed Luke 16. 14. The Pharisees scorned him because they were covetous Thirdly Sometime because Ministers and Ministry are Bills of charges to a congregation and are too costly inhabitants among them Fourthly Partly because of ignorance of the truth why was Paul's Ministry foolishness it was a mystery so many come and understand not the truths preached they be too high points for them to conceive of let truth be never so precious they esteem it not because they know it not Fifthly Partly because they have known all that our Ministers do preach before which is now like flowers and roses withering which were flourishing heretofore Capernaum despiseth that which Sodom would not and Tyreâ— and Sidon would have repented at and say They can do as well themselves as this and better Sixthly Partly because Ministers are so long at it and that may be delivered in one hour which is stood upon an hour and half and they wonder men preach so little and yet so long which argues contempt and that every truth is not precious Men cry not out of men when they are telling money to them many hours and yet this is more precious Eutychus grows sleepy thank Paul for preaching so long and falls down thank long Sermons for that This is the sinful language of some Seventhly Because they cannot profit by them hence when they should mourn for themselves they despise the truth of the Lord Mic. 2. 7. are not my words good to him that walks uprightly Eighthly Because some have weaker gifts than others And thus I say the Ministry of the Lord and his Spirit is despised Mat. 18. 8. Take heed you despise not little ones for Angels behold them Oh what is it then to despise the Spirit himself And thus I say the Spirit of God is resâ—sted go home therefore and mourn and consider 1. The time is already set the Spirit will not alway strive and time may come that it will go from you and never return to you more 2. Fire will come out of their mouthes Rev. 11. 5. 3. The Ministry shall be taken from you and your children Act. 13. 46. 4. The Spirit it self shall torment you Isa. 63. 10. SECT X. OF Exhortation Oh therefore if ever you would have the Spirit dispensed to you wait here upon the Ministry of the Gospel for it neglect not private helps books and meditations c. but know if ever you have it dispensed here it is chiefly to be had buy at this shop Do you not find parched dryed up hearts the Spirit of God is gone from men and this verily is the cause of it what consolations what peace what glory from the Spirit of all comfort of peace and glory might men have but for this Obj. But I may never get this Spirit Ans. Yes Heaâ— and your souls shall live Isa. 55. 3. for to reprobates the Lord never gives an ear what a comfort is this you cannot help your selves to look to Christ to come to Christ hear him then when he is come to thee Rom. 11. 7 8. he hath given them ears not to hear and usually the first work of the Spirit in the soul is to give an ear the Lord awakens that to 〈◊〉 that never regarded any thing before and then something enters first or â—ast SECT XI Quest. HOw shall I so hear as to receive the Spirit Answ. 1. Get a deep sence of your wants particularly and distinctly before you come if a man comes to the Market and 〈…〉 his Family wants he will never come and buy of them that sell a poor man if he comes into a rich shop hath a mind to buy all the commodities he sees if he had money but if it may be had without money he will take them gladly Matth. 11. The poor receive the Gospel I am perswaded that this is the great cause why scarce any buy here they know not their need of every truth hence Isa. 50. 4. He hath given me the tongue of the learned to preach a Word in season to the weary the Lord will do it in season when the heart is weary of its own deceit and ignorance and all carnal contents and blessings and sins now the Lord Jesus must speak at last let a people be more weary of outward
miseries than of inward they will not regard Moses by reason of anguish of spirit this keeps off many a man either he feels only outward miseries his mind is broken with cares how shall I live with losses and crosses Family is sick Cattel die Servants are untoward and unfaithful his drink is turned to water and the English flower is gone his Friends respect him not his acquaintance grow strange these things lie more heavy than sin 2. Pray before you come for as it is in men that trade their Servants are ready to let out their commodities but ask the Master first whether he will sell them or no to you so ask the Lord first Ministers are but Servants under the Lord it is not as they will but as the Lord will dispence Matth. 11. 25. I thank thee that thou â—ast hid these things from the wise and prudent though Christ himself preached Oh therefore looâ— up to the Lord Oh Lord let not thy Gospel be a hidden thing from mine eyes I am perswaded you should see strange things and grow up more and more if thus you did When Christ told them that the Spirit should come he bids them wait for it and they continued instant in 〈◊〉 Act. 1. 4. and then the Spirit of God came upon them though exâ—raordinarily yet here ordinarily Psal. 51. Lord cause me to hear the voyce of joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce and hence the Lord complains Isa. 50. 3. Why when I came was their no intercessor as if he should say he would have given them help else Oh therefore before you come and when you come pray Lord speak pray all the week long that there may be some Sabbath mercies for you 3. Give the Lord the price of his Gospel men that come to buy must give the price Zach. 11. 12. And God will not let you have any thing without price give away all thou hast when thou comest to hear to the Lord let him pluck or take any thing from thee only let him not take away himself and his Spirit prize the least truth above all the world as indeed it is better the Lord may else deny these pearls to you Heb. 4. 2. The word did not profit because not mixt with faith and â—hat is the property of that vide 1 Per. 2. 5 6. To him that believes the Lord is precious it makes Christ precious and every truth precious and when the Lord himself is precious the Spirit is sent Joh. 14. 17. whom the world cannot receive because they know him not Oh he is not sweet not precious to them Three things are here to be laid out and given to God at the hearing of the Word 1. Thy Thoughts let a man have never so much meat if he feed not upon it never will he have spirits thereby therefore while hearing time lasts be taken up with those things you hear be in them that your profiting may appear to all you know not so much but that there is more yet to be known 2. Thy Heart Love it Christs love was so great as to shed his blood that he might purchase this Word of his Gospel for thee and wilt not thou let thy love out of thy heart to it when it is for thee 3. Labor labor for the Spirit here as for the meat that endures for ever Ioh. 6. â—7 Christ will give it you spare no pains and labor upon it to enjoy and be eternally advantaged by it Thus much of the Second thing in this Second Part of the Parable Now the Third follows viz. The Coming of Christ himself CHAP. XVI Concerning Christs Coming SECT I. NOw this coming of Christ is set forth and amplified from two things 1. From the time of his coming While the foolish went to buy he came 2. From his different entertainment of the Virgins and carriage towards them being come First The wise they went in with him to the Mariage Secondly The foolish were shut out c. By this coming of the Lord is as hath been oft said meant the coming of Christ to Death or Judgement but especially and principally his coming to Judgement as may appear by the whole series of this Chapter and the next wherein the Lord answers to the second question of the Disciples viz. the signs and â—â—me of his coming i. e. his second coming which is called his coming to judge the the world c. That there is and shall certainly be a Second coming of Christ to Iudgement This truth the Prophets have foretold Enoch Iude 14. Solomâ—n Eccles. 12. ult Rom. 14. 11. with Isa. 45. 23. The Apostles have preached thus as 2. Cor. 5. 10 and it was ever in their eye and the main part of their Ministry when they pressed people to believe in Christ as a King where is he He shall come they tell the unbelieving world Angels also have published this Act. 1. 11. and Devils beleive this who are in their chains bound over to that day and all the Saints have looked for this 1 Thess 1. 〈◊〉 and hence promises of mercy at that time are made to such Heb. 9. ult And lastly the consciences of many wicked people have confessed this Paul preacheth of Iudgement to come and Felix trembles and Heb. 6. 5. divers felt the powers of the world to come and by judgements on them have been made to know that he is the Lord. SECT II. Quest. 1. BUt when shall the Lord Iesus come Ans. In general when all the Eâ—â—ct are gathered under the wings of Christ hence Matth. 24. 22. For the elects fake those days shall be shortned i. e. an utter ruine of all had then come but for them and therefore when they are once collected the Lord will come and hence in particular Judgements the Lord doth thus only a few Elect keep a whole land from being utterly wasted Isa. 6. ulâ— 1 Cor. 15. 23 24. first Christ is quickned i. e. in soul and body raised then those that are Christs at his coming and then comes the end and hence the tares are spared lest in pulling up them the wheat also be plucked up Now as for setting down the particular time the Lord Jesus doth it not in this Chapter onely gives some signs of it by which we may give certain credit that it is not far off as of the death of a crazy man and there are two that are not yet accomplished 1. The destroying of Antichrist at least in the principal power of it and throne of it 2. The calling of the Jews Rom. 11. who must have a great day of it again which dry bones shall live and their restoring a kinde of resurrection and life from the dead Some have thought two thousand years before the Law and under the Law and under Christ and then when these six days of a thousand years a piece are ended comes the great Sabbath this is already proved to be false in the