for himself Prov. 16 4. In them who are not obedientially conquered by his kindenesses he will be glorified Proud hard-hearted Pharaoh stubbornly withstood all the assaults of God made upon himself and his people both by plagues and deliverances yet God saith Exod. 14. 4. I will be honoured upon Pharaoh and upon his host And those who are made obedientially fruitfull by the showres and Sun-shine of divine indulgence they being filled with the fruits of righteousnesse are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God Phil. 1. 11. So that all administrations doe at last determine and center in the honour of the most high God who is the authour and orderer of them Yea beyond the duties of obedience the welfare and happinesse of them who are sincerely obedient both here and hereafter is ordained and intended by God himself as an end subordinate unto his own eternall praise Oh that there was such an heart in them saith the Lord that they would keep all my commandments alwaies that it might be well with them Deut. 5. 29. And the Apostle having provoked the believing Romans unto the work of sanctification addeth these words Ye have your fruit unto holines and the end everlasting life Rom. 6. 22. Having premised these cautions these propositions to prevent misapprehensions and that the meaning of my Text and Doctrine might be truly understood I proceed unto the Application thereof which is the second thing promised in the prosecution of the point The improvement of this seasonable instruction thus far unfolded Vse is that which I had principally in mine eye in the choice of this Text and I pray God so to assist me in this last and the greatest part of my Sermon that I may reach your hearts unto your edification and spirituall advantage All that I shall say by way of Use I will give in under these three heads 1. Information 2. Reprehension 3. Exhortation The two former sorts of Uses I shall dispatch quickly but I shall crave leave to enlarge the last because most profitable and most pertinent unto this Congregation and most conducing to promote the realizing of those praises which this day we present unto our God Hence it naturally and necessarily follows That the disobedience Information of those persons is most abominable and inexcusable who have been under the most and best administrations of the Almighty Such offenders doe not only violate the Laws of Soveraignty but of Amity Their neglects their miscarriages are not only undutifulnesses but unthankfulnesses and unkindnesses It is here considerable how the holy Ghost doth ordinarily cast this circumstance as a loading aggravation upon the sins both of Nations and persons to break their hearts in the deepest humiliation and to justifie God in his sharpest corrections Thus Samuel 1 Sam. 12. 6. sets upon unsubdued Israel 1 Sam. 12. 6. And Samuel said 7. unto the people It is the Lord that advanced Moses and Aaron and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt Now therefore stand still that I may reason with you before the Lord of 8. all the righteous acts of the Lord which he did to you and to your fathers When Jacob was come into Egypt and your fathers cried unto the Lord then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell 11. in this place c. And the Lord sent Jerubbaal and Bedan and Jephthah and Samuel and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side and ye dwelled safe Here is the commemoration of mercies Now follows the sin therby aggravated And 12. when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you ye said unto me Nay but a king shall reign over us when the Lord your God was your king Beloved I may not spend time in paralleling these passages with Gods providences towards this poor Kingdom and this Kingdoms miscarriages towards the Lord. Do it your selves I pray you and I doubt not but the serious doing of it will be advantagious both in the advancing of our God and in the abasing of our selves before him Englands deliverances and mercies Londons deliverances and mercies have been more and greater then of other Kingdoms and Cities therefore Englands sins and Londons sins are more hainous horrid high provocations of the most high God And as the evils of a people are thus aggravated by the Lord so are the offences of particular persons also In this manner Samuel greatens the disobedience of King Saul 1 Sam. 15. 16. 1 Sam. 25. 16. 17. Then Samuel said unto Saul Stay and I will tell thee what the Lord said unto me this night When thou wast little in thine own sight wast not thou made the head of the tribes of Israel and the Lord anointed thee King over Israel And the Lord sent 18. thee on a journey and said Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites and fight against them till they be consumed VVherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord but 19. didst flie upon the spoyl and didst evil in the sight of the Lord I will not glosse upon this Scripture which might truly be applied unto many of the richest and chiefest rank in this City but I humbly beseech you to remember from what low and little beginnings the Lord hath advanced many of you and then reflecting upon your lives consider what account you can give unto his Majestie for your obedience or for your disobedience rather to his holy Commandments Yea this course God hath been wont to take with his own dearest servants to work them unto true repentance Davids scandalous fals are well known I might say they are ill known by too many who thence take encouragement to offend and I believe you are not ignorant of that course which his God took by Nathans ministery to present his sins as very sinfull in his own sight 2 Sam. 12. 7 8. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel I anointed thee king over Israel and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul And I 2 Sam. 12. gave thee thy Masters house and I gave thee the house of Israel 7. and of Judah and if that had been too little I would moreover 8. have given unto thee such and such things Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord to doe evil in his sight 9. c. Herein herein lies the aggravation Wherefore hast thou Thou so preserved thou so preferred How canst thou answer this Give me leave to touch one instance more which I doe the rather adde because it concerneth men of mine own cloth and calling that you may be convinced We Ministers desire to aggravate our own faults by the self-same circumstances whereby we greaten yours Eli his sinfull indulgence to his wicked sons is notorious now mark how a Messenger from the Lord paints out this his
Reall Thankfulnesse OR A SERMON PREACHED In PAVLS Church LONDON Vpon the second day of November 1645. At a Publike Thanksgiving for the taking in of the Towns and Castles of Caermarthen and Mounmouth in Wales it being the first LORDS-day after the inauguration of the Right Honourable Thomas Adams now Lord Major of that famous City By Simeon Ash Preacher at Basingshaw London and one of the Assembly of Divines PSAL. 50. 14. Offer to God thanksgiving and pay thy vows unto the most high PSAL. 50. 23. Who so offereth praise glorifieth me and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God LONDON Printed by G. Miller for Edward Brewster at the Sign of the Bible on Ludgate-hill neer Fleet-bridge M. DC XLV TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE THOMAS ADAMS Lord Major of the famous City of LONDON together with the right worshipfull the Aldermen and Sheriffs thereof Right Honourable WHen I prepared this Sermon to attend your commands it was very farre from my purpose or thoughts to make it more publike then in the Pulpit And although I finde in my self an utter aversnesse in many regards to appear in print yet your Lordships earnest desire which I account a command set on by the sollicitations of some others hath conquered my unwillingnes to transcribe this Sermon for the Presse I presume upon this Dedication not only because the Sermon was preached and is printed at your command but also that I might hereby make an open gratefull acknowledgement of your love divers waies expressed towards me My Sermon is for substance the self same which you heard I know not any one particular head which I have either added or diminished only some phrases are changed for my memory could not reach the same expressions and the words of Scripture-quotations are given in more largely then when I preached My subject is seasonable for these times wherein the Lord hath been pleased to give us in this City occasion to celebrate many daies of Thanksgiving The practice of our praises is that which God expects and I perswade Vnto how many in our Assemblies when we meet to sing praises may our God say Quid verba audio cum facta video This people draweth nigh to me with their mouth and honoureth me with their lips but their heart is farre from me Loquere ut te videam Let your lives answer your language When shall your works witnesse your thankfulnesse My Lord I have often heard you use these words Quid retribuam Domino Give me leave to be your Lordships remembrancer your obligations to the Lord are now much increased and with them God hath added opportunities of more puhlike service to himself Divine providence hath set you in a place of Honour Authority and Trust wherein much is expected from you Magistratus virum indicat A man is that in truth which he is when tried The world will judge of you for the future according to this years service You be likely to meet with many temptations to draw you aside both to the right hand and to the left but I beseech you remember whose you are and unto whom you must give a strict account of all your waies Advance God in your hearts design the welfare of Sion consult most with them who counsell from God and for God according to his Word and I beseech you all often and seriously minde your selves and remember others of the solemn Nationall Covenant that the Almighty may not be further provoked by the neglect and violation of it For the Sword under which we smart and bleed doth avenge the quarrell of Gods Covenant Lev. 26. 25. Therefore let every one thus speak unto the Lord Praise waiteth for thee ô God in Sion and unto thee shall the vow be performed Psal 65. 1. I will sing praise unto thy Name for ever that I may daily perform my vows Ps 61. 8. Right honourable and right worshipfull the Lord hath conjoyned you as brethren in the great work of the Government of this renowned City I pray God you may be of one minde soul and way for the true welfare thereof and for the incouragement of all such in it who sincerely seek to set up the holy government of Iesus Christ in whom I am Your humble Servant SIMEON ASH Thanksgiving realiz'd PSAL. 105. 45. That they might observe his statutes and keep his laws THis Psalm is Eucharisticall and this day is a day of Thanksgiving therefore the subject of the Psalm and the service of the day doe well sute In the Psalm the high exercise of praising God is First commanded and partly directed in the four first verses O give thanks unto the Lord c. Secondly Perswaded in the remaining part of the Psalm The arguments used to presse Gods people unto this Angelicall imployment are considerable under two heads 1. The quality and variety of divine administrations for their comfort Remember his marvellous works that he hath done his wonders v. 5. c. And that this might be the more prevailing upon their hearts a large Catalogue of kindenesses conferred is given in wherein we have an enumeration of glorious remarkable providences in almost fourty verses together 2. The end which the Lord propounded and aimed at in all these many and memorable dispensations And this is held forth in my Text That they might observe his statutes and keep his laws Whereas the life of thanksgiving lies in thankesliving in a well-ordered obedience to the God of our Salvations the God of our mercies This is the subject matter of my Text. Wherein are considerable 1. The titles whereby the rule of mans obedience is expressed Statutes Laws 2. The termes whereby the regularity of deserved obedience is suggested Observe Keep 3. The way or means whereby this regular obedience is promoted viz. All the wonderfull works of the most High for his servants and against their enemies For the Psalmist having particularized a great number of them he concludes in the Text. That or as the old Translation renders it to the intent they might observe his statutes and keep his laws If any should enquire upon the perusall of these famous providences the reason wherefore the Lord wrought wonders so many so great for Israel the Text gives an account That they might observe his statutes and keep his laws From the division of my Text I proceed to the explication of the severall words used in it wherein I will be but brief though something must necessarily be spoken to make the fairer way unto that which afterwards must from thence be observed and improved You heard before of the two titles given in this Text unto the rule of mans obedience The first is Statutes I finde the originall word translated 1. A decree Psal 148. 6. He hath made a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Job 38. 33. Jer 31. 35 36. 33. 25. decree which shall not passe As all the motions of creatures inferiour to man are bounded
by the decrees of Gods dominion which are often called the ordinances of Heaven So all mans operations should be ordered and limited by his Commandments 2. A Portion Prov. 31. 15. She giveth a portion to her Maidens And truly Gods commands are a good portion to his people I have esteemed the words of his mouth saith Job more then my necessary food Job 23. 12. And Thy testimonies saith David are my heritage for ever Psal 119. 111. Unto a gracious heart Gods work is wages and imployment is preferment The second word is Laws The originall word is most ordinarily 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used to signifie the morall law the Decalogue that constant standard or standing law by which all Nations in all ages of the world have been and shall be bound to order their conversations before God Thus much of the words used to expresse Gods revealed will to guide mans course It follows that I explain those words which suggest mans regular respect thereunto The first is Observe which imports 1. either to minde or reserve 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in memory As old Jacob is said to observe the sayings the dreams of Joseph Gen. 37. 11. 2. Or to preserve in safety In this sense the same Jacob used the word in his prayer or vow Gen. 28. 20. If God will be with me and keep me in this way that I go c. And this sense answers the true meaning of the next word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Keep which properly signifies to keep with care and vigilancie as ammunition is preserved from fire and false hands when an enemy is expected Nahum 2. 1. He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face keep the munition watch the way Now these notions from the originall are not vain they are both profitable and such as answer the more open language of the holy Ghost elsewhere The laws of the Lord should be treasured up in the cabinet of mans heart and memory Prov. 3. 1. My sonne forget not my Law but let thine heart keep my Commandments And all the precepts of God should be secured from violence that no breach be made upon them Keep my Commandments and live and my Law as the apple of thine eye Prov. 7. 2. These things I only touch as I passe forward to that point on which I purpose to pitch both because it is the main intended in the Text and also being most seasonable for the service of the day Doct. That mans regular observation of all Gods Commandments is the end of all his glorious administrations for mans comfort More short The end of Gods bounty is mans duty Or thus in reference to the instances of the Psalm and the experiences of our times Therefore the Lord taketh vengeance upon his adversaries and therefore the Lord worketh the deliverance of his servants that they might observe his statutes and keep his laws My beloved Who can number up in order the great things which our God hath done for us now of late as heretofore Our friends have been relieved our foes have been routed our prayers have been heard our hopes revived our forces prospered our enemies discomfited I pray you fill your thoughts with the particulars which this day have been mentioned and upon other occasions specified And then adde unto the remembrance of all this Doctrine which now I am to deal in That Gods end and aim in all is this That we might observe his statutes and keep his Laws In the handling of this weighty point well worth our serious considerations I shall according to my accustomed plainnesse endeavour two things 1. The explanation of the truth that it may be rightly understood 2 The application of it that it may be fruitfully improved I begin with the former wherein I will be but short lest I should want time to speak unto the later which I chiefly intend it being of greatest and most seasonable concernment And here by way of caution to prevent mistake in this matter under hand I wish that these four things may be observed 1. Mans obedience is the end of Gods gracious providences in regard of his precept though not alwaies in regard of his secret eternall purpose I well remember the words of the Psalmist Psal 92. 7. When the wicked doe spring as the grasse and the workers of iniquity doe prosper it is that they shall be destroyed for ever But here I speak not of Gods end in regard of his everlasting righteous decree which he is pleased to keep close within his own bosome As for the end of his command revealing his pleasure to the children of men the words of Moses that man of God are plain and pregnant to our purpose Deut. 10. 12 13. where after an enumeration of various marvellous favours vouchsafed unto Israel he speaks thus And now O Israel what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to fear the Lord thy God to walk in all his waies and to love him and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul To keep the commandments of the Lord and his statutes 2. It is the end of God in the fore-mentioned intention though too too seldome in execution God having engaged man to obedience by his bounties he expecteth an obedientiall improvement though his Majesties expectations are commonly disappointed The Lords sad complaint of his vineyard Isa 5. expresseth this fully What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it Wherefore when I looked that it should bring forth grapes brought it forth wilde grapes ver 4. He looked for judgement but behold oppression for righteousnesse but behold a cry ver 7. And our God hath very much occasion of the like lamentation in this Land yea in this City at this day notwithstanding the admirable deliverances and victories wrought for us Alas alas how few how very few do any where answer the expectations of his highnesse in reformation of their waies and in obedience unto his holy Laws 3. Although mans observation of Gods statutes be one end yet is it not the only end of his manifold favours For amongst many other aims which are alwaies in his majesties eye such is his fatherly indulgence unto his people that he doth give out cordials on purpose to cheer their drooping spirits and to facilitate their passage thorow the wildernesse of this world Let the Lord be magnified who hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servants Psal 35. 27. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem so the Lord is round about his people for the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity Psal 125. 2 3. 4. Mans serviceable subjection unto divine injunctions is not Gods last and chiefest end in all his glorious dispensations The ultimate the supreme end of all Gods purposes and providences is his own honour He doth all things
provocation in black colours 1 Sam. 2. 27. Thus 1 Sam. 2. 27. 28. saith the Lord Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father when they were in Egypt in Pharaohs house And did I choose 29. him out of all the Tribes of Israel to be my Priest to offer upon mine Altar to burnincense before me And did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice c. And honourest thy sons above me We who are the Ministers of the Lord should look upon our aberrations as the more loathsome because God hath honoured us with an high and holy imployment in speciall attendance upon himself I might much enlarge this meditation by acquainting you that guilt under this notion is most grievous unto a truly gracious repenting heart It was this that cut good David to the quick when he cried out Against thee thee only have I sinned Ps 51. 4. But I must leave this Use because not so fully sutable unto the peculiar service of this day The next Use follows which is for the just reproof of two sorts Reprehension of persons whose practices do point blank oppose this purpose of God in conferring favours which my Text makes report of First who in handling this doctrine can hold his hand off them who are the lesse obedient and the more dissolute in their lives because of Gods long-sufferance and loving kindenesse This sticks as a black brand upon King Rehoboam 2 Chro. 12. 1. It came to passe that when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthned himself he forsook the Law of the Lord. It may be truly said of many that they had not been so bad and base in their lives if God had not bin so bountifull to them in his bestowings Herein men discover their egregious folly which can no way be excused Do ye thus requite the Lord ye foolish people ūwise is not he thy father that hath bought thee hath he not made thee established thee Remember the days of old c. De. 32. 6 7 Yea herein appears the vile malignity of our natures the inbred poysonous disposition of our unhallowed hearts which Spider-like suck venome out of those sweet flowers from whence the little laborious Bee draweth wax and honey I have three things to say unto such persons which I heartily wish may tend unto their humiliation and amendment 1. That this hainous abuse of Gods bounties is a sad sign of an unregenerate estate Let favour be shewed to the wicked yet will he not learn righteousnesse in the land of uprightnesse will he deal unjustly Isa 26 10. I have heard the Hypocrite sometimes compared to a Top which goes no longer then it is lashed The expressions of the Psalmist concerning such unfound hearts are here notable Psal 73. 34. When he slew them then they sought him and they returned and they enquired early after God c. Neverthelesse they did flatter him with their mouth and they lied unto him with their tongues for their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his Covenant 2. That in this particular idolaters expresse more respects unto their vain dumb idle Idols then these people do unto the only true living world-governing God God blessed for ever For observe how the Prophet Hosea bringeth in the idolatrous reasoning for their Idol-worship Hos 2. 5. I will go after my lovers that give me my bread and my water my wool and my flax mine oyl and my drink In which respect we may take up against these malefactours the patheticall complaint of the Lord Jer. 2. 9. I will yet plead with you saith the Lord. For passe over the Isles of Chittim and see send unto Kedar and consider Jer. 2. 9. 10. 11. diligently and see if there be any such thing Hath a Nation changed their gods which are yet no gods but my people hath changed their glory for that which doth not profit Be astonished ô ye heavens at this and be horribly afraid be ye very desolate saith the Lord c. 3. That this carriage is no better then brutish Jesurun saith Moses waxed fat and kicked thou art waxed fat thou art grown thick thou art covered with fatnesse Then he forsook God which made him and lightly esteemed the rock of his salvation Deut. 32. 15. The Metaphor is taken from the foolish Asse which being kept low will come to the Masters hand but being put into a full pasture waxeth wanton and either runs away from his feeder or else turns heels and strikes him And the zealous Prophet Jeremiah doth with much sharpnesse speak in like manner unto these beastly kinde of men When I fed Jer. 5 7. them to the full then they committed adultery and assembled themselves by troops in the Harlots houses They were as fed 8. horses in the morning every one neighing after his neighbours wife Shall I not visit for these things saith the Lord and shall not my soul be avenged on such a Nation as this 9. The Lord awaken the sleeping consciences of such whom this quick reproof doth reach that they may be the better for it through his rich grace in Jesus Christ The second sort to be blamed I shall touch with a more gentle Vse 2 hand viz. all those whose ends and aims in seeking and Reproof in bestowing favours are directly contrary unto the command and practice of our blessed God I here point at offenders in the same kinde under a double head 1. Such who in the pursuit of outward advantages and accommodations for themselves do only intend the gratifying of the flesh the satisfying of their own hellish lusts The Apostle James checketh these men Jam. 4. 3. Ye ask amisse that ye may consume upon your lusts And there is a smart rebuke of Baruch wrapped up in that Question which the Prophet Jeremiah propoundeth to him Jer. 45. 5. Seekest thou great things for thy self Those must take this home to themselves who minde nothing so much as sloth sensuality pride luxury revenge and the like in coveting and hunting after vast estates places of honour and command in the world 2. Those who in conferring places of profit authority imployment and trust upon others doe principally if not only aim at the making of a party the strengthening of a faction against the government and waies of Jesus Christ I will make no instances but leave it to your wisedom and consciences to make application and improvement of this generall Item If there be any whose purses power votes vigour are to fill offices with men whose mindes hearts hands are against the power of godlinesse the purity of Gospel-ordinances the progresse of our Church-Reformation I wish they would consider that they are not herein acted by the Spirit of God I will not make any application of Balacks promise to promote Balaam Numb 22. if he would
Josh 24. 14 16 vers 17. forsake the Lord for the Lord our God he it is that brought us up and our Fathers out of Egypt from the land of bondage and 18. which did those great signs in our sight c. Therefore we will also serve the Lord. And again when Joshua seemed by his words to suspect their 21. sincerity The people said unto Joshua Nay but we will serve the Lord. And yet once more Joshua putting them to it unto purpose The people said unto Joshua The Lord our God will we serve 24. and his voice will we obey But I will come lower then Israel professing dependance upon God The very Heathens wicked ones moved only by morall principles will requite kindenesses in respect to the law of retaliation If you do good to them which do good to you what thank have ye for sinners also do the same And yet in reference unto God I now request no more Doe but Christianly endeavour to answer Gods kindenesses with an obedientiall carriage and I call for no more I remember when cruell Saul plotting and practising Davids death was yet by Davids forbearance to slay him having power and opportunity so overcome that he brake forth into these words My son David I will no more do thee harm because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day 1 Sam. 26. 21. Gods long-sufferance and loving kindenesse to us-ward doth wonderfully exceed all that David either did or could expresse towards Saul He hath not only with-drawn his own revenging hand though we have infinite times provoked him to his face but he hath also held the bloudy hands of cruell men who have desired our death yea we doe not only enjoy safety but rich supplies of comforts from our God How much rather therefore should we resolve no more to dishonour God by our disobedience but to observe his statutes and to keep his laws 2. This gratefull obedience the Lord will graciously accept as a full contenting recompence for all his bounties When Moses had numbred up multitudes of blessings bestowed upon Israel he adds Deut. 10. 12 13. And now ô Israel what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to walk in all his waies to keep his Commandments As if he had said this is all he will be satisfied with this he looks for no more O beloved how deeply are we indebted unto the most high God and yet such is his indulgence that upon sincere observation of his laws which by vertue of our being reasonable creatures we are bound to yeeld he will cast a quietus est a full acquittance into our bosomes But if this consideration cannot prevail with you yet I pray you consider on the other hand how unkindely the Lord taketh their disobedience towards whom he abounds in benefits How patheticall is that complaint of God himself against his Israel breathed forth by the Evangelicall Prophet Hear ô heavens and Isa 1. 2. give ear ô earth for the Lord hath spoken I have nourished 3. and brought up children but they have rebelled against me The 4 Ox knows his owner and the Asse his masters crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not consider Ah sinfull Nation In reference unto this lamentation which the Lord maketh over stubborn unthankfull ones I will only say thus much Have you not yet offended your God enough but will you proceed to grieve him still 3. This practising of Gods praises will be many waies beneficiall to our selves 1. It will render us wise in the account of all such who with any seriousnesse consider our great obligations unto God Keep therefore and do them for this is your wisdome and understanding in the sight of the Nations which shall hear of these statutes and say Surely this great Nation is a wise and understanding people For what Nation is so great who hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for Deut. 4. 6 7. Is it not wisdome to observe him who secures our persons and comforts whose ever-waking and all working providence is for our good in every kinde And how can man more manifest his wisdome then by making Gods ends his ayme in every thing Now Gods end in the administrations of his love is That we may observe his statutes and keep his laws 2. This obedientiall improvement of Gods goodnesse will evidence the uprightnesse of our hearts Mark Davids argument which he pleads before the all-knowing God Psal 26. O Lord I have walked in mine integrity ver 1. For thy loving kindenesse is before mine eyes and I have walked in thy truth vers 3. Threats and blows drive hypocrites to duty but cords of love draw the gracious heart unto exact walking with his God 3. When former favours produce better obedience then may we boldly expect the multiplication of future mercies Moses having Deut. 29. specified some of Israels rich receits from Gods good hand from vers 2. to the 9th he thus concludes Keep therefore the words of this Commandment and doe them that ye may prosper in all that ye doe The self-seeking husband-man will cast precious seed with a liberall hand into a fruitfull soyl which is wont to return an answerable crop God hath the end of his bounties in our obedience And his promises to follow Deut. 28. 1-14 Lev 26. 1-12 and to fill them who are obedient with blessings of all sorts are manifold in the holy Scriptures 4. Many and heavy are the judgements threatned against them who continue stubbornly disobedient notwithstanding the sweet assaults made upon them by Gods gracious administrations That commination in Deut. 28. 47 48. hath often affected and affrighted my heart in reference to this trembling Kingdome Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulnesse and with gladnesse of heart for the abundance of all things mark that for the abundance of all things therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send upon thee in hunger and in thirst and in nakednesse and in the want of all things and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck untill he hath destroyed thee When Samuel had pressed the bettering of obedience by Gods remarkable works which is the very exhortation which I have now under hand he sets it on by the self-same Argument 1 Sam. 12. 24 25. Fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart for consider how great things he hath done for you But if ye shall still doe wickedly ye shall be consumed both ye and your King Beloved we know to our sorrow that both our King and his Kingdoms are in a wasting condition God forbid O God forbid that our continued disobedience should work our utter consumption and desolation This which I have said is sad and I have made mine own heart say by saying it yet that is much more lamentable which the Apostle Paul reports concerning
preeminence 6. Therefore we should serve the Lord in truth because he hath done great things for us 1 Sa. 13. 24. This truth is opposed to seemingnes and falshood God doth not feed us with fair words We do not only hear of his bounties but we see touch taste enjoy the comforts of his good providences Let us answer our God with realities If any man only seem to be religious his religion is vain Jam. 1. As for those who content themselves with shews of godlines denying the power thereof they are abhorred by the Lord. Be not deceived for God will not be mocked According as every man sowes so shall he reap If you sowe the winde you shall reap the east-winde Be you well assured that Court complements frothy flatteries empty shews will not take with God Those who pay in good coyn will not be repaied with that which is counterfeit Let us not therfore dream of requiting Gods reall favours with meer formalities Let us not only love in word and tongue but in deed and in truth 1 Joh. 3. 18. 7. Therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity This sincerity is opposed unto selfishnesse Whereas the hypocrite centers Josh 24. 14. proudly in himself makes himself his last end his God Did ye not eat for your selves Did ye not drink for your selves Did ye Zech. 7. 5 6. at all fast unto me even unto me saith the Lord. The practice of God intending and effecting our good as truly as his own glory may well prevail with us to minde his praise in that which we undertake His gracious providences are for our comfort his holy Commandments are for our good therefore let not us sit down satisfied in serving our own turn by our services but let us move forward not resting till we come to this center Gods honour Whatsoever we doe whether in our generall or particular callings in commanding obeying in private or publike Let all be done unto the glory of God 1 Cor. 10. 31. 8. Therefore we should observe Gods statutes and keep his laws continually This the Lord desires Deut. 5. 29. O that there were such an heart in them that they would keep my Commandments alwaies And this his Majesty well deserves For he daily loadeth us with his benefits Psal 68. 19. His unweariednesse in following us with favours should move us to follow him unweariedly in the waies of well doing If in the whole course of your lives you can finde one day or one hour wherein God doth not in one kinde or other doe you good then on that day in that hour suspend the serving of his highnesse We such is the sinfulnesse of our sinning hearts doe every moment of our lives give the most high God most just occasion to resolve to favour us no more but the Lord so admirable is his goodnesse doth every minute of time afresh engage us unto his obedience Therefore be not weary of well-doing but rather be alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord. God forbid that it should be truly said of any of us That we began in the Spirit and did end in the flesh All these eight rules necessary truths and naturally deduced from my doctrine do concern every one in this great Congregation without any exception I cannot imagine from what seeming pretence any should dare to plead exemption from these directions and I pray God that no one of you may depart this Assembly without some obedientiall bents and resolutions upon your spirits But all my Sermon all my counsell doth most concern them for whom the Lord hath done most in waies most remarkable and glorious No City in the world hath been more magnified by divine providences then this wherein we are No people on earth hath been more enriched with temporall and spirituall provisions together then our selves Our God grant that our improvements obedientiall may prove in some good measure answerable Notwithstanding by vertue of the equity of my doctrine the Lord expecteth to be best served to be most advanced by them whom he hath most enriched whom he hath most advanced And therefore give me leave to tell you Right Honourable the Lord Major and Right worshipfull the Aldermen of this famous City that God deserveth and expecteth more from you then from your brethren For unto whomsoever much is given of him shall be much required and to whom men have committed much of him they will ask the more Luk. 12. 48. As you are bound to be exemplary in exact endeavours To observe Gods statutes and to keep his laws So is it your duty in a speciall manner to take care that all others under your command be conformed to the Commandments of your God Magistratus est custos utriusque tabulae Right Honourable your Lordship hath for divers years been acquainted with my plain Ministery and I cannot say that I have lost any place in your affections by my plainnesse therefore I will take the boldnesse to direct my self in faithfulnesse unto you 1. Do not you dare through indulgence to spare the punishing of them who doe dare to cast Gods Commandments behinde their backs Could you hold your hands and connive at such who should go about to sleight the works which are raised and maintained for the safety of this City You heard in the opening of my Text That God would have his laws preserved from violence as the means of our preservation I once heard a plain dealing Preacher compare a remisse Magistrate unto the sign George on Horse-back who standeth all the year with his hand on the Sword but never strikes My Lord You have not received the Sword in vain Rom. 13. 4. Although I would not sharpen the edge of authority unto undue severity yet would I whet mine own knife to launce and let out the impostumated matter in my friends flesh I grant your Lordship must be cautious as couragious and therefore you have good reason to make Solomons prayer 1 King 3. 9. Give thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people that I may discern between good and bad But I beseech you remember withall That foolish pity spoils the City Let not common drunkards profane cursers and swearers brutish wantons and such like wicked ones escape that penalty which the Law hath appointed for them Phineas executed judgement and it was counted unto him for righteousnesse Psal 106. 30 31. 2. I call for your zeal against Popery that abomination which brings desolation Let your zeal move often inquisitions whether in some corners of this City there be not Idolatry in the use of the Masse lest through neglect of search that abomination be suffered But I move that in a speciall manner search may be made after Jesuites those unsufferable incendiaries who blow the coal of contention amongst brethren who have caused and doe continue the unhappy breach betwixt our King and Parliament our Soveraign and his Subjects I have heard a Story of a man who